USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > Richmond howitzers in the war. Four years campaigning with the Army of northern Virginia > Part 2
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quaintanceship; the first one seemed to have begun the destruction of the world, and the ones immediately suc- ceeding to be clinching the job; but the unusual roar became a shade more familiar before it ceased with the darkness of twilight. There was a rest until Sunday, the 21st of July, which opened with a warm wave both from the weather clerk and the enemy. The Howitzer battery occu- pied the same position, did not fire, but were fired upon all during the fight, which swept along the line, with feints here and there, the heavy fighting on the left, where flanking was attempted from early morning until about 5 P. M. It was about this hour that the celebrated "Rebel Yell" took its origin, with an upward, on- ward and "to be continued in our next" course, as the newspaper edi- tors say. Never a more joyful and clearly ringing sound than that struck the ears of the Howitzers as it first faintly from the distance reached their position, then strengthening
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and growing as it came, louder and louder, whirling in the air from the extreme left on down to the right, thrilling, electrifying all with the words "they're retreating, they're routed !" The battle was over, the panic had set in, and "On to Wash- ington" had replaced "On to Rich- mond." Enthusiastic haste was made by the Howitzers in starting out in pursuit, but the roads were en- cumbered with the enemy's wreck and plunder, cast-off equipments and ma- terial, and, as darkness began after proceeding a short distance on the Centreville road, the generals decided not to advance, and the troops were ordered back to their positions along the field which had been consecrated during the day with fire and blood. The Howitzers resumed their "as- you-were " attitude.
Intense elation induced a great many persons, both in and out of the army, to think the war was over. The battle was a decisive one as to the superior generalship and espe-
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cially soldiership of the South, and in many ways may now be seen to have exercised an influence in prolonging the war. It was also decisive as to immediate results on the field, for never after was there such another panic and total rout. Visitors poured in from Richmond to see their rela- tives and the sights, and the corre- spondents made haste to get their mills grinding. The day following that of the fight was rainy through- out, but this did not prevent the burying of the dead, caring for the wounded, and inspecting the fields. All wandered freely over the slopes and plains, and minutely examined spots and points where the engage- ment had been fiercest.
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CHAPTER VI.
IT was the Howitzers' first glimpse of a battle-field, and their curiosity was satisfied in regard to the wounded and dead of the federal host, which had nearly doubled the number of the defenders; but the ground and the varied accounts of the fighting out- weighed a thousand fold in interest the mere dead bodies, the strewn relics and freshly-dug graves. The enemy's supplies left in their camps and scattered on the roads were abundant, and a good deal of their finery was secured on the field, such as clothing, blankets, rubber over- coats, knapsacks, canteens, pistols, &c. It was an interesting epoch, and the tales that came back from Rich- mond and the North were truly en- tertaining to the Howitzers, who were always fully posted and alive to the times. Indeed, they seemed
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through the war to have an intuitive knowledge of operations in advance of their coming off; the newsmongers of the company invariably ferreted out whatever was or was to be with a surprising accuracy and rapidity, because they were endowed with gifts that enabled them to talk on a rare footing with commanding generals.
The battery soon found out that it would be ordered to locate its camp at Centreville, where it sojourned a couple of weeks, protected by tents, which were then plentiful and fash- ionable. As it turned out, going into camp at Centreville was merely a gentle pastime for playing poker, drilling a bit, talking about the bat- tle, and seeing Prince Napoleon pass by on his visit to Beauregard's head- quarters at Manassas. But not even at this camp did the chief occupation of army life, as discovered by so many, apart from marching and fighting, get under full headway, and only at Goose Creek, near Leesburg, did the Howitzers secure a thorough
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drill in poker. On one occasion, un- der the personal direction of Briga- dier General Longstreet, the battery had a notable field drill at Centre- ville, charging as horse artillery in the rear of cavalry. Prince Napo- leon, the cousin of Napoleon III., to visit the camp, left his hack on the pike and walked over among the col- lected crowd of Howitzers, who curi- ously viewed him in a Napoleonic light and as the possible bearer of peace or glad tidings. Colonel Skin- ner, of the first Virginia regiment, explained to him in French the topog- raphy and exploits, and then his cor- pulent and serene Highness bore away towards Manassas Junction. On his return for Washington, the battery was drawn up in parade order along his route to do him the honors.
