Picket Duty; Wishing Time Away

  Winter Encampment at Mitchell's Station
March 12 - 31, 1864.

Louis K. Harlow illustration of a Union Picket

Louis K. Harlow illustration of a Union soldier on picket duty in the Fall.  The 13th Mass. continued picketing their outpost camp and the Rapidan River throughout the winter of 1864.  This picture captures the essence of the job.

Table of Contents

 Introduction –– What's On This Page

March was an eventful month for the Army of the Potomac.  On March 4, General George G. Meade submitted a plan to Major-General Henry W. Halleck in Washington, to consider consolidating the Army of the Potomac from 5 Army Corps to 3 Army Corps.  The idea bounced around Washington for a while and then became a reality on March 24.  The First Corps, long the home of the 13th MA was disbanded and their division was incorporated into the Fifth Corps.

Kilpatrick's Raid and the Dahlgen Papers.

The Death of Colonel Dahlgren

The page starts off with a summary of the controversy over Colonel Ulric Dahlgren’s death.  He was killed in a dark patch of woods, in an ambuscade just past midnight March 3rd. [Illustration above represents the death of Col. Dahlgren.] The authenticity of papers found on the brash young hero’s body, presumably written in his own hand, and which called for killing Jeff. Davis and his cabinet, (if the raid succeeded in taking Richmond)  has been debated ever since, up until fairly recent times.  The incident caused a big rou in the opposing governments, both North and South, and deserves mention.

Kilpatrick's Raid as Reported in the Northern Press.

About the middle of March, Northern newspapers began publishing stories about Kilpatrick’s Raid.  Two are presented here.  I had originally planned to build an entire page devoted the raid, because my Great-Great Grandfather, Private William Henry Forbush participated in the raid with his unit, 3rd U.S. Artillery, Flying Battery C.  However, I feel more obligated to push on with  the narrative of the 13th MA Vols., so I’ve limited the discussion of the raid to these newspaper accounts and the few comments made by General Meade and others found on this page.

I learned a lot about this subject by watching a 2016 interview with Dr. Bruce Venter, author of a book about the raid titled, Kill Jeff Daivis.  You can watch the presentation here but you will be leaving this website.  Kill Jeff Davis by Dr. Bruce Venter.

General Meade's Political Problems.

George Meade, aide-de-camp

The next section on this page, “General Meade's Political Problems” outlines the conspiracy General Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac found himself suddenly thrust into.  Disgruntled Generals and political admirers of General Joseph Hooker, sought to undermine Meade’s leadership, and re-instate General Hooker to command of the army.  This was done behind General Meade’s back. But he accidentally discovered the intrigue.  His direct testimony refuted the secret allegations brought against him, but this did not keep his political enemies from continuing to try to have him removed.  The whole situation is explained in an essay authored by General Meade’s son in a collection of the General's private letters pubished in 1913.  (George Meade, pictured, left).

“Picket Duty” & “Some Camp Followers of the Thirteenth Massachusetts,” by Clarence Bell.

Next, two entertaining and detailed articles from author Clarence Bell turn the spotlight to the 13th MA Regiment.  Both articles first appeared in Bivouac Magazine, 1883-1885.  The first examines the mind of a soldier detailed for picket duty after a long march.  The author probably had the Fredericksburg Campaign in mind when he wrote it, but the regiment was doing so much picket duty in the Winter of ’64, it just as well suits the narrative here.  The next section, “Some Camp Followers of the 13th Mass” is a detailed character study of Dr. Allston Whitney’s mulatto servant “Stake,” known by no other name.  Its a rare look at some of the contraband who traveled with the regiment.   Clarence Bell did give a brief sketch of “George Washington,” and some of the other camp followers, but Stake was his chief protagonist.  Washington became a soldier with Burnside’s black regiments, so I hope to post his brief story at a future time in an appropriate place in the chronology.

Daily Camp Life; Three Letters of Private James Ross.

Portrait of James Ross, 83rd NY Volunteers

Three letters of Private James Ross, 9th N.Y. Militia (83rd NY Vol. Inf.) come after Bell’s Bivouac yarns.  The published collection of his letters takes its title from a line he wrote home in one of these:  “Willing To Run the Risks.”  If you haven’t been following James Ross's writing on other pages of this site you won’t know that James was a teacher, drafted into the army in 1863.  He chose to serve his term of enlistment rather than find a substitute to take his place.  He deferred his college education to do this.  As an observant new recruit, his detailed letters describing army life are un-surpassed.  Here he gives a good idea of life on the picket line and also in camp.  (James Ross pictured, right).

A False Alarm.

General John Robinson’s 2nd Division was on outpost duty all winter, excluded from any other duty.  This put them closest to the enemy camps and pickets, just a few miles distant across the Rapidan River.  Because of that danger, these outpost camps were subject to occasional alarms.  One such alarm occurred on March 18th.  The posted communications between lookouts, cavalry patrols and headquarters, which were found in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, show how a single erroneous report could be blown out of proportion and set a large part of the army on alert.  The soldiers in the 13th MA, and other regiments of their brigade only mentioned in brief passages, that they were on alert that day presumably due to an enemy cavalry raid.  This exploration of the communications that occurred at headquarters sheds a little light into the workings of the army.

Pay Day & Promotions.

The page again returns to the inner workings of the 13th MA Vols.  The executive correspondence of Colonel Leonard, found at the State Archives in Boston, has him urging the Governor’s office to expedite promotions in the regiment so he can fill badly needed officer positions, and possibly, bolster re-enlistments.  He also addresses the problem of some officers resigning from the 13th in hopes of getting promoted in one of the new regiments organizing.  Colonel J. P. Gould is still on the rolls as major and its holding up Elliot Pierce’s appointment to that rank.  Many of Gould’s comrades from the 13th enlisted in, or wished to join his new command.

A Hard Snow.

There was an un-expected turn in the unpredictable Virginia weather on March 22, ––a hard snow fell.  A few eclectic writings from the regiment are sprinkled throughout this section. The men were by necessity  detailed to fatigue duty to clear out the camp and the railroad they were protecting.  Unfortunately some of diarist Calvin Conant’s scribbles are illegible, and I wasn't able to completely decipher his text.  But, James Ross vividly describes picket duty in the snow in a letter to his father.  And, Sam Webster takes the opportunity to snowball his friend, Drum-Major Appleton Sawyer.

Pictured:  North Central Virginia After a Snowstorm

virginia snowstorm

The First Corps Disbanded.

The next section, “The End of the First Corps” explores the first of the two big events that occurred in March in the Army of the Potomac.  This is the reorganization of the army and the dissolution of the First & Third Corps.  On March 4th General Meade approached the War Department in Washington D.C. and proposed the change which would make the army more efficient.  The resulting orders with some eulogizing of the disbanded corps is presented here.  The second big event was the arrival of General Grant in Culpeper.  His memoirs state he established his headquarters there on March 26th.  An excerpt from his memoirs takes a look at some of his thoughts regarding his promotion to Lieutenant-General and his plans to manage the new responsibility.

The Return of Colonel Tilden; 16th Maine.

The page ends with an upbeat celebration in camp, despite the rain, when Colonel Tilden returns to his regiment the 16th Maine, after incarceration as a prisoner of war in Richmond.  A gala night of toasts followed by a day of games gave the brigade a chance to play.  Accounts of the dinner reception given in honor of the colonel lists several 13th Mass officers present at the affair, and even records for posterity the witty toast that Dr. Whitney gave Colonel Tilden in honor of gaining his freedom.

The usual voices are present on this page; Warren Freeman, Charles Davis, Jr., Sam Webster, George Henry Hill, and Calvin Conant.  And there is the occasional surprise.

A special thank-you is issued to Mr. Jacob Bates, for the use of a screen-grab from his video, Civil War Picket Duty in Freezing Temperatures, which can be viewed on his youtube channel under the pseudonym, "History Boy."


PICTURE CREDITS:  All Images are from the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DIGITAL COLLECTIONS with the following exceptions:   The b&w sketch of a shell shocked soldier, the b&w picture of  two girls in an ox-cart & the color sketch by Frank Ray of the Union soldier on picket in winter, are from Civil War Times Illustrated, 1960-1980;  Portrait of Major Thomas P. Turner, from, "Recollections of a Newsboy in the Army of the Potomac" by Doc Aubrey; (p. 82) circa 1904;  Photo of Charles Wainwright's house from Culpeper Historian Bud Hall;  Portrait of Gen. George Meade from, Carl Schurz, Reminiscences, Volume Three, McClure Publishing Co., 1907, found at Wikimedia Commons; Portrait of 18 year old George H. Hill, 13th MA, from family descendants, authors collection;  Picture of Dr. A.W. Whitney, 13th MA and Servant, author's collection; Skirmish Drill by Jack Coggins, "Arms & Equipment of the Civil War, accessed at Internet Archive; Camp at Stony Mountain,  2nd Brigade, 3d Division, 2nd Corps, from American Centuries at  [americancenturies.mass.edu]; N.C. Wyeth illustration, "The Vedette" from, 'The Long Roll,' by Mary Johnston, 1911; Winslow Homer color painting, "Reveille" from "Echo of a Distant Drum" by Grossman, 1974; Edwin Forbes sketch, “Inspection” from, “Thirty Years After, An Artist’s Memoir of the Civil War” Louisiana State University Press, 1993;  The Charles Reed sketches on this page can be found at the Library of Congress under “Charles Wellington Reed Papers.”; “Buglar” illustration by Walton Tabor is from “The American Heritage Century Collection of Civil War Art” ed. by Stephen Sears, American Heritage Publishing Company, New York, 1974.; Images from Harper’s Weekly including “Payday”  and “Rebel Pickets Surrendering” are from sonofthesouth.net; Portrait of David Whiston,13th MA from MA Historical Society, author's collection; Cartoon Piggies are from Albert Hurter, "He Drew As He Pleased" 1948, accessed via the internet; Captain David Brown from Sue Kinzelman, descendant, author's collection;  Photo of Soldier in Snow by cannon, by Buddy Secor, accessed at his flickr account, [https://www.flickr.com/photos/48642729@N07]; Picture of Corps Badges from "Hard Tack & Coffee" by John D. Billings, 1887, reprinted 1982; Portrait of General U. S. Grant from, The Photographic History of the Civil War in 10 Vols. edited by Francis Trevelyan Miller, 1911; Cartoon of President Lincoln from, Lincoln in Caricature, by Rufus Rockwell Wilson, 1953;  Illustration of The Snowball Fight, by Fritz Freund found on-line at [www.canberratimes.com];   Appleton Sawyer was sent to me by Mr. Joe Stahl;  16th Maine soldiers found at Digital Maine Library, [https://digitalmainelibrary.org]  & also at Maine Archives, [https://archives.maine.gov];  The screen-grab of the young soldier on picket is from Civil War Picket Duty in Freezing Temperatures, posted March 26, 2022 at youtube, by History Boy, (Jacob Bates);  ALL IMAGES HAVE BEEN EDITED IN PHOTOSHOP.

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Kilpatrick's Raid & The Dahlgren Papers

Due to papers discovered on Ulric Dahlgren's dead body, a controversy raged as to their authenticity, which continued to present day.  The reverberations from Kilpatrick's failed raid echoed long after its impractical execution ended.   My Great Great Grandfather, Private William Henry Forbush rode along on the raid, with Captain Dunbar Ransom, commanding his battery, 3rd U.S. Battery C,  so I touch upon the story here.––B.F.

The reports that follow are from, “Official Records of the The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.”  Series I, Volume XXXIII. 1891. (pages 178 – 182.).

The following communication signaled the end of General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick’s bold plan to raid Richmond with a hand-picked cavalry force, and free the Union prisoners at Belle Isle and Libby Prisons.

Headquarters Cavalry Corps,         
March 4, 1864.

General:  The following dispatch in cipher, just received from General Kilpatrick, dated Fort Magruder, Va., March 3, 1864:

Headquarters Cavalry Expedition,      
March  3, 1864––9 p.m.

Maj. Gen. A. Pleasonton,
                Commanding Cavalry Corps:

I have reached General Butler’s lines with my command in good order.  I have failed to accomplish the great object of the expedition, but had destroyed the enemy’s communications at various points on the Virginia Central Railroad; also the canal and mills along the James River, and much other valuable property.  Drove the enemy into and through his fortifications to the suburbs of Richmond;  made several unsuccessful efforts to return to the Army of the Potomac.  I have lost less than 150 men.  The entire command is in good order, and needs but a few days’ rest.  I respectfully ask for instructions. 

J. KILPATRICK,                     
Brigadier-General, Commanding Expedition.

In view of the failure of General Kilpatrick to return to this command by land, I respectfully urge that transportation be sent immediately from Alexandria to transport it by water, as his command is composed of picked troops from all the divisions of the corps, and the organization and effectiveness of the remaining divisions is seriously impaired by the absence of so large a number.  Very respectfully,

    A. PLEASONTON,                   
Major-General, Commanding.

Major-General Humphreys,
                                        Chief of Staff


Twenty-one year old Colonel Ulric Dahlgren commanded a wing of Kilpatrick’s force numbering nearly 500 troopers.  He was killed in an ambush while desperately trying to cut his way back to Union lines after the raid failed.  Papers in his own handwriting found on his body created a great controversy still discussed today.

General Lee sent a message to General Meade explaining the situation:

 

Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,      
April 1, 1864.

Maj. Gen. George G. Meade,
                    Commanding Army of the Potomac:

General:   I am instructed to bring to your notice two papers found upon the body of Col. U. Dahlgren, who was killed while commanding a part of the Federal cavalry during the late expedition of General Kilpatrick.  To enable you to understand the subject fully I have the honor to inclose photographic copies of the papers referred to, one of which is an address to his officer and men, bearing the official signature of Colonel Dahlgren, and the other, not signed, contains more detailed explanations of the purpose of the expedition and more specific instructions as to its execution.  In the former this passage occurs:

We hope to release the prisoners from Belle Island first, and having seen them fairly started, we will cross the James River into Richmond, destroying the bridges after us and exhorting the released prisoners to destroy and burn the hateful city; and do not allow the rebel leader Davis and his traitorous crew to escape.  The prisoners must render great assistance, as you cannot leave your ranks too far or become too much scattered, or you will be lost.

Among the instructions contained in the second paper are the following:

The bridges once secured, and the prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be secured and the city destroyed. The men must keep together and well in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and cabinet killed.  Pioneers will go along with combustible material.

   In obedience to my instructions I beg leave respectfully to inquire whether the designs and instructions of Colonel Dahlgren, as set forth in these papers, particularly those contained in the above extracts, were authorized by the United States Government or by his superior officers, and also whether they have the sanction and approval of those authorities.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R.E. LEE,               
General.         


Confederate President Jeff Davis initially laughed off the orders calling for his death and that of his cabinet when they were first personally presented to him. But the rabid newspaper editors of Richmond were in a tizzy when they heard the news, and they stirred the noble denizens of Richmond into a feeding frenzy.

Some Confederate authorities urged the captured raiders be hanged.  General Lee, with a cooler head, feared retaliation if this course was taken. And, his own son was a prisoner of the North, so he urged forbearance.

General Meade who had nothing to do with the planning or execution of the raid, called upon Gen. Kilpatrick to answer Lee’s inquiry.  Kilpatrick carefully denied the questionable orders.

 Headquarters Third Division Cavalry Corps,           
April 16, 1864.  

Brig. Gen. S. Williams, A. A. G., Army of the Potomac:

General:   In accordance with instructions from headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have carefully examined officers and men who accompanied Colonel Dahlgren on his late expedition.

All testify that he published no address whatever to his command, nor did he give any instructions, much less of the character as set forth in the photographic copies of two papers alleged to have been found upon the person of Colonel Dahlgren and forwarded by General Robert E. Lee, commanding Army of Northern Virginia.  Colonel Dahlgren, one hour before we separated at my headquarters, handed me an address that he intended to read to his command.  That paper was indorsed in red ink, “Approved,” over my official signature.  The photographic papers referred to are true copies of the papers approved by me, save so far as they speak of “exhorting the prisoners to destroy and burn the hateful city and kill the traitor Davis and his cabinet,” and in this, that they do not contain the indorsement referred to as having been placed by me on Colonel Dahlgren’s papers.  Colonel Dahlgren received no orders from me to pillage, burn, or kill, nor were any such instructions given me by my superiors.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. KILPATRICK,            
Brigadier-General Volunteers.


Dahlgren’s last name was mis-spelled on the lithographed documents sent to Meade by General Lee, so it was easy for Admiral Dahlgren, to deny the authenticity of his son's signature, and thus the debate has raged ever since as to their true character.  Recent  examinations assert the handwriting on the questionable orders is indeed Colonel Dahlgren’s, and the mis-spelling probably a mistake on the lithographer’s part.

Colonel Ulric Dahlgren

In addition to his good qualities already listed, young Dahlgren was arrogant and brash.  In a rage he hanged his colored guide, named William Roberson, for failing to find a crossing over the James river as promised.  But heavy rains had swollen the river and it was not the guide’s fault.  Moreover this guide had recently helped an escaped Union prisoner return to Federal lines by hiding him,  nursing him to health, and then carefully guiding him through Confederate lines to safety.

Dahlgren's inexperience caused him to lose the greater part of his command while trying to re-connect with General Kilpatrick’s force.  He failed to destroy his incriminating papers, as his signal officer did, during a halt the night of March 2nd while being pursued by enemy cavalry.

Also, the raid had no developed plans for the released prisoners should the mission have succeeded.  The prisoners at Belle Isle, were ragged, emaciated and sick. The Confederates, mined Libby Prison when news of the raid reached Richmond.  They probably would have blown up the prison buildings and officers confined there along with it.

Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, pictured.

Col. Dahlgren was killed some time after midnight the morning of March 3rd. As mentioned above, when Jeff. Davis was presented the controversial orders found on Dahlgren’s body,  he shrugged it off.  But the editors of the Richmond newspapers felt otherwise and stirred up a great outrage against the barbarity of the dead colonel.  His body was brought to Richmond by train March 6th, and the citizenry were allowed to gaze upon the corpse of Ulric the Hun.  Concerned with making the situation worse, knowing the prestige and importance of Admiral Dahlgren up North, Confederate President Davis ordered the body buried that afternoon in a secret place.  Such a prominent casualty would normally be sent back to the family for burial.  And, Admiral Dahlgren did indeed seek to have his son’s body buried at home.  But Miss Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy and rare Richmond resident ––one who remained staunchly loyal to the Union, discovered the location of the grave and had operatives from her own spy ring dig up the body and re-bury it in another secret location.  An embarrassed Jeff.  Davis could not produce the body after agreeing to return it.  Van Lew communicated directly with General Ben Butler on the Richmond peninsula, and notified him the body was in friendly hands and could be returned when the war ended. Admiral Dahlgren, was also visited in person by one of Van Lew's operatives from Richmond stating the same.  The admiral was in extreme anguish over the accusations hanging over his son, and even more distraught about recovering the body for burial.

The body was returned in June 1865.

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Kilpatrick's Raid as Reported in the Papers

I had originally intended to do a full page on Kilpatrick's Raid to Richmond. My G G Grandfather, participated in the raid.  His battery, 3rd U.S. Battery C, accompanied Kilpatrick's Cavalry on their journey to the north side of Richmond, then later to Yorktown.  Due to the immense work of building these Winter Encampment pages, I decided to keep my narrative  focused on the re-organization of the Army of the Potomac, and the activities of the 13th Massachusetts.  It was about mid-March when details about the raid started to appear in the Northern press.

The following news clips came from the now defunct website, Letters of the Civil War, which was operated in the early 2000's by Tom Hayes.  The site can still be accessed at the Internet Web-Archive.

graphic of a horse leaping

Woburn Townsman, March 11, 1862

The Northern press puts a positive spin on a failed raid.

March 11, 1864.

THE RAID ON RICHMOND.

          Richmond has once more been ours-almost. By a swift movement one of the boldest raids of the war was accomplished by Kilpatrick, and but for treachery the plan would have been successful. Not that 5000 men could hold Richmond, but it was not improbable that so small a number could take it, and then with the liberated prisoners and reinforcements which could be speedily sent up, the work might be done.

