USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 10
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
having orders to remove all stores they could by rail and tran- sport and burn and destroy the rest. It was also learned that the army was in motion, and large bodies had been moving during the night and morning past the Court House towards Dumfries. All was excitement and confusion. After much inquiry it was ascertained that the 12th Corps had passed the Court House early in the morning in the same direction.
The men having finished breakfast, the ronte was resumed in the direction of Dumfries, and after a hard and tedions march, the command went into camp for the night at five o'clock in the afternoon on Quantico Creek. The road from Stafford C. H. was badly eut up and bore evidence of heavy marching. Wrecked wagons, goverment stores, abandoned clothing, and all sorts of debris were scattered along the road. Everything bore evidence of the hasty flight of the army and the excite- ment and confusion that prevailed. Among other things, hundreds of army horses were running wild and unconstrained in the woods and along the road, and there was much waste of publie property. Many of the horses were afterwards recovered by Union cavalrymen, but large numbers were lost. At one place the men's haversacks were replenished with pork and hard- tack from an abandoned quarter-master's wagon, and if any- thing was needed, it was supplied from property found on the road.
The place of encampment was a picturesque one on the bank of the creek below a mill-dam, and was sheltered and supplied with good water. The detachment threw out pickets and spent the night in all the dignity and style of a large body of troops. The village doctor of Dumfries had his residence near, and the officers obtained a good supper and an excellent break- fast at his house.
The little command was not disturbed during the night, and early in the morning resumed its march over the old route to Fairfax Station. The men were anxious to overtake their re- spective regiments and marched more rapidly and continuously than the troops in front. The rear guard of the army was
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ACQUIA CREEK TO LEESBURG.
overtaken during the forenoon, and from its members it was learned that the 12th Corps was on that route some distance in advance. It was hot and dusty and the march rapid and fatiguing, so those who wished were exeused, while the remainder pressed on and overtook the regiment in the edge of the evening one mile beyond Oecoquan Creek, eross, hungry and greatly fatigued by the extraordinary exertion.
At daylight the brigade was in line and at an early hour halted at Fairfax Station for breakfast ; some of the officers being served at a private house at fifty cents a head. The profit to the woman was forty-nine and a half cents apiece ; this, as the boys said, was " Virginia hospitality" with a vengeance. About ten o'clock the command arrived at Fairfax C. HI. and went into camp in a beautiful meadow on the northeast side of the village. The appearance was quite different from what it was in January preceding : the verdure of the green fields giving an entirely different aspeet to the country, and the growing grass covering the filth and debris which Siegel's troops had left behind on the prior occasion. The weather was warm and sunny, and the boys were captivated with the place. Some of the men sported about on horses taken up on the road, but these were eventually turned over to the government.
All sorts of rumors were in circulation as to the destination of the 12th Corps, and some indulged the pleasing hope that it was on the way to Washington or Alexandria, but at six o'clock in the morning all doubt was solved when it marched on the Chain Bridge road in the direction of Vienna. Just before ar- riving at the latter place, the command turned to the left and pursued a road of inferior width and quality for a distance of ten or fifteen miles, erossing Difficult Creek, and the Leesburg and Alexandria Railroad en route, and went into camp at noon in a clover field to the left of the Leesburg and Alexandria turnpike. The route traveled did not appear like one frequented by the army, and the appearance of the farms and farm build- ings was excellent. In the morning it was pleasant, but owing to a mist rising from the ground, the march was taxing on the endurance of the men.
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MEMOIRS 145th N. Y. INFT.
The place of encampment was near a farm-house surrounded with farm buildings, as in the North ; the fields were covered with grass and grain, and everything had a thrifty and pros- perons appearance. The owner of the premises stood in the front yard and tried to look smiling and pleasant as the different regiments filed into the fields, but he must have been sick at heart as he saw the product of his labor vanish so quickly be- fore his eyes ; it certainly was a sight to make a farmer siek. In the morning, in well-fenced fields about his home stood grain, corn, grass and all kinds of produce in abundance nearly ready to harvest ; at night, the scene was changed to an open and barren waste.
