USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 14
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From the following letters we gather the events of interest that occurred during August and September, 1862.
CAMP NEAR HAMPTON, VA., August 21, 1862.
Dear MARY-I received your letter of the 13th, an hour or two ago, for which I am much obliged. I write to you this evening more to let you all at home know that I am well and alive, and that our Army of the Potomac has arrived safely here, without any attack by the enemy. I will give you a little account of the movements of our division from the commence- ment of our movement.
We started the 16th of this month, Saturday afternoon, at four o'clock. We brought up the rear of the whole army, the Sixth Maine and AYRES' Battery being the last infantry and artillery to leave the encampment. We marched that night as far as Charles City Court-House. I can not tell how many miles it is from Harrison's Landing or Berkely to the Court-House. You might take a map and examine our course from Harrison's Land- ing to the camp here. We encamped at ten that evening, and the next morning at six we moved off, and encamped at three P. M., Sunday, after crossing the Chickahominy river, near its intersec- tion with the James, on a very fine pontoon bridge, which had been put together in nine hours, and was as firm and solid as a floor. We encamped on the banks of the Chickahominy, and started at six and a half A. M., Monday. We marched to Wil- liamsburg, and through it, encamping at two P. M. three miles from it. At six and a half A. M., Tuesday, we started again, and
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marched past Yorktown, and encamped two miles below it, on the York river, at one P. M. Started at five and a half A. M., Wednesday, and marched to Great Bethel, and encamped at eleven and a half A. M. near the battle ground of Bethel. Started at four and a half A. M., Thursday (to-day), and reached this camp at nine and a half A. M. We expect to be encamped here a day or two, and then proceed by transport to-I don't know where. During our entire journey from Harrison's Land- ing to this place we have had splendid weather, the sun being rather too powerful sometimes, and the dust on some roads being almost stifling. We got along very well, however, and have arrived here safe and sound. * I received Kate's letter, and will answer it as soon as I get a chance. I do not know when this letter will go off, but I hope either to-night or to-morrow morning. My love to all.
From your brother, JOHN.
ON BOARD STEAMSHIP "ARAGO," August 23, 1862.
Dear Mother-I write to you a few lines to-day, though I do not know when the mail goes out, to let you know something of our whereabouts and destination. We embarked yesterday, at one and a half P. M., on board this steamer, (belonging to the Havre line,) at Fortress Monroe, having started from camp at Hampton at ten and a half A. M. Immediately on our reach- ing the Fortress, after a fine march, there being no dust, as a gentle rain, of two hours' duration, had completely laid it, we were taken on board of a small steamer and conveyed to the "Arago," lying at anchor in the Roads. The Fifth Wisconsin and the Forty-third New York were both taken on board the same vessel, and by dark we had all our stores and baggage with us, they having been all brought out to this vessel by small steamers. We lay at anchor till this morning, and at day- light proceeded on our voyage. We are now, three P. M., going up the Potomac, our destination being, as the Captain of the vessel informed me, "Aquia Creek." I do not know yet whether we shall go into camp there, or be sent on to reinforce Pope's .
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army at once on our disembarkation. I am very well indeed, and enjoy this trip very much, as the accommodations are very fine. *
* * * I am still in command of the regiment (Lieut. Col. BAKER not having joined the regiment yet, and Col. VIN- TON being absent on a sick leave), and have a good deal of anxiety and care on my mind at this time of marching and trans- porting troops. I will write again as soon as we get encamped, and let you know where we are. My love to all at home.
Your loving son, JOHN.
CAMP CALIFORNIA, NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VA. -
August 29, 1862.
