USA > Rhode Island > History of the Ninth and Tenth Regiments Rhode Island Volunteers, and the Tenth Rhode Island Battery, in the Union Army in 1862 > Part 14
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Then comes the call for morning drill, our ' cap' a man is he, Who posted up the night before on his ' Revised Hardee,' Just ' boned ** his tactics like a man, from ' taps ' to 'reveille.'
You cannot stick him, don't you try, and questions will not do ; The guard tent, lo, adjacent stands, in front of it a crew Of myrmidons to execute, the insurbordinate few.
The morn is spent in drilling, but ' roast beef' sounds at last, The salt-junk motions us to come to our sublime repast, Ere envious harpies from on post descend to break their fast.
"*Boned," a West Point cadet word for hard study.
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
A pipe, and then more tactics, to help the captain out, That he may know to-morrow how best to ' face about,' Or form ' a line of battle,' ere the rebels knock us out.
Battalion drills and lots of things in time will interpose, To let us feel that martial life is not 'coleur de rose,' Nor idling all the time away, as most recruits suppose.
At dress parade the soldier, if he has a bit of pride, Steps gaily forth, a gallant man, of all the earth espied, And holding in his single hand his country's welfare wide,
Melodiously the bugle is sounding the ' retreat;' The weary work of day is done; there's rest for tired feet, The ' briar woods' will offer soon the night's supreme treat.
Ah! what is like those old-time nights around the flaring blaze? What comrades like the ones we met in yonder vanished days ! Old time will keep their memory green and fresh for us always.
But hark ! that surely is ' tattoo,' how quick the time has sped ! Now hasten every soldier true to unroll his ' little bed,' For ' taps' will soon be beating, and a day in camp be fled."
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RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS,
General Orders No. 3.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 1862.
All commands of the Reserve Army Corps south of the Potomac, not garri- soning fortifications will constitute a Division to consist of two Brigades.
The first brigade to be under command of Brigadier-General Cooke, and to be stationed at Cloud's Mills, Virginia, and will comprise the following commands :
Fourteenth United States Infantry, MAJOR WILLIAMS.
Seventeenth United States Infantry,
Nineteenth United States Infantry,
First and Eleventh United States Infantry,
Sixty-ninth New York Infantry,
COLONEL BAGLEY.
Sixth New York Cavalry,
COLONEL DEVIN.
Ninth New York Cavalry,
COLONEL BEARDSLEY.
Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, COLONEL PRICE.
Company L, Sixth United States Cavalry,
CAPTAIN BRISBIN.
Detachment Fifth United States Cavalry,
LIEUTENANT FOSDICK.
Sixteenth New York Battery,
CAPTAIN LOCKE.
The second brigade to be under command of Col. Zenas R. Bliss, Tenth Regi- ment Rhode Island Volunteers, and to be stationed near the Fairfax Seminary, and will comprise the following commands :
Battery L, Second New York Artillery, CAPTAIN ROEMER.
Sixteenth Indiana Battery, . . CAPTAIN NAYLOR.
Battery C, First New York Artillery,
CAPTAIN BARNES.
Second Excelsior Battery, CAPTAIN BRUEN.
Tenth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, COLONEL BLISS.
Ninth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers,
LIEUT .- COL. PITMAN. ·
Thirty-second Massachusetts Volunteers, LIEUT .- COL. PARKER.
Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
COLONEL PIERCE.
The above troops will report at once to their respective commanders.
The quartermaster will furnish the necessary transportation. Official :
S. D. STURGIS,
WILLIAM C. RAWOLLE,
Brig .- Gen. Commanding.
Captain and A. D. C.
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, June 27, 1862.
General Orders No. 1.
In accordance with instructions from His Excellency the President of the United States, the undersigned assumes command of the forces comprising the late departments of Major-Generals Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, together with the forces in and around Washington, now under command of Brigadier- General Sturgis. The headquarters of this command will be established for the present in Washington.
General Orders No. 2.
Col. George D. Ruggles is announced as Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff at these headquarters.
Official :
JOHN POPE, Maj .- Gen. Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS, SECOND BRIGADE, STURGIS'S DIVISION, June 28, 1862.
General Orders No. 1.
In obedience to instructions contained in General Orders Number Three, Headquarters Reserve Army Corps, Washington, D. C., the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Second Brigade, Sturgis's Division.
Official :
ZENAS R. BLISS, Col. Tenth R. I. Volunteers Commanding.
JOHN F. TOBEY, Adjutant and Act'g Ass't Adj't Gen'l.
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RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS, ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 29, IS62.
