USA > New York > History of the Twenty-second regiment of the National guard of the state of New York; from its organization to 1895, pt 1 > Part 7
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
cheese, pickles and whiskey vanished under their eyes- but the recollection is too painful to be dwelt upon. The worst of it was that the regiment knew perfectly well that it was going to a place where what it then left behind could not be replaced. The orders were to take the train at 10 A. M. So well had the Twenty-second been brought under discipline that it had packed every- thing, cooked its rations and started so promptly that the rear of the column entered the depot at two min- utes of ten o'clock.
The journey from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry was extremely disagreeable. The men were transported in ordinary passenger cars, which they regarded at first as a decided improvement over the cattle cars in which they had gone from New York to Baltimore. Expe- rience, however, soon convinced them of their error. Two men in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, haversacks, with two days' rations, canteens, rifles and sword-bayonets leave but little space in a seat of the ordinary passenger coach, and its occupants, after thus sitting a few hours, became cramped. This they must endure as best they can, for there is no opportunity for relief, but it becomes extremely fatiguing. As for slee , it is almost out of the question.
The road on which the regiment moved was infested with guerrillas, and the train liable to attack at any mo- ment. It therefore crawled along very slowly, the men frequently jumping off the train while it was in motion, picking the berries and wild flowers which grew along the road, and jumping on again. At Sandy Hook, asmall station on the road, the train halted for the night-as it was not considered safe for it to proceed except by day-
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
light-and was guarded by a strong detachment, while the men inside ineffectually sought to secure positions in which they could get some sleep, unaccompanied by cramps. Though the distance from Baltimore to Harper's Fer- ry is not great, twenty-four hours were passed in cov- ering it, dur- ing which the discomforts Buna Austral. Harken of the men Jury . were intense.
After this no complaints were ever made by them against traveling in cattle or baggage cars All along the route burnt bridges, ruined houses and cars thrown off the track and half submerged in the river, indicated the recent presence of the enemy.
The regiment arrived at Harper's Ferry at 7 P. M. and found it a most picturesque place. It is a little village situated in the sloping triangle formed by the junction of the Shenandoah and the Potomac. Both these rivers having a considerable fall at this point, they have been dammed and furnish a fine water-power which was used by the Government gun factory. This had been burned at the outbreak of the war to prevent the gun-making machines from being sent to Richmond. This was not done too soon, for some of the boxes were still there with the address of " Richmond" on them when the Twenty-second arrived. Many muskets had also been destroyed and thrown into the Shenandoah River at the time the arsenal was burned, so that oc-
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty- Second Regiment 57
casionally the members of the regiment, while bathing, would bring up muskets with their barrels bent and broken, from the bottom of the river.
IIcre was the cele- brated engine-house where John Brown made his famous stand for life and liberty. A very poor selection he made For. Brown do que of it, too, as it was hemmed in on all sides and entirely indefensible.
The bridge leading into Harper's Ferry had been destroyed by the Confederates just before they vacated the place, and a temporary onc had been subsequently constructed by the Union men, over which the train went very slowly, for it was quite rickety, and entered upon the " sacred soil " of Virginia.
Extending from the town up the valley was a steep hill, the top forming a plateau, known as Bolivar Heights. This had an old line of rifle-pits across it, and extended with a long slope down the valley-ground which was to become familiar to the regiment in many a march and skirmish drill. Beyond this lay the broad sweep of the Shenandoah valley, a beautiful farming country, but abandoned; the people gone, the houses empty, and the great fields covered with wheat un- gathered and rotting on the stalk. The possession of these crops was the cause of many of the raids up the valley, which were made by the Confederates, and finally led to their destruction by Gen. Sheridan later in the war. All the horses and cattle were also gone, either driven South or taken by one army or the other.
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History of the twenty- Second Regiment
On the Virginia side, the high range known as Lou- den Heights extended along the Shenandoah, and on the Maryland side, the mountain known as Maryland Heights, some 1500 feet high, and somewhat resem- bling the Dunderberg at Peekskill, overtopped all the surrounding hills. Upon its side, seven hundred feet above the river, was a battery of heavy navy guns placed upon a broad platform like a ship-deck. This was the key of the position.