Dear ELIZA-Your letter reached me yesterday, and was perused with much pleasure. We are encamped, pro tem., near Alexandria, on the road, or rather in a fine field situated on the road, leading to Fairfax. We encamped here on Sunday night last, or rather Monday morning. All our Army of the Potomac except KEYES' Corps, which was left to garrison and guard Yorktown, have arrived here, and lie encamped between here and Fairfax. Rumor says Gen. POPE has fallen back and is in full retreat before the rebels, but I can not vouch for the truth of it. The rebels made a raid on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, on our forces guarding the railroad near Manassas, and stragglers and runaways from the army there, say that our forces were terribly cut up, and beaten badly. The Eleventh New York Battery, (the Havelock's, Capt. VON PUTKAMMER,) are reported to have been badly handled by the enemy, and to have lost almost all, if not every one of their guns, and many belonging to the battery are reported missing, either killed or prisoners. Very unfortunate affair for so promising a company of soldiers. It may be untrue, or a greatly exaggerated report of the affair, but I fear it may be too true. One regi- ment of cavalry, the Twelfth Pennsylvania, broke, and then run, many of them never halting till they were arrested by our pickets on the road near our camp. I saw and conversed with many of these latter, and a more frightened and distracted set of men I never saw. No two of them told the same story, but all
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of them agreed our forces were badly ent up. We asked one of them: " Where are your wounded, if your regiment was so badly cut up?" He replied: " Our officers commanded us to retreat," and it seems they were retreating, and would have retreated to Alexandria, if they had not been stopped by our guards. Somebody is to blame for the disgraceful affair, and Gen. MCCLELLAN will cause the matter to be sifted to the bot- tom, as the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry were all taken by our guards to his head-quarters. We received orders last evening to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice. We may move to-day. I do not know where we go to. I will write home as soon as we become settled in our camp again, in case we move to-day or to-morrow.
From your brother, JOIIN.
CAMP NEAR FORT WORTH, VA., Sept. 3d, 1862.
Dear MARY-Our regiment and division are encamped once more. This time we are encamped on a fine, level plateau, on top of a hill, adjoining Fort Worth, about two and a half miles from Alexandria. I have not written home for some time, and for good reasons: First, I had no paper with me, no ink, no pen; second, no mail has been sent off from our division sinee Thurs- day last. I send a letter to ELIZA, to-day, written last Thursday evening. I have carried it in my pocket since that time, and it has been almost to " Bull Run" since then. Our division moved last Friday morning, at six o'clock, and marched some five or six miles that day, formed line of battle, and encamped behind our stacks of arms. Started on Saturday morning, at a quarter past eight o'clock. We marched very rapidly that day, having no baggage along to impede us; our only baggage being one blanket to a man, and an overcoat, if any had one. Passed through Fairfax at twelve M .; through Centreville, and to within half a mile of Bull Run. The battle had been raging fiercely to our left, on the other side of Bull Run, but by the time we got to within that distance of it, night came on, and we were ordered back, to occupy the fortifications at Centreville. We arrived at half past ten P. M., having been on the march from a quarter to
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eight till that time. We were ordered into a large rifle pit, and were ready for an attack from the enemy, at any moment. Our troops were very tired indeed, and the disappointment of the men, in marching back to Centreville, some six miles, caused more fatigue than marching twelve miles forward would have done. I laid down at one end of the fortification, in my overcoat, and, sharing my blanket with another officer, went to sleep at once-and was wakened up at four A. M., by the rain running down my neck. It rained very hard all Sunday morning, and we lay in the rifle pit, in mud and rain, waiting to see if old "Reb." would attack us. But no attack. We were moved out at twelve, to another position, and lay encamped there all night. We remained here all Monday, till half past nine P. M., when we moved toward Fairfax, and encamped at half past one A. M., Tues- day, having marched four hours through the darkness and mud; the latter rendered very deep by a tremendously heavy thunder shower in the afternoon. We encamped near Fairfax, the men lying down by their arms, and their clothes being covered with mud up to their knees, and their feet muddy and wet, they slept till 8 A. M. It was a very cold morning, and I shivered when I got off from the wet ground, in spite of the sun's bright rays. We moved from Fairfax at half past two P. M., Tuesday, having been in the line of battle in the woods, all day, expecting an attack from the enemy's cavalry. We then marched towards Alexandria, and reached our old camp, California, at ten P. M., having marched some fifteen miles from two and a half to ten P. M. This we call pretty smart marching. Our men were pretty well tired out, and had had nothing to eat all day, except some green corn which they got in the corn fields as they came along. Our rations awaited us in camp, and I got my supper at half past eleven, and then went to bed, or to my blanket, rather, but not to sleep a great deal; for just as I was in a good sleep, some orderly from " head-quarters" came to my tent, and woke me up, with some order. We moved to this present camp at seven A. M., and are now once more at rest; for how long a time I know not. It may be till STONEWALL JACKSON endeavors to take Washington.
