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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35088-h.zip b/35088-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d11176b --- /dev/null +++ b/35088-h.zip diff --git a/35088-h/35088-h.htm b/35088-h/35088-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d41864 --- /dev/null +++ b/35088-h/35088-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5966 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Vermont Riflemen in the War for the Union, by Wm. Y. W. Ripley. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + ul {list-style-type: none} /* no bullets on lists */ + ul.nest {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -1.5em;} /* spacing for nested list */ + li {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em;} /* spacing for list */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .hang {text-indent: -2em;} /* hanging indents */ + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} /* block indent */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* Table of contents anchor */ + .totoi {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* to Table of Illustrations link */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} /* right align cell */ + .tdrp {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} /* right align with padding */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* center align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tdlsc {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdrsc {text-align: right; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdcsc {text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tr {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 17%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + color: silver; + background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 90%;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right; font-size: 90%;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: text-top; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.pn { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + color: silver; background-color: inherit; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers in poems */ + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, +1861 to 1865, by William Y. W. Ripley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, 1861 to 1865 + A history of Company F, First United States sharp shooters + +Author: William Y. W. Ripley + +Release Date: January 26, 2011 [EBook #35088] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VERMONT RIFLEMEN, 1861 TO 1865 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen">Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> +The book does not contain a Table of Contents. +One is provided for the convenience of the reader. +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span> +<br /> + +<h1> VERMONT RIFLEMEN</h1> + +<h4> IN THE</h4> + +<h1> WAR FOR THE UNION,</h1> + +<h3> 1861 TO 1865.</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1> A HISTORY OF COMPANY F,</h1> + +<h3> FIRST UNITED STATES SHARP SHOOTERS,</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4> BY</h4> + +<h2> WM. Y. W. RIPLEY, <span class="smcap">Lt. Col.</span></h2> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h4> Rutland:<br /> + <span class="smcap">Tuttle & Co., Printers.</span><br /> + 1883.</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="10%" style="font-size: 80%;">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl" width="80%"> </td> + <td class="tdr" width="10%" style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">I.</td> + <td class="tdl">Organization.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">II.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Peninsular Campaign.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">III.</td> + <td class="tdl">Second Bull Run. Antietam. Fredericksburgh.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl">Chancellorsville.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">V.</td> + <td class="tdl">Gettysburgh to the Wilderness.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl">The Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl">Siege of Petersburgh. Muster Out.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp"> </td> + <td class="tdl">Conclusion.</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div style="margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 20%;"> +Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord.<br /> +That would reduce these bloody days again,<br /> +And make poor England weep in streams of blood!<br /> +Let them not live to taste this land's increase,<br /> +That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!<br /> +Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again;<br /> +That she may long live here, God say—Amen!<br /> + +<p class="right">—<i>King Richard III.</i></p> +</div> +<br /> +<h2>ORGANIZATION.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Very soon after the outbreak of the war for the Union, immediately, in +fact, upon the commencement of actual operations in the field, it became +painfully apparent that, however inferior the rank and file of the +Confederate armies were in point of education and general intelligence +to the men who composed the armies of the Union, however imperfect and +rude their equipment and material, man for man they were the superiors +of their northern antagonists in the use of arms. Recruited mainly from +the rural districts (for the South had but few large cities from which +to draw its fighting strength), their armies were composed mainly of men +who had been trained to the skillful use of the rifle in that most +perfect school, the field and forest, in the pursuit of the game so +abundant in those sparsely settled districts. These men, who came to the +field armed at first, to a large extent, with their favorite sporting or +target rifles, and with a training acquired in such a school, were +individually more than the equals of the men of the North, who were,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +with comparatively few exceptions, drawn from the farm, the workshop, +the office or the counter, and whose life-long occupations had been such +as to debar them from those pursuits in which the men of the South had +gained their skill. Indeed, there were in many regiments in the northern +armies men who had never even fired a gun of any description at the time +of their enlistment.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, there were known to be scattered throughout the loyal +states, a great number of men who had made rifle shooting a study, and +who, by practice on the target ground and at the country shooting +matches, had gained a skill equal to that of the men of the South in any +kind of shooting, and in long range practice a much greater degree of +excellency.</p> + +<p>There were many of these men in the ranks of the loyal army, but their +skill was neutralized by the fact that the arms put into their hands, +although the most perfect military weapons then known, were not of the +description calculated to show the best results in the hands of expert +marksmen.</p> + +<p>Occasionally a musket would be found that was accurate in its shooting +qualities, and occasionally such a gun would fall into the hands of a +man competent to appreciate and utilize its best features. It was +speedily found that such a gun, in the hands of such a man, was capable +of results not possible to be obtained from a less accurate weapon in +the hands of a less skillful man. To remedy this state of affairs, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +to make certain that the best weapons procurable should be placed in the +hands of the men best fitted to use them effectively, it was decided by +the war department, early in the summer of 1861, that a regiment should +be organized, to be called the First Regiment of United States Sharp +Shooters, and to consist of the best and most expert rifle shots in the +Northern States. The detail of the recruiting and organization of this +regiment was entrusted to Hiram Berdan, then a resident of the city of +New York, himself an enthusiastic lover of rifle shooting, and an expert +marksman.</p> + +<p>Col. Berdan set himself earnestly at work to recruit and organize such a +body of men as should, in the most perfect manner, illustrate the +capacity for warlike purposes of his favorite weapon.</p> + +<p>It was required that a recruit should possess a good moral character, a +sound physical development, and in other respects come within the usual +requirements of the army regulations; but, as the men were designed for +an especial service, it was required of them that before enlistment they +should justify their claim to be called "sharp shooters" by such a +public exhibition of their skill as should fairly entitle them to the +name, and warrant a reasonable expectation of usefulness in the field. +To insure this it was ordered that no recruit be enlisted who could not, +in a public trial, make a string of ten shots at a distance of two +hundred yards, the aggregate measurement of which should <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>not exceed +fifty inches. In other words, it was required that the recruit should, +in effect, be able to place ten bullets in succession within a ten-inch +ring at a distance of two hundred yards.</p> + +<p>Any style of rifle was allowed—telescopic sights, however, being +disallowed—and the applicant was allowed to shoot from any position he +chose, only being required to shoot from the shoulder.</p> + +<p>Circular letters setting forth these conditions, and Col. Berdan +authority, were issued to the governors of the loyal states, and, as a +first result from the state of Vermont, Capt. Edmund Weston of Randolph +applied for and received of Gov. Holbrook authority to recruit one +company of sharp shooters, which was mustered into the service as Co. F, +First United States Sharp Shooters, and is the subject of this history.</p> + +<p>Capt. Weston at once put himself in communication with well known +riflemen in different parts of the state and appointed recruiting +officers in various towns to receive applications and superintend the +trials of skill, without which no person could be accepted.</p> + +<p>The response was more hearty and more general than could have been +expected, and many more recruits presented themselves than could be +accepted—many of whom, however, failed to pass the ordeal of the public +competition—and, as the event proved, more were accepted than could be +legally mustered into the service.</p> + +<p>All who were accepted, however, fully met the rigid requirements as to +skill in the use of the rifle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>The company rendezvoused at Randolph early in September, 1861, and on +the 13th of that month were mustered into the state service by Charles +Dana. The organization of the company as perfected at this time was as +follows:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="png007"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">Captain,</td> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">Edmund Weston.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Lieutenant,</td> + <td class="tdl">C. W. Seaton.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Lieutenant,</td> + <td class="tdl">M. V. B. Bronson.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">H. E. Kinsman.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">E. W. Hindes.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Amos H. Bunker.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Milo C. Priest.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">L. J. Allen.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Daniel Perry.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Fred. E. Streeter.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Ai Brown.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. C. Kent.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">H. J. Peck.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Sixth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. H. Tafft.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Seventh Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">C. D. Merriman.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Eighth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">C. W. Peck.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Bugler,</td> + <td class="tdl">Calvin Morse.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Wagoner,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward F. Stevens.</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>Thus organized, the company, with one hundred and thirteen enlisted men, +left the state on the same day on which they were mustered, and +proceeded via New Haven and Long Island Sound to the rendezvous of the +regiment at Weehawken Heights, near New York, where they went into camp +with other companies of the regiment which had preceded them. On or +about the 24th of September the regiment proceeded under <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>orders from +the war department to Washington, arriving at that city at a late hour +on the night of the twenty-fifth, and were assigned quarters at the +Soldiers' Rest, so well known to the troops who arrived at Washington at +about that time. On the twenty-sixth they were ordered to a permanent +camp of instruction well out in the country and near the residence and +grounds of Mr. Corcoran, a wealthy resident of Washington of supposed +secession proclivities, where they were for the first time in a +regularly organized camp, and could begin to feel that they were fairly +cut off at last from the customs and habits of civil life. Here they +were regularly mustered into the service of the United States, thirteen +enlisted men being rejected, however, to reduce the company to the +regulation complement of one hundred enlisted men; so that of the one +hundred and thirteen men charged to the company on the rolls of the +Adjt. and Ins.-Gen. of Vermont, only one hundred took the field. Other +companies from different states arrived at about the same time, and the +regiment was at last complete, having its full complement of ten +companies of one hundred men each.</p> + +<p>The field and staff at this time was made up as follows:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="png008"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">Colonel,</td> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">H. Berdan.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Lieutenant-Colonel,</td> + <td class="tdl">Frederick Mears.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Major,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. S. Rowland.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Adjutant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Floyd A. Willett.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Quarter-Master,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. H. Beebe.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Surgeon,</td> + <td class="tdl">G. C. Marshall.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>Assistant + Surgeon,</td> + <td class="tdl">Dr. Brennan.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Chaplain,</td> + <td class="tdl">Rev. Dr. Coit.</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>Only one of the field officers had had a military education or military +experience. Lieutenant-Colonel Mears was an officer of the regular army, +a thorough drill master and a strict disciplinarian. Under his efficient +command the regiment soon began to show a marked and daily improvement +that augured well for its future usefulness. The officers of the +regimental staff were, each in his own department, able and painstaking +men. The chaplain alone was not quite popular among the rank and file, +and they rather envied the Second Regiment of Sharp Shooters who were +encamped near them, and whose chaplain, the Rev. Lorenzo Barber, was the +beau ideal of an army chaplain. Tender hearted and kind, he was ever +ready to help the weak and the suffering; now dressing a wound and now +helping along a poor fellow, whose fingers were all thumbs and whose +thoughts were too big for utterance (on paper), with his letter to the +old mother at home; playing ball or running a foot race, beating the +best marksmen at the targets, and finally preaching a rousing good +sermon which was attentively listened to on Sunday. His <i>faith</i> was in +the "Sword of the Lord and of Gideon," but his best <i>work</i> was put in +with a twenty pound telescopic rifle which he used with wonderful +effect. The original plan of armament contemplated the use exclusively +of target or sporting rifles. The men had been encouraged to bring with +them their favorite weapons, and had been told that the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>government +would pay for such arms at the rate of sixty dollars each, while those +who chose to rely upon the United States armories for their rifles were +to be furnished with the best implements procurable. The guns to be so +furnished were to be breach loaders, to have telescopic sights, hair +triggers, and all the requisites for the most perfect shooting that the +most skillful marksman could desire.</p> + +<p>Many of the men had, with this understanding, brought with them their +own rifles, and with them target shooting became a pastime, and many +matches between individuals and companies were made and many very short +strings were recorded.</p> + +<p>Under the stimulus of competition and organized practice great +improvement was noted in marksmanship, even among those who had been +considered almost perfect marksmen before. On one occasion President +Lincoln, accompanied by Gen. McClellan, paid a visit to the camp and +asked to be allowed to witness some of the sharp shooting of which he +had heard so much.</p> + +<p>A detail of the best men was made and a display of skill took place +which, perhaps, was never before equalled. President Lincoln himself, as +did Gen. McClellan, Col. Hudson and others of the staff, took part in +the firing, the President using a rifle belonging to Corporal H. J. Peck +of the Vermont company.</p> + +<p>At the close of the exhibition Col. Berdan, being asked to illustrate +the accuracy of his favorite rifle, fired three shots at different +portions of the six <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>hundred yard target; when having satisfied himself +that he had the proper range, and that both himself and rifle could be +depended upon, announced that at the next shot he would strike the right +eye of the gaily colored Zouave which, painted on the half of an A tent, +did duty for a target at that range. Taking a long and careful aim, he +fired, hitting the exact spot selected and announced beforehand. Whether +partly accidental or not it was certainly a wonderful performance and +placed Col. Berdan at once in the foremost rank of rifle experts. On the +28th of November, the day set apart by the governors of the loyal states +as Thanksgiving Day, shooting was indulged by in different men of Co. F +and other companies for a small prize offered by the field officers, the +terms being two hundred yards, off hand, the shortest string of two +shots to win. The prize was won from a large number of skillful +contestants by Ai Brown of Co. F—his two shots measuring 4-1/4 inches, +or each within 2-1/8 inches of the center.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of December another regimental shooting match took place; the +prize going this time to a Michigan man, his string of three shots, +fired off hand at two hundred yards, measuring six inches. These records +are introduced here simply for the purpose of showing the wonderful +degree of skill possessed by these picked marksmen in the use of the +rifle. But it was soon found that there were objections to the use in +the field of the fine guns so effective on the target ground. The great +weight of some of them was of itself almost prohibitory, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>for, to a +soldier burdened with the weight of his knapsack, haversack and canteen, +blanket and overcoat, the additional weight of a target rifle—many of +which weighed fifteen pounds each, and some as much as thirty +pounds—was too much to be easily borne.</p> + +<p>It was also found difficult to provide the proper ammunition for such +guns in the field, and finally, owing to the delicacy of the +construction of the sights, hair triggers, etc., they were constantly +liable to be out of order, and when thus disabled, of even less use than +the smooth-bore musket, with buck and ball cartridge of fifty years +before. Manufacturers of fine guns from all parts of our own country, +and many from Europe, flocked to the camp of the sharp shooters offering +their goods, each desirous of the credit of furnishing arms to a body of +men so well calculated to use them effectively, and many fine models +were offered. The choice of the men, however, seemed to be a modified +military rifle made by the Sharpe Rifle Manufacturing Co., and a request +was made to the war department for a supply of these arms. At this early +day, however, the departments were full of men whose ideas and methods +were those of a half a century gone by; and at the head of the ordinance +department was a man who, in addition to being of this stamp, was the +father of the muzzle loading Springfield rifle, then the recognized arm +of the United States Infantry, and from him came the most strenuous +opposition to the proposal to depart from the traditions of the regular +army.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>Gen. McClellan, and even the President himself, were approached on this +subject, and both recognized the propriety of the proposed style of +armament and the great capacity for efficient service possessed by the +regiment when it should be once satisfactorily armed and fairly in front +of the enemy. But the ordinance department was ever a block in the way; +its head obstinately and stubbornly refusing to entertain any +proposition other than to arm the regiment with the ordinary army +musket; and, to add to the growing dissatisfaction among the men over +the subject of arms, it became known that the promises made to them at +the time of enlistment, that the government would pay them for their +rifles at the rate of sixty dollars each, was unauthorized and would not +be fulfilled; and also that the representations made to them with +respect to telescopic breech loaders were likewise unauthorized. +Discontent became general and demoralization began to show itself in an +alarming form.</p> + +<p>Some of the field officers were notoriously incompetent; the Major, one +of those military adventurers who floated to the surface during the +early years of the war, particularly so; he was a kind of a modern +Dalgetty without the courage or skill of his renowned prototype, rarely +present in camp, and when there of little or no service. The +Lieutenant-Colonel, a man of rare energy and skill in his profession, +and whose painstaking care had made the regiment all that it was at that +time, fearing the after effects of this demoralization on the efficiency +of the command, and seeing opportunity for his talents <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>in other fields, +resigned; and on the 29th of November, 1861, Wm. Y. W. Ripley of +Rutland, Vt., was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Caspar Trepp, +Captain of Co. A., was made Major. Lieutenant-Colonel Ripley had seen +service only as Captain of Co. K, First Vermont Volunteers. Major Trepp +had received a thorough military training in the army of his native +Switzerland, and had seen active service in European wars. The regiment +remained at camp of instruction under the immediate command of +Lieut.-Col. Ripley, employed in the usual routine of camp duty, drills, +etc., during the whole of the winter of 1861-62, particular attention +being paid to the skirmish drill, in which the men became wonderfully +proficient; and it is safe to say that for general excellence in drill, +except the manual of arms, they were excelled by few volunteer regiments +in the service. All orders were given by the sound of the bugle, and the +whole regiment deployed as skirmishers could be as easily maneuvered as +a single company could be in line of battle. The bugle corps was under +the charge of Calvin Morse of Co. F as chief bugler, and under his +careful instruction attained to an unusual degree of excellence. All +camp and other calls were sounded on the bugle, and the men found them +pleasant little devices for translating curt and often rough English +into music. They were bugled to breakfast and to dinner, bugled to guard +mounting and bugled to battle, brigades moved and cavalry charged to the +sound of the bugle. The men often found fanciful resemblances in the +notes of the music to the words <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>intended to be conveyed. Thus, the +recall was sung as follows:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come back again, come back again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come back, come back, come back again."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noin">while the sick call was thus rendered into words:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come to qui-nine, come to qui-nine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come to qui-i-nine, come to qui-i-nine."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>They were not, on the whole, bad translations. The winter was an +unusually severe one, and, as the enemy maintained a strict blockade of +the Potomac, the supply of wood was often short, and some suffering was +the result. The health of the regiment remained fairly good; measles, +small pox, and other forms of camp diseases appeared, however, and Co. +F, of course, suffered its share, losing by death from disease during +the winter, Wm. T. Battles, Edward Fitz, Sumner E. Gardner and Geo. H. +Johnson.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of March, 1862, the regiment received orders to report to +Major-Gen. Fitz John Porter, whose division then lay at Alexandria, Va., +awaiting transportation to Fortress Monroe to join the army under +McClellan. At this time the regiment was without arms of any kind, +except for the few target rifles remaining in the hands of their owners, +and a few old smooth bore muskets which had been used during the winter +for guard duty. Shortly before this time the war department, perhaps +wearied by constant importunity, perhaps recognizing the importance of +the subject, had so far receded from its former position as to offer <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>to +arm the regiment with revolving rifles of the Colt pattern, and had sent +the guns to the camp for issue to the men with promise of exchanging +them for Sharpe's rifles at a later day. They were five chambered breech +loaders, very pretty to look at, but upon examination and test they were +found inaccurate and unreliable, prone to get out of order and even +dangerous to the user. They were not satisfactory to the men, who knew +what they wanted and were fully confident of their ability to use such +guns as they had been led by repeated promises to expect, to good +advantage. When, however, news came that the rebels had evacuated +Manassas, and that the campaign was about to open in good earnest, they +took up these toys, for after all they were hardly more, and turned +their faces southward. Co. F was the first company in the regiment to +receive their arms, and to the influence of their patriotic example the +regiment owes its escape from what at one time appeared to be a most +unfortunate embarrassment.