USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 2
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
claimed, "We are Uncle Sam's soldiers, but not his hogs," so they marched away without eating a mouthful. After stand- ing in the streets for several hours, during which time each man supplied himself with something to cat as best he could, the baggage was loaded into wagons, and about dark the regi- ment marched over the Long Bridge, about two miles into Virginia, turned into an open field on a hillside in a forbidding- looking country, and there, without delay or ceremony, the men threw themselves on the ground and, with no other pro- tection than their blankets and the sky over their heads, found rest. Altogether the introduction to the Capital of the Nation and the Seat of War was not calculated to raise the enthusiasm of the men or stimulate their patriotism.
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CHAPTER II. CAMP CHASE.
IT is desirable early in this narrative to become acquainted with Moses. Summers (commonly called " Mose "), for he was not only the Quarter- master and supplied the regiment with food and raiment, but was its " SPIRIT OF THE LAUREL." scribe and told what he knew about it in the Standard under the heading of "The Sword and Pen."
Speaking of this first night in Virginia, he said, "That was the dreariest night I ever experienced and I never desire or ex- peet to see such another." Individually the writer must agree with friend Mose, for to him it was not only dreary, but very distressing. To add to the discomfort of being dumped in the night in an open field without experience to shift for itself, the regiment seems to have received the special attention of a gang of Washington thieves who undertook to steal it poor. It was the writer's misfortune to suffer at their hands. Before retir- ing to rest, it was discovered that his valise, containing all he possessed except what he had on his person, was missing. This. did not assist his slumber that night. In the morning it was ascertained that which before had only been suspected was a. certainty-he had lost all.
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
It is said that " Misery likes company," and if there is any truth in the old saw, he was not without sympathy on this oc- casion, for three other officers met with a similar loss at the hands of these thieves. They were Lients. Wheeler, Westcott and Stevens, Soon after daylight the valises of Lients. West- cott and Stevens were found in a field near the bivonae. broken open and the contents partially carried away, but no intelligence was ever received of the effects of Lieuts. Wheeler and the writer. This was a severe blow to the latter, as he bad very little money, was indebted several hundred dollars for expenses ineurred in recruiting, and felt himself unable to obtain elothing and necessaries before receiving pay for service, therefore. foolishly undertook to make shift until pay-day be- fore replenishing his wardrobe. As the government was un- able to meet its full obligations with the regiment until after a period of about eight months, in the end he suffered much mor- tifieation and inconvenience and was compelled to wear private's clothes throughout. A. an officer it was a great hardship, but when passed and looking death in the face there was some compensation in knowing that his debts were paid and his family spared from distress and deprivation on account of the loss.
The Quarter-master seems to have been visited by these Washington gentlemen and reported the loss of a shawl, a pair of new boots, a pair of rubber pillows, and a new fangled poncho tent and overcoat combined. The night must have been dreary indeed to poor More, and he, no doubt. never wished to experience such another. But all things have their compensation and the Quarter-master had his for the loss of these things. Think of those new boots, what pain and suffer- ing he was saved by their loss!
The writer had a pair of new boots, too, and, in the light of subsequent experience, if the thieves had taken them and left the valise he would have been happy. Oh ! the mortal agony of the nights spent on the march with those boots on. If the . command moved suddenly he could never put them on in time,
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CAMP CHASE.
and so, rather than take the chances of going bare-footed, he slept without removing them. Great Scott ! why will a shoe -- maker never learn to make a pair of boots easy? In despair the writer one day put on a pair of army shoes and afterwards was comfortable.
Speaking of shawls, rubber pillows and poncho tents suggests the remark that all new regiments, at the commencement of service, were loaded down with artieles which after a little ex- perience were thrown away as useless. This regiment was not an exception in this particular ; so, when it arrived in Virginia, it was possessed of everything that could be thought of from a feather duster to a patent water-filter. It did not take it long, however, to learn that " Man wants but little here below" (that is, below the Potomac), "nor wants that little long ;" and so an order to march soon became the signal for the men to throw away that which was burthensome and all these fancy things had to go. Friend More was lucky that they hit him above and not below the belt.