General Orders No. 5.
I. The Ninety-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Fifty-ninth Regiment New York Vol- unteers, and the Thirty-second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, will move at once, provided with one hundred rounds of cartridges and five days' rations to embark at Alexandria, Virginia. The quartermaster will furnish the neces- sary transportation.
II. The Tenth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers (Col. Zenas R. Bliss), will take immediate possession of the forts to be vacated by the Fifty-ninth Regiment New York Volunteers. The colonel commanding is directed to send an officer and a sufficient force in advance, to receipt for and take charge of all Government property in said forts.
III. The Ninth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers (Lieutenant-Colonel Pitman), will take immediate possession of the forts on the east branch of the Potomac, extending from Fort Meigs to Fort Greble.
IV. The colonel commanding is directed to send an officer and a sufficient force in advance to receipt for and take charge of all Government property in said forts.
V. The Sixty-third Indiana Volunteers (Lieutenant-Colonel Williams com- manding), will take the place of the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, as provost-guard, in Alexandria.
By order of Brig .- Gen. S. D. STURGIS,
HENRY R. MIGHELS,
Capt. and A. A. G.
28
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS. ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 29, 1862.
General Orders No. 8.
I. The following announcement of the staff of the general commanding is made for the information of all concerned :
LIEUT .- COL. J. A. HASKIN, Inspector-General ;
CAPT. H. R. MIGHELS, Assistant Adjutant-General ;
66 NELSON PLATO, Chief Quartermaster ;
66 F. E. BERRIER, Chief Commissary ;
WILLIAM C. RAWOLLE, Aide-de-Camp ;
I. K. CASEY, 66
H. B. STURGIS,
J. S. GRIER, 66
II. Col. J. A. Ilaskin is placed in charge of fortifications north of the Poto- mac; his headquarters will be established in Washington City. All reports and returns of the troops north of the Potomac intended for these headquarters will be made to his office.
By order of · Brigadier-General STURGIS, H. R. MIGHELS, Capt. and A. A. G.
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS, ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 30, 1862.
Special Order No. 9.
Col. Zenas R. Bliss, Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers, is hereby relieved from duty as Acting Brigadier-General, Second Brigade, Reserve Army Corps.
By order of Brigadier-General STURGIS,
H. R. MIGHELS, Capt. and A. A. G.
.
---
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RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
HEADQUARTERS TENTH REGIMENT, R. I. VOLS., SEMINARY HILL, VA., June 30, IS62.
Second Lieutenant William C. Chace, Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers, is hereby detailed as Acting Assistant Quartermaster for the Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers, and will report immediately to these headquarters for instructions.
ZENAS R. BLISS, Col. Tenth R. I. Vols. Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS, ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 30, 1862.
COL. ZENAS R. BLISS, Com'g Tenth R. I. Vols.
You will proceed at once to Fort Pennsylvania, Tennallytown, D. C., with your entire command, the Light Battery included.
By order of Brigadier-General STURGIS, HENRY R. MIGHELS, Capt. and A. A. G.
SEMINARY HOSPITAL, GEORGETOWN, D. C., June 29, IS62.
SIR : I have to inform you of the death, this day, of Private William F. Atwood, of Company A, Tenth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers. Disease, peritonitis. His funeral will take place at four o'clock to-morrow.
To the Adjutant and Captain of Company A, Tenth Regiment R. I. Vols., Camp at Seminary Hill, Va.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOSEPH R. SMITH, Ass't Surgeon U. S. Army in charge of Hospital.
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
The sudden death of Fred Atwood produced a universal feeling of sorrow. He was greatly beloved for his manly qualities.
June 15th, only two weeks before, he had written home that he was well, and had been into Washington "to see the sights." He then described his visit to the Capitol, and of going in to listen to the debate in the Senate. "I also went," he continues, "over the Patent Office, and among the millions of curious things, the most interesting to me were the articles that belonged to General Washington. There were his coat, vest, and knee-breeches, which he wore when he resigned his com. Washington's Treasure Box. mission at Annapolis. There was his iron treasure box, sword, lantern, chairs, tent-poles, fire bucket, etc. That room con- tained enough to interest me for a month. I then visited the White House, and went into the reception room, which is furnished splendidly. I wish that you and I could stay here a week and go around as much as we liked. We have but little sickness. I am in as good health as I ever was. We will have to give up the good times we were going to Fire Bucket. have, for the present, but if I get back at the end of the three months, we will make up for lost time." Just two weeks later came the sudden and startling intelligence of his death. He left the noble example of a brave and spotless manhood.