A.R. Waud sketch of battery in action

It seems our men did get inside the outer fortifications, and shelled the city, and if it failed in completeness it accomplished a great deal. When a previous raid was made and almost succeeded, it was said that Richmond had learned a lesson and new defences made so as to render a recurrence of the plan impossible;  but here we have one General knocking at their front door, while another only failed of walking in the back way by the treachery of a guide.

We are glad it was done.  It will show the rebels that it won't do to be napping with their army sixty miles away, and they will be obliged to draw in their lines because they don't know when or where the Yankees will strike next.

          We met with heavy loss in the death of Col. Dahlgren, and it seems a pity he should come so near and yet fail of success. We can ill afford to spare such as he, for he had shown since the war broke out a determination and a fearless energy which would have placed him high on the national roll of honor.  But Kilpatrick remains, and Butler is not asleep at his post.  Still other raids may be made, and if we progress in like ratio as in the past, the next time will open the doors of Libby, Castle Thunder, and Belle Isle.  Let us take courage; our troops did well; they are not inactive, and we must strengthen their hands for still further efforts, by filling up the ranks. The cry "On to," will yet be "Into" Richmond.

(Woburn Townsman; March 11, 1864;  pg. 2, col. 2.)


Boston Herald, March 12 1864.

In this article, an exchanged Union prisoner talks about the raid from the perspective of the inarcerated officers at Libby.

Kilpatrick's Recent Raid and the Alarm in Richmond.

    A Union officer recently released by the rebels, who was in the Libby Prison when Kilpatrick threatened Richmond, says the first intimation our prisoners in Richmond had of the advance of General Kilpatrick upon the city, was hearing the cannonading about nine o'clock in the evening, when the fight began inside the outer line of defences.

illustration of two batteries firing

It seemed even to be closer than that, and of course the meaning of it was at once evident. Every prisoner knew that those belching cannon were on our guns thundering for admission within the walls of the city, and that their rescue, if not a paramount object of the attack, at least constituted a portion of the plan.  As may be supposed, there was intense anxiety. Everyone wished that "nearer, clearer, deadlier" might be the sound of those cannon, that victory might crown our gallant forces, and, with giving the city in possession of our brave assailants, restore them to liberty.

illustration of a forlorn soldier

-––But this hope was not gratified. The next morning told the story of the bold attack of Kilpatrick and his compulsory retreat. It was bad news to the prisoners. They had been hoping against hope, it is true, but there was hope, and they cherished and hugged it, a delusive phantom though it proved to be.

    As soon as Kilpatrick's attack was made and the probability of his proposed attempt to effect their rescue assumed the shadow of possibility, the stairs in the prison were all removed, the guard strengthened, and the strictest watchfulness kept upon the occupants of each room. One object of this was to thwart any attempt at escape that might be made, for it was well known that if our troops did not succeed in reaching the prisoners, the latter would let pass no opportunity of reaching them. The precautionary measures of the prison officials made escape, however, impossible.

    The repulse of Kilpatrick called out general rejoicing outside the prison, and increased the insolence of the prison officers inside.  Altogether it was a most exciting time, though the Richmond papers, the officer says, makes less of it than there was, and, in his opinion, grossly exaggerate their means of defence.  It is his opinion, however, that no raid will ever effect the release of our prisoners, and thinks the best plan to succeed will be to bring about a general exchange of prisoners.

    The Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune gleans the following incidents connected with Kilpatrick's raid from returned Richmond prisoners:––

    When information reached Richmond that Kilpatrick crossed the Rapidan, the most rigorous orders were issued respecting the prisoners. Maj. Turner, their keeper, had been severely censured for the escape of Col. Straight and party, and was told if any more escaped he would be sent to the front. One of the Chickamauga prisoners had also written the Major that if he did not treat the prisoners better, and allowed them to have their boxes, they would assassinate him.

Major Thomas P. Turner, C.S.A.

    These threats, with the advance of Kilpatrick, induced Turner to remove the stairs of the prison so as to prevent communication with the lower story, and when the fact that Kilpatrick was really approaching Richmond was established, the prison was mined, 200 kegs of gunpowder placed under it, and every preparation made to blow the prisoners into eternity. The fact is established beyond question.  From the ringing of the bells, the passing of troops through the city from Petersburg, and orders that no prisoner should approach the windows nearer enough to touch the bar on penalty of being shot, our captives knew Kilpatrick was really attempting their deliverance.

[Major Thomas P. Turner, C.S.A., commander of Libby Prison, pictured.]

    Ignorant that the prison was mined, a plan was formed to attempt to join our forces should they enter the city.  On Monday not even the sweeps were allowed to enter Libby to clean the rooms.  Only those bringing rations came in, and they refused to converse.  The guard were increased, and strict orders to shoot any one who approached the window or stairways.  On Tuesday night the cannonading when Kilpatrick was shelled from his camp near Mechanicsville, was distinctly heard.

    During the excitement one of the guards, who had been overheard to say that he "would shoot one of the damn Yankees if he got a chance," fired at Capt. Hammond of the 8th N. Y. cavalry, while at the sinks, the ball grazing his head and passing through his cap.  After the affair was over the attendants were communicative, and were bitter in their denunciations.  Three officers and one hundred and fifty men from Kilpatrick's command were confined in the cells, and fed on corn paste and water.  Mrs. Seddon, wife of the Secretary of War, visited the hospital to identify a wounded officer, as connected with the burning of her barns. She failed to do this, but abused him in unmeasured terms, and said they all ought to be hung, and she should use every exertion to have them hung.

  Dahlgren's body was buried in the field next the road, in a pine box made by negroes out of boards torn from a barn. The authorities in Richmond had dug it up for their fury and indignities. (Boston Herald; March 12, 1864; pg. 1, col. 2.)

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General Meade's Political Enemies

I think it is appropriate to explain here, a little about the intrigue that was underway at this time, against General Meade, by his political enemies in Washington. But first a journal entry from Colonel Charless Wainwright, Chief of 1st Corps Artillery.  He touches upon the plan to consolidate the army, and the reasons why it made sense to do so.  And he comments on the  rumors floating around headquarters that General Meade may be replaced as commanding general of the Army of the Potomac.

Picture of Wainwright's Headquarters.

Wainwright's Headquarters house in 1986

Culpeper Historian Bud Hall took this photograph in 1986, of the house where Wainwright headquartered during the Winter of 1864.  The building was eventually raised.

The Journal of Charles Wainwright, March 13, 1864.

From, “A Diary of Battle, The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861-1865”;  Edited by Allan Nevins; 1962. [Edited excerpts from the original journals accessed at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA in 2015 by the webmaster.]

March 13, Sunday.  We are now having real March weather, at least as to changeableness;  no two successive days being alike.  Still, the spring is opening.  What little grass there is about here begins to look green;  the birds have commenced singing of a morning, while the frogs and tree toads keep it up all the night long.

I went up to Army headquarters on Friday. There they told me that the consolidation question was at a standstill, and that now the chances seemed to be that it will not be carried out at all;  so much opposition being brought to bear by the generals who would be deprived of commands––reduced from a corps to a division, or from division to a brigade.  Could the present corps [First Army Corps] be filled up to 25,000 or 30,000 effective men, it would be wrong to sink their past history:  but as they are now only some 10,000 or 15,000 strong, it is absurd to have such large staffs and such a multiplication of papers.

I also heard there were strong rumors again that general Meade was to be relieved.  There is no doubt of his unpopularity at Washington, but their great trouble is to find some one to take his place. “Baldy” Smith is most talked of.  I know nothing of him except his laziness at the first Fredericksburg, and his insubordination on the “mud march.”

Headquarters Brandy Station, April 1864

A view of headquarters, Brandy Station, VA, April, 1864. A company of Zouaves in the foreground.

General Grant spent Thursday night at Army Headquarters.  He was called out West suddenly, but expects to be back in ten days.  He said while here that the people of Alabama and Mississippi were in a much more subdued condition than the secessionists of Kentucky and Tennessee.  Also that there really had been over 10,000 deserters from the rebel armies out there since the battle of Chickamauga.  Supposing this to be all so, the rebellion must be pretty well put down out there.  Indeed, they have never shown the pride and obstinacy at the West that has been displayed in the older Atlantic States.  It is here that they will fight the longest, as they have by far the hardest.  Everything has aimed on their part to retain Virginia––and what a noble history hers would have been had her cause only been a just one!   I cannot help admiring the constancy of the “old Dominion” in the midst of such suffering and desolation as has been totally unknown to any other part of the country.  Her people have not only poured out their money and their blood without stint, but from this state have come all the greatest and best men;  Lee, Sidney Johnston, and Stonewall Jackson will always figure as the greatest and purest generals on the rebel side in this war.*

(This journal entry continues at length on other topics.)

NOTE:  (by Alan Nevins, the editor of Wainwright's published Journal).  Wainwright's belief that Albert Sydney Johnston had been a Virginian was as gross a misconception as his notion that the fighting at Shiloh, Stones River, and Chickamauga was somehow less fierce than that at Antietam and Gettysburg.  Johnston had been born in Kentucky and became a Texan.


THE INTRIGUE AGAINST GENERAL MEADE

The speech by Minnesota Senator Morton S. Wilkinson mentioned in this news clip is referenced in the essay that follows it.

National Republican.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
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FRIDAY  MARCH 3, 1864.
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General Meade at Gettysburg.

It is understood that the statement made by Senator Wilkinson, in his speech on Wednesday, to the effect that General Meade ordered a retreat from Gettysburg, and that the order would have been carried out but for the circumstance that one of the corps commanders got into a fight before he received it, is supported by the testimony of Generals Sickles and Doubleday before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, they having testified after the first day’s fighting, General Meade issued orders to his forces to fall back to a point seventeen mile southerly from Gettysburg.

Pictures of Generals Daniel Sickles & Abner Doubleday

Brigadier-General Daniel SicklesBrigadier-General Abner Doubleday

Daniel Sickles, earned the reputation of  a scoundrel before the Civil War.  He owed his military allegiance to Major-General Joseph Hooker who gave him his corps command. General Meade replaced Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac on June 28, 1863, at the insistence of the Lincoln administration.  When General Sickles healed from his Gettysburg wounds, General Meade refused to give him back his command, for good reasons.   Abner Doubleday found himself in command of the First Army Corps at Gettysburg, July 1st, when his superior officer John Reynolds was killed.  Few had faith in his leadership abilities and that evening General Meade gave command of Doubleday's Corps to Major-General John Newton.  Thus both Sickles and Doubleday disliked General Meade.


Letter of General Meade to his Wife, March 8, 1864.

 To Mrs. George G. Meade:

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, March 8, 1864

I am curious to see how you take the explosion of the conspiracy to have me relieved for it is nothing less than a conspiracy, in which the committee on the Conduct of the War, with Generals Doubleday and Sickles, are the agents.  Grant is to be in Washington to-night, and as he is to be commander in chief and responsible for the doings of the Army of the Potomac, he may desire to have his own man in command, particularly as I understand he is indoctrinated with the notion of the superiority of the Western armies, and that the failure of the Army of the Potomac to accomplish anything is due to their commanders.

The following essay is written by  George Meade, (son of the General) as background information to the cabal in Washington that tried to have General Meade replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac.  The chief instigators were political supporters of General Joseph Hooker.  He was their preferred man, although they would not say it, when President Lincoln asked them directly about it.

The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army by George Meade, New York, 1913. (p. 170-173).

I've tried to make this passage from the book more readable by cutting some of the editorializing and superfluous words the author used in defending his father.  The facts given in themselves are accurate.

The joint committee was authorized by act of Congress in December, 1861. It was composed of three members of the Senate and four of the House of Representatives, and instructed to examine into the conduct of the war. It was continued through successive Congresses, until after the close of the war, nearly the same members as originally appointed serving throughout its whole existence––certainly the controlling members.

Daniel W. GoochBenjamin F. Loan

 Committee member, Daniel W. Gooch of Massachusetts, (Republican) &  Benjamin F. Loan of Missouri. Loan served as a Brigadier-General in the Missouri militia,was discharged in June 1863, and elected to congress as a  Union Emancipationist.

The committee was composed in March, 1864, of Senator Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, Chairman, and Senators Zachariah Chandler, of Michigan, Benjamin F. Harding, of Oregon; Representatives Daniel W. Gooch, of Massachusetts, George W. Julian, of Indiana, Moses F. Odell, of New York, and Benjamin F. Loan, of Missouri.

George W. JulianBenjamin F. HardingMoses F. Odell

Committee members George W. Julian of Indiana, (Republican); Benjamin F. Harding of Oregon, (Democrat), & Moses F. Odell, of New York, (Democrat).

…General Meade in his …letter …dated March 6, 1864, relates how greatly he was surprised, on his arrival in Washington on March 4, to find the whole town talking of the grave charges that had been made against him before the committee, in connection with the battle of Gettysburg.  This was the first intimation he had that the committee was even examining into the Gettysburg campaign, let alone that any charges had been made against him. 

Reference to the journal of the committee, …shows what …General Meade had to contend with.  It is there seen that the committee had undertaken an investigation of the campaign and battle of Gettysburg on February 26, 1864, Major-General Daniel F. Sickles being the first witness examined.  On March 3, Brigadier-General Albion P. Howe was examined, the giving of his testimony lasting two days.  On March 4 immediately after the conclusion of General Howe’s testimony, …appears the following entry:

General George G. Meade

“The chairman directed the stenographer to enter upon the journal, that, having become impressed with the exceeding importance of the testimony taken by the committee, in relation to the Army of the Potomac, more especially in relation to the incompetency of the general in command of the army, he and Mr. Chandler had believed it to be their duty to call upon the President and Secretary of War, and lay before them the substance of the testimony taken by them, and, in behalf of the army and the country, demand the removal of General Meade, and the appointment of some one more competent to command.  They accordingly did so yesterday afternoon, and being asked what general they could recommend for the command of the Army of the Potomac, they said that, for themselves, they would be content with General Hooker, believing him to be competent;  but not being advocates of any particular general they would say, if there was any general whom the President considered more competent for the command, then let him be appointed.

They stated that Congress had appointed the committee to watch the conduct of the war, and unless this state of things should soon be changed, it would be their duty to make the testimony public which had been taken, with such comments as the circumstances of the case seemed to require.”

So by the printed record of the committee, …Mr. Wade, the chairman, and Mr. Chandler, the two most prominent and active members of the committee, had deemed it their duty to wait upon the President and secretary of war, and “in behalf of the army and the country,” demand the removal of General Meade.

It happened that Gen’l. Meade was in Washington that day on business regarding his plan to consolidate the army corps of the Army of the Potomac..

On  the 4th of March, …General Meade was summoned to appear before the committee, and on the next day, the 5th of March, he appeared before it, as mentioned in his letter of the 6th of March.  He there says, in that letter of the 6th of March, that upon presenting himself, in obedience to the summons of the committee, he found present only Senator Wade, who denied that there were any charges against him, saying that the committee was merely making up a history of the war, and was now taking evidence to enable it to give an account of the battle of Gettysburg.  Yet this gentleman …had only three days before been to see the President and secretary, to request the removal for incompetency of General Meade from the command of the Army of the Potomac…

General Meade did, in truth, most inopportunely for the committee, happen to be in Washington on other business than that in which he suddenly found himself involved.  He had come there almost providentially, as it seems in a crisis in his affairs.

Morton S. WilkinsonBenjamin F. WadeZachariah Chandler

Senator Morton S. Wilkinson of Minnesota, (Republican) proclaimed in the Senate March 2nd, that General Meade did not want to fight at Gettysburg.  Chairman of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, (Republican) lied to General Meade on March 4th, saying he was not under investigation.  Committee member, Zachariah Chandler of Michigan, (Republican) immediately called upon the president to report testimony taken against General Meade without telling Meade himself.

Simultaneously with the action of Messrs. Wade and Chandler, and on the very same day, Senator Wilkinson, of Minnesota, made a furious onslaught upon him from his place in the Senate Chamber, but he was by a happy chance there in Washington, to confound his enemies and bring their machinations to naught.

…Without the slightest preparation, without notes, memoranda, reports, or data of any kind, with which to refresh his memory, and with a mind preoccupied with other important and serious subjects, he gave his testimony before the committee.

Here the case may well rest, the evidence irrefutable and conclusive, having been submitted.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, 1864

Another view of headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Brandy Station, VA, April, 1864.

Letter of General Meade to his Wife, March 14, 1864

 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, March 14, 1864.

I wrote you, I think, on the evening of the 10th, the day Grant was here.  It rained all that day, and as he could not see anything, he determined to return to Washington the next day.  The President having invited both General Grant and myself to dinner on Saturday, the 12th, I had of course to go up to Washington, and as I wanted to add to my testimony to the committee, I concluded to go up with General Grant.  When I arrived, I immediately went before the committee and filed documentary evidence to prove the correctness of my previous assertion that I never for an instant had any idea of fighting anywhere but at Gettysburg, as soon as I learned of Reynold’s collision and obtained information that the ground was suitable.  Mr. Wade was the only member present.  He took great pains to endeavor to convince me the committee were not responsible for the newspaper attacks on me, and I might rest assured there was no disposition on their part to do me injustice.  Secretary of War Edwin M. StantonAfterwards I saw Mr. Stanton, who told me Mr. Wade had been to see him, and said my testimony was the clearest statement that had ever been made to the committee, and that, as far as he could see, it was perfectly satisfactory in explanation of all charges against me.  I soon found the tide had turned in my favor and that Sickles had overreached himself.  I also ascertained that Chandler and Wilkinson were my foes on the committee, that Wade was rather friendly, and that Harding, of the Senate, Gooch and Odell, of the House, were my warm friends.

Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, pictured.

I think I wrote you you that the Secretary had officially inquired of me by what authority I had written to Hon. Reverdy Johnson, a Senator, about military affairs, and that I had replied to him I did not require any authority to write a private letter to a friend, defending myself from slanders.  When I saw Mr. Stanton I referred to this matter, when he told me his letter had been written in my interest;  that I had made a great mistake in writing to Mr Johnston, who was showing it to everybody, and making it appear he was my chosen champion; and that his political status was such that my identification with him could not fail to damage me and my cause.  He said he was aware of how I had been led into the step, and all he wanted was just such a reply as I had made, which he would now show to Senators and Representatives when they called on him to know what my relations were with Reverdy Johnston.  I fortunately met Mr. Johnston in the street, begged him to consider my letter strictly private, and borrowed it to copy for file in the War Department.

I think I told you I was very much pleased with General Grant.  In the views he expressed to me he showed much more capacity and character than I had expected.  I spoke to him very plainly about my position, offered to vacate the command of the Army of the Potomac, in case he had a preference for any other.  This he declined in a complimentary speech, but indicated to me his intention, when in this part of the country, of being with the army.  So that you may look now for the Army of the Potomac putting laurels on the brows of another rather than your husband.

Return to Table of Contents

Picket Duty

The narrative on this page now turns to the 13th MA.  In the following letter, original member Sergeant George H. Hill, is eagerly looking forward to the time when he can leave his army life behind and return home.

winged time

The expression is that “Time Flies.”   But not when its March, 1864, in the Army of the Potomac, and you are eagerly awaiting the month of July, so you can go home.  It's more like “Time Stands Still.”

Letter of Sergeant George Henry Hill, March 13, 1864

For variety's sake, I posted a pre-war portrait of George H. at age 19, instead of his usual military picture; courtesy of his family descendants.

Camp near Mitchels Station           
Sunday March 13––1864        

Dear Father

portrait of George Henry at age 19

    Another week has passed and the time we all long for is so much nearer.  I find it hard to live up to the maxim which Mother always taught me, “never wish time away” and often find myself wishing it was July, but it will soon be so and then if I live I hope to meet you all in good health.

We are somewhat excited now about the proposed consolidation of corps.  The report is that we are to be put in the 6th.  We feel quite indignant to think that we are to loose our identity as a corps after so faithfully earned it, while the sixth has done comparatively no fighting.

    If Gen. Reynolds had lived it would not have been done, however it is with us only four months more anyway and I shall always pride myself on belonging to the “old first corps”.  Commanded by Hooker & Reynolds our Corps was second to none and we naturally feel that it is our right to retain the number. 

