USA > New York > Services of the Tenth New York Volunteers (National Zouaves,) in the War of the Rebellion > Part 14
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The Army of the Potomac, composed of material that, in the combined qualities of intelligence, bravery and endurance, had never been equalled, had not met with the success it had always merited and which its aeknow- ledged superiority had led the country to hope for. Fight- ing on the most difficult battle-ground within the seceded States-in a country thiekly wooded, broken with mount- ains and foot-hills, and crossed in all directions by rapid streams, and confronted always by the best disciplined and best led army of the Confederacy-it had achieved indifferent results in its efforts against Richmond. It still, however, retained its splendid organization and morale, and the nation yet had faith in it, as its right arm in adversity and resort in need.
The "three years men" of the Tenth New York Vol- unteers, who remained in the field after the departure of the regiment for home, April 27th, 1863, were on the
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ORGANIZATION OF THE BATTALION.
same day marched, under the command of Maj. George F. Hopper, to Gen. French's (division) headquarters, where they were immediately organized into four com- panies. The company officers named in Order No. 100 assumed their respective duties, and Sergts. Edward D. Van Winkle, Frank M. Clark, Michael Keegan and George W. Halstead were nominated by Maj. Hopper as second-lieutenants, and assigned to the different com- panies. Surg. Brower Gesner, of the old regiment, had by order been assigned as surgeon of the battalion, and Edwin H. Sprague and Hugh V. Keane were respectively appointed quartermaster- and commissary-sergeants. An order had been issued detailing the command to act as division provost guard, and camp was formed near Gen. French's headquarters, Capt. George M. Dewey being appointed provost marshal.
The excitement consequent upon the departure of the two years men for home, and the formation of the new command, had caused those concerned to almost forget that the Army of the Potomac was again in marching order and on the verge of another aggressive campaign. Orders had already been issued to the various brigades of French's division to break camp at daylight of the 28th, and, after a night's rest in their new location, our newly-organized battalion struck tents and awaited the passing of the last brigade of the division, in the rear of which the provost guard was to take its position.
Gen. Hooker had determined to advance and offer battle to Gen. Lee, by flanking him on the left of his intrenchments. To do this he intended to attack with a considerable force on the enemy's direct front at Fred- ericksburg, also sending a heavy cavalry force to their
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
rear, while he moved his main body to and across the fords of the Rappahannock.
The route taken by French's division was towards United States Ford. The roads were heavy, and, with the necessary work of "corduroying" for the passage of the artillery and wagons, it was the afternoon of the 30th before the division crossed the river, passing the hastily abandoned earthworks of the enemy, and bivou- acking about five miles from the ford, near Chancellors- ville. This place apparently consisted of one large brick mansion-the Chancellor House.
Previous to erossing the ford, a corporal and two men from Company B, of the battalion, were sent back to Fal- mouth, as a guard for several paymasters-the latter be- ing under considerable excitement and anxious to leave the vicinity of anticipated trouble. One of the guard, scouting ahead on the.now deserted road, came hurry- ing back to the little caravan with the news that guer- rillas were approaching. The joke caused terrible excite- ment in the paymasters' ambulances, the more courageous among them eocking revolvers and mounting guard over their chests of greenbacks, while awaiting the approach of the mythical Rebels. They took the first train for the rear on arrival at Falmouth.
The Third Division lay, during the Ist and 2d of May, unassailed and engaged in pieketing its front. During the progress of the sudden and unexpected attack upon the Eleventh Corps, and the succeeding desperate struggle of the Third Corps and Pleasanton's artillery with the enemy under Jackson, on the afternoon of the 2d. the Tenth Battalion was at first double-quicked to the open space at the Chancellor House-deploying as provost guard under a heavy fire of artillery-and shortly after-
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BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
wards was formed on another portion of the field, to stop the numberless stragglers of the now routed Eleventh Corps. Upon this ground it remained during the night.
