USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 3
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WINTER QUARTERS
1862]
Large cakes were served the same way, illustrating the old saying that, "where there is a will there is a way", so that the boys got their whiskey, notwithstanding the prying eyes of the officers.
As has been stated, our Regiment was known as the Fifth Cali- fornia Regiment, but the death of General Baker lost us that name, and Pennsylvania claimed the brigade as her troops, and we were, about the middle of November, designated as the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania.
In the early part of January a case of smallpox was discover- ed in camp; with it came the scare that follows that loathsome disease, and nearly all hands were vaccinated immediately.
On January 10th, Colonel Morehead was presented with a hand- some sword, sash and belt by the officers and men of Company F. Adjutant Pleis brought it on from Philadelphia. Captain Clarke presented it to the Colonel on behalf of the company, and the Colonel received it, speaking in a very feeling manner, assuring the men of his determination to wear it with honor to them and himself.
About this time extensive preparations were being made for another attempt to cross the Potomac. Large numbers of flat boats, capable of holding about thirty men each, were brought up the canal and held ready for use, our men were also busy and hard at work building a large fort near Conrad's Ferry. While so working, Private William Brown, of Company I was badly injured by a heavy log falling on him, breaking some of his ribs, and an ambulance had to be sent to take him to the hospital. With all these preparations came the usual reports of a move; each day was to bring the necessary orders, but each day passed and the orders did not come. On January 13th, Colonel Morehead went on to Harrisburg to secure more men and an additional company for the regiment and returned on the 29th. He had succeeded in getting a number of recruits and, having the company of sappers and miners pre- viously alluded to, assigned to the regiment as Company K.
On the same day, "A Burial Association" was formed for the purpose of sending home the bodies of the members of the association who died, or were killed in action, and Lieutenant- Colonel Curry was elected President, Major Stover Vice-Presi-
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
dent, Captain Allen Secretary, Corporal J. N. Radcliffe Re- cording Secretary, Chaplain Harris Treasurer. The members were to contribute so much as dues ($98.75 was paid in when the men were paid off in February), but the association died a natural death after being called upon to perform its sad duty for one member, and Private John Anderson, of Company H, who died February IIth, 1862, was the first one sent home, to Canton, Bradford County, Pa., on February 12th.
On the night of February Ist, thirteen of the enemy deserted, came over into our lines, and gave themselves up. They were sent to General Burns's headquarters, who examined them and sent them to division headquarters.
February 5th was pay day and we were again paid and made happy.
On the 12th, on dress parade, we received the glorious news of the success of General Burnside's expedition in North Carolina, and after the reading of the order, the Colonel proposed three cheers for the "Union". They were given with a will, and quick- ly followed by three more for the army, then the navy, the flag, General Burns and Colonel Morehead, all hands giving themselves up to the enthusiasm of the hour. It was the first real good news we had received since our disaster at Ball's Bluff ; and the officers and men enjoyed it, the band played the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Yankee Doodle", and many of the men were hoarse from cheering.
On the 14th, Captain Bartleson, of Company H, was presented with a handsome sword by his company.
February 22nd, Washington's birthday, was celebrated in all the camps. Our Regiment was drawn up in line, and fired a national salute of thirty-four rounds by companies, each company constituting a round. A hollow square was then formed, and Major Stover read Washington's Farewell Address; cheer after cheer was then given, and the band played the national airs.
After the line was dismissed, Captain Achuff, of Company E, was presented with a handsome sword by his company, Major Stover making the presentation speech, and Captain Clarke, of Company F, received it on behalf of Captain Achuff.
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THE ADVANCE
1862]
CHAPTER V.
THE ADVANCE.
T HE time had now arrived for us to commence an active campaign ; we were now to give up our comfortable winter quarters, though the winter was not yet over, and to ex- perience the hardships, toils, privations and dangers of active service.
On February 23d, orders were received to prepare to move at once. All hands at once set to work to make such disposition of our accumulated property as we could ; some things were packed in boxes and sent home, others destroyed, and those we thought we could not do without were packed in our knapsacks ; ammuni- tion was issued, each man receiving 40 rounds.