Arriving at Harper's Ferry, where it became a part of the Eighth Corps, Middle Department, Maj .- Gen. John E. Wool commanding, the regiment marched through the war-worn and dilapidated town, thence up a steep and winding road, passed the scattered and de- serted houses on the outskirts, and beyond the earth works on Bolivar Heights, from which Ashby had retreated a short time before. On its way it passed a number of splashed and hard-looking cavalry returning from scouting parties down the valley, their air and appearance showing that they were engaged in actual war.
Finally, the regiment reached a plateau three miles beyond the Heights, near the ground occupied by the Twelfth N. V. N. G. the previous year, where it encamped. All around the ground was marked with old rifle-pits and the marks of previous camps. So numerous were the latter that, a squad sent out to replace some missing tent-pegs picked up twenty-five in less than fifteen min- utes. The troops were young, green and nervous. The natural result was that during the first night the guard around the camp kept themselves busy halting imaginary objects and calling for the corporal of the guard, as if the
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history of ff: twenty: Second Regiment
enemy was actually attacking the camp. The follow- ing order was issued prescribing the camp routine :
CAMP ASPINWALL, -
NEAR HARPER'S FERRY, . June 22, 1862.
General Orders No 16.
I. The following order of daily duties will be observed until further orders:
Reveille, at 5 o'clock A. M.
Breakfast call,
+1 " A. M.
Sick call, 7 A. M.
Guard mounting, 92 A. M.
Dinner call,
I 2 Noon.
Retreat at sunset.
Tattoo,
P. M.
Lights to be extinguished at taps, fifteen minutes after tattoo.
There will be a dress parade every evening at retreat unless otherwise ordered.
Drill calls will be sounded at 74 A. M. and 5 P. M.
Recalls at 9 A. M. and 63 P. M.
II. Company morning reports will be handed in at the ad- jutant's office before 73 o'clock.
The surgeon's report will be handed in before 8 o'clock.
Passes to leave camp must be signed by captains of com- panies, bear the first sergeant's signature that the bearer is not required for duty, and be recountersigned at headquarters.
The companies will police thoroughly their company streets and tents after reveille, at the same time the police party, under the supervision of the officer of the day, will police the general encampment in front, rear and on both the flanks. The guard or the prisoners will police the guard-tent at the same hour.
III. All firing is positively prohibited, except with consent of the officer of the day.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
Officers passing beyond the jurisdiction of the camp (one mile from centre thereof) will make known their intentions at headquarters.
IV. A commissioned officer from each company will superin- tend the roll-calls at reveille, retreat and tattoo. First sergeants will report to their captains after breakfast and dinner roll- calls.
Captains will report to the officers of the day absentees from roll-call at reveille and tattoo. A careful inspection of arms will be made at retreat roll-call. There will be a regular inspec- tion by company on the company parade-ground each Sunday at 9 A. M., unless otherwise ordered.
V. Proper sinks having been provided, they alone must be used for the purpose for which they are constructed.
VI. All venders, of whatsoever articles, are strictly pro- hibited within the limits of the camp.
VII. Private Davidson is transferred from Company C to Company I.
Privates William Adams, John T. Campion, Charles E. De- Lancy, Samuel McCallum, Wm. H. Rossell, James W. Searls, William Schofield and John Winterbottom are transferred from Company H to Company I, as of June 18.
VIII. All persons having passes must go and return by the guard tent.
IX. No intoxicating liquors will be admitted within the lines except by permission from the officer of the day.
X. Corporals Tappin of Company A,
66 White E, .. Young
G,
Perkins G,
Pigeon . .
B,
Howell
F,
Geer .. D, are detailed as color guard with rank of first corporal from this date.
By order of
LIEUT .- COL. ASPINWALL, J. H. GRANT, Adjutant.