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I send you a little blue flower I got from one of the forts at Cen- treville. Flowers are rather scarce " in these parts," but I will try and send you some more. I could send you some splendid bunches of the trumpet flower, but they are too large. That was a beautiful little flower you sent me; it is preserved finely. Much obliged for it. Don't forget the phuuns when the box is sent. How I would like some of those Imperials or MeLaugh- lins or Green Gages to eat fresh. I have seen no plums here, but the Damson and the Horse plums. But I must close my letter. My love to all, and regards to all my friends. I am still in command of the Forty-third.
Your brother, JOHN.
CAMP NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD., Sept. 20, 1862.
Dear ANNA-I take the first opportunity I have had of answer- ing your letter of September 4th, which I received on the 7th instant, during our bivouack at Rockville, Md. We have been on the march continually since the evening of the 6th, and I have had no chance either to write home, or to get any material to do so. All my baggage (a small valise) is in the wagons, and I could not get pen, ink or paper for love or money, and there was no opportunity of sending a letter when written. We have been on the march now two weeks this evening, and all the bed or covering I have had during this time has been my overcoat and rubber coat, which I carry strapped on the back of my sad- dle. The weather has been very favorable to our movements (a rain once in a while incommoding us but very little), and I have suffered but little inconvenience from sleeping on the ground. I do not know when this letter will go to the post-office, as we send out no regular mail yet. I write to you now, having bor- rowed this one-half sheet of foolscap, to dispel any fears you might have for my safety. We have had a very severe, if not the most severe battle of the war. It has continued five or six days, and the dead and wounded, on either side, are counted by thousands. The loss of the rebels on the last day of the battle Wednesday, was fearful in the extreme; and the battle field on Friday morning, after the rebels had left and no damage could
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be done by their sharpshooters, to persons going out on it, pre- sented an awful appearance, the dead being in some places near fences, and clumps of trees and roeks, piled up in heaps. The smell arising from the field, or rather fields, was almost stifling, many of the dead lying unburied three or four days under a hot sun. This has been the first time I have had a good opportunity of visiting a battle field in every part, and of examining all the different positions held and taken during the engagement.
The battle field of this last action comprised a large extent of ground, our line of battle running a distance of four or five miles, and along its entire length the dead and wounded were gathered. If I had time now, and the paper, I would give you a detailed account of the movements of our division and corps, since Satur- day evening the 6th instant, (on which evening we marched from Alexandria to our camp near Tenallytown,) and of our march to this time, where we are encamped within one-quarter of a mile of the Potomac, on the Maryland side of the river. We have driven the rebels out of Maryland completely, compelling them to leave their dead and wounded on the soil of this State uncared for by them. Their rear guard crossed the river yesterday, and last evening, at five o'clock, we reached our present camp.
I am very well, having never enjoyed better health than at pre- sent, although I do not feel as clean and comfortable as I would with a good change of clothing. We may follow up the rebel army in Virginia, or lie still for a while. We are prepared for either, although a little rest for a few days would be very acceptable. My love to all at home. Your brother, JOHN.
CAMP NO. 47, IN THE FIELD, NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD., ~ September 20, 1862.