French's division was brought up early the next morn- ing (Sunday) to assist the Third Corps, which had been engaged since half-past five o'clock with an overwhelm- ing force of the enemy .* The impetuous charge which the division made on the enemy's left was highly success- ful, reducing the pressure on the Third Corps, and afford- ing them considerable relief for a time ; but, after a long and magnificent stand and struggle with the enemy, com- pelling them several times to retire, Gen. Siekles was at length himself compelled to recoil, for want of ammuni- tion and sufficient reinforcements ; not, however, before he had captured several flags and nearly two thousand prisoners, and inflicted a heavy loss in killed and wounded upon the enemy. The morning's engagement had lasted from sunrise until ten o'clock, and the scenes in the gloomy and tangled woods during these hours of battle, with the exploits of our gallant troops, would till a vol- ume. In front of the Third Corps it was at times a de- liberate hand-to-hand encounter, continued towards the last with our bayonets alone, and the havoe made in the Rebel ranks was notable, they seeming to be utterly re- gardless of their lives and literally charging to the inuzzles of our guns.
While these bloody operations had been transpiring
* Correspondent of New York Times: "Gen. French's division was sent in on the right flank of our lines at about seven. A. M., and in a short time a horde of rag- ged, streaming Rebels, running down the road, indicated that that portion of the enemy's line had been crushed. At eight, A. M., Gen. French sent his compliment. to Gen. Hooker, with the information that he had charged the enemy and was dris - ing him before him."
13
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
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on the right of Gen. Hooker's line, Gen. Sedgwick, with his own corps, supported by Gibbons' division of the Second, had crossed the river at Fredericksburg, with the intention of advancing towards Chancellorsville, where Hooker was engaged, and falling upon Lee's right and rear. Although Sedgwick had lost valuable time in starting, he still found a strong force on the remembered Marye's Hill, and was compelled to storm the position. This was successfully accomplished on the morning of the eventful 3d. Gen. Sedgwick then immediately pushed on towards Chancellorsville ; but it was too late. Gen. Lee was enabled to draw a strong force from Hooker's immediate front and oppose a resistance which kept the Sixth Corps fighting until dark.
Monday morning (4th) Gen. Sedgwick's position was extremely critical. Gen. Hooker requested that he should hold his ground, but made no movement that day to as- sist him, while the Rebels had reoccupied Marye's Heights and were gradually pushing the isolated corps back upon the river. During the night Sedgwick received orders to recross the river, which movement was executed at Banks' Ford under cover of darkness.
Gen. Hooker had been temporarily disabled at the Chancellor House, during the battle of the 3d, by the concussion of a eannon ball striking near him. Under Gen. Couch's orders, our right was withdrawn after that day's combat about a mile towards the Rappahannock, leaving the vicinity of Chancellorsville to the enemy. Our troops immediately entrenched themselves in the new position.
Meanwhile our own battalion was ordered to United States Ford, to assist in gathering the army's stragglers and to guard the bridge. The command returned to the
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LOSSES OF THE ARMIES.
front again on the 4th, remaining until the 6th, when the army withdrew across the river and reoccupied the camps which had been left a week before. The Tenth sus- tained but two or three casualties during the short cam- paign. Officers and men were considerably worn, how- ever, with the constant marching to and fro and the work which they had undergone.
The loss of the Army of the Potomac in this battle, or series of battles, was 12,197 killed and wounded, and about 5,000 missing. The Confederate loss was reported to be 10,277 killed and wounded, and about 3,000 missing. Gen. Hooker declared that he felt that he had fought no battle, because he could not get his men into position, and that his enterprise had failed " from causes of a char- acter not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or resources."
Short leaves of absence had been promised to such officers of the National Zonaves as were willing to re- main with the battalion in the field, each one of whom could have properly claimed his discharge with the regiment, and now that affairs had again become quiet, several availed themselves of the privilege, together with a number of enlisted men. Those who have never experienced army life can hardly estimate the pleasure derived from a furlough, particularly where the absence from home had lasted for one or two years. The change was but a single step from the restrictions, pri- vations and dangers of a soldier's existence to the pleasures of home and freedom, and the return to camp life afterwards generally brought with it an improve- ment in both the spirit and appearance of the men.
The duties of our battalion while in camp, during the cessation of active campaigning, were in general
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
the supplying of details for division headquarters guard; the custody of prisoners, mainly soldiers of the division convicted of various misdemeanors or crimes, and fur- nishing safeguards at such houses as were specified by the commander of the division. Each of these duties required discipline, intelligence and perception on the part of the soldier, and the officers and men of the Zouaves entered with zeal into their partly new avo- cation.