Of course I have no need to send love to you and Ma for you know I am always

                Your affect son
                                            Geo H.


From the Diary of Samuel D. Webster, Company D:
        Excerpts of this diary (HM 48531) are used with permission from The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

Monday, March 14th, 1864
        Inlying picket.  Camp visited by two F F V’s, who drove a very small mule, in a springless wagon, and sat upon the floor.  The boys were as deferential to them as possible, owing to their sex entirely.  Grass is coming up, and everything begins to look well.  Gen. Grant is in command, and there is considerable talk of reorganizing the army.

Illustration of Camp Guard by J. Queen

Illustration of Camp Guard, by James Fuller Queen, titled, “Sketches with Co. B, 8th Reg. Pa. Ma. under the officers of the old Southwark Guards.”  (Library of Congress).

From the Diary of Calvin Conant:
      (On file at the Army Heritage Education Center, Carlisle, PA).

Sunday, March 13, 1864.  Very plesant day  I am on guard to day  Inspection by Company   Mast[er]  Sarg[ent]   Cody has gone to Culpeper or to the Signal Station [Note: From the roster:  Edward W. Cody; age, 24; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as Sergeant, Company C, July 16, 1861; mustered out as 1st Lieutenant, August 1, 1864; residence; Boston.]

Monday, March 14, 1864.  Very plesant day  I am of guard the Reg is on? the? Picket  line? Police party to Clean up Camp     Brigade drill this after? noon by Leonard   our Reg is out

Thursday, March 15, 1864.  Plesant day rather Windy toward night   had a little floury? of snow? about noon  I am on guard Capt Chas Morse of the 6th A. C.  is down here today   had a good dinner to day of Steak  and eggs & can hardly move   eat so much*

 *NOTE:  When I photographed Calvin's diary, the pages for the March 16 & 17  entries,  stuck together, and I did not get a photo of them. Unfortunately something significant happened on the 16th as recorded in Sam Webster's journal.  Dr. Whitney's servant, “Stake,” accidentally shot and killed his best friend in the colonel's tent.  See article, “Some Camp Followers” below.


The following two articles written by 13th MA soldier Clarence Bell, were  published in Bivouac Magazine 1882-1885.  I have photo-copies of this first article–– from which this was transcribed.  These photo-copies were some of the earliest regimental writings I obtained from outside the 13th MA Circulars, (1888-1922).  The copies were given to me by fellow 13th MA descendant & researcher Greg Dowden, back in the early 2000's. This first piece is an excerpt from Clarence Bell's long article titled “When You Were Mad.”  Its original setting is the Fredericksburg Campaign, but it fits equally well here.

“When You Were Mad” (excerpt)
by Clarence Bell
Bivouac Magazine, 1883; (p. 305-307).

In the original article, the author winds through a long series of annoyances experienced by common soldiers in the volunteer army.  He begins with the green recruits of 1861 and works his way up to the more experienced soldier.  I love how Clarence inserts the machinations of the mind of a soldier on picket into his narrative.  Herein we join the article in mid-stream.

Can you remember any event in your military life that set you “bilin’” in a greater degree than to be detailed for picket just at the close of an all-day, fifteen or twenty-mile march;  when, to use your own forcible, yet expressive term, you were completely “bunged up?”  There you were, covered with dust;  hair, eyebrows, clothes, every thing that you possessed carrying evidences of the various kinds of soil over which you had passed during that long, dreary day.  The corners of your mouth, your eyes, your ears, and even your throat, lined with the deposits from that “cloud by day” that had accompanied your wanderings.  Just as you had buttoned your “shelter” to that of your chum;  had spread your blankets, and had flung yourself into your lair for a preliminary rest before getting your supper;  just then along came the orderly sergeant, and inserted the metaphorical fingers of discipline into the collar of your coat, “shaking” you right out of repose with :  “Private Snickers, you’re detailed for picket.”

Charles Reed Sketch, Orderly kicking private awake

For an instant you were speechless, the ponderous fist of authority had knocked you with a single blow from the seventh heaven of comfort into the bottomless pit of despair.  You had carefully counted noses for your turn of picket, and had reckoned that there was a full week of immunity yet for you.  You could not comprehend how that host ahead of you had slipped out of their places. You proceeded to expostulate:   “Why, sergeant, I only came off from camp-guard on Tuesday, and this is Thursday.  There’s a lot ahead of me, ––Tom, and Bill, and Joe ––– where are they?”

“Tom’s pitching the colonel’s tent;  Bill’s used up, and gone to the hospital;   Joe’s straggled, and hasn’t come in yet.  I’m sorry, but there’s no help for it.”  Of course he was sorry;  he sympathized with you from the bottom of his heart.  His own aching bones told him that you needed rest, and it was a very disagreeable task for him to designate you for three day’s picket duty.

The position of an orderly sergeant is a very thankless honor.  Just in sight of the promised land –– a shoulder strap –– repelled by those above him with a sort of “keep your distance” air ––barely respected by two or three score of men below him ready to take umbrage at the mildest exercise of his authority –– associated with the “non-coms,” yet unable to relax enough from the dignity of his office to form any friendly companionships –––he exists, a caste by himself, and is on an equality only with the others of his rank in the regiment.

Feeling yourself to be the victim of a tyranny without parallel in the annals of time, you packed up your “duds,” strapped on your knapsack, buckled your equipments into the old sore spots on you body, poked along up to headquarters, and reported for duty, mad clean through.  The line of pickets was certain to be two or three miles off, and you had to plod over rough roads, through a brook, and into a wilderness of briers and scrub oaks to get there.  Why couldn’t they have the picket-line close to camp, so that you might have your supper with the “boys,” and sleep in you tent when your tour of duty was done?

By they, you meant all those above you, from “Father Abraham” down to Corporal Bayonet.  Let them put you in charge of the army, and you would show them how to conduct a campaign.  You’d make it comfortable for the “boys” all the time;  paymaster every day;  a constant “free bow” at the sutler’s;  a barrel of whiskey issued with every box of hard-tack.  You would dispense entirely with the enemy ––no need of him  in you campaign ––you would possess the land free from all incumbrances of that character.  There couldn’t be an enemy in the regime that you would inaugurate.

A.R. Waud sketch of Pickets Fraternizing

Don’t you remember the delusion that you used to hug to yourself, soothing and condoling you somewhat in all your tribulations, if they, that mythical they, would only let the common soldiers of both armies come together and talk the matter over, you’d soon have peace?   All you’d got to do was to hang half a dozen of the leaders on each side, and that was the end of it.  Just think of it now.  Suppose for a moment that you had had your way;  that you and Johnny had sat down between the lines at Fredericksburg to settle the thing.  Suppose that you had set to work on your “slate” to pick out the six leaders from your side, what names would you have written down?  You would have been there to this day writing down and rubbing out again, and the only name that you would have there would be that of your orderly sergeant with two-thirds of an inclination to rub him out too.  And Johnny would have had no better success on his “slate” than you had had with yours. [A.R. Waud sketch shows opposing pickets fraternizing.

But to return to that picket-line.  You preferred to have your misery in large doses, so you arranged with the other reliefs for four hours on, and eight off.  Consequently, after you had filled up on canteen-water and hard-tack, you sat down against a tree to rest until ten o’clock, which was the time of your service.  You slept like a post, and it seemed as if you had hardly begun to doze when you were shaken up to be told that it was time.

Somehow or other you got out there, but did not get waked up until you were left alone in the darkness at your station.  You had about made up your mind that all you had to do was to kill time until you were relieved, when just a little way from you something snapped.

What it was you could not guess ––to this day you are ignorant ––probably it was only a decaying twig that had parted from a limb by its own weight;  but it gave you a touch of the cold shivers, and set you broad awake in a jiffy.  You opened your eyes wider and wider, gazing into the darkness, endeavoring to penetrate the mystery.  You stretched your ears longer and longer to catch the sound of approaching stealthy steps until you felt like a  cross between a screech-owl and a donkey.  There was that black thing out there motionless;  but you could not remember to have seen it before.  To be sure it was only a cedar bush, but being in the guerrilla country, you were expecting visitors, and felt sure that that sombre figure was one of them.  Charles Reed Illustration of Union Picket soldierYou had your musket at full cock, ready to blaze away.  Just then by some accident the man  on the post beyond you discharged his piece.  That was enough for you, the whole Confederate army must  be outside there, so you banged away at that black thing, and the entire line of pickets, catching the contagion of suspicion, fired in quick succession by twos and threes.

When the excitement had died away, and you had settled to the conclusion that there was no enemy near, you had a chance to think of your own miserable fate again.  Your discontent was partly mitigated by the knowledge that after that volley there could not be anything sleeping within five miles of you.  Misery loves company is the saying, though there is a doubt as to misery loving anything.

After you had been an hour on your post, you concluded that your task was about fulfilled, and that the four hours had sped away. You began to turn your attention to the interior rather than to the exterior of the line.  You listened for the indications from the rendezvous that the relief was being called.  How you fumed and grumbled at the peace that seemed to have settled over everything.  You knew that the corporal and every one else had fallen asleep, all snoring but you.  You half believed that all the pickets but you were slumbering.  You stinted yourself;  you walked up and down your beat fifty  times, imagining that at the end of the count the relief would certainly be there.  But they did not come, so you counted a thousand, hurrying up on the last hundred, so as to get done before the challenge came.  Then you slowed up on the last ten, so as not  to get it done too soon, and when you began to fear that there was a possibility of this being one of those Arctic nights that last for weeks and weeks;  when you seriously contemplated suicide;  when you had placed your gun to blow out your brains, or rather to make a hole in your head to see if you had any brains at all, just then you heard the clanking of scabbards, and the jingling of the equipments of the relief.  And you don’t remember anything more until you were roused up to go on again, with the pleasant rays of the sun thawing out the frigidity of your soul.

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Some Camp Followers of the Thirteenth Massachusetts

On March 16, in the Colonel's tent, Dr. Whitney's servant Stake accidentally shot and killed his friend Sport.  Sam Webster mentions the incident in his diary.  Clarence Bell tells the tale in another excerpt from one of his Bivouac articles.

Diary of Sam Webster continued:

Wednesday, March 16, 1864
        Applied for pass, disapproved.  “Stake,”  Dr. Whitney’s darky, accidentally shot another nig. today.


“Some Camp Followers of the Thirteenth Massachusetts” (excerpt)
by Clarence Bell.
Thirteenth Regiment Association Circular #10, December, 1897.

This article is one of the earliest to be published in the Thirteenth Regiment Association Circulars.  Author Clarence Bell was already a seasoned writer whose works spanned the 3 year run of Bivouac Magazine, 1885 –– 1887;  another enterprise with former soldiers of the 13th regiment serving as senior editors.  This article was written for publication in the Circulars upon request of Charles E. Davis, jr., Secretary of the Association.  Dr. Allston Whitney's servant, “Stake,” is the featured protagonist of Bell's reminiscence, and his story accordingly takes up 7/8 of the essay. After the story of Stake ends, the original article continues on, with the mention of a few other “contraband,” who followed the 13th MA, most notably, “George Washington,” who longed for the time when the government would accept the services of black soldiers.  Washington subsequently enlisted when the opportunity presented itself and served bravely in one of Burnside's units in 1864.  I'm going to limit this excerpt to the story of  Stake, because the day he accidentally shot his friend was March 16th, 1864, and here it best fits into the chronology of the regiment.  George Washington's story will come later in time.

Wherever the armies of the Union campaigned in the South, the sons of Africa, no matter how gentle the yoke under which they labored, forsook the home of the master to seek for freedom under the starry banner, the great majority, of course, crossing the natural barrier of the Potomac to obtain employment in the vicinity of the capital, or, leaving the imaginary boundary of Mason and Dixon's line behind them, to secure a livelihood as far removed as possible from the scenes of slavery.  Many of the men, or so-called “boys,” joined the various regiments of the army, as officers' servants, assistants to company cooks, teamsters, or in any other capacity, when their services were needed or their presence could be tolerated.

In the earlier months of the war, the fugitive-slave law being still in force, the first comers to the Union camps were returned to the slave-owners in Maryland, and even Massachusetts regiments were concerned in the surrender of the human property to the custody of the master.  The vigorous protest of Governor Andrew stopped this inhuman practice, and when the Thirteenth reached the field in the midsummer of 1861 the fleeing slave needed no “freedom papers” to obtain the recognition of his right to labor in his own behalf.  From the first disembarkation of the regiment at Hagerstown to the final withdrawal from the lines at Petersburg, the dusky sons of Ham were present in the camps and bivouacs of the Thirteenth in numbers at times reaching to a score or more.  They speedily doffed the garments of bondage and donned the army blue; the cast-off apparel of the soldier furnishing a wardrobe capable of some selection as to fit, though doubtful as to cleanliness, while generally bordering on dilapidation.  When thus garbed the "contraband," as he was invariably called, differed but little in appearance from the ordinary soldier, save that he was never able to overcome the habits of servitude, exemplified in a general slouchiness of manner coupled with a lounging gait, brought on, presumably, from his reluctance to begin his master's work, and, having begun, to perform any more than was necessary to secure his food and raiment.

In mentioning a few of those who sought the sheltering tents of the Thirteenth, first and foremost comes to mind the clown, the jester, the vagabond,––“Stake.”  The very mention of the name brings to the face the smile of memory.  It is hardly necessary to describe him to any member of the regiment.  Every one knew him. Every one was influenced by his broad guffaw of hilarity, a literal burst of mirth.  The butt for the wit of every one, yet a master of retort himself, however illiterate in expression.  It must also be said that he was the very imp of prevarication and trickery.  His ringing laugh enlivened the camp, and served to make endurable the most dreary march.  Of full negro features and dialect, the light, tan-colored complexion betrayed the taint of the Caucasian in his pedigree, perhaps explaining the source of his wit.

Surgeon Allston W. Whitney & Servant, Williamsport, MD

This may be a photo of  Dr. Whitney with his servant, Stake.  This is a cropped image from a photo carried by my G. G. Grandfather who was in Company K of the 13th Mass.  In the photo, he labeled Doctor's Whitney & Heard (Heard cropped out here) and the man with the horse as “servant.”  The photo was taken by 13th Reg't. photographer, George Crosby, at Williamsport, Md. during the winter of '61––'62.  Its the reader's guess if the man pictured fits the description provided by Clarence Bell.

I am not sure that any one knew his right name, yet have an impression that it was George Jones.  At any rate, whatever it was, he never went by any other title than “Stake” while with the Thirteenth, and the good doctor, whose nominal servant he was, never called him any other.  Upon the march, when reaching a halt, we knew by the call of  “Ho ! Stake !” that the doctor wanted his canteen, of which Stake was the very untrustworthy custodian, and we passed along the shout to where the group of contrabands lagged in the rear of the regiment.  Frederick Remington Sketch of an officer drinking from a soldier's canteenAs Stake possessed a robust appetite for both liquids and solids, dainties or necessities, the doctor could count himself a lucky man if he found a full canteen, or if the "Spiritus frumenti" possessed its original strength.  Whatever its condition, the amiable surgeon took it all in good part, and appreciated the joke even when it was against himself.

I have heard the doctor from the opening of his tent call and call again for his wool-topped servant, when the rascal was reclining under the very lee of the canvas, lazily polishing a belt plate, or putting a dubious shine on the doctor's boots. And all the time the servant's face was puffed out with suppressed mirth, while his almost invisible eyes twinkled with enjoyment at the doctor's impatience for his presence.  But when he did reply, how the observers would snicker to both see and hear him throw his voice into the very depths of his throat, as if answering from a great distance, gradually raising it as he was presumed to be coming nearer, until he slowly rose from his place of comfort in the sunshine, replying in his natural voice, with some symptoms of alacrity, as he crawled from under the ropes, and presented himself before his angry patron, with “Here I is, doctor,” simulating a shortness of breath, as if greatly fatigued from running a long distance to respond to the summons.

It was almost side-splitting to observe his countenance as he solemnly denied the doctor's assertion –– “You heard me all the time, you black rascal, you”  Knowing what we did, we were forced to yield the encouraging laugh, as with a face smoothed to a semblance of truthfulness he answered, “Deed I didn't, 'deed I didn't!  I come as quick as I could, soon's I heard you holler.”

We could never have faith in the acceptance by the doctor of this assertion as truth.  He knew that Stake would lie, and seemed to be satisfied with his having responded at all.

It is inconceivable just how the doctor regarded his almost useless servant.  To be sure, the latter managed to take care of his employer's horse, in a fashion, he even polished his boots at times, but he always took his own time about it, blending it into a sort of a frolic.  As far as his relations to the doctor were concerned, he was a perfect spoiled child, given to pranks, with a keen appetite for mischief day and night.  I think the doctor had a perpetual curiosity as to what he would do next, or how he would extricate himself from a scrape.

     The servant seemed to have but little respect for his employer, and acted as if he was contributing the greater part of his existence to the latter's amusement.  Consequently it was no more than fair that the doctor should contribute, in a measure, to Stake's enjoyment.  He was known to tickle the doctor's foot with a straw, when a careless movement in sleep had caused an exposure from the scanty folds of the blanket, and then maintain absolute silence, crouched on the ground behind the doctor's cot, or possibly hiding beneath it.

There came a time in early June, 1863, when the army of the Potomac moved north from in front of Fredericksburg, and the doctor was left behind, in charge of a hospital, containing such of the wounded as could not be safely moved away.  Stake had no idea of allowing the Confederates to lay violent hands on him, and curtail his career of liberty and license.  He abandoned his indulgent employer and sought a life of ease, amid the enjoyments of Washington.*

The doctor was promptly deposed from his position, as soon as the enemy crossed the Rappahannock, and for many months he suffered the hardships of imprisonment within the walls of the Libby warehouse at Richmond.  He was not exchanged till the ensuing winter, and when he arrived in Washington almost the first person he met was his mulatto servant, Stake.

cartoon of a well dressed black man

Whether it was a joyful meeting for the doctor, or otherwise, cannot be told, but his regard revived enough for him to immediately decide to take Stake to the front with him.  Repairing to Willard's Hotel, for his luggage, he directed Stake to await his return in the corridor, while he himself passed upstairs to his room.  Very soon after, an officer of considerable rank entered the hotel and spying Stake loafing about the hall, supposed him to be an employee of the establishment.  The officer tossed his handsomely trimmed overcoat to Stake, with the injunction, “Hold that for me,” and then passed along to the desk. In a few minutes the doctor returned, and calling to Stake, the pair took their way to the railroad station, where the train was taken for Culpeper, the winter quarters of the Army of the Potomac.  At the camp, the costly garment worn by Stake excited the curiosity of the observers, and somebody asked him, “Isn't that rather an expensive overcoat you are wearing, Stake?  Where did you get it?”

     “De gin'ral told me to hold it fer him, an I'se a doin' it, boss. I'se a holdin' it, for sure.”

     When the doctor resumed his position as brigade surgeon, Stake brought along a chum, a full-blooded negro of somewhat civilized manners, who was known by no other name than that of “Sport.”  He was a fairly well-bred sort of fellow, and in later years would have achieved fame for style in the modern cake-walk.  He speedily made himself at home at brigade headquarters, and was accepted as a servant by Colonel Leonard, then commanding, giving satisfaction to his employer.  Stake and Sport were inseparable chums, and bunked together in the attic of the house about which the tents were pitched, the colonel's tent, rather larger than the others, occupying the centre of a group, with the house on one flank, and the farm out-buildings on the other.

Right here it must be told, that Stake and Sport had acquired a strong liking for the drama, particularly the melodrama, from having visited the theatres at Washington, and they would often rehearse imaginary scenes of tragic interest, unabashed by the presence of spectators, and rather wooing the liberal applause of the appreciative audience.  One bright frosty morning, as I stepped into the open air from the door of the house, I heard the sharp crack of a pistol shot that seemed to be close at hand.  The sentry patrolling the line of officers' tents heard it at the same time and ran to the colonel's quarters, lifted up the flap of the tent and looked in.  Just then Stake sneaked out, his countenance assuming a sort of muddy pallor, for the moment completely sobered by what had happened.  The guard was called and a squad soon bore from the tent the body of poor Sport, a ruddy stream trickling down his coal-black face, from a small bullet hole in the centre of his forehead.

melodrama graphic

The story is soon told.  The bosom friends, overcome by their passion for the drama, had taken possession of the colonel's weapons, Sport brandishing the sword and Stake flourishing the pistol.  They had reached the climax of “Villain, defend yourself!” when Stake, in an unguarded moment, had pressed the trigger, and that was the end of poor Sport.  A pine coffin was brought down from Culpeper; a grave was dug in a small cemetery near the house, and the chaplain of the One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania officiated at the funeral, while Stake stood at the head of the coffin as chief mourner.  This was in the morning of the day succeeding that of the fatality, yet before sunset Stake had recovered his equanimity and was ready to laugh on the slightest encouragement.

