Introduction
From "Three Years in the Army," by Charles E. Davis, Jr.
:
Among the duties that required our daily attention
was the ferry which was run across the river, daily at one o'clock,
unless circumstances prevented, or there was no one on the other side
to avail themselves of this convenience. Of course this was
attended with consideable risk, as it was very well known on the
Virginia side that it was being done. It almost always
happened
that some one was on the bank waiting for an opportunity to come
across. Some of the farmers' wives and daughters were allowed to cross
with eggs or poultry to sell. Of course they were closely
questioned. No toll-rates had been fixed, so the guard used
his
discretion, and as the toll was graduated according to what they
brought, it frequenly hapened that the table of a private soldier was
ornamented with something besides silverware and flowers.
Hagerstown, the place where we first landed on our jouney
from
home, was only six miles away, and was the shire town of Washington
County. Many were the visits we paid that place, and many the
acquaintances we made among the people. The provost marshal
of
the town was an officer detailed from the Thirteenth, and his
administration of martial law was liberal as it was sensible, though
when occasion required he could be as inexorable as circumstances
needed. Company D was also stationed there part of the time,
therefore no lack of inducement existed to make it a pleasant place to
visit.
Our service in Williamsport formed an epoch in the
history
of the regiment. Advantage was taken of the liberty allowed
us,
to become acquainted with the people, and many pleasant acquaintances
ripened into strong friendships. Calls were frequently made
for
the services of our glee-club, while the band was often heard
in
its streets. The homes of the people were opened in friendly
hospitality, and the prejudice against "Massachusetts abolitionists,"
as we were called, gradually disappeared, so that when the time arrived
for us to cross the river, the crowd to see us off was great enough to
remind us of home.
Charles
Roundy’s Manuscript, (Company F)
Charles
Roundy's Manuscript; "Reminiscences and Recollections of the Civil War,
1861-1864," is in the collection of the U.S. Army Heritage &
Education Center, Carlisle, Pa.
On
Provost Guard at Hagerstown,
Md.
I was one of 21 detailed from the left of my company to report for
Provost Guard duty for the winter in Hagerstown, so I saw but little of
the regiment while there.
But when spring came we were ordered
back to the
regiment and we found that nearly every company had attached a colored
man. Our own company with the rest, had one.
Back in Camp.
When we arrived back in camp after our camp from
Hagerstown we were very willing to “Line up for” Sugar and
Coffee. This was distributed by the Corporal in charge of
each
mess with a spoon – then round again if it would go round, each man had
a rubber or cloth bag for his Coffee and his sugar.
Twice during my army service I can
remember the
Surgeon issuing a ration of whisky to each man, and as I had no earthly
use for the damned stuff I had plenty of applications to trade my
ration for sugar, and as the stuff was never given me for I would not
go and draw the ration but each time found a quantity of sugar on my
bunk, I knew that some one had put my ration down his guzzle and then
rolled his eyes for more.
How we passed
the winter and Spring of 61, at Williamsport.
On
our return from Provost duty at Hagerstown where we passed the early
winter we found that our tent had been raised about two feet and nicely
fixed for winter. The regiment had Sibley-tents, they were
tall
and round, and would sleep 20 men, by raising the tent we had much more
room.
We had a
fine camp -Each man had a cotton mattress filed with straw. While
at this Camp the different companies of the regiment were more or
less away on detail for guard duty up and down the Maryland
side
of the Potomac, and until the spring campaign opened, each
and
all had their individual experiences.
A Long Rifle
Shot.
Gunner Brigham of my Company, (formerly
in the navy) saw far away
across the Potomac, nearly as far as the eye could reach, a person
on a white horse riding down the hill towards a farm-house,
with
the exclamation “Watch me fellows” he elevated the sight of his Enfield
rifle to its limit, aimed long and carefully and fired.
Far away the White horse was seen
coming down the hill, when suddenly
the horse turned and galloped back up the hill minus his
rider. I
never knew whether he was killed or not but there was much commotion at
the farm house.
It was a tremendous shot, for that
bullet had to describe a great arc
of a circle - cross the Potomac and many fields to its mark, it was a
vicious thing to do for those people may have been as good union people
as ourselves but lived on the Virginia side of the river.
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Letter of
Edwin Rice; 13th Massachusetts Band
Twenty-two year old Edwin Rice joined the regiment at Fort
Independence as a musician, a member of the band. Rice's
grand-nephew Ted Perry, published Rice's war time letters for
family in 1975. Mr. Perry turned over extra copies of the
booklet
to the Edmund Rice Society to be sold for fundraising purposes, while
copies lasted. A copy of the booklet is in the collection of the
library in Marlboro Massachusetts. The letters add depth to
the
chronicles of the 13th Mass. The band followed its own itinery in camp
and Rice was able to observe and comment on things other soldiers
couldn't. The band followed the fortunes of the regiment until
the musicians mustered out in early September, 1862, immediately
following
the 2nd battle of Bull Run. Whenever Edwin mentions 'Tom" he
is
writing about Tom Richardson; bandleader. Pictured are Willis and
Edwin Rice probably taken in the 1860's. Willis was 15 years old
in 1861, Edwin was age 22. The letters are addressed to his older sister Viola.
January
7th 1862
Viola,
I received your letter of the 29th last
Wednesday evening.
Haven’t received a letter since.
New Year’s Night we had the supper that
we were invited to.
It
was given us by Mrs. Anderson of the Globe Inn. It was a very
good supper. After we had got thru the supper we went to the
Potomac House to see a Ball that was going on there. The hotels here do
not have any halls in them. The two rooms at the Potomac
House
were about the size of Union Hall in South Berlin. I would
think
that there were about 20 couples present besides the solders.
When the Ball opened there were 4 black
fiddlers, but when we were
there three of them were so drunk that they had to be carried out, and
if the other one had not been sitting in the corner of the room he
would not have been able to keep in his chair. He did not
play
any tune, but kept sawing away on his violin and beating time with his
foot. I did not see them dance anything but cotillions. There
were not more than 6 or 8 chances that they went through one of the
dances properly. They would commence and dance about 3
minutes
and the black would have to stop to drink some whiskey. It
was
the most amusing thing I have seen since we have been out
here.
Some of them could not dance any more than a hog upon ice.
Thursday the Companies, A, B, E, and H
who have been up the river came
back to camp. They were gone from here just 5 weeks. Co’s A
and B
were at Hancock. Another was at Sir John Run in Virginia 8 miles from
Hancock which was occupied by a company of rebel cavalry which Co E
drove out and then occupied the place themselves. During the
first week that they were there, they had two or three skirmishes with
the rebels and had one man wounded in the leg. The last three
or
four weeks that they were there the rebels kept out of the way and did
not show themselves. The companies were relieved by the Illinois
39th. Saturday evening and all through the night we heard
very
heavy firing in that direction and Sunday morning we heard that General
Jackson with a large force of rebels had attacked the town, and drove
the Illinois regiment out of it and captured all of their guns,
equipment, tents, and baggage wagons. And in fact everything
except what they had on, and then set the town on fire. That was the
report.
Companies D, I, C, and K were ordered
up there on a forced march and
they got up there about 1 o’clock Monday morning. 4 pieces of
this battery went up with them. Last night we heard that
General
Jackson took so large a force with him from Winchester that General
Reynolds, who has command of Kelly[s] forces now, had made an advance upon
Winchester and that General Jackson heard of it and left Hancock for
Winchester on the run leaving all of his captured baggage and most all
of his own. He was in such a hurry to get to Winchester to
prevent an attack upon the place. This morning the report was confirmed
and there was another one that a part of General Rosecrans had cut off
Jackson and prevented him from going to Winchester. If it is
all
true we shall hear more of it. There are so many stories in
camp
and in town that it won’t do to believe them all.
We heard last night that a regiment and
a battery were at Hagerstown
quartered in the Court House. They were on their way to Hancock. And
this morning that two regiments and a battery passed through
town
on their way to Hancock. If all the reports are true, there
will
probably be some fighting done somewhere within our hearing.
Friday night we had about an inch of
snowfall. It was cloudy
all
day Saturday and it looked as though we might have some more. But it
cleared up at sunset, and that night was the coldest night that we have
had yet. Our bread froze so hard that we had to take our wood
saw
to cut it, and every morning when we got to wash in the brook we have
to break a hole through the ice. Sunday night we had about two inches
more of snow which makes it look quite winterish. I went
downtown
last night. It was a little windy and the wind whistled a round the
corners and the snow flew so that it made me think that I was in some
New England village instead of one in Maryland. When I was coming over
the flat between here and town the snow flew so that I was
glad
when I got into the tent.
The Lieut. Col. has gone to Hancock and
when he comes back Tom is going
to see if we can quarter down town during the rest of the cold weather.
It is so cold now that we cannot play but a little. The snow that we
bring into the tents on our boots makes me work with the
straw.
The snow has not thawed a particle yet. It is tip top
sleighing
on the pike between here and Hagerstown. If I had
any money
I should have taken a ride up there last night. The Paymaster is
expected here the last of the week.
There are none sick now except those
with colds. Sunday
morning I
stopped and washed myself and got a cold. Not anything serious though.
I hear that the wind made bad work in
Marlboro New Years Night. Our
cloth houses stand the wind better than the wooden ones. The
canal is froze up now and if there was not any snow on it,
there
would be a first rate chance to skate. There are not any
ponds in
the vicinity. I haven’t seen a pair of skates since we have been
here. I don’t think the folks know much about skating.
All the requisitions that the
Quartermaster has made for lumber is
enough to build sheds for the homes. The teamsters are
drawing it
now from Hagerstown.
If I had anything else to do besides
play cards I should not write as
many letters as I do. I have played cards so much that I had rather be
licked than play.
I have got all the things that I need
for comfort. When we
come
to move, I shall have all I can to get my things into my valise.
Good Bye, Edwin Rice.
Note:
Tom is Bandleader Thomas Richardson; Lieut. Col. Batchelder was
in command of the regiment while Col. Leonard commanded all the troops
at this post.
|
Return to Top of Page
Companies A,
B, E, & H Return from Hancock
On
January 2nd Companies A, B, E, & H, returned to the camp at Williamsport
from Hancock where they had been detached since November 26th.
Stonewall Jackson was already advancing on Hancock but they
had no idea. Ever observant John B. Noyes of Company B, gives the
following
account of his festive experiences at Hancock on New Year's Eve in a letter to his younger sister Martha.
MSAm 2332
(25a). By Permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard
University.
Williamsport
Md. January 4, 1862
Dear Martha
My last
letter home, dated Dec 31st was sent to Aunt Rebecca. This
letter may be considered as one answering yours of the 26th ult, and
Fathers of the 31st. You perceive I am again at Williamsport
after an absence of about 5 weeks and a half. On the 2d inst
Co’s. A & B at Hancock, and Cos. H & E which were
respectively at Orleans & Sir John’s Run came down the canal by
boat to this place. We passed Dam No. 5, Four locks, Etc. but
were not fired upon by the enemy. They probably had no
information of our purpose. We put up for the night, my
company, at our old barracks in the town, but were ordered to start for
the camp the next morning. Arrived at our Company street the
scene was anything but enchanting. Fire had been applied to
the straw left in our tent grounds and the stakes all round the tents
had been burned. Add to this the embankments had to some
extent been thrown down. The ground was frozen hard, and the
prospect of refitting our tents and rendering them habitable was not
promising. Nevertheless by dint of hard labor we succeeded in
making our tents nearby as comfortable as before. The frost
was not more than four inches deep and the ground was soon turned
up. Stakes were made, the tent pins fixed in the ground,
straw stuffed between pins and stakes, bank made anew, nice straw for
bedding brought, stove re-erected; in short our habitation was
completed. At night shortly after our work was finished, snow
began to fall fast & the ground was soon covered with a white
mantle. This morning but an inch or two of snow lies upon the
ground. Every thing looks bleak without & there is
little outside of the tent to attract us. With the stove
before us, warm as I want to be, the tent seems more comfortable than
the barracks at Hancock. There is a difference however. There
we had the freedom of the town & seemed least at home when in
barracks. Here there is no society, no exchange; we are
simply at home. Ten of our company were detailed for guard
this morning, but were dismissed at guard mounting. This looks as if we
were to do no guard duty here. I mean our company
alone. The Provost Guard in town & a detachment from
our Co. do all the guard duty that is required from the whole
company. Without guard duty I do not see why wintering here
may not be quite endurable. We can easily keep warm &
shall have little to do. Were we only allowed to go to
Williamsport when we pleased we should be satisfied. Whether
we are to stay here any length of time cannot be told. The
Col. it is said does not advise the soldiers to lay much money out on
the tents; and it is rumored with some degree of probability that the
whole of Co. B is to return to Hancock. But amid the numberless rumors
daily set a going by Chaplain, sutler, and eves droppers of every sort,
who shall select one as more probably than another ? The
principal reason I have for thinking we may go back to Hancock is that
it is about the only place our Company has not returned to after
leaving it as we supposed for good. Fates would therefore point to
Hancock. If we were to be sent back to Hancock I should be resigned to
the change. My last days in Hancock were passed quite as
pleasantly as the first. In fact I may be considered as
having had a six weeks vacation, with just enough to do to keep my hand
in. Toward the last we had no drill or dress
parade. In the morning we answered to our names and looked
out for the guard detail. During the day we stayed in
quarters, or discussed the news at the various stores about
town. Little did we seek the eve’g roll call if we
wanted to be elsewhere than in quarters. Little did we care
for “taps” either. Thursday Evening the 31st, New Year’s Eve,
was the occasion for a taffy party at Mr. Hendersons. I had a
hand in making the egg nog myself, as also the taffy, and it was none
the worse for that. We played different games, among them
blind man’s buff & crooked pear tree. At Eleven
o’clock I was obliged to leave to stand guard from eleven to one at
Post 5, a bridge which leads out of the town. My friends came
down to see me during the night, and supplied me with cigars of
course. I watched the old year out & the new year
in. Seated before a comfortable wood fire I deemed it no
hardship to be on guard from eleven o clock at night Dec. 31st ‘61 to 1
Am Jan’y. 1, 1862. I thought of Cambridge & wondered
if any daring Sophomore was dancing around the Rebellion tree to keep
the ancient custom. Here abouts a great many people see the new year in
especially the Methodists who have what is called a watch
meeting. A great many people were about town, & I was
scarcely left alone at my post for a moment. The New Year
rose warm to greet us; mud in the streets ere long to be dried up by a
driving wind. A happy new year you were probably wishing all
your friends, I wished “New Year’s gift” to those I wished to
catch. I did’nt know but Mothers was “a merry new year” to me
far away from home in order to balance the “happy Christmas” she sent
me in her last letter. I had a happy Christmas and a merry
new year. The new year merry in spite of the fact that I was
to leave warm friends on the next day. I came off guard at 9”
Am, and laid my plans for the spending of the day. I proposed
to dine in Pennsylvania, at Kirke’s, sup in Md. & Penn. at the
Brosius’s & close the day at Henderson’s; but as fate
would have it I received a note from Mrs. Henderson requesting Sanborn,
Chandler and my humble self to take “high tea” with her. This
invitation was not to be disregarded. I accordingly was
obliged to decline the pressing invitations I received to dine in Penn.
and reached town at 3 o’clock just in time to go to “high
tea”. High tea here is equivalent to a tall dinner, and at
the table of course all the luxuries of all seasons were bountifully
dispensed. Lieut. Johnson of the 39th Ill. & Mr.
