CHAPTER VIII

 

 

CROSSING THE CHAIN BRIDGE • CAMP PIERPONT • THE "LONG ROLL" • BEAUREGARD RECONNOITRING • MARCH TO DRAINESVILLE • AN INDISCREET HEN • RETURN TO PIERPONT • BALL'S BLUFF • REVIEW • RESIGNATION OF COLONEL MANN • GRAND REVIEW

 

EARLY on the morning of the 9th, General Smith advanced his division from the neighborhood of the Chain Bridge to Langley, where deploying his skirmishers, he pushed forward a brigade on the Drainesville Pike, and took possession of Prospect Hill. With his main body, he diverged from the pike at Langley to the left, advancing towards Lewinsville, which village he entered and occupied without opposition, leaving the main portion of his troops at Smoot's Hill, and pushing on a detachment to occupy Miner's Hill.

To occupy this extension of the lines, the same day orders were issued to the Pennsylvania Reserves to march, and in a short time their tents were struck, wagons loaded and men in line. At seven o'clock in the evening our regiment took up its line of march, passing eastward through Tenallytown, and turning to the right, wound down a long, narrow, rough road to the Potomac, along which it moved to the Chain Bridge, and set foot for the first time upon the "sacred soil of Virginia." As the regiments crossed, their bands struck up "Dixie's Land," and their vociferous cheers burst forth, echoing from shore to shore of the rock-bound river. Moving on past Fort Marcy they bivouacked for the night about half a mile beyond Langley, Fairfax County.

The next afternoon the wagons arrived, the tents were pitched, and Camp Pierpont established, named in honor of Frank H. Pierpont, the loyal Governor of Western Virginia. The position assigned to the Reserves was the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac, their picket line extending from the river past Prospect Hill over towards Lewinsville. The camp of the Second was to the right of the Chain Bridge and Drainesville Pike, on a low and badly

 

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drained piece of ground, at the base of a wooded hill, near the Langley School-House, which was occupied as the headquarters of the First Brigade.

During the first ten days, the "long roll" was beaten, and the men got under arms five times. On the night of the 11th, the pickets in the neighborhood of Lewinsville were driven in, and the next day the enemy, consisting of at least three regiments of infantry, some cavalry and a battery of six guns, were discovered near Miner's Hill, concealed in the woods, which led to the supposition that an attack was meditated the next morning. At noon the drums beat, and the men got into fighting order. General McClellan and staff, including the Comte de Paris and the Duc de Chartres, rode over and remained during the night at Smoot's house, and at midnight the drums again beat and every preparation was made for an attack.

It was a clear and beautiful night, the moon shone forth in its mild beauty; the stars twinkled with resplendent glory, and not a cloud glided through the sky. The drums beat "the long roll," the trumpets of the cavalry and artillery sounded their shrill blasts, and the bands of the infantry pealed forth their most soul-inspiring strains. The camp-fires burned brightly, the glittering bayonets and sabres flashed in the light, and every heart beat high with hope. At two A.M., various columns of troops, on the Maryland side of the Potomac, were put in motion, and moved across the river to a position from which they could be easily thrown to any point of the line the emergency might require. Among them were some four thou­sand cavalry and fifty pieces of artillery. But alas, after remaining in position until daylight, chilled with the falling dew, the boys were doomed to disappointment. Beauregard had only been on a reconnaissance in force, to ascertain our position since the recent extension of our front.

About this time Orderly Sergeant Richard Clendining, Com­pany H, was elected Second Lieutenant, vice Robert H. Porter, re­signed, July 21st. Also, Sergeant James R. Nightingale, Company C, Second Lieutenant, vice Frank Fox, resigned.

About eleven o'clock on the night of the 18th, orders were is­sued for the Reserves to prepare to move early the next morning, with three days' cooked rations in haversacks, and accordingly there was a busy time that night around the camp-fires. Early in the morning, the regiments were in line, and at seven o'clock they moved off up the pike towards Drainesville. The First Brigade, General Reynolds took the lead with a squadron of the Reserve cavalry, Colo­nel Bayard in the van, followed by two batteries of the Reserve artillery, Colonel Campbell, the "Bucktails" and infantry with the

 

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ambulances, or "avalanches," as the boys called them, bringing up the rear. Crossing Difficult Creek, we continued on through Drainesville, and halted to bivouac three miles beyond. Soon after General McClellan rode up and ordered us to fall back about four miles to Thornton's house, at the forks of the Chain Bridge and Leesburg and Alexandria Pikes. The artillery was posted to sweep the roads, pickets thrown out, and the men put in a heavy woods, where they slept peacefully.