While honesty and truthfulness constituted no part of Stake's character, mischievousness more than made up for the deficiency.  The doctor's stores of tobacco and spirituous comforts were looked upon as common property, Stake appropriating the lion's share unless watched.  He played one trick on his lenient master that ought to have terminated his career of viciousness, but being always ready to accept forgiveness, the misdemeanor was passed over, as had been the multitude of deviltries already rounding out his record.  Being given a sum of money to make a purchase for his patron, he brought back the change, consisting of fractional currency, rolled in a wad, inside of which was imprisoned a bee.  The weather being warm, the doctor had dispensed with his vest, and inclining to carelessness in money matters, he took the roll and stuffed it, as it was, into his fob pocket, without looking at it.  Stake sneaked off to roll on the grass and to chuckle over the dilemma that his victim would soon be in, when the bee would be seeking an avenue for escape from his uncomfortable quarters. When interrogated by a bystander, regarding the source of his hilarity, he unburdened himself of the whole plot, expecting an appreciative listener.  The latter upbraided the rascal for the scurvy trick on the popular doctor, and induced him to return to his victim and endeavor to prevent the accomplishment of the mischief.

bee sketch

Stake approached the doctor and told him that something was wrong with the money that had been handed to him.  He did not dare to own up to the trick, but hoped to get possession of the money, release the bee, and then return the wad without being found out.   His actions only served to excite suspicion.  The doctor would not yield possession of the money, but poked about in his pocket until the bee stung him on the finger, when Stake abruptly fled from the uncorking of the vials of his wrath.

Just before the regiment left City Point, Virginia, for home, an officer came to headquarters, and singling out the doctor, said, in great wrath, “Your nigger has stolen my horse.”

To say that the doctor was amazed would be stating it mildly.  To be sure, horse-stealing had advanced to a high art, in the onward sweep of war, through the enemy's country, but the act was designated by a milder term –– confiscation.

Then, too, the equine article was contraband of war.  The doctor knew that he had a near kin to Satan in his employ;  but a horse-thief, stealing from an officer serving under the same flag –– NEVER.

He repelled the accusation with much indignation.  He became a heated champion for the downtrodden African, and for a long time refused to consider the charge at all.  Yielding at length to urgent solicitation, he called his servant for examination.

“Stake! did you steal this man's horse?”

With a look of the most profound innocence, eyes wide open, likewise his mouth, his breath, quick and short, betraying his amazement, and both hands raised as if to shield virtue from the attack of viciousness, he ejaculated as soon as he could recover his equilibrium –– “What! Me steal a hoss? I nebber stole a hoss in all mah life. I swar to goodness I nebber seed dat man's hoss.”

His protestations were in vain.  The charge was reiterated again and again.  Nothing would satisfy the accuser save a search of the tent occupied by Stake and other servants belonging at the brigade headquarters.  One of the first articles culled from under the blankets was a bridle, promptly recognised by the officer as his property. That was enough, yet the culprit was equal to the emergency ––

“Stake, where did you get this?”

“Jess borrowed it, sah.  Jess borrowed it, but, 'fore de Lord, I nebber knowed dere was any hoss in it, sah !”

The officer insisted on making an example of the villain, and Stake was hauled away to the guard-house for trial and punishment.

Cartoon of contraband greeting a seated well dressed man

The regiment soon departed for home and the doctor went along with it, leaving Stake in the clutches of the law, ––martial law.  It can only be told that the doctor was much relieved, as he no doubt had contemplated his return to civil life with some embarrassment as Stake, having been an annoying pet in the open country, would have been trebly so within the rigid confines of civilization.

A few years afterward, when dining at a prominent hotel in Boston with a friend, he noticed a grinning darkey standing near his table.  For a moment he did not recognize the man, and then it came like a flash.

“Stake, is that you? What are you doing here?”

“Yes, it's me, doctor. Couldn't stay away from you, nohow.”

But the doctor was steel this time.

“You take mighty good care that you don't come any nearer to me than this hotel, if you know when you are well off !”

The admonition served.  That gulf was never bridged.

*NOTE:  For more about Dr. Whitney's capture, see the 1863  page of this website titled, "General Hooker in Charge; Back in Camp" and the John Fay's Memoir titled "Libby Prison."

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Daily Camp Life; Three Letters of James Ross, March 16 - 18

James' regiment, the "9th" NY Militia, was camped back in Culpeper but occasionally sent men down to the Signal Station at Garnett's Peak (Cedar Mountain) to help out with the outpost and picket duty.  In this letter James talks about how the service uses up men.

From: “Willing to Run the Risks;  Letters from the Civil War, Private James Ross, 9th N.Y.S.M., Co. G, August 1863 –– May 1864.”

 Culpepper Va
            Mar 16th 1864

Dear Willie:

I recd. a letter from you more than a week ago.  I am ashamed that I have not answered it before something occurred to prevent me just when I recd. it and the time has slipped away since and it has not been done. I wish that I had something to write you this morning, but I have not.

We have just had breakfast in the shanty and are waiting for drill call. Things go on much as usual with us no moves nor signs of any but the time approaches when a move must come and for that time we wait.

Bill went off to the invalid corps the other morning. I believe that I mentioned his departure in a letter to father he has made his last march in the army of the Potomac and for his own sake I am glad of it.  Bill is a good fellow but he has not the constitution that a soldier needs. I dare say that he may now get his discharge. I hope that he may. sixteen others went off with him, two of them beside Bill were from our company   it is strange how the army uses men up. the company is not half the size that it used to be and but few have died, none been killed, some are in hospital, some in Richmond, some in the invalid corps some dead, &c

contraband coming into camp

The 96th Regt. is home on furlough they have reenlisted for the war. Kingsley came in off picket last night (we send out a picket once in ten days now) he says that negroes and deserters continue to come in. A large squad of negroes came in the night before he left   one of them had been owned by a sutler near Orange Court house   he got a pass to go to the Court House to buy a pair of boots and when there paid one hundred dollars in rebel script for a pilot across the river. he says that the rations of the rebel soldiers are a quarter of a pound of meat and a cup of meal or flour, they get coffee or sugar once in a great while   he says that the men are heartily sick of the whole thing and many declare that if the affair is not settled by spring that they wont stay in the army longer. he says that many who wish to desert dare not try it for they do not know the direct route to the yankee camps and they fear being out a day or two on the road wading rivers &c in their their clothes and shoes.

The boys had a scare out at the signal station the other night    one of our cavalry pickets raised an alarm I guess for the mere excitement of the thing. There was a great row a squadron charged where they supposed the enemy was, and when they were returning the infantry mistaking them in the dark gave them a volley and killed a horse and with this the affair ended.

I got some paper from father last Saturday night and a paper Sunday night. The paper is just what I want a good size and about as heavy as I like it here. Please do not delay writing to me because I have not done the fair thing by you. Good Bye for the present.

Your brother                           
James Ross


2 Letters March 18, 1864

The collection of James Ross's wonderfully detailed Civil War letters, which I have been posting on this site, takes its title from a line he wrote in this letter to his father on March 18.  The title of the compilation of letters is “Willing to Run the Risks.”   In this letter James mentions the false alert that penetrated the Army First Corps on March 18.  This is detailed a bit more in the next section titled, “A False Alarm.”

 Culpepper Va.
                        Mar.18th 1864

Dear Father

Yours of the 14th came to hand last night. I should have sent off an answer today but have been so busy that I have not had time.  I have answered all your letters since being here just as soon as they were recd. but I let one of Willie’s slip till yesterday I think, when I sent him one.  Edwin Forbes sketch of soldier reading a letterI had a letter from Annie this evening they are all well at home and they think that that picture of you  is rather a fine thing.  It matches well with Mother’s   all the men here think that you and her make rather a fine looking couple.  It is strange that no one thinks that the picture I sent home looks like me.  I believe that it is the clothing that makes the difference.  In the first one that I sent home I did not look much different from what I would at home, as I had no gun or equipments, but in this one clad in an overcoat and buckled and strapped up of course I would look strange.  I fancy my face is not quite the same for I know it is a good deal browner than it used to be and fuller too though for that matter it was never very thin.

We are just having another scare tonight. We recd orders this afternoon to pack up and be ready to move at a moments notice.  We packed up accordingly and got ready but the notice has not come yet and I hope it wont for a few weeks.  I do not much admire the plan of trotting back and forth on reconnaissances at this season of the year.  It is too early for the spring campaign to open yet.  If they will only let us remain here till the weather grows warm they may move us just as much as they please.

We are kept quite busy now there is quite a heavy guard around the regiment and we send out a picket every ten days but the duty is nothing to what we have been used to. We drill regularly and the men are getting to have the air and tramp of old soldiers. We are now having skirmish drill which is a distinct branch by itself something like old fashioned rifle drill I think.  It is to teach the men to act as skirmishers.  In action the skirmishers always commence the action they are thrown out in advance of the army to feel the enemy and clear the way for those behind them.  Skirmishers are deployed out at the distance of five paces apart.  One rank advances ten paces and fires then the other and &c.  If cavalry threatens them they rally by fours and present their bayonets. The drill is light and easy to practice here, but at Mine Run when they were hugging the earth likely to catch a battle bullet every time one of them raised his head it was not such good fun.

It seems pretty certain that Grant is about to identify himself with the army of the Potomac. If he does this he will either make himself one of the biggest names in history or else lose all the fame that he has won. But it does seem to me that we are to whip them next summer.  I am willing to run the risks of all the fighting for the sake of gaining this end.

It is now nine oclock and I must put out my light. The paper you sent was good, just the right thing. Good bye for tonight. James Ross


Skirmish Formation Diagram by Jack Coggins

Jack Coggins diagram showing skirmishers

Daily Camp Routine

In this letter James breaks the news that he is getting over a severe cold.  He writes of the difficulties a soldier faces trying to stay healthy in difficult circumstances.  This is the untold story of the soldiers; the everyday discomforts of hard service when one isn't feeling well.   His comments about remaining in wet damp clothes and sleeping on wet damp bedding to attempt to avoid a more severe sickness is surprising to read.

 Culpepper, Va
                            Mar. 18th 1864

Dear Sister Myra* :

Myra Signor to whom James wrote

Your letter of the 13th came to hand last evening. I  have therefore before me this morning the pleasant task of answering it & the unpleasant one of trying to excuse myself for neglecting to answer your former letter.  I know that I have given you good reason to feel offended, but let me tell you just under what circumstances I recd. it and then perhaps you will partly excuse me;  though I am well aware that you still have reason to feel displeased at my conduct. I recd. it late in the evening of the 28th of Jan. and we moved out of our camp at two oclock the next morning.  As soon as we moved I was sent away from the regiment, and the rest of the army, to help to guard a signal station. There it was so difficult to send and receive letters that I wrote only to father and mother, intending to answer my other letters when I got back into camp.  I remained at the station nearly three weeks, and when I returned to the regiment I let the matter slip from time till time. Till I was surprised and reproached by the receipt of your letter last night.

When I beheld the direction on the envelope a sense of my delinquency oppressed my mind, and I inwardly hoped that the letter contained a good scolding but on finding that you entertained the charitable supposition that I had not received your former letter I was smote to the heart, and resolved to take the first opportunity of writing to you confessing my fault, and asking forgiveness.  Now you have heard my story deal with me as you think best. Charles Reed sketch of soldier writing a letter I know that you will not use me more severely than I deserve.

I am sorry to hear that your health has not been good this winter.  Judging from the letters that I receive, all the sick people are at home and all the healthy ones in the army.  I have not been as well this winter as I was when on the march last fall but still much better than I would have been at home.  I am just recovering from the most severe cold, in fact the only severe cold that I have had since being in the army.  It is a singular fact that last fall before we got into camp I used to be wet sometimes for two or three days together and never thought of catching cold.  I believe that exercise is the only thing for people troubled with lung disease.  I find that when I get my clothes wet if I change them that I am sure to get more or less cold by the operation, but if on the other hand I allow them to dry on me nothing of the sort occurs. it is not pleasant to sleep in wet clothing or under wet bedding but I have often done it and save feeling a little stiff in the morning no other inconvenience has followed.  Luckily I am not disposed to take rheumatism.  I pity people here that are for they have no mercy shown them.  If a man has ever been troubled with that disorder let him keep out of the army.  But I am not going to write a medical treatise.  I am well just now, never was better; this is a most glorious morning you know of none such north at this season.  I feel as if I could run, jump, drill, march, or do any thing that it falls to the lot of a soldier to perform.

You wished to know something of our condition. if it will interest you I will try and describe to you our dwelling and mode of life, and you can judge by that how soldiers live when in winter quarters.  Four of us inhabit one house or shanty as we call it   it is ten feet long and roofed with our shelter tents.  The walls are built of small logs and are four feet in height. it contains neither windows nor floor there is a door and fireplace in one end and the light comes through the roof.  in the end opposite the fireplace are two bunks (or beds as you call them at home) one is over the other. They are made of small poles laid lengthwise and covered with pine boughs.  Kingsley and I sleep in the upper bunk,  Rogers and Peelor in the lower one.  We lay our overcoats under us, and have two blankets for covering.

Interior of soldier's winter hut

All around the walls of the shanty are hung our cooking utensils, a box is nailed against one side  it contains our dishes, our guns lean against the bed, and our equipments are hung upon its corners.  Back of the bed is a shelf hewed from a log which contains so many dissimilar articles that I thought a list of them might give you some idea of how soldiers keep house.  Here it is. 1 Bowl applesauce. 1 Meat board piled with meat 1 Small bag coffee, 1 Piece candle, Part of a loaf of bread, Half a canteen (used as a plate) 1 Hymn book, 1 loaf bread, 2 Testaments, 1 Box pepper, 1 mug salt, 1 Penholder, 1 Bottle ink, 1 Empty flour bag, 1 Paper Saleratus, 1 Can sugar, 1 Can coffee, 1 Plate cold meat, 1 Blacking brush, 1 Box pills, 1 Small Virgil, 1 Ball yarn.

Now I call that a pretty good assortment. Though I think that it would astonish some of your mothers housekeepers to see it on a shelf in a kitchen at home. Our daily routine is something like this.

At Winslow Homer graphic, "Late for Roll Call"six in the morning the daily revillie drums and bugles awake us.  We roll over and feel disposed for another nap, but roll will be called in a few minutes and all absentees black marked so reluctantly we tumble out.

Roll call over  the fire must be built and breakfast prepared, one cuts meat another makes coffee;  and boils potatoes. A third cuts bread and arranges the dishes, we eat off an old tub turned upside down.  Breakfast over the dishes must be washed and then an interval occurs before drill which each fills to suit himself.  One cleans his gun, another reads, a third writes.

At half past ten a bugle sounds and the cry is “fall in for drill.”  We shoulder our muskets, buckle on our equipments, and march out. For an hour or so we march, and countermarch.  Here is a specimen of the orders we receive. Two ranks form company;  quick march! Front! Right face! Right shoulder shift; Arms! Forward march! File right; March! By the left flank, march! Guide right; left wheel; March; Forward march left oblique, march! Forward march, Halt! Order arms; shoulder arms, Support arms, and so on ad infinitum.

Drill over dinner must be prepared    that over another interval occurs before afternoon drill. This generally is battalion drill, that is; a drill in which the whole regiment participates. In the morning we drill by companies after afternoon drill we get wood for the next day, brush ourselves up and get ready for dress parade this occurs at sunset and when it is over the duties of the day are done. Winslow Homer graphic of zouave cooking outside We get supper over by dark and from that time till nine oclock do as we please, read write or chat.

Taps are then sounded when all lights must be extinguished and we retire. And so it goes on from day to day. This is the life of a soldier in winter quarters, very different from the manner in which we live on the march.

We have had much wet weather lately, but it is fine and clear now   spring is coming fast and a move can not be much longer delayed.   We have moved once since being here. At least the regiment did but that was while I was absent. They went down to Racoon ford, had a brush with the enemy, and came back.  It rained while they were gone, and they had a muddy time of it. We heard the firing at the station and considered ourselves lucky fellows to be out of the scrape.

When Kilpatrick left here the Third and Sixth corps, were routed out of their quarters to divert the attention of the enemy.  Our corps had orders to move also but they were countermanded.  When the other corps moved and left us in quiet we were struck with wonder and delighted for  it is not customary for our corps to rest while the others are moving.

If I remember aright my last letter to you was from Kellys Ford. We moved from that place on the 24th of Dec. to Mitchells Station, and from there to Cedar Mountain on the 2nd of Jan.

I spent New Years day on the march, and Christmas on picket.  We had a lonesome time on the mountain. The regiments of our brigade lay on the extreme front of the army, in view of the rebel camps across the river.  We had to go out on picket every few days remaining out three days each time.   Negroes and deserters came in in great numbers   while we were there one night just as I came off post at two oclock fourteen negroes came along the line of all sizes and ages. That was the largest squad that I have ever seen. You would laugh to see their plight as they enter our lines dressed in clothing of all kinds and “toting” immense bundles on their heads. They are forwarded to Washington as fast as they arrive, where they are put into the freed mans village on Arlington Heights, unless they choose to go somewhere else and employment is found for them.**

graphic from Harpers Weekly, Rebels surrendering to a Union Picket

The deserters come in squads of five or six they are also sent to Washington but what becomes of them after that I can’t say.  Both negroes and deserters escape by swimming or rather wading the river, and that is not a pleasant task at this season. They tell us that when the weather and water gets warm, large numbers who now fear to try the journey will come over to us. They are all thinly clad and poorly shod. They say that they receive about a quarter of a pound of meat per day, and one pint of flour or meal, which seems to us a very insufficient amount of food.

We have had a number of reviews since being in camp this winter.  One of them was a review of the entire corps. I would have given a months wages if some of my friends north could have seen us.  The day was splendid and the ten thousand men who make the corps up with their banners, music, arms, and artillery, made a handsome showing.

I think it strange that my friends at home do not recognize the likeness in my picture, but it looks as much like me now as any picture can. I think it must be the clothing that make me look strange.  But it is near dinnertime and I must stop to make coffee.  We are going to have bread, boiled tongue, and coffee.

Please do not feel too hard against me for neglecting to write.  If you wish to punish me do it by heaping coals of fire, that is by courtesy[?]. Remember me to your mother and believe me. Truly your brother, J. Ross


NOTES:  *Myra is Myra Signor, pictured.  Her portrait is in the original pdf book of letters.
**The following note about the Freedman's camp is from the original book of James' letters:  In May 1863 the government established a site on Arlington Heights, “to provide freed slaves with housing and opportunities for work, training, and education….There were over 50 two-story duplex houses, two churches, a school, a meeting hall, hospital and home for the aged and infirm.”  "Neighborhoods, Boundary Stones, and Roadways." Arlington Historical Society (VA). Web. 28 Feb. 2012.


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A False Alarm, March 18, 1864.

The false report of Rebel Cavalry crossing the Rapidan River in force on March 10 is an example of an embellished camp story that made its way into the 13th MA regimental history.  James Ross's letter above recalls instances of canceled marching orders & various alarms in camp.  In the case of the  alarm issued to the First Corps on March 18, ––it all turns out to be a mistake.  Many men commented on it, but nobody could explain the reason for the alarm.     In this particular case, the correspondence  found in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion shows the reason the alert was ordered.  It also demonstrates what a big ripple a tiny pebble can make.

Stony Mountain near the Rapidan River

View of Stony Mountain above the Rapidan River near Morton's Ford.

