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 8
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78
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
October
officers-and many of the wounded had been left in the hands of the enemy, who retired, during the night, near to their intrenchments in the vicinity of Leesburg.
General Banks had accompanied his men, and on his arrival assumed command. General McClellan had tele- graphed that the position on the Virginia shore and Harrison's Island should be maintained at all hazards. About four thousand men, including cavalry and artillery, were sent over during the forenoon of the 22nd. The NINTH, with the rest of the brigade, remained on the Maryland shore, and occupied the river bank, sheltered by the trees and shrubbery. About two o'clock in the afternoon the order to fall-in was given, and in the midst of a heavy rain-storm the brigade started, halting, after a march of four miles, in bivouac for the night. :
At three o'clock on the morning of the 23rd, the drums beat the reveille and after the men had swallowed their coffee, line was formed and the column headed for Edwards Ferry, near which a halt was ordered and Camp Tuthill, in honor of the Captain of Company H, was established. The land belonged to an officer in the Confederate service, and as there was a good supply of the necessary article in the fields, the men liberally supplied their wants and enjoyed the luxury of repose upon beds of clean, sweet straw. From a hill close by the camp, the Virginia shore was plainly seen, and when the sound of artillery and musketry was heard during the fore- noon, the men went to that point and witnessed a portion of Stone's division driving the enemy back into the country. Night closed without the NINTH being called into line.
Nothing of importance occurred on the 24th until just before "taps," when the long roll was beaten and the men hurried into line. Colonel Stiles, who had been absent from the regiment during the march to Conrad's Ferry, addressed the regiment, expressing his regret at not being present at that time; he also cautioned the men to keep cool and not get excited, in case they were called into action, and enjoined upon both officers and men to strictly obey such orders as might be given them. The regiment remained in line for
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MUDDY BRANCH.
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1861 .
some time and was finally dismissed, but the men were cau- tioned to sleep on their arms, and be ready to jump at a moment's notice.
Daylight of the 25th revealed the fact that the Union troops which had been operating on the Virginian shore had all returned to Maryland.
On this day, too, the detail which had remained at Camp Cameron, as a guard, when the regiment left there in June, reported at headquarters, Camp Cameron having been aban- doned as a military post.
The reverse at Ball's Bluff, although an insignificant affair of the war, was productive of serious consequences to the plans of General McClellan. The movement had been origin- ally ordered in connection with the advance of the left wing of the Army of the Potomac, a portion of which had occupied Fairfax Court House, but the unexpected defeat, and the strength and ability displayed by the enemy, caused him to countermand it. Several of the advanced posts were aban- doned, while all the troops that had crossed the river above the Chain Bridge were withdrawn to the Maryland side.
At eight o'clock in the morning of the 26th, the NINTH bade farewell to Camp Tuthill and marched in the direction of Poolesville, thence towards Seneca Creek, going into bivouac near the stream at half-past two in the afternoon, after a march of eleven miles. Rabbies were found to be plenty ; during the afternoon many were captured and formed a pleasing variety to the bill of fare.
The next day was Sunday. At eight o'clock the regiment was again in line, and after passing through Dawsonville, marched towards Muddy Branch Creek, upon the banks of which Camp Prescott, in honor of the Captain of Company C, was established. The ground was low and swampy, besides being covered with a thick growth of underbrush ; the men worked hard to render the place habitable, but their labors were in vain. The drinking water was unfit for use-was even said to be poisonous -- and it was hoped a move would at once be made to a more eligible site.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
October
On the 29th, Company I, that had been on duty at General Banks' headquarters since September 14th, returned to the command.
At dress-parade, in the evening, a stand of colors, sent to the regiment by the Common Council of the City of New York, were formally presented and were received by Colonel Stiles, who responded on behalf of the NINTH. The flags had been brought from New York by Lieutenant Wickham, who reached the regiment on the 24th, accompanied also by about one hundred recruits.
At his own request, General Scott was retired late in the month of October, and on the Ist of November, President Lincoln appointed Mcclellan General-in-Chief. From McClellan's Own Story, page 200, we quote :
On Nov. 1, 1861, the following letter was received from the President.
Private.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. Ist, 1861. Maj .- Gen. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN :
My Dear Sir : Lieut .- Gen. Scott having been, upon his own application, placed on the list of retired officers, with his advice, and the concurrence of the entire Cabinet, I have designated you to command the whole army. You will, therefore, assume this enlarged duty at once, conferring with me so far as necessary.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
P. S .- For the present let Gen. Wool's command be excepted.
A. L.
McClellan decided to suspend further operations in the field, until the troops, through drill and discipline, were bet- ter fitted to perform the important work in store for them.
