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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
75
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
is frequently considerable doubt in the minds of many soldiers. He said :
" The colonel commanding takes the occasion of the publica- tion of the foregoing proceedings to rectify some misapprehen- sions in respect to the responsibility and duties of sentinels. It is a mistake to suppose that a sentinel can be relieved only by a non-commissioned officer of his guard. It is the right, and sometimes the duty, of the officer of the day to inspect the piece and cartridge-box of a sentinel on post, to satisfy himself that the one is loaded and that the other contains the requisite am- munition. The officer of the day, when properly made known to the sentinel, may order him off his post, put him on another post, or give him any proper military order. The responsibility is with the officer. The sentinel is safe in following his direc- tions."
An inspection of the brigade was made by Maj .- Gen. Wool, the department commander, on July 22, by whose direction the brigade commander issued an order con- veying to the Twenty-second Gen. Wool's "great gratifi- cation at its soldierly appearance and proficiency in drill and discipline," and stating his intention of "returning and witnessing its drill in the evolutions of the line."
The brigade was commanded by Col. Dixon S. Miles, Second Infantry U. S. A., an old regular officer. He had fallen under a cloud on account of something he did or omitted in the first battle of Bull Run and had been put in charge of Harper's Ferry. He was a splendid drill officer, with a peculiarly penetrating voice that would carry the entire length of the line of 2500 men, and he handled his brigade beautifully. There was something wrong in his composition, however, and it was generally understood that he was a victim of the absinthe habit.
76
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
He was rough, overbearing and disagreeable. It was stated that he replied to an application for leave to return home, made by one of the members of G Com- pany, who was very sick with heart disease and liable to die at any moment, " that none of the Twenty-second Regiment should return home until their time had ex- pired, unless they went home in a box.". He had a great respect for Col. Monroe, as an ex-officer in the regular army, and if the latter had lived, Harper's Ferry would probably not have surrendered. Un- fortunately Col. Monroe was taken with typhoid fever and died on July 31, 1862. He was adored by the men, who had the greatest confidence in him, which he fully deserved.
Probably no event in the history of the Twenty- second ever excited such sorrow and consternation in its ranks as did his death. The regiment was momentarily expecting an attack by the Confederate forces, which all knew would be a desperate conflict, and it relied with con- fidence upon the leadership of Col. Monroe. His care of and thoughtfulness for his men had also made them regard him with affection. For days after his death the camp was silent and gloomy. Every mark of re- pect was given to Col. Monroe's memory. The officers of the Twenty-second met and passed appropriate reso- lutions. The entire brigade escorted his remains to the cars, the march being made through six inches of fine dust, which rendered it impossible to see from one platoon to the next. A special detachment, consisting of Capts. Otis, Post and Wilsey, First Lieuts. Bellows, Edwards, Oakley and Hoyt, Second Lieuts. Landers, Smyth and Remmy, and a detail of two privates from each com-
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
4
THE ''HAPPY FAMILY."
E. C. Homans.
W. A. Brewer. Jas. S. Robbins.
P. W. Van Brunt. Abm. Schenck. G. B. Goldschmidt.
CAMP ASPINWALL, SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS.
: :
Q. M. Chas. T. White. Asst. Surgeon Albert Gallatin.
Surgeon Le: + I.cc.
Acting Chaplain E. N. White.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
1 79
pany, two sergeants and two corporals, under the command of Lieut. E. A. Landers, escorted his body to New York, the railroads furnishing transportation without charge.
The Seventh, and all the officers stationed in Baltimore, escorted the party through Baltimore, forming a most imposing procession. Col. Mon- roe's body lay in state for four days in St. Xavier's Church, New York, and was then buried, with mili- tary honors, in Holy Cross Cemetery. A handsome and expensive monument was subsequently erected over his grave by the reg- iment, which is kept in good order and strewed with flowers on every Dec- MONROE MONUMENT. oration Day by the mem- bers of James Monroe Post G. A. R .*
While Col. Lloyd Aspinwall, who succeeded Col. Monroe, had, on account of the latter's illness, almost the entire charge of the drilling of the regiment since its arrival at Harper's Ferry, he had practically no previous military experience, although he had once be- longed to a militia artillery regiment. As is not un- common with officers who have never seen actual field
* The Twenty-second also raised $2000 for Col. Monroe's family.