Soon after daylight the men were up and taking lessons from a neighbor regiment in making coffee and preparing breakfast for themselves. Few in the regiment had ever seen a soldier cook his food, and what was more, had any definite idea of how it was done. Some even appeared as if no responsibility . rested upon them in the care and preparation of what they were to eat, so, on this morning in question, they stood around as if expecting to be called to breakfast and grumbled because they were kept so long in waiting.
As a truthful historian, it is proper to remark, and it may as well be said here as anywhere, that on the subject of food a controversy arose at the commencement of service between the Quarter-master and the men, and while it continued sharp words were had on both sides. On this particular morning the men were ill-supplied with food and appliances for cooking it, there was not only suffering on their part but cause for complaint, yet there was no more suffering or cause for com- plaint than was probably unavoidable under the circumstances ...
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
considering the inexperience of the officers. The Quarter-mas- ter did all he was able to do, and old soldiers in their places would have surmounted their difficulties at once and looked upon their deprivations as matters incidental to the service and not worth speaking about. The men, on the one side, had no definite idea of what the issue of three days' rations signified. consequently took no more care of it than they would of an issue to relieve present wants. The Quarter-master, on the other side, was inexperienced and subject to impositions on ae- count of that faet. Altogether there was suffering and poor Mose stood as a damning-post for the irate men to relieve the feelings upon. Sometimes there was just cause for complaint. but he was not more inexperienced than the rest of the officers, and in the end made one of the best quarter-masters in the ser- vice.' Sharp letters were written on both sides of the contro- versy, but it is now generally admitted that in this Mose had the best of it.
The first night's experience in " Dixey" taught the men while the days were warm the nights were cold and disagreeable on account of copious dews. One person in speaking of them said, "They were heavy enough to run a flat-bottomed steam- boat." At any rate the blankets were saturated with moisture and they had to be dried over a fire or by long exposure in the sun before they were fit for transportation.
After a short delay the men were marched about a mile east of the night's bivouac to a stumpy side-hill sloping towards the northwest. Here preparations were made for a permanent camp. All hands went to work with a will and soon sufficient ground was prepared so that the men and officers put up their tents.
The lands where the regiment camped, as well as nearly all the surrounding country as far as the eve could reach, had been covered by second-growth timber which had recently been slashed. and the fallen trees were still lying in many places where they fell with the tops and butt- interlaced. This had been done for the double purpose of preventing the enemy
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CAMP CILISE.
from approaching unobserved and unimpeded the forts on the hills about, and of permitting the free use of the artillery con- tained in these forts. On the grounds chosen some of these young trees were still lying, and the stumps on which they grew were still standing. These trees had to be removed and the stumps grabbed ont. This was done, the tents erected and the grounds put in a tidy condition before dark.
As this eamp was laid out according to army regulations and was like others occupied by the regiment afterwards, it may not be out of place to describe it, once for all. The tents of each company were arranged in a straight line on either side of a short street of its own, abont two or more rods in width, running up and down the hill with the fronts of the tents fac- ing the street. The streets of the several companies ran paral- lel to each other, so that the tents of the different companies stood back to back, except the outer ones of the two end com- panies, the backs of which, of course, were uncovered. The line officers' tents were arranged in a straight line at right angles to the company streets, a few rods distant from the tents of the men, further up the hill ; and the tents of the field and staff were still further up the hill arranged in a line parallel with that of the line officers. The tents of all the officers faced the regiment. On the grounds between the tents of the men and the line officers were placed the kitchens of the com- panies, and below the tents of the men, and, as one would say, to the front of the regiment, was the parade-ground where dress- parades took place. In this particular instance this ground was not fully prepared for that purpose on account of the early removal of the regiment, but whenever afterwards the surround- ings permitted. the grounds in front were used for that pur- pose. The tents of the officers were wall-tents with flies, those of the men were shelter-tents.