221
RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
" Early on the morning of Monday, June 30th," wrote Lieut. Winthrop De Wolf, " came the order assigning the Tenth Regi- ment to garrison duty in the seven forts and three batteries hitherto occupied by the New York Fifty-ninth, constituting that portion of the defensive chain which protects the capital on the northwest. A lieutenant, sergeant, and twelve men from each company, under command of Lieut. Samuel H. Thomas, of Com- pany B, were detailed to march at once and take possession of the several posts, in advance of the main body, so as to expedite the departure of the Fifty-ninth, ordered to join McClellan on the Peninsula, who was then fighting and retreating to a new base on the James river. The detachment of one hundred and forty men reached Tennallytown soon after noon, with only twelve miles marching. At Fort Pennsylvania, near by, our several posts were assigned us. Much to my satisfaction our little party were sent to Chain Bridge to occupy Battery Martin Scott, commanding that important approach to Washington. Here we remained three days, seemingly forgotten by the world, for no familiar face presented itself ; no army wagon with rations crept down the long, steep hill; no newspapers, no mail, nobody came to see if we were dead or alive. Yet do not grieve for us. We lived on the fat of the land-and the water too. From the Potomac we had shad, herring, and catfish ; by energetic foraging in the neighbor- hood we obtained milk, butter, eggs, chickens, corn-bread, sugar, and coffee, and a dilapidated stove found near by sufficed to cook them. On the whole we were rather sorry when the message came from headquarters that Company D was occupying Fort De Russey, where we were to report forthwith."
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
Captain Hale, Company I, under the nom-de-plume of Matthew Bagnet, wrote : "It is related somewhere in profane poesy that :
" The king of France, with forty thousand men,
Marched up the hill, and then marched down again.'
Well, the gallant Tenth have imitated his illustri- ous example, on a some- what more extended scale in point of distance, if not of numbers. In short we Marching Orders. have made a forced march -at least, I suppose that is what they call it-for it was a march, and we were forced to make it. After marching up the hill, we were scarcely settled in our new location, had scarcely drawn the vinegar bottle out of our stocking, and the pepper-sauce from our shirt-sleeves (where they had been placed for safe transporta- tion), had just filled to overflowing our eyes, ears, noses, mouths, lungs, and epidermis, with the dusty exhalations of ' Old Vir- ginny,' when the order came for us to move, and here was where ' we marched down the hill again.'
"Early Monday morning, June 30th, tents were struck in a hurry, baggage-wagons loaded at the double-quick, and we were ready to resume the march, at a run if necessary, anything to
أحمدخالد
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RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
escape Camp Misery, Seminary Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia." A three mile march brought us to Alexandria, where we marched by the Marshall House, singing "John Brown " and " Ellsworth's Avengers," led by Levi Burdon, of Company D, who stood on the hotel steps. The headquarters of Acting Brig .- Gen. Zenas R. Bliss, was also serenaded. "At length the regiment halted on a long wharf, facing the Potomac. After the usual, and, of course, neces- sary delay, we were packed, bag and baggage, men and guns, on board some transports bound to Washington, where we arrived about dusk, and, unfortunately too late to unload our baggage. So, after a weary rest on Sixth street, we resumed our march for Tennallytown, at 10.30 P. M., reaching that memorable locality about 2.30 A. M., and a very cool and penetrating A. M. at that. Here we bivouacked, without tents or blankets.
" Bivouac is a word of French extraction, and I am sorry that the use of it is not confined to that volatile nation. But it is not, so we bivouacked in a ten acre lot, without even a rail fence to keep the cold out. Tired and foot sore, we lay down on the cold ground, with the sky for our nearest covering, and the horizon for the sides of our bed. I secured a handful of straw and tried to fashion it into a luxurious couch, but the straw was obstinate and wouldn't be fashioned. Corporal Stump tried to cover him- self with his gun, but found he couldn't tuck in the sides, and so didn't go to sleep for fear he should fall out of bed. Some crawled into hay-ricks and some into barns, while the corporal, after vainly trying the protection of his musket, betook himself to the shelter of an empty flour barrel, which fitted him to a nicety, and where he slept the sleep of innocence.
