USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 14
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On the 11th, General Henry W. Halleck, another western officer, was elevated to the position of General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States, and made his headquarters at the Capital.
146
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
General Pope's address to the army under his command is such an extraordinary document that it is here given in full. Had the campaign, which it foreshadowed, proved successful, perhaps none but favorable notice would ever have been made of the address, but because of the failure, General Pope was roundly abused and ridiculed for the tone of this now-famous document.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 14, 1862.
To the Officers and Soldiers of the Army of Virginia :
By special assignment of the President of the United States, I have assumed the command of this army. I have spent two weeks in learning your whereabouts, your condition, and your wants, in preparing you for active operations, and in placing you in positions from which you can act promptly and to the purpose. These labors are nearly completed, and I am about to join you in the field.
Let us understand each other. I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies ; from an army whose business it has been to seek the adversary and to beat him when he was found ; whose policy has been attack and not defense. In but one instance has the enemy been able to place our Western armies in defensive attitude. I presume that I have been called here to pursue the same system and to lead you against the enemy. It is my purpose to do so, and that speedily. 1 am sure you long for an opportunity to win the distinction you are capable of achieving. That opportunity I shall endeavor to give you. Meantime I desire you to dismiss from your minds certain phrases, which I am sorry to find so much in vogue amongst you. I hear constantly of "taking strong positions and holding them," of " lines of retreat," and of "bases of supplies." Let us discard such ideas. The strongest position a soldier should desire to occupy is one from which he can most easily advance against the enemy. Let us study the probable lines of retreat of our opponents, and leave our own to take care of themselves. Let us look before us, and not behind. Success and glory are in the advance, disaster and shame lurk in the rear. Let us act on this understanding, and it is safe to predict that your banners shall be inscribed with many a glorious deed, and your names will be dear to your countrymen forever. JOHN POPE, Major-General Commanding.
This address was the prelude to a forward movement of the Army of Virginia, and within a few days the division, under command of General Ricketts, moved towards the line of the Rappahannock, and the NINTH, with a small body of cavalry, were all that remained at Warrenton. Colonel Stiles was appointed Post Commander, and Captain Hendrickson. Pro- vost-Marshal. The regiment was moved into town and quartered in the deserted houses, but for sanitary reasons was
147
GENERAL POPE.
1862
soon removed to a camp on the outskirts. The men performed a variety of duties, such as guards and pickets, handling quar- termaster a:d commissary stores, and, with the aid of the darkies, cleaned the streets of the town. Dress-parade and guard-mounting usually took place upon Main Street, and, as the band furnished excellent music, many of the white, and nearly all the colored population were present to witness the ceremony. It being difficult sometimes to find the able-bodied darkies, when wanted as laborers, the occasion of dress-parade was improved to make a raid upon them ; when a sufficient number would be corralled in the guard house, furnished with a Government breakfast, and then set to work sweeping the streets. Warrenton was never so clean as when in care of the NINTH'S " Department of Public Works."
The following order gave great satisfaction to the soldiers of Pope's army, who had become heartily tired of guarding the property of avowed enemies, and for which even the armed enemy showed no respect when anything was needed for their own comfort :
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 25, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, ¿ No. 13.
Hereafter no guards will be placed over private houses or private property of any description whatever. Commanding officers are responsible for the conduct of the troops under their command, and the Articles of War and Regulations of the Army provide ample means for restraining them to the full extent required for discipline and efficiency.
Soldiers were called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is not ex- pected that their force and energy shall be wasted in protecting private property of those most hostile to the Government.
No soldier serving in this army shall hereafter be employed in such service.
By command of Major-General POPE,
GEO. D. RUGGLES, Colonel and Chief of Staff.
Guard duty at private houses was often productive of a good deal of amusement. One of the NINTH reports : ** *. * I was on guard yesterday at a very nice house ; the inmates were suspected of giving information to the
148
July
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
enemy. My orders were to walk in front or sit on stoop of the house and stop any one entering or leaving. The old lady was very pleasant, and her four girls nearly talked me blind. One of them played and sang the Southern National Hymn, leaving doors and windows open so I could hear, and then asked mehow I liked it. I said, " First-rate." Then she played all their patriotic airs. When she stopped her sister began, and asked me what I liked. I said, "Star Spangled Banner." She laughed and said she "used to like it, too, but since it re- fused to protect the South I have forgotten it."