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
At 3. A. M. on the second morning after their arrival, the members of the regiment were startled from slum- ber in the gray of the morning by " the long roll." They sprang to arms in great excitement, the companies were hastily assembled and the regimental line formed. It was not light enough to see but a short distance, so patrols were sent out in different directions to ascertain what was the cause of the alarm, while the air was full of rumors. After some time it was found that Col. Mulligan, commanding an Ohio regiment, had received orders to march early that morning, and had taken the opportunity to turn his men out by beating "the long roll." As the men of the Twenty-second were up and the regiment formed, Col. Aspinwall, who was in temporary command, Col. Monroe being detained in Baltimore by sickness, thought he would take advantage of the oc- casion by giving the command a little instruction, and proceeded to have a smart battalion-drill of an hour and a half. The men had had nothing to eat, they had dressed in such haste that their clothing was not com- fortably adjusted (shoes upon the wrong feet, etc.), the morning was stifling hot and they soon became tired, faint and cross, so that the effect of this drill was to create in the regiment a feeling against Col. Aspinwall that it took months to dissipate.
The alarm directed Col. Miles's attention to the ex- posed position of the regiment and the next day, June 23, they were ordered to take a position nearer the other troops. They accordingly broke camp in a heavy rain and moved up to the top of the hill near the town. As their tents were not moved with them, the men were quartered for a day in empty houses. Of these there
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
were plenty-so many, in fact, that two were torn down and ten gutted for wood for the regimental camp-fires of the Twenty-second during their stay. The doors of many were carried to camp and used to sleep on. The regiment then pitched a new camp, known as "Camp Aspinwall," on the slope of the hill known as " Camp Hill," inside of Bolivar Heights, upon which heights they remained during the rest of their enlistment.
Carl Wingate
from excelich
Exameung
passes at.
Harpero
brust works
Ging. 27. 1862
Many of the sick and wounded from Bank's division were still in the hospitals in the town. Many other wounded and sick were constantly being brought in from Winchester, Front Royal and other points, and their wan faces and haggard appearance were a touch- ing sight to new troops.
Harper's Ferry, as well as the surrounding country, was kept under strict martial law during the stay of the Twenty-second. No one was permitted to be out after dark, and no soldier at any time, without a pass, which had to be shown to all guards and pickets. All lights were required to be extinguished at 9 P. M., and special passes were required from all desiring to pass the
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
pickets. These were stationed upon every road about three miles out. The cavalry pickets extended two miles further, and cavalry patrols were constantly scouting up and down the roads and through the country. The roads were often filled with columns of cavalry, long trains of army wagons, with the guards protecting them, and great droves of cattle all going to Winchester. Then again they would be deserted except for the pick- ets marching in and out, and the ever-present squads of cavalry. White civilian travel was conspicuous by its absence. It was always stopped and required to give a satisfactory account of itself and show its pass. Yet it was a decided relief to the members of the Twenty- second to feel that they were in a place where the foe was an open one, and to be free from the constant suspicion of secret treachery, which was ever present at Baltimore.
On June 25, in pursuance of orders from the War Department, all officers and men on furlough were ordered to report for duty immediately or be considered as deserters. A further general order was issued by the War Department, dated June 12, 1862, forbidding the issue of furloughs by captains or colonels upon any pre- text whatever.
e
CHAPTER VII,
HARPER'S FERRY.
T T HE regiment now settled down to steady, system- atic work under army regulations which soon added whatever it might have lacked to convert it into a well-disciplined organization. It was brigaded with the Twelfth N. G. (Soo strong), Eighty-seventh Ohio (1200) and two troops of the Second Maryland Cavalry (150). Besides these there were in the fortifications two companies of the Jackson Light Artillery, and two companies of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery and some infantry were on Maryland Heights.