When we first commenced our retrograde movement many surmises that soon assumed the shape of rumors were set afloat, and as we at that time were incapable of judging of military movements, they received much credence. An orderly came dashing down the road in search of General Reynolds and almost breathlessly informed him, there were "forty thousand rebels coming down upon us." "Forty thousand old fools," replied the General, "go back to where you came from."

The Second Brigade lay that night about three miles in our rear, and the Third about three miles in their rear at Difficult Creek, to preserve our communication and prevent our rear being turned, General Smith's division was also moved out the Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike, to cover that road and those leading from Centreville to Drainesville.

The next morning by daylight the boys were up and hard at work cutting down the chestnut trees in the woods to get the nuts, and the squealing of pigs was heard in various directions. An old hen that had been roosting on a tree commenced cackling, which attracted the attention of a soldier who was passing by. "Madam," said the boy, "you had better have kept your mouth shut," as he knocked her off with a stone. These proceedings were however put a stop to, and the boys restricted to the limits of the camp.

On our march up we found a number of houses abandoned by their occupants, who had fled on our approach under the impression we were Mamelukes and Bedouins coming to murder and destroy all we found. At some places we found the furniture carried out on the lawn, ready for moving. We also found houses that had been abandoned for some time, their inhabitants having been driven away by their neighbors on account of their Union sentiments.

During the day detachments were sent out to reconnoitre the neighboring roads and country and make a plane table survey of a great portion of it, and along the Loudon and Hampshire railroad in several places they encountered the enemy's scouts, killing two and wounding four of them. The next morning, the 21st, General McCall, having accomplished the object of his advance, in obedience to or-

 

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ders received that morning from General McClellan, returned to camp.

Much comment was made at the time through the public press in regard to this movement, as the battle of "Ball's Bluff"took place upon the day of our return, and we were in a position to have been pushed forward in the enemy's rear, and probably reversed the fortune of the day.

In the official report of General McClellan, he states that Gen­eral Banks sent a dispatch to him on the 20th, that the signal station at Sugar Loaf telegraphed that the enemy had moved away from Leesburg, upon which he telegraphed to General Stone that McCall occupied Drainesville, and desired him to keep a good look­out upon Leesburg and to make a slight demonstration, to see if the movement had the effect of driving them away. This dispatch was received by General Stone at eleven o'clock A.M., and he immediately dispatched Captain Philbrick, Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteers, with twenty men on a reconnaissance towards Leesburg, who returned that night and reported having advanced within a mile of the town without finding any enemy. He had then accomplished all that had been expected of him. It is probable that that night he conceived the idea of capturing the town by a brilliant coup, and the next day commenced the crossing of infantry, horses and artillery over the broad and rapid river in three scows. The disastrous results of this rash undertaking are well known. General Stone acknowledged before the "Committee on the conduct of the war," that the movement on the 21st originated with himself, and was not ordered by General McClellan.

Upon the return of the Reserves to camp, General McCall was ordered to rest his men, and to hold them in readiness to return to Drainesville at a moment's notice.

The camp of our regiment was moved about a half mile to the northeast, on a fine high and sloping piece of ground, terminating abruptly towards the pike in a steep hill. At the base of this were the quartermaster's and sutler's tents and the guard house. On the crest was located the field and staff, and on the slope the company tents, with a fine parade ground beyond.

About this time First Lieutenant R. H. Loudon, Company A, resigned, and Second Lieutenant Horace Neide was elected to fill the vacancy. Orderly Sergeant John J. Ross was chosen Second Lieu­tenant of the same company, and Mr. Neide was appointed Adjutant of the regiment. Quartermaster-Sergeant Wesley S. Mann, having some time before being honorably discharged the service, John L. Benzon was appointed in his place, and William A. Hoyt made Com­missary Sergeant.

