USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 8
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The roads were filled with artillery and wagons, sunk down so deep that the axletrees, and in some instances, hubs were entirely concealed. About noon the rain ceased. At three o'clock the sun came out and our regiment started back. As we came in sight of our old camp, we saw tumbling down the steep gravel bank of a railroad which ran just in front of it, our now highly prized, logical contraband, Jack Smith. He was grappling, and appeared to be in deadly conflict with something, but whether man or beast we could not at first determine. As soon as they reached the bottom, Jack, with an apparently desperate effort, and without letting go his grip, raised his antagonist clear off the ground and started up the steep bank again, but did not get half way to the top, when down they rolled once more, first one on top and then the other. As they struck the level ground Jack yelled like a loon.
Hle was evidently being punished, and several of my men asked permission to leave the column and hurry forward to his assistance. But before they reached him Jack was ou his feet again. And to our utter astonishment we discovered his antago- nist to be a piece of wood about his own size, and as we came still nearer we saw that poor Jack was as drunk as a lord.
As soon as it became apparent we were to return to our old camp, Jack had started back to get things fixed up a little, and . some hot short-cake ready against our return. We did not get back as soon as he expected, and while he sat waiting for us, several colored boys, from other regiments, who had with them a canteen of commissary, came along, and concluded to get Jack
8
S3
FOUR MONTHS AT FALMOUTH.
drunk, that they might steal his biscuit. But they had miscalcu- lated as to the quantity of the dose required to completely lay Jack out. Ile drained their canteen, but was still able to keep between them and his biscuit until several of our men, who had been at work ou the corduroy road and reached camp ahead of the regiment, appeared, when Jack placed one of them on guard and started to get the back-log for his fire, with which we found him grappling.
In all the affairs of life, but especially in war, continued suc- cess, let the real cause be what it may, frequently makes great men of very meagre material ; while defeat, if it be but once repeated, let the fault rest here or there, never fails to belittle a military leader, be his real merit ever so great.
On the 26th of January, 1863, the army of the Potomac had a new commander, in the person of Major-General Joseph Hooker.
As soon as the army returned from Fredericksburg, one regi- ment after another began-though no orders to that effect had been issued-to put log walls under their tents, which not only gave them an opportunity to fix up sleeping places off the ground, but enabled them to stand erect under cover. At the time Burnside's last marching orders reached us, we had suc- ceeded in making ourselves quite comfortable-in fact, were vir- tually in winter quarters. But during our absence on what is now generally known and spoken of by those who participated in it, as Buruside's mud march, nearly all these walls had been torn down, and the logs used in corduroying the roads. And on our return we found everything soaking wet, and the whole camp presenting a decidedly nasty, dilipidated, and cheerless appear- ance. But we soon got huge fires burning, the filth and debris partially cleared away, and our wet tents up, after the old fashion, on what had been our company streets. Then began the repairing and rebuilding the log walls. Before they were fairly completed orders came to change camp ; but no one complained, for we were to move to a much pleasanter spot, near a piece of woods, where rumor said we were to be ordered to put up first-class winter quarters.
On Monday, the 26th, the same day General Hooker took
84
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
command, we pulled up, and moved off to our new grounds, which were situated about one and a half miles nearer Stoneman's switch. Here we again put up temporary shelters, laid out our camp, and set to work with a will, putting up comfortable log cabins.
Part of the men were sent to the woods for logs, with our regimental wagons, all of which had been unloaded, and sent to us for that purpose ; while the others remained in camp, and put the logs in shape as fast as they came in.
For over a week the sound of the axe was heard, go which way you would, from early morn until late at night. Rapidly the woods and forests of that whole region disappeared, and gradually there arose in their stead some fifty thousand muslin and canvas-covered log cabins, grouped in from three to four hun- dred miniature cities, each a petty kingdom, the prerogatives of whose chiefs were more arbitrary than those of modern potentates and kings.
On the 29th of January, the regiment was visited for the first time by a United States paymaster, who dealt out to us all one and a-half months' pay. We had then been in the service nearly five months. But the men, reasoning that half a loaf was better than no bread, received what was paid them thankfully.
The weather throughout the month of February was quite severe, and a considerable quantity of snow fell. But each little log cabin had a good-sized fire-place, and as fire-wood was handy and plenty, we managed, when in camp, to keep tolerably warm. Our mud and wood chimneys did not always work first-rate. Sometimes they drew the wrong way, and the strong pine smoke, instead of going up, would seem to come rushing down, but this was only occasionally, and we soon got so that we did not mind being smoked a little.