Miller the telegraph operator over the river were at dinner who
afterwards enlightened us somewhat on military movements. I
intended to spend the Eve’g. at the Brosius’s, but as Miss Mary
& Johnny Brosius were at Henderson’s I concluded to accept Mrs.
Henderson’s invitation to spend the Eve’g there. Accordingly
I went to the barracks and packed my valuables in readiness to march at
4 o’clock the next morning. I found at Mrs. Hendersons on my
return Army (Armistead) & Bob Zwingle, Alph Byers, J.
Brosius, Misses Brosius, Kirke, Thomas & the two Miss Byers
“right pretty girls I reckon. With Chandler and Sanborn we
formed a very cozy party. Great was the fun we had playing
blind man’s buff. Right excellent was the egg nog we
drank. One of the ladies gave me a Philippine almond. Neither
she nor I could get caught at the entertainment til as “we were leaving
I innocently offered her my arm which she took. “Philippine”
I of course remarked.
The party
broke up about midnight I afterward went to Henderson’s store where
Zwingle sleeps and had my cigar case filled up to last for the
morrow. There is no end to Hancock hospitality so far as I am
concerned. I said some time ago that I was very near going
out after a slave. The circumstances were this.
Perry, a smart boy about 20 years old who had done nothing of any
consequence for two or three years was about to be hired out by Mrs.
Brosius. He concluded to run away & was obliging
enough to take her best horse with him. The folks wanted the
horse but did’nt care much for the contraband. Johnny Brosius
was going after the horse & Perry, if he should be with the
horse. Having the worst post of all, and a night one at that I did not
attempt to get any body to take my place. Chandler blest with
a better post exchanged with another and went on the expedition. He was
gone two days, found the horse, and brought it back, riding nearly 40
miles the last day. The slave was not thought worth spending
any money in catching. He had always been tenderly treated. I
suppose however he wanted his freedom, & he got it. We got our
army blankets a few days ago. Mine weighs 5 pounds & 5
ounces. I now sleep very comfortably. Mother wants to know if
the lost dog has been found. Indeed she thinks dogs not as much out of
place after all in a camp. Perhaps not, but some people would
think them more limited for private families. Father will not
renew my subscriptions for the New York World. The news is old before I
get it. My package went sour??? ago by Adam’s express. It
left Hagerstown Dec. 31st & goes to Cambridge direct. It is
sent express paid. I had not heard that Haskell was settled
at Salem. Whose church is he settled over ? Is it a
desirable parish ? I have heard Foote so little that I cannot
say I am surprised even at this call to King’s Chapel. He is
universally liked, and I am rejoiced at his success, though I do not
know whether he judged well in accepting so arduous a post at the
commencement of his ministerial career. He is cautious and doubtless
knows very well what he is doing. I have no doubt he can
conduct the liturgical service in a manner more creditable to human
nature than any minister of the church in Boston. I hope he
may show his semi-episcopal hearers how impressive the liturgy is when
properly conducted. I trust he may show the people of Boston
the beauties of the liturgy, and the beauties of a pure &
rational faith. Congratulate him for me on his enviable
success.
I am glad
to hear mother is improving so much in health. I always
thought she worried too much about me and you and I don’t know but my
absence from home has had a good effect on her. Now that she
is so well, she must write a whole letter to me occasionally.
Tell father he need not buy me a rubber blanket. I want you
to make me a nice thick pair of mittens with a fore finger
attached. Cousin Sophia offered to make me a pair but perhaps
you would prefer to. I want them very heavy & long
wristed. These mittens and my scarf can be sent at a fitting
opportunity. How does Charles do ? I haven’t heard
from him lately. Do you ever ride in his buggy ?
At the end
of this long letter I have little room for your trip to
Lowell. Do you know whether Cor’t Welles is to have a Major’s
commission in his Regiment. I understand he is first Captain
with a good chance for it. You didn’t tell me much about your
trip, where you went, whom saw, what they said. Why not
? I should have liked to have been at the dramatic
entertainment at Mechanic’s hall. My regards to friends.
With love
to all Your Aff. Brother
I send you a
shinplaster. John B.
Noyes.
|
Letter of Warren H. Freeman; January 4th
Freeman gives a detailed account of the canal boat ride from Hancock down to
Williamsport.
|
WILLIAMSPORT, MD., January 4, 1862.
Dear Father, - Our detachment, consisting of
companies A, B, E, and H, left Hancock January 2d, at ten o’clock A.M.,
in two canal-boats, and arrived here at eight o’clock in the evening;
had a pleasant trip down the canal; the weather was rather cold, though
the sun was out clear; we made the twenty-six miles without any serious
accident; four or five of the men, while fooling and trying to jump on
shore, fell into the water. One man made a jump from the stern of
the boat and struck the edge of the tow-path, lost his balance, and
made a back somersault right into the canal; he looked comical, I can
assure you. Another man lost his rifle in the canal and could not
recover it again. We passed old Fort Frederick: this is quite a
large fort, and was built during the Revolution, I think.
Arriving at Dam No 5, we expected an attack from the rebels, as at this
point we leave the canal, enter the river, and pass a point of land,
then enter the canal on the other side. Although our boats were
very much exposed, the enemy did not attack us. This is the place where
the fight took place alluded to in my last letter. We landed and
visited the contested ground. I counted twenty holes made by
shells in one brick house, so you will judge the fight was rather
severe, but we did not lose a man. Judging from the newspaper
accounts of what is going on here, you must think the rebels have not
allowed us much rest since I wrote last. Hancock, Dam No. 5, “and
the d----d Thirteenth” (as the rebels style us), are objects of their
especial hatred; and Dam No. 5, they say, they are bound to destroy yet.
My previous knowledge of canal-boating, as you are
aware, was in the capacity of deputy cook, during a few trips made with
my cousin, Captain Sam. Holt Brown, on the canal between Bridgton and
Portland; but here the canal-boats and dams are on a grand scale,
throwing the Cumberland quite into the shade. As it was about
eight o’clock when we arrived, we took up our quarters in the Lutheran
church; next day went up to the head-quarters of our regiment, which is
about a mile from town, and there pitched our tents. It is quite
a job to pitch tents on frozen ground: stakes are driven within
about a foot of each other, leaving them about three or four feet out
of the ground; then weave in straw, and bank up with earth all around;
then pitch your tent on the top of that; in this way we get more room
and the tent is much warmer.
I have not heard anything of the Webb boys since I
came here, but presume they have gone into winter-quarters at the Relay
House. I shall certainly like very much to meet with them and
Captain Bailey. . . . . Just finished my dinner; had beefsteak
and rice, not cooked as mother would have done it, but nevertheless it
was quite good. Notwithstanding all the grumbling that we hear, I
think we live quite well in the army: we have sugar in our
coffee; milk of course we do not expect. While at Hancock, some
of our boys went over into “the land of Dixie,” and borrowed nine
sheep; they lasted us for two days, and we lived high.
I am perfectly well; have gained in flesh seven pounds since leaving
home, and weigh 147 pounds in my thin coat. But I will close by
wishing all the dear ones at home a “Happy New Year,” or, as a
Marylander would express it, “New Year’s Gift.”
Kindly remember me to all who may inquire after Warren, and believe me to be,
Your affectionate son,
WARREN.
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Stonewall
Jackson Attacks Hancock
Since taking command of Confederate forces in the
Shenandoah Valley, November of 1861, General Thomas J. Jackson,
headquartered at Winchester, worried about the build up of Federal
troops along the Potomac River 30 miles to his north, and at Romney,
Virginia, 43 miles to his west. Romney was then reported to
have
a garrison of 4,000 Union soldiers. Winchester was vulnerable
to
attack as long as the Yankees held Romney. Jackson
immediately requested more troops from the Confederate command and
the Virginia State Militia to augment the meager 1,700 men he had at hand. By
November 20, Jackson had come up with a plan to attack
Romney.
The plan was approved by the Confederate Authorities but required more
troops. While he waited for re-enforcements to arrive at
Winchester, Jackson twice sent out wrecking parties to destroy Dam No.
5 of the C & O canal along the Potomac River, to disrupt Union
supply lines going from Ohio to Washington D.C. Jackson led the
second
expedition himself, Dec. 18 - 22. The two attempts to destroy
Dam
No. 5 failed and Jackson returned to Winchester. Colonel Leonardof the 13th Mass.,
was responsible for the successful defense of the dam.
By January 1st Jackson’s re-enforcements had arrived, and the Romney
campaign was ready to begin.
He planned to capture Bath (Berkeley
Hot Springs)
and then Hancock, directly to the north, scattering Union forces, and
breaking communication between Romney and Hancock. Then he
would
march his army west to Romney without fear of Union troops following in
pursuit. Jackson's army, now 11,000 strong, set out January
1st.
On January 2nd, four companies of the 13th Mass garrisoned at Hancock
started back to camp at Williamsport. They had no idea
Jackson
was marching toward Bath and Hancock. It was balmy weather when
the march got under way, but conditions changed soon enough. The
weather
turned bitter cold and Jackson's troops suffered the worst for
it.
Temperatures below 20° and heavy winds
& snow
whipped the soldiers during the 3 day march to Bath. Icy
roads
and storms delayed the supply wagons. The rebels suffered severely from
exposure
and hunger most of the way. Sickness reduced the effective
fighting force to around 8,500 men. Jackson had expected to
take the town by surprise the evening of the 3rd but didn’t bother
telling anyone. His subordinates stopped to rest and eat just
on
the edge of town. A small skirmish tipped off the 39th
Illinois
the enemy was nearby.
The morning of January 4th it was easy
for the huge
attacking force to overwhelm the 1,700 Union men guarding the
B&O
railroad at this place. The Federals set to running for safety on the
north side of the Potomac. They were greatly out-numbered,
but
they did manage to escape. They lost about two dozen men -
captured. Jackson had deployed a brigade of ‘green’ troops to
cut
off the Federal retreat but they lost their way in the mountains.
 The Retreat From Alpine
Station the Night of Jan. 4th 1862. From a sketch made at the
time by Dr. Charles M. Clark. "History of
the 39th Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry By Dr. Charles M. Clark,
1889. The sketch depicts members of the 39th Illinois retreating
across the Potomac following Stonewall Jackson's attack of the same day.
Jackson’s artillery shelled the town
of Hancock for 3
hours the afternoon of January 4th. The next day Col. Turner
Ashby, famous Confederate cavalryman, crossed the river to Hancock to
parlay with Union General Frederick Lander, in
command.
Ashby conveyed Jackson’s note to Lander demanding the surrender of
Union forces in the town; if not Hancock would continue to be shelled. Jackson
intended to cross the river with 15,000 men.
Lander replied, "Colonel Ashby, give my compliments to
General
Jackson and tell him to bombard and be d----d! If he opens
his
batteries on this town he will injure more of his friends than he will
of the enemy, for this is a d---d secesh place, anyhow."
Thinking twice, about what he said,
Gen’l Lander
decided to reply with a respectful note. He sent Col. Ashby
away
with this admonishment: “General Jackson and yourself, Colonel Ashby,
are gentlemen and brave men, without a question, but you have started
out in a God d—d bad cause"! and shaking hands with him, Ashby
departed. (History of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment, Illinois
Volunteer Veteran Infantry (Yates Phalanx) in the War of the Rebellion,
1861-1865, by Charles M. Clark, M.D.). [General Frederick West Lander, pictured.]
 Ashby returned safely across the
river. Two
hours later a couple of shells fell in town but did little
damage. The Federal artillery in turn, bombarded Jackson for
an
hour. Jackson called off his offensive on Hancock.
Re-enforcements arrived from Cumberland
and
Williamsport. Companies C, D, I & K of the 13th Mass
were a
substantial part of those re-enforcements. The next day, Jan.
