CHAPTER XXII

 

 

PICKET TRUCE AND FIGHTING • FAREWELL OF GENERAL MEADE • THE MUD EXPEDITION • GENERAL BURNSIDE RELIEVED BY GENERAL HOOKER • ORDERED TO ALEXANDRIA • TO FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE • PICKET AT BULL RUN • CAPTURE OF GENERAL STOUGHTON • PROMOTIONS

 

UPON our recrossing, our regiment and the "Bucktails" were immediately detailed to guard the river below the lower pontoon bridges, and opposite the Bernard House, and before daylight we had a number of good rifle pits dug to shelter the men in. As daylight approached, a few stragglers could be seen hurrying towards the river, and some hours afterwards the enemy's scouts appeared; but lo-the blue birds had flown. On the left of our line, the most amicable relationship was established between the pickets, they coming down to the river banks and conversing freely, expressing their mutual regrets that they had no means of visiting one another.

"How are you Yanks; I guess you found it rather unhealthy over here."

"How are you Rebs; how did you like Antietam?" "About as well as you liked Bull Run."

"Can't you sing us `My Maryland."'

"D___n Maryland, can't you rig up a raft and come over and trade?"

Late in the afternoon some of the boys of Company C, got permission of one of our officers to come down and talk with them.

"Why don't you officers go home, and let us privates settle the war."

"How do you want to settle it?"

"Why, you Yanks go home and let us alone, and we won't come up north to fight you."

"Then you want your independence acknowledged?"

"Certainly; that's what we are fighting for."

 

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And this is the universal sentiment throughout the whole South. They have been willing and anxious for peace from the beginning, but only on these inadmissible terms.

One the right of the line, these amicable relations were not maintained. A fine horse was discovered on the south side of the river, and some of Company H determined to kill it. Soon after several shots were fired, a battery posted in our rear, supposing we were engaged with the enemy, opened fire, one shell blowing a small fraction of the Southern Confederacy into atoms. Two others at the same time were wounded. Some of the shells, however, were cut short, and a piece of one struck one of our officers on the hand and buried itself between his feet, without inflicting more than a painful blow. Soon after, Captain Mealey, while standing behind a rifle pit, received a most painful wound in the right arm from a sharpshooter behind a tree. Companies B and H immediately opened an enfilading fire upon the tree, and there is no doubt the rascal was killed. Captain Mealey's loss was severely felt, he being one of our most gallant officers. The senior officer present declining to assume the command, it devolved upon the adjutant.

About this time the extreme right became briskly engaged with the pickets across the river, some of whom occupied a frame house. The "Bucktails" mounted a "Quaker gun," and going through all the motions of the gunners fired in volleys, skedaddling the enemy from the house, they at first being deceived by them. Towards night, the enemy called over that as we had wounded some of their men whom they wanted to get and take care of, and as it was getting cold, we had better stop fighting, build fires, cook our suppers and go to sleep. The proposition was at once agreed to, and soon bright fires lined both banks of the river, and the boys were talking and joking as if they were old friends.

Towards night Captain Connors rejoined and took command of the regiment, he having recovered from his wound at Bull Run. Late that night we were relieved by some New York troops, and proceeded to a neighboring woods, built fires and slept with the Twenty-Fourth Michigan Volunteers.

The next morning we marched into camp, where Captain McDonough assumed command of the regiment. The day after at noon we struck tents and marched about five miles and bivouacked in an open field. The next morning, the 20th, we marched early, about one mile, and formed an encampment in a thick pine forest on a hillside near White Oak Church.

Here the boys made themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Some of them dug pits about two feet deep which they

 

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logged up some distance above ground and stretched their shelter tents over. Comfortable fireplaces and chimneys were built, and with an abundance of dry leaves to sleep upon, they got along quite comfortably. Two or four generally bunked together, and by splicing blankets and laying "spoon fashion" they slept quite warm.

Nothing of importance occurred until the 25th, when Major­General Meade being assigned to the command of the Fifth Army Corps, bid farewell to our division in the following order:

 

GENERAL ORDER, NO. 101

HEADQUARTERS, THIRD DIVISION,

December 25th, 1862.

 

In announcing the above order, which separates the command­ing general from the division, he takes occasion to express to the officers and men, that notwithstanding his just pride at being promoted to a higher command, he experiences a deep feeling of regret at parting from those with whom he has been so long associated, and to whose services he here acknowledges his indebtedness for whatever reputation he may have acquired.