· Notwithstanding the oft-repeated reports to headquarters respecting the unhealthy location of the camp, which were daily corroborated by the increased list of sick, the beginning of November found the NINTH still in that miserable place. A grave mistake had been made in its selection, and the disorders suffered by the men were plainly traceable to the impure water and the malarial condition of the locality. The name of the stream, Muddy Branch, was enough to condemn it, and it did not belie the term. Unless, because of some pressing military
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CAMP PRESCOTT.
1861
necessity no troops should have been kept there, even over night, but to such bad judgment many a veteran now owes the aches and pains, and broken constitution, which he will carry to his grave. Murmurs of discontent were heard among the men. Had the regiment been composed of mercenary soldiers no doubt a.mutiny would have broken out, and the performance of further military duty refused until a change of camp had been effected. Finally, Surgeon Nordquist appealed directly to General Branks, when authority was given to move, the change being made on the 5th.
The regiment moved less than a mile away from Muddy Branch, and re-established Camp Prescott in a clear open field, near which there was an abundance of good water. The change was productive of great good to the men ; most of the sick rapidly recovering, although a few no doubt were perma- nently disabled. By the 20th the weather had changed ; much rain had fallen ; the roads were bad; it began to look as though there would be no more active campaigning that sea- son, and that the army would likely go into winter quarters. During the day, however, the regiment moved, marching about four miles in the direction of Darnestown, where the third Camp Prescott was established.
Shortly after the tents had been pitched, and while he was lying down to rest, Private Emile S. Ferrero, of Company A, was severely wounded in the leg by the accidental discharge of a musket in the hands of a careless comrade. A wound re- ceived in this manner was peculiarly aggravating ; a good sol- dier is always ready, if not willing, to run his chances of being wounded in battle with the enemy, but when disabled through the carelessness of a comrade, the attending pain and suffering seems increased. In this case the wound resulted in the per- manent disability of the unfortunate man, and after partial re- covery he was discharged from the service.
On the 23rd General Mcclellan, in special orders, No. 154, ordered the "Sixth New York Independent Battery " to re- port to Brigadier-General Joseph Hooker, at Camp Baker, Lower Potomac. Up to this time the battery had been serving
82
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
November
either under General Banks or Stone, and had taken part in several important movements. On the 16th of October it had accompanied Colonel Geary, of the Twenty-eight Pennsyl- vania, on a reconnoissance to Harper's Ferry, and was honor- ably mentioned in his report. At the disastrous battle at Ball's Bluff, Lieutenant Bramhall, while unable to get his own guns up "the steep bluff, worked one or two smaller pieces belonging to another battery, and (receiving several wounds) that gallant officer rendered such efficient service that he was mentioned in the reports. After doing duty on the Lower Po- tomac during the winter and following spring, the battery ac- companied the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, and fol- lowed the fortunes of that command until mustered out of the service.
The first snow of the season fell on Sunday, the 24th. The event, though productive of much discomfort, caused some little satisfaction, because it was something new to talk about; the men were growing restless and uneasy by reason of their very mild kind of soldier life, and anything new or out of the usual order served to while away the time. Though the men of the NINTH had all cheerfully taken the oath to serve during the war, none at that time believed that their services would be required longer than from six to twelve months. The result of the battle of Bull Run, however, dispelled that illusion. Still, it seemed strange that the summer and fall should pass with- out their engaging in a battle ; that all the " active" service they were to perform should consist of marching and counter- marching. Little does the rank and file of an army know how much a brief waiting may sometimes accomplish, in the compli- cated strategy of a campaign.
Thursday, the 28th, was the first regular Thanksgiving sea- son that the members of the NINTH had spent away from their homes. Pork and beans, crackers and coffee, repeated every day, had made that bill of fare somewhat monotonous, but as the men seldom eat these government rations without plenty of seasoning in the form of hungry stomachs, this fare always tasted good. So it did on this Thanksgiving, and although
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S 3
THE MARCH TO WINTER QUARTERS.
1861
the men all hankered after " a good square meal " of something better, the "rations," were disposed of without much grum- bling.
Captain Henry C. Smith, of Company E, resigned on the 30th. He began his military career as a member of the Second regiment, July 4th, 1848, was made First Lieutenant of Company D in 1849, and Adjutant of the regiment in 1850. On May 11th, 1852, he was commissioned Captain of Company F, Seventy-First regiment, and on April 27th, 1861, Captain in the NINTH.