The Brigade that was camped at Stony Mountain, (shown in the upper right of the map below), reported Confederates had crossed the Rapidan to the north side of the river, at Raccoon Ford.  This caused an alarm at Army Headquarters, and several troops were placed on alert.  Even Colonel Charles Wainwright who was headquartered nearer to Culpeper Court-House recorded the alarm in his journal.  He was unsure what caused it, but like others repeating what they heard, it was speculated that the dashing Confederate Cavalry Officer J.E.B. Stuart was planning a raid.  This would be of real significance to the troops on outpost duty, if true,  for they were most susceptible to be captured by the enemy.

The map shows the location of Stony Mountain, in relation to the camp of the 13th MA and the first brigade at Mitchell's Station.  Also represented is the Yeager Farm, frequently visited by Sam Webster, and the Union Lookout Station at Garnett's Peak.  The Confederate Lookout was atop Clark's Mountain which is the highest elevation in the region.  The Rapidan River was the dividing line between the armies, North & South.

Map of Rapidan River from Mitchell's Station to Stony Mtn.

The reports that follow are from, “Official Records of the The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.”  Series I, Volume XXXIII. 1891. (pages 689 – 699.).

The Report that Startled the Army;  1p.m. March 18.

This report from Colonel F. A.  Walker put the alert in motion.  General G. K. Warren references this note of Walker's in the last message posted in this section, after his chief engineer, Washington Roebling investigated the matter.

 Headquarters Second Army Corps,   
March 18, 1864––1 p.m.

Brigadier-General Williams,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

Colonel Smyth, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, of this corps, advanced at Stony Mountain, reports that he is informed by the cavalry on his front that the enemy have crossed with cavalry at Raccoon Ford, and that their infantry appears to be preparing to cross, and that skirmishing has taken place.  Colonel Smyth’s brigade is under arms.

F. A. WALKER,         
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Similar Intelligence Conveyed By A Contraband

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,            
March, 18, 1864––2 p. m. (Received 2.30 p. m.)

Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck,
                        Chief of Staff:

The following information just received, by a contraband who reached Mitchell’s Station this morning:  Stuart’s cavalry preparing for a raid from Robertson River.  Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry at Charlottesville Wednesday.  A force of infantry sent to Fredericksburg last night.  Jeff. Davis, Longstreet, and Lee at Orange Court-House.

GEO. G. MEADE,         
Major-General.

Camp Site at Stony Mountain for the  2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps

Camp of the 2nd Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Corps at Stony Mountain

The above sketch was drawn by George H. Hill of the 14th Connecticut.  It depicts the camp of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 2nd Corps, at Stony Mountain.   Like Colonel Leonard's Brigade at Mitchell's Station, this 2nd Corps Brigade was on Outpost Duty, closest to the enemy.  Stony Mountain is not far north of Morton's Ford, which is also close by to Raccoon Ford.

Orders Issued To Be On The Alert; ––2.30 p.m.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
March 18, 1864––2.30 p.m.

Major-General Newton:

The commanding general directs that you at once place your command under arms and hold it prepared to move at a moment’s notice.  It is reported that the enemy is crossing at Raccoon Ford.

S. WILLIAMS,       
Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Copy to Generals Warren, French, and Sedgwick.)

The following is from, “The Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, 1862-1865;” by Alfred S. Roe, 1914.

This narrative mentions the alarm in camp at Mitchell's Station, the afternoon of March 18.

St. Patrick’s Day or the 17th, secured no recognition in camp, though large fires on the rebel side of the river betokened something doing there, yet the afternoon’s sun, lighting up the hill-side on which the Confederates were encamped, revealed their tents still in place.

The 18th, in the afternoon, witnessed no end of hurry and bustle as all effects were packed, even to removing tents from the cabin roofs, and all were to be in readiness to move at once.    It was the general agreement that Stuart and his lively followers were surely in the saddle.  With stacked arms and expectant hearts, the next order was awaited and, at 5.30 p.m., it came, not to fall in and “Forward,” but the bubble-burst words heard so often, “As you were,” with a resumption of regular camp routine and duties.

A Request For Confirmation Is Sent to the Lookout Stations

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,        
March 18, 1864––3 p. m.

Lieutenant Camp:

Contrabands and deserters report enemy’s cavalry collecting for a raid on your right.  Look sharp for them, but report only what you see.

NORTON.


March 18, 1864––3.15 p. m.

Lieutenant McCloskey,
                        Pony Mountain:

It is reported that the enemy is crossing at Raccoon Ford.  Can you see anything of them?

NORTON.


Pony Mountain,  March 18, 1864––3.25 p. m.

Captain Norton:

Can see very little of the river.  Will keep a good watch that way.  Have seen nothing of them.

MCLOSKEY.


Captain Taylor, 
                    Stony Mountain

It is reported that the enemy are crossing at Raccoon Ford.  Is it so?  Report at once.

NORTON.


Stony Mountain, March 18, 1864––3.35 p. m.

Captain Norton:

Can see nothing of them.

TAYLOR.

A Similar Cavalry Report without a Time Stamp

Headquarters First Cavalry Division,      
Culpeper, March 18, 1864.

Capt. F. C. Newhall,
            Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps:

Colonel Gibbs reports contrabands coming into infantry lines, who say the rebels are preparing for a raid with the intent to demonstrate on our right flank, while Stuart crosses the river below on the left flank of the army.  General Ewell’s corps has furnished a number of picked infantry to move with Stuart toward Fredericksburg.  Lee was at Charlottesville night before last (Wednesday).  Similar information was forwarded by General Newton to army headquarters.

W. MERRITT,            
Brigadier-General


Raccoon Ford

Pictured is the site of  Raccoon Ford today.  View from the South side (Orange County) looking North (Culpeper County). The small village that once stood on the north side of the river, which was present during the war, is long gone.

Report From the Lookout Station at Garnett's Peak

 Garnett’s, March 18, 1864

General Newton:

Enemys camp smokes much heavier than usual.  Can see nothing beyond their pickets.

CAMP.


View to Rapidan from Garnetts

The lookouts on Garnett's Peak, would have had this view toward the Confederate Camps on the high ground across the Rapidan River, near Rapidan Station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.    Field glasses and telescopes magnified & enhanced their view ––when weather permitted.

False Alarm

  Headquarters First Cavalry Division,      
Culpeper, March 18, 1864.

Capt. F. C. Newhall,
                Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps:

Reserve Brigade reports all quiet on the picket-line.  The enemy crossed 75 men at Raccoon Ford and at once withdrew.

W. MERRITT,           
Brigadier-General.

Report of General Warren, Commanding 2nd Corps

  Headquarters Second Corps,        
March 18, 1864.    

Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps:

The following just received:

Major-General Humphreys,
                Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac:

Mr. Roebling has just returned from the Rapidan.  No enemy on this side;  only a few men, not more than 20, came over the river this morning, and all went back.  Two shots were all the skirmishing.

G.K. WARREN,      
Major-General, Commanding Second Corps.

    A.    A. HUMPHREYS,    
Chief of Staff.


Orders Revoked;  5 p.m.

  Headquarters,  March 18, 1864––5 p.m.

Maj. Gen J. Newton, Commanding First Army Corps:

The report that the enemy was crossing the river at noon to-day does not appear to have been well founded.  I am therefore directed by the commanding general to say that the instructions requiring you to hold your command in readiness to move at short notice with three day’s rations may be regarded as revoked.

S. WILLIAMS,           
Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Copy to Generals to Warren, French, and Sedgwick.)

Diary of Calvin Conant

Friday, March 18, 1864.  Plesant day but rather windy I am of guard    the Reg go on Picket   do not feel well at all    the Brigade was just under arms this after noon at 3 oclock   a report that the Rebs are crossing at Raccoon Ford in force is reported     orders countermanded at retreat   NOTE:  Conant says the regiment went out on picket duty.  This is confirmed by Sergeant Warren H. Freeman who wrote home March 24, that he went on picket Friday, [the 18th] and came off duty on Monday, [the 21st].   Luckily the picket detail returned to camp  just before a hard snow fell on the 22nd.

Saturday, March 19, 1864.   Plesent day   I am on duty nothing new in camp    all hands are out kicking  foot ball, having a big time   the Whole Brigade except us ar getting thier Pay   the excitement of yesterday was caused by about 500 Rebs come acrost to reconuitar our position  but our Cavalry made thier apearance and they  Skedadled back quick  NOTE:  As shown in the correspondence Calvin's estimate of 500 Rebs, is off by 425 or 480  men, depending on which report was accurate.  Its  funny how these incidents become exaggerated.

Winslow Homer sketch of soldiers playing football, 1865

With the paymaster in camp, a game of football broke out  according to Private Conant.  It seems the game was as popular as baseball.  But this wasn't the game of football we know today. The ball was round.   Artist War Correspondent Winslow Homer sketched these 5th Corps soldiers having a game of it in 1865. The ball in the center of the picture is kind of hard to see.  In the game going on in the background its clear the "football" is round.

2nd Corps Commander General G. K. Warren Investigates & Comments on the March 18 Alarm

Hdqrs. 2d Brig., 3d Div., 2d Army Corps,   
March  18, 1864.

Capt. George P. Corts,
                Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Second Army Corps:

Captain:  I have the honor to report that a few rebel cavalry and infantry made their appearance to-day on this side of the Rapidan River, on the right of my lines, between Morton’s Ford and Raccoon Ford, but have now retired.  I don’t think it will amount to anything.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 THOS. A. SMYTH.                            
Colonel First Delaware Volunteers, Comdg. Brigade.

[Indorsements.]


Hdqrs. Third Division, Second Army Corps,         
March 18, 1864.     

Respectfully forwarded, for the information of the major-general commanding.

ALEX. HAYS,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division.


Headquarters Second Army Corps               
March 19, 1864.  

Respectfully forwarded.

It was on this kind of information that Lieutenant-Colonel Walker’s dispatch was sent yesterday.  Colonel Smyth must have been deceived by his informants, as the investigation made by Lieutenant Roebling, of my staff, did not find that the enemy had made any unusual demonstration.  He also states that the earth-works opposite us, at Raccoon Ford, have not been much increased of late.

    G.K. WARREN,                 
Major-General of Volunteers.  


N.C. Wyeth Illustration titled "The Vidette"

N. C. Wyeth illustration titled, “The Vedette.”

This last March 18 intelligence report concerning Confederate Cavalry along the Rapidan,  is found in the Official Records.  The message originates in Alexandria, outside Washington.

 Alexandria, March 18, 1864. 

Lieut. Col. J. H. Taylor,  Assistant Adjutant-General:

Colonel:    I  have the following information from a party who left the rebel lines on Monday night:   There is a light picket of cavalry at long intervals from Orange Court-House to Madison Court-House, and thence to Robertson’s Church, and but very little cavalry to be met or seen elsewhere.  Three and a half brigades of cavalry were sent to Louisa and Spotsylvania Court-House two days after Kilpatrick’s raid, and had not returned on Monday last.  It is rumored, he says, that there is considerable cavalry near Fredericksburg.

Respectfully,

H. H. WELLS,      
Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

Pony Mountain Viewed from the West

In the next few comments from Colonel Charles Wainwright, he talks about the Signal Station on Pony Mountain which is just east of Culpeper and very near Wainwright's Headquarters.  Here is a view of the mountain looking east, as Wainwright would have seen it.

Pony Mountain viewed from the West

Comments from the Journal of Charles Wainwright about the March 18 Alarm.

Colonel Wainwright gives some more details about the scare in the army.  He then continues to comment on several other interesting subjects happening at this time in the army.

From, “A Diary of Battle, The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861-1865”;  Edited by Allan Nevins; 1962. [Additional excerpts from the original journals which were edited out of Nevin's book were accessed at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA in 2015 by the webmaster.]

March 20, SUNDAY.  Nothing of note has happened the last three days:  on Friday there was a great stir under reports that Lee was going to take the initiative this spring, and was actually moving to attack us.   

We were under orders to be ready to move at a moments notice, then it was countermanded;  in the afternoon it was again promulgated;  & finally at 5.30 P.M. we were directed to settle down quietly once more.  What the matter really was I do not know;  I had understood that Stewart was out some where, & that a body of our cavalry started out that morning to ride after him; perhaps the first reports from this cavalry led to the idea that Lee’s whole army was moving.

Edwin Forbes sketch of Signal Station on Pony Mountain

We have a signal station on Poney Mountain now, the same as last autumn, from whence they command a sight of several of the rebel stations.  Our officers claim that they can read all the rebel messages, and they are regularly transmitted to General Meade.  The news of Jeb Stuart having started on some expedition may have come through them.  I have been intending all winter to go up onto Poney Mountain but have not yet accomplished it.

Pictured is an Edwin Forbes sketch of the Signal Station on Pony Mountain, titled, “Signal officers watching the camps of General Lee's army on the south side of the Rapidan River, from the signal station on Poney Mountain."  Clark's Mountain in the center background is labeled “General Lee's Signal Station.”  The two smaller hills shown are the Twin Mountains, also called Piney Mountain and if viewed from the west, “The Bubbies.”

Kilpatrick’s men have most of them returned to camp;  They crossed the Rappahannock down near its mouth, and came through without loss.  Poor Dahlgren is killed.*  He had to let his men disperse into small bodies;  nearly all of them got in safely, but he is said to have been betrayed by his negro guide, and murdered in cold blood.  All who knew him regret his loss exceedingly.

It is said that General Hancock is getting recruits rapidly in Pennsylvania, and that large numbers are arriving daily for his corps.  Morgan, who is with him in Pennsylvania, writes that there is little doubt but what he will fill his corps up to 40,000.  If so, it will affect the consolidation project materially; most likely cause it to be abandoned entirely.

I wonder whether I have anywhere noted the positions of this army, other than that of our own Corps. The 2d joins us on our left, lying from Stevensburg to Paoli Mills.  The 3d lies on the left of Brandy Station;  one Division up this way the others towards Kellys Ford.  The 6th lies to the right of Brandy & joins our right with Beverly Ford.  The 5th guards the R.R. to Bull run; which is as far as the precincts of this army extend.

I had the Brigade out to day for inspection by General Newton: the men & all looked very well; & the General was pleased; at least he appeared so, & said that “he did not see how the command could look better.”

Wainwright continues to discuss his recruiting, which is slow;  then:

Rumour says that a house has been taken in Culpeper for General Grant, which is very probably, as in his first order assuming command of the armies of the United States he says:  “Headquarters will be in the field, and until further orders will be with the Army of the Potomac.”

The last call for recruits says that they are for the “Army, Navy and Marine Corps.” In regulating the quotas of districts, all men enlisted in the navy are to be allowed.  At the present time, too, there are a large number of men being transferred from the army to the navy:  I have lost two or three men in that way.

NOTES:  Ulric Dahlgren (1842-1864) Son of Admiral John A. Dahlgren, studied civil engineering and law before becoming General Franz Sigel’s Aide de Camp. (A.D.C.)  He was Sigel’s Chief of Artillery at 2nd Bull Run, and then served as General Ambrose Burnside’s A.D. C.  At Chancellorsville he was on Hooker’s staff and at Gettysburg on Meade's.  On the retreat from Gettysburg he was severely wounded in the foot, in a street fight in Hagerstown, MD.  His leg was amputated.  Promoted Colonel, he returned to active service on crutches, with a wooden leg, and was co-commander of the Kilpatrick Dahlgren Raid.   Source:  CW Dictionary, Mark Boatner III. 1961; p. 218.

During the raid at night Dahlgren fell into an ambush trap and was killed. Over a hundred of his men were captured.

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Pay Day & Promotions

Thirteenth Massachusetts Veteran Charles E. Davis, Jr.  lists the routine schedule for Gen. John C. Robinson's troops during winter encampment, which is so beautifully described in James Ross's March 18th letter to Myra.  But the 13th Regiment could not  follow this routine because they were on outpost duty full-time, all winter.

Winslow Homer painting of camp reveille

The following is from, “Three Years in the Army,” by Charles E. Davis, Jr; Estes & Lauriat, Boston, 1894.

The duties of outpost guard relieved the Thirteenth from a strict observance of the following order issued to the division:

 General Orders
                No. 16

Headquarters Second Division,      
First Army Corps, March 20, 1864.

    I.     The signal for service will, until further orders, be as follows:

Reveille, daylight. Recall, 4 P.M.
Police call, 15 minutes later. First call for parade, 45 minutes before sunset.
Surgeon’s call, 6 A.M. Second call, 15 minutes before sunset.
Breakfast, 7 A.M. Tattoo, 9 P.M.
Guard mounting, 8 A.M. Taps, 9.20 P.M
Drill, 9 A.M. Sunday morning inspection, 8 A.M.
Recall, 11 A.M. Guard mounting immediately after.
Dinner, 12.30 P.M.
Drill, 2 P.M.

II.  The calls will be sounded promptly at the hours named, and the men will be ready to fall into the ranks instantly. The morning drill will be by company, the afternoon by battalion or brigade.  Particular attention will be paid to skirmishing, both by company and battalion.  There will be a brigade drill every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

Brigadier-General John C. Robinson

III.  At police call in the morning the whole command will be turned out, and the camps swept and put in perfect order;  at the same time earth will be thrown in the sinks.  Regimental commanders will be held responsible for this.

IV.  The men’s quarters will be inspected daily, and the coverings of the huts removed every Saturday when the weather will permit.

V.  Officers must attend and superintend roll-calls.

VI.  At the first call for parade, companies will be formed and thoroughly inspected by commanders; at the second call they will be marched to the regimental parade ground.

VII.  The hours appointed for drill must be employed in drill, and not in resting.  Men will not be permitted to sit or lie down, and the prescribed uniform must be worn on all duty under arms.

By command of                                                                  
        BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBINSON.


Guard Mounting in the 114th PA, Brandy Station, April, 1864

Guard Mount in the Camp of the 114th PA, Brandy Station, VA, April, 1864.


Pay Day in the Army

Winslow Homer Graphic illustration, Payday

“Three Years in the Army,” continued:

Monday, March 21.  The financial stringency that had for some time affected the pocket-books of most of us was removed to-day by the paymaster, and penury’s tedious burden vanished like dew before the sun.

The following is from, “The Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, 1862-1865;” by Alfred S. Roe, 1914.

The camp of the 39th MA was close-by that of the 13th MA.

Edwin Forbes Illustration of InspectionThe signing of pay-rolls on the 19th was a sure sign of the approach of the paymaster and the perfection of the weather gave light hearts to all, though a clergyman of the Methodist Church South, seized outside our lines for conducting certain of Stuart’s men to the capture of one of our pickets may have had a leaden heart as he was dispatched on his way to Washington, there to account for his conduct;  bearing the name of Garnett, he must have belonged to one of the best families of the Old Dominion.

The 20th was Sunday, not usually a pay day, but were there signs of activity it was thus employed and, as the paymaster came on this date, the event was considered a pretty sure sign of a movement;  so late did he begin, it was 8 p.m. before the last company was reached.

Diary of Calvin Conant:

Sunday, March 20, 1864.  Lousey lone some day  I am of guard   Weather is fine  but rather windy   Inspection by  Companies

Monday, March 21, 1864.   Plesant day   I am on duty the Regt get paid to day for the months of January & February

Letter of Charles Barber, 104th NY False alarm and payday

Much like the letter of 13th MA Sergeant George H. Hill, Charles Barber of the sister regiment, 104th N.Y. is contemplating the short amount of time remaining on his enlistment term, after which  he can go home.  Charles would be home sooner than he imagined, while George Hill endured an unwanted and unexpected ordeal as a prisoner of war for more than a year.

The 104th NY Camp was next to the 13th MA.

The following is from, “The Civil War Letters of Charles Barber, Private, 104th New York Volunteer Infantry,” Edited by Raymond G. Barber & Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA 1991.