At daylight in the morning the command resumed its journey in the direction of Leesburg, passing through Drainsville, a small place of one or two hundred inhabitants. The morning was warm, the atmosphere clear and the scenery delightful. The farms were comparatively small, under fair cultivation, and similar in appearance to those in London and Shenandoah Valleys. The land was rolling, the timber hard wood, mostly oak, chestnut and walunt, and the general appearance of the country attractive. It was certainly a great pleasure to march in such a country after being so long confined to pine barrens in the lower part of Virginia.
Two or three streams were crossed during the day, the larg- est of which was called Goose Creek. At the crossing of the latter was a small hamlet named after the creek. Prior to the war there was a stone and iron bridge at that point, but this had been destroyed, therefore a temporary one was constructed of logs and fence rails against the stone piers for the passage of the men. while the wagon train and artillery forded the stream. It was about dark and raining when the division came to the ereek, and as there was danger of the bridge being ear- ried away and the ford rendered impracticable, the crossing had to be made that night. The water was then up to the horses' backs and nearly to the top of the limber and caisson boxes carrying the ammunition. The stream was winding, and the bank- overhanging the water gave the place a picturesque ap-
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ACQUILA CREEK TO LEESBURG.
pearance. The crossing was tedions and dangerous, but was entirely successful.
Before arriving at Goose Creek several officers of the regi- ment, among whom was the writer, were detailed as part of the brigade pickets and made their way to the front. After crossing that stream, it rained furiously and was very dark. The piekets, which were in advance, had not proceeded far be- fore the water in the road was over their shoes, and in some places they waded in muddy water up to their waists. Through this rain and mud the pickets marched five or six miles to within a mile of Leesburg, and then wandered around in the dark and wet grass while the officers tried to post them. Soon after placing the reserve near a shanty, the outposts came in and reported other pickets outside of their lines, and it being too dark to make corrections, the men were ordered to remain where they were until daylight. Part of the officers got the woman in the house to prepare supper for them at a dollar a head, the officers furnishing the tea, hard taek and appetite, and the woman the fire and eggs. The boys tried to dry their clothes at the kitchen fire, but made a sorry mess of it, and in the end went to bed in a driving rain under shelter tents pitched in the door-yard. The storm was a furions one mingled with hail and sleet, which struck the boys as curious in that country and season of the year. The men that could not sleep tried to make themselves comfortable sitting around fires built of fence boards.
Early in the morning the pickets were drawn in and, after marching through Lesburg, were posted south of that village on the road leading to Green Springs. After the line was cor- rected the sun came out and the men tried to dry their clothes and get a little sleep lying in its warm rays. The pickets were not relieved until about dark.
During the day the men on the reserve witnessed the execu- tion of three deserters in the 1st Division of the 12th Corps, which took place in an open field half a mile south. The dif- ferent command- were drawn up in a hollow square about the victims and the provost guard who were to perform the expen-
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
tion. . When all things were in readiness, the men standing near their open graves, at the command of the officer in charge, the guard performed its duty. From the reserve the shots could be heard, and the culprits seen to fall. It was a solemn sight and impressed every one in a melancholy manmer.
When the picket- were relieved the weather looked ominous. but it was hoped they would reach their respective regiments before the storm came. The hope, however, was fallacious, for before proceeding far the rain came down in torrents as if the windows of heaven had been opened and all the water gathered for a month let down in a delnge. It was dark and the water in the roads shoe deep, and before arriving in camp the men waded through several streams up to their middle. In one of these the writer slipped and fell broadside into the water. It was cold as well as wet. and the men suffered greatly : yet they could have stood all this without a murmur, if they could have looked forward to a cheerful home, dry clothes, a warm supper. and a smiling face at the end; but instead, when they had passed through it all and joined their respective regiments, no such pleasant cheer awaited them; every one in eamp was about as uncomfortable as themselves. When the writer gained his regiment he found every one struggling for protection un- der shelter tents and disinelmed to take him in, in fact, there was no room for him. After wandering and shivering abont, he finally found standing room in one corner of the Colonel's tent. Pulling down a saddle, he sat himself upon it while from the depths of his haver ack he drew forth two wet hard-tack and a small piece of dried beef. After this frugal repast came the ordeal of sitting it out until morning. In an hour or two a little space was found unoccupied in a fellow officer's shelter tent, and wrapping himself in a wet blanket, he laid himself down and slept ; too tired to be disturbed by the mud and water.