Sergt. John McBride, of Company A, came near losing his life in this camp in consequence of a ridicu- lous mistake made by Gobright, the acting hospital steward, who, in filling the surgeon's prescription for an attack of biliousness, gave Mac a wholesale dose of poison from a handy bottle. Dr. Gesner used the necessary remedies and appliances with vigor to coun- teract the effects of the dangerous drug, of which he said enough had been taken to kill several horses. McBride was totally blind for a few hours, and nearly dead, but recovered in the conrse of two or three days; while the unlucky Gobright was nearly frightened to death by the threats of the sergeant's comrades to bury him alive in a certain designated hole if his victim should not recover.
Gen. Lee, aware that the Army of the Potomac had sustained heavy losses in the battles of the recent cam- paign, and by the mustering out of thousands of men whose term of enlistment had expired, and having him- self received considerable reinforcements, had planned a campaign which, as he himself expressed it, "em- braced the relief of the Shenandoah Valley, and, if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hostilities north of the Potomac." Therefore, a movement of his army
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ON THE MARCH.
began, on the 3d of June, from Fredericksburg to Cul- pepper Court House, and was continued on the 4th and 5th, leaving A. P. Hill's corps alone to oppose the Army of the Potomac on the Rappahannock. Reconnoissances were soon made across the river with both infantry and cavalry, by Gen. Hooker, who had obtained knowledge of the enemy's movements, and shortly afterwards a gene- ral northward movement of the Army of the Potomac was ordered. The Second Corps left its camp June 14th, about nine, r. M., and marched all night, passing through Stafford Court House about twelve, M., of the 15th, and continuing its march to Acquia Creek, a distance altogether of about fifteen miles, but aecom- plished partly under the burning rays of an actually torrid sun.
To the uninitiated, a day's or night's march of an army might seem easy to define-nothing more than the change of its location some ten or perhaps twenty miles, entailing a promenade, interesting or the reverse, according to the nature of the country. But this would be a faint idea of the reality, especially when often, after tramping for hours under a hot sun, darkness brought no halt, and the marching extended far into, and perhaps through the night.
Orders have been received to prepare to move, and daylight is faintly glimmering when the first stir is made among the shelter tents in answer to the bugle notes of reveille. Breakfast is hurriedly cooked and eaten, if the boiling of a quart cup of coffee and the frizzling of a piece of bacon over a smoking log may be termed a enlinary process. The laggards and epicures are still enjoying the last monthfuls when the bugles again sound the " general"-which means, "strike tents,
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
pack up and form regimental line." A large army has in it all the elements of a well-regulated community, and it is as easy for fifty thousand soldiers to bestir them- selves.as a dozen. So. in a moment acres of tents melt away like a spring snow, and the white camp has given place to thousands of armed black figures standing amid smouldering camp fires and skeleton tent poles. Now time drags, unless your regiment is near the van of the column, for it takes an hour, perhaps more, for the dif- ferent regiments, brigades, divisions and corps to de- bouch from their places of bivouac and take the road in their right order. At length the column is fairly under way, the men fresh and lithesome in the morning air, when "halt" sounds the bugle. Some other corps, or perhaps an ammunition train comes in from another road, and you lie here for an hour. Then the bugle again sounds "forward," and the line is off again. Two or three miles are made at a brisk pace, when the gait be- comes slower and the column at length seems to move by inches.
Old soldiers know what this foretells. A stream is being crossed, and the fording place allows for the pass- age of but one or two men at a time. Over they go, how- ever, waist deep in water, and, as soon as the opposite bank is reached, the closing up process begins, and "double quick " is the word. The longer the column is, of course, the march of those not yet over becomes by degrees slower, and a long running march in wet cloth- ing will be the lot of those who bring up the rear after crossing the stream.
It would have been just as well, perhaps, if the soldiers had been allowed to straggle up leisurely and save their wind, for no sooner does the last straggler
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"THE COFFEE COOLER."
come puffing up to join his command, than "halt" is blown again, and down all sink on the ground for a rest. Something seems to be in the way, for after a few min- utes comes an order to turn out of the road, and the line pushes through the bushes and brakes on each side, and past the long ammunition train, discovering at length that one of its wagons has been stalled-i. e., stuck in the mud. The drivers of the mules are pulling, hauling, striking and swearing, and the mules are kicking and plunging as only mules can do and survive. The line is at length past the impediment, and again takes the road.