6th
the Confederates withdrew. They marched south halting at
Unger’s
Store for 4 days.
The pride and animus of the men in the
13th
regiment was enough to make them think it was their absence that caused
Jackson to attack and their presence that caused Jackson to
retreat. There is some truth to this in that the rebels
feared
them for their large numbers of men and the range and accuracy of their
guns. But there were thousands of other Union troops present.
On January 14th Jackson marched into
Romney,
Virginia, his true objective. The Federal troops had
abandoned
the town; probably because they over-estimated Jackson’s force.
Roxbury City
Gazette; January 9th 1862
Letter
transcription taken from the now defunct web-site "Letters of the
Civil War".
Roxbury City Gazette; January 9, 1862. p. 2, col. 8.
Camp Jackson,
Williamsport, Md.,
Jan. 5, 1862.
Mr. Editor :- Not having written to you for two weeks, I thought I
would drop you a few lines to keep you posted as to our
whereabouts. We received orders on last Wednesday to prepare
to return to camp, and on Thursday, at 8 o’clock, we left Sir John’s
Run, for Hancock, where we were to join the rest of the
detachment. We started at 11 o’clock on some canal boats, and
rode all day, arriving at this place at 9 o’clock, P. M. We
passed, on our way down, those places where the rest of our regiment
had had some brushes with the rebels, the four locks and dam No.
5. And we were informed on leaving Hancock, that the rebels
would open fire on us on our way down, but they did not make their
appearance.
We left in our place, at Hancock and
Sir John’s Run, the 39th Illinois Regiment.
When we arrived at Williamsport, it was
so late that it was decided to put the men in the churches in the town,
as it was very cold and the men had been quartering in houses since
they had been away, and it would be too severe to put them in tents the
first night. The next morning we marched on to the field and
pitched our tents; but it is rough to sleep in a tent now. It
is very cold here at present.
Last night we heard heavy firing in the
direction of Hancock, and about half-past 9 we saw a large fire in that
direction. This morning we received the news that the rebels
had come down last night and drove the regiment stationed there over to
this side of the river, and had torn down the telegraph wire, and
commenced to tear up the railroad track for about six miles, and
shelled the town of Hancock, burning it half up.
The Illinois troops never drilled much,
and have rather poor officers; the report is, that they did not stand
it well; but it is only on account of not knowing how. So you
see in a few hours the rebels have destroyed what the government has
been five weeks upon, and what we have been taking care of; and I
honestly believe it would not have been done if they had let us stay
there. Immediately on the reception of the news, Col. Leonard
and Gen. Lander went up to Hancock. The Col. came back this
morning, and Gen. Lander remained; he has been detailed to take command
of that portion of the rail road and rebuild it.
We have just received orders for four
companies to march immediately to Hancock, and companies D, C, I and K,
will start this afternoon. There will be no rebels there on
their arrival, - it has been so always. It is too bad to keep
men trotting about so. We are on the go all the
time. There have been times within the last two weeks, that
we had no men on the field at all; some in one place and some in
another. We have heard heavy firing from the direction of
Hancock all day, and the whole of us may have to go yet. I do
not think of anything more at the present, and I will close.
Yours, Rocket.
[Digital
Transcription by James Burton]
|
The Staunton Spectator; January 8, 1862
Here is a newspaper account of the action with the
Southern Perspective. The Staunton Spectator wrote from the political
perspective of the whig party. This transcription was retrieved
from the website "In the Valley of Shadow," a project of the
University of Virginia. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/VoS/newspapers/about.html
|
THE STAUNTON SPECTATOR
January 8, 1862
Operations of the Stone-wall Brigade
The multiplicity and contrariety of rumors in reference to the operations of
Gen'l Thomas J. Jackson's forces are so great that we find it impossible to
give anything like a satisfactory account of them. From the Winchester
Republican we learn that when our forces were within a few miles of Bath, in
Morgan county, on their onward march, a skirmish ensued between our advance
guard and the enemy's picket, in which we lost one killed and five or six
wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded could not be definitely
ascertained. Eight prisoners were, however, captured. Brig. Gen Meem was then
sent around with his militia to prevent the Yankees, 1,400 strong, from
retreating from Bath by a narrow defile in the mountain, the only way of escape
left them. Upon the closing in of our lines; confident that the enemy was in
our grasp, it was found that the Yankee rascals were too smart for the militia,
and had made good their escape. Seven additional prisoners were, however,
secured, with some five hundred Overcoats and from 800 to 1,000 Rifles. The
rail road bridge at Capon River, just completed by the enemy, was also
destroyed, with the loss of several killed and wounded. The loss to the enemy
other than the burning of the bridge we could not learn. (Our entire loss so
far is five killed and fifteen wounded). This we believe to be the sum total of
the damage done to the enemy.
On Thursday week it appears that the Yankees, some three thousand strong,
left Romney and surprised the militia, 600 in number, under Col. Monroe, at
Hanging Rock, one mile from Col. Blue's, and 14 from Romney, the enemy
capturing two of our guns, and securing what has been regarded heretofore as an
impregnable position. We lost none in killed, wounded or prisoners. After
taking possession of this position, the enemy next visited the farm of Colonel
Blue, killing all of his stock and burning his barn and all of his out
buildings. Some report his dwelling as burnt also, but this lacks confirmation.
On their return toward Romney, old Mr. Reed, a worthy and loyal citizen, was
shot, fortunately not mortally, and then locked in his house, which was fired
and burned to the ground over his head. Some two thousand of these desperadoes
still hold possession of Hanging Rock, whilst Romney is occupied by about
6,000. Whether they will be suffered to winter there time will tell.
From the Rockingham Register we learn that two of the sons of Rockingham
were killed--John Berry (son of John K. Berry near Edom) and Jacob Nisewander,
son of Samuel Nisewander near Antioch. They were members of Capt. Arch.
Taylor's company of militia.
From a correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican, we learn that on the
evening of the 4th inst., Colonel Rusk, of Arkansas, proceeded up the road to
the west of Bath, to burn the Capon bridge, in command of a brigade consisting
of four regiments and a battery. When near the bridge he saw the camp fires of
the enemy, and advanced to attack them. It seems that the enemy were aware of
his approach, and had taken position some distance to the rear, so as to ambuscade
his command. Before the Col. was aware of the position of the enemy he was
fired into. Finding himself thus ambuscaded, Col. Rusk halloed with all his
voice as if to forces yet in his rear--"bring up the 16th and 18th
Mississippi regiments, the 6th Texas brigade, and hurry up that battery."
This command to ideal forces had the proper effect, and immediately the enemy
broke and ran like sheep. Rusk, however, from the first attack lost four men
killed and eighteen wounded.
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Return to Top of Page
To Hancock and
Back
By Austin
C. Stearns
From Three Years with Company K; 1976 Fairleigh-Dickenson Press; P.
46-48; edited by Arthur Kent; Used with
permission.
Four of our companies went to Hancock,
Md., thirty miles up the river, where they stayed two or three weeks
(6 weeks) and were then ordered back to camp. One Sunday
morning, after they had been back a week or two, (they were back only a
few days) I was down at the brook washing, when two of Co. A men came
down and commenced to talk. One said: “Of course we shall go,
it would be a disgrace to us if the Col. should send any other
companies.” The other expressed a doubt about their
going. What it was I did not know then, but on going back
into camp I found that Stonewall Jackson had turned up at Hancock and
threatened to burn it.
Reinforcements were called for, and Col Leonard,
who commanded all the troops then on the Upper Potomac, was requested
to send help immediately. Four companies from the 13th were
ordered to start at once; they were all different ones, and K was one
of them. We started, on as pleasant a Sabbath afternoon as
one could wish to see on a thirty miles tramp. We arrived at
a
place called Clear Spring about dark, where we halted and rested about
an hour. After leaving it began to cloud up, and before
reaching Fairview a snowstorm was upon us – a regular storm, one that
would do honor to old Massachusetts.
Dan Warren and myself stragled ahead of the rest
of the command arriving there sometime before the others. We
sat down on some door-steps [and] I went to sleep, but woke up in
season to join the company when it came up. The different
companies were assigned to their quarters; ours were in a fine house in
the center of the village. As there was no one in the house, all having
left on the arrival of “Stonewall,” the doors were fastened. We had no
key, and not knowing where to call for it, we took a panel out of the
door with the butt end of a Musket. The first thing on
entering was to search for eaterables. We found a very little [supply
of] preserves in the cellar. Nothing of bread kind could be found. One
of the boys, in his eagerness to find some goody, found an earthen pot
with something in it; fearing that others might come and claim a share,
he took it and started out, but thought he would taste and see what it
was. He did so, then dropped the pot, not caring for a second taste; it
was soft soap. After a thorough search we rolled our selves
up in our blankets and slept till morning. The wind changed
and it blew bitter cold over the snow-clad mountains of Penn.
I went up back of the house on the
hills to see what there was over the river. Stonewall’s men
had some big fires over in a ravine, I should think, by the way the
smoke rolled up. This was all I could see.
We were as hungry as bears, having left
camp in a hurry, taking only one days rations with us and eating that
on the march up. Some flour was procured, and some of the
boys were detailed to cook flippers. I think we had three
apiece for the first installment, eating them without butter or sugar.
The call came from the kitchen, “more
flippers,” and the Sergeant went down to get them while we waited with
breathless anxiety to receive them. Report says that he got
the large number of three and started back, but thinking that three
would go a good ways with one and not very far with twenty, he ate
them on the stairs in coming back. A few beans were found and
they were stewed and served out to the men.
The Sergeant [knew] Billy Jones did not
eat his beans in camp and thought he would not now, so he
asked him for them. Billy looked at him with a face as black and fierce
as a tornado and roared out “What do you think I am going to live on,
air?” A shout from the boys, and Billy ate his beans.
The ration wagons came up the next day
and we had plenty to eat. While there I saw Gen’l Lander, who
was the commander of the forces in West Virginia. He died soon after.
Some of the boys went into a
neighboring house where there was an old lady; she wanted to know where
they all came from, asked what regiment and State. They told her the
13th Massachusetts. She laughed and said there were some
soldiers there before we came, who said when she asked them, “that four
companies were from Boston and the rest from Massachusetts.”
That was a home thrust for the “Fourth Batts,” and it was a long time
before they heard the last of it.
Letter from
Company K
|
Westboro
Transcript
January 25, 1862
A letter from Co., K., giving an
account of the late march of four companies to Hancock (in anticipation
of a brush with the rebels), says:
“on our arrival we were ordered to
quarter in the houses. The one which was demanded by our
officers for a part of our company, was refused by the inmates, and
their key turned upon us; but the application of the breech of a gun to
the door panels soon rectified that. We found eight beds in
the house, each of which was in a very short time affording rest to
three or four weary soldiers. One man composed himself to
sleep on the top of a fine piano; and the rest roosted where they could
get a chance. There was a fine large library in the house,
which furnished reading for all who desired it. Good carpets
were on the floors, but the Maryland mud soon did the business for
them. Thank God the war is no nearer home; its ravages are
almost inconceiveable to those who have not witnessed them.
“I send a copy of a note which we found
nailed to a tree. It was written on a piece of pasteboard, by
the rebels, and directed to the captain and sutler of an Illinois
regiment, which had retreated before them, and allowed its camp
equipage to fall into their hands. It is as follows:
‘To Capt. A.G. Kennicott, Co., 39th
Illinois volunteers.
‘Dear Sir – Having come in possession
of a trunk and contents which is supposed to be yours, we will take it
along with us for a two-fold reason: First, your blockade has
caused the price of fine clothes to advance, which makes it very hard
to get them; secondly, to effect some part of our Laurel Hill
losses. Should you call at the office, No. 131 Whitehall
Street, Atlanta, Ga., as you pass through with your “Grand Army,” you
will find some of us ready to make the matter right with you. – Yours
truly,
‘Jeffs. Boys.
‘Compliments of Daniel Boone (formerly
of Petersville, Frederick Co., Md., at present of the Macon Rangers,
Ashby’s Cavalry), to the very prudent sutler, lately of Alpine, may he
never want for beef junk or crackers.
‘Mr. Sutler, lately in business at this
place: having taken charge of your stock on hand and disposed of the
same, and not being able to obtain an interview with you for the
purpose of settlement, please make our your bill, and present it for
payment at the captain’s office, Atlanta, Ga. – Yours truly,
1st Regt. Ga. Vols.
Note: the Westboro Transcript
dated Feb. 8th corrects this article stating it was a member of Co. I
that found the note. [digital transcription by Brad Forbush]
|
Austin Stearns concludes: After doing guard duty for four
days, a brigade of troops arrived and
we took up our line of march for camp Jackson, gong back in the
daytime. A thaw having commenced, the snow melted freely. We
were two days coming back, stopping overnight at Clear Spring, and
sleeping in a church, some of the boys taking the pews, but I chose to
sleep in the open space at the left of the desk. We arrived at camp
just at night of the second day.
Return to Top of Page
Life in Camp
Ninety-five
horses and twenty
baggage wagons accompanied the regiment to Maryland from Massachusetts. An
interesting fact is the horses were nearly all grey in
color. The 4th Battalion Militia were dubbed the 'Boston City
Greys'.
The grey horses were selected as a design statement. Probably
the regiment's unique red blankets were selected for the same reasons. In a letter dated
January 14th John Noyes wrote his brother that the stables for the
regimental horses had been built.
This photo of the stables at Williamsport, probably taken by
photographer George Crosby, comes from the Carlisle Military History
Institute. The picture has been enhanced in photoshop.