Iminediately after General Ilooker took command, large bake- rooms were erected in every division, and soft bread began to be issued instead of hard-tack ; and frequent issues of fresh beef replaced our usual weekly ration of salt pork. There certainly was a decided change for the better in everything. except our
85
FOUR MONTHS AT FALMOUTH.
long tours on picket. There we suffered the same as when under Burnside. But there was no help for that, and our occasional three days on the outer lines made us appreciate more fully than we otherwise would have done the meagre comforts of our camp.
On the 25th of February we started off, somewhat earlier than usual, for our now quite familiar picket line at Hartwood. It was quite muddy. The roads seemed to be breaking up, and occasionally as we marched along one of the men would step in a hole and sink down almost to his knees.
After relieving the grand reserve, four of our companies moved toward the front, to relieve the pickets. Just as they started, a small squadron of cavalry passed out by us on a dead run. Presently they came dashing back, through a piece of woods just in front of us, in utter confusion. Several horses were rider- less, and most of the riders hatless. The officers were waving their swords over their heads, vainly endeavoring to rally their men. Every few yards a horse would sink into the mud, and in plunging to extricate himself, would fall with his rider, and together they would wallow in the mire.
Of course we knew what all this meant ; and finding myself senior officer -- Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins, who came out in charge of the regiment, being temporarily absent-I ordered the reserve forward to the support of our advance pickets, but before we reached them, a body of rebel cavalry appeared, and our vedettes opened fire ; at which the reserve, with a shout, hurried forward. The rebels evidently did not expect to meet any con- siderable force of infantry, for the moment we appeared, they went fours about, and dashed off as wildly as our cavalry had come in. In the meantime Colonel Cummins came up, and we formed line, ready to receive them should they return ; but they did not come back. During the day Berdan's sharp-shooters, and an entire brigade of infantry, were sent out to reinforce us.
Our frightened cavalry, as an excuse for their disgraceful stampede, had reported a force of the enemy's horse at least three thousand strong, in the act of swooping down on our picket line. The truth probably was that a strong reconnoitring party, hav-
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86 HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
ing come across our small body of horse, made a dash at them and accidentally ran into our infantry picket line.
On the 6th of March our turn for picket came around again, and we moved off to a new section of the line nearer camp. A portion of this line ran along the water's edge, on the north shore of the Rappahannock. The enemy's pickets were in plain sight on the opposite bank, and we occasionally witnessed the after- noon drill of a rebel brigade on the plains beyond.
During the month of March very little of especial interest occurred, and furloughs were granted to a considerable number of our officers and mien.
On the 6th of April the entire army was ordered to prepare for a thorough inspection and review. The following day, after everything about camp had been put in the best possible order, and the clothing as well as the guns and accoutrements of the men had been searchingly examined, first by their company and then by their field-officers ; we stacked arms in company streets, aud a sentry was posted on an eminence not far from our camp, to announce the approach of the inspecting parties. About three P. M. our sentry reported them in sight, and the regiment was soon formed on the color line; but Colonel Ellis dimissed us, with orders to return to company streets ; and directed that every man get out of sight in the tent nearest his position in his com- pany line, and remain there, gun in hand, ready to spring to his place and hurry forward to the colors at the sound of the bugle. " A picket fence like that," said he, pointing to a regiment which stood with arms at a shoulder, in an adjoining camp, " is well enough, but I want to show these fellows that there is at least one lire regiment in the army."
In a few moments there appeared at the head of an immense cavalcade a few rods to the left of our camp, riding on two mag- nificent chargers, a general with his bright stars and double . row of shining buttons, and a dark, tall, lank-looking civilian. dressed in black clothes, and wearing a high beaver hat. . At this juneture one of General Whipple's aids came riding at a break- neck gait toward our camp, with orders for the colonel to hurry
87
FOUR MONTHS AT FALMOUTH. 1
out his regiment ; but before he had time to deliver his message the bugle had sounded, the regiment was properly in line, and the great Lincoln, with uncovered head and a smile on his other- wise careworn features, rode along our front, scanning our neat log cabins, peering into our faces, and chatting pleasantly with General Hooker as he went. As they passed beyond our camp and moved down a road that ran at right angles with the course they had been riding, they turned their heads, and looked back ; but their eyes rested on a vacant color line, the regiment had dis- appeared, or rather had been dismissed, and the men were scattered over the camp.