Perhaps it is noon by this time, and, if there is no hurry, a halt may be made to boil the much-loved coffee : but if, on the contrary, it be necessary to make up for lost time, the column presses on, each man nibbling his hard tack as he goes, or biting into his piece of bacon if he is the lucky possessor of such a morsel. There is no time for rest now, and the tired men sweep along with the steady swing indicative of the veteran. On the morn- ing's start the regiment was noisy with conversation, and loud jokes were passed from one to another. Later in the day words grew fewer and laughter and song more scarce ; and now, late in the afternoon, the soldiers have no stomach or spare wind for words, and scarcely anything is heard but the groan of some sufferer from blistered feet, or the steady clink of the bayonet swing- ing at the left side against its neighbor the canteen. An occasional straggler drops from the column in a surrepti- tious manner ; he may be really sick, and will wait for an ambulance, or he may be what army vernacular terms a "cooler." or a " boiler," and, if fortunate enough to elude the lynx-eyed provost guard, will slink off into a contiguous piece of woods, cook his pot of coffee and
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
drink it, take a quiet smoke, and come straggling into camp long after the regiment has reached it.
For hours the troops have been travelling along a road which at all points was "just ten miles" from the haven aimed at. Such at least has been the stereotyped answer received from grinning contrabands and pipe- smoking dames along the way. Up hills, down into val- leys, and across brooks the column moves, with the grim and silent woods ever upon each side, and, although the sun sinks, still no indications of a halt have appeared. Soon, however, straggling orderlies, and, perhaps, an aide-de-camp, pass the column towards the rear, and eager questions are again asked as to the distance yet to be traversed. Perhaps camp is only a mile away, but a long mile it appears to be ere the first indications, in the shape of some headquarter tent, or the encampment of a battery, are seen. Gradually the column leaves the road ; brigade after brigade, turning to the right or left, are marched straight ahead, some into ploughed fields and others into thick woods, where they halt, stack arms, break ranks and proceed to cook supper. Water and wood may be directly at hand, or both may be half a mile away. It is certain that every regiment cannot be in the same proximity to these necessary concomitants of a soldier's existence; but even the growlers are at length satisfied, or appear to be, and in an hour the great bivouac of thousands is silent.
And this experience may happen day after day upon a continuous march, sometimes not so arduous and at other times infinitely more so, especially when rain sets in to drench everybody, convert the roads into heavy, sticky clay, and thoroughly spoil everyone's good nature.
The march of the Army of the Potomac continued
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AN OLD BATTLEFIELD.
during the 16th and 17th of June, the troops fording Acquia Creek and the Occoquan River-the Second Corps arriving at Annandale, near Fairfax Court House, on the 17th. On the 19th the troops marched to Centre- ville, encamping in a drenching storm. From thence the Third Division marched, on the 20th, to Gaines- ville, the battlefield of August 30th, 1862. The column passed within a few yards of the position held by War- ren's brigade on that memorable day, and the soldiers of the Tenth took a melancholy interest in viewing the ground. Many of the bodies of their comrades who fell had been so hastily and carelessly buried that the skeletons were now exposed to view, and, in some instances, the bones were covered with rotting portions of their blue uniforms. They were sorrowful feelings of respect which impelled a few men of the battalion to again heap earth on the exposed remains.
The Third Division remained near this point during the next four days, observing the road from Thorough- fare Gap, in the Bull Run range. Gen. French here relinquished the command of the division, under orders to report to Army Headquarters, being then ordered to take command at Harper's Ferry. Col. S. S. Carroll assumed command of the division .*
On the 25th, marched to Gum Spring, where the First
* Gen. French had seen twenty-five years of service in the army previous to the commencement of the war. and. upon the breaking out of hostilities, was active in saving the garrison and guns of Fort Duncan, Texas, from a threatened seizure by the insurgents, arriving safely at Fort Brown, Texas, and embarking thence for the Florida forts. He was appointed brigadier-general in October, 1861, and assumed command of a hrigade under Mcclellan, sharing the battles of the Army of the Potomac afterwards. Subsequent to taking command at Harper's Ferry, is above note I, and the evacuation of that point, he commanded a division which was. after the battle of Gettysburg, attached to the Third Corps-he then assuming; command of the corps.