Letter of James Ramsey, January 12th
James Ramsey of Company E had beautiful penmanship and was often asked
to direct letters home for others in camp. In this letter he
gives the cost of building houses for the winter, which many of the
boys were doing about this time.
|
Williamsport Md Jan 12
Dear Father
I received your letter Last
night and was glad to hear from you I dint know as I have
expressed myself as being homesick in Georgie’s letter I am
healthy and enjoying myself although I would like it well enough to be
at home this winter but I think it would be to[o] dead around the south
end in summer I am bound to stay and see it
through I think it will be settled soon by the looks of
things although I am no judge. The weather is pretty cold we have
had snow enough to run a sleigh I believe the thermometer was 3
above zero the coldest day we have had. I have written a
letter to grandmother and just sent it I should be glad to hear
from Vermont I have seen no Vermont regiment yet I should
like to see one.
I am back to the regiment after we left Hancock and been in
camp two days the rebels came down to the river opposite Hancock
and drove the Illinois 39th regt across the river they fired shell into
Hancock Companies D, I, C, K were dispached to Hancock they did not see
the rebels they are afraid of the 13th.
Our mess have erected a house with 12 bunks in it it cost us
$32 we have got 3 first class carpenters in the mess by the way
we have got a barber in the mess. The dinner has just come
in. I cannot think of any more news
Give my love to all Kiss Hugh for me
Good bye
From your son
Direct Williamsport Md. Please excuse this short letter I have written 4 to day and directed about 30 for the boys.
|
Letter of Warren H. Freeman, January 19th
Warren H. Freeman mustered into the
13th Mass, Company A, at Williamsport December 1st 1861. In 1871
his
father published "Letters From Two Brothers Serving in the War
For the Union To Their Family at Home." The book chronicles
the military career of Warren and his brother Eugene. The
following gives a glimpse of the soldier's life in camp.
|
CAMP JACKSON, WILLIAMSPORT, MD., January 19, 1862.
Dear Father, - I received your kind
letter of the
14th this morning, and will try to improve this time (as it is quiet
for a wonder) in answering it. It is rather difficult to keep
one’s mind sufficiently collected to write where there is so much
talking and laughing; and quite impossible for me to write a long
letter at any time, though some of the boys will get off four or five
sheets.
I am sorry you object to my
smoking. I don’t
think I could give it up now; it is one of the greatest comforts I
have. I can’t see as their is any harm in it unless indulged
in
to excess. Every man in our mess smokes, and our chaplain –
why I
have never seen him off duty (at home I should say, “out of the sacred
desk”) but what he had a pipe in his mouth, and the boys all call him a
most excellent man.
Since I wrote last our mess have put up
a small
house, twelve by fifteen feet; it is rather close quarters for eighteen
men, but we are getting used to it; we have also got a “contraband,” on
low wages, to cook for us, and are really beginning to live in quite
good shape.
On account of the mud, drilling is
omitted
altogether. Guard duty is about one day and night out of
eight:
there are seventeen posts, three reliefs to a post, so that each man
has two hours on and four off. It is rather tough these cold and stormy
nights, but a solder is expected to stand it without flinching – that
is duty. Visions of home, and the loved ones there reposing,
during these solitary hours, of course spring up in the imagination,
and if a tear comes unbidden to the eye, it only shows that in becoming
soldiers we do not cease to be men.
Yesterday they signed the pay-roll, and
the
pay-master is expected along to-morrow. They make quite a sell out of
this affair; somebody will start the cry, Pay-master! Pay-master! when
it will be taken up and echoed through all parts of the camp; then the
boys will all rush out of their tents into the mud, but to see that
they are sold.
This is the kind of life to stretch a
fellow out,
sleeping on boards. I am in Mess No. 1, which is the head of
the
line, where the tall fellows are. There is one six feet four, two six
feet three, and four more over six feet; and though I am only eighteen
years old, I am fast being drawn out among the six-footers – only lack
one inch of it now.
The Potomac at this place, I should
think was
between two and three hundred yards wide; the water is rather shallow,
as there are ripples in many places; the rebels at Dam No. 5, that I
shot at, were on the opposite side, and about one third of a mile off,
but as our sights were elevated for a range of 900 yards, they were
within range – at least they gave me palpable
evidence of
being within reach of their rifles.
January 26. – Mud, nothing but
mud. I hope my
boots will arrive soon so that I may have dry feet once more. We cannot
leave here until the earth is in better condition for marching, and
drilling is out of the question; so we have much idle time on our
hands, and the boys say, “Tell your friends to send on the papers; we
shall be thankful for anything to read.”
Baked beans for breakfast this Sunday
morning, first I have seen since
leaving Boston, and the way the boys went into them, and the vast
quantities they put out of sight, would have astonished my Bridgton
cousins, I am sure. I certainly never saw anything like it while I
officiated on board the canal-boat.
But I must close. Letters will find me at Williamsport for some weeks
to come, I think.
WARREN. |
Letter of
Edwin Rice; January 26th 1862
The 13th Mass Band moved its quarters into the town of Williamsport on
Tuesday, January 21st, and set up quarters in the same building
John Noyes described in his letter of November 1st. (see 'Williamsport 1861' page).
January
26th 1862
Viola,
I suppose you have been expecting a
letter from me
before this reaches you, but we (the
Band) have been a
moving.
Last Tuesday we moved to town. We board at the Globe, that is get our
meals there and lodge around at private houses. We have a
large
room to rehearse in and if we could have got another room with it we
should have boarded ourselves. We get our rations and $1 each per week
for our board, and as good as I want. Better than what I was
used
to having at home. We had ought to get boarded for our
rations
alone without having to pay anything, but I have no fault to find for
if we boarded ourselves we should spend more than a dollar a week for
butter, cheese, etc.
Gassett, Ward, and I sleep in the Band
room.
The room is about 16 x 20 feet, and a part of Co B was quartered in it
and they used it pretty hard. They tore up the mop boards and a window
casing to build fires with, and about a third of the plaster and the
lathes are off overhead. We have got a large old cook stove in it and
by keeping it full of wood we can manage to keep the rooms comfortably
warm.
We got the stove on Tuesday and had to
wait until
Thursday before we could get funnel enough. After we had got that we
had to wait until last night for the wood, and that was so green that
Gassett and I went out and stole some dry wood to kindle the fire with.
The Provost Guard quarters in the same building with us. The marshal’s
office is the next door to us.
The chaplain, wife, and two children
board at the
Globe. There are not any services today. That is the fourth Sunday that
there has not been any.
This is the pleasantest day that we
have had for
along time. It is clear and cool, and not a cloud in the sky.
It
seems the most like Sunday than any day I have seen since we left
Massachusetts. Everything is still outside and we can hear the church
bells ring and see the folks going to and from church.
If the canal should freeze up now it
would make
first rate skating. The river rose 30 feet but now it is no higher than
usual.
The Paymaster has been coming tomorrow
for two weeks past.
We signed our pay rolls yesterday and the adjutant told Tom that he was
expected today and if he came we should be paid off tomorrow.
I received another letter
from Eunice Tuesday
night. Dexter Pratt wrote me that George Millsgay was in the
23rd
Massachusetts Regiment. I guess he can do his country more good there
than he can anywhere else.
Gassettt had a letter from his wife
last night.
She wrote that May Pratt had her arm caught n a belt at Boyd,
Corey & Company, while putting it onto a sewing machine wheel.
It
tore the flesh some but not so but what the doctor said she would get
over it in a week or two.
Yours &C
Edwin Rice
|
Return to Top of Page
THE OLD CORPORAL
By Clarence
H. Bell.
The
following aritcle appeared in the military magazine Bivouac; December,
1883. Author Clarence Bell remembers an early recruit.
Other members of the 13th Mass mention 'Old Corporal' in their
memoirs. Austin Stearns wrote "Among the oddities was an old dog
that
came to camp, so old that he had not a tooth in his head. He was a
white
dog with black spots. A regular bull, with nose so short and
turned up
so, one had to look twice to see that he had any." The
memoirs of
Samuel Webster, Company D, were used as a reference in writing the
regimental history. In a forwarding note written to the history
committee, Sam wrote: "Don't forget to
mention somewhere the dearly beloved "Old Corproal" of the Guard.
I
believe I can remember him with us down as far as Cedar Mtn, but
am
not sure at the moment." Sadly, "Old Corporal" is not mentioned
in the
final history of the regiment. This artilce corrects that oversite.
Survivors of the Thirteenth
Massachusetts regiment will recognize in the above title one who, in
the latter months of 1861, attached himself to their organization, and
for nearly a year shared in their rations and vicissitudes.
To other readers of this article explanation is due that the "Old
Corporal" was a dog.
 The first few months of our campaigning
are vivid in our memories for
the numerous marches over the roads of Western Maryland, where we were,
so to speak, getting our "land legs" on, and becoming accustomed to
army life. The offal from the camps attracted the canine
inhabitants from the farms along the routes,and the proneness of the
soldiers to bestow their affections on the dumb animals, attached these
to the vagabond life, and thoroughly weaned them from their former
homes. The Old Corporal was one of the earliest of our canine recruits,
and his motives for leaving the quiet life of a farmer's dog to follow
the fortunes of a military command, cannot be divined - perhaps, in his
new sphere, he received caresses instead of kicks; but, more likely,
the plenty of the camp kept his hunger well satiated, and gave him more
leisure for the exploration of the dog's paradise, the realm of
sleep.
He was very old - for a dog.
Estimates of
his age ranged from twelve to twenty years.  His teeth, from
constant service, either in the pursuits of war or peace, were worn
close to the gums, and were distinguished only by gray discolorations
on the pinky surface of his jaws. His ears were marred by
ragged, irregular spaces, whence the flesh had been torn during the
numerous conflicts of his eventful life, and his hide betrayed further
evidences of his valor, in the callosities and corrugations the hand
encountered in caressing him. His eyes were watery, and his
gait was chronic lameness. There has always been a doubt as
to whether he was lame of one leg or all four. On the smoothest road he
galloped along as if traveling over ploughed ground. He
dipped and rose, as if his bark was ever on a stormy sea. In
color he was the dingiest white, of the shade of the cast off canvas of
a whaler. His breed, no one dared to guess; but the shape of
his head, the toughness of his constitution, and his pertinacity in a
fight proved him to be principally of the bull-dog
persuasion.
He was the acknowledged ruler among
his kind, and
every addition to our group of scavengers owed allegiance to his
autocratic sway. Did any dare to dispute his authority, the
matter was settled then and there. The question as to which
was the “boss" never came up again. Once "licked" the
vanquished remained licked, and avoided a second contest. The
defeated ones never combined to rebel against the authority of the Old
Corporal, nor did they in any way aid the audacious new-comer, that
confident in his youthful vigor, dared to growl a defiance to the
interviewing veteran. The conflict was always short, sharp
and decisive, affording much amusement to the entire camp; the
blue-coated spectators rallying at the cry of "Dog-fight!" and forming
a close ring around the combatants, encouraging their special champion
with stimulating outcries.  The intruder would assail the Old
Corporal with a vim, before which it would seem that the latter must
succumb, as his worn out teeth gave him no grip on the hide of his
antagonist. His vain endeavors to "catch on" would bedaub the
unfortunate cur all over with slimy froth, and by the time that the old
fellow was done with him he looked as if he had been lathered for
shaving. But the end of the fight came, when in an unguarded
moment, the veteran captured his opponent's ear. This was his best
hold, for his powers of suction were remarkable— he literally swallowed
the ear and drew the skin taut from the tip of his nose to the end of
his tail. With eyeballs starting from their sockets, and with
toe-nails half an inch longer than when he began the conflict, the
victim would shriek out his defeat, yelping piteously for
mercy. Magnamity was one of the chief traits of the victor,
who would release the conquered cur, while he himself retired to some
secluded spot to lick his wounds, and to sleep from the fatigues of the
tussle. His opponent would walk on tiptoe for half
a day while his skin was settling back into position.
From
his human friends the Old Corporal ever received the most kindly
treatment. The military life is of itself a vagabond one, and
the fact that this aged mongrel had spurned the ties that bound him to
the home of his puppyhood, to cast in his lot with those who were here
to-day and there to-morrow, can alone account for the kindness with
which he was treated, and for the encouragement given him in his
encounters. His ugliness (in the English sense) was
repellant of sympathy or admiration, but his voluntary vagabondage made
him a kindred spirit with the volunteers of '61. He was never
known to snarl or snap at any of his army protectors, yet, though often
caressed, he never acted as if he appreciated the gentle stroking of
his fur. His manner seemed to say — "Well, I can stand it if you can"—
and he received the caress as if it was a necessary accompaniment to
his food.
After the regiment had entered winter
quarters, and
a guard-house was built, the Old Corporal with his followers took up a
location behind the stove where the straw was thickest, passing the
season in comparative tranquility, save when a drowsy soldier, roughly
awakened to go on guard, the sleep still in his eyes, stumbled over the
slumbering dogs, on his way to his post. No one disputed the right of
the old fellow to his snug quarters in the straw; in fact, it was a
pleasure to the returning guardsmen to contemplate the satisfied
slumbers of their canine champion. After a while the
guard-house got a bad name, in that it was stoutly asserted that the
straw was teeming with fleas, and the most fastidious rigidly abstained
from sleeping in the bunks that had been fitted up on the sides of the
building; yet no one thought of resentment against the dogs for their
share in the infliction.