At daylight of the 24th we were awakened by the booming of cannon, telling us that the advance was being made and contested. As we did not get marching orders, the work of packing and destruction was still continued ; letters were hastily written home, telling our families and friends that we were at last to start on an active campaign, glad to give up the monotony of camp life.
February 25th. All excitement and commotion, tents all dis- appeared, and our once beautiful camp, that had been our home so long, now presented the appearance of a deserted village; yet there were few regrets as at 10 o'clock the line was formed, and we marched off, bidding farewell to "Camp Observation". All were glad that the dull monotonous routine of camp life and duty was to be replaced by the excitement and change of an active campaign, in which we would have an opportunity to test our mettle, and win a name for the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsyl- vania. As we trudged over the steep and rugged sides of "Old Sugar Loaf Mountain", that had been so long visible from our camp the growl of the old soldier began, as he labored beneath his heavily-loaded knapsack, and many were the "unkind" remarks showered upon the innocent mountain that required such laborious
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
efforts to "pass him by!" This, our first day's march, told on the men, and many were unable to keep up. After thirteen miles march we arrived at Adamstown, about 4 o'clock, near which we camped for the night. Here the comforts of our old quarters were sadly missed, but before we started again even some of those we had brought with us were dispensed with, and so on from day to day; men began to find out how little was really necessary, and that it was bad enough to be pack mules for what was indispensable and compulsory. This was our first night at really "camping out", and that in the middle of winter, with no tents ; nothing to sleep on but the gum blanket, six feet long, three feet wide, issued to us before leaving camp, and but a single blanket to cover us, so that we suffered very much with the cold.
Next morning remained in camp, but at 2 o'clock in the after- noon again resumed the march to "Point of Rocks", where we were to take the cars for Harper's Ferry, but upon arriving there found that there were no cars there, so we were kept waiting until dark. In the meantime a heavy rain-storm set in which complete- ly drenched us, and when the cars did come, although we found them the same old cattle cars with their rough boards for seats, yet it was with pleasure that we sought their shelter, a decided contrast to what our feelings were when first called upon to ride in them on that first day from home, enroute to Washington, four months before. As soon as all were aboard we started and arrived at Sandy Hook about half past I o'clock, but received orders to remain in the cars until daylight, so tried to make our- selves comfortable and obtain what sleep the circumstances would permit in our wet and cold condition.
February 27th. The sun, in all her brightness and warmth, welcomed us as we tumbled out of the cars about 6 o'clock in the morning, cramped and stiffened by the cold and crowded quarters. We were soon in line and marched to where two pon- toon bridges were thrown across the river, one for troops and the other for artillery and wagon trains. With the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment leading the column, we crossed the Potomac, landing on the "sacred soil of Virginia" about 8 o'clock, and with colors flying and band playing we marched through the town and were soon quartered in the empty houses, the Regiment being
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THE ADVANCE
1862]
retained as Provost Guard and Colonel Morehead appointed Provost Marshal.
Part of the uniform of the Regiment consisted of high black felt hats with black feather plumes, and were worn with one side of the rim fastened up by a gilt eagle ; a gilt bugle ornamented the front ; these hats had never been much liked by the men and many were the attempts made to get rid of them, only to have a new one issued and the cost charged against the delinquent; but, when about the head of the column was on the bridge, a hat was myster- iously seen to drop overboard; soon another followed; that was sufficient ; the signal had been given, the opportunity was just what the men wanted, and it was astonishing to see how easily the light breeze, that hardly affected the surface of the water, carried those hats overboard; their number increased as each succeeding company stepped on the bridge, until they presented the appearance of a large flock of ducks or other water fowls quietly floating down stream, or as if an army had been swept overboard and lost, with nothing left to tell the tale but their hats. Notwithstanding the positive orders of the officers and their strenuous efforts to prevent it, the number of hats increased until the last company had landed. The two days' march and the night spent in the cars but increased the men's dislike to them, and some of those who had not taken advantage of the kindness of the breeze disposed of theirs in other ways until, upon coming on the first dress parade thereafter, so many were found missing that they were ordered to be abandoned.
