CHAPTER IX

 

 

SKIRMISH NEAR DRAINESVILLE • FORAGING EXPEDITION • BATTLE OF DRAINESVILLE • VISIT OF GOVERNOR CURTIN • THE BOYS IN WINTER • CAMP LIFE • FIRING FOR MEDALS • PICKETING • "OLD UNCLE BEN" • "TAKING FRENCH" • NAUGHTY "SELL"

 

EARLY in the evening of the 26th, Colonel Bayard with five hundred and fifty men of the Reserve Cavalry, started on a scout up the pike. They halted at Difficult Creek and, before daylight, pro­ceeded to Drainesville, and captured four pickets, Charles Coleman, Philip Carper, Dr. Day and son, and three other citizens. On the return a short distance from Drainesville, a volley was fired from the woods, mortally wounding Assistant-Surgeon Alexander, and slightly two men. Colonel Bayard and Surgeon Stanton had their horses killed under them.

A portion of the cavalry were immediately dismounted and, entering the woods, killed three and captured six, including Captain Farley, of General Bonham's staff, and Lieutenant Carderees, of South Carolina. Thomas, the brother of Charles Coleman, was shot in the eye and breast, and died a few days afterwards. On the return home of the expedition, they were met by Generals McCall and Reynolds, with the First Brigade of the Reserves, and three batteries of artillery coming to their aid. These Colemans were accused of shooting wounded soldiers, and of cutting the head off of one who escaped from the first Bull Run, which they set upon a pole in front of their tavern, and threw his body to the hogs. Of these accusations there can be little doubt, as much pains were taken to inquire into them, and it was found, that while several of their neighbors acknowledged the fact, others said they had heard of them, and none gave a direct denial. Thomas, however, we presume, is now meditat­ing upon his deeds, surrounded by an infinite host of congenial spirits, whose happiness and comfort is receiving the attention of their beloved master who prompted them to their acts. Captain Farley

 

50        - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

and Lieutenant Carderees were on a courting expedition to the Misses_______ who lived in the neighborhood, and got themselves into trouble by neglecting their lady loves to go bushwhacking.

On the 29th, Captain McConough, whose company had been disbanded by General Banks, at Hyattstown, Md., arrived with a new company and was assigned his old letter, B. The Lieutenants were John H. Jack and James C. Manton, the former being one of the officers whose company was also disbanded at the same time. This gave us seven companies.

On the 3d of December, the brigade started on a foraging expedition, and proceeded about nine miles up the pike to Mr. Thomas' house, where they captured a large number of wagon loads of corn, etc., that had just been collected by the enemy. Mr. Thomas was an agent for the Confederate Government, and was in the habit of scour­ing the country and collecting from the inhabitants, much against their will, bedding, blankets, clothing, etc., for the use of the army. The boys returned in the afternoon, highly delighted with their expedition.

While the roads were good, General McCall sent his expeditions a considerable distance from camp, reserving the forage nearby for winter, but this prudential foresight availed him little, for one day General Smith, whose division lay on our left, sent out an extraordinary strong expedition and swept the whole country in our front, actually gathering within sight of our pickets. This was not considered exactly the fair thing, but further than a good natured reproof no notice was taken of it.

On the 12th, there was a review of the Reserves. On the 19th, we practiced with blank cartridges, and in the evening received orders to be prepared to move at three o'clock the next morning.

 

THE BATTLE OF DRAINESVILLE - Early on the morning of December 20, 1861, Brigadier-General Ord, with the "Bucktails," Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, Easton's battery of four guns, and his own brigade, the Third, consisting of the Sixth, Captain W. G. Ent; the Ninth, Colonel C. F. Jackson; the Tenth, Colonel J. S. McCalmont; and the Twelfth, Colonel John H. Taggart, marched through Drainesville and some distance beyond on a foraging expedition, and on their return about two and a half o'clock, they discovered the enemy who were also on a foraging expedition, approaching from, the direction of Centerville, on the Alexandria and Leesburg Pike, in their rear. This pike joins the Chain Bridge and Leesburg Pike a short distance east of Drainesville, near Thornton's house, where there is a heavy woods and high ground. To gain this position was

