USA > Pennsylvania > Our Campaigns: or, The marches, bivouacs, battles, incidents of camp life and history of our regiment during its three years term of service > Part 6
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a direct denial. Thomas, however, we presume, is now meditating upon his deeds, surrounded by an infinite host of congenial spirits, whose happiness and comfort is receiving the attention of their beloved master who prompted them to their acts. Captain Farley and Lieu- tenant Carderees were on a courting expedition to the
Misses - -, who lived in the neighborhood, and got themselves into trouble by neglecting their lady loves to go bushwhacking.
On the 29th, Captain McDonough, whose company had been disbanded by General Banks, at Hyattstown, Md., arrived with a new company and. was assigned his old letter, B. The lieutenants were John H. Jack and James C. Manton, the former being one of the officers whose company was also disbanded at the same time. This gave us seven companies.
On the 3d of December, the brigade started on a forag- ing expedition, and proceeded about nine miles up the pike to Mr. Thomas' House, where they captured a large number of wagon loads of corn, etc., that had just been collected by the enemy. Mr. Thomas was an agent for the Confederate Government, and was in the habit of scouring the country and collecting from the inhabitants, much against their will, bedding, blankets, clothing, etc., for the use of the army. The boys returned in the after- noon highly delighted with their expedition.
While the roads were good, General McCall sent his expeditions a considerable distance from camp, reserving the forage near by for winter, but this prudential fore- sight availed him little, for one day General Smith, whose division laid on our left, sent out an extraor- dinary strong expedition and swept the whole country in our front, actually gathering within sight of our pickets. This was not considered exactly the fair thing, but further than a good-natured reproof no notice was taken of it.
On the 12th, there was a review of the Reserves. On the 19th we practiced with blank cartridges, and in the
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BATTLE OF DRAINESVILLE.
evening received orders to be prepared to move at three o'clock the next morning.
THE BATTLE OF DRAINESVILLE .- Early on the morn- ing of December 20, 1861, Brigadier-General Ord, with the " Bucktails," Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, Easton's bat- tery of four guns, and his own brigade, the Third, con- sisting of the Sixth, Captain W. G. Ent; the Ninth, Colonel C. F. Jackson; the Tenth, Colonel J. S. McCal- mont, and the Twelfth, Colonel John H. Taggart, marched through Drainesville and some distance be- yond on a foraging expedition, and on their return about two and a half o'clock, they discovered the enemy who were also on a foraging expedition, approaching from the direction of Centreville, on the Alexandria and Leesburg pike, in their rear. This pike joins the Chain Bridge and Leesburg pike a short distance east of Drainesville, near Thornton's house, where there is a heavy woods and high ground. To gain this position was the aim of both parties, and General Ord, by double quicking his command succeeded. The battle soon opened and lasted for one hour and a half with great fury, when General Ord observing the enemy to waver ordered a charge, when they broke and fled, leaving their killed and wounded and two caissons on the field, and were followed by our victorious troops for over a mile. The enemy's force consisted of First Kentucky Rifles, the First and Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, the Tenth Alabama and the Sixth South Carolina volun- teers, a regiment of cavalry and a battery of six guns, commanded by.Acting Brigadier-general John H. For- ney. Their loss in killed and wounded was one hundred and sixty-five men, they acknowledging that of one hun- dred and fifty. Among their killed was Colonel Tom Taylor, First Kentucky Rifles. Our loss was but seven killed and forty-one wounded, including four officers, among whom was Lieutenant-colonel Kane, slightly. We brought all our killed and wounded, many of the enemy's wounded, eight prisoners, and fifty-eight wagon
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loads of forage to camp. General McCall arrived upon the field during the action and took command.
General Reynolds, who had been moved with his brigade to Difficult creek, immediately upon hearing the sound of battle put his column in motion, striking across the country to the left for the purpose of inter- cepting the enemy in their retreat on the Alexandria and Leesburg pike, but his movement was counter- manded by General McCall, whose positive instructions were not to bring on a general engagement. The "Second Brigade, General Meade, was also put in motion, and General Hancock's division was ordered to our support. General Mcclellan proceeded as far as Miner's Hill, where, finding the battle was over, he returned.
This battle was the first victory gained by the Army of the Potomac, and after the disastrous defeats of " Bull Run" and "Ball's Bluff," was hailed with joy by the people of the North.