At eleven o'clock on the morning of the end of December Camp Prescott was abandoned, and the NINTH marched to join the division, then being distributed in winter quarters in the vicinity of Frederick City. A pioneer force went in advance to put the bridges in a passable condition. The roads were partly frozen, and as men, horses and wagons broke through the crust, the march was a very tiresome one. Towards evening the regiment bivouacked in a field by the roadside near the village of Barnesville. The march was resumed at eight o'clock the following morning, and soon after passing Barnes- ville, Sugar Loaf Mountain was observed, upon the summit of which the Signal Corps had been established. The march was continued through Buckeystown, and to within two miles of Frederick City, when, late in the afternoon, after the day's march of about sixteen miles, a halt was ordered and the tents pitched in a piece of woods. At two o'clock on the afternoon of the 4th line was again formed, the Monocacy River crossed, and, marching to within a couple of miles of Ijamsville, camp was located in the woods on Hoffman's farm, about five miles dis- tant from Frederick City.
LETTERS :
Darnestown, Md., Sept. 22nd, 1851.
This is Sunday, and as cold as winter. Received yours yesterday. The -- gave me the new shirt. I'm very proud of it. We think we will be ordered into winter quarters soon, and hope it will be in Baltimore. We are expecting a fight every day, and are both ready and anxious for it. * * * As our rations are bacon and biscuit, we spend all our money for extras on the march. If we get a loaf of bread it's twenty-five cents, and everything in proportion. : # The Twenty-ninth
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
December
Pennsylvania are in the next field and are a little jealous that we receive the most attention (at dress-parade). We expect a new company to-day-L. * * * 1 am nearly well of my rheumatism and quite fleshy, but a few days since, while practicing, loading and firing by companies, the man on my right slammed his gun down on my foot, smashing two of my toes, so I am quite lame. Doctor says I'll have my head knocked off yet. * * * The rebel troops are supposed to amount to near 300,000, while we have about 400,000, and when we meet there will be fierce work. There is no liquor to be got here except ordered by surgeon. Just had dinner- beef soup, not like you make-mere slops. Good-bye now. Write soon.
Oct. 19th, 1861.
Being rainy am excused from drill, and as our company is on duty to-morrow, I will write what I can to-day, and thank you all for the box I received. I think, from the variety it contained, you must all have had a hand in it. Everything acceptable, as you'd have thought if you had seen our mess pitch into the good things. E. B. has got a commission in some other regiment as lieutenant. We are very tired of doing nothing, and would be glad for an order to march into Virginia.
Camp Prescott, Muddy Branch, Oct. 30th, 1861.
Was on guard last night, and it was the worst I ever saw ; very dark, and the brush so thick you could not see a man till close to him. The water is very bad. We drink from same brook the horses do, and wash ourselves and clothes in it too. The drums are beating for dinner -- we call it "roast beef." I don't know what we are to have, but am willing to bet my commission against the St. Nicholas (I expect the one as soon as you get the other) that it is bean soup and, as I'm awful hungry, will go see. It was bean soup and hard-tack. * * * I had to throw away part of my clothes to lighten my knapsack, on our last march to Edward's Ferry, but saved enough for the present.
Muddy Branch, Nov. 6th, 1861.
Yours just received. Very happy to get it. It has rained two days, and is very cold. We have moved camp out of the woods to an open field close by, to save the few that were well. We are a little more comfortable, as the sun reaches the tents now, and dries them a little. Our tesits are two inches deep with mud ; we gather cedar boughs and spread on the floor, but still the dampness strikes through. Over 400 men of our regiment reported sick yesterday and to-day, from the damp and bad water. We can't blame General Banks; we hold a very responsible position, and must stay until the rebels vacate opposite, where they are in large numbers. They seem well contented over there, and I imagine are laughing at us. If they move, we move, as we must not let them cross (the Potomac), but if we get a chance, over we go. I hope if we are ordered over they won't send a few at a time, to be shot off as in Colo- nel Baker's case, but send the whole division, then we will stand a chance. : + We received Mcclellan's appointment as Commander (General) in Chief of our army with delight, and made the country ring with cheers, believing him to be the man for the times. We've had enough of old fogyism, and don't believe in trying to starve them out ; we want them whipped, and came for that purpose, and won't be satisfied until they-or we-are whipped.