The opening of August was ex- tremely oppressive, and the Howit- zers were not sorry when ordered to pack up their traps-and at that early day these were numerous-
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and join General Evans' brigade, stationed at Leesburg. The march was rapidly accomplished, the can- noneers walking in fatigue dress and order, and occasionally managing to secure a ride on horse, limber chest or caisson, the route pleasant, and food liberally supplied at the country houses passed. The first camps of the battery at Leesburg were of a temporary character; two of the guns were left on the east side of the town, two placed on the west. Two, the left section, were stationed at "Big Spring." an immense pool of running water, big enough to float a small schooner, clear and ice cold, and of great convenience to thirsty soldiery. Leesburg was very attrac- tive as a place for visiting "the ladies, " purchasing knick knacks, getting a square meal at the hotels. and afterwards, for a rarity and va- riety, sitting in the porches in good old hotel style. Leaves to visit town were unstinted; it had a few bar rooms and a large assortment of
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stores. While stationed in separate camps, "the sections" frequently skirmished with the enemy along the Potomac river, as far as Loudon Heights, and in this service first had occasion to use with good effect their guns. Some of the routes followed, especially the one over the Blue Ridge to Berryville, afforded fine marching, though getting into posi- tion on the crest of the hills was attended with some little difficulty. The routes had, so to say, land- marks; years after the close of the war, the same routes, upon being revisited, seemed to be precisely just in the order they had been at that time-the buildings there, the board fences there, the turns in the road, the same piles of husks, the same cat- tle and individuals, all with a fa- miliar, home like, steady appearance.
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CHAPTER VII.
WHEN the battle of Leesburg took place, on the 21st of October, the battery was reunited, and occupied a point near the bank of the river where the enemy crossed and fought, but the nature of the ground and close quarters of fighting did not admit of artillery firing, and so the Howit- zers took no other than an expectant part. But the affair yielded them a large stock of supplies and trophies, chief of which was a brass rifled can- non, with new fangled ammunition, that General Evans gave them for incorporation with their organiza- tion. It was manned and attached as the "fifth gun," but it proved in a short while to amount to nothing more than a " fifth wheel on a coach," and was dropped out and off the list. Here many Belgian muskets were captured, and from the ground were
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picked up by all comers, but finally dispatched to the shops at Richmond for use. Firing at fences and barn doors with Belgian muskets was quite a sport for some days after the remnants of the enemy's force that had visited old Virginia's shores had got back on the other side of the river. As a renewal of the crossing, in greater force, to support this pre- tended "reconnaissance," was looked for, the brigade at Leesburg, with the battery, was withdrawn by Gen- eral Beauregard's orders, a few miles back, in better reach with Manassas. No renewal was made, and, after a few days spent in the backwoods, where an extraordinary supply of "chain lightning" suddenly gushed forth as if by magic, the position was resumed at Leesburg, to the great delight of the Howitzers, who had become warmly attached to the place and had been grieved to with- draw and leave the hospitable citi- zens and fair ladies to the threatened incursion. The speedy return made
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all things well again, and seemed to double the happiness of citizens as well as of soldiers.
The "left section" was posted for the winter in an elevated earthwork named Fort Evans, overlooking the river, and the "right section," or the greater part of the enlarged battery, was sent to encamp at Goose Creek to guard the turnpike in the direc- tion of Washington; and here it spent the winter, with occasional raiding up to the mountains. Goose Creek was the most famous camp the Howitzers had during the war. It lasted long, the times were early and good, provisions were abundant in Loudon-a county proverbially rich and overflowing in agricultural products-paper money was worth something on the dollar, boots made of excellent leather by hand and to order were purchasable, Leesburg was exceedingly attractive, and the mails were uninterrupted. Soldiers were never granted a softer, pleas- anter breathing spell in war or peace.
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Duties were light, in reality there were no duties at all; a sweet-to-do- nothingism possessed the whole "band of brothers" gathered in that little stumpy, tree-girt spot by the Dranesville pike. The cannoneers were ready to do whatever was bid- all they could; but there was noth- ing to do.