</p> + +<p>The march to Alexandria over Long Bridge was made in the midst of a +pouring rain and through such a sea of mud as only Virginia can afford +material for. It was the first time the regiment had ever broken camp, +and its first hard march. It was long after dark when the command +arrived near Cloud's mills; the headquarters of Gen. Porter could not be +found, and it became necessary for the regiment to camp somewhere for +the night. At a distance were seen the lights of a camp, which was found +upon examination to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>the winter quarters of the 69th New York in +charge of a camp guard, the regiment having gone out in pursuit of the +enemy beyond Manassas. A few persuasive words were spoken to the +sergeant in command, and the tired and soaked sharp shooters turned into +the tents of the absent Irishmen.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2>THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>On the 22d of March the regiment embarked on the steamer Emperor, bound +for Fortress Monroe. The day was bright and glorious, the magnificent +enthusiasm on every hand was contagious, and few who were partakers in +that grand pageant will ever forget it. Alas! however, many thousands of +that great army never returned from that fatal campaign. The orders +required that each steamer, as she left her moorings, should pass up the +river for a short distance, turn and pass down by Gen. Porter's +flag-ship, saluting as she passed—a sort of military-naval review.</p> + +<p>As the twenty-two steamers conveying this magnificent division thus +passed in review, bands playing, colors flying and the men cheering, it +was an inspiring spectacle for the young soldiers who were for the first +time moving toward the enemy. The enthusiasm was kept up to fever heat +until the leading steamers reached Mount Vernon, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>when, as though by +order, the cheering ceased, flags were dropped to half-mast, the strains +of "The girl I left behind me," and "John Brown's body," gave way to +funereal dirges, and all hats were doffed as the fleet passed the tomb +of Washington. On the twenty-third the regiment disembarked at Hampton, +Va., and went into camp at a point about midway between that place and +Newport's News, where they remained several days, awaiting the arrival +of the other divisions and the artillery and supplies necessary before +the march on Yorktown could commence.</p> + +<p>Hampton Roads was a scene of the greatest activity, hundreds of ships +and steam transports lay at the docks discharging their cargoes of men +and material, or at anchor in the broad waters adjacent awaiting their +turn. Both army and navy here experienced a period of the most intense +anxiety. Only a few days previous to the arrival of the first troops, +the rebel iron-clad, Merrimac, had appeared before Newport's News, only +a few miles away, and had made such a fearful display of her power for +destruction as to excite the gravest apprehension lest she should again +appear among the crowded shipping, sinking and destroying, by the simple +battering power of her immense weight, these frail steamboats crowded +with troops; but she had had a taste of the Monitor's quality, and did +not apparently care to repeat the experiment. While thus awaiting the +moment for the general advance, Fitz John Porter's division was ordered +to make a reconnoissance in the direction of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>Great Bethel, the scene of +the disaster of June 10, 1861. The division moved on two roads nearly +parallel with each other. A body of sharp shooters led the advance of +each column, that on the right being under the command of Lieut.-Col. +Ripley, while those on the left were commanded by Col. Berdan.</p> + +<p>This was the first time that the regiment had ever had the opportunity +to measure its marching qualities with those of other troops; they had +been most carefully and persistently drilled in this particular branch, +and as they swept on, taking the full twenty-eight inch step and in +regulation time, they soon left the remainder of the column far in rear, +at which they were greatly elated, and when Capt. Auchmuty of Gen. +Morell's staff rode up with the General's compliments and an inquiry as +to "whether the sharp shooters intended to go on alone, or would they +prefer to wait for support," their self-glorification was very great.</p> + +<p>Later, however, they ceased to regard a march of ten or fifteen miles at +their best pace as a joke. Co. F was with the right column, under Col. +Ripley, and came for the first time under hostile fire. No serious +fighting took place, although shots were frequently exchanged with the +rebel cavalry, who fell back slowly before the Union advance. At Great +Bethel a slight stand was made by the enemy, who were, however, soon +dislodged by the steady and accurate fire of the sharp shooters, with +some loss. Pushing on, the regiment advanced some three miles towards +Yorktown, where, finding no <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>considerable force of the enemy disposed to +make a stand, and the object of the reconnoissance having been +accomplished, both columns returned to camp near Fortress Monroe. The +march had been a long and severe one for new troops, but Co. F came in +without a straggler and in perfect order.</p> + +<p>The experience of the day had taught them one lesson, however, and +certain <i>gray overcoats</i> and Havelock hats of the same rebellious hue +were promptly exchanged for others of a color in which they were less +apt to be shot by mistake by their own friends. The uniform of the +regiment consisted of coats, blouses, pants and caps of green cloth; and +leather leggings, buckling as high as the knee, were worn by officers +and men alike. The knapsacks of the men were of the style then in use by +the army of Prussia; they were of leather tanned with the hair on, and, +although rather heavier than the regulation knapsack, fitted the back +well, were roomy and were highly appreciated by the men. Each had +strapped to its outside a small cooking kit which was found compact and +useful. Thus equipped the regiment was distinctive in its uniform as +well as in its service, and soon became well known in the army.</p> + +<p>On the 3d of April Gen. McClellan arrived at Fortress Monroe, and early +on the morning of the fourth the whole army was put in motion toward +Yorktown, where heavy works, strongly manned, were known to exist. The +sharp shooters led the advance of the column on the road by which the +Fifth Corps advanced, being that nearest the York <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>river. Slight +resistance was made by the enemy's cavalry at various points, but no +casualties were experienced by Co. F on that day.</p> + +<p>Cockeysville, a small hamlet some sixteen miles from Hampton, was +reached, and the tired men of Co. F laid down in bivouac for the first +time. Heretofore their camps, cheerless and devoid of home comforts as +they sometimes were, had had some element of permanence; this was quite +another thing, and what wonder if thoughts of home and home comforts +flitted through their minds. Then, too, all supposed that on the morrow +would occur a terrible battle (for the siege of Yorktown was not then +anticipated); nothing less than immediate and desperate assault was +contemplated by the men, and, as some complimentary remarks had been +made to the regiment, and especial allusion to the effect those five +shooting rifles, held in such trusty and skillful hands, would have in a +charge, they felt that in the coming battle their place would be a hot +and dangerous, as well as an honorable one. At daybreak on the morning +of the fifth, in a soaking rain storm, the army resumed its march, the +sharp shooters still in the advance, searching suspicious patches of +woods, streaming out from the road to farm houses, hurrying over and +around little knolls behind which danger might lurk, while now and then +came the crack of rifles from a group across a field, telling of the +presence of hostile cavalry watching the advance of the invaders. More +strenuous resistance was met with than on the day before, but the rebels +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>fell back steadily, if slowly. The rain fell continuously and the roads +became difficult of passage for troops. The sharp shooters, however, +fared better in this respect than troops of the line, for deployed as +skirmishers, covering a large front, they could pick their way with +comparative ease. At ten o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, all resistance by rebel +cavalry having ceased, the skirmishers emerged from dense woods and +found themselves immediately in front of the heavy earth works before +Yorktown. They were at once saluted by the enemy's artillery, and were +now for the first time under the fire of shell.</p> + +<p>Dashing forward one or two hundred yards, the skirmishers took position +along and behind the crest of a slight elevation crowned by hedges and +scattered clumps of bushes. The men of Co. F found themselves in a peach +orchard surrounding a large farm house with its out-buildings. In and +about these buildings, and along a fence running westwardly from the +cluster of houses, Co. F formed its line, at a distance of some five +hundred yards from a powerful line of breastworks running from the main +fort in front of Yorktown to the low ground about the head of Warwick +creek.</p> + +<p>Once in position, Co. F went at its work as steadily and coolly as +veterans. Under the direction of a field officer, who watched the result +with his glass, a few shots were fired by picked men at spots in the +exterior slope of the works to ascertain the exact range, which was then +announced and the order given, "Commence firing."</p> + +<p>The rebels, ensconced in fancied security behind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>their strong works, +and who up to that time had kept up a constant and heavy fire from their +artillery, while their infantry lined the parapets, soon found reason to +make themselves less conspicuous and to modify very essentially the tone +of their remarks, which had been the reverse of complimentary. Gun after +gun was silenced and abandoned, until within an hour every embrasure +within a range of a thousand yards to the right and left was tenantless +and silent. Their infantry, which at first responded with a vigorous +fire, found that exposure of a head meant grave danger, if not death.</p> + +<p>Occasionally a man would be found, who, carried away by his enthusiasm, +would mount the parapet and with taunting cries seem to mock the Union +marksmen, but no sooner would he appear than a score of rifles would be +brought to bear, and he was fortunate indeed if he escaped with his +life. At this point occurred the first casualty among the men of Co. F, +Corp. C. W. Peck receiving a severe wound. During the day a small body +of horsemen, apparently the staff and escort of a general officer, +appeared passing from the village of Yorktown, behind the line of +breastworks before spoken of, towards their right. When first observed +little more than the heads of the riders were visible above the +breastworks; near the western end of their line, however, the ground on +which they were riding was higher, thus bringing them into plainer view, +and as they reached this point every rifle was brought into use, and it +appeared to observers that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>at least half the saddles in that little +band were emptied before they could pass over the exposed fifty yards +that lay between them and safety. While the sharp shooters had been +successful in silencing the fire of the enemy's cannon, and almost +entirely so that of their infantry, a few of the rebel marksmen, who +occupied small rifle pits in advance of their line of works, kept up an +annoying fire, from which the Union artillerists suffered severely.</p> + +<p>These little strongholds had been constructed at leisure, were in +carefully selected positions, usually behind a cover of natural or +artificially planted bushes, and it was almost impossible to dislodge +their occupants; every puff of smoke from one of them was, of course, +the signal for a heavy fire of Union rifles on that spot; but sharp +shooters who are worthy of the name will not continue long to fire at +what they cannot see, and so, after one or two shots, the men would +devote their attention to some other point, when the Confederate gunner, +having remained quite at his ease behind his shelter, would peer out +from behind his screen of bushes, select his mark, and renew his fire.</p> + +<p>One spot was marked as the hiding place of a particularly obnoxious and +skillful rifleman, and to him, Private Ide of Co. E of New Hampshire, +who occupied a commanding position near the corner of an out house, +devoted himself. Ide was one of the few men who still carried his +telescopic target rifle. Several shots were exchanged between these men, +and it began to take the form of a personal <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>affair and was watched with +the keenest interest by those not otherwise engaged, but fortune first +smiled on the rebel, and Ide fell dead, shot through the forehead while +in the act of raising his rifle to an aim. His fall was seen by the +enemy, who raised a shout of exultation. It was short, however, for an +officer, taking the loaded rifle from the dead man's hand, and watching +his opportunity through the strong telescope, soon saw the triumphant +rebel, made bold by his success, raise himself into view; it was a fatal +exposure and he fell apparently dead.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> the sharp shooters were relieved by +another regiment and retired to a point about half a mile in the rear, +where the tired soldiers lay down after nearly twenty hours of continual +marching and fighting. The fine position they had gained and held +through the day, was regained, however, by the rebels by a night sally +and was not reoccupied by the Union forces again for several days. On +the next day, Gen. Porter, commanding the division, addressed the +following highly complimentary letter to Col. Berdan:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="right"><span class="smcap">Headquarters Porter's Division</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Third Army Corps.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Camp near Yorktown</span>, April 6, 1862.</p> + +<p class="noin"><i>Col. Berdan, Commanding Sharp Shooters:</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Colonel.</span>—The Commanding General instructs me to +say to you that he is glad to learn, from the admissions of +the enemy themselves, that they begin to fear your sharp +shooters. Your men have caused a number of the rebels to +bite the dust. The Commanding General is glad to find your +corps are proving themselves so efficient, and trusts that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>this intelligence will encourage your men, give them, if +possible, steadier hands and clearer eyes, so that when +their trusty rifles are pointed at the foe, there will be +one rebel less at every discharge. I am, Colonel, very +respectfully, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right">FRED. T. LOCKE, A. A. G.</p></div> + +<p>Gen. McClellan, believing the place too strong to be carried by assault, +and his plans for turning the position having been disarranged by the +detention in front of Washington of Gen. McDowell's corps, to which he +had entrusted the movement, the army went into camp and settled down to +the siege of Yorktown. The ensuing thirty days were full of excitement +and danger, and Co. F had its full share. Several of the companies were +detached and ordered to other portions of the army. Co. F, however, +remained at regimental headquarters. Heavy details were made every day +for service in the rifle pits, the men leaving camp and occupying their +positions before daylight, and being relieved by details from other +regiments after dark. Details were also frequently made for the purpose +of digging advanced rifle pits during the night. These pits were +approached by zigzags, and could only be reached during the hours of +daylight by crawling on the hands and knees, and then only under +circumstances of great danger. They were pushed so far to the front +that, when the evacuation took place on the night of the 3d of May, they +were hardly more than one hundred yards from the main rebel line of +works, and hardly half as far from the rebel rifle pits. Frequent sharp +conflicts took place between bodies of rebel and Union soldiers striving +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>for the same position on which to dig a new rifle pit, in several of +which Co. F took a prominent part and suffered some loss.</p> + +<p>So close were the opposing lines at some places that sharp shooting +became almost impossible for either side, as the exposure of so much as +a hand meant a certain wound.</p> + +<p>In this state of affairs the men would improvise loop holes by forcing +sharpened stakes through the bank of earth in front of the pits, through +which they would thrust the barrels of their breach loaders, over which +they would keenly watch for a chance for a shot, and woe to that +unfortunate rebel who exposed even a small portion of his figure within +the circumscribed range of their vision.</p> + +<p>The regimental camp before Yorktown was beautifully situated near the +York river and not far from army headquarters. Great rivalry existed +between the different companies as to which company street should +present the neatest appearance, and the camp was very attractive to +visitors and others. The officers mess was open to all comers and was a +constant scene of visiting and feasting. For a few days, it is true, the +troops, officers and men alike, were on short rations, but as soon as +the river was opened and docks constructed, the necessities, and even +the luxuries of life were abundant. At this camp the first instalment of +the much desired and long promised Sharpe rifles arrived. Only one +hundred were received in the first consignment, and they were at once +issued to Co. F as an evidence of the high esteem in which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>that company +was held by the officers of the regiment, and as a recognition of its +particularly good conduct on several occasions—it was a compliment well +deserved. On the night of the 3d of May, the rebels kept up a tremendous +fire during the whole night. Heavy explosions, not of artillery, were +frequent, and it was evident that some move of importance was in +progress. At an early hour the usual detail of sharp shooters relieved +the infantry pickets in the advanced rifle pits, and soon after daylight +it became apparent to them that matters at the front had undergone a +change, and cautiously advancing from their lines they found the rebel +works evacuated.</p> + +<p>Pressing forward over the earth works which had so long barred the way, +the sharp shooters were the first troops to occupy the village of +Yorktown, where they hauled down the garrison flag which had been left +flying by the retreating rebels. All was now joyous excitement; what was +considered a great victory had been gained without any considerable loss +of life—a consideration very grateful for the soldier to contemplate. +Seventy-two heavy guns were abandoned by the rebels, which, though of +little use to them, and of less to us, by reason of their antiquated +styles, were still trophies, and so, valuable.</p> + +<p>Regimental and brigade bands, which, together with drum and bugle corps, +had been silent for a month, by general orders (for the rebels had kept +up a tremendous fire on every thing they saw, heard or suspected), now +filled the air with many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>a stirring and patriotic strain. Salutes were +fired, and with the balloon, used for observing the movements of the +enemy, floating in the air overhead, one could easily believe himself to +be enjoying a festival, and for a moment forget the miseries of war. At +Yorktown the rest of the regiment received their Sharpe's rifles and, +with the exception of a few men who still clung to their muzzle loaders, +the command was armed with rifles of uniform calibre, and which were +entirely satisfactory to those who bore them. The Colt's five shooters +were turned in without regret; for, although they had done fairly good +service, they were not quite worthy of the men in whose hands they were +placed.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of May was fought the battle of Williamsburgh, on which hard +fought field two companies of the regiment, A and C, bore an honorable +part—Co. F, however, was with the part of the command retained in front +of Yorktown. The guns were plainly heard at the camp, and painful rumors +began to be circulated. At about ten o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> there came an order +to prepare to march at once, with three day's cooked rations; the +concluding words of the brief written message, "prepare for hard +fighting," were full of significance, but they were received with cheers +by the men who were tired of rifle pit work, and desired ardently an +opportunity to measure their skill with that of the boasted southern +riflemen in the field—a desire that was shortly to be gratified to an +extent satisfactory to the most pronounced glutton <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>among them. The +preparations were soon made, and the regiment formed on the color line, +but the day passed and the order to march did not come. The battle of +Williamsburgh was over. On the evening of the eighth the regiment was +embarked on the steam transport "State of Maine," and under convoy of +the gun boats proceeded up the York river to West Point where they +disembarked on the afternoon of the ninth, finding the men of Franklin's +division, which had preceded them, in position. Franklin's men had had a +sharp fight the day before with the rear guard of the Confederate army, +but were too late to cut off the retreat of the main body, whose march +from the bloody field of Williamsburgh had been made with all the vigor +that fear and necessity could inspire. Here the sharp shooters remained +in bivouac until the thirteenth, when they were put in motion again +towards Richmond. The weather was warm, the roads narrow and dusty, +water scarce and the march a wearisome one. Rumors of probable fighting +in store for them at a point not far distant were rife, but no enemy was +found in their path on that day, and near sundown they went into camp at +Cumberland Landing on the Pamunkey.</p> + +<p>On the fourteenth the regiment was reviewed by Secretary Seward, who +made a short visit to the army at this time. On the fifteenth they +marched to White House, a heavy rain storm prevailing through the entire +day. The sharp shooters were in support of the cavalry and had in their +rear a battery, the guns of which were frequently stalled <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>in the deep +mud, out of which they had often to be lifted and pulled by sheer force +of human muscle. The march was most fatiguing, and although commenced at +half-past six <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and terminating at four <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, +only about six miles were gained. White House was a place of historic +interest, since it was here that Washington wooed and married his wife; +a strict guard was kept over it and its surroundings, and it was left as +unspoiled as it was found. Above White House the river was no longer +navigable, and the York river railroad, which connects Richmond, some +twenty miles distant, with the Pamunkey at this point, was to be the +future line of supply for the army. On the nineteenth the troops again +advanced, camping at Turnstall's Station that night and at Barker's Mill +on the night of the twentieth. On the twenty-sixth they passed Cold +Harbor, a spot on which they were destined to lose many good and true +men two years later, and went into camp near the house of Dr. Gaines, +and were now fairly before Richmond, the spires of which could be seen +from the high ground near the camp. On the morning of the +twenty-seventh, at a very early hour, there came to regimental +headquarters an order couched in words which had become familiar: "This +division will march at daylight in the following order: First, the sharp +shooters." * * * Three days cooked rations and one hundred rounds of +ammunition were also specified. This looked like business, and the camp +became at once a scene of busy activity. At the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>appointed hour, in the +midst of a heavy rain shower, the column was put in march, but not, as +had been anticipated, towards the enemy who blocked the road to the +rebel capitol. The line of march was to the northward towards Hanover +Court House.</p> + +<p>As the head of the column approached the junction of the roads leading +respectively to Hanover Court House and Ashland, considerable resistance +was met with from bodies of rebel cavalry supported by a few pieces of +light artillery and a small force of infantry. At the forks of the road +a portion of Branch's brigade of North Carolina troops were found in a +strong position, prepared to dispute the passage. This force were soon +dislodged by the sharp shooters, the twenty-fifth New York, a detachment +from a Pennsylvania regiment and Benson's battery, and retreated in the +direction of Hanover Court House. Prompt pursuit was made and many +prisoners taken, together with two guns. Martindale's brigade was left +at the forks of the road before spoken of, to guard against an attack on +the rear from the direction of Richmond, while the rest of the division +pushed on to destroy, if possible, the bridges at the points where the +Richmond & Fredericksburgh and the Virginia Central railroads cross the +North and the South Anna rivers; the destruction of these bridges being +the main object of the expedition, although it was hoped and expected +that the movement might result in a junction of the forces under +McDowell, then at Fredericksburgh only forty miles distant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>from the +point to which Porter's advance reached, with the right of McClellan's +army, when the speedy fall of Richmond might be confidently expected.