 

BATTLE OF DRAINESVILLE           51

 

the aim of both parties, and General Ord, by double quicking his command, succeeded. The battle soon opened and lasted for one hour and a half with great fury, when General Ord, observing the enemy to waver, ordered a charge, when they broke and fled, leaving their killed and wounded and two caissons on the field, and were followed by our victorious troops for over a mile. The enemy's force consisted of First Kentucky Rifles, the First and Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, the Tenth Alabama and the Sixth South Carolina volunteers, a regiment of cavalry and a battery of six guns, commanded by Acting Brigadier-General John H. Forney. Their loss in killed and wounded was one hundred and sixty-five men, they acknowledging that of one hundred and fifty. Among their killed was Colonel Tom Taylor, First Kentucky Rifles. Our loss was but seven killed and forty-one wounded, including four officers, among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, slightly. We brought all our killed and wounded, many of the enemy's wounded, eight prisoners, and fifty-eight wagon loads of forage to camp. General McCall arrived upon the field during the action and took command.

General Reynolds, who had been moved with his brigade to Difficult Creek, immediately upon hearing the sound of battle put his column in motion, striking across the country to the left for the purpose of intercepting the enemy in their retreat on the Alexandria and Leesburg Pike, but his movement was countermanded by Gen­eral McCall, who positive instructions were not to bring on a general engagement. The Second Brigade, General Meade, was also put in motion, and General Hancock's division was ordered to our sup­port. General McClellan proceeded as far as Miner's Hill, where, finding the battle was over, he returned.

This battle was the first victory gained by the Army of the Potomac, and after the disastrous defeats of "Bull Run" and "Ball's Bluff," was hailed with joy by the people of the North.

A few days after the battle, His Excellency, Governor Curtin, visited the Reserves to congratulate them and care for the wounded, and he caused the flags of the regiments that participated in the battle to be sent to Washington, where "Drainesville, December 20, 1861," was inscribed on each to them, after which they were returned to them in the presence of the whole division and an assemblage of distinguished officials and civilians.

On the 14th of January, Lieutenants John B. Robinson and J. Baxter Fletcher, Sergeants Joseph Benison, David H. Pidgeon and Isaac C. Sharp, were detailed to proceed to Philadelphia, on recruiting service.

On the 20th, the regiment was paid off by Major Smith.

 

52        - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

Winter now set in, in earnest, and the "sacred soil of Virginia" began to assume very much the appearance of a vast mud-puddle. Almost every day it drizzled, rained and snowed alternately; the sun not blessing us with its genial rays, or Jack Frost coming to our relief to extricate us from the mud. Shoe and clothes brushes were at a discount. Nice young men who formerly prided themselves on their kid gloves and patent leather boots, began to realize the stern necessities of the case, and Officers, Sergeants, Corporals and Privates wandered about in a promiscuous mass, floundering and splashing in a ire as happy as young ducks in a mud-puddle. Nature happily has formed man to be contented with circumstances, and what seems the height of misery to the imagination, in reality loses much of its unpleasantness. The boys ate their rations, thought of their sweethearts, slept warmly in their bunks, stood in the mud on guard and shivered on picket, making the best of their situation, occasionally wishing the war was over, and having slight hopes of furloughs in the future.