 

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On the 22d, an election was held for Lieutenant Colonel, which resulted in the unanimous choice of Major William McCandless.

On the 28th, General McCall reviewed the Reserve, consisting of the thirteen regiments of General Reynolds and Meade, and Colo­nel McCalmont's brigades, the First Reserve Cavalry, Colonel George D. Bayard, and the First Reserve Artillery, Colonel Charles F. Campbell, in front of Johnson's Hill. The field contained but about forty acres, the regiments were formed in divisions closed in mass, which wheeled into column in mass, and moved forward to where General McCall and staff were stationed but before reaching him, the divisions broke into companies at wheeling distance, and passed in review. When the line began thus to uncoil itself, it reached a great distance, and presented a splendid spectacle.

When Colonel Mann raised the regiment, his intention was to remain in the service until Washington was safe, and on the first of November, feeling the object for which he came out was accomplished, he resigned and returned to his profession. While in command of the regiment, he was assiduous in his attention to the welfare of the men, frequently examining their rations, visiting their quarters and the hospital, and tempering the rigid discipline necessary to the for­mation of a soldier with a fatherly care. With his ability, if he had remained in the service, and had not had his "light put out," the eagles upon his shoulders would have undoubtedly soared until they reached the stars.

While at Tennallytown, the men were kept half of the time in digging earthworks and building forts, and but little time was left to devote to battalion drill. But here it was different, besides the difficulty of getting to Washington was so great, that few cared about taking the trouble to procure a pass. The result was, that a great portion of the time was spent in drilling, and the regiments being all encamped within sight of each other, quite a rivalry sprang up be­tween them, as to which would become the most perfect. The effect was a marked improvement in the discipline of the men.

On the 7th, the regiment was paid off by Major Smith. About the same time we exchanged the smooth bore for the Harper's Ferry rifled muskets.

On the 20th, a grand review of a portion of the Army of the Potomac, took place near Munson's Hill, in a valley, or rather plain, two miles long by one broad, stretching to the east towards Bailey's Cross Roads. The troops, numbering seventy-five thousand, rank and file, were drawn up in a line, forming three sides of a square. Upon the right were cavalry and artillery, and on the left was the Pennsylvania Reserves. Around this immense plain, thousands of

 

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people and vehicles were gathered. Munson's Hill was black with them, and the trees and houses were covered with men and boys. Considerable time was occupied in getting the troops into their proper positions, and the centre of the field presented an animated scene, hundreds of aides and orderlies galloping in all directions, carrying orders for the different divisions and brigades.

At twelve-o'clock, noon, a cortege consisting of President Lin­coln and lady, in an open barouche, followed by Secretaries Seward and Cameron, a host of distinguished civilians and Foreign Minis­ters arrived, and took post near the flag staff, in the centre and front of the square. Soon after General McClellan arrived, escorted by the Second and Fifth United States Cavalry, and his Body Guard, and took post to the left of the President, surrounded by his Generals and Staff. A salvo of artillery announced his arrival. The President and Secretaries mounted horses and rode over to the General, and they started on the review. Commencing on the left, they passed down by the Reserves, and as the party, consisting of some three hundred Officers, Generals and their Staffs, rode up, the troops commenced cheering and the bands playing. As they galloped down the line at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, the terrific roar was kept up the whole way through, making the scene intensely thrilling. After passing around, a position was taken, and orders given for the column to pass in review. First came the Reserves, General McCall, which after passing, filed to the right and marched at once to their camp, some ten miles off. Then followed General Heintzelman's division, which passed to the left, and marched some fifteen miles to their post. The divisions of Generals Smith, Franklin, Blenker, Por­ter and McDowell, brought up the rear, and each was dismissed and marched directly to its camp. There were seventy regiments of infantry, seventeen batteries, and seven regiments of cavalry, and the time occupied in passing was three hours. They marched in column of division, and if they had been in the usual order, it would have taken twice as long. It was by far the finest review ever witnessed on this continent.

            About this time the men commenced preparing winter quar­ters. These consisted of walls of from four to six logs high, with wedge tents placed over them. Floors of boards or logs were put down, shelves put up, and small sheet-iron stoves put in. From four to six generally bunked together, according to their liking.

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