On the march, at the very outset, the
Old Corporal would take his place
at the head of the column, followed closely by all his canine clan, who
seemed to recognize his superior wisdom and sagacity. His
place was at the front, and while his strength lasted, he retained that
position. Sometimes, in our imperfect knowledge of the
country, the regiment would stray upon the wrong road, necessitating a
countermarch, often reversing the movement by a simple “about
face." At such times, when the voice of the grumbler was loud
in the land, good humor would return, and a ripple of pleasant laughter
would pass through the ranks, as the platoon of "curs of high and low
degree" would go galloping past, led by their limping commander, to
secure the place in front, even when marching by the left
flank. One could imagine the supreme effort the veteran would
have been compelled to make, had his military career opened a few
months earlier, at Bull Run, to have got into Washington ahead of the
Fire Zouaves.
But every Napoleon has his Waterloo,
and the Old Corporal was not
exempt from the bitterness of fate. Either the campaign was
too severe for him, or he had reached the end of his career, for he
abandoned the regiment to take up with the wagon-train, while we were
in the Shenandoah Valley, in the spring of 1862. For a few days, we
were separated from our supplies, but when connection was again made,
we learned that the Old Corporal was dead. In an encounter
with a sturdy Virginia cur he had been worsted and left so mangled that
the wagon-master had put an end to his sufferings by a pistol-shot. We regretted his untimely end for a time, and then the
stirring events following made us forget him almost altogether.
In the hope that his memory may be
rescued from oblivion long
enough to cause a smile of pleasant recollection to pass over the faces
of the Old, Thirteenth Massachusetts regiment, this article is written.
Return to Top of Page
Life in Camp
The small building in the middle, just left of the tent, is the 13
Massachusetts' library. Few other regiments could boast such an
establishment. The original of this image is at Carlisle
Army Military History Institute in Maryland. This image was
created from a photo-copy. Dr. Allston W. Whitney is recognizable, standing to the right.
Letter of
James Ramsey, Company E; Cooking for 24 Men
As mentioned above, James Ramsey had beautiful hand-writing and was often asked to direct
letters home for his tent-mates. It is no wonder he was
complimented by the officer when he signed the pay-rolls. He was
good-natured and it seems like he would do anything for his comrades.
For a short while he was elected cook for his mess.
Camp
Jackson Jan. 27th
Williamsport Md
Dear Mother
I am well as usual and enjoying
myself I have got no news to
write I am cook for the mess I am making soup for
dinner we have plenty of fresh meat all of the
time I like cooking pretty well although it is pretty hard
for one to cook out doors for 24 men I have to get
up early morning and go out in the cold and get break
fast I don’t know how long I shall
cook I can cook all of the time if I wish to. I
don’t hardly think the army will go forward this winter the roads are
so bad all though they talk of it most of the time
I hope they will our regiment is the advance guard of the right wing of
the army. I think Banks will cross the river at
this place A U.S. survayor has been measuring the
distance across the river and getting the soundings.
Lieutenant Fox of
co. K has been drawing a map of Va between this point and Martinsburg
all of the roads and by ways every little detale. You spoke
of sending a box with sock and shirts and drawers I
would like to have them as soon as possible – I don’t think there is
any thing that I need if you have any little
luxury I would like to give it to one of our boys
in the hospital on the whole
most of the boys are very healthy. day before
yesterday we signed the pay roll I was complimented on my writing the
lieut said “good Jim hard to be beat.” I have to direct most
of the letters for the boys. Last night was the stillest
sabath night we have had for some
time most of the boys were
reading the bible two or three commenced to read it
through I have read the testament most
through I cannot think of any thing more to write
give my love to all Kiss Hugh
for me
from your son
James
|
Letter of
Warren H. Freeman, Company A; February 3rd
|
WILLIAMSPORT, MD., February 3, 1862.
Dear Father, - I received yours of the 29th ult. yesterday; the box
from Boston was received at the same time. I can assure you
it
does seem good to get these things from home. The box “opened rich,” as
they say. There was a roast turkey, fat and plump, from Aunt
Susan; two loaves of sponge-cake from mother; a box of figs from
Albert; half a peck of seed-cakes, etc.; also a worsted under-garment
and prime pair of boots, and kind remembrances from Susy and Georgy.
The rule of our mess is that all eatables that come in this way are
common property; so they were spread upon the table, and after the boys
had partaken freely they pronounced the sponge cake tip-top, and the
turkey A No. 1.
I have been troubled some with a cough lately; should an opportunity of
sending to me occur I should like some cough candy.
It is
snowing to-day, rained yesterday, and was awful muddy the day before –
that is the average run of the weather out here in the winter; the snow
never collects to the depth of more than two or three inches.
Company G struck their tents this morning; they are going down to
Falling Waters to relieve Company F, which is there on picket duty.
We had religious services in the open
air yesterday
for the first time since I have been here; they seemed very
appropriate, but quite short on account of the weather over head, and
mud and “slosh” under foot. Our chaplain expressed his belief
that we were soon to see more active service and meet the rebels face
to face.
February 9. – I received a copy of the
“Boston
Journal” of the 5th inst. This morning, and as it was the latest Boston
paper in the mess it has been in constant demand all day:
other
papers have been received for which I thank you, also for your kind
letter of the 5th, received to-day. Mother asks if I should
not
like to have her send me a pillow. When I read that to the
boys
they shouted and said it was a capital joke – a “soldier with a pillow!”
Why, the knapsack is a soldier’s pillow the world over;
and
then I could not carry it about with me; we have enough to carry as it
is. When a boy carries his trunk upon his back he must
discard
all superfluities. I have already the following articles
which I
wish to take with me, and if we leave in heavy marching order, I
suppose I can carry them, namely: four pairs of socks, two
extra
pairs of drawers, and under-shirts, extra pair of pants, one heavy army
blanket weighing six or seven lbs., one rubber blanket, haversack with
two or three days' provisions, canteen, and writing material, with
numerous little et caeteras; then there are those absolutely necessary
articles, as rifle, cartridge-box, with forty rounds of ball
cartridges, belts, etc. A soldier thus loaded down, in the
mud as
deep as it is now, would present a sorry picture; still we could move
on, make several miles a day; but our baggage train, loaded down with
camp equipage, stores etc. and our heavy battery of twelve- pounders,
with solid shot, shells, and other ammunition that must accompany a
well- appointed army, - think of these things, you
stay-at-home
bodies that are continually crying “Onward! Onward!” and tell us what
we should do with our wheels sunk to the hub in mud, and horses and
mules floundering in the mire. No it will be better to leave
these matters to the brave officers in command; when the great day of
battle shall come, I trust they will be equal to the
emergency.
As soon as the earth will permit us to move over it with safety we
shall embrace the opportunity.
We had considerable excitement in our
camp on
Thursday last. At four o’clock P.M. we had orders to move in
light marching order at seven o’clock. We went to the
captain’s
tent and received forty rounds of ball cartridges; as there was no time
to cook beef, each man was served with a loaf of bread – this, with
one blanket and equipments, was all we were to carry. Seven
o’clock came and no order to march; at nine o’clock all lights were
ordered to be put out, and the men allowed to sleep if they could; the
night wore away without our being called out, and the alarm
subsided. We afterward learned that it was intended to send
us
over to Martinsburg. It seems that General Lander had made an
attack on Jackson’s forces and were driving them down in the direction
of Martinsburg; but Jackson burnt the bridge over the South Potomac
River. This put an end to the pursuit by Lander, and Jackson
and
his army escaped. Had not this taken place we should have crossed over
and attacked Jackson on his retreat, but as he was an army of from
8,000 to 10,000 men, it would not be prudent to attack him with the few
regiments that could be thrown across the Potomac from this point.
To the question about the loyalty of
the people
about here, I would observe, that they seem to be for the Union while
we are here, but secession when we are away. There are not many slaves
here, and but few free negroes; the free negroes, I think, come from
neighboring towns to seek employment about our camps. Private
soldiers can get a pass to visit Williamsport (one mile distant) about
every week; it is quite a pretty place of at least, I should think,
1,000 inhabitants. There are a number of women and children
around our camp with poyes, as they call them, at a levy,
twelve
and a half cents, a piece; they also have different kinds of cakes, and
what they call pones, a kind of apple turnover.
We are about thirty miles from Colonel Fletcher Webster’s regiment;
they are near Frederick.
There is a photograph artist about the
camp, but he
has such a crowd about his saloon all the time that I have not been
able to get a picture yet.
I would renewedly thank our kind
friends at home
for the substantial comforts and luxuries furnished us in
camp. I
not only speak in my own behalf but also for the boys, whose happy
countenances express how much gratitude they feel for those
mothers, aunts, and brothers and sisters who fill those boxes with
creature comforts, etc. But I must close. Do write
often to
your undutiful son.
WARREN. |
Return to Top of Page
Charles
Roundy's Manuscript - "A Secret for 16 Years."
On
Thursday
February 6th the regiment had orders to march as mentioned in Warren
Freeman's letter above. They were to assist General Frederick
Lander,
an agressive Union general in the east, a rarity at this time, in his
pursuit of Stonewall Jackson's troops. Jackson was actually back
at Winchester emboilled in a controversy over his intended resignation.
Charles
Roundy recalls what happened one evening when the regiment was
under
marching orders. Roundy's
entertaining
manuscript often confuses dates. I think the correct time frame
for this
story is the night of February 6th, and the morning of February 7th,
1862. In a letter dated Feb. 9th 1862, Private John Shaw of Co. A
wrote home "Nite before last one of the tents belonging to Co. E caught
fire and burnt up, but there was no one in it at the time."
Ramsey was in Co. F and the tent was occupied, so my guess may be
incorrect, but an explosion in camp would warrent some kind of comment
and this is the only mention I have of such an event.
This is the funniest 13th Mass soldier's reminiscence in my collection - Brad Forbush.
The day finally came for Bank’s
Division to be ready
to move on receipt of orders, and we were all ready and eager enough –
some were so very eager that they took down their tents.
We in Mess 5 had been all day long
burning up our letters, and we had stacks of them.
Look at the picture 5 pages ante [picture of the sibley tent
above]
and picture us sitting on our mattresses and burning or awaiting our
chance to burn our letters and everything else that would burn that we
did not intend taking with us.
How the little stove roared and grew
red at the love stories and secrets it was consuming.
Then the boys fed all our wood to the
little stove
just to hear it roar, and the result was the sheet iron stove was
warped all out of shape and full of hot coals.
The day passed – night came and no
orders
yet. We straightened up our tent easily but some others had
the
fun of pitching tent and hunting straw to sleep on.
The evening passed with more burning
and the bottom
of the stove was so warped up that there was quite a space between the
stove and the blacked earth beneath.
Nine o’clock roll call came then we had
an hour before “Taps” (lights out)
I went visiting Co. K and on my return
I found every one was in bed but myself and all seemed to be asleep.
As I crawled to my place I found my
blanket
completely covered with cartridges – old ones that had been carried
quite a long time and were shop worn, and 40 rounds – the capacity of
our boxes was newly issued to each man – So Mess 5 had been busy while
I was away since roll call, fixing up their boxes and taking out all
the old ones and they had thrown them all on my bed.
- I sat there without speaking. -
At last I broke the powder from the
ball, put all
the powder in a paper – tied it up - then – what to do with it
?
At last I felt sleepy, and seeing the opening under the stove – the
fire seemed to be all out, so, rather than crawl over the boys – untie
the tent and be growled at, I pushed the bundle of powder – well tied
up – under that Stove and fixed my blanket and lay down and was soon
asleep.
Some time in the Night a tremendous explosion
occurred in
Mess
5. That stove went to the height of the tent and fell on one
of
the boys (hot coals falling everywhere) who instantly gave it a pitch
onto his neighbor and so around til it had been the grand circuit –
each kick scattering the live coals all over our blankets until some
one untied the tent door and it went out into the Company Street.
Meantime we were all busy putting out
the fire in
our blankets, my own with the rest, when, looking out we found the
officers and most of the Company in the Company Street – trying to
understand the situation and to find out what piece of spite or
whatever it could have been that had done this thing.
I kept as mum as a Hippopotamus, and
mourned over the holes
burned in my blankets.
I never knew that our officers had
located the culprit and fixed the blame on any one until
About the year 1877 or 1878 and it came
to me in this wise –
At
this time I was one of the proprietors of the “Red Front Livery and
Sale Stable in Hutchinson, Kansas, (Stimwell, Roundy and Co.) ( And
this stable has a unique history also) Farmers came from far and near
and put up at the “Red Front” and we had quite a competition. We were a
Sober, jolly crew and had music
at our Stable while others handed out Coffee but the music
generally won.
One evening after supper I was sitting
in front of
the stable, with a lantern burning, when a team drove up and
stopped. I immediately got up, said Good-evening, and helped
unhitch one of the mules.
I led my mule into the stable, and set
the lantern
down for the man to use with his mules. He took up the lantern – held
it up to my face and exclaimed –
“Charley Roundy – what – in – thunder – are you – doing – here – in Kansas ? :
At the same instant I exclaimed
“Henry Exley
– are
– you
– lost
? What
in thunder are you - a first class machinist
doing here
pulling a line over a pair of mules in Kansas ?
Exley was our Orderly Sergeant there at
Williamsport and so on through the Campaigns in Virginia, and was
always a first class comrade.
What a meeting
– we talked
– the Company
– the Regiment
– the war
– and among other things we got back to Williamsport and out Winter
Camp of 1861 -1862.
The blown up stove and the anxious
mourners in
– scant clothing
- very busy putting out the fire and Kicking the stove and hot contents
flashed into my mind - And I asked Exley if he remembered it.
He said - he surely did - for it had
given the officers many an hour of thought and study.
I asked - did they find out how it came
about ? -
Oh yes. - they finally agreed that some
rebel put
---- or else a shell was shot - into the stove pipe at the apex of the
tent intending to kill as many as they could of the boys.