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CHIAPTER VIII.
Going after hay for the horses, "hay details,", and putting up "breast- works," ordered by General D. H. Hill, when the fall of Fort Donelson enthused him to order them, simply afforded some of the finest fun, chaff- ing and laughter, any soldiers ever had. Yes, there was something to do, too. Play-poker. The camp now took up this business in earnest, and though it was transacted on the credit system and never panned out on a cash basis, the task of perfecting themselves in it proved to many of the novices to be the most arduous of all their experiences. There were a few passed-masters of the art, who were at special pains to indoctrinate them, but success was difficult to gain. Enthusiasm was steady, the business went on day and night, with- out intermission, for eating and camp
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calls were shifted as much as possible, for the purpose of keeping a winning or a losing hand and letting the game go on. Grains of corn invariably represented the stake, and, for the most part, were the only stake played for, as few were ever "re- deemed " by the "bank," or any one else. The paymaster only visited the place once during the winter, the sole and last time some of the Howitzers ever saw him; indeed, a few of them never did see him from beginning to end of their service, and, notwith- standing that they long ago cheer- fully waived their dues, remain as ever legally entitled to draw on the Confederate Treasury. Log huts, protected by "tent flies," afforded comfortable, snug dwellings, and an immense fire, constantly fed by huge hickory, oak, and pine trees, roared on the open ground about which the dwellings were collected. This out- door fireplace was for standing and sitting around on benches. Kitchens and mess tables, presided over by
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hired negro cooks, were run on the outskirts of the camp, with regular hours for meals and cow bells for summoning the boarders.
The earthworks playfully put up at Goose Creek were small, remarkably light, speedily terminated, and then left to the tender mercies of the trees, birds, and weather-the whole job performed out of all possible likeli- hood for use, yet a source of innocent merriment. Entertainments were frequently got up in and around Lees- burg for the benefit of the Howitzers. In the beginning of the encampment at Goose Creek, explorations were made in the neighborhood as to the item of diversions, and the rumor cir- culated that there was a place called "Fiddler's Green," just across the creek, which enjoyed a high reputa- tion, and at once it assumed the most extensive and fanciful proportions in the eyes of the young frolickers. The very name, "Fiddler's Green," was a fascination. Runners reported pro- gress on a most lively scale, and its
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fame increased as it went from mouth to mouth, until it became a camp- word for all, a mystery to some. In reality it was merely a small shanty, owned by a widow woman with three grown daughters, all of whom played on the fiddle, and the estab- lishment sold snacks, groceries, and "moonshine whiskey." It was a veri_ table bonanza. Some of the frequent- ers immediately got up a grand ball. Preparations for "The Ball" were the talk of the camp; the invited arrayed themselves as gorgeously as possible to do honor to the affair, which passed off more than pleas- antly, with incessant outbursts of "anger-pray-bury" jollity. An extra fine supper was spread in the buffet style, as there was no table suffi- ciently ample or chairs enough to go round in the throng limited to stand- ing room only. Moonshine flowed freely and dancing was continuous. Drinks were not few or far between during the whirling tournament of reels, jigs, quadrilles, waltzes, lancers,
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polkas. Each dancer vied with the other in cancan pedotechnics, and the fun went on from the unfashionable ball-hour of dewy eve until the dawn of day, when the guests disbanded and made their way back to camp as well as they could on foot. Several of them fell in the creek on the return trip without any damage, on the con- trary, and those who were sufficiently restored on reaching camp pictured "The Ball" as the embodiment of fairyland. Fiddler's Green and its ball remain a vivid, unfading Howit- zer reminiscence.
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CHAPTER IX.