The reveille rattles and up springs the soldiers. "Fall in, Com­pany A!" rings down the street; and with variations in the last letter, is repeated over the camp. Out tumble the sleepy boys and range themselves in line in front of their tents. Roll call is soon over and down they run to the neighboring brook where their toilet is per­formed. Back to their tents and tumbling in they soon have a glow­ing fire burning. Then comes "peas on trencher," as breakfast is called - for what reason I know not, considering the unvarying bill of fare. But the fascinating summons is always obeyed, and with tin plates and cups, to the music of the "tin plate march," they proceed to the cook's quarters of their own company. The milkless coffee is dipped from a huge kettle, and the salt junk from a pile and with a few wafers of hard tack, the patriots march back to their bunks and enjoy a hearty meal. At eight comes guard mounting - quite an imposing ceremony in clear weather. Then the boys cut their wood and fill their canteens, clean their muskets, sew on buttons, write home, read, cut wooden chains and bone rings, play cards, smoke and talk over old times, and brag about their sweethearts. At noon "roast beef," is sounded and out turns the redoubtable tin plate band who waddle through the mud to the kitchen, where it is only by their redoubled energies with the more uproarious rattling of merry voices, that the words of discontent and grumbling are drowned. The "roast beef' generally turns out to be an article known to the soldiers as "salt horse," which sometimes gives way to its fresh kindred, or bean soup, but is usually only varied with salt pork. The afternoon glides away like the morning, and then comes the unchangeable "hard tack and coffee." At nine, tattoo beats, and the regimental bands, com-

 

 

53 (Drawing Not included)

 

54        - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

mencing on the right of each brigade, begin playing and by the time they have ceased the half hour has expired for taps to sound, when all lights are extinguished and sounds cease. This is the routine of camp in bad weather, but when the ground will permit, drilling and bayonet exercise take place in the morning and afternoon, besides the "dress parade" of the evening.

About this time target practice became quite popular and the crack of muskets was heard daily in the rear of the camp. Company C, Captain Byrnes, was presented with four handsome silver med­als by the members of Hibernia Engine Company of Philadelphia, which were fired for on the banks of the Potomac. The target was well riddled, and the prizes won by Corporal Thomas Wood, William Miller, Edward Concannon and William Derr. About the same time Company H fired for three magnificent silver medals, and the prizes were won by Captain Mealey, Corporal Edward Dubois and Samuel Hershaw. A leather medal, richly decorated with pegs, was presented to Andy_____________ , he making the worst shot. In the regular army they have company and regimental prizes which are fired for yearly, and army prizes that become the private property of the winner.

Although our regiment numbered but seven companies we were required to furnish the guard and picket details of a full regiment, which, though it came rather hard, was cheerfully submitted to. The two companies detailed for picket were up bright and early, and with a day's cooked rations, marched up the pike above the General's quarters, where they were inspected by one of his aides, who veri­fied the detail. They then proceeded to Prospect Hill, where they were divided into three reliefs, and relieved the old picket. Shelters of boughs were here built for the Reserve to lie in, and a considerable portion of the day was spent in cutting wood for the night. Our regiment generally picketed from the pike to the Potomac, but when it lay to the left of the road they made the Ball House their head­quarters. Mr. Ball was a violent secessionist, and like most of his clan had abandoned his home and with this family gone south upon the approach of our army. The consequence was, everything soon went to ruin. The trees were cut down, fences turned up, and one board after another disappeared from the house, until the chimney alone marked where it once stood. This was the case all the way down to the Chain Bridge and to Alexandria, the only exceptions being of those who had sense enough to remain at home, and those who had returned from the exile into which they had been driven by their secession neighbours. When the rebellion first broke out, the secessionists, although in the minority, with the aid of Confederate troops, drove the Union citizens from their houses, impressing the young men, and plundering and robbing the old and helpless.

 

UNCLE BEN  55

 

An old slave and his wife were all that remained on the farm, and their cabin and little garden were undisturbed. They obtained their daily food from the haversacks of the soldiers, for which they appeared grateful. They had great faith in the efficacy of prayer, and when "old Uncle Ben" discoursed upon the war, he was wont to observe, "Massa Linkum has a power of men, and them am mighty fond of chickens. I spects Massa Government must be powerfully rich to own all dem wagons and horses." Uncle Ben truly loved the aforesaid gentleman, and frequently inquired if they "had eber ex­perienced religion."