The Twenty-second was drilled daily for about six hours. Company drill in the morning and in the afternoon battalion drill on three days in the week, and brigade drill on the other three. The company and battalion drills were sometimes in the field in rear of the camp, but more often beyond Bolivar Heights, where there was plenty of room, but where the rough and broken ground made it hard work. Here, also, the brigade drills were had. Under this steady, sys- tematic instruction of every man, the Twenty-second attained a proficiency in drill which the regiment has probably never since equalled. Its manual of arms was perfection and there was no movement in the tactics
6.4
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
1
-
f 5
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
which it could not perform like a machine. The march to and from the drill-ground was long and dusty, and what " dusty " means can only be appreciated by those who have served a summer's campaign in Virginia. The dust lay three inches deep in the roads, and when the regiment marched out it was often impossible to see the length of a company or to tell whether the column consisted of six hundred men or six hundred cattle. To those in the ranks, the dust was almost stifling. The companies often "opened out" the fours so as to create as little dust as possible, but this afforded only trifling relief.
The brigade made a tremendous line, and every change of front involved a march of more than a quarter of a mile for the organizations that were upon the flanks. Three or four hours of brigade drill, under a broiling sun, marching over hollows and humps, gulleys and old rifle-pits, often at "double quick." taxed the energies of the men to the utmost, and it was common at first for many to drop from exhaustion. In time, however, they became tough as veterans.
In these drills the men were supplied with blank cartridges and drilled in firing with them. While this was going on, the cavalry would ride up and down the line to accustom the horses to the smoke and noise. To vary the monotony of the drill, many of the Twenty- second, after pouring the powder from the cartridges into the rifles, adopted the practice of twisting the paper into a hard wad and of ramming it well on top of the powder. By giving the gun a high elevation, this wad could be shot far enough to reach the passing cavalry. When it struck a horse the result was usually indicated by his standing on his hind legs. The cavalry men, who
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
appeared to be deficient in humor, did not appreciate this little joke, and its continuance caused considerable feeling between them and the infantry. The result of this was that, one day as the cavalry was galloping down the line from the right, and the front of the brigade was enveloped in smoke, the order was given to . the former, " Right wheel. Charge." They pretended to misunderstand it for a "left wheel," and charged di- rectly into the brigade line, striking the centre of the Twenty-second. The charge was made so quickly, and the smoke was so dense, that the first thing the infantry knew, the cavalry was right upon them. The troopers struck at the infantry men with the flat of their sabres, and tried to force their horses through their line, while the infantry clubbed their muskets and struck the horses over their noses, and some began to fix bayonets. Mat- ters began to look very ugly and there was every indi- cation of a fracas, when Col. Miles, the brigade com- mander, and Col. Aspinwall, came galloping down the line and stopped it, with the use of considerable lan- guage. This little episode led to the disuse of wad- firing.
Col. Monroe was not an advocate of firing with blank cartridges, believing that it led to random firing He practiced the companies quite frequently in target shooting, although the method pursued and the results obtained would be laughed at at the present day. The "old guard" every day discharged their loaded rifles at rocks in the Shenandoah (a distance estimated at about 400 yards), and after July 23, firing was had, on alter- nate days, at 200 yards at a target placed upon a board fence, each man having three shots. All the firing was
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
.-
-
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
"off hand," and there was no instruction, for in those days no one knew how to instruct. Aiming or posi- tion drill was unheard of. The men learned how to load and fire their rifles and that was all.
In addition to the beautiful scenery which surrounds Harper's Ferry, it possesses considerable facilities as a watering-place. The Shenandoah and Potomac are dammed a mile or two above the town, and the water from the former is conducted into a large canal along- side of the river, which forms a most admirable bathing- place. The weather was intensely hot during the sum- mer (often over 100° in the tents). The bathing was a great luxury, and was indulged in to such an extent that before July was over almost every man in the Twenty- second was an expert swimmer.
This canal presented a singular sight upon every fine day after the morning drill, filled as it then was by from one to two thousand naked men, laughing, shouting and swimming races, until the water presented the same confusion that appears upon the ice in Central Park when the skating is at its height. Some kind of fun and practical joking was always going on among the soldiers, for it must be remembered that all the regi- ments were mostly composed of young men of from eighteen to twenty-two (whom they would now look upon as boys), boiling over with fun and animal spirits, and ready to take a hand in anything that might hap- pen, without regard to the consequences. Yet they rarely passed beyond the proper bounds. A striking example of this was afforded upon one occasion when a young woman, nicely dressed, passed along the tow- path between the canal and the river, while the men
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History of the twenty: Second Regiment
were bathing. It was a great ordeal for her, but there was no other way and no escape, and to turn back was as bad as to keep on. So she held herself erect, averted her head, and walked along half a mile of naked soldiers, alone. But no man insulted her, or, in fact, said any- thing to her, and it would have gone hard with anyone if he had attempted to do so. Anyone who has seen European armies, and knows what the men belonging to them would have done under such circumstances, can appreciate this conduct.