- And there you have it -
I told Sergeant Exley that I did it and how it
was done, he looked at me in astonishment.
I told him it had always seemed strange
to me that
the thing was not more closely looked into but our breaking camp the
next day gave us other things to think of - and it was perhaps just as
well for me.
Return to Top of Page
The 13th Mass
Glee Club
Westboro
Transcript
Feb. [8th?] 1862
The gallant 13th, as we glean from a programme kindly furnished us by
Mr. G. Balcom, are charming the people of the towns in the vicinity of
their camp, ‘with concord of sweet sounds, as well as executing the
harsher and discordant notes of war. A Regimental Glee Club
has
been formed from the ranks, in which the following named individuals
are the artists, Messrs O.W. Waite, M. J .Dagney, J. W. Greene, J.
Nicholson, J. Klenert, - known familiarly in M. as little Johnny ---
and E.S. Downing. One concert was given at Hagerstown, and
the
people of that place are promised in the Bill before us, a second, with
an entire change of programme. The success of the first had
emboldened a second attempt, which we hope will be like unto it in that
respect. We always look with interest, to the doings of the
13th,
and with much of anxiety for their welfare in Camp, and success when
they shall be called to battle. Massachusetts may well be
proud
of such sons as she has sent to the banks of the Potomac.
[digital transcription by Brad Forbush]
|
The Glee Club performed at a
small hall in
Hagerstown on Wednesday January 15th. Band member Edwin Rice attended but
wasn’t impressed with the singing. He did note however, that
“there was a very fine fresco painting in the hall.’
It must have been somewhat successful
for a second
performance was offered the evening of Tuesday, February 4th.
Edwin Rice wrote home from Williamsport where he was quartered in town
: “It commenced snowing Sunday night and snowed all
the
time till this morning. There is now about 3 inches of snow
on
the ground and it is very fine sleighing. All the horses and
sleighs in town are hired to go to Hagerstown tonight to a concert
given by the 13th Massachusetts Regiment Glee Club. …Since
noon
it has been very pleasant and the sleigh bells have been on and
jingling right merrily.” James Ramsey and some of his friends attended the 2nd concert which he wrote was 'splendid'.
The Regiment’s long stay near
Hagerstown and
Williamsport provided opportunities for the soldiers to socialize with
the locals. On February 10th the ‘non-coms’ of Company I, had
a
dance at the Globe which Edwin Rice described. The success of the Glee Club performances
in
Hagerstown inspired the ‘Grand Concert of the Young Ladies of
Williamsport’ on the 14th & 15th of February. John
Noyes
gives a detailed report of that event in his letter of February 22nd further down on
this page. The close association of the regiment with the people of
Williamsport and Hagerstown brought out a large population from the towns to
see them off when they crossed the river into Virginia to start the
spring campaigns a few weeks later.
Letter of Edwin Rice, February 10th 1862
February
10th 1862
Viola,
Not having anything in particular to
do, thought I would commence a
letter to you if I did not finish it.
The weather has been pleasant for 4 or
5 days past. Yesterday and today
it was quite pleasant though pretty cool. Last night was the
coldest night that we have had yet, and it promises to be pretty cool
tonight.
We are having a very easy time now. We
have not rehearsed for nearly a
week. Had to play at dress parade Thursday, Friday, Saturday
and
tonight. Friday night the ‘non coms’ of Co I had a dance at
the
Globe. There were about 20 couples present and they seemed to
enjoy themselves hugely. The ladies were very well pleased with it,
though the music was good considering it was furnished by Tom Viles and
Lieutenant Howe.
Had services again yesterday and should
judge from what the Chaplain
said that there is a chance for some of the men in the regiment to mend
their ways.
I am not going to lodge in the Band
room after tonight if I can get
lodging elsewhere, as I don’t care about having a lot of persons
playing bluff and poker and other games of a like character
in
the room when I want to read or write. Since Co B has been
here
there has been a good deal of it done. Am going to get a room for
myself if I can.
I weighed myself this morning and much
to my surprise found that I
weighed 175 pounds. My health continues to be as good as
ever. Am not as anxious to be discharged as I was.
I see by my diary that it is over two
weeks since have written to you.
I did not think it was so long. I never knew the time to pass
away as fast as it does now when I have so little to do. I received a
letter from you on the 29th. There has not anything
transpired in
this vicinity since I wrote you. We were paid on the 29th.
There are 13 men belonging to our
regiment in the guard house awaiting a
court marital for being drunk.
Captain Pratt of Co. E and Lieutenant
Chamberlain of Co H have resigned
their commissions and have got their discharge from the army. I don’t
now what their notion is by resigning. If they stayed a few weeks more,
they might have had a chance to fight.
Tuesday Morning
It is very pleasant this
morning. I am going to Hagerstown
today
to get a pair of pants. The quartermaster has not got any
long
enough for me. I haven’t had but one pair since we have been out here.
A dispatch was received here last
evening saying that a fight
had
been going on between General Jackson and General Lander at Ballou's
Bluff, 5 miles this side of Romney. Did not say which was victorious.
I see by last night’s papers that
General Burnsides expedition has been
heard from at Roanoke Island.
Yours &c
Edwin Rice
Note:
Confederate General Loring evacuated Romney Feb. 2-4.
Gen'l
Lander re-occupied Romney Feb. 7. Ballou's Bluff is probably
Blue's Gap east of Romney. The men in the guard house could have
been the group of men, former sailors, transferred to the navy in mid
February. Many of them were heavy drinkers. -B.F. |
Return to Top of Page
Colonel
Leonard does some early 'Spring Cleaning'
Essay by Brad Forbush, © 2009.
The army was preparing to move - the long awaited advance into Virginia. It
was time
for a shake up of officers in the 13th Mass.
Private John
Noyes, Co. ‘B’ wrote home in a letter dated Jan. 27th: “There has been
some trouble among the officers of our Regiment. At least Col. Leonard
during his long stay here has been turning his attention to the
character and conduct of the officers.” The first to leave
the
regiment was the captain of Company A.
 On
Sunday Feb. 2nd 1862, Captain James
A. Fox left
camp for Boston to recruit for the regiment. There must have
been
something bothering Fox because some soldiers were under the impression
he had resigned. He was gone 6 months. John Noyes wrote of Captain
Fox: “He is a very good officer, but his ambition has been
the
Majority which he thinks he may never obtain. He is a man of
property and likes a life of ease better than tent life.” Fox
had
been acting Major of the four company detachment at Hancock.
Major Gould returned about this time from Washington D.C., which may
have played a
part in Fox’s departure. With Captain Fox away 1st Lieutenant
Samuel Neat took command of Company ‘A’. It was six months
before
Lt. Neat was finally commissioned captain on August 16th, just after
Captain Fox officially resigned.
Captain Pratt of Company ‘E’ was forced
to resign
the end of January. He left the regiment for Roxbury February
10th. John Shaw, a private in Company ‘A’, wrote that Pratt
was
accused of selling company rations and pocketing the money.
That
at least was the story in camp. His dismissal/resignation
angered
most of the men in Company ‘E’. Private James Ramsey wrote in
a
letter home February 10th:
“I feel pretty bad about Captain
Pratt we
will never get such a good Capt.
again I
almost cried when I shook hands and bid him good
bye I gess
that was the feelings of most of the boys they cant find
words to
express their feelings. I wish good luck to
him
he starts for home to day he said that he would see
us on
the common when we got home.”
(The general opinion in camp at this
time was the war would be short).
 First Lieutenant John G. Hovey, of
Company ‘B’,
switched companies and replaced Pratt as Captain of Company
‘E’.
John Noyes wrote of Hovey: “He is a very gentlemanly officer
and
I am afraid is to be appointed Captain of Co. E.” Noyes was
sorry
to lose a good officer to another company.
 Hovey’s appointment did not go over
well with the
Roxbury boys. Joseph Colburn, the 1st Lieutenant of Company
E,
tendered his letter of resignation to Col. Leonard when John G. Hovey
was appointed captain. Colburn wanted the position for
himself
and he had the support of his men. Colburn gave up his
business
to help organize the Roxbury Rifle Company, and it was through his efforts
the company was kept together when the initial organization
failed. Colburn’s personal interest was with his
company.
Thinking a chance for promotion in another company of the regiment
improbable, he chose to resign. All this he explained in a
respectful
letter to Colonel Leonard. Leonard must have made Colburn
reconsider because Colburn did not resign, and continued to serve as
1st Lieutenant of Company ‘E’ under Captain John G. Hovey. (Hovey is pictured at left; Colburn at right).
Hovey’s move created a vacancy in
company ‘B’ for
1st Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant George Bush of Company ‘A’
was
promoted and took Hovey’s former position. It is unclear who
replaced Bush, but it was probably Jacob A. Howe who was
promoted
2nd
Lieutenant, Company ‘A’ on July 23, 1862. A soldiers letter
of
February 10th 1862 refers to Lt. Howe. The official paper work for
commissions seems to have been a long time coming in many instances.
 Next up for dismissal was 1st
Lieutenant Perry
Chamberlain of Company ‘H’. His particular offense is unknown
but
he resigned February 6th 1862. His replacement, Sergeant
Major
Elliot C. Pierce, pictured at left, was a surprise to everyone. Pierce was Col.
Leonard’s particular friend. Col. Leonard ran an express
business
with his brother, and Pierce’s father also ran an express business,
which is perhaps how they were acquainted. Pierce joined the
13th
Mass. as Sergeant-Major shortly before the regiment left Fort
Independence for Maryland. Sergeant-Major was a good rank to hold with
respect to obtaining an officer’s
commission. Leonard
must have promised Pierce a quick promotion as soon as an opportunity
arose. Chamberlain’s resignation provided the opportunity.
Pierce’s appointment as First
Lieutenant, Company H, rankled
the emotions of the men in the rifle company from Natick.
They
preferred to have someone from their home-town advanced to fill the
Company ‘H’ vacancy caused by Chamberlain’s resignation.
There
was another reason this appointment was controversial. It
broke
the regular line of promotion as established in the regiment.
“There being no difference in date of
commissions
at the start, the seniority of officers, instead of being established
by lot, was taken by the Company letter – “A” being first “B” second,
and so on. This gave the seniority to the 4th Batt. Officers,
and
the first vacancies to them. Then two sergeants, good men,
but no
better than others, were jumped over the whole line of 2d Lieuts. and
made 1st Lieuts.” So wrote 2nd Lieut. Charles B. Fox to his
father in
a letter dated June 28th 1862. Elliot C. Pierce was the
second of two sergeants to break the line of promotion.
The
first was Sergeant John Sanderson of Company C.
 Soon after arriving in Maryland Captain John Kurtz of
Company ‘C’ resigned to accept a higher commission in another
unit. First Lieutenant William H. Jackson was promoted captain.
Jackson’s place was filled by Sergeant John Sanderson of the same
company. Sanderson, pictured at right, of Westborough, Mass., was one of 4
original
lieutenants in the Westborough Rifle Company when it was raised in
April 1861. When that company mustered into federal service
as
Company ‘K’ at Fort Independence, the original lieutenants were
replaced with officers from Boston. Lieutenant Sanderson was
offered a
sergeants commission in Company C, and he accepted it. He was
quickly
promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 16th 1861 to fill the vacancy made by
Jackson’s promotion to captain. So Sanderson and Pierce
jumped
over the line of ten second lieutenants, to be appointed first
lieutenants. Sanderson had the benefit of being promoted
within
the ranks of the company he mustered into at Fort
Independence.
Pierce was considered an outsider by the Natick men in Company H; - and
he was from Boston.
In a letter to his sister Elliot C.
Pierce wrote
“you have no idea what a feeling exists in the country companies toward
the four city Companies – All the country Companies are jealous and do
not like it if an officer from the city company is assigned to their
company. Consequently Captain Clarke had a deal of trouble
when
he took command of Company H. Supposing me to be a city snob, they were
very indignant when I was assigned to the company and even wrote to
influential friends at home about it. They spoke to Gov. Andrew who
wrote to Col. Leonard who showed me the letter.”
In a short while however Pierce was
accepted as one
of their own. He would play an important role in the chronicles of
the 13th Mass. Another important officer was appointed
captain of
Company K. He was also a Boston man, but his appointment was
warmly received.
The original captain of Company K, William
Blackmer, a Methodist Minister from the home-town of
Westborough. was a
bit of an imperious wind bag. Regardless of whatever his
recruiting cababilities might have been his leadership abilities
were
doubtful in the field. When he hurriedly resigned, the day following
Company
K’s first real engagement with rebel troops at Harper’s Ferry, the
company as a whole was glad to be rid of him. Company K was
given a choice between two officers for its new captain.
 While at Fort
Independence
some of the boys noticed an officer with exceptional military
abilities. That officer was 1st Lieutenant Charles H. Hovey,
of
Company D. [no relation to John Hovey of Co. B]. Hovey’s
conspicuous ability, especially at teaching raw recruits the
fundamentals of military drill, were credited to his long service in
the militia prior to the war. The boys in Company K were
jubilant
to have the choice of Charles Hovey as their new Captain. Hovey was commissioned captain on January
31st. 2nd Lieutenant William H. Cary was bumped up to
First
Lieutenant of Company ‘D’ to replace Hovey. I am unsure who
replaced Cary as 2nd Lieutenant but I have evidence it was
Sergeant-Major Thomas J. Little on March 16th. Lieutenant
William Howard Cary, pictured at left, served along side his two
brothers in the 13th Mass; Captain Joe Cary, and Sergeant Sam
Cary. Sam was commissioned 2nd Lt. in 1863.