الدمام
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
"Between dozing and shivering, the hours dragged slowly on. Now nodding off into fancied comfort, and now waking up in real discomfort ; now trying to soften the hard bosom of mother earth, and then in a sleepy delirium trying to pull the edge of a ten acre lot over one for a coverlet ; such is bivouacking." To counteract the effects of the damp night air, whisky rations were issued to stimulate the flagging zeal of the men who were getting faint at heart, weak in the knees, and lame and sore in body. "At early dawn, July Ist," Capt. Elisha Dyer wrote, "the regiment was in motion, and hungry, weary, and dispirited, marched to the headquarters at Fort Pennsylvania. At noon a piercing northeasterly storm came upon us, without tents or other protection, except such as was afforded by the quar- termaster's store-house and other lesser buildings left by the Fifty-ninth New York. On the floor, among boxes and barrels, our men lay huddled together for hours without food or relief of any kind. The result of this last trying march from Virginia, was an addition to our sick list, upon which the writer's name appeared for a few days. Our camp equipage, knapsacks, and stores, at length arrived, and company quarters were assigned and marching orders given. Companies B and K, Captains Dyer and Low, to Fort Pennsylvania, the regimental headquarters ; Company A, Captain Taber, to Fort Franklin ; Company C, Captain Vose, Bat- teries Cameron and Martin Scott ; Company D, Captain Smith, Fort De Russey ; Companies E and I, Captains Cady and Hale, Fort Alexander ; Company F, Captain Harris, Fort Ripley ; Com- pany G, Captain Greene, Fort Gaines; Company H, Captain Duckworth, Batteries Vermont and Martin Scott."
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FORT PENNSYLVANIA,
Regimental Headquarters, Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers, and Tenth Light Battery, July and August, 1862.
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226
THE TENTH REGIMENT
DITCH
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PARAPET
PARAPET
2
2
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MAGAZINE
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FORT
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Pennsylvania
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1862
PARAPET
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Plan of Fort Pennsylvania.
Fort Pennsylvania mounted three Parrott siege guns and nine 24-pounder barbette guns ; Fort Gaines, four 32-pounder barbette guns ; Fort De Russy, three 24-pounder and four 32-pounder bar- bette guns ; Fort Alexander, seven 32-pounder barbette guns ; Fort Franklin, six 32-pounder barbette guns ; Fort Ripley, six 24-pounder barbette guns ; Battery Vermont, three 32-pounder barbette guns, and is mounting more; Battery Cameron, two 42-pounder bar- bette guns ; Battery Martin Scott, one 32-pounder barbette gun and two mountain howitzers ; total, fifty guns. These forts and batteries extends over a space of six or eight miles, from Battery Cameron on the left, near the Potomac, to Fort De Russy on the right, near Rock Creek, commanding the view at and near Chain Bridge, and the roads to Harper's Ferry and Rockville.
227
RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
A brief review of the military situa- tion in Virginia, in June, 1862, is neces- sary in order to understand why our forces around Washington were ordered into Virginia, and a week later were ordered back, or, how we resembled the soldiers of another army, who "marched up a hill, and then marched down again ! "
On to Richmond !
Notwithstanding the success achieved at Fort Oaks, June Ist, the situation of the Army of the Potomac besieging the Con- federate capital, was becoming critical. And, although on the following day, the advance under Hooker pushed forward within sight of the steeples of Richmond, McClellan declared that he could accomplish nothing further until his right was reinforced by McDowell's Corps, which had been withheld for the defence of Washington. On the twelfth instant, McDowell advised Mc- Clellan : "For the third time I am ordered to join you, and hope this time to get through. McCall's division goes
in advance by water. I will be with you in ten days with the remainder via Fredericksburg." To support this forward move- ment to the Peninsula, a general advance was ordered of all the forces around Washington to concentrate at Seminary Hill and Cloud's Mills, in Virginia, and, in a few days, an entire division under the command of General Sturgis, was in position, the Ninth and Tenth Rhode Island Regiments and Battery being assigned to the Second Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss, acting brigadier-gen- eral, commanding. As we pitched our tents on Seminary Hill,
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
on the afternoon of June 26th, it was generally believed that at last we were on our way to Richmond, perhaps to aid in making an end of the Confederacy. Not much was said about fighting, but doubtless a good deal of thinking was done on that tender subject.