Dear ELIZA-I received your letter of the 9th instant last Thursday, while the regiment, of which I have the temporary command, was lying on the field of our last battle, in support of the First N. Y. Artillery. It seemed strange to receive and peruse a letter from home amid such scenes of carnage and death. Just think of reading a letter, written in peaceful Albany, where all is quiet and undisturbed, here on the battle field the
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day after an action of the most severe nature, and with here and there a dead man lying before you, and your whole regiment lying on the ground in line of battle, bayonets fixed and pieces loaded, and fingers on the trigger, ready to draw at a moment's notice; eyes steadily fixed to the front, and eager to discern any advance of the enemy; and on either flank of the regiment a bat- tery of six pieces, and their accompaniments-caissons, limbers and ammunition wagons; men standing ready at the loaded cannon, ready to throw a shower of iron balls or screeching shells at the enemy on his first appearance in force, and you may have some idea of the scene of last Thursday morning. I would give you a lengthy account of all our movements since we left, two weeks ago to-night, and marched through Washington to Mary- land, and from there to the battle field, but I must reserve that for some future letter, and content myself with a few lines. I wrote a letter to ANNA this afternoon, and sent it off this eve- ning. While I am writing these words, our mail has come in, and a letter from MARY for me. I am glad mother is getting better, and trust and pray her health may be completely restored. I still ride Lieutenant Colonel's gray horse. He has not yet returned to his regiment, but will shortly return, as he has over four hundred men for the regiment, and has orders from the War Department to return when he has five hundred recruits. I have been in command of the Forty-third since the 3d of August, and have quite an experience as a commanding offi- cer. Gen. HANCOCK has been temporarily detailed to command Gen. RICHARDSON'S Division, he having been wounded, and unable to command. Col. COBB, Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, assumes command of the brigade pro tem. We have completely driven the rebels from "my Maryland," and we are under orders to move at two A. M. to-morrow, so I must close and retire to my blanket. My love to all at home, and my regards to all my friends. I send you a letter from the battle field in lien of a flower, which I have not been able to find, for you. JOHN.
The following letters will be read with interest, as illustrating Col. WILSON'S confidence in the final triumph of our arms; his
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personal bravery on the field; his benevolence and his lofty patriotism in resisting the temptations to resign and return to tne peace and comforts of his happy home:
CAMP NEAR BELLE PLAIN. December 9, 1862.
Dear KATE-I have just received your letter of the 1st and ELIZA's of the 2d instant. As we are under orders to move at a moment's notice to-morrow, I will write you a few lines to-day, as I may not have an opportunity to do so again for some days; for in case of a move we cannot depend upon the mails being regular. We spent Thanksgiving in camp, without a turkey, as we were unable to procure any; but we had a Thanksgiving pre- sent in the shape of a chaplain for the Forty-third, the Rev. Mr. OSBORN, lately of West Troy, who gives promise of being a useful and energetic chaplain. I sincerely trust he may do much good to the regiment. We moved from our camp, near Aquia, on Thursday last, and encamped near Brooks' Station, on the rail- road from Aquia creek to Fredericksburg. It snowed hard all day Friday while we lay there, the snow melting fast, and at night when it ceased, there were but two or three inches of it on the ground. It froze a little that night, and on Saturday we moved to our present camp, the road being very muddy, the day cheerless and cold. Our wagons could not reach us that night, so we bivouacked, without blankets, by a good fire. The night was very cold, the ground freezing very hard, and on Sunday, at twelve M., our wagon train reached ns with tents and food. The weather since has been very cold, the ground remaining frozen solid, and the roads firm, and though rough, in good condition for teaming. Winter campaigning, if this be a sample, is not very pleasant or comfortable work; but if we can overcome the rebellion by a vigorous campaign this winter, I for one am willing to undergo any hardship consequent thereto; but I have not much faith in a campaign in the winter, as it has seldom or ever proved successful. If we once get into winter quarters, I will try to get a furlough, but I begin to fear my being able to procure one by Christmas.
The President's Message mects my hearty approbation; the
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proposed "compensated emancipation " especially. I trust it will meet with the earnest support of every lover of our Union and of humanity. Should it be adopted, the war, I think, would be materially shortened, and final peace he hastened. I think the doom of slavery approaches, and the end of the war will be the end of its reign.
I cannot but believe that this Republic will pass through its present trials unscathed; and although darkness spreads over it, and every thing looks dreary, yet the sun of freedom and peace will soon arise, and the day of prosperity appear brighter in contrast with the late obscurity. God only knows the suffering and hardships of the soldier, and how welcome would be the tidings that peace was once more restored. Till that good news goes forth, let each stand firm, and the right must be the might. My love to all at home. Write soon to
Your loving brother, JOHN.
CAMP NEAR RAPPAHANNOCK, Dec. 19th, 1862.