Rounding out the officers, mysterious Captain Shriber of Company
‘I’ was away
from the regiment at General Bank’s Headquarters since late October,
worming his way into a Major’s commission with the First Maryland
Cavalry. First Lieutenant Moses Palmer of Company ‘I’ was
acting
captain, assisted by the very capable 2nd Lieutenant David L.
Brown. Palmer signed his official correspondence prior to the
date of his commission "1st Lieutenant, commanding Co. I."
Palmer
had a long wait before his official commission
as
captain materialized on August 15th, 2 weeks before the battle of 2nd
Bull Run.
For those trying to keep track, the 13th Mass.,
had the following officer line-up in the spring of 1862:
Company A - Captain James Fox (away on recruiting duty); 1st Lieutenant
Samuel Neat (commanding company); 2nd Lieutenant vacant, (to be filled by Jacob A. Howe ?).
Company B - Captain Joseph Cary; 1st Lieutenant George Bush; 2nd
Lieutenant A. N. Sampson.
Company C - Captain William H. Jackson; 1st Lieutenant John Sanderson;
2nd Lieutenant Walter H. Judson. (Judson may have been seriously ill at this time).
Company D - Captain Augustine Harlow; 1st Lieutenant William H. Cary,
(brother of Capt. Joseph Cary); 2nd Lieutenant Thomas J. Little (?).
Company E - Captain John G. Hovey; 1st Lieutenant Joseph Colburn; 2nd
Lieutenant Edwin Frost.
Company F - Captain Henry Whitcomb; 1st Lieutenant Abel H. Pope; 2nd
Lieutenant Charles F. Morse, (Morse would become Captain, (commissary
of subsistence) and remain with the supply train at Winchester, during
the regiment’s campaigning).
Company H - Captain William L. Clarke; 1st Lieutenant Elliot C. Pierce;
2nd Lieutenant Francis Jenks, (Jenks resigned the end of April).
Company I - Captain R.C. Shriber, (away at HQ); 1st Lieutenant Moses P.
Palmer (commanding company); 2nd Lieutenant David L. Brown.
Company K - Captain Charles H. Hovey, 1st Lieutenant William B. Bacon;
2nd Lieutenant Charles B. Fox.
After this point in time it becomes difficult to determine the line-up of officers
present in any one company without the complete muster rolls.
NOTES:
For more information on Captain Shriber and Captain Charles Hovey, see
the Harper’s Ferry page of this website. [1861 > Harpers Ferry].
References used for this article include Massachusetts Adjutant
Generals Report, 13th Regiment; Letters of John B. Noyes Ms 2332 (27 )
& (28); Diary of Sam Webster, Huntington Library; Charles
Barnard
Fox to Rev, Thomas Bayley Fox, letterbook, 28 June 1862, Fox Family
Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society; also notes from a letter of
Elliot C. Pierce to his sister, 3 August 1862, Thayer Family Papers,
Massachusetts Historical Society; Gilder-Lehrman Collection,
GLC03393.35 Joseph Colburn to Colonel Leonard, 27 February
1862.
Letters From Two Brothers Serving in the War for the Union, (Warren H.
Freeman); Three Years with Company K, Austin C. Stearns; Three Years
with the Army, Charles E. Davis, Jr.; 13th Regiment Association
Circulars, 1888-1922; correspondence with Richard Humphrey, historian
of Co. I; and several soldiers letters in the collection of
the author.
Return to Top of Page
The
Williamsport Ladies Grand Concert
Letter of John B. Noyes, Company
B, February 22nd
The following interesting letter
gives news about town and describes some characters found thereabouts. Mentioned are
the following members of Co. B; Corporal Charles H. Mayo; age, 28, conductor; Private Joseph
Chandler;
age 32, farmer; Private George E. Mecuen; age, 19; jeweler; Lt. Elliot C. Pierce,
friend of Col. Leonard; Adjt. David H. Bradlee, age
34, (a man
who apparently
knew his duties well, but Noyes thinks very little of him). Captain
Joseph S. Cary, age 29; merchant tailor; 2nd Lt. Augustus N. Sampson,
age 22, clerk, (Provost
Marshall of Williamsport); Corporal Charles F. Russel; age 32,
mechanic, Co. A; Corporal Robert
Armstrong, Company
B;. (Charles
E. Davis, Jr. wrote extensively about Corp’l Armstrong in the
circulars. He apparently had a wonderful bass singing voice,
was
a man of culture and had the ability to charm anyone out of money or
anything else that he wanted.); Dick
White is
Hospital Steward John H. White; age 23; born, Boston; apothecary. Co.
B; (White led
the 13th Mass Glee club); Lt. Hovey is John G. Hovey, age 33;
now Captain of Company E. The concert given in town was not too
well attended by the soldiers as they were under marching orders and
couldn't get a pass from camp. Only those from Company B, posted
in the town were able to attend the concerts.
Ms Am 2332
(28a) "By permission of
the Houghton Library, Harvard University."
Sharplers Store, about 3 miles above
Williamsport Md., Feb’y 22d 1862
Dear
Martha,
Last
Thursday I came to this store
with Corpl. Mayo, Chandler & Mecuen to do night picket
duty.
Tomorrow I shall again return to Wmport. Your undated
letter, with mothers of the 17th reached me yesterday. I had
been
expecting it for a fortnight as Father intimated in his letter of the
5th inst. that you were about to write. I had just concluded
to
wait no longer when I received your interesting epistle. In a
letter to George of the 13th inst. which he may not have shown you I
stated that as there was nothing of importance in fathers note I would
answer it in my letter to you. But as your, and, mother’s
letters
are so full of interesting matter I am at fault. The next
time I
will answer father’s note promptly, and let other notes take care of
themselves. A bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush.
The staid town of Williamsport is still
as staid as ever. There
is little or no gayety at this place as in Hancock. There
friends
were friends and were seen in each other’s houses. Here
although
the people are very cordial, still you never meet them at each other’s
houses; and this although the best families in the place are nearly
related to each other. The nearest approach to gayety, which
I
have seen here took place last week. There are two or three
quite
pretty churches (for Md.) in this town which are not in the best
financial circumstances.
The Rev. Mr. Lepley discourses to the
Lutherans. Of late the most spirited, if not the most telling
portion of his discourses has been devoted to drumming his
congregation. Now it so happens that Lepley, rather a dull preacher,
not young, somewhat straitened in means, was a Unionist from the
start. This alienated from him the richest portion of his
congregation who were secession sympathizers. Hence Mar
lachrymas.
The Rev. Mr. Russell of the
Presbyterian Church raised
a company of cavalry. Father will recollect him as making a
masterly retreat when Jackson advanced upon Hancock. This
church
wishing to raise the wind determined upon having a concert which was
managed by the younger portion of the congregation. A few men
in
the Reg’t. styling themselves the 13th Glee Club had given a couple of
concerts at Hagerstown which were very popular and
successful.
How would a concert do in Williamsport ? Nothing but the
grand
concert by the young ladies’ was talked of for a week ! Of
course
I was for it.
There was a rehearsal at Dr. Weissels
on the 12th
inst. at which all the “top” was present. I was somewhat
surprised to find that one lady was the only representative from
Williamsport in the ladies’ grand concert ! As Lt. Pierce;
late
Sergt. Major, was one of the principal performers, Col. Leonard his
particular friend was of course present with Adjt. Bradley, Capt. Cary,
a minor performer & Lt. Sampson of Co. B. These were
the big
bugs. Two or three of my company, beside the performers made
up
the male company. A  pleasant time of course for all
hands.
The next Eve’g. a rehearsal in the Presbyterian Church, the company the
same. Next night to that the grand concert ! Of
course the
band discoursed sweet music. Miss Laura Shoop sang one or two
pieces with Lieut. Pierce, Corp. Russel Co. A., Corp’l Armstrong Co. B.
& Dick White Co. B. who were the chief performers.
Among
other pieces the “Murmuring Sea” “The Sexton” “The Moon
behind
the hill” & “Mother dear” were particularly
noticeable. A
medley to the accompaniment of a guitar by Lt. Pierce & Yankee
Doodle by Miss ---- of Hagerstown, an instrumental piece solicited
great applause. The “Spanish Retreat” by the band
was also
capital. After the concert an onset was made upon the
bountifully
supplied tables. Roast pig, fowl, oysters & ice cream
stood
but a poor show before the members of our Company who par
excellance understood the town ropes. I forgot to say that
the church was decorated, which of course could not have been done
without hands. The next Eve’g. Saturday, 2d night of the
festival
closed the performances. Then all was still in Warsaw.
The town
has been very quiet of
late. February 4th ‘Lamon’s Brigade’ that nominated nothing
left
Williamsport for Baltimore & now the “brigade” is no
more.
The four companies or parts of companies and the two cavalry companies
which constituted it are now attached to other brigades.
Kennedy’s roughs & Capt. Carne’s company, dreaded company on
the
Virginia Border, and the cavalry away, there was peace in the streets
of Williamsport, which has not since been interrupted.
On the
12th inst. I was
transferred to the picket guard of our Company which came to town about
the 1st of the month. To explain matters about 20 men are on
headquarter guard, about 32 men on provost guard, and about the same
number on picket duty. Those guards are distinct from each
other. As you may infer we do about three times as much duty
as
any other company in the Regiment. This is from the force of
circumstances. I go on picket every other day straight alone,
Four hours duty in the day time, and four in the night, either 2 or 4
off, or 4 hours on, 1st eight hours off. At this post up the
river, away from barracks, I go on but 3 hours every night, between 9
P.M. and 6 A.M. In camp you have to do guard duty but about
once
a week. There is little poetry about picket duty, in winter,
especially when it comes so often.
Some
excitement was created in our
camp about a week ago when it was rumored that a part of our Regiment
was to be transferred to a Mass. or N.E. Regiment organizing to take
part in the Mississippi Expedition. Only about a dozen men
left
which I believe included was the limited number for our
Reg’t. Of
those volunteering to go, it somehow happened that the choice in almost
all cases fell upon confirmed “rummies” who had often enlivened the
usually dull guard house.
Camp and
town have hardly ceased
to talk about the mysterious flotilla of some 50 empty canal boats
which were towed down the canal last Tuesday. All that is
known
by the boatman is that they were in the employ of the
Government.
Whether the boats are to be used to construct bridges, or for purposes
of transportation – and at what place a bridge is to by built &
if
any, these are the questions propounded at the corner of the streets
and the pot houses. These questions unsettled, the town is
again
thrown into a hub bub as to whether there are 400 rebel deserters in
Berkely Co. Va., who are coming over to our side to fight our
battles. Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?
Our Co.
& Reg’t. are now particularly exercised as to whether we are to
move to Dixie before the middle of next week. It is said that
the
Col., a cautious man, has expressed an opinion that we shall be in
Martinsburgh by that time. Vague rumors of 5 days rations,
started perhaps five days too soon, are current, & the Col’s
calculations and surmises may after all be knocked into the middle of
next week.
Meanwhile
content to leave or stay I’ll let the world wag day by day.
Again it
is reported and perhaps
with some truth, that we are to lose Lieut. Hovey who is to
take
command of Co. E, Viz(?) Capt. Pratt resigned, and the men are anxious
lest an old sergeant of our Co., now Commisary Serg’t., never much
liked, should oust our orderly sergeant, the choice of the
men.
This anxiety is probably not much lessened when they go  to draw the two
pair of warm woolen socks sent to us by Hovey & Co, and knit by
the
ladies of Boston(?); for faith they are big enough for those Maine
giants the papers talked of and would make passable drawers.
Speaking of socks that last pair of mother’s, and indeed all the others
fit to a t , which stands for tippet, alias scarf which agrees very
well with my neck these damp nights. And talking about the
way to
keep warm I want you to thank Martha Brattles again for her mittens
which are ne plus ultra. They are my vade mecum.
And mecum
suggests Mecuen to whom I gave her other pair of mittens, which I
notice are on the desk before me indicative of his likeing them
well. I see that I have got to the end of my second sheet,
and I
seldom trespass further on anybody’s patience; but as I haven’t yet got
to your letter I suppose I shall have to blot another sheet; and as I
have now plenty of room before me I will tell you how I got this paper
and “them envelopes.”
I have quite a stock of large size
French
paper left, but I was hard up for envelopes, when the 25 (cents)
portfolio package venders came round. Each package
contains
18 sheets paper & 18 envelopes & “one beautiful article
of
jewelry.” I bought one package containing “one
[extraordinarily
beautiful ] beautiful article of jewelry “which I immediately exchanged
with a by-stander for his package minus the expensive jewelry, and
while I am about it (when shall I get to your letter) I will tell a
story.
I was on guard at the Potomac
Hotel. One Gen. Olvert
occasionally comes there to moisten his tongue now dried by years sixty
and five. A man stood on the porch of the hotel selling
packages
of paper without jewelry, the purchaser drawing his jewelry , if lucky
by lottery, with a chance of drawing a five dollar bill, which was of
course never drawn. Olbert drew paper & a breast pin.
He
carried that breast pin home, told his wife he had drawn it in a
lottery and asked her to give it to his daughter. His wife
thought it was pure gold, and gave him a quarter to try his luck
again. He drew a box of blacking & sleeve buttons;
sold the
buttons for 20 cents, and the blacking for a glass of apple
brandy. When he got home he told his wife who asked him what
he
drew that he only drew a blank that time. Olbert was crowing
over
the men minus their quarters risked for the five dollar note, saying
that instead of losing anything he had made a quarter by the
operation. The quarter was of course soon gone.