On the 26th, in obedience to regimental orders, Company L was thereafter to be known as Company K, the original Company K having been transferred, as before stated, to its special arm of the service,-Light Artillery.
As is usual in such cases, however, the members clung to their original letter, and the company was known as "L" as long as it remained in the service.
Soldiers have a great propensity for "nosing round," and it was soon discovered that in the office of the suspended " Warrenton Whig," there was quite a full supply of printing materials except paper. Privates John W. Jacques of Company D and Fred. B. Dailey of Company L, both practical printers, saw in this an opportunity to create a diversion from the routine of provost duty, by issuing a newspaper. Having obtained the requisite authority, they sent to Washington for paper and a few other necessary articles, and on Thursday, the 31st, the first edition of fourteen hundred copies of " THE NEW YORK NINTH" was issued. It sold at the modest price of three cents per copy, and such was the demand that a second edition of five hundred copies was printed and sold. The paper was a folio-four pages, 9} by 13-and filled with inter- esting local matter, and a well-selected miscellany. Following is a fac simile-reduced-of the heading, etc. :
149
JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE.
1861
THE NEW YORK NINTH. RATIONE AUT VI."
VOL I., NO 1 WARRENTON, VA., THURSDAY, JULY 31.1862 PRICE 3 CENTS
When the regiment moved from Warrenton a number of men were left behind on special duty, among them the Editors. It was only a few days, however, before they were ordered to report to the regiment, but before leaving they decided to issue another number of the paper, which appeared on the 7th of August. Two thousand copies were printed and sold, and that the friends of the regiment may know something of that interest- ing publication, a few extracts from the last number are given : VOL. I., No. II.
WARRENTON, VA., Thursday, August 7, 1862. THE NINTH.
" The NINTH " is the exponent of the NINTH Regiment, New York State Militia. Its object is to furnish a medium of communication between the Regiment and its friends, and the " rest of mankind."
It will be published weekly, from the office, on Main street, two doors below the Warrenton House, as long as the Regiment continues to be stationed in this place or vicinity.
TERMS .- For a single copy. 3 cents. Inserting an advertisement of eight lines --- First insertion, 25 cents ; each subsequent insertion, 15 cents.
Marriage notices, deaths and obituaries inserted gratis.
All communications to be addressed to the publishers, at their office, on Main street, near the " Warrenton Hotel." JOHN W. JACQUES, CO. D. FRED'K B. DAILEY, CO. L. . Warrenton, Va.
The situation of affairs about here, to use one of the phrases of the day, in relation to the rebellion and its suppression, is of a rather uncertain character. The army has advanced, having most of them left this place last week, and have since, as we under- stand, made another move, or moves, on the military chess-boards of Fauquier and Loudoun, but where to, in what force, and for what purpose, is more than we know, or if we did, would be willing to tell. We hope and believe that it will not be to take
150
July
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
any back track ; that when our army strikes it will be to some purpose, that it will not strike before it is ready, and then, so that it will not need to strike again. This, we think, the best, most merciful way of conducting the war, which, always dreadful, should be made short and decisive as possible-making clean work as it goes along. We hope to hear good news before long from General Pope, and the gallant force under him, who are following the flag to what will, we trust, be victory and peace.
The situation about here. so far as the rebels in our midst is concerned, continues much as it Was last week, only, if possible, "a little more so." The masculine "secesh " still congregate in the neighborhood of the Warrenton House, put their heads together, whisper ominously over each day's news, look daggers at the soldiers when they think it will be safe to do so-keep up a terrible thinking, no doubt. and something worse, may be. but say nothing out loud. They still desire that their prop- erty should be protected by us, are very unwilling to lose their negroes, and very desirous to have supplies and passes and favors, but they are very unwilling to take the oath of allegiance to the Government, swear they will leave first, and are very ,patriotic in a cheap way, but it don't amount to much, one way or the other. They are still shaky about the orders of Gen. Pope, but, as they are not yet enforced, are whistling to keep up their courage, and hope yet, in the language of the immortal Micawber, that " something will turn up " in their favor.