The following morning we moved off some five miles, where a grand review took place, similar to the one held by General Burnside at the Phillips House on the 5th of January. Our corps, now commanded by General Sickles, was drawn up in one line. Forty odd regiments of infantry, ployed in double columns, formed the right ; nine batteries of artillery the left. About one hundred yards in rear of the centre of this line stood two thou- sand mules. These, together with four hundred huge wagons to which they were attached. constituted the ammunition, baggage, and supply trains of our corps.
When the reviewing party appeared, headed by Lincoln, . Hooker, and Sickles, riding abreast, many of the wagoners left their teams in order to get a view of the President. Suddenly a battery of heavy guns, stationed within a short distance of the wagon trains, began firing a salute. The very first report frightened several teams of green mules so that they ran away, and dashing against the others caused a stampede, which spread until nearly half the entire number were dashing away in the wildest confusion. Pell-mell they went, the huge wagons occasion- ally coming together with a tremendous crash. A number were upset, and the mules breaking loose would quicken their pace .. kicking as they ran. Some of the brutes appeared to keep their hind feet continually in the air, and to do all the running with their fore-legs. Several drivers, who managed to get in the hind parts of their wagons as the mules started, were speedily tumbled
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
out again ; and John McGaw, of our regiment, and many others, were run over and severely injured. Not a few of the mules had their legs broken, or were killed outright, and a considerable number must have been captured by other corps or have gone over to the enemy. " At all events, they were never returned to their original keepers. The review, with this exception, passed off very satisfactorily. The next evening the following order was read at dress parade to every regiment in our division.
"ORDERS.
" HEAD-QUARTERS 3D DIVISION, 3D A. C., BELLE AIR, VA., April 9, 1863.
" The General commanding desires to inform the officer and men of this Divison that His Excellency the President, and the Commander-in- Chief of the Army of the Potomac, were pleased to express themselves gratified with the reception given them by the various regiments, on the tth inst.
" The 124th N. Y. V., the 12th N. I. V., and the U. S. S. S., were mentioned with especial praise.
" By command of
. " BRIG .- GEN. WHIPPLE. (Signed) " HENRY R. DALTON, A. A .- G.
.(Official)
" BEN M. PIATT, Captain and A. A .- G."
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
CHAPTER VII.
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
O N the 27th of April, our corps-the Third-General Daniel E. Sickles commanding, was reviewed by General Hooker, accompanied by Secretary Seward and a number of noted gen- erals and civilians. While passing in review we saw heavy columns of troops moving in a westerly direction.
About noon on the 28th, marching orders reached the 124th, and at four p. M. we bade adieu to the now roofless log cabins which during the greater part of the time for months past, had been our homes, and marched to General Whipple's head-quarters, where our division was soon assembled, in heavy marching order; deci- dedly heavy, for each man carried, in addition to his food, blan- kets, gun, and accoutrements; eighty rounds of ammunition and a change of clothing. About half-past four, the General and his staff rode past, and our division fell in and moved off after them in an easterly direction, passing as it went thousands of deserted log cabins. It soon became evident that the entire army was in motion, and that we had been among the last to break camp. It was very foggy, and we could see but little of what was taking place about us. Just where we were going, or what was to be accomplished or attempted, were matters about which we could but speculate.
Gradually the foggy daylight changed to foggy darkness ; but on, on, we pushed, hour after hour until midnight, when we bivouacked near the Rappahannock not far from Bell Plains. We had not moved so far, considering the time occupied, but the march was a very severe one, owing principally to our long inactivity, and the monstrous loads the men were obliged to carry. And when the orders, " Halt ! close up, front," were
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
followed by " Stack arms " and " Break ranks," there was a mur- mur of satisfaction, and shouts of "Good," "Thank the Lord," and the like, from all along the line. Then off went the heavy knapsacks, and in a few moments we were rolled in our blankets and fast asleep.
. On the morning of the 29th, we were called up at daylight; and the men, after hurriedly gathering small handfuls of dry twigs, started little fires and cooked their coffee. In the meantime we could hear quite brisk skirmish firing in the direction of the river, both above and below us. After breakfast we moved forward about half a mile, and halted in plain sight of the enemy's pickets on the opposite side of the river. Our whole corps was there, and we soon learned that it was supporting the First and Sixth corps, which, under command of General Sedgwick, had during the night bridged the river, and rumor said were then crossing : the First corps at Pollocksmills, some distance below, . and the Sixth at Franklin, just above us.
About noon we received a mail, and as night approached, put up our tents. The next morning (April 30th), the regiment was mustered, after which the following order was read to us :
" HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., April 30, 1863.
"It is with heart-felt satisfaction that the commanding general announces to the army, that the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly, or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him.
