IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION

About 9 a.m. the rain cleared away and we moved on to join the rest of the regiment when the march was resumed until 3 p.m., when we came to a halt near a farm house. The name of the district was not known. The camp was two miles from Falmouth and three from Fredericksburg. We then judged we were pretty close to the enemy and that our marching was done for the present.

December 25^th we were at Belle Plain. The night we got there it snowed heavily. But the snow did not begin to fall until after we had got to sleep under our little shelter tents. Those of us who slept hard and securely awoke in the morning to find the ground under us frozen, and the snow four inches deep on the ground and our tents. Others of us were rudely aroused by our tents and the snow tumbling down upon us, and stood around in the frosty material in our underclothes until our shelters could be raised again.

While here John Crowe, of Norwalk, went down to the river and found a number of petrified oysters. He gave them to Captain Fowler, who believing them to be the real article, put them on the fire to roast. For a long time he sat by the fire and watched the bivalves. The boys of his command, who had been let into the secret, kindly tendered him salt to put on them. When he discovered the sell he gracefully acknowledged it, and shortly after worked the joke off on Dr. Hubbard, the regimental surgeon.

On the march from Belle Plain to Brooks Station, where we were next ordered, the mud was so deep that the men sank into it above their knees, and eighteen mules were required to draw one piece of field artillery, and the progress then was very slow.

The regiment remained at Stafford Court House until January 13^th, when it marched to Belle Plain again. We remained in that neighborhood several days. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 20^th we were ordered to march to the relief of General Franklin. We marched until noon in the direction of Brooks' station, and then returned to a portion of Belle Plain, where we occupied the log huts vacated by the Seventh Wisconsin. They were well built, and with the aid of our shelter tents for roofs made a comfortable residence. The next day Franklin fell back, and the regiment returned to its quarters, but did not get in as we had orders to hold the position.

D. Rusco, of Company H, relates an incident that occurred in this camp, and shows what a soldier undergoes when in duty on the field. He got some [missing] wood to make some coffee. The [missing] water he saw what he believed to be two islands. On examining them more closely he discovered them to be two dead mules. But the sight did not unman him. He took the water all the same.

The regiment was in camp at Stafford Court House until January 13, 1863. Nothing of importance occurred in that time. We rested on a side of the hill in a woods. It was a woods when we settled on it, but we speedily made it bald-headed. We had battalion and company drills frequently. We also had pancakes. The pancakes were made of meal, wheat flour and water. They were baked on a half canteen over a log fire. The half canteen was our broiler and frying pan. It was held over the fire on the end of a split stick. He pancakes were four inches in diameter, a quarter of an inch thick, and weighed two pounds apiece. They were very filling.

January 6^th, an order was issued giving us Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to ourselves, drilling being omitted on those days.

Here is an incident that shows some of the privations endured by the sick and also the dead.

A member of Company D, Bridgeport was taken ill. He was sent to Aqua Creek on the Potomac in an ambulance. At Aqua Creek he was placed on board of a boat to be taken to Washington. But the boat was so crowded that he could not be accommodated. Fortunately, at that juncture, one of the patients died. The corpse was hurried ashore and he took the dead man's place.

Perhaps it would interest the reader to know the prices we paid for some of the articles we craved, but which the government did not furnish. Our regimental sutler had gone home, and we were now trading with a sutler of another regiment, stationed about a quarter of a mile away from our camp. His prices were as follows: pies, 25 cents each; apples, 5 cents each; potatoes, 1 cent each; onions, 3 cents each; very small cookies, 7 for 25 cents; cheese and butter 60 cents a pound; everything else in proportion.

The weather was beautiful at this time. The air was warm, and the song of birds was heard frequently, in the trees.

On the 13^th of January we marched to Belle Plain again.

On the 5^th of February we were marched to Brook's Station, a station on the railway from Aqua Crek on the Potomac to Fredericksburg on the Rappahanock.

At Brook Station we went into winter quarters. We built houses with log walls and canvas roofs. These, with their fireplaces of blazing wood fires, made very comfortable quarters. At Brook Station furloughs were granted of ten days to one man at a time in each company. As no partiality could be showed selection was made by lot, and the drawing of lots was a particularly exciting occasion. It quite frequently happened that luck won new laurels as an uncertain jade by bestowing her favors upon the least worthy.

On Saturday, February 21^st, the weather was so cold that our fingers and faces ached with it while we were on drill. At night a heavy snow storm set in, and the next morning, Washington's birthday, there were ten inches of snow hiding the sacred soil of Virginia. This ought to have delighted us, as a reminder of dear old home, but it didn't.

Our principal occupation while in winter quarters at Brook's Station was the building of corduroy roads. The soil of Virginia is a fellow clay. In a rain this becomes pliable, and heavy travel over it creates a mire that is calculated to suck in almost everything. To remedy this evil the roads are corduroyed. A corduroy road gets its name, perhaps, from its similarity to corduroy cloth, being a succession of ribs. It is made of logs six or eight feet long. They are laid on the road side by side, and form a protection against sinking in the mud, although they are not pleasant to ride over.