The commanding general will never cease to remember that he belonged to the Reserve Corps; he will watch with eagerness for the deeds of fame which he feels sure they will enact under the command of his successors, and, although sadly reduced in numbers from the casualties of battle, yet he knows the Reserves will always be ready and prompt to uphold the honor and glory of their State.

 

By command of

MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE.

(Signed.)

EDWARD C. BAIRD,

A.A.G.

The command of our division now devolved upon Colonel Horatio G. Sickel, of the Third Reserves, who was one of our most gallant officers, he having served with great credit and ability through all the battles we had fought.

While we lay here we experienced constant and heavy rain and snow storms, that turned our encampment into a vast mud puddle, and rendered the roads almost impassable. Almost daily details were made from the regiments to corduroy the roads, and we passed our time about as disagreeably as possible.

 

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As early as the 26th, orders were received to have three days' rations in haversacks and sixty rounds of cartridges per man, and to be prepared to move at a moment's notice.

On the 30th, a thousand picked cavalry with four pieces of artillery under General Averill, crossed the Rappahannock at the upper fords intending to make a complete circuit of Richmond, destroying bridges and railroads on their route, and join General Peck at Suffolk, where they were to be transferred back to Aquia Creek by steamboats. It was the intention that the main army should advance at the same time, and turn the enemy's right or left flank, but through the unauthorized interference of Generals Cochrane and Newton, who had proceeded to Washington, the President was induced to suspend the movement.

The order to hold ourselves in readiness to move, was however, repeatedly renewed up to January 20th, when at twelve P.M., we broke camp and moved up the river ten miles, where we halted at dark and bivouacked in a thick scrub oak forest. About four o'clock it commenced raining, and continued so to do without intermission all night. By the next morning the roads and the whole face of the country was impassable. We, however, were got under way about daylight, marching some three miles, and halting near the river back of Bank's Ford. Here the army was brought to a stand still, it literally having stuck in the mud. The pontoon trains could not move at all. The supply trains were in the rear unable to come up, and twenty­eight horses stalled with a cannon. It was next to impossible to get our camp fires lit, and the cold rain descended in torrents all day. The enemy, who for some time, had known of a contemplated movement, were more definitely posted from the fact of General Sumner having moved his wagons and artillery on the crest of the hills back of Falmouth, in full view of them, and they were in force on the opposite bank at the Ford to meet us, and tantalizingly offered to send a brigade over to help us lay our pontoons.

We remained here until the morning of the 23d, when finding the utter impracticability of carrying out the enterprize, the commands were ordered to retrace their steps back to their various old camps, and we reaching ours late in the afternoon. Our division ambulances were sent out and brought in twenty loads of prostrated men. During this movement not a particle of forage was furnished for the field and staff horses.

Thus ended "Burnsides' mud expedition."

Soon after Major-General Joseph Hooker was appointed to the command of the Army of the Potomac, General Burnside being re­lieved at his own request.

 

198 (Drawing not included)

 

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Nothing of interest occurred in camp until dark on the 5th of February, when a telegram was received from General Doubleday, our division commander, stating that in consideration of the arduous and gallant services of the Reserves, they were to be withdrawn to Washington "to rest and recruit," which news was received with great joy. In despite of the raw and unpleasant weather, the camp fires were soon burning brightly, around which the men were gathered, talking of the good times coming. The next morning early, the men were all up and soon every thing was packed to move. At three P.M., the order to march came, and soon after the bugles rang out the joyful "assembly," and bidding farewell to our old camp, and the gallant One Hundred and Twenty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers, who had been temporarily attached to us before the battle of Fredericksburg, we took up our march for Belle Plains, which though but four miles distance, on account of the bad state of the roads, was not reached until after dark. Here, in the freezing cold and deep mud, we had to stand until two o'clock the next morning before we could embark, soon after which we were on our way up the Potomac, and landed at Alexandria at nine A.M., the same day. After some delay, we marched through the city to near the Cemetery, were we lay last April, and there on a bleak hill bivouacked.

Captain McDonough being taken sick was sent home, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Captain P. I. Smith. Our stay here was very unpleasant, we having little or no wood to cook with; and on the morning of the 12th, at eight o'clock, we marched to the depot of the Orange andAlexandria Railroad and embarked upon the platform cards, and proceeded to Fairfax Station, where we alighted, and marching to Fairfax Court House proceeded about one mile beyond and encamped in a heavy woods.