80
History of the twenty: Second Regiment
service or carried a musket in the ranks, he had to learn, by experience, what his men could undergo without suf- fering, and, until he did learn, was often, from igno- rance, inconsiderate of their comfort. The men com- plained of the severe drills in the hot weather, and, in particular, of being kept at a "shoulder arms" while the long brigade was closing and deploying, and of other matters having less foundation. They had little or no confidence in him as a leader, as compared with Col. Monroe, and felt the change of command deeply. Greatly to their surprise and pleasure, he proved a good colonel. He dropped the long-continued "shoulder arms" and some of the other peculiarities they complained of, and showed himself a first-class drill officer. In a short time he won the respect and con- fidence of his command, although it was not until the succeeding campaign that he attained the popularity of his lamented predecessor .*
The Twenty-second at this time completely aban- doned their gray full-dress coats and sent them to New
* Gen. Lloyd Aspinwall died in Bristol, R. I., on September 4, 1886, at the age of 56. He was born in New York, and was the son of William II. Aspinwall, of the firm of Howland & Aspinwall, one of the oldest shipping houses in America. In his youth he entered his father's office, succeeded him as a member of the firm, and was at the head of it at the time of his death.
Gen. Aspinwall, in 1$54, enlisted as a private in Capt. Hincken's Bat- tery, Fourth Artillery, N. G., Col. Yates commanding. In 1855 Col. Yates became a brigade commander, and, Col. Hincken taking command of the regiment, appointed Mr. Aspinwall quartermaster. In 1857 the latter was elected major of the Seventh Regiment, but declined the position. He originated the formation of the Union Grays in Isot. He held the position of colonel of the Twenty-second antil December 1, 1365. when he was com- missioned brigadier-general of the Fourth Brigade, N. G. He commanded the First Division of the National Guard during the period intervening be- tween the death of Maj .- Gen. Sanford and the appointment, as his suc-
SI
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
York. They were exactly the same as those of the Confederate artillery, and in the present situation a cause of trouble. During the rest of the campaign officers and men wore the army blouse and trousers with the gray cap, getting on very well without any full dress. They also dispensed with the services of the band, finding it too expensive a luxury. In fact, it cost the officers over $2000 up to August 18. As their shoes began to wear out, they adopted the army brogan or " mud scow," as it was termed, and found its low heel and broad sole much the best for a soldier's use.
In addition to the ordinary drills, detachments from the regiment were sent, from time to time, to guard the different parts of the railroad to Winchester, which was frequently torn up by guerrillas. Pickets were also
cessor, of Gen. Shaler by Gov. Fenton. He resigned his commission on September 13, 1869. He was elected for three consecutive terms president of the Army and Navy Club, succeeding Gen. Hancock.
Gen. Aspinwall was appointed volunteer aide-de-camp to the command- ing general of the Army of the Potomac, Gen. Ambrose C. Burnside, in December, 1862, and served with him during the disastrous Fredericksburg campaign. By direction of Gen. Burnside, he made the first report of the battle of Fredericksburg to President Lincoln in person. He subsequently received the thanks of the commanding general for the service performed by him.
About two years before his death, Gen. Aspinwall, with other members of George Washington Post, visited the United States man-of-war Ten- nessee, lying off Twenty-third Street, N. R. In descending the steps lead- ing to the wharf, he slipped and fell, breaking his leg. The surgeon, before setting the limb, proposed to give him chloroform. "No, no," said the general, " give me a cigar." His wish was complied with, and he under- went the painful operation with great fortitude. For months he was con- fined to the house, after this mishap, but he finally recovered the full use of his limb.
Gen. Aspinwall was over six feet in height, and of commanding pres- ence. Though of dignified carriage, he was genial and affable. Several years before his death he declined to take the nomination for mayor of this city.
82
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
maintained upon the different roads leading into the town.