As to the " she-cesh," they are as rampant as ever. They still indulge in the inno- cent amusement of turning out in the street to avoid walking under the flag. Even the unoffending blue Brigade flag comes in for its share of such small contempt ; some of them attract crowds upon the sidewalks to hear them sing secesh songs, and talk secesh politics, and vaunt the superior beauty, gallantry, bravery, and all that sort of thing, of the F. F. V.'s and the Southern army. They turn up their pretty noses, metaphorically speaking, and sometimes literally, at our men and officers ; are still afraid to have their immaculate skirts contaminated by any chance contact with the "greasy mudsilis," and stay away from our dress-parades, but gather where they can see them without being seen. The modest creatures that they are feel insulted if in- vited to an entertainment, but crowd the neighborhood, that they may surreptitiously gratify their curiosity and see and hear what is going on ; and do other like becoming and consistent (?) things.
Still the sick and dying in our hospitals remain unvisited and uncheered by a kind word or smile from these " angels of mercy," who, forgetting the like favors their friends have received from " Union ladies," (God bless them for being incapable of discriminating between the uniforms of the sick and wounded), will not walk on the same side of the street as these poor fellows, but, like some others we have read of in an old book, " pass by on the other side." And more than this, when, as was the case in this town, they come in contact with a Union lady who is doing here for our sick what she did for theirs in Winchester, so far from aiding in the blessed work, they do what they can to hurt her feelings by insulting remarks about the character of our troops. How long things will remain as they are, we cannot tell-they don't mend much very fast, and can't be worse, and that is some comfort. At the same time we cannot help thinking that a few lessons in good manners, modesty. meekness and humanity, might be well bestowed upon these " pinks of propriety," who so arrogantly plume themselves upon the superiority of Southern blood () and breeding over the Northern.
" The situation," personally, may be disposed of in a few words. Our " bantling " has received more favor than we anticipated, and we are rewarded for our toil. Our
J51
THE SONG OF THE SPADE.
1062
edition of fourteen hundred copies was soon exhausted, and a subsequent one of five hundred has failed to supply the demand. If we had some hundreds more we could sell them, but cannot print them, as we are in need of the type and time for this num- ber. We have already orders for over a thousand copies outside of our regiment for this number, and have no doubt that in many a household of the land, no visitor will receive a more hearty welcome than the " New York NINTH."
Owing to the exigencies of the service this is the last number of the " New York NINTH" that will be issued from Warrenton. During the night of the 5th orders were received by the Colonel for the regiment to leave Warrenton at 7 the next morning. Soon after the time mentioned, the regimental line was formed, and, keeping step to the music of the band, the NINTH took up the line of march towards new scenes and duties, in which may possibly be included an advance on the rebel troops that have manifested so much reluctance to leave this section of Virginia. Should a favorable opportunity present, the publication of the " New York NINTH " will be resumed at an early day.
REWARD.
Strayed or stolen, from the street in front of the Warrenton House, on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., a large bay horse, 7 years old, with a short black mane and tail, and small white spot on the forehead. Had a cut the size of a fifty-cent piece on the fet- lock of his left fore leg. He had on a McClellan saddle and curb bit.
$15 reward will be paid to the person returning the above property to FITZHUGH SMITH, Commissary Serg't NINTH Reg't, N. Y. S. M., at Warrenton, Va.
BRIGADE SUTLER'S STORE
Is on the corner opposite the Provost Marshal's office, where you will see floating the Stars and Stripes of our great National country. It is the first one that was hoisted after our troops entered Warrenton.
The undersigned, having procured some excellent VACCINE MATTER from New York, offers his services to gratuitously vaccinate any person in the army or town.
CHAS. J. NORDUIST, Surgeon 9th Reg't, N. Y. S. M.
THE SONG OF THE SPADE.
With joints that are stiffened and sore, As in water and dirt they wade, An army of half a million or more, Have been plying the shovel and spade.
Dig, dig, dig, In muddy and pestilent swamp.
Dig in front of the enemy's works, And dig in front of the camp.
152
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
Dig, dig, dig,
When morn gilds the mountain crest, And dig, dig, dig, When the sun goes down in the west.
It's O ! a slave to be, In the cotton fields to lurk, With never a hope or wish to be free, If this is a soldier's work.
Had half of the digging been done, In tilling the fertile soil, Crops nurtured by summer rain and sun Had guerdon been for toil.
But the seed so patiently sown In the trenches, muddy and deep, A crop of scurvy and fever has grown For the sickle of Death to reap.