* *
* I will tell you about our mess ; it may interest you. We are fourteen in family-not the happy family-but a lively set of fellows. We have just finished sup- per, and lighted candles. No. I is handsome Johnny B-, the pet of the mess,
1861
TAKE YOUR CHOICE.
85
evidently thinking of home, as he says nothing ; No. 2 needs no description, as it is your loving brother ; No. 3 is N. L. W -. , reading a magazine ; No. 4 is Sam F-, who called to see you for me ; No. 5, Sergeant G-, out promenading ir. the mud ; No. 6, Archy P --- , teasing W -; No. 7. R. S-, reading ; No. 8, Matt. S-, repairing his wardrobe ; No. 9, is my old friend George T-, reading your last letter ; we are like brothers, and keep together on all marches and in camp. No. 10 is William S-, he is eighteen years old, is six feet two inches tall, and weighs 110 pounds. You can imagine his style. No. 11, Sam B -- , whom we call noisy ; No. 12 is Joshua H-, who is getting ready to retire, by scraping the mud from his place on to some other person's place-very accommodating. Nos. 13 and 14 are away sick. Ask K- which of the men she prefers. I'll see she gets him, if the rebels don't.
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THE NINTHI NEW YORK.
December
CHAPTER V.
CAMP CLAASSEN, WINTER QUARTERS.
Frederick City, Md .- " French Leave."-Court-Martial .- Log Huts .- Deaths in Camp .- Resolutions of Sympathy .- Brigade Reviewed .- A Military Execution .- Christmas Festivities .- Bright Muskets .- New Year's Day, 1862, -- Officers visit Frederick .- Visit of ex-Adjutant Coppinger .- Death of Lieutenant Colonel Hal- lick .- Mud and Slush .- Field Officers Appointed by the Governor .- The " Eighty- third New York Volunteers."-Dissatisfaction .- The Lament of the Involuntary Volunteer .- Western Gun-Boat Service .- A Challenge to Mortal Combat De- clined .- Petition for Transfer to the Heavy Artillery .- Washington's Birthday .- Orders to Move .- Letters.
FREDERICK CITY the capital of Frederick County, was selected as the headquarters of the Department of the Shenandoah, General Banks occupying the residence of Gen- eral Bradley T. Johnson, who was then in the Confederate Army.
Frederick wore the appearance of having been a very pros- perous city, but at this time many of the business places and some of the finer private residences were closed, while some were occupied for military purposes. The majority of the inhabitants were loyal, many of them testifying in frequent visits to the army hospitals, and by care for the sick, their hearty sympathy for the Union Cause.
The camp, which was named in honor of the Captain of Company I, was situated on the gentle slope of a hillside on what was known as Hoffman's farm ; the field was surrounded on three sides by woods, principally of pine, while the fourth was open ; water was abundant and of good quality. On the very day the regiment arrived many of the men took-in camp parlance -- " French Leave," i. e., absented themselves without permission, in consequence of which, on the 5th, orders were issued to the effect that all such delinquents would be court- martialed. By the following day a sufficient number had been apprehended, and the court proceeded to make an example of
$1
ANITYPE
SEE KEY, NEXT PAGE.
CAMP CLAASSEN-WINTER QUARTERS-1831-1862,
KEY.
1. Guard-House.
2. Chaplain. 3. Adjutant.
4. Colonel.
II. Ordnance Tents. -
17. Captain Moesch, Co. B.
5.
Quartermaster,
12. Band Tents.
18. Captain Claassen, Co. I.
24. Road to Frederick City.
25. Drill and Parade Ground.
6.
Lieut .- Colonel.
7. Major.
8. Surgeon.
9. Stables.
15. Captain Greene, Co. D.
21. Captain Hendrickson, Co. G.
10. Commissary.
16. Captain Shanly, Co. E.
22. Captain Cameron, Co. F.
23. Lower End of Co. I. Street.
19. Captain Lockman, Co. H.
13. Captain Prescott, Co. C.
14. Captain Miller, Co. L. 20. Captain Dalrymple, Co. A.
250 a
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1861
CAMP CLAASSEN.
87
them ; non-commissioned officers were reduced to the ranks, while the privates were sentenced to perform from two weeks' · to a month's fatigue duty.