On the 20th, Lieutenant-Colonel Woodward arrived in camp and superseded Captain Smith, and the next day, at daylight, our regiment started for Bull Run to go on picket. On arriving at Union Mills, our Colonel reported to General Hays, who sent a dashing young aide, all covered with gold to receive us. Upon his arrival he inquired for Captain Reitzel, who was temporarily in charge of the regiment. It should be mentioned here, that the officers of the Reserves were never particularly noted for their fine uniforms and gold lacings, and especially after going through the memorable campaign of 1862. In fact, Captain Reitzel wore nothing to indicate he was an officer but his sword, and that was concealed under his overcoat. Besides, the captain, like many other old campaigners, went out provided with the implements of comfort, an axe and frying pan. The aide was duly saluted by the captain, who informed him he was

 

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the individual sought for, but his indignation at the impudence of the "pioneer," as he called him, waxed exceedingly warm, and he was on the point of running him down when he discovered his mistake, which created a hearty laugh all round, in which the little German aide joined. In the meantime, a fine brass band, sent by the General, arrived and escorted us to our encampment. As this was the first time we had ever been escorted anywhere, except to the battlefield, the boys stepped off quite lively to the soul inspiring strains.

The nice little aide, before parting, made us generous promises of plenty of tents, clothes and food, with fresh beef and bread to boot, and we really began to think we had got into good quarters, when along came an abominable orderly, with orders for us to fall in to relieve the pickets. It was now night. We had just got our fires started and were preparing our coffee, but strike tents and fall in was the order, so off we started through the forests and over the hills of Bull Run to the fords. Soon a blinding snowstorm set in, bewildering and almost benumbing us. It was daybreak the next morning before our left companies reached their posts, our line ex­tending over seven miles. The snow continued falling all the next day, giving us but little opportunity to erect comfortable shelter. Our posts at the fords were almost nightly visited by the guerrillas, who exchanged a few shots with the pickets and disappeared. When a shot was fired, not knowing the strength or object of the enemy, the reserve at the post was turned out, and as this occurred several times through the night, the men's sleep was constantly liable to be disturbed. This tour of duty lasted sixteen days, and we were all glad when it was over.

At the camp near Fairfax Court House there were left over forty men under the charge of the Adjutant, composed of the guard, the sick, and those in arrest for going home on "French." At midnight on the 1st of March, we were all aroused by heavy firing in the front, and the men being got under arms were started for a swamp in the rear of the camp, when an order came from Colonel Woodward, com­manding our brigade, for us to report to Captain Taylor, commanding the "Bucktails," where we stayed until morning.

The next night, about twelve o'clock, orders were received to send two officers and twenty-five men on picket, on the Aldie Road. Not having that many men to detail, those in arrest were offered their release if they would go, which they gladly accepted. All, however, passed quietly through the night. These alarms occurred almost nightly.

Near midnight on the 8th, a body of the enemy's cavalry quietly came into Fairfax Court House, and seized Acting Brigadier-Gen­-

 

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eral Stoughton, a number of his staff and guard, at the house of Miss Ford, and carried them off. The affair was a bold, dashing act, and the officer in command deserves great credit for the adroitness with which he managed it. No one was to blame for the mishap but the Colonel himself, whose nomination to a Brigadier- Generalship was consequently withdrawn by the President.

The regiment was relieved at dark on the 8th, and marching down to Union Mills, we lay there through the night, and returned to camp the next day under Captain Smith, he again being the senior officer.

During the absence of the regiment, Captain John M. Clark's caisson Company F reported in camp. They were a fine set of Pennsylvanians, numbering sixty muskets, and were welcomed by all. Before our return wedge tents had been drawn for the regiment, and put up by F, in a fine heavy woods where the boys found everything comfortably prepared for them.

On the 16th, Colonel Sinclair returned and took command of the brigade, and at noon the same day, we broke camp, and moved to the outskirts of the town, and commenced throwing up rifle pits which commanded the Centerville Road. The cause of these precautions were that the enemy's cavalry having crossed the Rappahannock, were operating on General Hooker's right, and as far north as this neighborhood.

With the exception of the usual night alarms, and heavy rain and snow storms, nothing of note transpired until the morning of the 28th, when we broke camp and marched across the fields and through the woods to Fairfax Station. The distance was but four miles, but as it had been raining hard all night and day, it took us as many hours to march it. It was amusing to see the men laugh and joke and swear by turns, trying to keep up their good spirits as they toiled, under their heavy knapsacks, and plunged through the mud up to their knees, and wet to the skin. It was late before our wagons arrived, and temporarily pitching our tents for the night, we man­aged to get along pretty comfortably. The next day our camp was regularly laid out in a heavy pine woods, and all things put to rights.