I am glad
to hear you have been
enjoying yourself so much lately. I should have liked to have
been at Sarah Reid’s. Her parties are always so
sociable.
Give her my regards when you see her again. I haven’t had a
sleigh ride this winter; the snow melting here as fast as it falls,
serving only to make mud. Else I should have taken a trip to
Hancock before this. You must read “love and skates” by Theo.
Winthorp in Jan. & Feb. Atlantic. I should like to
read Cecil
Dreeme, & John Brent. (two
other books by Winthorp)
But good books don’t penetrate these remote places. Not a Harper or
Atlantic even is probably taken in Williamsport. “Great
Expectations” has been floating round the messes of our company but I
have not read it. I am glad to see you are taking some
interest
in polite literature. A portion of a young ladies spare time
spent in good novel reading is not ill spent. Henry Gardines
has
gone to Ship Island then I should hardly like to go there.
Did
you see his Regiment ? They are reported to be a fine looking
set
of men. I am sorry to hear of Lizzy Coyman’s
sickness. What
is her illness ? Does the Dr. Despair of her
? I hope
the Dr. will be poor judge then this time, & that she may be
saved. Annie is engaged to Wolcott is she not
? I am
not sure whether she is or not. What could have possessed
Holland
and Gannet to go on such a wild goose expedition as theirs to Port
Royal. Men in these parts who teach grammar school and are
considered very good teachers, say “thence apples are sweet” straight a
long. Are darkies better than white men ? that these
cultivated
scholars should waste their talents on such barren
soil? I
have seen enough of Southern darkies, free slave, and contraband to say
no to any such journey. Perhaps however the journey may be
for
the best. Experience is a good teacher. It may save
them
from future similar actions. I will try to have my photograph
taken before long. Has yours been taken yet ? Is
Emily
Greenough, late daughter of the late Alfred Greenough of Boston Fannie
Greenoughs cousin, & the girl we used to know. Hoppen
will of
course know. A handkerchief would go with a Journal for two
cents. As I had some extra expenses this winter, such as
boots
&c I concluded to remit no money this time. I am now
largely
in funds, and shall remit a portion of my net two months pay, if
nothing intervenes. I do not know Rice of Co. K.
Letters
from Uncle John and Stephen lately received. Both well.
With Love to all the Family
I am Yours
Affectionately
John B. Noyes.
|
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The John Brown
Bell - Revisited
When at Harper's Ferry, members of Company I secured from the grounds
of the ruined Federal Arsenal, the bell from the little engine house
known as "John Brown's Fort." They intended to ship it home to
the Marlboro, Mass. Volunteer Fire Department, Torrent Engine Company #1. They
brought the bell to Williamsport when they re-joined the
regiment on October 31st. Here they made the acquaintance
of William
Ensminger, who
with his wife, owned and managed two or three canal boats.
Lysander Parker continues the story:
 "Mrs. Ensminger, being an excellent
cook, we
engaged her to bake the bread for our comany while we remained.
Opinions there as well as at Harper's Ferry concerning the
War,
were about equally divided. The Union and Confederate armies
were
constantly being recruited from both centres. The war spirit
was
in the air and something must be done with the bell. Unlike the ark of
the covenant, it was too heavy to carry in our wanderings.
Our
salaries, eleven dollars per month, were hardly sufficient to enable us
to ship the bell to Marlboroough, and at the same time meet the demands
of the sutler when pay day came around. We finally madea a trade with
Mr. Ensminger to care for the bell until called for."
Company I crossed the river, and in the
hard
campaigning that followed they forgot about the bell, or assumed it had
been disposed of. The bell would remain with Mrs. Ensminger,
who
protected it, for 30 years.
News in Camp
Good news was well received in camp. On Feburary 12th Major Jacob Parker Gould
called the brigade together to announce the latest success of General
Burnside's expedition in North Carolina. Burnside's Federals took
Roanoke Island Febrary 8th causing 2,000 Confederates to surrender.
On February 10th the Federals fought successfully at Elizabeth
City, North Carolina, destroying a rebel fleet
and capturing the head of an important inland waterway to
Virginia. Major Gould assembled the men and called for 3 cheers
to celebrate. The fall of Fort Donelson was reported in camp on
February 17th. The long roll was beaten, and again the men
assembled to hear the good news. Two or three guns were fired in
celebration. The Union successes "fill the hearts of the troops
and the Union men here, refugees, and others with joy and
satisfaction;" so wrote John Noyes to his brother. In the town of
Williamsport, the band assembled and played a few national airs.
Members of Company B cheered as did the townspeople gathered about.
Some expressed their belief the war would be over by July.
On February 14th about a dozen men of the 13th Mass left
camp to be transferred to the Navy. "Of those volunteering to go, it
somehow happened that the choice in almost all cases fell upon
confirmed 'rummies' who had often enlivend the usually dull guard
house." Clarence H. Bell wrote about the event in an 1883 article
for Bivouac Magazine, "there came a call from the Capitol for
volunteers to man the gunboats on the Mississippi. This call was
especially designed to weed out the seamen from the army, and to assign
them to their proper sphere of duty, on the water. About a dozen
were accepted from the regiment...' Bell speculates that the men
were coaxed into transfering if not outright threatened. The
superiors "must have heaved a huge sigh of relief as the little squad
of military sailors disappeared down the road."
On February 20th a soldier from Company G, Charles Holmes, died at
Williamsport. On the 22nd the regiment celebrated George
Washington's Birthday.
Letter of Warren H. Freeman; Washington's Birthday
|
WILLIAMSPORT, MD., February 23, 1862.
Dear Father, - I have just received the large box you sent me from West
Cambridge; the contents of apples, doughnuts, sponge-cake, mice-pies,
snaps, cough-candy, raisins, etc., and one quart currant wine (for the
sick I suppose) were all in good order. The boys praised
mother
highly for her skill in making doughnuts; they said they were the best
that had been received yet; everything relished finely, and I thank you
many times for this acceptable present.
We celebrated Washington’s birthday
yesterday by
firing a salute of thirty-four guns, part of them from the thirty-two
pounder that we captured at Bolivar; also fired two shells
from
this gun; they were cut with ten-second fuse so as to burst in the air;
they exploded over the Potomac. We then formed a battalion
and
marched to the centre of the town for a drill; it was very muddy, but
we had quite a number of double quick movements that started the sweat
out freely; after this we went though with dress parade. We
have
a very fine band, one of the best in the service.
It is very uncertain when we shall move
from this
camp; you probably know as much about it as I do. When we do leave, it
will probably be at short notice; but I shall leave my letter open for
a day or two for some more news to write, as it is evident there is
something in the wind. |
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Preparing to
Advance
On
February 22nd Col. Leonard indicated the regiment would be in
Martinsburg by next week. Col. Leonard was not a man to start
rumors. The 12th Indiana Regiment was in town ready to cross with the
13th. Everything looked like action. The soldiers made
preparations and eagerly awaited orders to advance. General
Banks's forces re-occupied Harper's Ferry on the 24th. But
there were delays. A severe storm the night of February 24th
swelled the river and may have held up the advance from Williamsport.
On the 25th Lt. Sampson took a squad of 25 men from Company B across
the river to scout for Confederate Cavalry seen on the hills opposite
Williamsport. They learned a party of about 20 Rebel Cavalry had come
down the Pike from Martinsburg. The squad continued on until they
learned the Cavalry force had drove off the stock of
a Union man now seeking refuge in Williamsport. The
Confederates had 2-3 hours start, so the 13th Mass squad returned to quarters;
(well supplied with chickens and turkeys consfiscated on the march).
The following day, February 26th Company D crossed the river
to Virginia on a reconnaissance. They scoured the countryside but found
no Rebels and returned to quarters.
Letter of
Charles Leland, Company B, February 27th
Charles
E. Leland of Chelsea, enlisted with several of his school-mates into
the 13th Massachusetts
Volunteers in 1861. His
letters home appear on the internet now and then, for sale at
auction houses. The roster lists his age at 18, but records
accompanying the letters state Leland was 16 when he
enlisted. I have made
transcriptions of as many of his letters as possible. I own the
original of the following letter. Corporal George Worcester, age
22 was Charles' friend, and a friend of Charles' father.
Worcester kept an eye on young Leland for his dad. In
the following letter Charles describes what he will carry on the
impending march.
Headquarters
Co B 13th Regiment Mass
February 27th 1862
Dear Father
I received your welcome letter this Am,
and will try to answer it.
I wrote you a short letter the other
night, telling
you that we should probably move but we did not and are here still. We
shall move anyway within three days or so, and it will be for
Martinsburg.
They are fixing the bridge over the
Canal and are
gravelling the road down to the ferry boat. We cannot draw
any
more rations, and we have got everything that we do
not
actually need, in our knapsacks thrown out, and packed away.
I
have got an over shirt under shirt, one pair of drawers, and that small
rubber blanket that you gave me, that I carry in my knapsack.
My gray blanket, and a big rubber
blanket is what I
carry on the top of it. My red one is packed away.
Towels
tooth brush &c in my haversack with my rations. Around my waist
I
carry a knife, a revolver forty rounds of Cartridges, and a Cap
box. I also carry a canteen.
The 22nd was observed here some, but
the Marylanders did not
seem
to know what it meant. The band came out and played several
patriotic airs; The weather cleared off here about four days
ago,
with a thunder shower, and it has been cold, and windy ever
since. The roads are in a good condition to march.
Co D
went over the other day scouting, but did not see any thing.
I presume that we shall see fighting,
soon, and I
shall try to do my part. We are taking lessons in the bayonet
exercise, and can use our rifles very well. I received my
“True
Flag” but it came a little late that was all. I
answered
Mothers letter a few days ago, and presume that she has got it by this
time. You speak to me about smoking. I do not indulge in that habit but
a very little indeed, only when any one offers me a good cigar I like
to smoke it.
George Worcester sends his respect to you as also does Clark who I saw
this Am.
I got an illustrated this Am, and expect the rest of them to day or
tomorrow. Write soon and direct as before and oblige your
affectionate son
Chas E. Leland.
I am on guard today it is windy cold,
The Indiana
12th are here and have got orders to pack up, and be in readiness to
march to night.
Love to all.
Write soon and oblige.
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Letter of Edwin Rice, Band, February 28th
February 28th 1862
Sis Viola,
I thought I would improve the few spare moments
that we shall have before entering ‘Dixie’ by writing a few lines to
you. We have been under orders to march since Monday and expected
that we should have been in Martinsburg if not Winchester before
now. Tuesday night we expected to march as much as could be, the
Colonel hinted as much. But this afternoon Tom received orders to be
ready to march tomorrow with two days’ rations. Some of the teams
are to follow on after us with three days more. All unnecessary baggage
is to be left behind. The Band are not to carry anything except
blankets. The soldiers are not to carry but a very little in
their knapsacks.
Some of Co B have just come in from monthly
inspection and say that the colonel told them that they had got to
march tomorrow certain and perhaps before morning. The weather is
pleasant, cool, and very windy. The wind has been blowing very
strong since yesterday morning.
The 12th Indiana Regiment is here and is to cross
the river with us and it is reported that two companies of cavalry and
one of artillery are to cross too, but I don’t know as it is true or
not as I have not seen any of them. The cavalry and artillery
that have been here, were ordered away two or three weeks ago.
Workmen have been repairing the road today down to the ferry boat,
which is the only thing to cross with, and that will not carry only a
company at one time.
Wednesday evening the Band played at a concert in
the Lutheran church for the benefit of the society. The 12th Indiana
band was also there, and the glee club from our regiment. Did not
have a very full house. The getters up expected there would be a
great many soldiers present, and there probably would have been if they
could have got passes but as they were under orders to march, none were
given.
Monday evening we played a few pieces at a lecture
in the Methodist church. The lecture was a very fine one and was
delivered by a gentleman from Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. The
subject was ‘Shall the Union be Perpetual’. It contained some
very strong union sentiment but did not say anything at all of politics.
Have not received a letter from you for two weeks.
Don’t suppose you have much time to write. Received one from Mother
last evening. My health continues good and hope yours does, but am
afraid that you work much too hard from what you write. I weighed this
morning 180 pounds.
I send with this a photograph of Colonel
Leonard. Crosby had some full length of him but they were not as
good as this which I think is a very good one. After you have
looked at it enough you can send it to Mother or keep it till you go
home. The writing on the back is mine not the colonel’s.
The weather now is just right for a forward
movement. It would be better if the wind did not blow so strong.
The fight at Fort Donelson seems to have been
pretty severe on both sides. I read this morning an extract of a letter
in the Baltimore American written by a captain in one of the Illinois
regiments to his father. He wrote that out of his company only 8
could be accounted for and only 140 out of the whole regiment.
The rest were killed or wounded. This is the dark side of a brilliant
victory.
I don’t think of anything more to write this time.
Yours Truly,
Edwin Rice
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Conclusion
From "Three Years in the Army" by Charles E. Davis, Jr.; Boston; Estes
& Lauriat, 1894:
"It seems proper at this point to say a
word or two
about our experience in Maryland. We found the people cordial in their
greeting and very hospitable, except in cases where the sentiment was
against the Union. It meant a good deal to express Union sentiments or
do acts of kindness to soldiers as they marched through the country
when some watchful person stood ready to turn infomer as soon as the
enemy approached. Many were the acts of kindness done to
soldiers
worn out with fatigue or overcome with the heat of the sun. Though
thirty years have passed, we have not forgotten how much the Union
people of Maryland did to lessen the hardships of solders.
When we
crossed the river we entered the land of our foes, where the cheers and
kind wishes of the people were reserved for those who had their love
and sympathy."
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© Brad Forbush, 2009
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