„ Dig, dig, dig, In the chill of the winter's snows ; And dig, dig, dig. When the sun like a furnace glows.
O generals, change it all, If ye wish the land to save ; It is not trenches alone ye dig, -- Ye are digging a nation's grave.
Give soldiers a chance to sell Their lives in the field of the brave 'Mid the pomp of glorious war, Where their country's banners wave.
It's O ! for the rifle's crack, For the flash of the glittering blade ; But a malison on the shovel, The " strategy," and the spade.
While the editorial corps of the NINTH were busy in their efforts to add to the pleasures of the camp, other members concluded to try their ability as musicians, singers, and ama- teur actors. Such of them as had " good mouths for music," were gotten together by Adjutant Tuthill, who, after a prelim- inary rehearsal, assigned each the part best adapted to his peculiar talents, and having extemporized a stage and other .
·
2.
153
NINTHI'S SOCIAL UNION.
conveniences, in an inclosure alongside the Warrenton Hotel, gave several Musical soirees, the first of which occured on the evening of the day upon which the first number of the paper was issued. Programmes were printed and a general invitation was extended the people to come and hear.
Following is the programme of the first entertainment:
-
NINTH REGIMENT SOCIAL UNION.
WARRENTON HOTEL, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 31ST, 1862.
PROGRAMME.
PART FIRST.
Grand March,
- Norma,
Band.
Old Musketeer,
Graham & Co.
Ballad,
Loder.
Comic Song,
Barnes.
Recitation, -
- Howard.
Ballad,
Joyce.
Virginia Rose Bud, -
Graham & Co.
PART SECOND.
Storm Galop,
Band.
Happy Dreams,
Atkinson.
Recitation,
" Lady of Lyons,"
Lieut. Hubbard.
Comic Song,
Adjutant Tuthill.
Ballad,
" Miller's Song,"
Graham.
Duett, -
" Larboard Watch,"
Atkinson & Graham.
Fairy Bell, chorus, -
Thompson & Co.
Recitation,
" Othello,"
Howard & Graley.
Limerick Races, -
- Atkinson & Co. Music by Regiment's Band, George Neyer, Leader.
" N. B .- Should the weather prove unfavorable, the Concert will be postponed until Friday next.
" New York NINTH" print.
At each subsequent performance the place was crowded, so popular was the entertainment. On the whole, this did much to soften the bitter feelings that had existed in the minds of the inhabitants upon the entrance of the troops into this pleas-
1862
154
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
August
ant Virginia town. Frequent invitations, always gladly except- ed, were also extended the soldiers by the colored people, to witness their marriage ceremonies. The men were hospitably treated, and had an opportunity of witnessing not only the ceremony, but also the genuine " Virginny Reel," and of hear- ing many of the plaintive darky songs.
But a stop to merry-making came on the 5th of August. Before General Halleck reached Washington to assume com- mand of all the armies of the Union, General Pope was fre- quently consulted by the Administration ; he had advised that White House Landing on the Pamunkey River be held by Mc- Clellan, while he, Pope, should march his army on towards Rich- mond vic Culpeper and Gordonsvile. This plan, however, was not adopted ; Mcclellan fell back to Harrison's Landing, and when it was decided to move his army to Northern Virginia, Pope was ordered to advance on Jackson's force and create a diversion in favor of McClellan, by drawing Confederate troops away from Richmond to meet the advance of Pope's army. The Army of Virginia consisted of about forty thousand men, and, had they been as homogeneous as the necessities of the service required, better results would no doubt have followed. General Pope was a stranger. He had remained at Washington from the time of his arrival until the advance was ordered, and knew very little of the personnel of his command. While get- ting ready to march on the morning of the 6th, Company L was hurriedly sent to the camp of the First Virginia Battery, in order to quell an incipient mutiny. Colonel Stiles had not been relieved of the command of the Post when the regiment was ordered to march, and Lieutenant Colonel Atterbury, be- ing absent on sick leave, the command devolved on Major Rutherford. The column moved in the forenoon and arrived in due course at Sulphur Springs on the Rappahannock. This place had been a favorite resort of invalids up to the beginning of the war, its health-giving waters drawing people from all parts of the United States ; now it was a deserted village. Many of its finest buildings were in ruins, and a few only of the poor- est inhabitants remained. After a short halt the march was
155
ARMY OF VIRGINIA ADVANCES.