Our division was temporarily assigned to General Banks's com- mand, which was to force a crossing of the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and to push up the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester, and during the next two days these troops, with their ammunition and supply trains, were continuously crossing. During that time we remained quiet, and the writer availed himself of the opportunity to take a run of the town, now deserted, many houses still con- taining the furniture, but the owners gone. A visit to what was the government buildings presented a deplorable sight ; the build- ings all burnt to the ground ; nothing but the blackened walls were standing. These buildings, together with a large quantity of stores, had been destroyed. We also visited the old Engine House
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
made famous by John Brown, and occupied by him during his invasion of Virginia in 1859 for the purpose of liberating the slaves, and in which he so long defended his life, and ever after- wards called "Fort John Brown". We looked through the same hole that he fired through, sang "John Brown's body lies mould- ering in the ground, but his soul goes marching on"; and finally chipped from the window-sash pieces of wood to be sent home as relics.
On Sunday, March 2d, we were compelled to give up our quarters in the houses, and were marched out to Bolivar Heights in a severe northeast snow-storm, where we were kept waiting over an hour before we received our tents and got them up. By that time the ground was covered nearly an inch deep, and the wind blowing so hard that great difficulty was experienced in putting up the same large Sibley tents that we had at Camp Observation.
On the 3d, five companies, A, B, C, D and E, and two pieces of artillery, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William L. Curry, were ordered to take possession of Loudon Heights, on the other side of the Shenandoah River. Leaving camp about 8 o'clock, we marched back to the town, and the ferry-the old- style rope ferry-that is, a large rope stretched across the river, to which is attached a large flat-bottomed boat by ropes and pulleys ; the boat is carried from one side to the other by the force of the current. As the boat would only hold about thirty men, nearly all day was consumed in crossing. Then we had to climb up that steep and slippery mountain, in a heavy northeast storm of snow and rain, the ground and trees being all coated with ice, which made it very hard; but we had to go. We reached the top of Loudon Heights at last, and relieved a detachment of Geary's Twenty-Eighth Pennsylvania. Here we were to stay, with no shelter but a few rude huts or sheds, made of logs and brush, that had been hastily put up by the "Twenty-Eighth". We were glad, however, to seek their shelter, but in a few days sorry that we did, as, to our horror and disgust, we found that our predecessors had not taken away all that belonged to them, but left some of the huts well inhabited ; and it was here that many of us for the first time made the acquaintance of the "grayback", that subsequently stuck
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THE ADVANCE
1862]
so close to us during our tramp through Virginia ; neither intense heat nor bitter cold had any effect to shorten their existence or drive them away from us.
There we stayed, exposed to that very inclement weather- snow, rain and cold; the very clouds descending and enveloping us-with such limited accommodations, and a scarcity of provi- sions, and tried to realize that our patriotism required us to faith- fully serve our country under such distressing circumstances, and be content.