"The operations of the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth corps have been succession of a splendid achievements.
" By command of ". MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. "S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General."
What had actually been accomplished by the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth corps, that was termed by our commander a succes- sion of splendid achievements, was left to our imagination. That they had caught, and were holding, Lee and Jackson, with the Rebel Army of Northern Virginia, in a trap, which rendered inglo- rious flight their only means of escape from certain destruction, was
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
taken with a grain of allowance. And the men were heard whispering to one another, "I had rather see it than hear tell of it." But this order, on the whole, had an inspiriting effect; and the old enthusiasm and hopefulness with which we had started out on our disastrous fall and winter campaign, seemed to reanimat not only the 124th but all the adjoining troops. When at two o'clock that afternoon the bugle again called us in line, the men sprang to their places as if infused with new life. " Hi! hi! my tulips," shouted Ellis, "that's something like- you're are not dead yet, I see." Then we countermarched, and started off at a lively gait, moving back past our old winter quar- ters, and bivonacking, about one o'clock next morning, in a pear orchard five miles west of Falmouth.
May 1 .- Were up at day-break this morning, and after par- taking of a hastily prepared breakfast pushed on to, and crossed the Rappahannock at the United States Ford, which we reached about ten A. M. As we stepped off the pontoon bridge on the southern shore, we noticed, running along in front of us, a well constructed 'line of the enemy's earth-works, behind which a single brigade, it would seem, might have held the ford against any force that could have been brought against it. Leaving the ford, we moved off in a northerly direction about three miles, and halted in a white-oak wood.
And now, while the regiment rests for a few hours on the outskirts of the battle-field let us take a look about the lines ; note the changes which have taken place during the eight months we have been in the service ; see how many of the nine hundred with which we left Goshen are in the line, and inquire as to what has become of the absent.
Several have been accidentally wounded, and three or four have been captured by the foe. None have as yet actually fallen in battle ; but the exposure, privations, and sufferings of the march and camp have driven away the faithless and weak-hearted, while disease, brought about by the same causes, has not only weeded out the weak-bodied, but has taken away some of the brave and strong.
,
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Sergt. Peter L. Wood. of A
John Robinson A
Charles E. Haxton E
Thomas Kelley A·
Corp. William Decker. F
Charles McVay A
David Titsworth. F
Samuel Clark. A
Jesse Terwilliger. F
Samuel Shultz. B
William H. H. Hunt F
Alfred Yeomans. B
Charles T. Cornelius G .
Stephen W. Brown .C
John H. White. G
James Curry . C
Corp. David Howland. H
Isaiah Rumsey. .C
John Hatch. H
H
Isaac Garrison D
Sergt. Wilson Weygant.
I
Cornelius Allison. D
David Hepper.
I
Zebulon Hallock E
George Randell K
Jonathan Force E Jolin M. Stalbird K
have been forcibly enrolled in the shadowy army, and led through the cold waters across the black river, by the dread Commander's hot-headod recruiting officer, Typhoid, and his aids.
CAPTAIN W. A. MCBIRNEY of E
PRIVATES.
IST LIEUT. W. E. WEYGANT B
1ST LIEUT. JAMES F. ROOSA K
1ST LIEUT. J. B. STANBROUGH I
2D LIEUT. DAVID GIBBS, .G
F
1st Sergt. A. MeDougal.
H
David Babcock
B
Sergt. Francis Mead. H
Sergt. James McCollum. A
.E
Corp. W. D. Millspaugh. . B
Corp. Wm. G. White. B
Corp. Martin Mould. 1
Corp. Edmund F. Allen ..
I
Corp. Jonas G. Davis. .C
Corp. Chas. A. Avery A
Corp. Z. Dusenberry F
DRUMMERS.
J. M. Merritt. of G
W. Johnston. .D
James H. McElroy D
Henry M. Cannon .A
John Hagan. C
Sweezy Degraw .C
George W. Cabrey C
Daniel Halstead E
Richard Traver. E
Hiram ('lark ..
E
John Granville. E
Peter T. Stalter. E
William W. Drake E
Lewis Trister
E
John J. Stafford E
C
Cornelius L. Rhodes
C
Abram Merritt ..
Joseph Helms.
C
A. H. Barton . C
William King . C
John L. Goodsall .C
Daniel C. Jennings
C
Win. H. G. Thorp C
HOSPITAL STEWARD
John Van Horne.
WAGON MASTER,
" Alfred Gray. .of D
TEAMSTERS.
Ezekiel Brundage. .of (
Joseph Gordon.