A peculiar event occurred in this camp---and event very rare in army command. We were on dress parade Friday, February 27^th, when an order was read from the colonel placing under arrest every commissioned officer, excepting Captain Dunham, of Company G, and Adjutant Wilcoxson, but provided that were to be respected as officers as before. The orderly sergeants were placed in command of the companies. The offense of these officers was the signing of a petition for the removal of Colonel Noble. The colonel was not in favor with military men. He did not understand the tactics. In fact he had not drilled the regiment since its organization. It was not believed he was capable of doing it.

The incident shows how frail human judgment is. A very few weeks later the colonel showed that for bravery he had no superior in the army, and the regiment became proud of the officer it had sought to remove. In a few days the officers were gradually released, Captain Moore being the last.

Our main destiny was radically changed by an apparently trifling incident. James Ainscow and Sergeant Thorp, of Company K, wanted a pass to go to Falmouth to see friends in another regiment. Their Captain, McCarthy, said he would sign a furlough if they would make it out. They got Corporal Troutt of the same company, being an elegant penman was asked to write the pass, and he complied, holding the paper on the top of his cap while writing. The captain signed it and Sergeant Thorpe took it to the colonel for approval. At the colonel's tent was Col. Lee, of the Fifty-Fifth Ohio, who was expecting his commission as brigadier-general. He saw the writing and was so much impressed by its elegance that he asked for Troutt to be sent to him, and engaged him as secretary. About this time General Howard heard of Troutt's writing, and desired him. Col. Lee gave way to General Howard, and Troutt entered upon a distinct line of duty, and remained at it during the rest of his term in the service.

IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION

The original roads were covered with logs laid across them. They prevented teams and wagons from sinking out of sight, but they were not pleasant to ride over.

We did some drilling in this camp, but it was not a serious amount. Most of the time appeared to be consumed in inventing rumors of moves, and seeing they were properly circulated. One day the whole corps was to be transferred to Texas. The next day only one division was going. The next day General Stahl [Stahel] was to be transferred to the cavalry, which appeared to be a proper branch of the service for his name. The fourth day we were to be transferred to Washington. The fifth day we had orders to attack and carry Fredericksburg. So the time sped peacefully on. We got used to winter quarters.

There was some snow falls while we were there, and some disagreeable days and nights on picket. But when in quarters we kept a good fire on the hearth, and before it we read or played cards or sang home songs. We had beds of small poles covered with pine boughs, and such an affair made a luxurious couch. But there was a drawback to this camp. It was on a swampy piece of land, and malaria and fever grew common. The hospital tents were fully occupied, and there were a number of deaths, mostly in the 107^th Ohio regiment of our brigade.

About this time there was a division from the usual routine. March 19^th and address to the people of Fairfield county was presented to the regiment for endorsement. It was signed by the field and line officers. The men voted unanimously to send it forward. It was sent. The appeal set forth that as the regiment went into the field with the promise that it should be sustained in its struggle against the rebellion by the county, the news that a peace party had arisen at home gave the lie to the promise; that the success at this time of a party appeared to the prosecution of the war for the union would encourage the enemy, increase the trials and dangers of the country's requirement, and prolong the war beyond what would otherwise be its limit.

At dress parade in the evening of March 23^rd the following order was read to the several regiments in the brigade:

1. In the regiments in this brigade the following calls will be observed: 5 a.m., reveille; 5:15, roll call; 6:30, breakfast; 7, orderly's call for rations; 7:30, camp guard mounting; 8, surgeon's call; 8:30, inspection; 9, drill, to be designated by the regimental commanders; 12, dinner; 12:30, grand guard mounting; 1:30, battalion drill; 3, call; 5:30, supper; 6, dress parade; 8, tattoo; 9, taps.

 

2. Every a.m., at 8:30, each regiment by company will, upon company ground, be inspected by its commanding officer, at which all the officers, non-commissioned officers and men (except cooks) shall parade in full uniform. In making the inspection the company officer will note, first, whether the clothing is of regulation color, style, and pattern; second, whether it is proper and clean; third, whether the hair and whiskers are kept short; and fourth, whether the arms and accoutrements are in good condition. At the same time, two inspecting officers, to be designated by the commander of the regiment will inspect each company, and having done so will make actual inspection of the inside of the men's quarters and grounds, and furnish to the commanding officer of each regiment a written report which company is best and which is worst to military appearance, which has the best and which the worst quarters and grounds. A consolidated report will be published weekly to the regiments at the Sunday evening dress parade.

Wednesday, April 1^st, it was reported early in the morning that the rebel army had crossed the Rappahannock river and surrounded a large force of the army of the Potomac, stationed near Fredericksburg. The news created considerable excitement. The different regiments fell into line by companies.