</p> + +<p>The sharp shooters accompanied the column which was charged with this +duty. The cavalry reached the rivers and succeeded in completing the +destruction of the bridges, when ominous reports began to come up from +the rear, of heavy forces of the enemy having appeared between this +isolated command and the rest of the army twenty miles to the southward. +Firing was heard distinctly, scattering and uncertain at first, but soon +swelling into a roar that gave assurance of a hotly contested +engagement.</p> + +<p>The column was instantly faced about, not even taking time to +counter-march, and taking the double quick—left in front—made all +haste to reach the scene of the conflict. The natural desire to help +their hard pressed comrades was supplemented by a conviction that their +own safety could only be secured by a speedy destruction of the force +between them and their camp, and the four or five miles of road, heavy +with mud, for, as usual, the rain was falling fast, were rapidly passed +over. As they neared the field of battle the sharp shooters, who had +gained what was now the head of the column, were rapidly deployed and +with ringing cheers passed through the ranks of the 2d Maine, opened for +the purpose, and plunged into the woods where the enemy were posted. The +spirit of the rebel attack was already broken by the severe losses +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>inflicted upon them by Martindale's gallant brigade which, although +out-numbered two to one, had clung desperately to their all important +position; and when the enemy heard the shouts of this relieving column, +and caught sight of their advancing lines, a panic seized them and they +fled precipitately from the field. Pursuit was made and many prisoners +taken, who, with those captured in the earlier part of the day, swelled +the total to over seven hundred. Two guns were also taken, in the +capture of which Co. F bore a prominent part. This affair cost the Union +forces four hundred men; the loss, however, principally falling on +Martindale's brigade, who bore the brunt of the rear attack. The sharp +shooters lost only about twenty men, killed and wounded—three of whom, +Sergt. Lewis J. Allen, Benjamin Billings and W. F. Dawson were of Co. F; +Dawson died on the 1st of June from the effects of his wound.</p> + +<p>The regiment, however, met with a great loss on that day by the capture +of its surgeon, Guy C. Marshall, who, with other surgeons and +attendants, was surprised by a sudden attack on the field hospital by +the enemy's cavalry. Dr. Marshall never rejoined the regiment. Being +sent to Libby Prison, he was, with other surgeons, allowed certain +liberties in order that he might be the more useful in his professional +capacity. Placed upon his parole he was allowed, under certain +restrictions, to pass the prison guards at will, for the purpose of +securing medicines, etc., for use among the sick prisoners. The terrible +sufferings of his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>comrades, caused mainly by what he believed to be +intentional neglect, aroused all the sympathy of his tender nature, and +as the days passed and no attention was paid to his protests or efforts +to get relief, his intense indignation was aroused. Taking advantage of +his liberty to pass the guards, he succeeded in getting an audience with +Jefferson Davis himself. It is probable that his earnestness led him +into expressions of condemnation too strong to be relished by the so +called President. Howsoever it was, his liberty was stopped and he was +made a close prisoner. He continued his labors, however, with such +scanty means as he could obtain until, worn out by his over exertions, +and with his great heart broken by the sight of the suffering he was so +powerless to relieve, he died,—as truly the death of a hero as though +he had fallen at the head of some gallant charge in the field. He was a +true man, and those who knew him best will always have a warm and tender +remembrance of him.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-ninth, the whole command returned to their camp near +Gaines Hill. The experience of Co. F for the next thirty days was +similar to that of Yorktown—daily details for picket duty were made, +and always where the danger was greatest; for, as it was the province of +the sharpshooter to shoot some body, it was necessary that he should be +placed where there was some one to shoot. In a case of this kind, +however, one cannot expect to give blows without receiving them in +return, hence it came about that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>the sharp shooters were constantly in +the most dangerous places on the picket line. At some point in the Union +front, perhaps miles away, it would be found that a few rebel sharp +shooters had planted themselves in a position from which they gave +serious annoyance to the working parties and sometimes inflicted serious +loss, and from which they could not readily be dislodged by the +imperfect weapons of the infantry. In such cases calls would be made for +a detail of sharp shooters, who would be gone sometimes for several days +before returning to camp, always, however, being successful in removing +the trouble.</p> + +<p>On the thirty-first, the guns of Fair Oaks were distinctly heard, and +early the next morning the Fifth Corps, to which the regiment was now +attached, was massed near the head of New Bridge on the Chicahominy, +with the intention of forcing a passage at this place to try to convert +the repulse of the rebels at Fair Oaks on the day before into a great +disaster. The swollen condition of the river, however, which had proved +so nearly fatal to the Union forces on the day of Fair Oaks, became now +the safety of the rebels. A strong detachment of the sharp shooters, +including some men from Co. F, were thrown across the river at New +Bridge to ascertain whether the water covering the road beyond was +fordable for infantry. This detachment crossed the bridge and passed +some distance along the road, but finding it impracticable for men, so +reported and the attempt was abandoned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>No incidents of unusual interest occurred to the Vermonters after June +1st until the movements commenced which culminated in what is known in +history as the seven days battle, commencing on the 25th of June at a +point on the right bank of the Chicahominy at Oak Grove, and ending on +the first of July at Malvern Hill on the James river.</p> + +<p>For some days rumors of an unfavorable nature had been circulating among +the camps before Richmond, of disasters to the Union forces in the +valley. It was known that Stonewall Jackson had gone northward with his +command, and that he had appeared at several points in northern Virginia +under such circumstances and at such times and places as caused serious +alarm to the government at Washington for the safety of the capitol. To +the Army of the Potomac, however, it seemed incredible that so small a +force as Jackson's could be a serious menace to that city, and +preparations for a forward movement and a great and decisive battle went +steadily on. On the 25th of June, Hooker advanced his lines near Oak +Grove, and after severe fighting forced the enemy from their position +which he proceeded to fortify, and which he held. On the night of that +day, the army was full of joyous anticipation of a great victory to be +gained before Jackson could return from his foray to the north. On the +morning of the twenty-sixth, however, scouts reported Jackson, +reinforced by Whiting's division, at Hanover Court House pressing +rapidly forward, with 30,000 men, toward <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>our exposed right and rear. At +the same time large bodies of the enemy were observed crossing the +Chicahominy at Meadow Bridge, above Mechanicsville. It was at once +apparent that the Army of the Potomac must abandon its advance on +Richmond, for the time at least, and stand on its defense. McCall, with +his division of Pennsylvania reserves, occupied a strong position on the +left bank of Beaver Dam creek, a small affluent of the Chicahominy, near +Mechanicsville, about four miles north of Gaines Hill, and this command +constituted the extreme right of the Union army. On this isolated body +it was evident that the first rebel attack would fall.</p> + +<p>At about three o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> the division of the rebel General +A. P. Hill appeared in front of McCall's line, and severe fighting at +once commenced. About one hour later Branch's division arrived to the +support of the rebel general, and vigorous and repeated assaults were +made at various points on the Union line; the fighting at Ellison's +Mills being of a particularly desperate character. Porter's old +division, now commanded by Morell, was ordered up from its camp at +Gaines Hill to the assistance of the troops so heavily pressed at +Mechanicsville. The sharp shooters, being among the regiments thus +detailed, left their tents standing, and in light marching order, and +with no rations, moved out at the head of the column. Arriving at the +front they took post in the left of the road, in the rear of a rifle pit +occupied by a battalion of Pennsylvania troops and on the right of a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>redoubt in which was a battery of guns. It was now nearly dark, the +force of the attack was spent, and the sharp shooters had but small +share of the fighting. The night was spent in this position, and the +rest of the soldiers was unbroken, except by the cries and moans of the +rebel wounded, many of whom lay uncared for within a few yards of the +Union line. Some of the men of Co. F, moved by pity for the sufferings +of their enemies, left their lines to give them assistance; they were +fired on, however, by the less merciful rebels and had to abandon the +attempt. Before daylight the order was whispered down the line to +withdraw as silently as possible. The men were especially cautioned +against allowing their tin cups to rattle against their rifles, as the +first sign was sure to be the signal for a rebel volley. Cautiously the +men stole away, and, as daylight appeared, found themselves alone.</p> + +<p>They were the rear guard and thus covered the retreat of the main body +to Gaines Hill. As they approached the camp they had left on the +preceding afternoon a scene of desolation and destruction met their +astonished eyes. Enormous piles of quartermaster and commissary stores +were being fired, tents were struck, the regimental baggage gone, and +large droves of cattle were being hurried forward towards the lower +bridges of the Chicahominy—the retreat to the James had commenced. +Halting for a few minutes amidst the ruins of their abandoned camp +where, however, they found the faithful quartermaster-sergeant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>with a +scanty supply of rations, very grateful to men who had eaten nothing for +twenty hours and expected nothing for some time to come. They hastily +commenced the preparation of such a modest breakfast as was possible +under the circumstances, but before it could be eaten the pursuing +rebels were upon them, and the march towards the rear was resumed. A +mile further and they found the Fifth Corps, which was all there was of +the army on the south bank of the Chicahominy, in line of battle +prepared to resist the attack of the enemy, which it was apparent to all +would be in heavy force. The position was a strong one, and the little +force—small in comparison to that which now appeared confronting +it—were disposed with consummate skill. Dust—for the day was intensely +hot and dry—arising in dense clouds high above the tree tops, plainly +denoted the line of march, and the positions of the different rebel +columns as they arrived on the field and took their places in line of +battle.</p> + +<p>Deserters, prisoners, and scouts, all agreed that Jackson, who had not +been up in time to take part in the battle of the previous day as had +been expected, was now at hand with a large force of fresh troops, and +it was apparent that the Fifth Corps was about to become engaged with +nearly the whole of the rebel army. Any one of three things could now +happen, as might be decided by the Union commander. The force on Gaines +Hill might be re-enforced by means of the few, but sufficient, bridges +over the Chicahominy and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>accept battle on something like equal terms; +or the main army on the right bank of the river might take advantage of +the opportunity offered to break through the lines in its front, +weakened as they must be by the absence of the immense numbers detached +to crush Porter on the left bank; or the Fifth Corps might by a great +effort, unassisted, hold Lee's army in check long enough to enable the +Union army to commence in an orderly manner its retreat to the James. +Whichever course might be decided upon, it was evident that this portion +of the army was on the eve of a desperate struggle against overwhelming +odds, and each man prepared himself accordingly.</p> + +<p>In front of Morell's division, to which the sharp shooters were +attached, was a deep ravine heavily wooded on its sides, and through +which ran a small stream, its direction being generally northeast, until +it emptied into the Chicahominy near Woodbury's bridge. The bottom of +the ravine was marshy and somewhat difficult of passage, and near the +river widened out and took the name of Boatswain's swamp. On the far +side of this ravine the sharp shooters were deployed to observe the +approach of the enemy and to receive their first attack. In their front +the ground was comparatively open, though somewhat broken, for a +considerable distance. At half-past two <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> the enemy's +skirmishers appeared in the rolling open country, and desultory firing +at long range commenced. Soon, however, the pressure became more severe, +and a regiment on the right of the sharp <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>shooters having given way, +they, in their turn, were forced slowly back across the marshy ravine +and part way up the opposite slope; here, being re-enforced, they turned +on and drove the rebels back and reoccupied the ground on which they +first formed, soon, however, to be forced back again. So heavily had +each of the opposing lines been supported that the affair lost its +character as a picket fight, and partook of the nature of line of battle +fighting. The troops opposed at this time were those of A. P. Hill, who +finally, by sheer weight of numbers, dislodged the sharp shooters and +their supports from the woods and permanently held them. They were +unable, however, to ascend the slope on the other side, and the main +federal line was intact at all points. There was now an interval of some +half an hour, during which time the infantry were idle; the artillery +firing, however, from the Union batteries on the crest of the hill was +incessant, and was as vigorously responded to by the rebels. From the +right bank of the Chicahominy a battery of twenty pound Parrots, near +Gen. W. F. Smith's headquarters, was skillfully directed against the +rebel right near and in front of Dr. Gaines' house. At six o'clock +<span class="smcap">P. M.</span> Slocum's division of Franklin's corps was ordered across +to the support of Porter's endangered command.</p> + +<p>At seven o'clock the divisions of Hill, Longstreet, Whiting and Jackson +were massed for a final attack on the small but undismayed federal +force, who yet held every inch of the ground so desperately fought for +during five long hours.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>Whiting's division led the rebel assault with Hood's Texan brigade in +the front line. The attack struck the center of the line held by +Morell's division, and so desperate was the assault and so heavily +supported, that Morell's tired men were finally forced by sheer weight +of masses to abandon the line which they had so long and so gallantly +held. Had the rebels themselves been in a position to promptly pursue +their advantage, the situation would have been most perilous to the +Union forces. The enemy had now gained the crest of the hill which +commanded the ground to the rear as far as the banks of the Chicahominy. +This deep and treacherous stream, crossed but by few bridges—and they, +with one exception, at a considerable distance from the field of +battle—offered an effectual barrier to the passage of the routed army.</p> + +<p>But while the federals had suffered severely, the losses of the rebels +had been far greater. The disorganization and demoralization among the +victors was even greater than among the vanquished; and before they +could reform for further advance the beaten federals had rallied on the +low ground nearer the river and formed a new line which, in the +gathering darkness, undoubtedly looked to the rebels, made cautious by +experience, more formidable than it was in fact. Their cavalry appeared +in great force on the brow of the hill, but the expected charge did not +come; they had had fighting enough and rested content with what they had +gained. The least desirable of the three <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>choices offered to the Union +commander had been taken, as it appeared, but a precious day had been +gained to the army already in its retreat to the James. A fearful price +had been paid for it, however, by the devoted band who stood between +that retreating army and the flushed and victorious enemy. Of the +eighteen thousand men who stood in line of battle at noon, only twelve +thousand answered to the roll call at night. One-third of the whole, or +six thousand men, had fallen. They had done all that it was possible for +men to do, and only yielded to superior numbers. It is now known that +less than 25,000 men were left for the defense of Richmond; the rest of +the rebel forces, or over 55,000 men, had been hurled against this wing +of the Union army hoping to crush it utterly, and the attempt had +failed.</p> + +<p>Co. F had done its full share in the work of the day, and, although out +of ammunition, retained its position with other companies of the +regiment on the front line until the general disruption on the right and +left compelled their retirement from the field. Tired, hungry and +disheartened, they lay down for the night on the low ground a mile or +more in the rear for a few hours of repose. At about eleven o'clock +<span class="smcap">P. M.</span> they were aroused and put in motion, crossing the +Chicahominy at Woodbury's bridge and going again into bivouac on the +high ground near the Trent Hospital some distance in the rear of the +ground held by the Vermont brigade on the northern, or right, bank of +the river. During the night the entire corps was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>withdrawn and the +bridges destroyed. A fresh supply of ammunition was obtained and issued +at daylight, and at ten o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> the sharp shooters, with +full cartridge boxes, but empty haversacks, took up their line of march +towards the James. In this action the regiment lost heavily in killed +and wounded. B. W. Jordan and Jas. A. Read of Co. F were mortally, and +E. H. Himes severely wounded. Passing Savage Station, where the 5th +Vermont suffered so severely on the next day, the regiment crossed White +Oak swamp before dark on the twenty-eighth, and went into bivouac near +the head of the bridge.</p> + +<p>Wild rumors of heavy bodies of Confederate troops, crossing the +Chicahominy at points lower down prepared to fall upon the exposed flank +and rear of the federals were prevalent, and the dreaded form of +Stonewall Jackson seemed to start from every bush.</p> + +<p>During the night, which was intensely dark, the horses attached to a +battery got loose by some means and, dashing through a portion of the +ground occupied by other troops, seemed, with their rattling harness, to +be a host of rebel cavalry. A bugle at some distance sounded the +assembly, drums beat the long roll, and in the confusion of that night +alarm it seemed as though a general panic had seized upon all. The sharp +shooters, like all others, were thrown into confusion and momentarily +lost their sense of discipline and disappeared. When the commanding +officer, perhaps the last to awake, came to look for his command <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>they +were not to be found; with the exception of Calvin Morse, bugler of Co. +F, he was alone. The panic among the sharp shooters, however, was only +momentary; the first blast of the well known bugle recalled them to a +sense of duty, and, a rallying point being established, the whole +command at once returned to the line reassured and prepared for any +emergency.</p> + +<p>At daylight the march was resumed and continued as far as Charles City +cross roads, or Glendale, the junction of two important roads leading +from Richmond southeasterly towards Malvern Hill; the lower, or +Newmarket road, being the only one by which a rebel force moving from +the city could hope to interpose between the retreating federals and the +James.</p> + +<p>The sharp shooters were thrown out on this road some two miles with +instructions to delay as long as possible the advance of any body of the +enemy who might approach by that route. This was the fourth day for Co. +F of continuous marching and fighting; they had started with almost +empty haversacks, and it had not been possible to supply them. The +country was bare of provisions, except now and then a hog that had so +far escaped the foragers. A few of these fell victims to the hunger of +the half-starved men; but, with no bread or salt, it hardly served a +better purpose than merely to sustain life. To add to their discomforts +the only water procurable was that from a well near by which was said to +have been poisoned by the flying owner of the plantation; his absence, +with that of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>every living thing upon the place, made it impossible to +apply the usual and proper test, that of compelling the suspected +parties to, themselves, drink heartily of the water. A guard was +therefore placed over the well, and the thirsty soldiers were compelled +to endure their tortures as best they could. The day passed in +comparative quiet; only a few small bodies of rebel cavalry appeared to +contest the possession of the road, and they being easily repulsed. Late +in the afternoon the sharp shooters were recalled to the junction of the +roads, where they rested for a short time to allow the passage of +another column. At this point a single box of hard bread was procured +from the cook in charge of a wagon conveying the mess kit of the +officers of a battery; this was the only issue of rations made to the +regiment from the morning of the 25th of June until they arrived at +Harrison's landing on the 2d of July, and, inadequate as it was, it was +a welcome addition to their meager fare.</p> + +<p>At dark the regiment marched southwardly on a country road narrow and +difficult, often appearing no more than a path through the dense swamp; +the night, intensely dark, was made more so by the gloom of the forest, +and all night the weary unfed men toiled along. At midnight the column +was halted for some cause, and while thus halted another of those +unaccountable panics took place—in fact, in the excited condition of +the men, enfeebled by long continued labors without food, a small matter +was sufficient to throw them off their balance; and yet these very men a +few hours later, with an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>enemy in front whom they could see and at whom +they could deal blows as well as receive them, fought and won the great +battle of Malvern Hill. During the night Co. F. with one or two other +companies were detailed to accompany Gen. Porter and others on a +reconnoissance of the country to the left of the road on which the +column was halted. With a small force in advance as skirmishers, they +passed over some two miles of difficult country, doubly so in the +darkness of the night, striking and drawing the fire of the rebel +pickets. This being apparently the object of the movement, the +skirmishers were withdrawn and the command rejoined the main column. So +worn and weary were they that whenever halted even for a moment, many +men would fall instantly into a sleep from which it would require the +most vigorous efforts to arouse them. Shortly before daylight they were +halted and allowed to sleep for an hour or two, when, with tired and +aching bodies, they continued their march. At noon they passed over the +crest of Malvern Hill and before them lay, quiet and beautiful in the +sunlight, the valley of the James; and, at the distance of some three +miles, the river itself with Union gun boats at anchor on its bosom.</p> + +<p>It was a welcome sight to those who had been for six long days marching +by night and fighting by day. It meant, as they fondly believed, food +and rest, and they greeted the lovely view with cheers of exultation. +But there were further labors and greater dangers in store for them +before the longed for rest could be obtained. Passing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>over the level +plateau known as Malvern Hill, they descended to the valley and went +into bivouac. Here was at least water, and some food was obtained from +the negroes who remained about the place.</p> + +<p>No sooner were ranks broken and knapsacks unslung than the tired and +dirty soldiers flocked to the banks of the beautiful river, and the +water was soon filled with the bathers, who enjoyed this unusual luxury +with keen relish.