The next morning the wagon train came up, one or two wall tents were distributed among the officers, the men dried their clothes, and every one made himself comfortable.
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CHAPTER XV.
LEESBURG TO LITTLETOWN.
. LEESBURG is a brisk little vil- lage at the west- ern terminus of the Alexandria and Leesburg Railroad. The railroad was torn up at this time and its use discontinued west of Vienna, PICKET. from which place the 12th Corps drew rations by wagon train. Soon after the occupation of Leesburg an effort was made to obtain sup- plies through the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Edwards Ferry, but the stay was so brief the effort was abandoned.
The camp of the 3d Brigade was a short distance southeast of Leesburg, the place where Gen. Sloeum made his head-quar- ters. Near camp was an earthwork called Fort Evans, said to have been constructed by the enemy and occupied by him at the time of the Ball's Bluff affair, the scene of which was less than a mile east. A large detail of men was immediately set to work on this fortification to put it in order for use. The fort was an extensive one, covering more than an acre of ground, and would accommodate two brigades of infantry and
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MEMOIRS 140th N. Y. INFT.
twenty-four pieces of artillery. It was on high ground and surrounded by a beautiful country. From the ramparts could be seen Maryland and Loudon Heights on the west, Sugar Loaf Mountain northeasterly, and different points in Maryland and Virginia east as far as Washington. A mile and a half west, on the eastern slope of the Catoctin Mountains, was a large im- posing mansion with white columns in front situate in a large landed estate said to belong to a gentleman then in Wash- ington or Philadelphia. Many of the men visited the place and were profuse in their praise of the gardens and the well- enltivated grounds. Among other things there was a deer park, and everything that money could do had been done to render the place a suitable home for a man of wealth and leis- ure. Some of the men expressed a wish that Unele Sam would give them their one hundred and sixty acres bounty land out of this estate.
While at Leesburg the men visited Ball's Bluff, the scene of the tragie affair which resulted in the death of Col. Baker and others. At the place in question there is a long low island in the Potomac known as Harrison's Island, about two miles in length and half a mile in width. The Bluff is quite precipitous and varies from fifty to one hundred feet in height. It is over half a mile in length, and lies opposite the island, with a nar- row level piece of ground lying between its base and the river. From the top of the Bluff the land continues to ascend moder- ately for a considerable distance south. The hill and Bluff are somewhat broken and are bounded on the east and west by deep ravines running down to the river. At this time the whole sidehill was covered with trees, and the steep portion by vines and a thick tangled undergrowth. Everything was wild and in keeping with the tragic events which had been there enacted. Although the Union forces fully occupied the sur- rounding country, every one that visited the place had a feel- ing of insecurity and unrest on account of the sad events which had transpired there. Above the Bluff, in a retired place in the woods, were three or four trenches thirty or forty feet long
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LEESBURG TO LITTLETOWN.
in which were buried the Union dead. The sight of these trenches impressed the beholder with an indescribable dread of the fate of those known as the "Unknown Dead." The peo- ple living in a farm-house, on the river above the Bluff, re- lated how on this memorable occasion the panie-stricken soldiers precipitated themselves over the Bluff in their mad efforts to escape the pursuing enemy, and how in the morning their bodies were found lying in heaps under the Bluff where they had fal- len from above before the Confederate rifles.
At this same farm-house the men will remember with pleas- ure the delicious loaves of soft bread which they obtained at twenty-five cents a loaf.
While at Leesburg the resignation of Lient. Ahio Pahner was accepted and he left for home.