 Cedar Mountain Va March 20th ––1864

My Dear wife and children   I am well except the ague headache   I rec yours of the 14th last eve and one three days ago.  

we suddenly got orders to pack up yesterday ready for a fight and was under arms all day   the rebs was said to be crossing the Rapidan but they fell back without fighting.  they are camped about three mile from us   we can see their tents and fires and hear their bugles and drums and hear their cars whistle   we hear the firing of their guns when they are probably killing beef or shooting deserters;  we may or may not hav a fight here.  the pay master is here  we expect two months pay to morrow   I shall send you 20 dollars probably this week    I shall write again when I send it.    I will enclose one dollar in this for your present use and it leaves me with one dollar and 25 cts  left which is the least money I have been with for a long time.   look to the stove pipes in both houses  

I do not know what business I shall go  into when I get home   time will tell   I will not trouble about it now but I feel just as though it would suit me to make it a good part of my business to hug my little wife and walk and talk and ride and travel with her for the first six months after I get home or as you say the longer we are separated the more anxious I am to see you and the better I love you and I am heartily glad that we have both the right kind of love and feelings for each other and the longer I am absent the more I think about the children and love them the more.

oh what a happy time it will be for us if I get home safe but still I may be killed or wounded but still it seems to me that I shall finally get home safe and it all ways did seem to me that I shall be home safe at last    I must stop now and get ready for sunday morning inspection;

inspection is over   I passed all right except a small grease spot on my pants  the inspector happened to see it;   well that is no matter

Illustration from Frank Leslies of women seeking army rations

I have now only about six month longer to serve and that will soon slip away for the wheels of time are constantly in rapid motion and if I could grease the wheels to make their motion more rapid I dont know but my anxiety to get home would urge me to do it

There is women and children and negroes in camp here nearly every day begging food and clothing   they are a sad sight

I have given them meat bread coffee and crackers.   the women are ragged and care worn.  their southern pride and haughty rebellious spirit is now terribly mortified but the end is not come yet   the great moral and political sin of slavery is now reined up before the tribunal of Gods justice and justice will have its due to the uttermost before this bloody war can end and I am afraid the end is not so near at hand as some hope it is but let us all do our whole duty under all circumstances and hope for the best

we are now making the most important history of the world and let us dear wife play our part honorably and conscientiously and conduct ourselves in such a way that we nor our children will never look back and blush at our present acts.


Promotions in the 13th M. V. I.; Col. Leonard's Executive Correspondence

Papers found in the 13th M.V.I. Executive Correspondence Collection in the Massachusetts State Archives show Colonel Leonard addressing officer promotions.

Michael DagneyDavid WhistonCharles E. Horne

Pictured above are Michael J. Dagney, David Whiston, and, Charles E. Horne.  All three men were original members of the regiment from its inception.  Their respective records from the roster are as follows:

MICHAEL J. DAGNEY ; age, 23; born, Boston; moulder; mustered in as sergt., July I, '6l; mustered out as 1st lieut., March 7, '64; promotions: 2d lieut., Feb. 2, '63; 1st lieut., Dec. 8, '63; residence, Boston. 

CHARLES E,. HORNE. ; age, 21; born, Farmington, N.H. shoemaker; mustered in as 4th sergt., Co. G. July 16, '61 mustered out as 1st lieut., Sept. 18, '64; promoted, 1st sergt., Jan., '63, to 2d lieut., July 1, '63, and 1st lieut., March, '64: wounded at Gettysburg, July 1, '63, and at Spotsylvania C.H., May 8, '64; at latter place lost right arm; was also taken prisoner and confined in Libby until Sept. 8, '64; residence, Stoneham, Mass. 

DAVID WHISTON ; age, 28; born, Boston; painter; mustered in as 1st sergt Co. A, July 16, '61: mustered out as capt., March 12, 65; promotions 2d lieut., July 26, -62; 1st lieut., Feb. 14, '63; capt., March 4, '64- taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July I, '63; released, March 1, 65;  deceased.

The reason for Dagney's discharge is unstated.  When in Williamsport, MD the first winter of the war, he was a member of the 13th MA Glee Club, from which this portrait is lifted.  Whiston, was captured at Gettysburg and still a prisoner of war in March, 1864, though he was in line for promotion.  Captain J. A. Howe remembers David Whiston at Gettysburg.  “I remember, as one of those comical sights that will intrude even in the most serious of moments, perceiving Sergeant Whiston, of Company A, holding in each hand two rebel officers' swords which in their eager haste to surrender, their owners had thrust upon him, his face wearing such a look of helpless bewilderment and his attitude denoting such utter incapacity to know what to do with his prizes, that it was impossible to subdue the temptation to laugh. I have often wondered what became of those four swords, but could never
learn.” ––From George Jepson's article titled “Gettysburg”, in 13th Regiment Association Circular #15, December, 1902.

Colonel Leonard to Massachusetts Governor John Andrew, March 22, 1864

Colonel Leonard stil has hopes of getting his regiment to re-enlist for another 3 years.

The correspondence of Colonel Samuel H. Leonard with the Governor's Office in Massachusetts is found in the Executive Correspondence Collection, 13th M.V.I., at the Massachusetts State Archives.

 Head Quarters 1st Brigade               
2d Division1st Army Corps      
March 22d 1864     

His Excellency John A Andrew                        
Govener of Mass.                      

Colonel Samuel H. Leonard

                                              Sir                
                                                        I have the honor to recommend for promotion to fill vacancies existing in my Regiment the following named Officers.

1st Lieut David Whiston to be Captain in place of David L Brown Discharged March 3d/64
2d Lieut Joseph H Stuart to be 1st Lieut in place of D Whiston promoted.
2d Lieut Charles E Horne to be 1st Lieut in place of M J Dagney, Discharged Mar 7th/64

I enclose you copies of the orders discharging the above named officers, also one of M P Palmers. 

I am not at present prepared to send a name to that vacancy, but will as soon as possible.

I am expecting other discharges very soon, and I am in hopes yet, of reorganizing my Regiment for another three years.

I should be pleased if Major J P Gould could be transfered to his regiment, as soon as practicable, as my regiment is very short of Officers on duty with it.

I am sir Very Respectfuly                                
Your Obt Servt                           
S H Leonard                     
Col 13th Mass Vols            
Comdi’g                       


Colonel Leonard to Massachusetts Adjutant General William Schouler, March 22, 1864.

With the Army re-organizing Colonel Leonard was eager to re-enlist and recruit his unit to keep it in the field, as the few samples of his correspondence with Massachusetts authorities shows.  Calvin Conant's  diary entry of March 31st further confirms this. Toward this end, a big concern of the Colonel in late March, was getting his new slate of officers in place, as the old ones resigned.  He urged the Governor of Massachusetts in the letter above, to transfer Major Gould to his new command as soon as possible.  Leonard mentions below that with the new slate of officers in place, he thinks more men would agree to re-enlist.  Yet it would be late April before this was accomplished and by then it was too late.  The Overland Campaign began May 5th.  That changed everything.

Head Quarters 1st Brigade
2d Division 1st A Corp
March 22d 1864––

Brig Gen’l W’m Schouler,
                                Adjt Gen’l.
                                            Dear Sir,

                                                            I wish to get some information in reference to the discharge of Officers from the Army.

Is there any order in existance stating that officers who are discharged the service, for no reason other than their sending in their resignations, that they will not be again commissioned by the Goveror.  Why I ask is, I have an impression there is such an order; or instruction.

I hear rumors that some Officers, who were able to get a discharge here, are about to receive or have already received a Commission in other commands., in fact, as good as promoted.

Captain David Brown, Company I

Capt D L Brown is one I will mention. [Captain David L. Brown, pictured.] He sent me his resignation for reason I would not approve of a Leave of Absence, at a time, I could not, without disobeying orders.  I was pleased to have him do it, as I have always known him to be incompetent to fill the position he held, and I so endorsed his resignation, and he was discharged by the Corps Commander in accordance with Gen’l Orders No 10, Army Potomac of 1863.  I hear now that he is again in the service, or promised a position,  I think if such is the case that it will be the cause of much trouble, with officers in the service.

I only mention his name as he has but just been discharged, but I know of others.

Please answer at your convenience.

I sent to his Excellency yesterday some recommendations for promotion  I hope to hear soon from them as the regiment is very short of Officers on duty with it. The health of the men is very good, and  we are now  busy preparing for a Campaign.  There has but twenty (20) men reinlisted yet, and I doubt  if any more will be added before April 1st.  If I could dispose of some of the Officers I have, I think, in fact I know, quite a number would reinlist.

I am Sir your obt Serv’t
                               S H Leonard Col
                                                    13th Mass Vols


Calvin Conant noted in his diary, that on the last day of March, Colonel Leonard once again solicited soldiers in the regiment about re-enlisting.  Conant says about 25 promised to do so should the majority of the men agree to also re-enlist..  This was sort of a hedged committment.  It is still great to know how hard the Colonel tried to keep his unit in the field.  The 13th MA was his pride and joy.

War Department Letter to Governor John A. Andrew, March 28, 1864.

Regarding Colonel Leonard's question to Massachusetts Adjutant-General William Schouler above, it seems that Governor Andrew was trying to transfer men directly from Colonel Leonard's regiment, into Major J. P. Gould's new command, the 59th Veteran M.V.I., then organizing in Boston.

The War Department, frowned upon the idea as shown in this letter.

War Department,         
Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, D. C. March 28, 1864.

His Excellency
            The Governor of Massachusetts,
                                                Boston, Mass.

                                                                            Sir: 
                                                                                            I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your endorsement of the 24th instant, asking that certain men be Transferred from the 13th to the 59th Massachusetts Volunteers.

In reply, I am directed to inform you that the views of the Department are strongly opposed to tranfers, experience having shown that such action is prejudicial both to the interests of the soldier concerned and of the Government.

I am, Sir,                                         
Very respectfully                      
Your Obedient Servant,   
Thomas Vincent   
Assistant Adutant Gen’l.

Attachment to the above note.

13th      
War Dept will not
allow transfer of men
to 59th

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.         
Exectutive Departement.
Boston, March 30th 1864.
Respectfully referred to Colonel
Gould, comm’dg 59th
Mass. Vol. Infantry ––

Please return this to my files.      
By order of His Excellency, the
Governor.  G. Browne Jr.
Lt. Col. Mil. Sec’y.
returned.




A Note Regarding Furloughs

The following anecdote is found in The Bivouac, Vol III,  1885,  (p. 128). No author is given.

During my connection with the War Department at Washington, in 186––,  my clerical position permitted access to the official correspondence of the volunteer bureau of the adjutant general’s office.  At this period of the war the correspondence of this division was quite voluminous, letters from nearly every quarter of the globe being received from relatives or friends of soldiers in the army, inquiring as to their whereabouts or requesting furloughs or discharges for various reasons of sons, brothers, fathers, or husbands.   Many of these were addressed to Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Stanton, the writers presuming that direct appeals to these officials would be more effectual than if sent through the proper, though more roundabout, channel of the adjutant general’s office.  Such letters, however, were seldom seen by either of the officials mentioned, as the clerk whose duty it was to examine and distribute mail matter often forwarded them to the proper departments, according to the nature of the business or subject.

One letter, however, certainly reached the official for whom it was addressed.

photo of a 1920's showgirl perched on a quarter-moon prop

It was written by a young lady, dated at a well-known town in Ohio, and addressed to Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War   The letter was a model in composition, orthography, and penmanship, and the peculiar circumstances which prompted the request embodied in it were modestly and touchingly expressed.

She related that at the outbreak of the war she was receiving the attentions of a young gentleman, a resident of the town in which she then lived, and a mutual and strong attachment had been established.  At the first call of his country her lover had abandoned a lucrative occupation, and sacrificing all his brilliant prospects at home had patriotically enlisted as a private in one of the State’s earliest regiments.  His faithful service at the post of duty for two years entitled him to a furlough of thirty days, which was granted him, and he had returned after so long an absence, passing his brief furlough mostly at her home, but her joy and delight in having her lover even temporarily restored to her had permitted her affection to overcome her discretion.  At the expiration of his leave of absence, he faithfully returned to his regiment, where he had gained further renown for his bravery and fidelity.

At the date of her letter she had become painfully aware of the error, which in a moment of indiscretion she had committed, and now found herself in the condition of those ladies who “dearly love their lords.”  She prayed that, for her own honor, as well as for that of her soldier-lover, Mr. Stanton would grant him another furlough to enable him to come home and marry her.   Her letter, having been folded and endorsed according to official form, bore the following inscription:

Respectfully referred to the President for instruction.
                        (Signed)  E. M. STANTON
                                                            Sec’y of War.


Upon its return to the adjutant general’s office a few days later, it bore the additional endorsement, in Mr. Lincoln’s own hand-writing,  as follows :

Executive Mansion,                                     
Washington, D. C. March 24, 186––                
Let the boy go to her at once.                                                                            
( Signed )                                                                   
A. Lincoln.                                                     


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A Hard Snow;  March 22 – 25

The following is from, “The Sixteenth Maine Regiment in the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865.” By Major A. R. Small; B. Thurston & company Portland, Maine 1886.

March 22.  Very Cold.  Snow commenced falling at half-past two p.m., and increased to a violent storm by nine o'clock.

Charles Reed sketch of deep snow in camp

Intelligence from the Lookout Stations (before the snow fell).

 Stoney Mountain, March  22, 1864––11 a.m.

Captain Norton,   
            Chief Signal Officer, Army of the Potomac:

A party of about 30 of the enemy is throwing up rifle-pits near the river above Raccoon Ford.  Large fires on Clark’s Mountain this a. m. All quiet.

WARTS,                 
Signal Officer.    


Cedar Mountain in the Winter

Cedar Mountain in the Winter after a snow fall.  The snow covered peak of Clark's Mountain on the south side of the Rapidan River is visible in the distance.

Tuesday Morning Report from Pony Mountain Lookout Station--before the snow.

 Pony Mountain,  March  22, 1864––11.15 a.m.

Captain Norton:

All quiet.  The enemy are enlarging the works at fords, and constructing a new line on the hill in front of Raccoon Ford.  About 150 men at work.

McCLOSKEY.      

Tuesday Afternoon Report From Garnett's Peak, The Station Closest to Mitchell's Station

Garnett's Mountain, March 22, 1864––5.30 p.m.

Captain Norton:

The enemy's camps show no change.  No movements of cavalry between the Rapidan and Robertson.  No change in enemy's pickets.

CASTLE.

The following is from, “The Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, 1862-1865;” by Alfred S. Roe, 1914.

Much to the disgust of all who had thought winter over and past, snow began to fall on the 22nd.  By nightfall the ground was white with it,  the wind blowing as in an old-fashioned “nor’-easter,” so that on the 23rd there was a foot of snow lying around and all hands had to turn out to shovel the same out of the streets and from the parade ground, which was quite ready for the dress parade of the late afternoon.

From the Diary of Sam Webster, 13th M.V.I., Co. D:

The three Yeager girls were still an attraction to the soldiers camped at Mitchell's Station, and Sam Webster frequently  visited the home situated on the west side of Cedar Mountain.  The house still stands.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 1864
        Went over to Yeager’s in a hard snow, and spent the time until nearly 12 –– midnight –– very pleasantly.  Slipping through the camp guard is jolly –– but dangerous.

Fritz Freund painting of a snowall fight

Diary of Calvin Conant, 13th M.V.I., Co. G:
        Tuesday, March 22, 1864.
        Cold day I was off guard  the Reg is in line Picket to day had quite a Snow Storm  fell to about one foot deep.

From the Diary of Sam Webster:
        Wednesday, March 23rd, 1864
        Snow eight or ten inches deep. Took Sawyer over to Yeager’s, and snow-balled him on the way home.

Note:  Sam first mentions Appleton Sawyer October 31, 1862, as Drum Major.  Sawyer, a clerk from Shrewsbury, MA mustered into Company K, as a drummer.  He was from a prominent family back home. His record in the 13th Mass. roster states he was promoted Principle Musician in January, 1864.  March 29, was Sawyer's 23rd birthday.  He was 4 1/2 years older than Sam.  They remained good friends and shared many difficult times in the service together.

Diary of Calvin Conant:
        Wednesday, March 23, 1864.
        Plesant & Cool the Snow is  quite  deep   every body sent Sweeping off side walk and Cleaning up   cleared? their ?????    all the Snow is to be carried off    we had a job as it was drifted in around cars [?]

Letter of Charles Barber, 104th NY;  March 23, 1864.

From, “The Civil War Letters of Charles Barber, Private, 104th New York Volunteer Infantry,” Edited by Raymond G. Barber & Gary E. Swinson, Torrance, CA 1991.

Cedar Mountain Va March 23 –– 64

Dear wife   I am well  we just drew two months pay   I send you twenty dollars    Edgar   sends his Father ten dollars and Walter  sends his Father ten dollars; it Harpers illustration of soldiers sending money home is in two 20 dollar bills*    B can get it changed and pay Hiram Fancher ten dollars and Joe Steele**  ten dollars and you 20 dollars   we send it to Buffalo by the Adams express Co  directed to Benjamin as usual.  Walter wants his father to use his ten dollars if he wants it and if he does not want it then Jim Steele have it

The snow fell over a foot deep here last night   the most I ever see in Va   Walter will send home more money when the boys come if they bring him a pair of boots   if not he wants the money to buy a pair here

                                    Charles Barber

*NOTES:  Two of the soldiers named in this letter are, Corporal Edgar Fancher, who enlisted at age 18 at Geneseo, NY.  He was wounded at Spotsylvania C.H. May 12, 1864; & Private Walter  Steele, another 18 year old who  enlisted in the 104th NY at Geneseo in October, 1861.  Steele was wounded at Antietam, Missing at Gettysburg, returned to the regt. in February, 1864, and discharged October 31, 1864.   **Judging from the content of this letter, this is probably Joe "Steele."  I think the transcriber erred and "Stelle" was put in the printed manuscript of Barber's letters. ––B.F.


Lookout Station Reports:  Rebel Activity Across the River

Pony Mountain,  March  23, 1864––5.25 p.m.

Captain Norton:

All quiet.  Some 50 of the enemy this p.m. constructing works at Stringfellow’s Ford.  At Raccoon Ford they had constructed three lunettes and a line of earth-works about 100 yards long since yesterday morning.

McCLOSKEY.


Arrival of General Grant, March 24th

  Headquarters of the Army,                     
        Washington, D. C.,  March  23, 1864––12.30 p.m.

Major-General Meade,
            Commanding Army of the Potomac:

General:   Lieutenant-General Grant will be at Culpeper by to-morrow morning’s train, and will, at your earliest convenience thereafter, desire to see your troops;  not in review, but simply drawn up in line in front of or near their respective corps encampments.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

JNO A. RAWLINS,                  
Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.


Diary of Calvin Conant:

Thursday, March 24, 1864.
        Plesant day    I am of guard   three of our Veterans returned to the Reg  they wer of Co B & I (?) our Adjt [Tom Wells?] left this morning early for home on a leave of 10 days  [NOTE:  Tom Welles is one of the several, ever-present, & frequently mentioned 13th MA officers of whom I have never found a photograph.––B.F.]

Friday, March 25, 1864.
        Plesant day   rather cool  looks like a Storm   I am on duty  the Reg are Inlying  Picket   Ordilees are in charge of the guard over the Stacks of arms     a good smart shower comes up and the stacks of arms are taken in


Snow in VA near Gordonsville

Pictured is a typical Virginia landscape after a hard snow.  This field is near Gordonsville, on Black Level road.

Letter of Sergeant Warren H. Freeman, March 24, 1864

From “Letters from Two Brothers Serving in the War for the Union,”  Printed for Private Circulation, Cambridge, 1871

  Mitchell’s Station, Va., March 24, 1864.

Warren H. Freeman

Dear Parents, –– I have delayed writing for about two weeks, partly from causes beyond my control.  I went on picket on Friday and came off Monday afternoon.  I came into camp Sunday afternoon, and found my second box from school-mates had arrived.  I immediately opened it, and found the nice things within, all in good order.  I received their joint and neat letter some time since, and will endeavor to answer it when we get a little more settled here.

You write that Aunt Cornelia has been afflicted again by the death of her youngest child.  I do not seem to remember the child;  the youngest that I recollect we called “little Lizzie.”  She must have a lonely home now indeed, both the boys being way;  she has my sympathy in this her double affliction. 

But I must make this a very brief note, as I have some washing to do, and may not get another chance for a day or two.

We had a big snow-storm the other night; it fell to the depth of about ten inches.

We got paid off Monday;  I will inclose twenty dollars to your care.

I am in good health.

Warren.                 