IN March, 1862, in accordance with General Johnston's strategic plan of withdrawing the army from "North- ern Virginia" to Richmond, the bat- tery took up its line of march home- ward, together with the detached brigade. While at Leesburg, Captain Shields resigned, and Lieutenant Palmer was "elected" to take con- mand. Leesburg was again evacu- ated, to the regret of both sides, and all of the material collected there, as at Manassas and Centreville, that could not be carried off, was deliv- ered over to the flames. Parting with the citizens was sorrowful, and a de- cided air of gloom, increased by the burning heaps, settled over the place at the moment of the start, which was made in the night so as to con- ceal the movement from the enemy's lookout on the Maryland side of the
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river. Yet the Howitzers were joyful at the prospect of getting home, of entering upon active operations, for they had been stationed at Leesburg over six months. They began their long march from the Potomac to the James in rather gay spirits and in most excellent condition. They had become in a measure seasoned, and no soldiers knew better how to get along and make the most of circum- stances. Their city-bred acquire- ments had now been fortified and de- veloped by rude life in the bracing, suggestive country. Marching they had reduced to a science after such a protracted stretch of tramping about ; all its intricacies had been mastered, and the way of getting over the most ground in the shortest time and with the least wear and tear seemed to have become an intuition with them. They knew when to go and when and where to stop; they knew what to tote and what to leave aside, never burdening themselves with ac- coutrements; when and how to get
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rides and when to foot the route for special purposes, and country houses, with varying degrees of comforts and delicacies, they could most unerringly spy or snuff from afar. Of springs and wells they kept posted, and pos- sessed better than a general's eyes for commodious camping-grounds.
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CHAPTER X.
HEADED for dear old threatened Richmond, they made good headway, their speed only slackened by orders from army headquarters. The routes were familiar, having been often trav- elled over; their friends and acquaint- ances were numerous, and their "calls" likewise; well received every- where, their coming was sometimes anticipated and prepared for. Muddy or dry roads, weather stormy or bright, all was one, and the camping- ground by the wayside ever resound- ed with the gleefulness of this band of young Virginia stalwarts-happier than they knew during these their none-such moments. A stop-a halt for accidents or rest for beast and man-horses being entitled to first consideration, and lo! see there that chirpy, lively cannoneer step out in a green wheat-field, somewhere, any- where, start a fire, haul out from his
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little canvas bag, smaller than a lady's satchel, a provision of coffee and su- gar, and brew a small pot of coffee equal to the best French dripped, for the restoration of himself and special friends, attracted to the spot without any calling, who all the while gazed admiringly on at the operation. It was simply the ordinary achievement of some thoughtful "brewer of cof- fee," hugely enjoyed as far as it went. Special providences of this kind abounded, in more ways and lines than one, to help out a march or the toughest scenes of actual hostilities. These adaptations, akin to the gen- erous, soldierly spirit prompting to divide a cup of water or crust of bread with a comrade, to care for his wounds or bury him, were followed out into the nicest ramifications. Down through Middleburg, skirting Manassas Junction, through Berlin, Little Washington, Culpeper Court- house, and Orange Courthouse, where the hotels were patronized, and "set," but much deteriorated, meals
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were procured for an ever-increasing supply of printed paper, and where the red mud and mire stuck deep and thick, on by way of Gordonsville and Hanover Junction to the outskirts of home, but not yet at home on ac- count of military discipline. "Cap- tain, can I go into Richmond? I want to see them all at home mighty bad!" This was now the eager de- mand during a short halting, and then the battery found itself, parked at "Camp Lee," within still easier range. The greetings and pleasures of home appeared on the boards posi- tively for a few days only. General Magruder was hard pressed at York- town, and the Howitzers, with the bulk of the A. N. V., had to hasten forward to relieve this pressure by McClellan's forces already landed on the peninsula. The battery was happy and proud over the greetings it received when it marched, in its best order, through Richmond's streets to Rocketts to take the steamer for conveyance down the river.
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CHAPTER XI.