A few days after the battle, His Excellency, Governor Curtin, visited the Reserves to congratulate them and care for the wounded, and he caused the flags of the regiments that participated in the battle to be sent to Washington, where " Drainesville, December 20, 1861," was inscribed on each of them, after which they were re- turned to them in the presence of the whole division and an assemblage of distinguished officials and civilians.
On the 14th of January, Lieutenants John B. Robinson and J. Baxter Fletcher, Sergeants Joseph Benison, David H. Pidgeon and Isaac C. Sharp, were detailed to proceed to Philadelphia, on recruiting service.
On the 20th, the regiment was paid off by Major Smith.
Winter now set in, in earnest, and the " sacred soil of Virginia " began to assume very much the appearance of a vast mud-puddle. Almost every day it drizzled, rained and snowed alternately ; the sun not blessing us with its genial rays, or Jack Frost coming to our relief to extricate us from the mud. Shoe and clothes brushes were at a discount. Nice young men who formerly
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prided themselves on their kid gloves and patent leather boots, began to realize the stern necessities of the case, and officers, sergeants, corporals and privates wandered about in a promiscuous mass, floundering and splashing in the mire as happy as young ducks in a mud-puddle. Nature happily has formed man to be contented with circumstances, and what seems the height of misery to the imagination, in reality loses much of its unpleas- antness. The boys ate their rations, thought of their sweethearts, slept warmly in their bunks, stood in the mud on guard and shivered on picket, making the best of their situation, occasionally wishing the war was over, and having slight hopes of furloughs in the future.
The reveille rattles and up springs the soldiers. "Fall in, Company A !" rings down the street; and with vari- ations in the last letter, is repeated over the camp. Out tumble the sleepy boys and range themselves in line in front of their tents. Roll call is soon over and down they run to the neighboring brook where their toilet is performed. Back to their tents and tumbling in they soon have a glowing fire burning, Then comes "peas on trencher," as breakfast is called-for what reason I know not, considering the unvarying bill of fare. But the fascinating summons is always obeyed, and with tin plates and cups, to the music of the "tin plate march," they proceed to the cook's quarters of their own com- pany. The milkless coffee is dipped from a huge kettle, and the salt junk from a pile and with a few wafers of hard tack, the patriots march back to their bunks and enjoy a hearty meal. At eight comes guard mounting -quite an imposing ceremony in clear weather. Then the boys cut their wood and fill their canteens, clean their muskets, scw on buttons, write home, read, cut wooden chains and bone rings, play cards, smoke and talk over old times, and brag about their sweethearts. At noon 'roast beef," is sounded and out turns the re- doubtable tin plate band who waddle through the mud to the kitchen, where it is only by their redoubled ener-
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gies with the more uproarious rattling of merry voices, that the words of discontent and grumbling are drowned. The "roast beef" generally turns out to be an article known to the soldiers as "salt horse," which sometimes gives way to its fresh kindred, or bean soup, but is usually only varied with salt pork. The afternoon glides away like the morning, and then comes the un- changeable "hard tack and coffee." At nine, tattoo beats, and the regimental bands commencing on the right of each brigade begin playing and by the time they have ceased the half hour has expired for taps to sound, when all lights are extinguished and sounds cease. This is the routine of camp in bad weather, but when the ground will permit, drilling and bayonet exercise take place in the morning and afternoon, besides the " dress parade " of the evening.
About this time target practice became quite popular and the crack of muskets was heard daily in the rear of the camp. Company C, Captain Byrnes, was presented with four handsome silver medals by the members of Hibernia Engine Company of Philadelphia, which were fired for on the banks of the Potomac. The target was well riddled, and the prizes won by Corporal Thomas Wood, William Miller, Edward Concannon and William Derr. About the same time Company II fired for three magnificent silver medals, and the prizes were won by Captain Mealey, Corporal Edward Dubois and Samuel Hershaw. A leather medal, richly decorated with pegs was presented to Andy -, he making the worst shot. In the regular army they have company and regi- mental prizes which are fired for yearly, and army prizes that become the private property of the winner.