Dear ELIZA-I have at last an opportunity of answering your letter of Dec. 2d. Our tents came last evening, and I am once more permitted to handle a pen, and to write home. I embraced the first opportunity to write a note in pencil, to Mother, to re- move any fears or rumors which might have existed as regards my own personal safety. I have myself, as well as all the offi- cers of the Forty-third, escaped unscathed. The regiment had eleven men wounded, of which but two will prove very serious; one causing the amputation of the leg, above the knee; the other I cannot tell about, as the man was removed to the Corps hos- pital, and . I have heard nothing since from him. He was shot by a bullet, which entered the back of the neck just below the skull; he was carried off from the field insensible. You will, no doubt, learn all the particulars of the engagement from the news- papers much more fully than I could give them to you.
We crossed the river, Friday morning, and lay in line of battle till Saturday morning, when the engagement commenced in right earnest. We laid in different parts of the field till Monday eve- ning, when the whole army was safely moved back across the
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river, without the loss of a man. Night before last was a very cold one, and as we had no tents, we suffered some from the cold. We have been without our tents just one week, having only our blankets and overcoats to cover us. But the weather proved uncommonly favorable, and we have all become rather tough; so we do not complain at all of anything we have to suffer; our only murmurings and complaints being against the misfortune which seems to attend our arms.
The carnage attending this last battle was perfectly awful. HANCOCK'S Division went into the fight with five thousand men; came out eighteen hundred strong, losing, in killed and wounded, three thousand two hundred men, thirty-two officers killed, and one hundred and fifty officers wounded. I have this account from an aid of the General, who had his horse shot from under him. Our division not being actually engaged with the infantry of the enemy, suffered very slightly. We had to endure a very hot fire from the batteries of the enemy, however, and not a man flinched from his post. The discipline of the army, at least as far as I know of it, is all that could be expected; our recrossing the river in the time and manner we did, could only be done by well dis- ciplined troops.
I do not know what will be done by the army next, but think it must go into winter quarters-for a short time at least. Col. BAKER is still absent from the regiment, and I have been in com- mand of it for five weeks to-day. I sometimes think he intends to give me command altogether of the Forty-third, as he has not written a single letter to any officer since he returned the last time. If he does not come back to the regiment soon, I shall give up all hopes of getting a furlough, as the time for it will be in a few days, or not at all this winter. I could not think of asking for one, if I was in command of the regiment-as it would demand my whole attention.
You ask about my horse. He is a large fellow, six years old, iron gray, and can travel very fast. He was the best looking horse I could get from the corral; and although very lean when I got him, he promised to make a fine horse. He is improving some at present, although he has had a pretty hard time of it
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standing out these cold nights. The army, in a winter campaign, is a very hard place for horses, and many die of exposure and lack of feed and attention.
Our new Chaplain, Rev. Mr. OsBORN, has proved himself quite a hero-accompanying the regiment on the field, and going through the shelling quite courageously. He proved of great assistance in the Corps hospital, acting as recorder of all the wounded brought into one of the departments of it, and he has been detailed to go to Washington in charge of a mimber (ninety) of wounded, thus saving the services of one or more surgeons. He left on Thursday afternoon with his charge, and has not yet returned. He is a worker, and one of the few men I think pecu- liarly adapted to the service. I have great expectations of the good he will do in his labors in the army, and think him just the man we have been looking and waiting for, for so long a time.
Give my regards to all my friends, and wish them all for me, as I wish all at home, " A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
Your loving brother, JOIIN.
CANP NEAR BELLE PLAIN, VA., Dec. 20, 1862.
Dear ANNA-To-day is Saturday, and a terribly cold blowing one; it froze very hard last evening, and was a severe night on horses and men. I have not been able to get a stove for my tent yet, and it is as cold as charity in it, in spite of a huge fire in front of it. I am now sitting in the Adjutant's tent writing to you. He managed to get a little stove, and his tent is the only comfortable one in camp. We moved to this camp yesterday; it was a fine short march of some four miles length. We are encamped very near our former camp near Belle Plain. We have a fine camp ground, a very good supply of oak wood stand- ing near eamp, and awaiting the soldier's axe. I am still in com- mand of the regiment-Col. BAKER being absent either at Albany or New York. I do not know when he will return, but expect him every day.
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