</p> + +<p>The bivouac of the regiment was in the midst of a field of oats but +recently cut and bound, and the men proceeded to arrange for themselves +couches which for comfort and luxury they had not seen the like of since +they left the feather beds of their New England homes. Their repose, +even here, was, however, destined to be of short duration; for hardly +had they settled themselves for their rest when the bugles sounded the +general, and the head of the column, strangely enough, turned northward. +Up the steep hill, back over the very road down which they had just +marched, they toiled, but without murmur or discontent, for <i>this</i> +movement was <i>towards</i> the rebels, and not away from them. Inspiring +rumors began to be heard; where they came from, or how, no one knew, but +it was said that McCall and Sumner had fought a great battle on the +previous day, that the rebel army was routed, that Lee was a prisoner, +that McClellan was in Richmond, and the long and short of it was that +the Union army had nothing more to do but to march back, make a +triumphal entry into the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>captured stronghold, assist at that often +anticipated ceremony which was to consign "Jeff. Davis to a sour apple +tree," be mustered out, get their pay and go home. When they arrived on +the plateau, however, a scene met their eyes that effectually drove such +anticipations from their minds. A mile away, just emerging from the +cover of the forest, appeared the forms of a number of men; were they +friends or enemies? Glasses were unslung and they were at once +discovered to be federals. Momentarily their numbers increased, and soon +the whole plain was covered with blue coated troops, but they were +without order or organization, many without arms, and their faces +bearing not the light of successful battle, but dull with the chagrin of +defeat. The story was soon told. Sumner and McCall had fought a battle +at Charles City cross roads, but had been forced to abandon the field +with heavy loss in men and guns. Instead of a triumphant march to +Richmond, the Fifth Corps was again to interpose between the flushed and +confident rebels and the retreating federals—but not, as at Gaines +Hill, alone. This was late in the afternoon of June 30. That night the +sharp shooters spent in bivouac near the ground on which they were to +fight the next day. At dawn on the 1st of July the men were aroused, and +proceeding to the front were ordered into line as skirmishers, their +line covering the extreme left of the Union army directly in front of +the main approach to the position. Malvern Hill, so called, is a hill +only as it is viewed from the southern or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>western side; to the north +and east the ground is only slightly descending from the highest +elevation. On the western side, flowing in a southerly direction, is a +small stream called Turkey run, the bed of the stream being some one +hundred feet lower than the plateau. On the south, toward the James, the +descent is more precipitous. The approaches were, as has been stated, +from the north where the ground was comparatively level and sufficiently +open to admit of rapid and regular maneuvers. The position taken by the +Union army was not one of extraordinary strength, except that its flanks +were well protected by natural features: its front was but little higher +than the ground over which the enemy must pass to the attack, and was +unprotected by natural or artificial obstacles. No earth works or other +defenses were constructed; although the "lofty hill, crowned by +formidable works," has often figured in descriptions of this battle. The +simple truth is it was an open field fight, hotly contested and +gallantly won.</p> + +<p>The Union artillery, some three hundred guns, was posted in advantageous +positions, some of the batteries occupying slight elevations from which +they could fire over the heads of troops in their front, the most of +them, however, being formed on the level ground in the intervals between +regiments and brigades. The gun boats were stationed in the river some +two miles distant, so as to cover and support the left flank, and it was +expected that great assistance would be afforded by the fire of their +immense guns.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>Porter's corps held the extreme left, with its left flank on Turkey run, +Morell's division forming the front line with headquarters at Crew's +house. Sykes' division, composed mostly of regulars, was in the second +line. McCall's division was held in reserve in rear of the left flank. +On the right of Morell's line thus formed, came Couch's division; +further to the right the line was refused, and the extreme right flank +rested on the James; but with this portion of the line we have little to +do. The main attack fell on the Fifth Corps, involving to some extent +Couch's troops next on the right. In this order the army awaited the +onset. In front of Morell's division stretched away a field about half a +mile in length, bounded at its opposite extremity by heavy woods.</p> + +<p>Nearly level in its general features, there extended across it at a +distance of about one-third of a mile from the federal front, and +parallel with it, a deep ravine, its western end debouching into the +valley formed by Turkey run. This open field was covered at this time +with wheat just ready for the harvest.</p> + +<p>Along the north side of this ravine, covered from view by the waving +wheat, the sharp shooters were deployed at an early hour and patiently +awaited the attack of the enemy. A few scattered trees afforded a scanty +supply of half grown apples which were eagerly seized upon by the +famished men, who boiled them in their tin cups and thus made them +fairly palatable; by such poor means assuaging as best they could the +pangs of hunger.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>At about twelve o'clock heavy clouds of dust arising in the north +announced the approach of the Confederate columns, and soon after scouts +and skirmishers began to make their presence known by shots from the +edge of the woods, some two hundred yards distant, directed at every +exposed head. A puff of smoke from that direction, however, was certain +to be answered by a dozen well aimed rifles from the sharp shooters, and +the rebel scouts soon tired of that amusement. In the meantime the +artillery firing had become very heavy on both sides, our own depressing +their muzzles so as to sweep the woods in front; the effect of this was +to bring the line of fire unpleasantly near the heads of the advanced +sharp shooters. The gun boats also joined in the cannonade, and as their +shells often burst short, over and even behind the line of skirmishers, +the position soon became one of grave danger from both sides.</p> + +<p>At about half-past two the artillery fire from the rebel line slackened +perceptibly, and soon appeared, bursting from the edge of the forest, a +heavy line of skirmishers who advanced at a run, apparently unaware of +any considerable force in their front. Bugler Morse of Co. F, who +accompanied the commanding officer as chief bugler on that day, was at +once ordered to sound commence firing, and the sharp shooters sent +across the field and into the lines of the oncoming rebels, such a storm +of lead from their breach loading rifles as soon checked their advance +and sent them back to the cover of the woods in great confusion and with +serious loss. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>The repulse was but momentary, however, for soon another +line appeared so heavily re-enforced that it was more like a line of +battle than a skirmish line. Still, however, the sharp shooters clung to +their ground, firing rapidly and with precision, as the thinned ranks of +the Confederates, as they pressed on, attested. They would not, however, +be denied, but still came on at the run, firing as they came. At this +moment the sharp shooters became aware of a force of rebel skirmishers +on their right flank, who commenced firing steadily, and at almost point +blank range, from the shelter of a roadway bordered by hedges. The bugle +now sounded retreat, and the sharp shooters fell back far enough to +escape the effect of the flank fire when they were halted and once more +turned their faces to the enemy. The tables were now turned; the rebels +had gained the shelter of the ravine, and were firing with great +deliberation at our men who were fully exposed in the open field in +front of the Crew house. Still the sharp shooters held their ground, +and, by the greater accuracy of their fire, combined with the advantage +of greater rapidity given by breach loaders over muzzle loaders, kept +the rebels well under cover. Having thus cleared the way, as they +supposed, for their artillery, the rebels sought to plant a battery in +the open ground on the hither side of the woods which had screened their +advance. The noise of chopping had been plainly heard for some time as +their pioneers labored in the woods opening a passage for the guns. +Suddenly there burst out of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>dense foliage four magnificent stray +horses, and behind them, whirled along like a child's toy, the gun. +Another and another followed, sweeping out into the plain. As the head +of the column turned to the right to go into battery, every rifle within +range was brought to bear, and horses and men began to fall rapidly. +Still they pressed on, and when there were no longer horses to haul the +guns, the gunners sought to put their pieces into battery by hand; +nothing, however, could stand before that terrible storm of lead, and +after ten minutes of gallant effort the few survivors, leaving their +guns in the open field, took shelter in the friendly woods. Not a gun +was placed in position or fired from that quarter during the day. This +battery was known as the Richmond Howitzers and was composed of the very +flower of the young men of that city; it was their first fight, and to +many their last. A member of the battery, in describing it to an officer +of the sharp shooters soon after the close of the war, said pithily: "We +went in a battery and came out a wreck. We staid ten minutes by the +watch and came out with one gun, ten men and two horses, and without +firing a shot."</p> + +<p>The advanced position held by the sharp shooters being no longer +tenable, as they were exposed to the fire, not only of the rebels in +front but to that of their friends in the rear as well, they were +withdrawn and formed in line of battle in the rear of the fourth +Michigan volunteers, where they remained for a short time. The rebel +fire from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>the brink of the ravine from which the sharp shooters had +been dislodged, as before described, now became exceedingly galling and +troublesome to the artillery in our front line, and several horses and +men were hit in Weeden's R.I. battery, an officer of which requested +that an effort be made to silence the fire. Col. Ripley directed Lieut. +J. Smith Brown of Co. A, acting Adjutant, to take twenty volunteers far +out to the left and front to a point designated, which it was hoped +would command the ravine. The duty was one of danger, but volunteers +were quickly at hand, among whom were several from Co. F. The gallant +little band soon gained the coveted position, and thereafter the fire of +the rebel riflemen from that point was of little moment. Lieut. Brown's +command maintained this position during the entire battle, and being +squarely on the flank of Magruder's charging columns, and being, from +the very smallness of their numbers, hardly noticeable among the +thousands of struggling men on that fatal field, they inflicted great +damage and loss in the Confederate hosts. It was now late in the +afternoon, no large bodies of the rebel infantry had as yet shown +themselves, though the clouds of dust arising beyond the woods told +plainly of their presence and motions. A partial attack had been made on +the extreme right of Morell's line, involving to some extent the left of +Couch's division, but was easily repulsed; the fire of Co. E of the +sharp shooters, which had been sent to that point, contributing largely +to that result. The artillery fire had been heavy and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>incessant for +some hours, and shells were bursting in quick succession over every +portion of the field. Suddenly there burst out of the ravine a heavy +line of battle, followed by another and another, while out of the woods +beyond poured masses of men in support. The battle now commenced in +earnest.</p> + +<p>The Union infantry, heretofore concealed and sheltered behind such +little inequalities of ground as the field afforded, sprang to their +feet and opened a tremendous fire, additional batteries were brought up, +and from every direction shot and shell, canister and grape, were hurled +against the advancing enemy, while the gun boats, at anchor in the river +two miles away, joined their efforts with those of their brethren of the +army. It was a gallant attempt, but nothing human could stand against +the storm—great gaps began to be perceptible in the lines, but the +fiery energy of Magruder was behind them and they still kept on, until +it seemed that nothing short of the bayonet would stop them. Gradually, +however, the rush was abated; here and there could be seen signs of +wavering and hesitation; this was the signal for redoubled efforts on +the part of the Union troops, and the discomfited rebels broke in +confusion and fled to the shelter of the woods and ravines.</p> + +<p>At the critical moment of this charge the sharp shooters had been thrown +into line on the right of the fourth Michigan regiment and bore an +honorable part in the repulse; indeed, so closely crowded were the Union +lines at this point that many men of the sharp shooters found themselves +in the line <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>of the Michigan regiment and fought shoulder to shoulder +with their western brothers. The battle was, however, by no means over; +again and again did Magruder hurl his devoted troops against the Union +line, only to meet a like repulse; the rebels fought like men who +realized that their efforts of the past week, measurably successful +though they had been, would have failed of their full result should they +now fail to destroy the Army of the Potomac; while the Union troops held +their lines with the tenacity of soldiers who knew that the fate of a +nation depended upon the result of that day. At the close of the second +assault the sharp shooters found themselves with empty cartridge boxes +and were withdrawn from the front. The special ammunition required for +their breech loaders not being obtainable, they were not again engaged +during the day. In this fight the regiment lost many officers and men, +among whom were Col. Ripley, Capt. Austin and Lieut. Jones of Co. E, +wounded. In Co. F, Lieut. C. W. Seaton, Jacob S. Bailey and Brigham +Buswell were wounded. Buswell's wound resulted in his discharge. Bailey +rejoined the company, only to lose an arm at Chancellorsville.</p> + +<p>The final rebel attack having been repulsed and their defeat being +complete and final, the Union army was withdrawn during the night to +Harrison's landing, some eight miles distant, which point had been +selected by Gen. McClellan's engineers some days before as the base for +future operations against Richmond by the line of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>the James river; +operations which, as the event proved, were not to be undertaken until +after two years of unsuccessful fighting in other fields, the Army of +the Potomac found itself once more on the familiar fields of its +earliest experience.</p> + +<p>The campaign of the Peninsula was over; that mighty army that had sailed +down the beautiful Potomac so full of hope and pride less than four +months before; that had through toil and suffering fought its way to +within sight of its goal; found itself beaten back at the very moment of +its anticipated triumph, and instead of the elation of victory, it was +tasting the bitterness of defeat; for, although many of its battles, as +that of Hanover Court House, Williamsburgh, Yorktown, Mechanicsville and +Malvern Hill, had been tactical victories, it felt that the full measure +of success had not been gained, and that its mission had not been +accomplished. While the army lay at Harrison's landing the following +changes in the rolls of Co. F. took place: Sergent Amos H. Bunker, Azial +N. Blanchard, Wm. Cooley, Geo. W. Manchester and Chas. G. Odell were +discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, and Brigham Buswell +was discharged on account of disability resulting from the wound +received at Malvern Hill. Benajah W. Jordan and James A. Read died of +wounds received at Gaines Hill and W. S. Tarbell of disease. E. F. +Stevens and L. D. Grover were promoted sergeants, and W. H. Leach and +Edward Trask were made corporals. At this camp also Capt. Weston +resigned and Lieut. C. W. Seaton was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>appointed captain, Second Lieut. +M. V. B. Bronson was promoted first lieutenant and Ezbon W. Hindes +second lieutenant. Major Trepp was promoted lieutenant-colonel, vice Wm. +Y. W. Ripley, and Capt. Hastings of Co. H. was made major.</p> + +<p>The regiment remained at Harrison's landing until the army left the +Peninsula. The weather was intensely hot and the army suffered terrible +losses by disease, cooped up as they were on the low and unhealthy +bottom lands bordering the James. The enemy made one or two +demonstrations, and on one occasion the camp of the sharp shooters +became the target for the rebel batteries posted on the high lands on +the further side of the river, and for a long time the men of Co. F were +exposed to a severe fire to which they could not reply, but luckily +without serious loss.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER THIRD.</h2> + +<h2>SECOND BULL RUN. ANTIETAM. FREDERICKSBURGH.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>About the middle of August, the government having determined upon the +evacuation of the Peninsula, the army abandoned its position at +Harrison's landing. Water transportation not being at hand in sufficient +quantity, a large portion of the army marched southward towards Fortress +Monroe, passing, by the way, the fields of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>Williamsburgh. Lee's Mills +and Yorktown, upon which they had so recently stood victorious over the +very enemy upon whom they were now turning their backs. Co. F. was with +the division which thus passed down by land. Upon arriving at Hampton +the Fifth Corps, to which the sharp shooters were attached, embarked on +steamboats and were quickly and comfortably conveyed to Acquia Creek, at +which place they took the cars for Falmouth, on the Rappahannock +opposite Fredericksburgh.</p> + +<p>No sooner did McClellan turn his back on Richmond in the execution of +this change of base, than Lee, no longer held to the defense of the +rebel capitol, moved with his entire force rapidly northward, hoping to +crush Pope's scattered columns in detail before the Army of the Potomac +could appear to its support. Indeed, before McClellan's movement +commenced, the Confederate General Jackson—he whose foray in the valley +in May had so completely neutralized McDowell's powerful corps that its +services were practically lost to the Union commander during the entire +period of the Peninsular campaign—had again appeared on Pope's right +and rear, and it was this apparition that struck such dread to the soul +of Halleck, then General-in-Chief at Washington. Now commenced that +campaign of maneuvers in which Pope was so signally foiled by his keen +and wary antagonist.</p> + +<p>The Fifth Corps left Falmouth on the 24th of August, marching to +Rappahannock Station, thence along the line of the Orange & Alexandria +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>R. R. to Warrenton Junction where they remained for a few hours, it +being the longest rest they had had since leaving Falmouth, sixty miles +away. On the 28th of August the sharp shooters arrived, with the rest of +the corps, at Bristoe's Station where Porter had been ordered to take +position at daylight to assist in the entertainment which Pope had +advertised for that day, and which was to consist of "bagging the whole +crowd" of rebels.</p> + +<p>The wily Jackson, however, was no party to that plan, and while Pope was +vainly seeking him about Manassas Junction, he was quietly awaiting the +arrival of Lee's main columns near Groveton. The corps remained at +Bristoe's, or between that place and Manassas Junction, inactive during +the rest of the twenty-eighth and the whole of the twenty-ninth, and the +sharp shooters thus failed of any considerable share in the battle of +Groveton on that day. During the night preceding the 30th of August, +Porter's corps was moved by the Sudley Springs road from their position +near Bristoe's to the scene of the previous day's battle to the north +and east of Groveton, where its line of battle was formed in a direction +nearly northeast and southwest, with the left on the Warrenton turnpike. +Morell's division, to which the sharp shooters were attached, formed the +front line with the sharp shooters, as usual, far in the advance as +skirmishers. With a grand rush the riflemen drove the rebels through the +outlying woods, and following close upon the heels of the flying enemy, +suddenly passed from the comparative shelter of the woods <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>into an open +field directly in the face of Jackson's corps strongly posted behind the +embankment of an unfinished railroad leading from Sudley Springs +southwestwardly towards Groveton.</p> + +<p>It was a grand fortification ready formed for the enemy's occupation, +and stoutly defended by the Stonewall brigade. Straight up to the +embankment pushed the gallant sharp shooters, and handsomely were they +supported by the splendid troops of Barnes and Butterfield's brigades. +The attack was made with the utmost impetuosity and tenaciously +sustained; but Jackson's veterans could not be dislodged from their +strong position behind their works. The sharp shooters gained the +shelter of a partially sunken road parallel to the enemy's line and +hardly thirty yards distant; but not even the splendid courage of the +men who had held the lines of Gaines Hill and Malvern against this same +enemy, could avail to drive them from their shelter.</p> + +<p>To add to the peril of the charging column, Longstreet, on Jackson's +right, organized an attack on Porter's exposed left flank. The corps +thus placed, with an enemy in their front whom they could not dislodge +and another on their unprotected flank, were forced to abandon their +attack. The sharp shooters were the last to leave their advanced +positions, and then only when, nearly out of ammunition, Longstreet's +fresh troops fairly crowded them out by sheer numerical superiority. Of +Co. F the following men were wounded in this battle: Corporals H. J. +Peck and Ai Brown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>and Private W. H. Blake. Corporal Peck was honorably +discharged on the 26th of October following for disability resulting +from his wound. The sharp shooters were not again seriously engaged with +the enemy during Pope's campaign. On the night after the battle they +retired with the shattered remains of the gallant Fifth Corps, and on +the 1st of September went into camp near Fort Corcoran. So far the +campaigns of the sharp shooters had, although full of thrilling incident +and gallant achievement, been barren of result. Great victories had been +won on many fields, but the end seemed as far off as when they left +Washington more than five months before.</p> + +<p>Disease and losses in battle had sadly thinned their ranks, but the +remnant were soldiers tried and tempered in the fire of many battles. +They were not of the stuff that wilts and shrivels under an adverse +fortune, and putting the past resolutely behind them, they set their +faces sternly towards the future, prepared for whatever of good, or of +ill, it should have in store for them.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">THE ANTIETAM CAMPAIGN.</p> + +<p>On the 12th of September, the main portion of the army having preceded +them, the Fifth Corps crossed to the north bank of the Potomac, and by +forced marches came up with the more advanced columns on the sixteenth +and took part in the maneuvers which brought the contending armies again +face to face on the banks of the Antietam.</p> + +<p>The rebels, flushed with the very substantial <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>advantages they had +gained during the past summer, were confident and full of enthusiasm. +Posted in an exceptionally strong position, their flanks resting on the +Potomac while their front was covered by the deep and rapid Antietam, +they calmly awaited the Union attack, confident that the army which they +had so signally discomfitted under Pope would again recoil before their +fire. But the Union situation was not the same that it had been a month +before; McClellan had resumed the command, not only of the old Army of +the Potomac—the darling child of his own creation, and which in turn +loved and honored him with a devotion difficult for the carping critic +of these modern times to understand—but of the remains of the army of +Northern Virginia as well.</p> + +<p>These incongruous elements he had welded together, reorganized and +re-equipped while still on the march, until, when they stood again +before Lee's hosts on the banks of Antietam creek on the 17th of +September, they were as compact in organization and as confident as at +any previous time in their history. Then, too, they were to fight on +soil which, if not entirely loyal, was at least not the soil of the so +called Confederate States; and the feeling that they were called upon +for a great effort in behalf of an endangered North, gave an additional +stimulus to their spirits and nerved their arms with greater power. But +with the history of this great battle we have little to do. The Fifth +Corps was held in reserve during the entire day. It was the first time +in the history of the company <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>that its members had been lookers on +while rebel and Unionist fought together; here, however, they could, +from their position, overlook most of the actual field of battle as mere +spectators of a scene, the like of which they had so often been actors +in.</p> + +<p>On the day after the battle they received a welcome addition to their +terribly reduced ranks by the arrival of some fifty recruits under +Lieut. Bronson, who had been detached on recruiting service while the +army yet lay along the Chicahominy during the previous month of June. On +the 19th of September the pursuit of Lee's retreating army was taken up, +the Fifth Corps in the advance, and the sharp shooters leading the +column. The rear guard of the enemy was overtaken at Blackford's ford, +at which place Lee had recrossed the Potomac.</p> + +<p>The rebel skirmishers having been driven across the river, preparations +for forcing the pursuit into Virginia were made, and the sharp shooters +were ordered to cross and drive the rebel riflemen from their sheltered +positions along the Virginia shore. The water was waist deep but, +holding their cartridge boxes above their heads, they advanced in +skirmish line totally unable to reply to the galling fire that met them +as they entered the stream. Stumbling and floundering along, they at +last gained the farther shore and quickly succeeded in compelling the +rebels to retire.</p> + +<p>Advancing southward to a suitable position, Co. F was ordered to +establish an advanced picket line in the execution of which order a +party under <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>Corporal Cassius Peck discovered the presence of a small +body of the enemy with two guns, who had been left behind for some +reason by the retreating rebels. This force was soon put to flight and +both guns captured and one man taken prisoner. The captured guns were +removed to a point near the river bank, from which they were +subsequently removed to the Maryland shore. Remaining in this position +until after dark the sharp shooters were ordered back to the north bank +of the river, to which they retired. Morning found them posted in the +bed of the canal which connects Washington with Harper's Ferry, and +which runs close along the Maryland shore of the Potomac at this point. +The water being out of the canal, its bed afforded capital shelter, and +its banks a fine position from which to fire upon the rebels, now again +in full possession of the opposite shore from which they had been driven +by the sharp shooters the previous afternoon, but which had been +deliberately abandoned to them again by the recall of the regiment to +the northern shore on the preceding night.