The regiment arrived at this place on Saturday. On Sunday morning it was supplied with all kinds of camp utensils, and the men with cups, plates, knives, forks and needful stores. The officers at the same time were presented with a copy of
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
"Army Regulations" and other military literature as matter of useful reading. The regiment was then in position for house- keeping and it is supposed had Uncle Sam's blessing.
Four women accompanied the regiment from Syracuse and at this camp settled down in Capt. Townsend's company, os- tensibly as laundresses. A meeting of the officers was called Sunday morning by Lieut .- Col. Strong to consider and take ac- tion in reference to these women. It was determined unan- imously that they must go, and go they did, except the wife of one man who remained with her husband during his term of service. This woman with her husband eventually found a place in the Quarter-master's department and became popular and useful in many ways.
The position of the regiment on Arlington Heights com- manded a beautiful view of the city of Washington and its. surroundings, as well as five or six miles of the Potomac River in its vicinity. The government buildings, and particularly the Capitol, presented an imposing appearence. In fact, the Capitol building presented a more imposing appearance than when seen near by, for in the latter case the surroundings seemed to detract from its size and magnificence. The river was covered with all kinds of steam and sailing vessels, moving in different directions, giving a lively interest to the prospect. Between camp and the river, on a slight elevation, was a bean- tiful sodded earth-work surrounded by a deep moat, called Fort Albany, and in rear, further inland on a hill; was another fort the name of which cannot be recalled. In front, in the distance, could be seen the Curtiss Mansion, the home of Gen. R. E. Lee at the outbreak of the Rebellion, and to the south, Alexandria Seminary. On the bills and surrounding lands as far as the eve could reach were white tents of different mili- tary organization -.
The men retain a strong impression of their first Sunday night in Virginia, and of the beauty of the scenery and novelty of the surroundings. The air was still and clear and the sky starry. One could distinctly see the white buildings of the
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CAMP CHASE.
government and particularly the white dome of the Capitol in the starlight. The distant city, as well as all the surrounding encampments, were lighted by lamp and camp-fire. The stars and many of the distant lights were mirrored in the placid sur- face of the Potomac. Here and there vessels were moving in different directions with colored lights displayed. A gentle murmur of voices from the different camps was andible and, after a little, the sound of bugles was heard from the different encampments-the near and distant ones seeming to answer one another -- piping out the sweet strains of retreat and tat- too. The seene was surprisingly beautiful and the surround- ings novel. One could not resist feeling he was in fairyland, for all had a wonderfully Oriental aspect.
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CAST BLOPE OF
PONTOONS OVER POTOMAC, AND GOVERNMENT SHOPS. HARPER'S FERRY.
In the glow of their enthusiasm, the men sat down to write their first letter to their wives, mothers or sweethearts, expa- tiate to them on the things above described and say they ex- pected to remain many weeks to enjoy them. Midnight came and passed and found the men still writing, for there were many things to tell the dear friends at home. "Alas, how fickle and fleeting are all earthly joys," especially to a soldier.
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
While they were still writing, the Adjutant put his head into the tents and said, " You will pack immediately. We move for Harper's Ferry at precisely eight o'clock to-morrow morn- ing." This announcement came to every one with a cold and heartless effect like a death in the family. The men and of- ficers stood spell-bound like men awakened from a fearful dream. " What." says one, "we go to the front and go into action without training or discipline? It cannot be. The men cannot even go through the facings and still less load a gun." Another said, " It is tough, but we are in for it."
After a while the men and officers recovered from their sur- prise and began to reason with one another that it might not be so very bad after all. By daylight most of the officers and men were not only reconciled, but felt a sense of pride, border- ing on flattery, at the thought that they had been chosen among the many surrounding regiments to be sent to the front and into the arena of battle. After sunrise the officers began to drill the men in the facings and in loading and firing their pieces so as to be ready for an emergency.
When the regiment arrived in Virginia it was announced that it had been assigned to Gen. Casey's Division and Gen. Paul's Brigade. These facts gave rise to the expectation of the officers and men that they were to stay at least a short time until they had learned something of their duties. It was now understood that this assignment was only provisional.