Among the many queer experiences of this period is one that happened to the writer. One day there was a diving race, and at the word he and several others dived and swam under water, to see which could get the furthest. Just as the writer's breath was about ex- hausted, he perceived another man, also swimming under water, coming towards him. Both rose to the surface to avoid a collision. Greatly to the writer's surprise, the man was an old schoolmate whom he had not seen for ten years. The recognition was mutual, and they shook hands, as well as can be done by men who have at the same time to swim with the other. "Why, Lewis," said the writer, "what are you doing here ?"
"I am in camp with the -," was the answer.
But just then they were swept apart by a tumultuous rush of swimmers, and the rest of the answer was not heard. Moreover, as one naked man looks very much like another, they could not find each other again, and although the writer often looked and inquired for his friend, he has never seen him from that day to this. Moreover, as this was thirty-three years ago, he has given up the idea of ever doing so. It was, however,
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history of the twenty= Second Regiment
quite an unusual experience to meet an old schoolmate four feet under water.
Some distance up the valley the Shenandoah runs through a narrow space with great rapidity. This was a favorite place for the swimmers of the pickets and those who could get passes. These, when not on duty, spent the hot afternoons bathing, going down with the current through the rapids and then running back through the fields to the starting-point, the sensation in going down the swift current being not unlike sliding down a toboggan.
The hot weather, hard work, and particularly the change of water, had, at first, a prejudicial effect upon the health of the regiment. The spring water was so impregnated with lime that it looked like milk, and acted like a cathartic. Diarrhoea became so universal that at one time, in the first week of July, all drills had to be stopped for a week, and there were not enough men fit for duty in the regiment to supply the camp guard. Many became seriously sick, and had to be sent home.
Several orders were issued upon the subject. The men were restricted to one cup of coffee at a meal. In- dulgence in fruits was strictly prohibited. An ounce of whiskey was issued daily to each man, which was put in the water in his canteen, and he was prohibited from using any other water. Vendors having passes were allowed to enter camp to sell fresh milk, butter, eggs and vegetables. Officers were required to inspect the com- pany messing, to take great care to see that the food was properly prepared, and to furnish each man a small cup of coffee immediately after reveille. The men were
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
only allowed to bathe twice a week, and to stay in the water for not more than fifteen minutes at a time.
These regulations were enforced, and after a time the men became accustomed to the water and mode of living, and hardened by the incessant drills, so that they, thereafter, experienced no serious trouble.
July 4, 1863, was celebrated by the Twenty-second in the old-fashioned manner. There were speeches by the officers. the raising of a flag-pole in camp, and a series of athletic games-running, jumping and a glove fight, Col. Aspinwall being the best jumper, and the writer being declared to be the winner of the glove fight, and entitled to some certificate, which he never received. That night the batteries on Maryland Heights opened upon some scouting parties of the Confed- erates on Loudon Heights, across the Shenandoah. These reciprocated on July 6, by firing on the regi- mental pickets. On July 17, the seriousness of the sit- uation induced Col. Monroe to order that the cartridge- boxes should be filled at retreat, and all expended am- munition replaced at the same time every day. There were several court-martials held at this time, all for minor offences, such as out-staying a pass, etc. There was one case of a sentry who, with an obstinate adher- ence to what he considered to be his duty, refused to change his post when ordered to do so by the officer of the guard and the officer of the day. For this he was sentenced to fourteen days in the guard tent. Col. Monroe remitted the sentence, in view of the confine- ment that the culprit had suffered ; but, in his order on the subject, stated the duties of sentries so clearly that it is quoted here, the matter being one upon which there
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