ONCE landed on the peninsula, the cannoneers saw at a glance that there had been indeed a change in their fortunes; that they had at last fallen upon a very tough district-aye, marry, into a mousetrap, as it were. But this was merely a solid percep- tion-nothing more. On reaching the line of fortification that ran di- rectly across the peninsula to York- town, the battery went into camp at the point selected for it and began its duties. General Magruder, with a brilliant staff, honored it with a special visit of inspection. The region might have been called swamp- land-naturally so, rain or shine, no matter; pretty uncomfortable for our Leesburg rose-bud-wearing landlub- bers, thus hurriedly compelled to get on sea legs. Puddles, lakes, creeks, morasses, mud, hugestumps, logs, and
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trees, decayed monsters, fallen or cut from the time of Captain John Smith, or possibly Powhatan's remote an- cestry-all this had to be butted up against in night marches through the forest, obstacles that called rather for the fine dealing of owls and cats. While at this camp Captain Palmer resigned, and Lieutenant McCarthy was "elected " in his place. It was a comical sight to see the officers of an army "elected" by the people in ranks. From the camp to Dam No. 1, some little distance, these obstacles lay in the way of the gun detach- ments as they relieved each other in turn. Dam No. 1 was the particular angle of the fortified line under a se- vere fire for several days from McClel- lan's batteries, within close range, all the warmer as the general Confed- erate policy was invariably to be saving in ammunition, there being none to waste or throw away, be- cause so scarce and difficult to get or make under the bonnie blue flag. When the line was abandoned by
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General Johnston, the battery wel- comed its orders to withdraw and to again take its march toward Rich- mond, over a short and pleasant route to Williamsburg, where a quiet rest was indulged in during several days.
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CHAPTER XII.
THE enemy's vanguard reached the neighborhood of the earthworks, pre- viously erected by General Magruder around Williamsburg, before the bat- tery started to leave its camp in the village, and it immediately hurried to Fort Magruder to check the ap- proach. While galloping forward, the cannoneers running at full speed on foot beside the guns, General John- ston and his staff were passed, when he turned and shouted: "Hurry up with your guns," words that added to their speed and enthusiasm. Be- fore occupying the works, the battery wheeled in the open field near by and fired several rounds upon the advanc- ing calvary and sharpshooters, who thus were effectually driven back. The next day, May 5th, the battle oc- curred under a drizzling sky, and the battery in Fort Magruder was ex-
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posed to a heavy front and enfilade fire, and to sharpshooters, but promptly repulsed every attempted advance of the enemy in front. This was its first active engagement in battle. The earthworks, entirely un- concealed by woods, were rendered difficult through the mud and rain, but this kind of drawback had now grown to be familiar to the cannon- eers as an accompaniment to the roar of battle. They felt at dark that they had contributed to the glo- rious little victory, the substantial checking of the invading columns, and the same night they withdrew to Williamsburg and slept in deserted lofts and barns in the outskirts-ad- mirable quarters after the trials just passed through. The march was re- sumed early next morning over the muddy route, much cut up by the previous passage of large bodies of troops-foot, horse, artillery, and wagons, and after some days of re- treating the battery camped just be- low and in the neighborhood of Rich-
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mond. Of course permits to visit it 'were freely bestowed, and still more freely used, for though the Howitzers punctiliously adhered to and obeyed the spirit of military discipline, they were not indisposed to encroach upon its letter when they regarded such a course to be perfectly legiti- mate. They did not need to be strict disciplinarians, to be held or bound as such; no tribute, but all for self- government was their cardinal maxim. Hence, whenever the bat- tery fetched up anywhere in the prox- imity of Richmond, there was no little "running of the blockade" (a phrase incidental to the perma- nent state of the Confederacy)-and some of the more eager, when on the line immediately below town, found it convenient to run into it nightly. "When I was around Richmond," quoth one, "I kept a horse and came in regularly every night!" "I had an officer's coat, without the insignia of rank, and it always managed to pass me at our general's headquarters; I
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lent that coat out, I believe, to nearly every member in the com- pany!" quoth another. Very often in camp an order would be issued, when the privates would uncere- moniously walk into the captain's tent and discuss it with him, and, if the order did not hail from outside headquarters, it was changed to suit the judgment of the claimants. If any example of discipline was at any time made out of a Howit- zer, it invariably was due to the ex- action of some general officer on the march. An instance of this kind was afforded during the Sharpsburg cam- paign, when several very young Howitzers were caught, contrary to orders, as they emerged into the road from a foraging expedition to a house near by. A general officer at once ordered them to shoulder fence- rails and march under the broiling sun for some distance with their load, burdensome enough for delicate fel- lows as they happened to be, particu- larly one of them, Frank Arents, who
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