The pickets were sent out in squads of twelve men under a sergeant and corporal, and were "out" five days, rations being sent to them daily from camp in a wagon. They were also daily visited by the brigade officer of the day. In the daytime they had but little to do, but after dark they went out in pairs and laid down where they could see as much as possible without being seen, and kept a strict watch. On one of the first pickets was a big, good-natured recruit named Harp, one of those who enlisted in Company K the day the regiment had left New York. Harp was a great boaster. One day he had been talking largely of what he would do if he was attacked, etc., and at night it came his turn to go on post. There was an old aban- doned graveyard near his station and a number of giant fire-flies in the air. The combination utterly demoral- ized him. He first declared they were men with lanterns and was going to fire at them, but was restrained by his companion. He finally got over the lantern idea, but swore the lights were "corpse candles." No one of the squad knew what these were. Neither did Harp, for that matter, except that they had something to do with ghosts, and he was afraid of ghosts. He declared that he would do double duty up to midnight, but that he would not stay on that post after that hour, even if he were to be court-martialed and shot for disobedience of orders. This was a terrible state of things. For the Twenty-second to have a man who was afraid was bad, but to have one who was afraid of " corpse candles" would, if reported, make it the laughing-stock of the
83
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
origade. A solemn council of the picket (which was composed of a lot of reckless young fellows) was held, and it was decided to give the scer of ghosts "a good scare." After the men had loaded their rifles at night, as they always did, one of them got possession of the delinquent's gun and drew the charge, leaving a load of only half the powder and a wad of paper instead of a bullet. Harp was put on post, close to the graveyard, from 10 to 12 P.M., and as midnight approached and it was thought he was getting uneasy, his companion pre- tended he heard a noise, and crawled away to investigate it, leaving Harp alone. In the meantime, one of the other men had turned his jacket inside out, tied a hand- kerchief round his head and armed himself with a revolver, having only caps on the nipples. When Harp was alone this man crept up to him through the bushes. When he got within twenty feet, Harp challenged him. The supposed Confederate jumped out into the moon- light and snapped a cap at Harp, who promptly fired back, but, of course, did no harm. The expectation then was that Harp would run. In fact nine men out of ten would have done so, if they had found themselves standing with an empty gun in front of a man armed with a revolver who was deliberately shooting at them. But Harp, although afraid of ghosts, was not at all afraid of a man, and instead of running began to load. Thereupon the other man ran. He had not got down the road a hundred feet before he heard Harp's rammer rattle on the ground, indicating that he had thrown it down without stopping to return it. At this the run- ner, with great presence of mind, promptly jumped off the side of the road into the bushes below. It was
-
34
history of the twenty Second Regiment
fortunate he did so, for he was scarcely out of the moon- light before a bullet struck where he had been standing. The rest of the picket at once came tearing up. "I have killed him, boys-I have killed him," said Harp. "He went head over heels down there when he was hit."
So the picket hunted all around over the old rifle- pits and through the blackberry bushes to find the dead "reb," but could not do so, although assisted by the man himself, who had gone back, turned his jacket, got his gun, and come out to help find his own corpse. After this the picket had more respect for Harp.
At this time there was great feeling among a certain class in the North, and in particular in Maryland and Kentucky in regard to "interfering with the slaves," and the Government had taken a neutral position on the subject, so as "not to offend the border States." The orders were strict that negroes were not to be permitted to pass inside the Union lines, but it was one thing to make orders and another to enforce them.
The Twenty-second prided itself upon obeying orders, but it proved, in practice, to be impossible for its members, or for those of any other Northern organ- ization, when on picket, to see the color of the poor be- draggled, foot-sore wretches, who would suddenly ap. pear in front of them, in the gray of the morning, having walked ten or fifteen miles during the night, secking the protection of the Union lines-frequently a woman, carrying a baby, and with little children clinging to her skirts. The men carried their few possessions in a big bundle tied to a stick, and the women usually "toted " a roll of bedding. As they approached, the pickets in-
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty Second Regiment 85
variably found something that required their attention in another part of their beat, so that the " contrabands" slipped through without their noticing them.
The rush of these into the lines was very great, and Harper's Ferry was soon crowded with nearly 5000 runaway slaves.