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
and Second Divisions were met, the corps bivonacking at length, about nine, P. M., after a march (for our own division) of about eighteen miles. The enemy's cavalry followed closely from Gainesville, and the men of our battalion were tempted several times to use their pieces upon the daring Rebel scouts. Edward's Ferry was reached the next night, after a fourteen mile tramp, and the Potomac erossed, by means of a pontoon bridge, about nine, P. M. During the following two days the march was continued through Maryland to Monoeacy Bridge, near Frederick City, the order being here pro- mulgated by Gen. Hooker, relinquishing the command of the Army of the Potomac to Gen. George G. Meade.
The army had become well used to surprises of every sort, but this change was especially unlooked for. The controversy between Gens. Halleek and Hooker, regard- ing the disposition of certain troops stationed along the Potomae, had culminated in the request by the latter to be relieved from his command unless he could control that additional force-which request was acceded to. Gen. Meade was as much astounded at his own promo- tion as were the rank and file of the army, who esteemed Hooker and knew very little of his successor, although he (Meade) had held subordinate commands for a long period, and proved himself a brave and trustworthy officer.
June 29th, Brig .- Gen. Alexander Hayes, having joined the Third Division with his brigade, relieved Col. Car- roll from command of the division. The new brigade, fresh from the defences of Washington, was plentifully supplied with clothing of all sorts, not forgetting paper collars and other knicknacks ; but, during its first experi- enee of hard marching, the men left most of their extra
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MARCHING THROUGH MARYLAND.
clothing along the road-some of the veterans coming after arraying themselves gorgeously in collars and smoking caps. The Tenth picked up their share of the spoils, and, in truth, earned what they gathered-the newly arrived troops straggling and scattering over the country at an alarming rate, causing our zouave pro- vost guard an extra amount of running and a lavish waste of choice epithets in the work of gathering them into the column. This same brigade, however, com- posed of New York regiments, proved itself at Gettys- burg the peer of any in the army, and, in the combats of that bloody field, the 39th, 111th, 125th and 126th New York Volunteers conducted themselves with honor.
The Second Corps left Monocacy Bridge this morn- ing (29th) on a forced march towards Westminster, encamping near Uniontown about midnight, having marched nearly thirty-three miles. During this remark- able tramp the corps passed through Liberty, Johnsville and Union Bridge; in each place receiving a cordial welcome from the inhabitants, who in some instances seemed to have turned out en masse, although late at night, offering refreshments to the tired and worn out troops who were hurrying to their assistance. During the last few hours of the march each side of the road was lined with stragglers whom it was impossible to force along further, their powers of locomotion having completely given out. At times both men and horses seemed to plod along mechanically, asleep to everything but the fact that it was their business to walk and cover ground. The writer can vouch that his horse seemed to sleep or doze while jogging along, and that he himself was seve- ral times almost lost in slumber, to be suddenly startled by a halt or some obstruction in the road. The ap-
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
pointed place was reached in time, and the fears of a Rebel cavalry raid upon the wagon train parked near Westminster were dispelled.
The next day, 30th, the battalion was- mustered for pay, and, on July Ist, eamp was broken and the column headed into Pennsylvania. Heavy cannonading was heard at the front all the afternoon, and our troops soon learned of the severe battle which had been fought around Gettysburg during the day, and the failure of the First and Eleventh Corps to hold the positions which they had taken beyond the town in the morning. The two Rebel divisions of Gen. Hill had been reinforced by Ewell's corps, and the combined force had in the after- noon driven the Union troops through the town and compelled them to take a position on Cemetery Hill, when the timely arrival of Gen. Hancock, at about half- past three, r. M., and new disposition of the available troops, deterred the enemy from a further advance. Hancock had been ordered by Gen. Meade to turn over the command of his own corps to Gen. Gibbon, and then to proceed to the front and assume command of the troops there assembled. The Second Corps eneamped about three miles from Gettysburg late at night, in a position to secure the left flank from any turning move- ment of the enemy.
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