</p> + +<p>It now became necessary to repossess that position, and a Pennsylvania +regiment composed of new troops were ordered to make the attempt. +Covered by the close and rapid fire of the sharp shooters, the +Pennsylvanians succeeded in crossing the river, but every attempt to +advance from the bank met with repulse. Wearied and demoralized by +repeated failures, the regiment took shelter under the banks of the +river where they were measurably protected from the fire of the enemy, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>and covered also by the rifles of the sharp shooters posted in the +canal. Ordered to recross the river, they could not be induced by their +officers to expose themselves in the open stream to the fire of the +exulting rebels.</p> + +<p>Every effort was made by the sharp shooters to encourage them to +recross, but without avail. Calvin Morse, a bugler of Co. F, and thus a +non-combatant (except that Co. F had no non-combatants), crossed the +stream, covered by the fire of his comrades, to demonstrate to the panic +stricken men that it could be done; but they could not be persuaded, and +most of them were finally made prisoners. In these operations Co. F was +exceptionally fortunate, and had no casualties to report.</p> + +<p>The regiment remained at or near Sharpsburgh, Maryland, until the 30th +of October following. The members of Co. F, except the recruits, were +but poorly supplied with clothing; much had been abandoned and destroyed +when they left their camp at Gaines Hill on the 27th of June, and much, +also, had been thrown away to lighten the loads of the tired owners +during the terrible marches and battles they had passed through since +that time, and the little they had left was so worn and tattered as to +be fit for little more than to conceal their nakedness. The rations, +too, were bad; the hard bread particularly so, being wormy and mouldy, +and this at a place and time when it seemed to the soldiers that there +could be no good reason why such a state of things should exist at all. +But time cures all ills, even in the army, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>on the 30th of October +the regiment, completely refitted, rested and in fine spirits, crossed +the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and were once more on the sacred soil of +Virginia. Moving southwardly towards Warrenton they arrived, on the +evening of November 2d, at Snicker's Gap and were at once pushed out to +occupy the summit. The night was intensely dark, and the ground +difficult; but a proper picket line was finally established and occupied +without event through the night. The next morning's sunlight displayed a +wonderful sight to the eyes of the delighted sharp shooters. They were +on the very summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and below them, like an +open map, lay spread out the beautiful valley of Virginia.</p> + +<p>Scathed and torn as it was, to a close observer, by the conflicts and +marches of the past summer, from the distant point of view occupied by +the watchers, all was beautiful and serene. No sign of war, or its +desolating touch, was visible; except that here and there could be seen +bodies of marching men, and long trains of wagons, which told of the +presence of the enemy. Now, however, the head of every column was turned +southward, and the rebel army, which had swept so triumphantly northward +over that very country only two months before, was retiring, beaten and +baffled, before the army of the Union. The scene was beautiful to the +eye, while the reflections engendered by it were of the most hopeful +nature, and the sharp shooters descended the southern slope of the +mountain <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>with high hopes and glowing anticipations of speedy and +decisive action.</p> + +<p>From Snicker's Gap the army advanced by easy marches to Warrenton, +where, on the 7th of November, Gen. McClellan was relieved from the +command and Gen. Burnside appointed to that position. The army accepted +the change like soldiers, but with a deep sense of regret. The vast mass +of the rank and file honored and trusted Gen. McClellan as few generals +in history have been trusted by their followers. He was personally +popular among the men, but below and behind this feeling was the belief +that in many respects Gen. McClellan had not been quite fairly treated +by some of those who ought to have been his warm and ardent supporters. +They felt that political influences, which had but little hold upon the +soldiers in the field, had been at work to the personal disadvantage of +their loved commander, and to the disadvantage of the army and the cause +of the Union as well.</p> + +<p>Whether they were right or wrong, they regretted the change most deeply, +and in this general feeling the sharp shooters stood with the great mass +of the army.</p> + +<p>While they were always ready with a prompt obedience and hearty support +of their later commanders, the regiment never cheered a general officer +after McClellan left the head of the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>After a few days of rest at Warrenton to allow Gen. Burnside to get the +reins well in hand, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>army was put in motion towards Fredericksburgh +where they arrived on or about the 23d of November. While at Warrenton +Gen. Burnside effected a complete reorganization of the army, on a plan +which he had been pressing upon the notice of his superiors for some +time. The entire army was divided into three Grand Divisions, the right +under Sumner, the center under Hooker, and the left under Franklin. The +Fifth Corps formed part of the Center Grand Division under Gen. Hooker, +and at about the same time Gen. F. J. Porter, who had been its commander +since its organization while the army lay before Yorktown during the +preceding April, was relieved from his command and was succeeded by Gen. +Dan'l Butterfield.</p> + +<p>Gen. Burnside, having been disappointed in finding his ponton trains, on +which he depended for a rapid passage to the south bank of the +Rappahannock, ready on his arrival at Falmouth, was constrained to +attempt to force a passage in the face of Lee's now concentrated army. +The position was one well calculated to dampen the ardor of the troops +now so accustomed to warfare as to be able to weigh the chances of +success or failure as accurately as their commanders, and to judge +quickly of the value to their cause of that for which they were asked to +offer up their lives, but they undertook the task as cheerfully and as +willingly as though it had been far less uncertain and perilous. The +Rappahannock at this point is bordered by opposing ranges of hills; that +on the left bank, occupied by the troops of the Union and called +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>Stafford heights, rising quite abruptly from the river bank; while on +the southern shore the line of hills, called Marye's heights, recedes +from the river from six hundred to two thousand yards, the intervening +ground being generally open and, although somewhat broken, affording +very little shelter from the fire of the Confederate batteries posted on +Marye's heights. On the plain and near the river stands the village of +Fredericksburgh.</p> + +<p>During the night of the 10th of December Gen. Burnside placed in +position on Stafford heights a powerful array of guns, under cover of +whose fire he determined to attempt the passage of the river at that +point, while to the Left Grand Division under Franklin was assigned the +task of forcing a passage at a point some two miles lower down. On the +night of the 11th attempts were made to lay the ponton bridges at a +point opposite the town. The enemy, however, well warned, posted a +strong force of riflemen in the houses and behind the stone walls +bordering the river, whose sharp fire so seriously impeded the efforts +of the engineers that they were forced to retire. The guns on Stafford +heights were opened on the town, and for nearly two hours one hundred +and fifty guns poured their shot and shell upon the devoted town. Each +gun was estimated to have fired fifty rounds; but at the close of the +bombardment the annoying riflemen were still there. Three regiments were +now thrown across the river in ponton boats, and after a severe fight in +the streets of the town, and after heavy loss of men, succeeded in +dislodging <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>the enemy, and the bridges were completed. Of course a +surprise, upon which Burnside seems to have counted, was now out of the +question; but urged on by the voice of the North, whose sole idea at +that time seemed to be that their generals should only fight—anywhere, +under all circumstances and at all times—he threw Sumner's Grand +Division over the river and determined to try the issue of a general +battle.</p> + +<p>The Center Grand Division, under Hooker, were held on the left bank of +the river and were thus unengaged in the earlier portion of that +terrible day; but from their position on Stafford heights, the sharp +shooters were eye witnesses to the terrible struggle in which their +comrades were engaged on the plain below—where Hancock's gallant +division, in their desperate charge upon the stone wall at the foot of +Marye's height, lost two thousand men out of the five thousand engaged +in less than fifteen immortal minutes, and where a total of twelve +thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine Union soldiers fell in the +different assaults; assaults that every man engaged knew were utterly +hopeless and vain; but to the everlasting honor of the Army of the +Potomac be it said that, although they well knew the task an impossible +one, they responded again and again to the call to advance, until +Burnside himself, at last convinced of the hopelessness of the +undertaking, suspended further effort.</p> + +<p>During the day Griffin and Humphrey's divisions of the Fifth Corps, and +Whipple's of the Third, all belonging to the Center Grand Division, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>were ordered over the river to renew the attack which had been so +disastrous to the men of the Second and Ninth Corps. Hooker in person +accompanied this relieving column, and after a careful personal +inspection of the field, convinced of the uselessness of further effort +in that direction, sought to persuade the commanding general to abandon +the attack.</p> + +<p>Burnside, however, clung to the hope that repeated attacks must at last +result in a disruption of the enemy's line at some point, and the brave +men of the old Fifth were in their turn hurled against that position +which had been found impossible to carry by those who had preceded them. +Griffin and Humphrey's divisions fought their way to a point farther +advanced than had been reached in former attempts, some of the men +falling within twenty-five yards of the enemy's line, but they were +unable to reach it and were compelled to retire. It was clearly +impossible to carry the position. Hooker's educated eye had seen this +from the first, hence his unavailing suggestion before the useless +slaughter. His report contains the following grim lines: "Finding that I +had lost as many men as my orders required me to lose, * * * I suspended +the attack." With his repulse the battle of Fredericksburgh +substantially closed. The sharp shooters were not ordered to cross the +river on the thirteenth, and thus had no share in that day's fighting +and no casualties to report. On the early morning of the fourteenth, +however, the remainder of the Center Grand Division crossed to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>the +south bank, remaining in the streets of the town until the night of the +fifteenth, when the sharp shooters relieved the advanced pickets in +front of the heights, where considerable firing occurred during the +night, the opposing lines being very near each other. The ground was +thickly covered with the bodies of the gallant men who had fallen in the +several assaults, lying in every conceivable position on the field, gory +and distorted. How many of the readers of this book will make it real to +themselves what gore is? A familiar and easily spoken word, but a +dreadful thing in reality, that mass of clotted, gelatinous purple +oozing from mortal wounds.</p> + +<p>Such things are rarely noted in the actual heat of the battle, but to +occupy such a field after the fury of the strife is over is enough to +unman the stoutest heart, and many a brave man, who can coolly face the +actual danger, turns deathly sick as he looks upon the result as shown +in the mangled and blood stained forms of those who were so lately his +comrades and friends. During the night the army was withdrawn to the +north bank, and just before daylight the sharp shooters were called in. +So close were the lines that great caution was necessary to keep the +movement from the sharp eyes of the peering rebel pickets. To aid in +deceiving the enemy the bodies of the dead were propped up so as to +represent the presence of the picket line when daylight should appear. +The ruse was successful, and the sharp shooters were safely withdrawn to +the town. They were the last troops on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>this portion of the field, and +on arriving at the head of the bridge found that the planking had been +so far removed as to render the bridge impassable. They had, therefore, +to remain until the engineers could relay sufficient of the planks to +enable them to cross. In their retreat through the town they picked up +and brought away about one hundred and fifty stragglers and slightly +wounded men who had been left behind by other commands. The Army of the +Potomac was again on the north bank of the Rappahannock. They had fought +bravely in an assault which they had known was hopeless; they had left +behind them twelve thousand of their comrades and gained absolutely +nothing. The loss which they had inflicted bore no proportion to that +which they had suffered; what wonder, then, if for a time officers and +men alike almost despaired of the cause of the Union? This feeling of +depression and discouragement was, however, of short duration. The men +who composed the Army of the Potomac were in the field for a certain +well defined purpose, and until that purpose was fully accomplished they +intended to remain. No reverse could long chill their ardor or dampen +their splendid courage. Defeated to-day, to-morrow would find them as +ready to do and dare again as though no reverse had overtaken them.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that after a few days of rest the army was ready for +whatever task its commander might set for it. The sharp shooters +remained quietly in their camp until the 30th of December, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>when they +accompanied a detachment of cavalry on a reconnoissance northwardly +along the line of the Rappahannock to Richard's Ford, some ten miles +above Falmouth. The cavalry crossed the river at this point, covered by +the fire of the sharp shooters; a few prisoners were taken, and on the +1st of January, 1863, the command returned to their comfortable camp +near Falmouth, where they were agreeably surprised to find the Second +Regiment of Sharp Shooters, and among them, two other companies from +Vermont. The little band of Green Mountain boys composing Co. F had +sometimes felt a little lonesome for the want of congenial society, and +hailed the advent of their fellow Vermonters gladly.</p> + +<p>At about this time Col. Berdan became an appendage to the general staff, +with the title of Chief of Sharp Shooters. The two regiments were +distributed at various points along the line, and the detachments +reported directly to Col. Berdan. The right wing, under Lieut. Col. +Trepp, was assigned to the Right Grand Division under Gen. Sumner, but +Company F remained near army headquarters.</p> + +<p>On the 19th of January the Grand Divisions of Franklin and Hooker moved +up the river to essay its passage at Banks' ford, some six miles above +Falmouth, but in this affair, known as the Mud Campaign, the company had +no share, not even leaving their camp. Of this campaign it is enough to +say that it had for its object a turning operation similar to that +undertaken by Hooker some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>months later; but a furious rain storm +converted the country into one vast quagmire, in which horses, wagons, +guns and men were alike unable to move. It was entirely abortive, and, +after two days of exhausting labor, the disgusted troops floundered and +staggered and cursed their way back to their camps, actually having to +build corduroy roads on which to return. In consideration of their dry +and comfortable condition in camp, the sharp shooters freely conceded +all the glories of this campaign to others, preferring for themselves an +inglorious ease to the chance of being smothered in the mud. Some of the +difficulties of the march can be understood by recalling the requisition +of the young engineer officer who reported to his superior that it was +impossible for him to construct a road at a certain point which he had +been directed to make passable for artillery. "Impossible," said the +commander, "nothing is impossible; make a requisition for whatever is +necessary and build the road." Whereupon the officer made the following +requisition in the usual form:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="cen">SPECIAL REQUISITION.</p> + +<p class="cen">REQUISITION FOR MEN.</p> + +<p>Fifty men, each twenty-five feet high, to work in the mud +eighteen feet deep.</p> + +<p>I certify that the above described men are necessary to the +building of a road suitable for the passage of men and guns, +in compliance with an order this day received from +Major-Gen.——. + Signed,</p> + +<p class="right">——, <i>Lieut. Engineers.</i></p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>On the 25th of January Gen. Burnside was relieved from the command and +Gen. Hooker appointed to succeed him. The army accepted the change +willingly, for although they recognized the many manly and soldierly +qualities possessed by Gen. Burnside, and in a certain way respected and +even sympathized with him, they had lost confidence in his ability to +command so large an army in the presence of so astute a commander as +Lee. His manly avowal of his sole responsibility for the terrible +slaughter at Fredericksburgh commended him to their hearts and +understandings as an honest and generous man; but they had no wish to +repeat the experience for the sake of even a more generous +acknowledgement after another Fredericksburgh.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the winter of 1862-3 was spent by the men of Co. F in +comparative comfort, although severe snow storms were of frequent +occurrence, and occasional periods of exceedingly cold weather were +experienced, to the great discomfort of the men in their frail canvas +tents. Both armies seemed to have had enough of marching and fighting to +satisfy them for the time being, and even picket firing ceased by tacit +agreement and consent.</p> + +<p>Soon after assuming command, Gen. Hooker reorganized the army on a plan +more consistent with his own ideas than the one adopted by his +predecessor. The system of Grand Divisions was abandoned and corps were +reorganized; some corps commanders were relieved and others appointed to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>fill the vacancies. The cavalry, which up to this time had had no +organization as a corps, was consolidated under Gen. Stoneman, and soon +became, under his able leadership, the equals, if not the superiors, of +the vaunted horsemen of the South. In these changes the sharp shooters +found themselves assigned to the first division of the Third Corps, +under Gen. Sickles. The division was commanded by Gen. Whipple, and the +brigade by Gen. De Trobriand. The detachments were called in and the +regiment was once more a unit. Under Gen. Hooker's system the army +rapidly improved in morale and spirit; he instituted a liberal system of +furloughs to deserving men, and took vigorous measures against +stragglers and men absent without leave, of whom there were at this time +an immense number—shown by the official rolls to be above eighty +thousand. Desertion, which under Burnside had become alarmingly +prevalent, was substantially stopped; and by the 1st of April the tone +and discipline of the army was such as to fairly warrant Hooker's proud +boast that it was "the grandest army on the planet."</p> + +<p>The sharp shooters parted with their comrades of the Fifth Corps with +regret. They had been identified with it since its organization, while +the army lay before Yorktown, in April of 1862; they had shared with it +splendid triumphs and bitter defeats; they had made many warm friends +among its officers and men, with whom they were loth to part. Of the +officers of the Third Corps they knew nothing, but they took their place +in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>its ranks, confident that their stout soldiership would win for them +the respect and esteem of their new comrades, even as it had that of the +friends they were leaving. Gen. De Trobriand, their new brigade +commander, was at first an object of special aversion. Foreign officers +were at that time looked upon with some degree of suspicion and dislike, +and perhaps the foreign sound of the name, together with the obnoxious +prefix, had an undue and improper influence in the minds of the new +comers. However it came about, the men were accustomed to speak of their +superior officer as Gen. "Toejam," "Frog Eater," and various other +disrespectful appellations, much to his chagrin and discomfiture. Later, +however, when they became better acquainted, they learned to have a +mutual respect and esteem for each other and two years later, when they +parted company finally, the general issued to them a farewell address +more than usually complimentary, as will be seen further on. Indeed, +long before that time and on the field of actual and bloody battle he +paused in front of the line of the regiment to say to them: "Men, you +may call me <i>Frog Eater</i> now if you like, or by whatever name you like +better, if you will only always fight as you do to-day." The sharp +shooters passed the winter months in comparative inaction except for the +ordinary routine of drills, inspections, etc., incident to winter +quarters; they took part in all the grand reviews and parades for which +Hooker was somewhat famous, and which, if somewhat fatiguing to the men +and smacking <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>somewhat of pomp and circumstance, had at least the effect +of showing to each portion of the great army what a magnificent body +they really were, thus adding to the confidence of the whole.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-first of February First Lieut. Bronson resigned, and was +succeeded by Lieut. E. W. Hindes, while, in deference to the unanimous +petition of the company, Sergt. C. D. Merriman was promoted second +lieutenant, both commissions to date from February 21, 1863. The roster +of the company now stood as follows:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="png082"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">Captain,</td> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">C. W. Seaton.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Lieutenant,</td> + <td class="tdl">E. W. Hindes.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Lieutenant,</td> + <td class="tdl">C. D. Merriman.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">H. E. Kinsman.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">A. H. Cooper.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Cassius Peck.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward F. Stevens.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Lewis J. Allen.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Paul M. Thompson.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Ai Brown.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">L. D. Grover.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Chas. M. Jordan.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">E. M. Hosmer.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Sixth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward Trask.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Seventh Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. H. Leach.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Eighth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">M. Cunningham.</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>The winter was not altogether devoted to sober work. Sports of various +kinds were indulged in, one of the most popular being snowball fights +between regiments and brigades. Upon one occasion after a sharp conflict +between the first and second <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>regiments of sharp shooters, the former +captured the regimental colors of the latter, and for a short time some +little ill feeling between the regiments existed, a feeling which soon +wore away, however, with the opening of the spring campaign.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of April the first regiment had a grand celebration to mark +the anniversary of the advance on Yorktown where the sharp shooters were +for the first time under rebel fire. Target shooting, foot races, +jumping and wrestling were indulged in for small prizes. Jacob S. Bailey +of Co. F won the wrestling match against all comers and Edward Bartomey, +also of Company F, won the two hundred yards running race in +twenty-eight and one-half seconds. In the shooting test the Vermonters +were unfortunate, the prize going to Samuel Ingling of Michigan. Gen. +Whipple, the division commander, accompanied by several ladies who were +visiting friends in camp, were interested spectators of the games. As +the season advanced and the roads became settled and passable, +preparations began on all sides for an active campaign against the +enemy. "Fighting Joe Hooker" had inspired the army with much of his own +confidence and faith in the future, and it was believed by the troops +that at last they had a commander worthy in every respect of the +magnificent army he was called to command.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2>CHANCELLORSVILLE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>On the 28th of April the Third Corps, to which the sharp shooters were +now attached, moved down the river to a point some five miles below +Falmouth to support Sedgwick's command which was ordered to cross the +Rappahannock at or near the point at which Gen. Franklin had crossed his +Grand Division at the battle of Fredericksburgh.