When the weather cleared, we were afforded one of the finest views of the country, and those of us who saw it will never forget it. Standing on that high mountain, we saw the beautiful Potomac coming down from the north, and the Shenandoah from the south, as though cutting their way through the steep moun- tain ; here uniting together and running off to the east and south. At the point where these two rivers join, Harper's Ferry is built on a high hill, but from our point of view looked very low; a little farther west is the town of Bolivar and, beyond that, Bolivar Heights; the Charlestown Pike, "a good broad highway leading down", leading through one and past the other till lost in the distance, then lined with long trains of wagons, slowly moving along ; others were parked in different places, as were also the many batteries of artillery ; the many camps of the large force of troops then concentrating there were dotted on plain and hillside as far as the eye could reach. Artillery, cavalry and infantry, with their rows upon rows of white tents, and large numbers of horses picketed in rows, companies and regiments, could be seen moving about in all directions as they were exercised in company and regimental drills and on dress parade, and the music of the different bands was gently wafted towards us, all indicating the great preparations for and the presence of war ; the beautiful Shen- andoah Valley now turned into a vast camping ground for that large army. Turning to the other side, an entirely different view met our eye. Before us lay the beautiful and fertile Loudon Valley, which, if the season had been further advanced, would have been clothed in all her beauty of verdure, and flowers, fruit, and grain. There were now no signs of war on her peaceful plains ; all was quiet ; but when another spring-time came, she too
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
had tasted the bitter draught of war, and her fertile fields were trodden down by the tramp of that same large army. Looking to the north, across the Potomac, Maryland Heights, in all their grandeur, loomed up before us, from whose top our flag floated in warning and defiance, and our guns sent their messengers of war over into the land now recovered and occupied by our troops. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with its branches, could be seen winding their way like large snakes around the base of the mountain, and like tender threads in the distance, and at our feet the long pontoon bridges stretched across the Potomac. And so the eye could wander from one beauty to another, distance lend- ing enchantment, and picture to ourselves what a beautiful sight it must be in spring-time and summer, when those valleys were clothed in all the beauty of green grass and ripening grain and fruit, and those hills covered with those massive trees in leaf.
On the 7th, Banks' division pushed forward on the Winchester Pike beyond Charlestown ; a reconnoissance was made, and it was thought that the enemy would make a stand at Winchester. Gen- eral Sedgwick's division (that is our division) was then ordered forward.
On the 10th, the five companies of our Regiment were with- drawn from Loudon Heights, recrossed the Shenandoah River, and joined the remainder of our Regiment at Harper's Ferry about 9 o'clock in the morning, raining all the time. Two com- panies, F and G, under command of Major Jno. H. Stover, were left behind as provost-guard at Harper's Ferry, with Captain Timothy Clark, of Company F, as Provost Marshal, Colonel Morehead having been appointed Provisional Governor. The remainder marched with the division to Charlestown, a distance of twelve miles, arriving there about 4 o'clock, and camped for the night.
On the IIth, left camp about 8 o'clock, marched to Berryville, and camped about a mile and a half beyond, being then about nine miles from Winchester.
We remained in camp on the 12th. Our Regiment was en- camped in a wood near the edge, opening into a large meadow, across which the men had to go for water to the well of a large mansion on a slight elevation beyond. The owner of this prop-
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THE ADVANCE
1862]
erty had not yet felt the ravages of war; his stock of poultry, hogs, sheep and cows remained untouched, and a guard was stationed at the house for their protection. We had been depriv- ed of these luxuries for some time and now looked on them with longing eyes. Strict orders had been received that no private property was to be molested, and we were too new soldiers to attempt their disobedience ; the guards were very quick in arrest- ing any one who attempted to disobey ; but notwithstanding their vigilance the more venturesome would slyly knock over a chicken or a duck, slip it under his coat and carry it into camp, only to tempt his comrades or divide among some of them enough to make them wish for more. Shortly after noon, while going across the meadow with some canteens for water, the writer saw some men chasing a nice little "porker"; both men and pig seemed nearly exhausted, when I kindly offered my services to despatch "the critter" with my pistol, which I had provided myself with before leaving home, and with it sufficient ammunition to slaught- er hundreds of rebels, as I, in my boyish notion, fully expected to be called upon to do, and as fully expected to do; but up to this time it had not been aimed at any living thing except at an occasional rabbit while at Camp Observation, without doing the rabbit any harm. My offer was accepted, for they did not dare to use their guns, as their much louder reports would have at- tracted the attention of the guards. The first shot on the