When eight o'clock arrived. it found the men in line, but in place of an order to move there came one to return to quarters and await further orders.
After drilling for an hour or two, a party of officer- left the regiment for the first time since its departure from Syracuse and tried to get something to eat of a neighboring sutter, and before returning visited Fort Albany. This was the first fort of its kind ever seen by them and its neat and tidy appearance was pleasing; They were treated with kindness by the officers in charge and went away satisfied with the visit.
Late in the afternoon an order came for the regiment to.
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CAMP CHASE.
move at once and as expeditiously as possible. It marched from camp to the depot in the city of Washington, a distance of about five miles, in the heat and dust at almost double-gnick. The march was a fearful tax upon the endurance of the men and nearly every company lost one or more men who never re- turned to the regiment.
Among the incidents of this march was the running away of the Chaplain's horse with its rider (o to John Gilpin.) The Chaplain turned up safe in the end and neither he nor the horse seemed worse for the runaway. The men. however, remarked among themselves that no " Johnny" would ever capture the Chaplain on that black horse. for he never could be overtaken.
When in the vicinity of Washington's Monument, for some reason the men could never understand, they were ordered to proceed to the foot of that structure, unsling knapsacks and leave them behind. If the men had not been fatigued. they would have demurred, but as it was they obeyed without grumbling.
This march was a severe one on the writer, and from this and other causes, when in the neighborhood of the cars, he was sick and in great distress. In an open place near by were sev- oral soda fountains apparently giving forth glass after glass of delicious, bubbling soda-water at the price of ten cents a glass to the eager. jostling crowd of weary, thirsty soldiers gathered around. A. he beheld the bubbling mixture, it seemed to him if he could only obtain one glass his sickness would pass away and his distress be turned to gladness. Actuated by this hope he pressed forward. jostled with the men, paid his ten cent- and obtained the beverage. He raised the glass and took one full draught of the contents. The glass parted from his lips. it was the dirtiest and vilest of Washington water and not a particle of soda about it. His stomach could stand no more. this was the "last straw." He rid himself of the glass, he hardly knew how, and reeled, rather than walked, to a fence standing at the side of a plank walk to protect foot passengers from falling into a deep hole between the walk and a neighbor-
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
ing building, and leaned upon it in greater distress than the whale when he had Jonah in his belly. He did not fill that hole, but if he did not it was not his fault, for he did his level best. After the tempest was over and there was peace upon the troubled waters, he turned about and found himself in charge of two guards whom the Lieutenant-Colonel had kindly detailed to care for him. With their assistance he went aboard the coach prepared for the officers, laid down in a seat by him- self and found rest in sleep.
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CHAPTER III.
FREDERICK CITY AND SANDY HOOK.
At daylight on the morning of the 30th of September the train was slowly ascending a stiff grade up the eastern slope of Mount Airy, having left Washington at 2 o'clock, A. M., going first in the direction of Baltimore to the Relay House, and then westward towards Harper's Ferry. Early the train stopped an hour or more for breakfast at a small place called Hood's Mills, near the summit of the mountain.
HARPER'S FERRY.
Lients. Coville, Palmer and the writer obtained a warm breakfast of tea, biscuit and butter and peach-butter at a farm- house, while a young woman sat at table as hostess. This stop for breakfast occasioned a loss to the regiment of over a score of men by desertion.
After leaving Hood's Mills the railroad descends rapidly to Monocacy Junction, making many curves as it follows the
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
course of a large rapidly-running stream down the mountain slope. The train made frequent stops in the dense woods be- fore arriving at the Junction, and the men enjoyed themselves sitting beneath the trees, elad in autumnal foliage, and by the side of the gurgling stream, running over rocks and stones in its bed. This part of the trip was more of a pienie than an approach to the Seat of War, and the men were sorry when it ended.
Twice during the descent from Mount Airy the platform cars on which the regiment was riding became separated by parting of the couplings, but by prompt action and presence of mind, a runaway and smash-up, which seemed imminent, was avoided.