At daylight on the 27th day of June the command moved down to Edwards Ferry, a distance of two or three miles, and crossed the river on two pontoon bridges of sixty-four boats each, and fifteen hundred feet in length including the ap- proaches. The crossing was made from the mouth of Goose Creek, which was also spanned by a pontoon bridge for the ac- commodation of troops. It was interesting to see the long line of troops, artillery and wagons crossing these bridges of boats, which seemed altogether too frail to bear the enormous weight, for they were crowded full from side to side ; the only pre- caution taken being to require the men to march in route and not in cadence step. There was a certain sense of insecurity, however, to those unaccustomed to such things, as the men reeled from the vibration of the bridges as they walked.
On the northern side of the river, and running parallel with it, is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. A little hamlet known as Edwards Ferry, consisting of a canal grocery and three or four dwelling-houses, was situate at the northern end of the bridges. At this grocery the men renewed their stock of smok- ing tobacco and other articles of comfort.
From the Ferry the line of march during the day was west- ward along the bank of the canal to the mouth of the Monocacy
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
River, where the brigade went into camp for the night. It rained a little in the morning, but later the weather was pro- pitions. The men were in good spirits and experienced a sense of relief and pleasure in passing from Virginia into the loyal State of Maryland. Before leaving Edwards Ferry several persons joined the regiment, among whom was Col. Barnum.
In the morning the command resmed its course along the heel path of the canal and crossed the Monocacy on a stone aqueduct constructed for the purpose of carrying the canal over that river. The aqueduet was five hundred and seventy feet in length, had seven spans or arches, and was built in 1833. Its construction was of such an excellent character as to have prevented its destruction, although attempted on several occasions by the Confederates. On the heel path there was a stone walk four feet wide, unprotected by rail or guard on either side. It was seventy-five feet from this walk to the river below on one side, while on the other was the water in the canal. The infantry crossed on this stone walk with the horses of the field and staff. Col. Barnum rode his horse sitting woman-fashion, with one leg thrown over the pommel of the saddle. It was a dangerous crossing, but so far as known no accident occurred.
About noon the command arrived at Point of Rocks, a small hamlet consisting of two or three stores and several dwelling- houses, and halted two hours for dinner. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad approaches the Potomac at this point, and in ante-war times there was a wagon bridge over the river, the piers of which were still standing in the water. After dinner the men visited other commands in the vicinity, among which was the regiment of Col. Ben. Higgins.
In the afternoon the command continued the course of the river and canal through the gap in the Catoctin Mountains. The scenery along the river and in the mountain gap never looked more picturesque and beautiful than on this occasion, and the men thoroughly enjoyed the march notwithstanding their fatigue.
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MAJOR WALTER M. DALLMAN.
HUO SK
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LEESBURG TO LITTLETOWN.
After passing the gap it became necessary to cross from one side of the canal to the other, and there being no bridge, the men and horses passed through a slice-way or culvert built to permit the water of a brook to run under the canal to the river. The culvert was so low that the men had to how their heads, and so did the horses of the field and staff in a knowing manner like the men. Of course, the wagon train and artillery passed by a different ronte.
After crossing to the northern side of the canal the column moved back from the river through the little hamlet of Catoe- tin, and camped for the night in Pleasant Valley, a little north of Knoxville.
In the morning the march was resumed in the direction of Harper's Ferry, but before going far the corps was halted and for a long time stood waiting in the road for orders. After two or three hours the men were informed that Gen. Hooker had been relieved from the command of the Army of the Po- tomac and Gen. Meade put in his place, and instead of going to Harper's Ferry, they were to march in the direction of Fred- erick through Middleway Valley. There is no disguising the fact that the men were displeased with the change of com- manders, for notwithstanding the disaster of Chancellorsville, the men had great confidence in Gen. Hooker, and believed if untrammeled by his superiors in Washington, he would lead them to victory. However well Gen. Meade was known to the general officers, he was not known to the rank and file, and con- "quently there was some despondency and a feeling that they wore to be led again to disaster and slaughter by an inexperi- enced commanding officer. The men in the 12th Corps, however., had great confidence in Gen. Slocum, and believing that he would lead them to duty and protect them from unnecessary slaughter, they soon regained their cheerfulness and respectful obedience to order -.
In the fornoon the command passed through the villages of Peter-town and Jefferson, both of which were thriving and beautiful places. Jefferson in particular had the appearance of a place of business and wealth.