How they lived was a mystery. They crowded the empty houses, and overran the camp, washing clothes,
SERVANTS OF ONE COMPANY, HARPER'S FERRY.
selling pastry, berries and similar articles, and doing the odd jobs in which the negro delights. Nearly every mess, and many of the men, had a servant who was glad to do anything for something to eat, or for a small quantity of loose change. When the place was cap- tured by Jackson, in September, some of the regiment who were left behind in the hospital and were captured
86
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
but not taken away, reported afterwards that all these poor creatures were taken from their houses, formed in a great drove, and driven South, like so many cattle, crying and wailing for their lost glimpse of freedom, and presenting a heart-rending spectacle as they were marched down the valley.
The weather at Harper's Ferry, during the summer, was very trying. During the day the heat would be in- tense-100° to 115° in the tents. The glare of the sun from the white tents and trodden clay of the streets of the camp was like the heat of a baker's oven. The sun went down in a blaze of glory, the sunsets being some- thing beyond description. The western sky would be a sea of translucent mother-of-pearl, with rosy islands, gradually changing from one hue to another, so that at dress parade men, who were far from romantic, would sometimes let the orders escape them while watching the marvelous picture spread upon the clouds before them.
When the sun was fairly set, the air became chill and the dew heavy. The men slept in their clothes, with their blouses and overcoats over their blankets, and even then were often cold. The sentries and pick- ets sleeping without cover, would wring the dew out of their blankets every morning as if there had been a rain. It was a singular experience to be on sentry duty from 3 to 5 A. M. A heavy overcoat and the exertion of walking one's beat was insufficient to keep one warm. The gun-barrel was like an icicle, so that, having no gloves, the men often wrapped the coat-tails of their overcoats around it so as to be able to carry it. Sud- denly, after two hours' walking, the sentry, while still
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE,
ALBANY, N. Y.
1
CAPTAIN AND SERGEANTS, F COMPANY, AT HARPER'S FERRY.
First Sergt. F. J Allen Capt. A. S. Francia, Seret Edward Bussell. Sorgt. Thomas lawrence. Seigt Chas G. Dobbe
Corp. Char r. fumble.
1
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
chilled to the bone, would see the sun shoot up over the mountains like a great red football, and in half an hour the thermometer would be at 90°, and he would be wish- ing he could find a shady place.
Frequently the monotony of the hot days and cold nights would be broken by a heavy storm. A small cloud would come up over the hills and in almost no time a gale would be upon the camp. Some of them were " corkers." In these the rain descended in sheets, the thunder roared, the wind blew a hurricane and fre- quent flashes of vivid lightning made it almost as light as day. The scene it illuminated was unique-a hun- dred tents rocked in the wind, the flies and flaps crack- ing like loose sails on a vessel struck by a squall, and 500 officers and men in various stages of undress were to be seen hard at work outside their tents, soaked to the skin by the pelting rain, some holding on to the guy ropes and tent. poles, others driving in loose tent pegs, and all using language which was bluer than the lightning. Every once in a while, down would go a tent, the wet, heavy canvas half smothering those of its occupants whose confidence in the security of its fas- tenings had induced them to remain inside. Their efforts to crawl out from under the wet canvas were most amusing-to everybody but themselves.
The sentries did not enjoy this style of weather, particularly those whose duty it was to walk the line of posts extending along the edge of the steep bluffs over- hanging the Shenandoah, where to walk out of the beaten track, was to get a fall of 200 to 300 feet. Neither did the members of the Grand Rounds who had to pass along this and other beats after mid-
90
history of the twenty Second Regiment
night. One night during a storm, the Grand Rounds approached so close to a sentry that when he first became conscious of something moving in the darkness and came to a "charge" his bayonet struck the buttons of the sergeant of the guard.
The most pleasant part of the day was between dress parade and tattoo. The heat had then abated and the cool of the night air was most refreshing. The men would gather in their company streets, tell stories, crack jokes and sing songs of all kinds, patriotic, college and sentimental, those with a rousing chorus being the favorites. Many of them, now middle-aged, often recall these hours as among the most pleasant of all that linger in the memories of the experiences of a busy life.