About this time Lieutenant Justus was appointed acting quartermaster, vice A. Q. M. Ross, who was detailed on recruiting service.

On the 23d of April, Captain McDonough arrived in camp and assumed command of the regiment.

Considerable labor was expended in arranging our camp, in felling the trees not required for shade, cutting the stumps off close to the ground, burning the brush and rubbish, and thoroughly polic­ing the whole neighborhood. The avenues and streets were planted

 

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with rows of heavy cedar trees, which afforded a cool and pleasant shade, and buried our camp in a grove.

About the 1st of May, the commissions of the following named offices, promoted for gallant conduct were received:

Lieutenant-Colonel William McCandless to be Colonel from November 1st, 1861, vice Wm. B. Mann, resigned. Major G. A. Woodward to be Lieutenant-Colonel from June 30th, 1862, vice Wil­liam McCandless, promoted. Sergeant-Major E. M. Woodward to be Adjutant, from September 18, 1862, vice Aug. T. Cross, killed. Quartermaster Charles F. Hoyt to be Captain and Commissary-Sergeant from July 1st, 1862. Commissary-Sergeant W. A. Hoyt to be Quartermaster from January 6th, 1863, vice Charles F. Hoyt, promoted. Company A - First Lieutenant Daniel H. Connors to be Captain from June 30th, 1862, vice Horace Neide, promoted. Second Lieutenant John J. Ross to be First Lieutenant from June 30th, 1862, vice Daniel H. Connors, promoted. First Sergeant Daniel Craig to be Second Lieutenant from June 30th, 1862, vice John J. Ross, promoted.

Company C - First Sergeant Andrew Casey to be Second Lieutenant from June 30, 1862, vice James R. Nightingale, killed.

Company D - First Sergeant Thomas Canavan to be First Lieutenant from November 25, 1862, vice John M. Curley, honorably discharged. Second Sergeant Robert R. Smith to be Second Lieutenant from December 3d, 1862, vice George H. Young, honorably discharged.

Company E - First Sergeant John Taylor, to be First Lieutenant from July 12, 1862, vice J. Baxter Fletcher, killed. Second Sergeant Andrew McLean, to be Second Lieutenant from October 25th, 1862, vice Alexander Black, honorably discharged.

Company F - First Lieutenant John M. Clark to be Captain from August 1st, 1862, vice John E. Barnacle, honorably discharged. Second Lieutenant Robert J. Clark to be First Lieutenant from November 23d, 1862, vice John M. Clark, promoted.

Company G - First Sergeant Elisha P. Woodward to be Second Lieutenant from September 17th, 1862, vice Max Wimpfheimer, killed.

Company H - First Sergeant William McGlenn to be Second Lieutenant from December 25th, 1862, vice Richard Clendenning, honorably discharged.

At the same time Sergeant Joseph Benison, Company H, was appointed Sergeant-Major, from January 1st, 1863, and George W. Fernon, Company C, Commissary-Sergeant, from January 6th, 1863.

The guerrillas about this time became exceedingly troublesome, frequently attacking the picket posts and railroad trains. In one of

 

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these attacks a private of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry named Andrew McClain, was wounded and brought to our hospital, where he lingered for nine days. Upon a post-mortem examination being made it was found that a pistol ball had entered his backbone and passed up through the spinal marrow eight inches, which should have produced almost instant death. From his shoulders down he was completely paralyzed, and mortification had commenced in his nether limbs.

Towards the latter part of May, Colonel William Sinclair com­manding our brigade, resigned as Colonel of the Sixth Reserves, to take command of a battery of horse artillery in the west, and Colonel McCandless succeeded him in the command.

Lieutenant-Colonel Woodward, being relieved from duty at Washington, took command of our regiment, Captain McDonough was appointed Major, Sergeant-Major Joseph Benison, Second Lieu­tenant of Company H, and Sergeant D. H. Pidgeon of Company K, Sergeant-Major.

On the 2d of June, we were paid off by Major Gideon Ball, six months being due us.

            About this time, Brigadier-General S. W. Crawford was appointed to the command of our division, and established his headquarters near our brigade. As the enemy were concentrating on Hooker's right flank, considerable skirmishing took place below in the neighborhood of the Rappahannock, and the trains were constantly conveying forage and provisions there, and bringing up wounded soldiers and prisoners.

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