A picket force of 1,100 men were detailed and sent out, part of our company being included in the order. Presently the Fifty-fifth Ohio regiment moved across our parade ground, and were soon followed by the 107^th Ohio. These episodes greatly increased the excitement in our regiment. A thousand rumors were afloat, and all of them were greedily devoured. We had been out seven months and had not even seen a confederate under arms. It looked now very much as we were going to see our fill of them in a very short time. The regiment was ordered into line on the parade ground where we stacked arms and waited the result. In a little while we were ordered back to our quarters, and the excitement subsided.

On the evening of Thursday there was a heavy wind. It blew down forest trees and unroofed a number of the soldiers' houses. Adjutant Wilcoxson arrived in camp from a twenty days' furlough. Several members were at home or in Washington at this time on furlough. The chaplain today made arrangements with the express company to send home our money at a trifling expense.

April 4. It is expected we will move soon. Captain Moore said this morning that General Hooker had ordered every man to take with him on the coming march two pairs of shoes, as we should march as far as one pair would not answer. Poor Hooker! Did he really believe he would take his command beyond Chancellorsville?

Some of the regiment indulged in target practice April 6^th, using snowballs for ammunition. So this is not the most backward April, and that snow fell way down in Virginia.

General Howard, who had been appointed to the command of the corps, visited the troops of his command April 7^th to see them at drill. On the night there was a grand review of the regiments of the corps before General Howard. The next day General Howard issued an order instructing quartermasters to get citizens or negroes to drive the regimental baggage teams and put the enlisted teamsters in the ranks. This order was not carried out to any general extent and soon became a dead letter.

On the 10^th our corps passed in review before President Lincoln and his wife, vice-president Hamlin, General Sickles and others. The president's bodyguard was nearly a half mile in length, consisting of officers, orderlies and cavalrymen. Mrs. Lincoln rode in a carriage drawn by four horses.

There was a three days picket detailed just before this grand review. Lieutenant Daniels, of Company C, was in command, and Lieutenant Blinn, of Company D, second in command. Daniels was on duty from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., and Blinn the balance of the twenty-four hours. Each officer, during his charge, had to visit the line of the picket every hour. Lieutenant Daniels writes:

"It was a terrible three days for us all---not a mouthful of warm food or drink in all the time, as we were near the enemy and were not allowed to have a fire. There was a snow storm during the time. The line of pickets was in a dense pine forest running parallel with, and a few rods from a road. We got back into camp the morning of review day. I was immediately stricken down with bilious colic. Surgeons Hubbard and Gregory stayed with me all day, even while they were anxious to see the review. I have often blessed them for their kindness to me that day. It was only what they did for all the boys---they neglected none. I was not recovered when you started for Chancellorsville and was obliged to stay in the rear."

Sunday, April 12^th, Captain Moore was released from arrest, and returned to duty.

Tuesday, April 14^th, was a busy day in camp, the busiest we ever saw. At 8 a.m. there was an officers' call. An officers' call consisted of all the commissioned officers of the companies being called to the regimental commander's tent to receive the instruction he had received from brigade headquarters. The officers on returning to their quarters summoned the orderly sergeant of their respective companies and communicated to them the orders which they had received and which they were to communicate to the men.

The orders from the 8 a.m. call were that commands should be put under light marching orders, to carry only one pair of drawers, one pair of socks, and one shirt. We were directed to pack in boxes our dress coats, woolen blankets and overcoats, which were to be sent to Washington to be stored away for the summer. The men were instructed to put their names, company and regiment on their clothing so that they could be readily returned to them after the summer campaign. Alas, how many of them never called for the goods when the fall came! They were where army clothing could have no use. The officers were ordered to carry eight days' rations in their knapsacks. The men were ordered to carry five days' rations in their knapsacks, leaving their haversacks empty, so that in case the baggage trains could not keep up with their three days extra rations they could take them in their haversacks.

There were twenty-two of these orderly and officer calls during the day, so you can see how rapidly they came. All of them pertained to our immediate marching. Some of them were contradictory of others. For instance, we were first ordered to pack up our overcoats in the boxes provided, to be shipped to Washington that evening. We packed them up and nailed the boxes strong. Then we were ordered to take them with us. Thereupon we opened the boxes and took them out, and were shaking them to remove the creases when we got orders to pack them up again. It would not be proper to put in print the remarks made at this juncture.

But we did not move the next morning after that. We fell back into the old routine for a number of days after that.

On the 16^th we signed the pay rolls and were paid off. Four months' pay were due us. The green backs were new, crisp, and bright, and we hugged them to our bosom. Some of us skirmished out to photographic galleries and contraband beer tents in neighboring regiments, and all of us had a pretty good time for a short period. It is nice to be rich.

April 18^th, twenty-eight men were taken from the regiment to Washington hospitals. Most of them were not able to rejoin us until several months later.

April 25^th. Dr. Gregory and Lieutenant Colonel Walter of the regiment, and Orrin Benedict and Mrs. Judd, of Bethel, visiting the regiment, went to Falmouth today on a visit. At roll call there was an officers' call to see that all the men had eight days' rations weighed out to them, which must not be touched until they marched.

April 26^th. Received orders tonight to be ready to march early tomorrow. It is said we are going to Fredericksburg.