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Although our regiment numbered but seven companies we were required to furnish the guard and picket details of a full regiment, which, though it came rather hard, was cheerfully submitted to. The two companies de- tailed for picket were up bright and early, and with a day's cooked rations, marched up the pike above the general's
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quarters, where they were inspected by one of his aids, who verified the detail. They then proceeded to Pros- pect Hill, where they were divided into three reliefs, and relieved the old picket. Shelters of boughs were here built for the Reserve to lie in, and a considerable portion of the day was spent in cutting wood for the night. Our regiment generally picketed from the pike to the Potomac, but when it laid to the left of the road they made the Ball House their headquarters. Mr. Ball was a violent secessionist, and like most of his clan had abandoned his home and with his family gone south upon the ap- proach of our army. The consequence was, everything soon went to ruin. The trees were cut down, fences turned up, and one board after another disappeared from the house, until the chimney alone marked where it once stood. This was the case all the way down to the Chain Bridge and to Alexandria, the only exceptions being of those who had sense enough to remain at home, and those who had returned from the exile into which they had been driven by their secession neighbours. When the rebellion first broke out, the secessionists, although in the minority, with the aid of Confederate troops drove the Union citizens from their houses, im- pressing the young men, and plundering and robbing the old and helpless.
An old slave and his wife were all that remained on the farm, and their cabin and little garden were undis- turbed. They obtained their daily food from the haver- sacks of the soldiers, for which they appeared grateful. They had great faith in the efficacy of prayer, and when "old Uncle Ben" discoursed upon the war, he was wont to observe, " Massa Linkum has a power of men, and them am mighty fond of chickens. I spects Massa Government must be powerfully rich to own all dem wagons and horses." Uncle Ben truly loved the afore- said gentleman, and frequently inquired if they "had eber experienced religion."
Picketing in pleasant weather was much preferable to
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the camp, but on the bleak hills of the Potomac, during the bitter cold nights, the wind came rushing down the valley, penetrating to the very bones. Sometimes the weather was so intensely cold, that the men were relieved every hour. Then it was their pace was quickened on the beat, and in their frail shelters they huddled up together to get warm, the motto being, "united we sleep, divided we freeze."
Some of the men, with bad memories, had considerable trouble in remembering the countersign. One night, when Pat D- was posted, the corporal gave him the word "Malta." "Now remember, Pat, by thinking of malt from which liquor is made, you can remember it." "Yes, sir," replied Pat. Sometime afterwards, when an officer visited the posts, he interrogated Pat. Pat looked confused for a few moments when his face brightened up as he replied, "and is it rye, sir ?" At another time when the word was "Brandywine," one of the men replied, " wine and whiskey," and at another time the word " Toledo" was tortured into "toad eater."
Beyond the picket line was the cavalry patrol, who moved to and fro on the pike, as far as Difficult creek. Sometimes on cold nights the patrols would induce some one of the infantry who was off duty to ride a round for him, while he warmed himself. This, however, he had better not have been caught at.
Of course, the men wished to visit their homes during the winter, and as furloughs could not be granted to all, many were doomed to disappointment. Considerable numbers, however, took a run home for a week or ten days without any authority, which was called "taking French." To accomplish this, they concealed themselves in the army wagons and were smuggled across the Chain Bridge to Washington, where they procured citizens clothes and went north. Many of them, however, were detected by the depot guard in spite of their disguise, for soldiers have a peculiar look and style about them that is easily detected by a practiced. eye. And woe unto
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them that were caught, for the guard-house was theit certain resting place until they were sent to their regi- ments under arrest. None of the Second boys, however, were put to this indignity, but whether it was on account of their virtue or excessive cuteness, the reader must judge for himself. When the Potomac froze over this evil became prevalent in spite of the sure punishment that awaited their return to camp, for the men were willing to stand it for the pleasures of home. However, there is a mode to remedy all evils, so pickets were stationed on the river with orders to shoot down any one who at- tempted to cross. But home, no matter how humble is the palace of the heart, and some of the boys took the risk and got safely over, and surely it was right to deal leniently with them when they returned.
A short distance beyond Difficult creek was the resi- dence of Mrs. Jackson, the mother of Jim Jackson who killed the lamented Ellsworth. As it was ascertaincd that her house was a general rendezvous for scouts and spies, whom she harbored and concealed, a squad of cavalry visited it early one morning with an ambulance and escorted her to General McCall's headquarters. Quite a number of concealed weapons and some important sketches of our picket line, that had been corrected to correspond with the changes lately made in it, were cap- tured, so the old lady was sent to Washington.