</p> + +<p>Some days prior to this all surplus clothing and baggage had been turned +in. Eight days rations and sixty rounds of ammunition were now issued, +and the "finest army on the planet" was foot loose once more. Sedgwick's +crossing was made, however, without serious opposition, and on the +thirtieth the Third Corps, making a wide detour to the rear to avoid the +notice of the watchful enemy, turned northward and on the next day +crossed the river at United States ford and took its place in the lines +of Chancellorsville with the rest of the army. This great battle has +been so often described and in such minute detail that it is not +necessary for us to attempt a detailed description of the movements of +the different corps engaged, or indeed proper, since this purports to be +a history of the marches and battles of only one small company out of +the thousands there engaged. It will be remembered that the regiment was +now attached to the Third Corps, commanded by Gen. Sickles, the First +Division under Gen. Whipple and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>the Third Brigade, Gen. De Trobriand. +At eleven o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> on this day, being the first of May, +the battle proper commenced, although severe and continuous skirmishing +had been going on ever since the first troops crossed the river on the +29th of April. The Third Corps was held in reserve in rear of the +Chancellorsville house, having arrived at that point at about the time +that the assaulting columns moved forward to the attack. Almost +instantly the fighting became furious and deadly. The country was +covered with dense undergrowth of stunted cedars, among and over which +grew heavy masses of the trailing vines which grow so luxuriantly in +that portion of Virginia, and which renders the orderly passage of +troops well nigh impossible. To add to the difficulties which beset the +attacking forces, it was impossible to see what was in front of them; +hence the first notice of the presence of a rebel line of battle was a +volley delivered at short range directly in the faces of the Union +soldiers, whose presence and movements were unavoidably made plain to +the concealed enemy by the noise made in forcing a passage through the +tangled forest. Notwithstanding these disadvantages the Fifth Corps, +with which the sharp shooters had so recently parted, struck the enemy +at about a mile distant from the position now held by the Third Corps, +and drove them steadily back for a long distance until, having passed +far to the front of the general line, Meade found his flank suddenly +attacked and was forced to retire. Other columns also met the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>enemy at +about the same distance to the front and met with a like experience, +gaining, however, on the whole, substantial ground during the afternoon; +and so night closed down on the first day of the battle.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 2d of May a division of the Third Corps was +detached to hold a gap in the lines between the Eleventh and Twelfth +Corps which Gen. Hooker thought too weak. The sharp shooters, however, +remained with the main column near the Chancellorsville house. Early on +this day the Confederate Gen. Jackson commenced that wonderful flank +march which resulted in the disaster to the Eleventh Corps on the right, +later in the day. This march, carefully masked as it was, was, +nevertheless, observed by Hooker, who at first supposed it the +commencement of a retreat on the part of Lee to Gordonsville, and Gen. +Sickles was ordered with the two remaining divisions of his corps to +demonstrate in that direction and act as circumstances should determine. +In this movement Birney's division had the advance, the first division, +under Whipple, being in support of Birney's left flank. The sharp +shooters were, however, ordered to report to Gen. Birney, and were by +him placed in the front line as skirmishers, although their deployment +was at such short intervals that it was more like a single rank line of +battle than a line of skirmishers. Sickles started on his advance at +about one o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, his formation being as above +described. Rapidly pressing forward, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>sharp shooters passed out of +the dense thickets into a comparatively open country, where they could +at least breathe more freely and see a little of what was before them. +They soon struck a line of rebels in position on the crest of a slight +elevation, and brisk firing commenced; the advance, however, not being +checked, they soon cleared the hill of the enemy and occupied it +themselves. Changing front to the left, the regiment moved from this +position obliquely to the southeast, and soon found themselves opposed +to a line which had evidently come to stay. The fighting here was very +severe and lasted for a considerable time. The rebels seemed to have a +desire to stay the advance of the Union troops at that particular point, +and for some particular reason, which was afterwards made apparent.</p> + +<p>After some minutes of brisk firing, the sharp shooters, by a sudden rush +on their flank, succeeded in compelling the surrender of the entire +force, which was found to consist of the Twenty-third Georgia regiment, +consisting of three hundred and sixty officers and men, which had been +charged by Jackson with the duty of preventing any advance of the Union +troops at this point which might discover his march towards Hooker's +right, hence the tenacity with which they clung to the position.</p> + +<p>In this affair Co. F lost Edward Trask and A. D. Griffin, wounded.</p> + +<p>The obstruction having been thus removed, the Third Corps, led by the +sharp shooters, pressed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>rapidly forward to the southward as far as +Hazel Grove, or the old furnace, some two miles from the place of +starting, and far beyond any supporting column which could be depended +on for early assistance should such be needed. It had now become +apparent to all that Jackson, instead of being in full retreat as had +been supposed, was in the full tide of one of the most violent +offensives on record; and at five o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> Sickles was +ordered to attack his right flank and thus check his advance on the +exposed right of the army. But at about the same time Sickles found that +he was himself substantially cut off from the army, and that it would +require the most strenuous efforts to prevent the capture or destruction +of his own command. Furthermore, before he could make his dispositions +and march over the ground necessary to be traversed before he could +reach Jackson's right, that officer had struck his objective point, and +the rout of the Eleventh Corps was complete. The most that Sickles could +now do, under the circumstances, was to fight his own way back to his +supports, and to choose, if possible, such a route as would place him, +on his arrival, in a position to check Jackson's further advance and +afford the broken right wing an opportunity to rally and regain their +organization, which was hopelessly, as it appeared, lost. In the +darkness and gloom of the falling night, with unloaded muskets (for in +this desperate attempt the bayonet only was to be depended upon), the +two divisions of the Third Corps set their faces northwardly, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>pressed their way through the tangled undergrowth to the rescue of the +endangered right wing.</p> + +<p>As usual, the sharp shooters had the advance, and received the first +volley from the concealed enemy. They had received no especial orders +concerning the use, solely, of the bayonet, and were at once engaged in +a close conflict under circumstances in which their only superiority +over troops of the line consisted in the advantage of the rapidity of +fire afforded by their breech loaders over the muzzle loading rifles +opposed to them. Closely supported by the line of Birney's division, and +firing as they advanced at the flashes of the opposing guns (for they +could see no more), they pushed on until they were fairly intermingled +with the rebels, and in many individual instances, a long distance +inside the enemy's line, every man fighting for himself—for in this +confused melee, in the dense jungle and in the intense darkness of the +night, no supervision could be exercised by officers and many shots were +fired at distances no greater than a few feet. So they struggled on +until, with a hurrah and a grand rush, Birney's gallant men dashed +forward with the bayonet alone, and after ten minutes of hand to hand +fighting, they succeeded in retaking the plank road, and a considerable +portion of the line held by the left of the Eleventh Corps in the early +portion of the day and lost in the tremendous charge of Jackson's corps +in the early evening. Sickles had cut his way out, and more, he was now +in a position to afford the much needed aid to those who so sorely +required it. Both parties had fought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>to the point of exhaustion, and +were glad to suspend operations for a time for this cause alone, even +had no better reasons offered. But the Union army was no longer in a +position for offense; the extreme left, with which we have had nothing +to do, had been so heavily pressed during the afternoon that it had been +with difficulty that a disaster similar to the one which had overtaken +the right had been prevented on that flank, and in the center, at and +about Hazel Grove and the furnace, which had been held by Sickles, and +from which he had been ordered to the support of the right as we have +seen, an absolute gap existed, covered by no force whatever. This, then, +was the situation, briefly stated.</p> + +<p>The left was barely able to hold its own, the center was absolutely +abandoned, and the right had been utterly routed. In this state of +affairs the Union commander was in no mood for a further offense at that +time. On the other hand, the controlling mind that had conceived, and +thus far had successfully carried out this wonderful attack which had +been so disastrous to the Union army, and which bade fair to make the +Southern Confederacy a fact among the nations, had been stricken down in +the full tide of its success. Stonewall Jackson had been wounded at +about nine o'clock by the fire of his own men. He had passed beyond the +lines of his pickets to reconnoiter the Union position, and on his +return with his staff they were mistaken by his soldiers for a body of +federal cavalry and he received three wounds <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>from the effects of which +he died about a week later. So fell a man who was perhaps as fine a type +of stout American soldiership as any produced on either side during the +war.</p> + +<p>The sharp shooters, with the remnant of the Third Corps, passed the +remainder of the night on the plank road near Dowdall's tavern. Co. F +had left their knapsacks and blankets under guard near the +Chancellorsville house when they advanced from that point in the +morning, as had the rest of the regiment. Under these circumstances +little sleep or rest could be expected even had the enemy been in less +close proximity. But with the rebel pickets hardly thirty yards distant, +and firing at every thing they saw or heard, sleep was out of the +question. So passed the weary night of the disastrous 2d of May at +Chancellorsville.</p> + +<p>During the night Gen. Hooker, no longer on the offensive, had been +busily engaged in laying out and fortifying a new line on which he might +hope more successfully to resist the attack which all knew must come at +an early hour on the morning of the third. On the extreme left the +troops were withdrawn from their advanced positions to a more compact +and shorter line in front of, and to the south and east of the +Chancellorsville house. The center, which at sunset was unoccupied by +any considerable body of Union troops, was made secure; and at daylight +Sickles, with the Third Corps, was ordered to withdraw to a position +indicated immediately in front of Fairview, a commanding height of land +now strongly occupied <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>by the Union artillery. It was not possible, +however, to withdraw so large a body of troops from their advanced +position, in the face of so watchful an enemy, without interruption. In +fact, even before the movement had commenced, the enemy took the +initiative and commenced the battle of that day by a furious attack upon +the heights of Hazel Grove, the position so handsomely won by the Third +Corps on the previous day and from which they were ordered to the relief +of the Eleventh Corps at five o'clock on the preceding afternoon, as we +have seen. This height of land commanded almost every portion of the +field occupied by the Union army, and from it Sickles' line, as it stood +at daybreak, could be completely enfiladed. This position was held by an +inadequate force for its defense; indeed, as it was far in advance of +the new line of battle it may be supposed that observation, rather than +defense, was the duty of its occupants. They made a gallant fight, +however, but were soon compelled to retire with the loss of four guns. +The rebel commander, quick to see the great importance of the position, +crowned the hill with thirty guns which, with the four taken from the +Unionists, poured a heavy fire on all parts of the line, devoting +particular attention to Sickles' exposed left and rear.</p> + +<p>At almost the same period of time the rebels in Sickles' front made a +savage attack on his line. The men of the Third Corps fought, as they +always fought, stubbornly and well, but, with a force more than equal to +their own in point of numbers, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>flushed with their success of the +previous afternoon and burning to avenge the fall of Jackson, in their +front, and this enormous concentration of artillery hammering away on +their defenseless left, they were at last forced back to the new line in +front of Fairview.</p> + +<p>In preparation for the withdrawal contemplated, and before the rebel +attack developed itself, the sharp shooters had been deployed to the +front and formed a skirmish line to the north of the plank road with +their left on that highway, and thus received the first of the rebel +attack. They succeeded in repulsing the advance of the first line and +for half an hour held their ground against repeated attempts of the +rebel skirmishers to dislodge them. The position they held was one of +the utmost importance since it commanded the plank road which must be +the main line of the rebel approach to Fairview, the key to the new +Union line, and aware of this the men fought on with a courage and +determination seldom witnessed even in the ranks of that gallant +regiment. After half an hour of this perilous work, the regiment on +their right having given way, the sharp shooters were ordered to move by +the right flank to cover the interval thus exposed, their own place +being taken by still another body of infantry. Steadily and coolly the +men faced to the right at the sound of the bugle, and commenced their +march, still firing as they advanced. Necessarily, however, the men had +to expose themselves greatly in this movement, and as necessarily their +own fire was less <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>effective than when delivered coolly from the shelter +of some friendly tree, log or bank which skirmishers are so prone to +seek and so loath to leave. Still the march was made in good order and +in good time, for the sharp shooters had only just time to fill the gap +when the rebels came on for a final trial for the mastery. For a long +time the green coated riflemen clung to their ground and gave, certainly +as good, as they received. But the end of the long struggle was at hand; +the regiment which had taken the position just vacated by the sharp +shooters was driven in confusion, and to cap the climax of misfortune, +the Union artillery, observing the withdrawal of other troops, and +supposing that all had been retired, opened a furious fire of canister +into the woods. The sharp shooters were now in a sad case—before them a +furious crowd of angry enemies, on the left the rebel artillery at Hazel +Grove sweeping their lines from left to right at every discharge, while, +worst of all, from the rear came the equally dangerous fire of their own +friends. To retreat was as bad as to advance. The ground to their right +was an unknown mystery and no hopeful sign came from the left; so taking +counsel from their very desperation they concluded to remain just there, +at least until some reasonable prospect of escape should present itself. +Taking such cover as they could get, some from the fire of our own guns +and some from those of the rebels, shifting from side to side of the +logs and trees as the fire came hotter from the one side or from the +other, but always keeping up their own fire in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>direction of the +enemy, they maintained the unequal fight until an officer, sent for the +purpose, succeeded in stopping the fire of our own guns, and the sharp +shooters willingly withdrew from a position such as they had never found +themselves in before, and from a scene which no man present will ever +forget.</p> + +<p>They were sharply pressed by the advancing enemy, but now, being out of +the line of the enfilading fire from Hazel Grove, and no longer subject +to the fire of their own friends, the withdrawal was made in perfect +order, the line halting at intervals at the sound of the bugle and +delivering well aimed volleys at the enemy, now fully exposed, and even +at times making countercharges to check their too rapid advance.</p> + +<p>In one of these rallies there fell a man from another company whose +death as well deserves to be remembered in song as that of the "Sleeping +Sentinel." He had been condemned to death by the sentence of a court +martial, and was in confinement awaiting the execution of the sentence +when the army left camp at Falmouth at the outset of the campaign. In +some manner he managed to escape from his guards, and joined his company +on the evening of the second day's light. Of course it was irregular, +and no precedent for it could possibly be found in the army regulations, +but men were more valuable on that field than in the guard house; +perhaps, too, his captain hoped that he might, in the furor of the +battle, realize his own expressed wish that he might meet his fate there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>instead of at the hands of a firing party of the provost guard, and +thus, by an honorable death on the battle field, efface to some extent +the stain on his character. However it was, a rifle was soon found for +him (rifles without owners were plenty on that field), and he took his +place in the ranks. During all of that long forenoon's fighting he was a +marked man. All knew his history, and all watched to see him fall; for +while others carefully availed themselves of such shelter as the field +afforded, he alone stood erect and in full view of the enemy. Many times +he exhausted the cartridges in his box, each time replenishing it from +the boxes of his dead or wounded companions. He seemed to bear a charmed +life; for, while death and wounds came to many who would have avoided +either, the bullets passed him harmless by. At last, however, in one of +the savage conflicts when the sharp shooters turned on the too closely +following enemy, this gallant soldier, with two or three of his +companions, came suddenly upon a small party of rebels who had +outstripped their fellows in the ardor of the pursuit; he, being in the +advance, rushed upon them, demanding their surrender. "Yes," said one, +"we surrender," but at the same time, as —— lowered his gun, the +treacherous rebel raised his, and the sharp shooter fell, shot through +the heart. He spoke no word, but those who caught the last glimpse of +his face, as they left him lying where he fell, knew that he had +realized his highest hope and wish, and that he died content. The sequel +to this sad personal history <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>brings into tender recollection the memory +of that last and noblest martyr to the cause of the Union, President +Lincoln. The case was brought to his notice by those who felt that the +stain upon the memory of this gallant, true hearted soldier was not +fully effaced, even by his noble self-sacrifice, and would not be while +the records on the books stood so black against him. The President was +never appealed to in vain when it was possible for him to be merciful, +and, sitting down, he wrote with his own hand a full and free pardon, +dating it as of the morning of that eventful 3d of May, and sent it to +the widow of the dead soldier in a distant state. It was such acts as +this that made Abraham Lincoln so loved by the soldiers of the Union. +They respected the President, but Abraham Lincoln—the man—was <i>loved</i>.</p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the retreating riflemen at the new line in front of +Fairview, they found their division, the main portion of which had, of +course, preceded them, in line of battle in rear of the slight defenses +which had been thrown up at that point, where they enjoyed a brief +period of much needed repose, if a short respite from actual personal +encounter could be called repose. They were still under heavy artillery +fire, while musketry was incessant and very heavy only a short distance +away, the air above their heads being alive, at times, with everything +that kills. Yet so great was their fatigue, and so quiet and restful +their position in comparison with what it had been for so long a time, +that, after receiving rations and a fresh <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>supply of ammunition for +their exhausted boxes, officers and men alike lay down on the ground, +and most of them enjoyed an hour of refreshing sleep. So</p> + +<p class="cen"> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">"Use doth breed a habit in a man."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Their rest was not of long duration, however, for the rebels made a +desperate and savage attack on the line in their front and the Third +Corps soon found itself again engaged. The enemy, under cover of their +artillery on the high ground at Hazel Grove, made an assault on what was +now the front of the Union line, (if it could be said to have a front,) +while the force which the sharp shooters had so long held in check +during the early part of the day made a like attack on that line now the +right of the entire army. So heavy was the attack, and so tenaciously +sustained, that the Union troops were actually forced from their lines +in front and on the flank of Fairview, and the hill was occupied by the +rebels, who captured, and held for a time, all the Union guns on that +eminence. It was at this stage of affairs that the Third Corps was again +called into action, and charging the somewhat disorganized enemy they +retook the hill with the captured guns, and following up the flying +rebels, they drove them to, and beyond the position they had occupied in +the morning. Here, however, meeting with a fresh line of the enemy and +being brought to a check, they were ordered again to retire; for Hooker, +by this time intent only upon getting his army safely back across the +river, had formed still another <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>new line near to, and covering, the +bridges and fords by which alone could he place his forces in a position +of even comparative safety. To this line then the Third Corps, with the +tired and decimated sharp shooters, retired late in the afternoon, +hoping and praying for a respite from their terrible labors. For a +little time it looked, indeed, as if their hopes would be realized, but +as darkness drew on the corps commander, desiring to occupy a wooded +knoll at some little distance from his advanced picket line, and from +which he anticipated danger, ordered Gen. Whipple, to whose division the +sharp shooters had been returned, to send a brigade to occupy it. Gen. +Whipple replied that he had one regiment who were alone equal to the +task and to whom he would entrust it, and ordered the sharp shooters to +attempt it.</p> + +<p>Between this wooded hill and the position from which the regiment must +charge was an open field about one hundred yards in width which was to +be crossed under what might prove a destructive fire from troops already +occupying the coveted position. It was a task requiring the most +undaunted courage and desperate endeavor on the part of men who had +already been for two full days and nights in the very face of the enemy, +and they felt that the attempt might fairly have been assigned to a +portion of the forty thousand men who, up to that time, had been held in +reserve by Gen. Hooker for some inscrutable purpose, and who had not +seen the face of an enemy, much less fired a shot at them; but they +formed for the assault with cheerful alacrity. To <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>Co. F was assigned +the lead, and marching out into the open field they deployed as +regularly as though on their old drill ground at camp of instruction. +Corps, brigade and division commanders were looking on, and the men felt +that now, if never before, they must show themselves worthy sons of the +Green Mountain state. Led by their officers, they dashed out into the +plain closely supported by the rest of the regiment. Night was rapidly +coming on, and in the gathering gloom objects could hardly be +distinguished at a distance of a hundred yards. Half the open space was +crossed, and it seemed to the rushing men that their task was to be +accomplished without serious obstructions, when, from the edge of the +woods in front, came a close and severe volley betraying the presence of +a rebel line of battle; how strong could only be judged by the firing, +which was so heavy, however, as to indicate a force much larger than the +attacking party. On went the brave men of Co. F, straight at their work, +and behind them closely followed the supporting force. In this order +they reached the edge of the forest when the enemy, undoubtedly +supposing from the confidence with which the sharp shooters advanced +that the force was much larger than it really was, broke and fled and +the position was won.</p> + +<p>From prisoners and wounded rebels captured in that night attack it was +learned that the force which had thus been beaten out of a strong +position by this handful of men was a portion of the famous Stonewall +brigade, Jackson's earliest command, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>and they asserted that it was the +first time in the history of the brigade that it had ever been driven +from a chosen position. The sharp shooters were justly elated at their +success and the more so when Gen. Whipple, riding over to the point so +gallantly won, gave them unstinted praise for their gallant action. In +this affair the regiment lost many gallant officers and men, among whom +were Lieut. Brewer of Co. C and Capt. Chase, killed, and Major Hastings +and Adjt. Horton, wounded. In Co. F Michael Cunningham, J. S. Bailey and +E. M. Hosmer were wounded.</p> + +<p>Major Hastings had not been a popular officer with the command. Although +a brave and capable man, he was of a nervous temperament, and in the +small details of camp discipline was apt to be over zealous at times. He +had, therefore, incurred the dislike of many men, who were wont to apply +various opprobrious epithets to him at such times and under such +circumstances as made it extremely unpleasant for him. Such were the +methods adopted by some soldiers to make it comfortable for officers to +whom they had a dislike.