But at that very hour, the turning-point of the Peninsula cam- paign was reached. Jackson had escaped the combined pursuit of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, and joined the main army of Lee at Richmond. By his masterly movements he had prevented the reinforcement of Mcclellan's exposed right, by McDowell, and now interposed his own corps of thirty-five thousand men between them. He had so completely puzzled the authorities at Washington, who appear to have been directing, or misdirecting the campaign, that it seemed to them that Jackson was more likely to be sweeping down the Shenandoah Valley than to be marching back to Richmond. For this cause they held back the reinforcements, and McClellan was left to meet the impending attack, unaided. , On the 25th, the Secretary of War telegraphed him, "Neither Banks, Fremont, or McDowell, have any accurate knowledge of Jackson's whereabouts." On the 26th, McClellan reported that Jackson was on his right, driving in his pickets. At three o'clock that afternoon, as the Tenth Rhode Island Volun- teers were quietly pitching their tents at Seminary Hill, the battle for Richmond was set in motion at Mechanicsville. The next day, the 27th, Jackson took command of the left wing of the enemy, and attacked McClellan's right with such overwhelming force at Gaines's Mills as to turn his position and cause his retreat to the James river. The order to withdraw was especially bitter to Hooker, on the left, who had pressed forward to the very gates
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229
RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
of Richmond, where the prize seemed almost within his grasp. On the same day, June 26th, when McClellan reported the arrival of Jackson in his front, after outmanœuvring and outmarching, the combined forces of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, these here- tofore three independent commands were consolidated into one army, called the Army of Virginia, and Maj .- Gen. John Pope, whose success in the west had given him reputation, was assigned by the President to the chief command. Two days later, when the news of McClellan's retreat to the James reached Washington, all orders for the advance of troops were countermanded, and, with other forces, the Tenth Rhode Island Regiment and Battery were ordered back to the vicinity of their old camps.
The following is the order creating the Army of Virginia :
WASHINGTON, June 26, 1862.
General Orders No. 103.
I. The forces under Major-Generals Fremont, Banks and McDowell, includ- ing the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis, at Washington, shall be consolidated, and form one army, to be called the Army of Virginia.
II. The command of the Army of Virginia is especially assigned to Major- General Pope as commanding general.
The troops of the Mountain Department, heretofore under command of Gen- eral Fremont (after Fremont's resignation General Sigel was appointed), shall constitute the first army corps, under the command of General Sigel.
The troops of the Shenandoah Department, now under General Banks, shall constitute the second army corps, and be commanded by him.
The troops under the command of General McDowell, except those within the fortifications and the City of Washington, shall form the third army corps, and be under his command.
By order of the Secretary of War.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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THE TENTH REGIMENT
July Ist. Fortunately the author escaped the night march to Tennally- town, for he wrote, "I was appointed on the rear guard to remain at Washington and look after the stores and bag- gage on the transports. There was no room for us either in the cabin or forecastle, so we tried to find a soft bed in the Back to Tennallytown ! hold. Sleep was diffi- cult, however, among the boxes and barrels and smells which sur- rounded us, and we were glad when the morning came, and we could mount up on deck and get a supply of fresh air. After getting the baggage loaded on the army wagons, we started for camp. Two of us were put in charge of a sutler's provision wagon, and after marching a while we climbed in behind, and, being almost famished, feasted ourselves on bologna sausages, greasy pies, cakes, doughnuts, and cookies. The doughnuts were either hand made or machine sewed, but we have become pretty well 'seasoned' for anything during our short campaigning, and we managed to 'get away' with quite an allowance of the sutler's pastry." It was the only time we had pie enough in the army. Fortunately the road was rough, and we were well shaken up, else we might have died from the graspings of indigestion.
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RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
The author had been in camp only an hour or two when he was summoned to the officers' quarters, and informed that he had been detailed from the regiment under the following orders :
HEADQUARTERS RESERVE ARMY CORPS, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 1, 1862.
COL. ZENAS R. BLISS, Com'g Tenth R. I. Vols.
The General Commanding directs me to say that you detail two intelligent non-commissioned officers or men as clerks to Col. George D. Ruggles, head- quarters of General Pope, at the War Department.
WILLIAM C. RAWOLLE, Captain and A. D. C.
HEADQUARTERS TENTH REGIMENT, R. I. VOLS., FORT PENNSYLVANIA, July 1, 1862.
Special Orders No. 14.
Company B will detail one non-commissioned officer or man for service as clerk to Colonel Ruggles, headquarters of General Pope, at the War Depart- ment, who will report to these headquarters forthwith for instructions.
By order of ZENAS R. BLISS, Colonel Commanding.,
JOHN F. TOBEY, Adjutant.
HEADQUARTERS TENTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLS., FORT PENNSYLVANIA, July 1, IS62.
Special Orders No. 15.
Company D will detail one non-commissioned officer or man, for service as clerk to Colonel Ruggles, headquarters of General Pope, at the War Depart- ment, who will report to these headquarters forthwith for instructions.
By order of ZENAS R. BLISS,
JOHN F. TOBEY, Adjutant.
Colonel Commanding.
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