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
After crossing into Maryland, and particularly on this day's march, well-dressed ladies began to be seen in front of the houses and along the streets. At first the men were careless in their remarks, but soon their conduct became respectful and deferential. It will be remembered that in passing through the villages above mentioned and others, the flags were unfurled and the men marched in cadence step to music of the bands and drum corps. The passage through villages in Maryland and Pennsylvania was more of a parade than march, and the change in this respect produced a corresponding change in the character and conduct of the men. The women waved their handkerchiefs, the men touched their hats, and the soldiers were inspirited and encouraged. From this day forward the reception of the troops was in the nature of an ovation and the loyalty and sympathy of the people was manifest on every hand. Coming as the men had from the pine barrens and dis- loyal portion of lower Virginia, it was a great change, and the courage and loyalty of the Union army was renewed. Up to this time the Army of the Potomac had been surrounded by persons in sympathy with its opponent ; now the tables were turned and it was privileged to act the part of the "conquering hero", and it rather liked it.
About noon the command crossed Midway Creek, at a pic- turesque little place where there was a mill ; a little after noon it passed over the northern end of the Catoctin Mountains, which was little more than a hill at that place, and early in the afternoon went into camp for the night in a beautiful grove just south of Frederick City. The place of encampment was unusually handsome, as the trees were large, far apart, and the ground covered with a thick green-sward without underbrush ; it was more of a park than an ordinary country wood.
The command passed through Frederick very early in the morning with tags flying, bands and drum corps playing, and men marching in cadence step. There were many people in the streets, notwithstanding the early hour, and hundreds of women saluted with handkerchiefs while the men waved tags
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LEESBURG TO LITTLETOWN.
and displayed bunting. Many "Barbara Frietchies" were at the chamber windows, who had not taken time to remove their night-caps, to manifest their sympathy and show their loyalty and respect for the dear old flag. During this and the follow- ing day the respect and loyalty of the people was made known at every farm-house and village on the route. Men and women stood by the roadway with pails of water and passed it to the men, and in various ways showed their respect and confidence.
The column marched during the day on a turnpike leading to York, passing through several thriving little villages, among which was Woodsboro, and encamped for the night in the vicinity of Taneytown just over the Pennsylvania line.
Just after halting the report of firearms was heard, and on investigation it was found that Lient. Barnum had injured him- self in the foot by the accidental discharge of a revolver.
The evening was overcast and dark, and there was a general feeling of uneasiness owing to the belief that a battle was soon to take place. The men were uncertain as to the location of the enemy and when they were to meet him, yet they knew it could not be long avoided, and laid down to rest with a lively expectation of battle on the morrow.
Soon after daylight in the morning the command moved northerly and went into camp on the north side of Littletown early in the afternoon. This was a thriving little place of about a thousand inhabitants, and the termins of the Hanover Branch of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. On approach- ing the town it was found occupied by the enemy's cavalry. which made a spirited opposition to the approach of the Union forces. They were soon driven away, however, but with some loss in killed and wounded on both sides.
The country about Littletown and Southern Pennsylvania through which the army passed is populated by Germans or people of German descent, and has the usual Dutch character- isties ; barns better than the houses and horses better kept than the women and children. It had a thrifty and prosperous look. but the people were more given to money-getting than acs-
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MEMOIRS 149th, N. Y. INFT.
thetic indulgences ; life was a matter of business and not one of pleasure. The contact of the soldiers with these people was one of close bargain and sale, but the sordid condition of affairs was not so fully made known on the passage up as on the re- turn, when all fear of the enemy had been removed. The common price of bread was twenty-five cent- a loaf on the pas- sage North, but on the return it was raised to one dollar, and all other commodities in the same proportion. When going to Gettysburg great care was taken to cause as little inconvenience to the people and destruction of property as possible, but on the return, after a few experiences in the matter of purchasing necessaries, there was greater laxity of discipline. If the peo- ple of Southern Pennsylvania have any complaint to make of the soldiers, they can ascribe the cause to the sordid conduct of the inhabitants.
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