Photo of a Union Picket in the snow

A Picket in the Snow, from a video screen-grab: video titled, “Christmas on the Rappahannock,”  uploaded March 26, 2022, by History Boy, (Jacob Bates) on youtube.

Letter of James Ross; March 25;  Picket Duty in the Snow

James was unfortunate enough to be detailed on picket duty during the big snow storm.  This letter describes what it was like.

From: “Willing to Run the Risks;  Letters from the Civil War, Private James Ross, 9th N.Y.S.M., Co. G, August 1863 –– May 1864.”

Culpepper Va
                    Mar. 25th 1864

Dear Father

Your letter of the 21st came to hand last night. I received it just after coming in off picket.  I had been out three days and expected some other mail but none had come for me. We now help the first Brigade to picket the same line that we used to when we lay on the mountain  we ride out and back on the cars and are gone three days each time but the duty is not very heavy as a mans turn only comes once in two or three weeks. We had a terrible snow storm while we were out and consequently a hard time of it. The snow fell to the depth of a foot.  I never saw such a storm in Virginia.  We were without shelter out in an open field and it was not pleasant getting along. Frederic Ray illustration of a Union Picket in the snow

While it was snowing I was on the reserve post and had a kind of a tent   the snow filled around it and we slept warm enough.  Some of the men had no tents   they lay on the ground rolled in their blankets with a rubber rolled over them and the snow covered them as it fell till you would never have guessed that there was any one there.  They slept warm of course. One man got drunk and lay under some pine boughs  he was snowed under and the next morning nothing appeared of him but the toes of his boots  he had lain so all night with nothing over him but the snow. This is a fact.

We had to leave the reserve and go out on the line to relieve the party at seven oclock. When we got out there we found the ground so wet and muddy that we could neither put up tents nor make beds so we had to sit up and do the best we could. It was very cold that night. I went on post from nine till eleven then sat up till three when I went on till five. by this time the ground had frozen and some of the men had spread their blankets.  I got into a nest when one fellow had turned out to go on post and slept two hours. I did not have a very comfortable sleep for it was very cold but a man gets so tired in such a case that he can have a sort of a sleep almost under any circumstances.  When I awoke, I found that the officer had sent us a ration of whiskey one canteen for fifteen men.  Of course we all had a drink and I guess that if there was no whiskey used but what was drank by men in our condition that there would be no need of temperance societies.

When the sun rose it was warm and pleasant.  We were relieved at two oclock in the afternoon and got into camp at sundown had a good supper then made up a fine bed and if I did not sleep last night, Then I never did.  I can not tell you of how much service a pair of boots is to a man when on such duty as we were. Of course being out in the snow so long, They did wet through, but the shoes were ten times worse. The water runs through them like sponge.  The snow has gone off now but the ground is still very muddy. This weather makes a move still more distant.

Grant is expected in Culpepper today. We hope big things from his leadership and I hope that we will not be disappointed.  I believe that we shall not. The rebel army is terribly demoralized. Unless providence interferes directly in their favor I do not think it possible that they can continue the contest longer than this coming season. I had a letter from Bill since he left. he was in Washington in Co. E. 1st Regiment 1st Battalion Invalid Corps.  his regiment is doing guard duty in Washington. There is no picketing with the snow up to his knees for him there.

I should like an album for my pictures but could not carry it every ounce weighs in a soldiers load. All the book that I carry is a bible. The pictures I keep in my memorandum book. No matter how precious or valuable an article is if it is not necessary a soldier can not carry it. I did not receive the papers last night but will expect them this evening.

It is nearly drill time now and I must close.

Good Bye for the present. I will direct this letter according to directions
                    Your affectionate son
                                James Ross


Photo by Buddy Secor of Soldier in snow with battery

Photo by By Buddy Secor [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninja_pix/ ]

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The First Corps Disbanded

First Corps Badges

Pictured are the Badges of the First Corps; (corps badges established January, 1863).

The War Department Orders Consolidation of the Army of the Potomac; March 23rd

           General Orders,
                        No. 115.     

War Dept., Adjt. General’s Office,     
Washington, March 23, 1864.

I.     By direction of the President of the United States, the number of army corps comprising the Army of the Potomac will be reduced to three, viz, the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps.  The troops of the other two corps, viz. the First and Third, will be temporarily organized and distributed among the Second, Fifth, and Sixth by the commanding general, who will determine what existing organizations will retain their corps badges and other distinctive marks.  The staff officers of the two corps which are temporarily broken up will be assigned to vacancies in the other corps, so far as such vacancies may exist.  Those for whom there are no vacancies will cease to be considered as officers of the general staff of army corps.

II.     Maj. Gen. G. K. Warren is assigned by the President to the command of the Fifth Army Corps.

III.    The following general officers are detached from the Army of the Potomac, and will report for orders to the Adjutant-General of the Army, viz:  Maj. Gen. George Sykes, U. S. Volunteers; Maj. Gen. W. H. French, U. S. Volunteers;  Maj. Gen. John Newton, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. J. R. Kenly, U.S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. F. B. Spinola, U.S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith, U. S. Volunteers.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,            
Assistant Adjutant-General.

General Meade's Orders for Re-organization, March 24th

General Orders,
                No. 10.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,          
March 24, 1864.  

I.     The following order has been received from the War Department:

    *              *              *              *              *              *              *

II.    The following arrangements are made to carry out the provisions of the foregoing order:

The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Army Corps will each be consolidated into two divisions.  The First and Second Divisions of the Third Corps are transferred to the Second Corps, preserving their badges and distinctive marks.  The Third Division of the Third Corps is transferred permanently to the Sixth Corps.  The three divisions now forming the First Corps are transferred to the Fifth Corps, preserving their badges and distinctive marks, and on joining the Fifth Corps they will be consolidated into two divisions.

The commanders of the divisions transferred to the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps will at once report to the commanders of those corps for instructions.

Brig. Gen. J. B. Carr will report to Major-General Hancock, commanding Second Corps, and Brig. Gen. H. Prince to Major-General Sedgwick, commanding Sixth Corps.

The chief of artillery will assign eight batteries each to the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps; these batteries to be taken from those now with those corps and with the First and Third Corps. The batteries with the several corps, in excess of the above allowance, will join the Artillery Reserve.

The consolidation of divisions called for in this order will be made by the corps commanders concerned, who are authorized to re-arrange the brigades of their respective commands in such manner as they may think best for the service.

The re-assignment of officers of the staff departments, consequent upon the re-organization of the army, will be made upon the nomination of the chiefs of staff departments at these headquarters.  Special instructions will be given hereafter with respect to the staff officers of the two corps temporarily broken up.

III.  The major-general commanding avails himself of the occasion to say that, in view of the reduced strength of nearly all the regiments serving in this army, the temporary reduction of the number of army corps to three is a measure imperatively demanded by the best interests of the service, and that the reasons for attaching the First and Third Corps, for the time being, to other corps were in no respect founded upon any supposed inferiority of those corps to the other corps of this army.  All the corps have equally proved their valor on many fields, and all have equal claims to the confidence of the Government and of the country. The First and Third Corps will retain their badges and distinctive marks, and the major-general commanding indulges the hope that the ranks of the army will be filled at an early day, so that those corps can be reorganized.

By command of Major-General Meade:                                          
                                                            S. WILLIAMS,
                                                        Assistant-Adjutant General.

Letter of General Meade, March 24, 1864

From, “The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army” by George Meade, New York, 1913.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, March 24 1864.

Artist Reich portrait of General Meade

I have been very busy to-day.  The much-talked-of order for reorganizing the Army of the Potomac has at last appeared.  Sykes, French and Newton are relieved.  Sedgwick, Hancock and Warren command the three corps.  This evening an order has arrived relieving General Pleasonton, which, although I did not originate it, yet was, I presume, brought about by my telling the Secretary that the opposition I had hitherto made to his removal I no longer should make.  As the Secretary has been desirous of relieving him ever since I have had command, and I have been objecting, he has taken the first chance to remove him as soon as my objections were withdrawn.

Grant arrived to-day.  I met him at the depot near my headquarters and accompanied him to Culpeper, where I spent several hours and returned.  He was as affable as ever, and seems not at all disposed to interfere with my army in any details.

I hear Butterfield is in Washington, and is going to swear that I told him to prepare an order to retreat, and from what Gibbon writes me, it is evident he did prepare such an order; but I trust by the concurrent testimony of every other officer on the field, the documentary evidence in the shape of orders at different periods of the day, and my own sworn statement, to prove that the preparation of this order was not authorized by me, and that it was due to Butterfield’s own fears.  I understand the Secretary is very indignant at his coming to Washington, and has ordered him back to his post.

Get the last number of the Spirit of the Times, in which there is a scathing article on Grant, Sherman, McPherson, Schofield and myself, and lauding, as usual, Joe Hooker.


Generals Removed from Corps Command

General William H. FrenchGeneral John NewtonGeneral George Sykes

Pictured are General William H. French, commander 3rd Corps, General John Newton commander 1st Corps & General George Sykes, commander 5th Corps.  All three lost their commands when the Army of the Potomac re-organized.  Meade was unhappy with General French after his performance in the Mine Run Campaign.  French mustered out of the volunteer army and went home to Philadelphia to await further orders.  He remained with the regular army for many years, resuming his rank as Colonel upon mustering out of the volunteer service. General Newton would go west to command a division in the 4th Corps of Major-General George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland.  He participated in General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.  George Sykes was immediately ordered west to Fort Leavenworth Kansas.

At the end of a letter dated March 29, 1864, General Meade commented to his wife:  “I join with you in the regret expressed at the relief of Sykes.  I tried very hard to retain Sykes, Newton, and even French, as division commanders, but without avail.  I had very hard work to retain Sedgwick.  As to Pleasonton, his being relieved was entirely the work of Grant and Stanton.”

Major-General John Newton's Farewell Speech to the First Corps

General Orders,
                No. 9.

Headquarters First Army Corps,      
           March 25, 1864.  

On relinquishing command I take occasion to express the pride and pleasure I have experienced in my connection with you and my profound regret at our separation.

Identified by its service with the history of the war, the First Corps gave at Gettysburg a crowning proof of valor and endurance, in saving from the grasp of the enemy the strong position upon which the battle was fought.

The terrible losses suffered by this corps in the conflict attest its supreme devotion to the country.

Though the corps has lost its distinctive name by the present changes, history will not be silent upon the magnitude of its services.

JOHN NEWTON      
Major-General.

Of the five  regiments in Gen. John C. Robinson's 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, the historian of the 39th M.V.I. commented the most on the dissolution of the First Corps.  The 104th New York doesn't have a dedicated written history, and the newspaper articles about the unit on file at the New York State Military Museum do not include anything about the re-organization. Neither does the 107th PA have a dedicated history.  A paper posted about them on-line at the website PA-Roots allots one paragraph to the winter encampment of 1864. 

Charles Davis of the 13th Mass., made the following brief comments in his history of the regiment:

Seal and motto of the 13th Mass. Vols.

The following is from, “Three Years in the Army,” by Charles E. Davis, Jr; Estes & Lauriat, Boston, 1894.

A good deal of dissatisfaction was expressed with General Meade for wiping out the First Corps, notwithstanding we were allowed to retain the corps badge in combination with that of the Fifth Corps –– a sop to our indignation.

In his retirement from the command of the First Corps, General Newton carried with him the good-will and respect of every officer and soldier that had the honor to serve under him.

The following is from, “The Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, 1862-1865;” by Alfred S. Roe, 1914.

To the Regiment, however, the most important event of the day was the rearrangement of the several corps constituting the Army of the Potomac, though this act had no immediate effect upon the regular life of the Thirty-ninth.  The First Army Corps of the Potomac Army, commanded successively by Generals McDowell, Hooker, Reynolds, and Newton, had left an excellent record through the nearly two years of its existence;  the disk which, in red, white and blue, represented its several divisions, had ever been a badge of honor and now the advent of General Grant to the command of the army was to bring about various changes, among them the merging of the First Corps with the Fifth;  its three divisions, reduced to two, became the Second and Fourth under Robinson and Crawford respectively while Warren, of late temporarily in command of the Second, was assigned to lead the Fifth Corps, and Newton who had succeeded Reynolds at Gettysburg, was relieved.  Under the same general orders, the Third Corps also was disbanded, its first and second divisions going to the Second Corps, its third division to the Sixth, and General Sykes, the Commander, to the command of the District of South Kansas.  There were thus left the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps in the Potomac Army, to which in the campaign of 1864 the Ninth Corps, under General Burnside, was to be added.

This rearrangement of army relations was not accomplished without some heart-burning and many adverse remarks.  John D. Billings in his story of the Tenth Massachusetts Battery says:

“Next to the attachment men feel for their own company or regiment, comes that which they feel for their corps.  All the active services that we had seen was in the Third Corps, and its earlier history and traditions from the Peninsula to Gettysburg had become a part of our pride, and we did not care to identify ourselves with any other.  If such was our feeling in the matter, how much more intense must have been that of the troops longer in its membership, whose very blood and sinew were incorporated with the imperishable name it won under General Sickles.”

Though the Thirty-ninth had borne no part in the battle-trials of the corps, save in the premonitions at Mine Run, yet its marchings and campings, during eight months of service, had done much towards impressing upon the Regiment the character of the corps and an appreciation of the corps and an appreciation of its excellent record.

Fifth Corps Badges

The best written tribute/eulogy of the old First Corps, from a regiment that is within the same sphere of service as the 13th Mass., is from the  "Ninth New York" an organization comprised of men with a similar background, societal standing, education, and nature as the men in the 13th Massachusetts.

The following is from “History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. ––N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N.Y. Volunteers.)  1845-1888”; by George A. Hussey & William B. Todd; 1889.

General G. K. Warren

It is natural and fitting that these men would suffer and mourn the loss of their long-term identity with a corps that was disbanded, but the author here, embellished reality in overpraising the First Corps.  I guess if he was to praise certain commanders, he must include all so as not to offend any, but the reality was General McDowell was disliked when he commanded the corps, and General Newton was a lazy corps commander, (but a better division commander).  General Reynolds was killed early in the engagement, and didn’t really “save the battle of Gettysburg.”  ––But this is a eulogy for a corps with a valiant record, so perhaps the hyperbole can be excused. ––B.F., webmaster.

An important change in the Army of the Potomac had been ordered before Grant’s promotion.  The First and Third corps––Except General Seymour’s division of the latter, which joined the Sixth corps ––were consolidated with the Fifth and Second, respectively.  The men of the First and Third were to retain their corps badges, however ––a small sop to their wounded feelings.  The consolidation was a wise measure, notwithstanding the pain it caused many of the heroes of Gettysburg, and the men themselves, while they regretted the necessity of the change, soon recognized its justness. The Ninth retained its division (Robinson) and brigade (Baxter) commanders.  It was still in the Second brigade, Second division, but now of the Fifth corps, General G. K. Warren, commanding.

Major-General G. K. Warren, pictured, had been temporarilly commanding the 2nd Corps during General Winfield Scott Hancock's recovery from his Gettysburg wounds.  When the army was re-organized, Hancock returned and Warren was given command of the 5th Corps, formerly General George Sykes' command.

Besides the official utterances respecting the consolidated corps, many were the tributes paid by individual members, all of which breathed that spirit of loyalty so dear to the heart of the true patriot.  It mattered not under what particular general or corps number they fought, they determined to sustain their ancient renown among their new associates.  Thus felt the members of the Ninth,  and the sentiments of the rank and file are fittingly voiced by the following tribute, written at the time by a member of the old First corps:

It is no more; the deed is done;  the fiat has gone forth, and the First Army Corps has ceased to exist.  The corps that was first formed––it seems to us a long time ago–-in the early days of this unholy rebellion, the nation’s first and greatest hope after the sun went down in dark and threatening clouds at the First Bull Run;  that band that prided themselves upon being the first in thorough organization;  the corps that has fought in a score of battles, losing over twenty thousand men, has been sacrificed and parcelled out to another.  We weep.  Is it unmanly?  Is it womanly?  We may have the woman's heart:  she weeps over her lost idol;  we weep over ours.

graphic of Union soldier with US Flag

We were of the First corps;  its history is our history.  Its glory ours, we were it, and it was us.  Unmanly?  Who struck fiercer or deadlier when the hoarse-mouth cannon spoke, and his word was death?   Who loved their country more?   Hated its enemies more?  What corps can boast of a list of names like Meade, Reynolds, McDowell, King, Hartsuff, Ord, Seymour, Gibbon, Ricketts, and Newton.  Every one a hero.  Our comrades sleep upon the hillsides of Fredericksburg, in the Wilderness, at Chancellorsville, upon the plains of Manassas, the rugged slopes of Slaughter and South Mountains, by the sluggish Antietam, and the blood of five thousand of our brave boys colored the ground of historic Gettysburg.

In the field beyond the town is a spot marked by our memento, before which the  pilgrim will come, bow his head in reverence, and drop tears of sorrow and joy, upon the spot where our noble commander gave up his life to save his country.  The tear of sorrow that so brave a man, so skillful a soldier, must need be killed ––the tear of joy, that the man who died was the instrument, under God, that saved the battle of Gettysburg, and thus revived the drooping spirit of the loyal North.

It is sad to contemplate the change that has come over us.  The mind goes back over nearly three years of war, and views the forty thousand men who have said, with pride, “We belong to the First corps,” many of whom lie buried in known and unknown, though honored graves, upon all the important battle-fields of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.  “Badgers,”  “Wolverines” and “Hoosiers” ––men from the “Bay State,” the “Empire” state, the “Keystone” State, the “Pine Tree” State and the “Nutmeg” State, have stood side by side in our ranks;  side by side won victories, indulged in like hopes, dejected by the same fears;  side by side attested their love for our starry flag, emblem of our freedom, and never faltered in duty, never turned their back to the foe, in disgrace.  To write the history of our band is to write, almost, a history of the war.

Let every man who belonged to the old First corps register a vow to faithfully perform his duty in the Fifth.  Let it never be said that the men who have made their names glorious while with Doubleday and Wadsworth, Meredith and Robinson, turn their backs to their country’s foe, and stained their fair fame.  With our glorious past, as a distinctive organization, let us make an equally glorious future, though our lot be cast with a strange corps.  They are noble brothers, fighting for the same cause, with the same determined purpose.  We must have our new allies recognize that we are all that soldiers should be;  and in the not distant future, when our erring sister States shall again sing the hosanna of peace beneath the old flag, we will return to our homes and be called blessed.  Our name, our deeds, will live, though no costly cenotaph should be raised in memoriam.  We will be known in the future;  and until the angel shall come and rouse with the trumpet, all the host, we will be spoken of as among the bravest and best of the brave.


Journal of Colonel Charles Wainwright, Chief of 1st Corps Artillery, March 24, 1864.

Charles Wainwright hailed the re-organization of the army as a good thing, contrary to most officers in the First Corps.  He reflects on the change in this journal entry.  Like others, he lamented the removal of General Sykes from command.  So did Theodore Lyman at Gen. Meade's Headquarters.  Lyman wrote, “I do feel sorry for Sykes, an excellent soldier, always sure to do his duty, and with this army for a long time.  I fear they displaced him at Washington because they disliked his rough manners.”

From, “A Diary of Battle, The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861-1865”;  Edited by Allan Nevins; 1962.

March 24, Thursday.  The long agony is over:  consolidation is––not accomplished, but a fixed fact.  The order was issued from Washington yesterday, and from Army Headquarters today.  Bye the by I see that it is “by order of the Secretary of War,” not of General Grant, so he does not mean to fight on that ground, and quarrel with Mr. Stanton at the start.

The order consolidates the First, Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps into two divisions each; it then transfers the First Corps to the Fifth, the First and Second Divisions of the Third Corps to the Second, and the Third Division of the Third to the Sixth.  This will give four divisions to the Second and Fifth Corps, and only three to the Sixth, but I presume will make them about equal in numbers; which does not look as if there was much truth in the reports of Hancock getting so many recruits.

General Winfield Scott Hancock

Hancock retains command of the Second Corps, and Sedgwick of the Sixth.  The Fifth is to be under Major-General G. K. Warren.  The orders call it a temporary consolidation, and allow the divisions formed of the old First and Second Corps to retain the badges. But temporary will no doubt be permanent;  the consolidating into divisions and retaining old badges is merely a way to let them down easy, for the thing will no doubt cause a great deal of ill feeling in the First and Third Corps.