The day after the arrival in camp the men began to build log huts, some completing them with roofs of shingles, while others merely built the walls of logs and stretched the tents on top for a covering. The spaces between the logs were daubed with clay, boards formed a flooring, and sheet-iron stoves, purchased at Frederick, were used to heat the huts ; altogether the quarters were very comfortable indeed. The style of architecture was almost as varied as the number of shanties, giving to the whole a somewhat odd appearance. Daily, three men from each company were allowed passes to leave camp, and as the majority preferred to visit Frederick, a citizen of that place established a line of stages making two round trips every day, and did a thriving business. A Mr. Beatty, a Union refugee from Virginia, received permission to compete
. with the sutler in the sale of luxuries, using for that purpose a large covered wagon, which, from its supposed resemblance to that ancient harbor of refuge, was called " The Ark." A photographer soon opened a "gallery" near the camp ; an · oyster peddler, too, made regular visits, and between these enterprising venders the men's cash was divided, which, after exhausting, they would give sutler Edward Ralph a call and purchase articles on credit. A camp hospital was established in the house of a colored family near by, who gratuitously gave up for that purpose the second story of their dwelling.
On the 9th, Sergeant Francis G. Aims of Company D died, and on the following day the remains were escorted to Frederick Junction, where they were placed on the cars in charge of Sergeant Ralph A. Lanning, who accompanied them to New York.
The company, to show their appreciation of his merits as a soldier and comrade, and their sympathy with, and for the family of Sergeant Aims, at a subsequent meeting adopted the following resolutions : ‘
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88
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
December
HEADQUARTERS, NINTH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. MILITIA, Near Frederick Junction, Md., Dec. 16th, 1861.
The committee appointed at a special meeting held this day of Co. D., NINTH Regiment N. Y. S. M., to draft suitable resolutions, on the death of their late comrade, Francis G. Aims, report as follows :
Whereas, Death has suddenly removed from our midst our beloved friend and comrade, Sergeant Francis G. Aims ; and,
Whereas, We deem some expression of our feelings of sorrow and regret to be befitting the sad and sorrowful occasion ; therefore be it
Resolved, That while deeply lamenting the loss of our brother in arms, struck down upon the very threshold of man- hood, with all the joyous aspirations of youth to a long and glorious career, we yet see in this sad dispensation the hand of God, that doeth all things well, and in our blindness and ignor- ance of His higher purpose, bow in silence before the decree of Him, that seeth not with our eyes and judgeth not with our understanding.
.
Resolved, That we tender expressions of our heartiest sym- pathy and condolence, to the afflicted family and friends of the deceased, grieving with them in their bereavement of one who had borne us cheerful company through many months of hard- ships and privations, and who, from his unvarying gentleness and kindness, had endeared himself to all by every tie of friendship and affection. We would comfort them with the thought that he died nobly in the defense of his country, un- flinching in the discharge of his duty, and faithful to the last ; that he laid himself down to rest with the halo of the patriot shining round his youthful brow, free from every selfish and debasing thought, and uncontaminated by the vices of the world.
Resolved, That in this sad dispensation, we see, each and all, much to improve our own welfare, taking his example who has gone from us, to tread more steadfastly in the path of rectitude and honor, to uphold more manfully the standard of fealty and
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1861
DEATHS IN CAMP.
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truth against rebellion and wrong, finally, when the hour of trial shall come, to be found like him ready and prepared to render a faithful account of the trust committed to our charge. Sergeant WILLIAM A. RICE, Corporal WILLIAM CHAVE, Committee. Private EDWARD T. FISHER,
IN CAMP NEAR FREDERICK JUNCTION, MD.
Company D, NINTH Regiment, N. Y. S. M.
At an adjourned meeting of Company D, held this day, the above resolutions were unanimously adopted, and ordered that a copy of the same be sent to the family of the deceased, and also that the same be published in the " Christian Advocate," "Sunday Mercury" and " N. Y. Leader."
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E. R. GREENE, Captain Comd'g., Company D, 9th. Regt., N. Y. S. M.
Corporal ASA W. TAYLOR, Secretary.
On the 10th, also, Isaac Howell of Company E died; his re- mains were sent home, and on the 23d interred in New York Bay Cemetery, Hudson County, N. J.
On the morning of the 12th the NINTH, with the Second Brigade of the division of General Banks, marched to grounds near Frederick, where it was inspected and reviewed. The trip was a pleasant one, the people along the line of march greeting the men kindly. The brigade returned at seven o'clock in the evening, well pleased with the day's outing. On the 17th a flag-staff, about forty feet in height, was raised, upon which a garrison flag was displayed and the quarters officially designa- ted Camp Claassen.
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