1862
continued, the river crossed, and about two miles beyond, the regiment bivouacked in a cluster of pine woods. The next morning at seven o'clock the column moved forward. The day proved to be a very hot one, and the men suffered much discom- fort from the heat and dust. Near nightfall a halt was ordered within a mile of Culpeper, where the NINTH joined the bri- gade. General Banks' corps had the advance, closely followed by McDowell's, while Sigel, who was posted at Sperryville, held that position until the 9th. Buford's cavalry led the way, closely followed by Crawford's brigade of General Williams' division.
About noon of the Sth, the march was resumed, the column passing through Culpeper, and, marching about four miles beyond, halted for the night. At one o'clock the next morn- ing, General Hartsuff sent orders to the regiments of the bri- gade to be ready to move at daylight, and at half-past five the men were in line. After marching about three miles further south a halt was ordered. About noon heavy artillery firing was heard in the direction of Cedar Mountain, and soon the entire division was marching to the sound of the guns. The column was halted in a field within two miles of the battle- ground, and the men ordered to take off their knapsacks, which were piled up and left in charge of the disabled. Muskets were loaded and the NINTH prepared for action.
Jackson had been ordered by General Lee to attack Pope's army before the Ninth corps, which the Confederate General we knew had left Fort Monroe, should reach the Army of Vir- ginia, and Stonewall was prompt to execute the welcome orders.
Passing the Rapidan with about twenty-five thousand men, Jackson pressed on towards Culpeper, the Union cavalry, under Buford and Bayard falling back slowly on their infantry supports. Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, was about a mile and a half northwest of Cedar Mountain, and north of the turnpike which ran around its west and north base. This was the situation early in the morning ; the firing heard was from Crawford. About the middle of the forenoon, Pope
156
THIE NINTHI NEW YORK.
August
ordered Banks to proceed to the front and take command of the troops there. Arriving on the ground, he deployed all his troops save Gordon's brigade, which was held in reserve, a quarter of a mile north of Cedar Run, and about three quar- ters of a mile from the line of battle. Sigel, meanwhile, had been ordered to hurry forward with the First corps. Pope asserts that he did not authorize Banks to attack the enemy, but merely to hold him in check until the Union Army was all up. Banks, on the other hand, maintains that he was ordered to attack, and attack he did, an army four times his own num- ber, and of course was beaten. The attack was made about. four o'clock in the afternoon, and with such impetuosity that for a while the enemy were driven back, but the tide soon turned when A. P. Hill's division flanked Crawford's position on the right, and Ewell enveloped the left of the Union line. As the battle progressed, wounded men and skulkers from the front, crowded past the NINTHI, each one telling his own story-those who came first of victory, while, later on, the reports were all of defeat.
Banks retreated in good order across Cedar Run, and soon found himself in the midst of the troops that General Pope in person was hurrying forward. Why it was that Ricketts' division lay during the entire afternoon within sight of the battle without firing a shot is a mystery.
After Banks' troops had recrossed Cedar Run, and at about seven o'clock, a new line was formed north of that stream. Ricketts' division taking position on the right, with Tower's and Carroll's brigades on the front line, supported by Duryea and Hartsuff.
Pegram's Confederate battery of four guns opened fire, but was replied to so effectually by Thompson's Second Maryland (known also as Pennsylvania Battery C, Howitzers) stationed on the left of Hartsuff's brigade, that the enemy's guns were quickly silenced. Just as the NINTH was deploying into line in the position assigned to it, a shell exploded near the colors, killing one man, William McNider, of Company B, and wounding two of other companies. The regiment changed its
157
BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
1862
position two or three times during the artillery duel, and thus the enemy failed to get the proper range, and few of their shots took effect. About ten o'clock the NINTH moved to the sup- port of a battery where they remained for the balance of the night. On leaving the line, General Hartsuff remarked that he felt sure the NINTH would do its duty in case of an attack. Owing to the position of the guns of the battery, the right and left wings of the regiment were separated. Major Rutherford having charge of the right, while the left was in command of Captain Hendrickson. Save for an occasional shot on the picket line, the night passed quietly. A bright moon enabled the opposing forces to see each other and both were vigilant.
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