At the Junction the train crossed the Monocaey River on a large iron bridge, which only a few days before had been par- tially destroyed by the Confederates under Jackson. A branch road leads from the Junction to Frederick City, a distance of three miles.
At Frederick the regiment disembarked and, after some de- lay, marched to a clover field in the suburbs and bivouacked for the night. The men were without food and had a fair prospect of going supperles to bed, but the officers purchased crackers and other necessaries and supplied their wants. The men procured straw for beds and, as the weather was dry, passed a comfortable night in the open fields in their blankets and overcoats.
In the morning the officer- and part of the men went into the city and obtained breakfast at a restaurant. The writer purchased a rubber blanket, a port-folio and writing materials, which he afterwards carried wherever he went.
Frederick at this time was a place of about eight thousand inhabitants, situate in a fertile and gently-rolling farming country. The land in the vicinity was reputed worth from one to two hundred dollars per acre. Many of the buildings were of brick, with sidewalks of the same material in front, and the houses stood with gable ends to the street. Large
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FREDERICK CITY AND SANDY HOOK.
wooden pumps for water stood on the sidewalks, and every- thing was old-fashioned but orderly. The place looked like an old Dutch town at least a hundred years behind the times. Many of the churches and hotels were in use as hospitals for sick and wounded soldiers. In one were several disabled prisoners. A large proportion of the inhabitants were Union- ists.
The regiment remained in the city two nights and then de- parted at four o'clock in the afternoon for Sandy Hook, where it arrived at eight o'clock in the evening. The journey was by rail over the branch to the Junction, thence by the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad south and southwesterly to the Poto- mae River, and thence west and northwesterly up the valley of the river to Sandy Hook.
From the Junction to Point of Rocks, a small hamlet situate at the junetion of the railroad with the Potomae, the road had a down grade and passed through a beautiful and fertile farm- ing country. The prospect from the platform ears was exten- sive, full of interest, and was much enjoyed.
Point of Rocks at this time consisted of a cluster of old dilapidated buildings in the midst of dirt and litter, and princi- pally noteworthy on account of its connection with many inei- dents of the war.
The Potomae west of Point of Rocks passes through a deep gorge in the Catoctin Mountains, one of the branches of the Alleghany chain, with high, barren and precipitous rocks on either hand, as if the river in its eastern course had rent the mountain asunder by violence and left the ragged ends tower- ing up on either hand. The bed of the railroad, as well as a place for a canal, had been quarried out of the solid rock on the northern side of the river, and in places the rocks overhung the heads of the men as they proceeded on their journey.
The course of the Potomac eastward through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Harper's Ferry, another and more lofty branch of the Alleghanys, is made in the same abrupt and violent manner ; and, the bed of the stream being much below the
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
level of the valley between these two ranges, the course of the railroad from Point of Rocks to Harper's Ferry is marked by bold and striking scenery. The trees were in autumnal foliage, the current of the river was stiff and the water foaming, the stream was filled with rocks and islets covered with trees and shrubs, and passing in the twilight and moonlight, the surpris- ing grandeur and beauty of the surroundings were such as to subdue the men with wonderment and awe. The appearance of the men as they stood or sat in silence on the platform cars, in their light blue overcoats, dimly outlined in the moonlight amid these strange surroundings rapidly approaching the Seat of War, was weird and spectral.
The train proceeded to within a quarter of a mile of Har- per's Ferry and halted under the over-awing shadows of Mary- land and London Heights by the side of the swift-running and foaming river dimly outlined in the uncertain light of night. Certainly the mysterious character of the surrounding's was in keeping with the feelings of the men at the moment of joining the grand Army of the Potomac.
After a short delay, as if to give time for the men to feel the full force of the position, the train ran back a mile or more to Sandy Hook, where the regiment disembarked and ascended a precipitous side hill to a level place on the eastern shoulder of Maryland Heights. Arriving at this bird's-nest position, two or three hundred feet above the river, the men unrolled their blankets and bivouacked for the night.
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