THE WINTER OF 1861

 

 

 III.

 

CAMP PIERPONT.

 

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After a few days had elapsed and the men in the different regiments had satisfied those who approached them in regard to the battle, the camp settled down to the almost mechanical execution of routine orders. The first Christmas Day in the army, passed with hardly an occurrence to differentiate it from ordinary days, thus accentuating in the minds of all, the lack of sentiment that is the dominant factor of military life. Still, possibly with a view of recognizing the day in some degree, Governor Curtin reviewed the division.

The winter proved cold, and snow fell in such quantities that it, or the mud that it caused, necessitated the postpone­ment of drills on several occasions.

The question of a Colonel to succeed Colonel Biddle assumed a serious aspect. Colonel Biddle had been remark­ably proficient in drilling; in fact, to his untiring efforts, and great knowledge of the subject, was due the extremely rapid progress that the regiment had made. Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, on the other hand, was somewhat deficient in this branch of military knowledge. His temperament was such that the mechanical side of it both impressed and became irksome to him; hence when putting the regiment through a drill, it not infrequently happened that he made mistakes. The unfor­tunateness of such a condition of affairs was increased by the

 

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fact that the men themselves took much pride in drilling, and that in each company more than one man could be found capable of commanding a regiment, if not a brigade, during a review.

The evil results of placing in the hands of the men, the power of electing their own officers quickly became apparent. Every man was cognizant of the fact that the Lieutenant Colonel had been the inspiration of the regiment; that he had organized it, and given to it the insignia by which it was known ; that he had displayed the most remarkable magnanimity in resigning the Colonelcy to Biddle in the first place, and in not immediately pressing for an election upon the latter's resignation; that he had successfully led the regiment on several occasions; and that he had attracted the favorable notice of his superior officers. but, on the other hand, he was not personally popular with the men in certain companies; his mistakes in drilling irritated them, and his extreme daring, considered by them as more than akin to sheer recklessness, made them loth to place themselves irrevocably under his command.

In an attempt to ease the situation, a petition was drawn up and presented to Colonel Biddle. In it, he was begged to return and resume command. Receiving the petition at Wash­ington, Colonel Biddle thanked the messenger for the honor conferred upon him by the request, but stated that he could not accept; that it would not be fair to his constituents, nor, under certain circumstances that then existed, did he wish to do so. Before the messenger left Colonel Biddle remarked further, that there was no necessity for his accepting the invitation, there being several Captains in the regiment fully competent to command it.

Colonel Charles T. Campbell, of the regiment of artillery,

 

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had been mentioned prominently during the canvass. As ex­plained, the government did not accept the Pennsylvania Re­serve artillery regiment, as a regiment; but assigned the various companies composing it to different commands. As a result, Colonel Campbell must inevitably soon lose his position. A committee who waited on him, requesting him to run against Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, received an affirmative reply; but a report that he drank intemperately was circulated, and his name dropped.[1]

Captain Hugh McNeil, of Company D, was the only other candidate of prominence. On January 22, 1862, an election was held. The intense bitterness that characterized it has hardly totally disappeared to this day; and is added proof, if any is needed, of the wisdom of the act of the military authori­ties shortly afterwards, suspending promotions by election. When the votes were counted it was found that Captain Mc­Neil had received a majority of 223,[2] Companies C, G, H and I giving the largest votes for Lieutenant-Colonel Kane.

The question was decided, rightly or wrongly, and almost immediately a better feeling prevailed. If a portion of the regiment was disappointed because Kane had failed to secure election that portion in no way objected to McNeil. His per­sonality was exceedingly attractive, his ability unquestioned, and his devotion to the regiment apparent. Kane took his defeat philosophically; as soon as he fully recovered from the wound he had received at Dranesville he devoted himself to

 

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the compilation of his system of skirmish tactics, which in conjunction with his own exploits was to win for him a Brigadier-General's commission before the next winter.

During the winter the men in Company D presented a sword to the new Colonel, their late Captain. The presenta­tion was made by Chaplain Hatton, who, having been informed that it was customary to do so, prefaced the presentation by a prayer.

While at Camp Pierpont, too, many of the men learned to write. A large number, coming from the lumber districts, had had but scant opportunities of acquiring school educations. Their knowledge had been that which had been gained by them in the school of nature, and that obtained by listening to their parents and elders. Those able to write were therefore kept busy, either instructing their less fortunate companions, or writing letters for them to their relations. -

The principal promotions, in addition to that of Captain McNeil to the Colonelcy, were,

W. R. Hartshorne,[3] First- Lieutenant, Company K, who

 

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had been assigned to the Signal Corps, returned and was com­missioned Adjutant.

Thomas B. Lewis, First-Sergeant, Company B, was pro­moted to Second-Lieutenant.

John T. A. Jewett, Adjutant and First-Lieutenant, Com­pany D, was promoted to Captain, vice Hugh W. McNeil, pro­moted.

Thomas B. Winslow, private, Company G, was promoted to First-Lieutenant, and John A. Wolfe, Sergeant, Company G, was promoted to Second-Lieutenant[4]

As the weeks rolled by the Government authorities, in

 

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view of the increasing army camped in the vicinity of Wash­ington, urged upon General McClellan the desirability of prompt action, but he, fully aware of the nature of the soil upon which he must fight his campaign, was determined to initiate no offensive movement till the weather justified it.

In one sense he had but one course open to him. The popular cry was, "On to Richmond." No operations with a different objective could be seriously considered. But while he recognized this, he did not wish to march directly from the Federal to the Confederate capital. The distance between the two cities is only about one hundred miles, but owing to the rivers that cross the route and the woods and swamps that abound, it is a route that is exceedingly difficult for an invad­ing force and one that affords many opportunities for a resisting army. He therefore desired to transport his army by water to a new base-Urbana or Fortress Monroe-from whence he could move on Richmond, and if favored by fortune reduce it before the Confederates could unite their scattered armies. Such a plan, however, involved the withdrawal of the bulk of the army, from the position it then occupied between Washington and the Confederate army, and this consideration made the acceptance of his plans by the Government doubtful.

When General Grant, in the west, captured Forts Henry and Donelson in the early part of February, a wave of enthusi­asm swept over the country. More than ever it became desir­able that some victory should emanate from the east; that some advantage should be wrested from the forces in the vicinity of Richmond. The situation was one that from the nature of things could not last, and President Lincoln, appar­ently against his own judgment, acquiesced in the plans of Gen­eral McClellan. The movement by water against Richmond thus became a certainty.