</p> + +<p>In the case of the Major, however, this was a thing of the past. On this +bloody field the men learned to respect their officer, and he, as he was +borne from the field, freely forgave the boys all the trouble and +annoyance they had caused him, in consideration of their gallant bearing +on that day. Adjt. Horton, also a brave and efficient officer, received +a severe wound—which afterwards <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>cost him his good right arm—while +using the rifle of J. S. Bailey of Co. F, who had been wounded.</p> + +<p>Co. F, which, it will be remembered, had been acting as skirmishers, +were pushed forward in advance of the main portion of the regiment to +further observe the movements of the enemy and to guard against a +surprise, and shortly afterwards were moved by the flank some two +hundred yards to the right, and were soon after relieved by a force of +infantry of the line which had been sent up for that purpose. While +retiring toward the position to which they were directed, they passed +nearly over the same ground which they had just vacated when they moved +by the right flank, as previously mentioned, and received from the +concealed rebels, who had reoccupied the line, a severe volley at close +range. Facing to the right, Co. F at once charged this new enemy and +drove them in confusion from the field. Lying down in this advanced +position they passed the remainder of the night in watchful suspense.</p> + +<p>At day break on the fourth day of the battle, Co. F was relieved from +its position on the picket line and returned to the regiment, which was +deployed as skirmishers, and led the van of Whipple's division in a +charge to check movements of the enemy which had for their apparent +object the interposition of a rebel force between the right wing of the +army and its bridges. Firing rapidly as they advanced, and supported by +the division close on their heels, they drove the enemy from their rifle +pits, which were occupied by the infantry <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>of the Third Corps, the sharp +shooters being still in front. Here they remained, exchanging occasional +shots with the rebel sharp shooters as occasion offered, for some hours. +Hooker was not minded to force the fighting at Chancellorsville; +preferring to await the result of Sedgwick's battle at Salem Church, +which had raged furiously on the preceding afternoon until darkness put +an end to the strife, and the tell tale guns of which even now gave +notice of further effort.</p> + +<p>Lee, however, pugnacious and aggressive, determined to renew his attack +on the right, and, if possible, secure the roads to the fords and +bridges by which alone could the defeated army regain the north bank of +the river. With this view he reenforced Jackson's (now Stuart's) corps, +and organized a powerful attack on the position of the Third Corps. The +force of the first onset fell on the sharp shooters, who fought with +their accustomed gallantry, but were forced by the weight of numbers +back to the main line. Here the fighting was severe and continuous. The +one party fighting for a decisive victory, and the other, alas, only +bent on keeping secure its last and only line of retreat; but the +incentive, poor as it was, was sufficient, and the rebels were unable to +break the line. After four hours of continued effort they abandoned the +assault and quiet once more prevailed. In this fight Gen. Whipple, the +division commander, was killed. He was a gallant and an able soldier, +greatly beloved by his men for the kindliness of his disposition. He had +an especial <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>liking for and confidence in the sharp shooters, which was +fully understood and appreciated by them, and they felt his death as a +personal loss.</p> + +<p>To add to the horrors of this bloody field, on which lay nearly nine +thousand dead and wounded Union soldiers and nearly or quite as many +rebels, the woods took fire and hundreds of badly wounded men, unable to +help themselves, and hopeless of succor, perished miserably in the +fierce flames. Nothing in the whole history of the war is more horrible +than the recollection of those gallant men, who had been stricken down +by rebel bullets, roasted to death in the very presence of their +comrades, impotent to give them aid in their dire distress and agony.</p> + +<p class="cen"> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">"Oh, happy <i>dead</i> who early fell."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>It was reserved for the <i>wounded</i> to experience the agonies of a +ten-fold death. Hour after hour the conflagration raged, until a +merciful rain quenched it and put an end to the horrible scene. The +Third Corps remained in their position during the night, the sharp +shooters, oddly enough as it seemed to them, with a strong line of +infantry behind works between them and the enemy. Nothing occurred to +break their repose, and for the first time for seven days they enjoyed +eight hours of solid sleep unbroken by rebel alarms.</p> + +<p>At day break on the morning of the 5th of May they were aroused by the +usual command of "sharp shooters to the front," and again found +themselves on the picket line confronting the enemy. The day passed, +however, without serious fighting, one <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>or two attacks being made by +rebel skirmishers, more, apparently, to ascertain if the Union troops +were actually there than for any more serious business.</p> + +<p>These advances were easily repulsed by the sharp shooters without other +aid, and at nine o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, after seventeen hours of +continuous duty without rations—for the eight days rations with which +they started from their camp at Falmouth had long since been exhausted, +and the scanty supply they had received on the afternoon of the third +was barely enough for one meal—they were relieved and retired to the +main line. The company lost on this day but one man, Martin C. Laffie, +shot through the hand. Laffie was permanently disabled by his wound, and +on the 1st of the following August was transferred to the Invalid Corps +and never rejoined the company. Several prisoners were captured by the +men of Co. F on that day, but on the whole it was, as compared with the +days of the preceding week, uneventful. On the 6th the army recrossed +the Rappahannock by the bridges which had been preserved by the stubborn +courage of the Third Corps, and the battle of Chancellorsville passed +into history. The sharp shooters returned to their old camp at Falmouth +as they had returned to the same camp after the disastrous battle of +Fredericksburgh. It seemed as though they were fated never to leave that +ground to fight a successful battle. Only eight days before they had +marched out with buoyant anticipations, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>full of courage and full of +hope. They returned discouraged and dispirited beyond description.</p> + +<p>At Fredericksburgh the army had marched to the attack without hope or +expectation of victory, for their soldiers' instinct told them that that +was impossible. At Chancellorsville, however, they felt that they had +everything to hope for—a magnificent army in full health and high +spirits, an able and gallant commander, for such he had always shown +himself to be, and a fair field. The thickets of the wilderness, it is +true, were dense and well nigh impassable for them, but they were as bad +for the enemy as for themselves, and they had felt that on anything like +a fair field they ought to win. Now they found themselves just where +they started; they had left seventeen thousand of their comrades dead, +or worse than dead, on the field, and fourteen guns remained in the +hands of the rebels as trophies of their victory; guns, too, that were +sure to be turned against the federals in the very next battle. Twenty +thousand stand of small arms were also left on the field to be gathered +up by the victors. It was a disheartening reflection, but soldier-like +the men put it from their thoughts and turned their minds and hands to +the duties and occupations of the present. In this battle Co. F lost +Edward Trask, Jacob S. Bailey, Almon D. Griffin, Martin C. Laffie and +John Monahan, wounded, besides several more whose names do not now occur +to the writer. Bailey had been previously wounded at Malvern Hill and on +this occasion his wound necessitated the amputation of his left arm, and +he was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>honorably discharged from the service on the twenty-sixth of the +following August. Monahan was transferred to the Invalid Corps and +Griffin returned to his company and remained with it to be honorably +mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service, on the 13th of +September, 1864. Trask returned to his company to serve with it until +the 5th of May, 1864, when he was killed in the battle of the +Wilderness.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h2>GETTYSBURGH TO THE WILDERNESS.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>From the date of their return from the field of Chancellorsville to the +11th of June, the sharp shooters remained in camp near Falmouth engaged +only in the usual routine duties of camp life. Drills, reviews and other +parades of ceremony were of frequent occurrence, but nothing of moment +took place to essentially vary the monotony of their lives. Occasionally +a detail would be made from the company for a day or two of especial +service at some portion of the picket line where the rebel sharp +shooters had become unusually aggressive, but affairs in those parts +generally soon became satisfactory, and the men would be ordered back to +camp. These little episodes were eagerly welcomed by men tired again of +the inactivity of their lives in permanent camp. During this time, +however, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>important changes in the organization of the company took +place. Capt. Seaton, who had never entirely recovered from the effects +of his wound received at Malvern Hill, resigned on the 15th day of May, +and E. W. Hindes was appointed and commissioned captain. C. D. Merriman +was promoted to be first lieutenant and H. E. Kinsman second lieutenant, +the two former to date from May 15, 1863, and the latter from May 26.</p> + +<p>The non-commissioned officers were advanced to rank as follows:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="png108"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">First Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">Lewis J. Allen.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">A. H. Cooper.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Cassius Peck.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Paul M. Thompson.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward F. Stevens.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Jacob S. Bailey.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">L. D. Grover.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Chas. M. Jordan.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">E. M. Hosmer.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward Trask.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Sixth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">W. H. Leach.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Seventh Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">M. Cunningham.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Eighth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward Lyman.</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>The new officers had been connected with the company from its +organization; they were all roll of honor men, straight up from the +ranks, and were men of distinguished courage and skill, as they had +demonstrated already on at least fifteen occasions upon which the Army +of the Potomac had been engaged in pitched battles with the enemy, +besides numberless minor engagements and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>skirmishes. Indeed, their +lives might be said to have been passed, for the year and a half they +had been in the field, in constant battle, and the same was true of +every man in the company as well. The month of June was, however, +destined to bring with it hard marches and stirring events.</p> + +<p>Not content with the results of the Maryland campaign of 1862, which had +resulted in a disastrous rebel defeat at Antietam, Lee, perhaps +recognizing the historical fact that a power which allows itself to be +placed entirely on the defensive is sure to be beaten in the end, +determined to essay once more an invasion of the loyal states, and to +transfer the seat of war, if possible, from the impoverished and +suffering South, to the soil of populous and wealthy Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>His route was substantially the same one pursued by him the previous +year, but not now, as on that occasion, was the severe fighting to take +place on the soil of Virginia.</p> + +<p>By skillful feints and rapid marches, he succeeded in placing his army +north of the Potomac before the Union commander could strike a blow at +him. Early in the month it was certain that Lee was about to take the +field in some direction. Sick and wounded were sent to northern +hospitals, all surplus baggage and stores were turned in, and the Union +army, stripped of everything but what the men carried on their persons, +was ready to follow or to confront him. On the 11th of June the sharp +shooters broke camp at five o'clock P. M., and, for the third time, +marched out <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>from the ground that had been their home for nearly seven +months. Twice before had they left the same place to fight desperate +battles with the same enemy, and twice had they returned to it, defeated +and despondent. Many a man, as the regiment marched out, wondered in his +heart if such would be their fate again; but soldiers are optimists by +nature and education; they soon learn that to fear and dread defeat is +to invite it; that confidence begets confidence, and that the example of +courage and cheerfulness is contagious. Not for a long time, therefore, +did these gloomy thoughts possess their minds, and soon they were +stepping out merrily to the sound of the bugle.</p> + +<p>Other portions of the army had preceded them, and still others were +starting by different roads; and as far as the eye could reach, as the +columns passed over some height of land, could be seen the clouds of +dust that, rising high in the air, betrayed the presence of marching +men. Pressing rapidly northward, passing successively Hartwood church, +Rappahannock Station, Catlet's Station, Manassas Junction, Centerville +and Green Springs—all familiar as the scenes of past experience, and +many of them sacred to the memory of dead comrades—they forded the +Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on the 25th of June and reached the mouth of +the Monocacy, having marched thirty-one miles on that day. Arriving at +that point, tired and foot-sore, as may be imagined after such a march, +they found an aide-de-camp ordered to conduct them to their allotted +camp ground. He appeared to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>one of those nice young men who were so +often appointed to positions on the staff for their beauty or their +fragrance, or for the general elegance of manners, rather than for their +ability to be of any real service. This young person, with no apparent +idea of where he wanted to go, marched them up and down and around and +about, until the patience of Trepp, the Dutch lieutenant-colonel, was +exhausted. Commanding halt, he turned to the bewildered aide and with +phrases and objurgations not fitted for the polite ears of those who +will read this book, concluded his lecture with "Now mine frent, dese +men is tired and dey is to march no more dis day," then, turning to the +regiment, he commanded, in tones that might have been heard at +Washington, "Men, lie down!" and the sharp shooters camped just there. +Leaving this place on the twenty-sixth, they marched to Point of Rocks, +and on the twenty-seventh to Middletown. On the twenty-eighth they +marched via Frederick and Walkersville and crossed the Catoctin +Mountains at Turner Gap. On this day the corps commander, General +Sickles, returned to his command after a short absence, and on the same +day General Hooker, not being able to make his ideas of the campaign +square with those of the department generals at Washington, was +relieved, at his own request, and General Meade was appointed to the +command. The army parted with Hooker without very much regret. They +recognized his wonderful fighting qualities as a division or corps +commander, and he was personally popular, but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>they had never quite +forgiven him for Chancellorsville, where he took his army, beaten and +well nigh crushed, back from an enemy numerically weaker than his own, +while he had yet nearly forty thousand soldiers who had not been engaged +in the action, and hardly under fire. It is safe to say that his army +had no longer that degree of confidence in his ability to handle large +armies, and to direct great battles, so essential to success. Of his +successor the army only knew that he was a scholarly, polished +gentleman, personally brave, and that as a brigade, division and corps +commander he had made few mistakes. On the whole, his record was +favorable and the men marched willingly under him, although the choice +of the rank and file might possibly have been some other man.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-ninth the sharp shooters marched with the corps to +Taneytown, some twenty miles distant, and on the next day to within two +miles of Emmetsburgh, where they camped for the night. On the morning of +July 1st the guns of Reynold's fight at Gettysburgh were plainly heard, +and in the late afternoon they started for the point of action, some ten +miles distant, making most of the distance at the double quick.</p> + +<p>At about sunset they arrived on the field and went into bivouac in the +rear of the hill known in the history of the subsequent battle as Little +Round Top, and were once more confronting their ancient antagonists. The +sharpshooters were now attached to the second brigade, commanded by Gen. +J. H. H. Ward, of the first division, under <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>Gen. Birney, the old third +division having been consolidated with the first and second after the +terrible losses of the corps at Chancellorsville, and in this connection +we shall have to follow them through the battle of Gettysburgh. The +battle of the 1st of July was over. The First and Eleventh Corps had +sustained a serious defeat, and at the close of that day the rolls of +these two corps showed the terrible loss of over nine thousand men, and +yet the battle had hardly commenced. The situation was not an +encouraging one to contemplate; not half the Union army was up, some +corps being yet thirty or forty miles distant, while the events of the +day showed that the rebel army was well concentrated—but the die was +cast, events forced the battle then and there, and thus the rocky ridges +of Gettysburgh became of historic interest and will remain so forever.</p> + +<p>Troops arrived rapidly during the night and were assigned places, as +they arrived, in the chosen line, which was in a direction nearly north +and south. The extreme left rested on a rocky height rising some three +hundred feet above the level of the surrounding country; some five +hundred yards to the north of this hill, called Round Top, rises a +similar elevation, although of less height, called Little Round Top; +thence north to Cemetery Hill, immediately overlooking the village of +Gettysburgh about two miles distant, the Union troops occupied, or were +intended to occupy, a rocky ridge overlooking and commanding the plain +to the westward. From Cemetery Hill the line was refused <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>and curved +backward to the east until the extreme right rested on a wooded eminence +called Culp Hill, and fronted to the east, so that the entire line was +some three miles, or perhaps a little more, long, and was in shape like +a fish hook, the shank lying along the ridge between Round Top and +Cemetery Hill, and the point on Culp Hill. Below the bend of the hook, +at the base of Cemetery Hill, lay the village of Gettysburgh. Such was +the Union position at daylight on the morning of the 2d of July, 1863. +Fronting that portion of the federal troops which was faced to the west, +and at a distance of about one mile, ran another ridge, parallel to the +first, called Seminary Ridge, and which was occupied by the Confederate +army. To the north and east of Gettysburgh the ground was open, no +ridges or considerable body of wood land existed to cover or screen the +movements of the rebel troops. The village of Gettysburgh was occupied +by the enemy on the afternoon of the 1st of July after the defeat of the +First and Eleventh Corps, and yet remained in their possession. Midway +between the two armies ran the Emmetsburgh road, following the crest of +a slight elevation between the two lines of battle. The position +assigned to the Third Corps was that portion of the line immediately +north of Little Round Top where the ridge is less high than at any other +portion. Indeed, it sinks away at that point until it is hardly higher +than the plain in front, and not as high as the ridge along which runs +the Emmetsburgh road. At an early hour on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>morning of the 2d, +Sickles, believing himself that the latter ridge afforded the better +position, and perhaps mistaking Gen. Meade's instructions, passed down +into the valley and took up the line of the Emmetsburgh road, his center +resting at a point known in the history of the battle as the "peach +orchard." From this point his line was prolonged to the right by +Humphrey's Division along the road, while Birney's Division, to which +Ward's brigade with the sharp shooters was attached, formed the left, +which was refused; the angle being at the peach orchard, and the extreme +left resting nearly at the base of Round Top, at a point known by the +altogether suggestive and appropriate name of the Devil's Den—a name +well applied, for a more desolate, ghostly place, or one more suggestive +of the home of evil spirits can hardly be imagined. Barren of tree or +shrub, and almost destitute of any green thing, it seems cursed of God +and abandoned of man.</p> + +<p>Pending the deployment of the Third Corps, four companies of the sharp +shooters, F, I, D and E, with the Third Maine, a small regiment of only +two hundred men, were detached from Ward's brigade and ordered to a +point in front and to the right of the peach orchard, where they were +directed to advance to a piece of wooded land on the west of the +Emmetsburgh road and feel for the enemy at that point. The four +companies, deployed as skirmishers, advanced in a northwesterly +direction, and at about nine o'clock encountered a strong force of the +rebels, consisting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>of at least one brigade of Longstreet's command, +who, with arms stacked, were busily engaged in preparing their breakfast +when the rifles of the sharp shooters gave them notice of other +employment. They were taken entirely by surprise, and quickly perceiving +this fact, the riflemen dashed forward, firing as they pressed on as +rapidly as the breech loaders could be made to work. The rebels made but +a short stand; taken entirely unprepared and unaware of the +insignificant numbers of the oncoming force, they seized their guns from +the stack, and, after one or two feeble volleys, retreated in confusion.</p> + +<p>The general in command made a gallant personal effort to rally his men, +but fell dead from his horse immediately in front of Co. F. The rout of +the enemy at this point was now complete, and pressing their advantage +to the utmost the sharp shooters drove them back nearly to the main +rebel line on Seminary Ridge, capturing many prisoners who were sent to +the rear, and a large number of small arms which, however, they were +unable to bring away. Having thus cleared the ground nearly to the main +rebel line, they took position behind walls, fences, etc., and for the +two or three hours following were engaged in sharp shooting with the +enemy similarly posted in their front. Their position was now some +distance to the right of the peach orchard and in front of the right, or +right center, of Humphrey's Division.</p> + +<p>At about half-past three in the afternoon Longstreet commenced his +attack on Sickles' extreme <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>left near Round Top, the battle soon +becoming very severe also at the angle in the peach orchard and +involving Humphrey further to the right. The attacking columns had +passed to the left of the sharp shooters and the fighting was now in +their left and rear. The rebels in their front also became very +aggressive and they were gradually pushed back until they became +intermingled with the troops of Humphrey's Division posted along the +Emmetsburgh road where the struggle soon became close and deadly. The +angle at the peach orchard was the key to Sickles' line, and against it +Longstreet pushed his best troops in dense masses, and at this point +occurred some of the hardest fighting that took place on the whole +field; but as the troops whose doings are chronicled in these pages had +no part in that struggle, it is enough to say that after a gallant +resistance the line was broken at the angle and the shouting rebels, +rushing through the gap, took both portions of the line in reverse, +while both portions were yet resisting heavy attacks on their fronts. +Such a situation could have but one result—both wings were compelled to +retire in confusion.</p> + +<p>Anticipating this, Meade had ordered heavy supporting columns to be +formed behind the crest of the ridge and these were ordered down to the +relief of the sorely tried Third Corps. Barnes' Division of the Fifth +Corps, the same to which the sharp shooters had been attached for so +long a time, and in the ranks of which they had fought in all the +battles previous to Fredericksburgh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>came gallantly to the rescue, but +were unable to withstand the terrible vigor of the Confederate assault, +and Caldwell's Division of the Second Corps was also thrown in to check +the onset.