Most of the songs sung by the soldiers in the field were pathetic, rather than warlike. "John Brown's Body," "Rally 'round the Flag," and " Tramp, Tramp," were favorites, but there were more like "Who Will Care for Mother Now?" " The Vacant Chair," and simi- lar songs, which seemed to be more admired. "March- ing Through Georgia" was not known until after the war. One of the most curious things in regard to war songs is that "Dixie," which had originally been a negro minstrel song, was the campaign song of the Republicans during the Lincoln campaign and was taken up by the South after his election.
It is unnecessary to say that practical jokes were incessant. The extent to which all had become accus- tomed to them is shown by the following incident: The importation of liquor into camp was forbidden, and many packages were seized by the provost marshal
-
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE,
ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty: Second Regiment 91
at the depot. It was, therefore, a luxury. One day Sergt. Frank Brown of A Company (afterwards Major of Cavalry) announced proudly that he had " euchered the provost guard and ran in some whiskey from home" and invited a dozen of his friends into his tent to "take the oath." They responded with alac-
1
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF, HARPER'S FERRY.
Color Sergt. Wm. Lamonby. Com. Sergt. Thompson.
Right Gen. Guide Wyckoff. Color Sergt. Geo. V. W. House.
Lockwood. Sergt. Major Charles Walker. Left Gen. Guide Maj. Goldschmidt.
rity, filed into the tent, closed the tent flaps and seated themselves in a tight circle around their host, who sat down with his back against the rear tent pole, reached his hand behind him and groped into a hole which formed his cellar, and produced a black bottle which he handed to the man on his right. The latter took a long
92
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
drink and passed it to the next, who drank and passed the bottle in like manner. After every one of the dozen had drank his fill, no man saying anything, the bottle finally reached its owner. He held it up to the light and said : " Well, boys, there is more left than I expected ; here is luck," took a long drink, choked and spit out what he had not swallowed and said : " H -, this is vinegar! I got the wrong bottle." It is unnecessary to say that a general roar went up from each of his dozen guests, not one of whom had manifested by a movement that he had been drinking vinegar instead of whiskey, for fear of preventing the others from being sold as he had been. Brown, who had intended no sell, apologized profusely for the mistake and produced another bottle which he tested himself before passing-around, and to which his guests did ample justice.
There were often sad scenes, as well as pleasant ones. Once in the gray of the morning, one of the out- posts brought in a man to the guard. He was an elderly citizen with a grip sack, looking like a well-to-do Western farmer-which he was. He had come from the railroad and had a pass to go to the camp of the Eighty- seventh Ohio. The officer of the guard told him that he could not go further until after sunrise, when the sen- tries would stop challenging and asked him to sit down by the guard-fire until then. The old farmer stood with his back to the fire and chatted with the officer and some of the guard, the most of the "off relief" lying around the fire more or less asleep. He said he had come on from Ohio to see his only son who had left college to enlist in the Eighty-seventh and who he had heard was sick, praising his son with a father's pride
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
History of the twenty: Second Regiment 93
and saying they would soon fix him up when he got him "home to mother." The lieutenant said, "What is your boy's name?"
He gave the name, which was rather an unusual one, "Walter Wilkenson," or something like that. The word aroused one of the sleepy guard who had not previously paid any attention to the conversation. "Walter Wilkenson," he said; "why, that's the name
COMPANY A, OFFICERS AND MEN, HARPER'S FERRY.
of the man who was buried yesterday from the Eighty- seventh Ohio." The old farmer dropped upon the log in front of the fire, as if the thoughtless speaker had struck him with a club, buried his face in his hands and sat silent for ten minutes, a picture of grief. Then, drawing a long breath, he lifted such a changed face and sadly murmured: "The Lord's will be done." The words were true. He had come all the way from Ohio to
94
History of the twenty- Second Regiment
find his boy dead and buried on the very day before his arrival.
The regiment did not have much "spirituous com- fort." The provost guard at the depot was very strict. All boxes except those addressed to an officer, were opened and all alcoholic beverages confiscated. The members of the regiment soon learned to evade this by having all their boxes addressed to their captains. No objection was made to this by the regimental officers, as the men did not abuse the privilege. Those in other organizations, however, were not so much to be trusted, and devised all kinds of schemes "to get around the provost guard."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.