On the 14th of February, First-Lieutenant Peter Sum- mers, Company II, resigned, and Orderly Sergeant Hugh P. Kennedy was elected to fill the vacancy. About the same time Assistant-surgeon J. W. Lodge resigned, and . Doctor John Malone was appointed by Governor Curtin his successor.
Five volunteers from each regiment of the Reserve were called for about this time for the Western flotilla, and the seventy-five men thus obtained from the division formed the crew of the celebrated gunboat Carondolet that ran such a glorious carcer on the Mississippi.
A very amusing sell was started about this time by
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some wags, who circulated in all the regiments, at the same time, a rumor to the effect that any volunteer who would enter the regular army would receive one hun- dred dollars in cash, and sixty days furlough by apply- ing at headquarters the next morning at ten o'clock. The consequence was that headquarters was literally besieged by the gulled ones, and those who came out of curiosity. The General, observing the crowd, sent one of his staff, "Old Snapping-Turtle," out to inquire the cause of it, who stormed like an old war-horse at the men for being such fools.
On the 3d of March the Reserves were ordered out with "kits complete," and marched to the Chain Bridge and back, a distance of eight miles. On the 5th this was repeated, the object being to prepare the men for the fatigues of the campaign.
CHAPTER X.
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1862. FAREWELL TO PIERPONT. THE MARCH. HAWKHURST'S MILLS. ARMY CORPS. WET AND NOISY NIGHT. "HOLLO BARNEY." ALEXANDRIA. EMBARKA- TION FOR THE PENINSULA. BY RAILROAD. A NIGHT IN REBEL CABINS. RUINS OF MANASSAS. BULL RUN FIELD. SELLING CIDER. MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. CAVALRY SKIRMISH. WASHINTON TS. DAVID OF OLD.
FOR the proper elucidation of the subject it will be necessary here to refer to the planning of the campaign that was about opening. Two bases of operations for the Army of the Potomac presented themselves; one submitted by the President, January 31st, from Washing- ton, involving an attack upon Centreville and Manassas direct, or the turning of one or both flanks of those po- sitions, or a combination of those plans. An attack on the left flank involved too long a line of wagon communica- tion, and on the right flank by way of Occoquan if success-
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ful by a decisive battle, could not have been followed up with commensurate results. Should the condition of the enemy's troops permit, he could fall back upon other positions, and fight us again and again, or if he was not in a condition to give battle outside of the intrenchments at Richmond, it would have proved difficult and hazard- ous to have followed him there either by way of Frede- ricksburg or Gordonsville, as he would have destroyed the railroad bridges and otherwise impeded our progress. Besides a line of communication from Washington to Richmond, through an enemy's country, was impracti- cable. A direct attack upon Centreville would have been productive of no other results, and a combined attack upon that point and the right flank was impracti- cable on account of the distance and obstacles intervening between the columns.
The plan submitted by General McClellan, February 3d, was to operate from the lower Chesapeake, making Urbana, on the lower Rappahannock, the point of land- ing, which is distant from West Point one march, and from Richmond but two. This would have necessitated the abandonment of Manassas, Centreville and the Upper Potomac by the enemy, and if followed with celerity of movements the probable cutting off of Magruder in the Peninsula, and the occupation of Richmond before the enemy's forces could have been concentrated for its de. fence. The latter proposition was adopted, and as early as February 14th the collection of vessels for the transporta- tion of the army to the lower Potomac was commenced.
On the 9th of March information was received that the enemy having discovered the intended movement, was evacuating Centreville and Manassas, as well as his positions on the upper and lower Potomac. Upon his retiring, he having destroyed all the railroad bridges in his rear, and the roads being almost impassable, it was impos- sible to inflict the usual damage generally afforded by the withdrawal of a large army in the face of a powerful foe. But as considerable time must elapse before transporta-
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tion could be collected to convey the army to the lower Potomac, an opportunity was offered to experience the troops on the march and bivouac previous to the cam- paign, and to get rid of the superfluous baggage which had accumulated in the camp during our long period of inactivity.
Accordingly on the night of the 9th, orders were is- sued for a general movement of the army the next morn- ing, our regiment being ordered to have four days' cooked rations in haversacks, sixty rounds of cartridges, and kit complete.