Picketing in pleasant weather was much preferable to the camp, but on the bleak hills of the Potomac, during the bitter cold nights, the wind came rushing down the valley, penetrating to the very bones. Sometimes the weather was so intensely cold, that the men were relieved every hour. Then it was their pace was quickened on the beat, and in their frail shelters they huddled up together to get warm, the motto being, "united we sleep, divided we freeze."

Some of the men with bad memories, had considerable trouble in remembering the countersign. One night, when Pat D was posted, the Corporal gave him the word "Malta." "Now remember, Pat, by thinking of malt from which liquor is made, you can remember it." "Yes, sir," replied Pat. Sometime afterwards, when an officer visited the posts, he interrogated Pat. Pat looked confused for a few moments when his face brightened up as he replied, "and is it rye, sir?" At another time when the word was "Brandywine," one of the men replied, "wine and whiskey," and at another time the word "Toledo" was tortured into "toad eater."

Beyond the picket line was the cavalry patrol, who moved to and fro on the pike, as far as Difficult Creek. Sometimes on cold nights the patrols would induce someone of the infantry who was off duty to ride a round for him, while he warmed himself. This, however, he had better not have been caught at.

Of course, the men wished to visit their homes during the winter, and as furloughs could not be granted to all, many were doomed to disappointment. Considerable numbers, however, took a run home for a week or ten days without any authority, which was called "tak­ing French." To accomplish this, they concealed themselves in the army wagons and were smuggled across the Chain Bridge to Washington, where they procured citizens clothes and went north. Many of them, however, were detected by the depot guard in spite of their disguise, for soldiers have a peculiar look and style about them that is easily detected by a practiced eye. And woe unto them that were caught, for the guard-house was their certain resting place until they were sent to their regiment under arrest. None of the Second

 

56        - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

boys, however, were put to this indignity, but whether it was on ac­count of their virtue or excessive cuteness, the reader must judge for himself. When the Potomac froze over, this evil became prevalent in spite of the sure punishment that awaited their return to camp, for the men were willing to stand it for the pleasures of home. However, there is a mode to remedy all evils, so pickets were stationed on the river with orders to shoot down any one who attempted to cross. But home, no matter how humble is the palace of the heart, and some of the boys took the risk and got safely over, and surely it was right to deal leniently with them when they returned.

A short distance beyond Difficult Creek was the residence of Mrs. Jackson, the mother of Jim Jackson who killed the lamented Ellsworth. As it was ascertained that her house was a general rendezvous for scouts and spies, whom she harbored and concealed, a squad of cavalry visited it early one morning with an ambulance and escorted her to General McCall's headquarters. Quite a number of concealed weapons and some important sketches of our picket line, that had been corrected to correspond with the changes lately made in it, were captured, so the old lady was sent to Washington.

On the 14th of February, First-Lieutenant Peter Summers, Company H, resigned, and Orderly Sergeant Hugh P. Kennedy was elected to fill the vacancy. About the same time Assistant-Surgeon J. W. Lodge resigned, and Doctor John Malone was appointed by Governor Curtin his successor.

Five volunteers from each regiment of the Reserve were called for about this time for the Western flotilla, and the seventy-five men thus obtained from the division formed the crew of the celebrated gun­boat Carondolet that ran such a glorious career on the Mississippi.

A very amusing sell was started about this time by some wags, who circulated in all the regiments, at the same time, a rumor to the effect that any volunteer who would enter the regular army would receive one hundred dollars in cash, and sixty days furlough by applying at headquarters the next morning at ten o'clock. The consequence was that headquarters was literally besieged by the gulled ones, and those who came out of curiosity. The General, observing the crowd, sent one of his staff, "Old Snapping-Turtle," out to in­quire the cause of it, who stormed like an old war-horse at the men for being such fools.

            On the 3d of March the Reserves were ordered out with "kits complete," and marched to the Chain Bridge and back, a distance of . eight miles. On the 5th this was repeated, the object being to pre­pare the men for the fatigues of the campaign.

---