run did not stop him, but after a short chase he stopped for breath, and quietly closing up on him at very short distance, with the next shot I brought him down. I immediately rushed upon him, and with a penknife cut his throat, and looking up, feeling well satisfied with my own skill, was surprised to see my comrades, to whose assistance I had so generously come, making for the near- est fence on a full run, and on turning around found myself in the hands of the Provost Guard, who greeted me with, "You young rascal ; we have got you now, and we will make short work of you." With fear my eyes were as big as saucers, and my tongue silent, the blood of the pig still dripping from my hands. Just then the officer came up, who surveyed first the pig and then me, and asked what I had to say for myself: if I had not heard the orders forbidding such things, and that the penalty for dis-
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
obedience of orders was death, no doubt enjoying my frightened appearance. I did the best I could to get out of it by lying. I said I was going for water, pointing to the canteens, and that these men had killed the pig but had no knife to cut his throat and asked me for mine, (I had lost several knives since leaving home and had adopted the plan of fastening this one, with a long buckskin string, to the pocket of my pants), and not wishing to break the string (showing the knife and string), had volunteered to cut the pig's throat, which I was doing just as the guards came up, my pistol having been put away and concealed from view ; he questioned me very closely, and I was all the more posi- tive in my assertions of innocence. He finally released me with a lecture on obedience of orders, and a belief in the truth of my statement. The guards having gone after the running men, he went after them and I after the water. Upon my return I found that the men, having eluded the guards, had returned and dragged the pig to the corner of the fence and were hard at work cutting him to pieces, and rewarded me with one quarter of his pigship, as my share for helping them, which furnished me and my tent- mates with a good dinner and supper.
This and similar success on the part of others urged on the more timid, and many were the successful charges made, until the lard- er of nearly every tent was replenished. Chickens, ducks and geese fell an easy prey to the "advancing hosts". Soon not one could be found ; then the remaining "porkers" were similarly dis- posed of, and finally the bee hives were carried to camp, their in- mates smoked out, and the honey added to the bill of fare for that night's supper and next morning's breakfast. It seemed to me that as soldiers men became as children, and thought it no harm to help one's self, or in other words to steal anything to eat ; and as soldiers, did many things which, if they were at home, they would never think of doing.
On the 13th we started for Winchester. The booming of the artillery of the day before impressed us with the belief that a battle was impending; that our services were needed, and we should become engaged with the enemy at last. After a march of six miles the column was halted, orders were countermanded, we "about faced", and returned to our camp at Berryville.
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THE ADVANCE
1862]
"Stonewall Jackson", with his forces, having retired from Win- chester, General Banks, no longer required the services of Sedg- wick's Division. It was ordered to rejoin the corps, and early the next morning, March 14th, broke camp and marched back to Charlestown, camped on our former camping ground, and on the 15th returned to our camp at Bolivar Heights, picking up, as we passed through Charlestown, the detachment of the brigade that had been left there to guard the town. As on the occasion of our first encampment on Bolivar Heights when we suffered the inconvenience of a snow storm, so again we came into camp in a bad northeast storm; this time rain, and again had to wait over an hour for the tents, and then pitch them on muddy ground.
General Burns, our brigade commander, speaking of this move- ment, said :
This brigade had barely two months of drill and discipline after the demoralizing effects of Ball's Bluff, when winter set in, pre- cluding exercise of muscle or morals, both thereby becoming re- laxed, when in midwinter, February, the ill-judged campaign across the Potomac, at Harper's Ferry, to open the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was ordered, in snow, rain and mud, without shelter or supplies, not for a military purpose, but for a civil advantage to monopoly, against the protest of General Mcclellan. Burns' Brigade lost in confidence and morale most of the good of the two months' discipline, blighting the self-reliance and ambition which go to make the true soldier : to overcome such influence and march to victory was the crown of self-abnegating duty.
The men seemed demoralized, yet they cheerfully did their duty ; time had gradually effaced the effects of Ball's Bluff to now give place to that equally disheartening, and the discourage- ment was such as to impress them with the belief that their lead- ers did not know their own minds. Is it any wonder that men lost confidence ?
It was while we were lying at Bolivar Heights that the order of the President, dated March 8th, 1862, dividing the Army of the Potomac in four corps, was carried into effect. The corps, de- signated the First, Second, Third and Fourth, were commanded respectively by Generals McDowell, Sumner, Heintzelman and Keyes, and Banks' command was designated as the Fifth Corps.
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