At eleven o'clock on the 10th of March, 1862, we got into line, and bidding farewell to our happy home at Pierpont, crossed over the fields to the pike, and took up our line of march. A heavy rain had fallen through the night and during the morning, rendering the roads very muddy, and our backs being green, the knapsacks bore heavily upon us. But all were in excellent spirits, be- lieving we would soon meet the foe, and sooner than fall out to rest, the men threw away their extra clothing, strewing the road along the march with coats, blouses, blankets, etc. We continued up the pike across Difficult Creek to Spring Vale, within three miles of Drainesville, when turning to the left and following a bridle path through the woods and over the hills, we reached about dark the neighborhood of Hunter's Mills, near which, on the Loudon and Hampshire railroad we bivouacked, the night being cold and rainy. Here we remained until the next afternoon, when we marched about two miles to a high elevation near the ruins of Hawkhurst's Mills, where we encamped.
Our encampment was about seventeen miles from Pierpont, two from Fairfax Court House, and eight from the Bull Run battle-field. The scene here was magnifi- cent, particularly at night, when the valleys and bills beneath us for miles around, were lit up with thousands of camp-tires. Here we received our "shelter tents," which experience taught us were the best in use for an
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army in the field. But at first they were very unpopular, the men calling them "dog houses," and for amusement creeping into them on their hands and knees, and bark- ing out of the ends at each other.
It should have been stated, that on the 8th of March, the President directed the Army of the Potomac to be divided into four corps, in compliance with which, there was assigned to General Irwin McDowell the first, con- sisting of the divisions of Franklin, McCall and King. To General E. V. Sumner the second, consisting of Rich- ardson, Blenker and Sedgwick. To General S. P. Heint- zleman the third, consisting of F. J. Porter, Hooker and Hamilton ; and to General E. D. Keyes the fourth, con- sisting of Couch, Smith and Casey. On the 11th, an order from the President announced, that as General McClellan had personally taken the field, he was relieved from the command of the other military departments, and would retain command of the Department of the Potomac.
It being ascertained that the enemy were in no force north of Warrenton Junction, on the evening of the 14th, during a light fall of rain, we took up our march through the woods, passing on every side bivouacks, and burning bough huts and arbors, the glare from which lighted us upon our road for miles. Reaching the Alexandria and Leesburg Pike, we turned to the right, and passing along it for two miles, about eleven o'clock filed into a dense open woods, where, in spite of the falling rain, our fires soon burnt brightly, and we slept soundly. The next morning early, during a heavy rain, we took up our march, moving across the country to the Drainesville Pike, and turning down it crossed Difficult Creek, pass- ing within four miles of our old home at Pierpont, and entering a woods, moved back again towards the Alex andria and Leesburg Pike by a private road. The rain by this time was falling in torrents, flooding the swampy ground, making the marching most tiresome and fatigu- ing. Soon the ranks were broken, the men scattering,
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plunging through the mud, and toiling under their knap- sacks, made doubly heavy by their blankets and over- coats becoming saturated with water. Soon they com- menced dropping out, and laid scattered through the woods for miles. Upon striking the turnpike again, a long halt was called for the stragglers to catch up, and then moving on, we soon filed into a wood and. stacked arms. This was about three o'clock, and although we had marched fifteen miles, we were but three miles from the starting point in the morning, the detour to the left being made on account of the enemy having burned the bridge on the pike over Difficult Creek some months previous.
After much patient labor, we succeeded in getting our fires started, and towards night hot coffee was served out, but such was the violence of the storm, that it was impossible to put up our tents, the most of the men spending the night in cutting wood and standing around the fires. At one time the heavens appeared to out do themselves, opening their flood-gates and pouring down a torrent of water, stifling the wind and flooding all below. The fires were almost instantly extinguished, and then the patriots were aroused to a full appreciation of their position. Not to be thus conquered and sub- dued by the raging elements, they set up their wild shouts and huzzahs, making the woods and hills for miles around echo with their noise, until by indomitable perseverance, they actually got themselves into a good humor. All that was wanted after they got fully started to complete their happiness, was a fiddle and a "straight four," and then they would have made a full night of it. But morning came, and with it a bright warm sun, Nature appearing to have exhausted herself in the mad rage of the night.
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