.B
Chauncey B. Jones. of A
Henry J. Powell. B
N. C. Hanford B
Clark Coon. B
Daniel Babcock.
B
Charles Harrington B
John Ryerson. B
S. Millspaugh. B
Charles C. Clark. C
John Sullivan
C
David Odell.
Sergt. John R. Banker.
1st Sergt. L. E. Elston.
William Shelp.
James H. Bertholf. D
Isaac Ferguson. of E
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
William Decker
E | Daniel T. Tears H
Stephen E. Ostrum. E
William S. Brooks. C
George Dunmoodey E
David Carey I
David B. Wheat E
Eli Vance. I
Josiah Garrison .. F
T. R. Van Tassel I
E. H. Garrison .. F
Nelson Dunlap. F
William Boyst F
Alexander B. Crawford.
I
C. A. Nelson. F
Patrick O'Neil
I
Lewis Williams F
F
W. S. Cook
F
C. W. Merritt. G
Reuben Turner, Sr
G
Reuben Turner, Jr.
G
Francis E. Merritt
G
Napoleon B. Odell
G
Jonathan Acker. K
Peter Noll
K
Stephen Decker .G
George Cripps .G
H
Charles H. Stephens
H
Charles W. Evans.
H
Robert C. Leeper
D
Richard Romine.
n
Nathan H. Duffie. H
Samuel Kniffin.
D
J. A. Miliken H
William Dolson.
D)
William B. Sherman
H
Charles H. Acker
D
Henry Seaman.
H
have been discharged because of physical disability, arising in most instances from disease contracted since they have been in the field.
Corp. Benjamin Z. Bowen. of A | David Bowen. .C
James Lewis. B George J. Thorn .C
Nathan W. Potts. C William Twiggs. . C
have been transferred to the regular army.
Corporal John L. Kalbfuss, of F, received a commission as first lieutenant in, and has been transferred to, a West Virginia regiment.
Lieut. Isaac M. Martin of I James J. Baker of F
Charles Kline .A
Jolin W. Bennett. .G
Benjamin Lancaster A
Hiram W. Degrote .G
.Samuel Green.
B
John Studer.
K
Jolin A. Space. B
Henry J. Wright.
Brice E. Birdsall
B
Alfred G. Randell
K
Corp. William White. C
John Burns
E
Gabriel Coleby
K
.
N. C. Drake K
Thomas B. Peck
Reuben C. Miller K
Stephen W. Frost K
Charles M. Weller K
David N. Wilkin K
Jonathan Corey K
John R. Meehan K
F. M. Wemer
D
Nelson Speer
D
Gilbert S. Howard.
D
John N. Rose.
D
Henry Kidd.
H
Elijah Fenton
G
Ira Barnhart
I
Jolin H. Brooks.
I
Thomas Vanstrander.
are absent without leave.
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Lieutenant A. WHITTENBEECHER, of Co. E, has been dishonora- bly dismissed the service.
Captain ISAAC NICOLL, of G, Lieutenants CHARLES B. WOOD, of A, and WILLIAM E. MAPES, of B, and twenty enlisted men, are absent on ten-day furloughs.
Captain LEANDER CLARK, of I,* Lieutenant WILLIAM A. VER- PLANK, of E, and about one hundred enlisted men, are absent sick.
Adjutant ARDEN and Quartermaster DENNISTON have resigned ; the former in order to muster as major of a heavy artillery regi- ment, the latter because of physical disability.
Quartermaster HENRY F. TRAVIS,
Commissary Sergeant Ellis A. Post . Wagoner Whitmore Baxter. I
Quartermaster's-Sergt. Geo. H. Chandler, 66
David Barnes. B
Commissary Clerk, Calvin C. Lutes. . . of A
Charles Godfrey K
Q. M. Clerk, R. Connelly, Jr C Thomas Burhans. K
Private John McGaw. I
66 George Morgan
E
Wagoner Edward Ginner A
66
John Duffie, H
Ephraim Stephens.
66 William H. Decker. C
Daniel Morgan, A
6 - James H. Clark D
Joseph Johnson. . A
A. J. Mesler. .F
are with the supply train, which has not yet crossed the river.
Sergeant Horace Hammond. of F | Samuel A. White of I
James Jones . A
Nathan Edwards
.C
Charles W. Davis. D George King. C
James H. Clark D A. J. Van Zile. G
Thomas McBride. I |Samuel M. Weeden. . . D
are attached to our division ambulance corps, which is not far away, and when we are led into action. I have no doubt they will be close at hand with stretchers to bear away our wounded.
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