[Pictured is General Winfield Scott Hancock.]

I am looked on as a sort of traitor here, for having always favoured consolidation, but I tell them that I belong to the Artillery Corps, and not to the First.  A number of general officers are relieved from duty with this army:  Corps Commanders Sykes, French, and Newton, and Brigade Commanders Kenly, Spinola, and Meredith.  The first is the only one I should think any loss.

The order says nothing about artillery save that Hunt* will assign eight batteries to each of the three new corps;  tomorrow I shall go up to see the General, get my own position fixed, and see what I can do as to securing the batteries that I want.  I still lean towards Hancock, knowing little of Warren;  perhaps, too, I have a penchant for the Second Corps.  But I may not have a choice, and under any circumstances shall be most influenced by what batteries I can get.  If possible I should like to have all those of my own regiment now with this army;  & should I go away from here it might be difficult to take “H’ & “L” along with me:  “C” too is in the 5th & I may be able to get “D” from the 3d.

*General Henry Hunt, commander of the Army of the Potomac's Artillery.

General Ulysses S. Grant's Memoirs   
Taking Command of the Army in the Field

Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant

The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army had passed through Congress and became a law on the 20th of February.  My nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st of March and confirmed the next day (the 2d). I was ordered to Washington on the 3d to receive my commission, and started the day following that.  The commission was handed to me on the 9th.  It was delivered to me at the Executive Mansion by President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest son, those of my staff who were with me and a few other visitors.

The President in presenting my commission read from a paper––stating, however, as a preliminary, and prior to the delivery of it, that he had drawn that up on paper, knowing my disinclination to speak in public, and handed me a copy in advance so that I might prepare a few lines of reply.

On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac at Brandy Station;  then returned to Washington, and pushed west at once to make my arrangements for turning over the commands there and giving directions for the preparations to be made for the spring campaign.

continued:
        It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even if I was made lieutenant-general;  but when I got to Washington and saw the situation it was plain that here was the point for the commanding general to be.  No one else could, probably, resist the pressure that would be brought to bear upon him to desist from his own plans and pursue others.  I determined, therefore, before I started back to have Sherman advanced to my late position, McPherson to Sherman’s in command of the department, and Logan to the command of McPherson’s corps.  These changes were all made on my recommendation and without hesitation.  My commission as lieutenant-general was given to me on the 9th of March, 1864.  On the following day, as already stated, I visited General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy Station, north of the Rapidan.

Portrait of General Meade

I had known General Meade slightly in the Mexican war, but had not met him since until this visit.  I was a stranger to most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except the officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican war.  There had been some changes ordered in the organization of the army before my promotion.  One was the consolidation of five corps into three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of important commands. Meade evidently thought that I might want to make still one more change not yet ordered.  He said to me that I might want an officer who had served with me in the West, mentioning Sherman specially, to take his place.  If so, he begged me not to hesitate about making the change.  He urged that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand in the way of selecting the right men for all positions.  For himself, he would serve to the best of his ability wherever placed.  I assured him that I had no thought of substituting any one for him.  As to Sherman, he could not be spared from the West.

This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade than did his great victory at Gettysburg the July before.  It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the most efficient service.

Meade’s position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to him.  He was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous to my taking command of all the armies, was in supreme command of the Army of the Potomac––except from the authorities at Washington.  All other general officers occupying similar positions were independent in their commands so far as any one present with them was concerned.  I tried to make General Meade’s position as nearly as possible what it would have been if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his command.  I therefore gave all orders for the movements of the Army of the Potomac to Meade to have them executed.  To avoid the necessity of having to give orders direct, I established my headquarters near his, unless there were reasons for locating them elsewhere.  This sometimes happened, and I had on occasions to give orders direct to the troops affected.  On the 11th I returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were published by the War Department placing me in command of all the armies.  I had left Washington the night before to return to my old command in the West to meet Sherman whom I had telegraphed to join me in Nashville.

continued:
        In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from important commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after those  who had been removed in the West while I looked out for the rest.  I directed, however, that he should make no assignment until I could speak to the Secretary of War about the matter. ….

…On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th took up my headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles south of the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.

cartoon of an exaggeratedly long Mr. Lincoln

Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the President, I never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital to receive my commission as lieutenant-general.  I knew him, however, very well and favorably from the accounts given by officers under me at the West who had known him all their lives.  I had also read the remarkable series of debates between Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were rival candidates for the United States Senate. I was then a resident of Missouri, and by no means a “Lincoln man” in that contest;  but I recognized then his great ability.

In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me that he had never professed to be a military man or to know how campaigns should be conducted, and never wanted to interfere in them:  but that procrastination on the part of commanders, and the pressure from the people at the North and Congress, which was always with him, forced him into issuing his series of “Military Orders” –––one, two, three, et.   He did not know but they were all wrong, and did know that some of them were.  All he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance needed, pledging himself to use all the power of the government in rendering such assistance.  Assuring him that I would do the best I could with the means at hand, and avoid as far as possible annoying him or the War Department, our first interview ended.

The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I knew him better.

While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being otherwise used.  He and General Halleck both cautioned me against giving the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so kind-hearted, so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that some friend would be sure to get from him all he knew.  I should have said that in our interview the President told me he did not want to know what I proposed to do.  But he submitted a plan of campaign of his own which he wanted me to hear and then do as I pleased about.  He brought out a map of Virginia on which he had evidently marked every position occupied by the Federal and Confederate armies up to that time.  He pointed out on the map two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of these streams.  We would then have the Potomac to bring our supplies, and the tributaries would protect our flanks while we moved out.   I listened respectfully, but did not suggest that the same streams would protect Lee’s flanks while he was shutting us up.

I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to the Secretary of War or to General Halleck.

March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated at Culpeper, and the work of preparing for an early campaign commenced.


Letter of Sergeant George Henry Hill, 13th M.V.I., March 29, 1864

George seems to be continually reassuring his parents that the Lincoln & Stanton War Administration is not inept as many citizens and even those in the volunteer service, thought  they were.

 Camp of 13th Regt Mass
            Mitchels Station Va
                March 29/64

Dear Mother

The 1st Corps has ceased to exist and we are now the 2nd Division of the 5th commanded by Major Gen G. K. Warren.  No indeed it is “not because we will not reenlist.”   I hope you do not think the government would descend to any such small contemptible doings as that.

Reenlisting is entirely voluntary and not in any case compulsatory.  The reasons for consolidating the corps are clearly set forth in Gen. Meade’s order which no doubt you have read.  What we wonder at most is that he should have selected two of his best fighting corps to break up (1st & 3rd) instead of taking the 5th or 6th;  however although we would prefer to retain our corps identity yet as it is no doubt “for the good of the service” we are content.

No more now accept love to all from your aff son

                Geo H.

Return to Table of Contents

The Return of Colonel Tilden, 16th Maine;  March 28, 1864

From the Diary of Samuel D. Webster, Company D:
        Excerpts of this diary (HM 48531) are used with permission from The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

Saturday, March 26
        Lieutenant Welles has leave of absence and Lieutenant Stuart is Acting Adjutant.

Sunday, March 27th, 1864.
        The boys who reenlisted as "veterans," and went home on furlough some time since, returned today. [Calvin Conant says only four returned, some received commissions while on furlough and Walter S.C. Heath deserted.]

Diary of Calvin Conant; March 26 - 28.
        Saturday, March 26, 1864.  Windy day    rained all last night   to day we have targets practice   five rounds a piece   I was the lucky one come about two inches from the bulseye      have written to sis and sent the old the old man(?) Money  

Sunday, March 27, 1864.  Pleasant day   I am off guard  Inspection by companies at 8 oclock   our four Veterans arrived back to night on the 4 oclock train   they all look Gay    I got my watch and also I bought a  ?cfos45/close? jacket? which was made by J. W. Colcord

Monday, March 28, 1864.  Pleasant day   I am of guard    the Reg was divided in to 3(?) Companies and had a drill this morning   John has gone to Culpeper  this after noon     was a Brigade drill by Leonard     Col Batchelder is on sick list

From the 39th MA History, Alfred Roe:
        While this is strictly a story of the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts, of any happening in the camp of our near neighbors and good friends, the men of the Sixteenth Maine, passing mention is due here.  Colonel Charles W. Tilden had been captured at Gettysburg and had been held prisoner in Richmond until the 10th of February, when with others he got away from Libby through General A. D. Streight’s famous tunnel and on the 28th of March, at four o’clock in the afternoon, he was received by  his old boys with a heartiness which only old soldiers can give to the tried and true;  in the evening followed a feast in the regimental chapel, attended by the officers of the Sixteenth and the field officers of the brigade, all uniting in the most fervent expressions of respect and admiration;  the history of the Sixteenth has this concerning the words of our esteemed Commander, “Colonel Davis, whose encampment is a paragon of neatness and comfort, replied in his calm and witty way to a toast complimentary to the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts.”


Colonel Tilden Returns

Like Alfred Roe says in the passage above, it is worth looking into the histories of the neighboring regiments for stories that happened in camp.  Several officers of the 13th Mass. celebrated  the return of Colonel Charles Tilden, to his regiment on March 28th.  Naturally the history of the 16th Maine does proper justice to reporting the event.

Officers of the 16th Maine Regiment

Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus B. Farnham, 16th MaineAdjutant Abner Small, 16 MaineMajor Aubrey Leavitt, 16 Maine

Pictured are Lt.-Col. Augustus B. Farnham, Adjutant Abner Small, & Major Aubrey Leavitt, 16th Maine.  Col. Farnham commanded the regiment in Col. Tilden's absence.  Adjutant Small and Major Leavitt, escorted the returning colonel  from the railroad depot, up the hill to the camp of the 16th Maine.

The following is from, “The Sixteenth Maine Regiment in the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865”  by Major A. R. Small; B. Thurston & company Portland, Maine 1886;  (p. 167 – 171).

Colonel Charles Tilden, 16th Maine Vols.

March 28.  This was a gala day with the regiment.  Every member had made his toilet long before reveille.  The new men were as earnest as the old, in their efforts to give a fitting welcome to the colonel they had never seen.  The forenoon was spent in adding touches of attraction here and there through the camp, such as would do credit to born artists.  The band, resplendent in brass burnished like gold, assembled on the parade-ground, and played the regiment into line at two o’clock P.M.  About four the train from Culpeper arrived, and directly the major and adjutant approached escorting Colonel Tilden, (pictured, right) who was mounted on a superb black stallion.

The regiment presented arms, when the colonel acknowledged the salute by removing his cap. We knew not which the most to admire, his soldierly bearing and fine horsemanship, or the perfect discipline of the command.  When Colonel Farnham rang out the commands, “Shoulder-arms! Order-arms! and now, boys, three times three for Charley Tilden!” the men were wild with enthusiasm and cheered to the echo, while the band played “Hail to the Chief.”  Parade was dismissed, guns stacked, when an informal greeting seldom seen outside the army, was given the much loved commander.  Colonel Farnham, who had made generous preparation, gave a reception that evening in the chapel, to the officers. Chaplain Balkam in a letter to the Lewiston Journal, says of the supper, and of the evening’s entertainment:

The tables were spread with admirable taste, and in every respect well furnished, under the direction of Major Leavitt, chairman of the committee.  The invited guests were the field officers of the brigade.  Lieutenant-Colonel Farnham, who has omitted nothing in his power, to make the return of Colonel Tilden to his regiment, after eight months confinement in Libby Prison, a happy one, presided at the tables.  He assigned to the chaplain, the duty of presenting in a few words, these festive boards to the Colonel, which his officers had prepared as some expression of their appreciation of him, and grateful sense of his return.

To this address the Colonel replied briefly, thankfully accepting the honor, but declaring that he did not feel worthy of it.  Talking was not his vocation, and he would only say that he hoped to show by his acts, how well he appreciated and wished to deserve their kindness.  The divine blessing was then invoked and payer offered, that while all was dark, and gloom, and storm with-out ––naught but light, and calm, and happiness might reign within;  for so dark, rainy, and tempestuous a night I have not known in Virginia, and seldom anywhere else.  We  trembled somewhat for our fly, but it stood well and we were made perfectly comfortable, though the rain poured and the wind raged.

Captain S. Clifford Belcher, 16th Maine

You will not think it strange that on such a night, it was difficult to find our cows, and they were late in, consequently the oysters were hurried and got a little scorched, otherwise they were perfectly delicious, and as it was, I think I never ate any that relished so well.   Possibly some of our company, who  had recently come from home, could not say so much.  I noticed that my friend Captain Belcher, who had just returned from “a leave,” had not entirely recovered from daintiness contracted at home.  [Captain S. Clifford Belcher, pictured left.]

We had tea and coffee with genuine milk, though it must be confessed that Virginia milk is very poor; the cows get no hay and but little of anything else.  Virginia turkeys well roasted, ham, tongue, pie, cake, apples, oranges, nuts, etc., etc. all this was excellent, though I believe in this instance they all came from Washington.  In short it was a Washington super transported to poor Mitchell’s Station.

When all had well eaten and drunken, of things, permissible, came a batch of regular toasts from Adjutant Small, who acquitted himself on this occasion, as he always does, with distinguished credit.  I can attempt to give you but very few of the toasts, regular or volunteer.

Lumley illustrationg of officers sharing a flask

The eloquence and wit which followed them, I must leave almost entirely to the imagination of your readers to supply.  “Our colonel.  He has been tried by the camp and the march, by battle and by prison.  We are made happy to-night in welcoming his return, by daring escape from the toils of a dreary captivity, and know not which the more to approve, the nobleness of his manhood, or the superiority of his soldierly qualities;  his country has need of both;  may nothing but a just and glorious peace ever again deprive her of his service.  Lieutenant-Colonel Farnham:  the worthy representative of his superior.  His happiness at the return of his commanding officer is only paralleled by his earnestness and undivided efforts to maintain the reputation of the Sixteenth Maine, during his absence.  Officers of the Sixteenth Maine who are not with us tonight: with some of them we shall be associated no more on earth;  they are absent but not forgotten.”

This toast was responded to in an excellent speech by Dr. Alexander.  To a toast alluding to the tunnel through which our prisoners escaped, Dr. Whitney, brigade surgeon, ––who took lodgings for a considerable time at Libby, –-replied in an admirable speech.  The Doctor found it so good to get out, that he was almost tempted to go in again, for the pleasure of coming out.

Colonel McCoy replied in a speech that brought down the house, to a toast complimentary of the One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania.  Colonel Davis, whose encampment is a paragon of neatness and comfort, replied in his calm and witty way to a toast complimentary of the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts.  In the absence of Colonel Leonard, of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, commanding brigade, Captain Porter, assistant adjutant-general, was called up, and detailed Lieutenant Bradlee to make a speech, which he did greatly to the amusement of all.

At about eleven o’clock the company broke up.  Two or three hours had been well enjoyed, and most of us emerged into the pitch dark and rain of the night, to find our camps, and thankful;  I trust, that they were still dry and comfortable.  The occasion was a happy one, marked by good feeling and sobriety.

Some of Those Present

Chaplain Uriah Balkam, 16th MaineDr. Charles Alexander, 16th MaineDr. Allston W. Whitney, 13th MA

Chaplain Uriah Balkam, & Dr. Charles Alexander, 16th Maine. Dr. Allston Waldo Whitney, 13th Massachusetts.  Chaplain Balkam authored the article about the dinner.  Doctors Alexander & Whitney provided entertainment and toasted the returned Colonel.

Colonel Phineas Stearns Davis, 39th MAColonel Thomas F. McCoy, 107th PA

Colonel Phineas Stearns Davis, 39th MA and Colonel Thomas F. McCoy, 107th PA, each stood and gave praise and toasts to their own regiments.

Captain Porter, 39th MAAdjutant David Bradlee, 13th MA

In the absence of  Brigade Commander Colonel  S. H. Leonard, Captain Charles H. Porter, [left] of the 39th MA called upon Adjutant David H. Bradlee, [right] the Colonel's secretary to make a few remarks in his stead.


The festivities continued the next day.

16th Maine, continued:
        Tuesday forenoon, [March 29] at nine o’clock, some four or five hundred men from different regiments in the brigade assembled near regimental headquarters.  Soon after, the battalion, in command of Sergeant-Major Stevens, led by the band, doubled on the center in front of the colonel’s tent.  Colonel Tllden made his appearance, and accepted as a gift from the enlisted men, the beautiful horse ridden by him yesterday, together with a complete set of equipments.  The presentation was made by Sergeant-Major Stevens, in a feeling address.  Colonel Tilden then took by the hand those captured with him at Gettysburg.

The remainder of the day was spent in field sports. In the evening, the officers, with their guests, the brigade commander and staff, and officers from other regiments, partook of a luxurious dinner in the chapel.  The rain, which commenced drizzling in the morning, now came down in torrents.

View of Camp Tilden, Mitchell's Station, VA

View of Camp Tilden,at Mitchell's Station, 1864.

girl with umbrella in a windy rainstorm

Diary of Calvin Conant, continued;
        Tuesday, March 29, 1864.
        Pleasant this morning    come up and rained at noon   continues to rain   Big time to the 16 Maine Col Tilden come back last night –– to day  the Reg present him with a horse & equipments    also have a greasy pig    greasy poles and  Sack races   and a game of ball for ten dollars    Any quantity of Whiskey & Ale    I am on duty but  managed to see part of the Show     Reg Inline Picket

From the Diary of Samuel D. Webster, continued:
        Tuesday, March 29th, 1864
        Col. Tilden of the 16th Maine, who escaped from Libby with Col. Streight, arrived last night.  The 16th were to have a good time, but their ardor was damped by a rain, today.  However they had the greased pole;  the pig with a greased tail (captured by a 13th fellow ––of course; the 13th  always does get away  with the 16th somehow)  and the Col. was presented with a very fine black horse.  All very affecting, etc. etc.

From, “Three Years in the Army,” by Charles E. Davis, Jr.:
        Tuesday, March 29.  An order was received to-day from General Warren containing the following paragraph:

III.  Details, unless otherwise ordered, will be for one day only, and men must eat their breakfast before leaving camp, and bring their dinner in haversacks.


What, in the name of all that was good and holy, came over the honorable major-general  when he penned that paragraph about eating our breakfast and bringing our dinner was more than we could guess.  This was the first instance when any solicitude was shown, after we had drawn rations, as to whether we ate them at once., or divided them into nine parts.  “Bring their dinners in haversacks” pleased us immensely.

Albert Hurter sketch of piggies

The monotony of camp life was relieved to-day by a celebration which took place in the camp of the Sixteenth Maine, in honor of the return of its colonel, who had recently escaped from Richmond.   Greased pig, sack races, and base-ball were among the list of sports marked out for the day’s pleasure.  We had a good time, and as the Maine boys had learned from experience not to trust their pocket-books in reach of our substitutes, there was nothing to mar the fun.  One of the Thirteenth boys succeeded in capturing the “greasy pig,” so there was fresh pork in camp.

Calvin Conant gets the last word in for the 13th MA on the last days of March, 1864.  He tells us Colonel Leonard is still trying hard to get his men to re-enlist for an additional 3-year term of service.

Diary of Calvin Conant;
        Wednesday, March 30, 1864.   Wet day   the Reg was dis missed at Guardmount   I am off duty   awful rainey night last night and very dark

Thursday, March 31, 1864.  Plesant day   I am on duty   drill fore and after noon    Col Leonard came over to day and talked to the boys to have them Enlist  about ––25 put down thier names as willing if the Majority of the Reg was in favor  if not thier Signatures to be of no avail

The following is from, “The Sixteenth Maine Regiment in the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865”  by Major A. R. Small; B. Thurston & company Portland, Maine 1886.

March 31, 1864
        All quiet on Cedar Run, except that infernal horn of the One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania, which has volume enough to waken the dead.  The health of the regiment greatly improved during the month of March, and no death was recorded, except at the division hospital.

Walton Tabor illustration of a buglar

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"I am willing to run the risks of all the fighting for the sake of gaining this end." ––Private James Ross, 83rd NY Vols.