</p> + +<p>These troops fought with the greatest courage but were defeated with the +loss of half the men engaged. In the mean time Longstreet, finding the +ground between the left of Birney's Division and the base of Round Top +unoccupied, pushed a force behind the Union left at that point which +succeeded in gaining a position in the rocky ravine between the two +Round Tops from which they pushed forward to secure the possession of +the lesser elevation, at that moment unguarded. This was the key to the +entire Union line, and once in the hands of the rebels would probably +decide the battle in their favor. But Warren, another old Fifth Corps +friend, quickly discovered the danger and ordered Vincent with his +brigade to occupy and defend this important point. The struggle for its +possession was terrible, but victory perched upon the Union banners and +the hill was made secure. Vincent and Hazlett, both of the Fifth Corps +also, were killed here. They had been well known and highly esteemed by +many of the officers and men of the sharp shooters, and by none were +they more sincerely lamented.</p> + +<p>Darkness put an end to the battle of July 2d. Lee had gained +considerable ground, for the whole of the line occupied by the Third +Corps was now in his possession. There yet remained for him to carry the +real line of the federal defenses which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>was as yet intact. The position +taken by Gen. Sickles had been intrinsically false, and was one from +which he would have been withdrawn without fighting had time allowed. +Lee had gained ground, and that was all, unless the inspiriting effects +of even partial success can be counted.</p> + +<p>Many thousands of Union soldiers lay dead and wounded on the field, and +the Army of the Potomac was the weaker by that number of men, but Lee +had lost an equal, or more likely a greater number, so that on the whole +the result of the day could not be counted as a substantial gain for the +rebels, and when the federals lay down for the night, it was with +confidence and assurance that the morrow would bring its reward for the +mishaps of the day. The corps commander, Gen. Sickles, had been wounded +and Gen. Birney succeeded to the command. Gen. Ward took command of the +division, and thus it came about that Col. Berdan was in command of the +brigade.</p> + +<p>Company F had killed on this day Sergeant A. H. Cooper, and Geo. Woolly +and W. H. Leach wounded. Woolly's wound was severe and resulted in the +loss of his arm. Other companies in the regiment had suffered more or +less severely, the four companies engaged in front and to the right of +the peach orchard losing twenty men, killed and wounded, out of the one +hundred engaged.</p> + +<p>During the night succeeding the 2d of July the shattered remains of the +Third Corps was withdrawn from the front line and massed behind the +sheltering ridge as a reserve. Its terrible losses of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>the day, added to +those sustained at Chancellorsville, had reduced the once powerful corps +almost to the proportions of a brigade. As the troops stood in line the +colors were like a fringe along its front, so close together were they. +The regiments that defended them were like companies—indeed, many +regiments had not the full number of one hundred men which is called for +on paper by a full company. The Third Corps was nearly a matter of +history, but the few men left with their colors were veterans, tried and +true, and although they were not displeased to be relieved from the +active fighting yet in store for the federals, they were quite ready to +stand to arms again whenever it should please Gen. Meade to so direct. +At daylight the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire all along the line. +The random nature of the firing was proof, however, that nothing more +serious than demonstration was intended.</p> + +<p>Late at night on the preceding day the rebels had succeeded in gaining +important ground on the extreme right, and had indeed possessed +themselves of almost the whole of the wooded eminence known as Culp's +Hill, from which their artillery, should they be allowed time to get it +up, would take almost the entire Union line in the rear. To regain this, +Geary's Division was sent in early in the day, and after four hours of +severe fighting the rebels were dislodged and the Union right was +restored. Affairs now became quiet and so remained for some +hours—suspiciously quiet indeed, and all felt that some great effort +was about to be made <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>by the Confederates. At about one o'clock a single +gun was fired as a signal from the Confederate lines near the seminary, +and instantly one hundred and fifteen guns opened on the Union center, +which was held by the First and Second Corps, supported by all that +remained of the Third. Never before had the Union troops been subjected +to such an artillery fire. Previous to this battle the cannonading at +Malvern Hill had always been quoted as the heaviest of the war. The +bombardment of Fredericksburgh had also been on a magnificent scale, but +here the troops were to learn that still further possibilities existed. +Eighty Union guns responded vigorously, and for two hours these +guns—nearly two hundred in number—hurled their shot and shell across +the intervening plain in countless numbers. The Union artillery was +posted along the crest of, or just behind the ridge, while the lines of +infantry were below them on the western slope. The soldiers lay prone on +the ground, sheltering themselves behind such inequalities of the +surface as they could find, well knowing that this awful pounding was +only the precursor of a struggle at closer quarters, which, if less +demonstrative and noisy, would be more deadly; for experience had taught +them that however frightful to look at and listen to, the fire of shell +at such long range was not, on the whole, a thing to inspire great fear. +It is a curious fact, however, that heavy artillery fire, long +sustained, begets an irresistible desire to sleep; and hundreds of Union +soldiers went quietly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>to sleep and slept soundly under the soothing +influence of this tremendous lullaby.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock the artillery fire ceased, and from the woods crowning +Seminary Ridge, a mile away, swarmed the grey coated rebels for another +attempt on the federal line. Lee had tried the left and had failed; he +had been partially successful on the right on the preceding evening, but +had been driven back in the morning. It only remained for him to try the +center. In the van of the charging column came Picket's Division of +Virginia troops, the flower of Lee's army, fresh and eager for the +strife. On his right was Wilcox's brigade of Hill's corps, and on his +left Pender's Division. Could Picket but succeed in piercing the Union +center, these two supporting columns, striking the line at points +already shattered and disorganized by the passage of Picket's command, +might be expected to give way in turn, and the right and left wings of +the federal army would be hopelessly separated. But others besides Lee +saw this, and Meade hastened to support the points on which the coming +storm must burst with all the troops at his command. The Third Corps was +ordered up and took position on the left of the First, directly opposite +the point at which Wilcox must strike the line, if he reached so far. +Our artillery, which had been nearly silent for some time, opened on the +oncoming masses as they reached the Emmetsburgh road with canister and +case shot which made fearful gaps in their front, but closing steadily +on their colors they continued to advance. Their courage was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>magnificent and worthy of a better cause. Eight Union batteries, +brought forward for the purpose, poured an enfilading fire into the +rushing mass, while Stannard's Second Vermont Brigade, far in advance of +the main line, suddenly rose up and, quickly changing front, forward on +the right, commenced a close and deadly fire directly on their exposed +right flank. Their track over that open plain was marked by a swath of +dead and dying men as wide as the front of their column; still they +struggled on and some portion of the attacking force actually pierced +the Union line, and the rebel Gen. Armistead was killed with his hand +upon one of the guns of Wheeler's battery. The point had been well +covered, however, and no sooner did the rebel standards appear crowning +the stone wall, which was the principal defensive work, than the troops +of the second line were ordered forward and for a few moments were +engaged in a fierce hand to hand fight over the wall. The force of the +rebel attack was, however, spent; exhausted by their march of a mile +across the plain in the face of the deadly fire, and with ranks sadly +thinned, the rebels, brave as they undoubtedly were, were in no shape to +long continue the struggle. They soon broke and fled, thousands, +however, throwing down their arms and surrendering themselves as +prisoners rather than risk the dangerous passage back to their own +lines, a passage only in a degree less perilous than the advance.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Wilcox, on the right, had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>pushed gallantly forward to +strike the front of the Third Corps where the sharp shooters had been +posted in advantageous positions to receive him. They had opened fire +when he was some four hundred yards away, too far for really fine +shooting at individual men, but not so far as to prevent considerable +execution being done on the dense masses of men coming on. This attack, +however, was not destined to meet with even the small measure of success +which had attended Picket's assault, for Col. W. G. Veazey of the +Sixteenth Vermont, one of the regiments of Stannard's Second Vermont +Brigade, which had been thrown forward on the right flank of Picket's +column, seeing that attack repulsed, and being aware of the approach of +Wilcox in his rear, suddenly counter-marched his regiment and made a +ferocious charge on the left of Wilcox's column, even as he had just +done on the right of Picket's. The effect was instantaneous; they +faltered, halted, and finally broke. Launching forward, Veazey captured +many prisoners and colors, many more, in fact, than he had men in his +own ranks.</p> + +<p>The fighting of the 3d of July now ceased and the federals had been +signally successful. The morrow was the 4th of July, the birthday of the +nation; would it be ever after celebrated as the anniversary of the +decisive and closing battle of the war? Many hearts beat high at the +thought, and the troops lay on their arms that night full of hope that +the end was at hand.</p> + +<p>The repulse of Lee's final assault on the 3d of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>July had been so +complete and crushing, so apparent to every man on the field, that there +were none who did not awake on the morning of the 4th with the full +expectation that the Army of the Potomac would at once assume the +offensive and turn the repulse of the last two days into such a defeat +as should insure the utter destruction of the rebel army. Everything +seemed propitious; Sedgwick's gallant Sixth Corps had arrived late on +the night of the second, and had not been engaged. The men were fresh +and eager to deliver on the national holiday the death blow to the +rebellion. The troops who had been engaged during that terrible three +days battle were equally eager, notwithstanding their labors and +sufferings, but Meade was eminently a conservative leader, and feared to</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Put it to the touch<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To win or lose it all."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And so the day was spent in such quiet and rest as could be obtained by +the men. The wounded were gathered and cared for, rations and ammunition +were issued, and every preparation for further defense should Lee again +attack, or for pursuit should he retreat, was made. Some rather feeble +demonstrations were made at various points, but no fighting of a serious +character took place on that day. The sharp shooters were thrown forward +as far as the peach orchard where they took up a position which they +held during the day, constantly engaged in exchanging shots with the +rebel pickets posted behind the walls and fences in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>open field in +front of the woods behind which lay the rebel army. It was of itself +exciting and dangerous employment; but, as compared with their +experiences on the two preceding days, the day was uneventful. Co. F +lost here, however, two of its faithful soldiers, wounded, L. B. Grover +and Chas. B. Mead. Both recovered and returned to the company, Grover to +be promoted sergeant for his gallantry on this field, and Mead to die by +a rebel bullet in the trenches at Petersburgh. The regiment as a whole +had suffered severely. The faithful surgeon, Dr. Brennan, had been +severely wounded while in the discharge of his duty in caring for the +wounded on the field, and Capt. McLean of Co. D was killed.</p> + +<p>Many others, whose names have been lost in the lapse of years, fell on +this bloody field. The fifth was spent in gathering the wounded and +burying the dead. On the sixth Meade commenced that dilatory pursuit +which has been so severely criticised, and on the twelfth came up with +the rebel army at Williamsport, where Lee had taken up and fortified a +strong position to await the falling of the river, a sudden rise of +which had carried away the bridges and rendered the fords impassable.</p> + +<p>The army was eager to attack; flushed with their success, and fully +confident of their ability to give rebellion its death blow, they fairly +chafed at the delay—but Meade favored the cautious policy, and spent +the twelfth and thirteenth in reconnoitering Lee's position. Having +finished this preliminary work, he resolved on an attack on the +fourteenth; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>but Lee, having completed his bridges, made a successful +passage of the river, and by eight o'clock on that morning had his army, +with its trains and stores, safe on the Virginia side.</p> + +<p>On the seventeenth the Third Corps crossed the river at Harper's Ferry +and were once more following a defeated and flying enemy up the valley, +over the same route by which they had pursued the same foe a year before +while flying from Antietam. The pursuit was not vigorous—the men +marched leisurely, making frequent halts. It was in the height of the +blackberry season, and the fields were full of the most delicious +specimens. The men enjoyed them immensely, and, on a diet composed +largely of this fruit, the health of the men improved rapidly.</p> + +<p>On the nineteenth the sharp shooters reached Snicker's Gap, where, on +the 3d of the previous November, they had looked down on the beautiful +valley of Virginia and beheld from their lofty perch Lee's retreating +columns marching southward. To-day, from the same point of view, they +beheld the same scene; but how many changes had taken place in that +little company since they were last on this ground! Death, by bullet and +by disease, had made sad inroads among them, and of the whole number +present for duty the previous November, less than one-half were with +their colors now, the others were either dead in battle, or of wounds +received in action, or honorably discharged by reason of disability +incurred in the service. Sheridan once said that no regiment was fit for +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>field until one-half of its original numbers had died of disease, +one-quarter been killed in action, and the rest so sick of the whole +business that they would rather die than live. Judged by this rather +severe standard, Co. F was now fit to take rank as veterans. Descending +the mountains, they marched southward, passing the little village of +Upperville on the twentieth.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-third the Third Corps was ordered to feel the enemy at +Manassas Gap, and there ensued a severe skirmish, known as the affair of +Wapping Heights. The sharp shooters opened the engagement and, indeed, +bore the brunt of it, dislodging the enemy and driving them through the +gap and beyond the mountain range. They inflicted considerable loss on +the rebels, and made a number of prisoners.</p> + +<p>In this affair a man from another company came suddenly face to face +with an armed rebel at very short range; each, as it subsequently +appeared, had but one cartridge and that was in his gun. Each raised his +rifle at the first sight of the other and the reports were simultaneous. +Both missed—the rebel bullet struck a tree so close to the sharp +shooter's face that the flying fragments of bark drew blood; the Union +bullet passed through the breast of the rebel's coat, cutting in two in +its passage a small mirror in his breast pocket. They were now upon +equal terms but each supposed himself at the disadvantage. Yankee cheek +was too much, however, for the innocent Johnnie, for the sharp shooter, +with great show of reloading his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>rifle, advanced on the rebel demanding +his surrender. He threw down his gun with bad grace, saying as he did +so: "If I had another cartridge I would never surrender." "All right, +Johnnie," said the Yankee, "If I had another you may be sure I would not +ask you to surrender." But Johnnie came in a prisoner. In this action +the sharp shooters expended the full complement of sixty rounds of +ammunition per man, thus verifying the assertion of their ancient enemy +in the ordnance department that "the breech loaders would use up +ammunition at an alarming rate;" both he and others were by this time +forced to admit, however, that the ammunition was expended to very +useful purpose. Passing now to the southeast over familiar grounds they +encamped at Warrenton on the twenty-sixth, and on the thirty-first at or +near White Sulphur Springs, where they remained until the 15th of +September, enjoying a much needed rest. It was eighty-one days since +they left their camp at Falmouth to follow and defeat Lee's plans for an +invasion of the North, and during that time they had not had one single +day of uninterrupted rest. Here the regiment had the first dress parade +since the campaign opened.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of September they broke camp and marched to Culpepper, some +ten miles to the southward, where they remained until the 10th of +October. On the 22d of September eight days rations had been issued and +it looked as though serious movements were contemplated, but the plan, +if there was one, was not carried out.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>On the 11th of October, with full haversacks and cartridge boxes, they +broke camp and moved again northward, crossing the Rappahannock by +Freeman's ford, near which they remained during the rest of that day and +the whole of the twelfth on the picket line, frequently engaged in +unimportant skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry. On the thirteenth they +marched in the early morning, still towards the north, prepared for +action, and at Cedar Run, a small tributary of the Rappahannock, they +found the enemy in considerable force to dispute the crossing. Here a +severe action took place, and as the emergency was one which did not +admit of delay, the attack was made without the formality of throwing +out skirmishers, and the sharp shooters charged with the other regiments +of the division in line of battle. Edward Jackson was severely wounded +here, but returned to his company to remain with it to the close of the +war. Quickly brushing away this force the corps advanced northwardly by +roads lying to the west of the Orange & Alexandria railroad and parallel +with it, and after a fatiguing march arrived at Centerville, only a few +miles from Washington.</p> + +<p>The cause of this rapid retrograde movement was not easily understood by +the men at the time, but was subsequently easily explained. Lee had not +been satisfied with the results of his three previous attempts to +destroy the Union army by turning its right and cutting it off from +Washington, and had essayed a fourth. It had been a close race, but the +Union commander had extricated his army from a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>position that, at one +time, was one of grave peril, and had it compact and ready on the +heights of Centerville with the fortifications of Washington at his +back. Lee was now far from his own base of supplies and must attack the +Union army in position at once, or retreat. He took one look at the +situation and chose the latter alternative, and on the nineteenth the +Army of the Potomac was once more in pursuit, the Third. Corps with the +sharp shooters passing Bristoe's Station on that day with their faces +toward the South. On the twentieth they forded Cedar Run at the scene of +their battle of the week before, and on the same day, owing to an error +by which the sharp shooters were directed by a wrong road, they +recrossed it to the north bank, from which they had, later in the day, +to again ford it to reach their designated camping place on the south +side near Greenwich, thus making three times in all that they waded the +stream on this cold October day, sometimes in water waist deep. The next +camp made was at Catlet's Station, when the sharp shooters with the +Third Corps remained inactive until the 7th of November awaiting the +repairing and reopening of the Orange & Alexandria railroad which had +been greatly damaged by Lee in his retreat, and which, as it was the +main line of supply for Meade's army, it was necessary to repair +before the army could move further southward.</p> + +<p>On the seventh, the railroad having been completely repaired and the +army fully supplied with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>rations, ammunition and other necessary +articles, Meade determined to try to bring his enemy to a decisive +action in the open field, and to that end directed the right wing of his +army, consisting of the Fifth and Sixth Corps under Sedgwick, to force +the passage of the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station, while the left +wing, consisting of the First, Second and Third Corps, was directed on +Kelly's Ford, some five miles lower down the river.</p> + +<p>The Third Corps, under Birney, had the advance of the column, the sharp +shooters acting as flankers, until the head of the column arrived at the +river opposite the designated crossing place. The enemy were found in +strong force occupying rifle pits on the opposite bank, and the column +was deployed to meet the exigency of the occasion. The sharp shooters +were at the front as skirmishers and advanced at the double quick in +splendid order until they reached the bank of the river, when they took +such cover as was afforded by the inequalities of the ground, and +commenced an active fire upon the enemy in the rifle pits on the +opposite side. It was soon found, however, that they could not be driven +from their strong position by simple rifle work, and the regiment was +ordered to cross the stream and drive them out by close and vigorous +attack. It was not a cheerful prospect for the men who were to wade the +open stream nearly waist deep and exposed to the cool fire of the +concealed enemy, who would not aim less coolly because the sharp +shooters would necessarily be unable to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>return the fire; but the line +was carefully prepared and at the sound of the bugle every man dashed +forward into the cold and rapid water and struggled on. Co. F was one of +the reserve companies and thus followed the skirmishers in column of +fours instead of in a deployed line. As the skirmishers arrived on the +further shore they naturally took such cover as they could get, and +opened a rapid fire. The Vermonters, however, closely following the +movement, passed the skirmish line thus halted and pushed on without +stopping to deploy even. Capt. Merriman, who had just succeeded to his +well deserved promotion, led the way until he stood upon the very edge +of the works overlooking the rebels within, of whom he demanded an +immediate and unconditional surrender. He was far in advance of his men, +and the rebels, at first taken aback by the very boldness of the demand, +now seeing him unsupported as they thought, refused with strong language +to surrender, but on the contrary called upon him to yield himself up as +their prisoner. Merriman, however, was not minded to give up his +captain's sword on the very first day he had worn it, and called out for +"Some of you men of Co. F with guns to come up here." His call was +obeyed, and five hundred and six Confederates surrendered to this little +company alone. In the company the casualties were as follows: Patrick +Murray, killed; Eugene Mead, Watson P. Morgan and Fitz Green Halleck, +wounded. Having thus uncovered the ford the sharp shooters were pushed +forward some distance <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>to allow the remainder of the left wing to cross +and form on the south bank. Advancing about a mile from the river they +took up a position from which they repulsed several feeble attacks +during the day, and at dark were relieved.</p> + +<p>For their gallantry and dash in this affair they received unstinted +praise from their brigade commander, De Trobriand, they having been +transferred back to his brigade some days previous. On the next day the +troops advanced towards Brandy Station where the union of the two wings +of the army was expected to take place. Considerable resistance was met +with at several points during the day, and at one point the skirmishers +of the third division, which was in advance, being unable to start the +rebels, the corps commander sent back his aide for "the regiment that +crossed the river the day before," but the brigade was some miles in +rear of the point of obstruction, and Gen. De Trobriand, rightly +believing that it would be unjust and cruel to require these men to +march so far at the double quick after their severe service of the day +before, sent the second regiment instead, who fully met the requirement +and soon cleared the road for the head of the column. On arriving at +Brandy Station the vast open plain was found packed and crowded with +troops, the entire Army of the Potomac being now concentrated here. The +sharp shooters went into camp on the farm of the so called loyalist John +Minor Botts, where they remained for the eighteen days following. In +consideration of his supposed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>loyalty, every effort was made to protect +the property of the owner of the plantation, but <i>rails</i> are a +temptation that no soldier was ever known to withstand on a cold +November night. Evil disposed troops of other organizations raided the +fences every night, and the troops nearest at hand, the sharp shooters, +were required to rebuild them every day; and in this manner they passed +the time until the 26th of November, when the army broke camp and +crossed the Rapidan at several points simultaneously.</p> + +<p>This was the initial movement in what is known as the Mine Run campaign. +The Third Corps crossed at Jacobs Mills ford, their destination being +understood to be Robertson's Tavern where they were to join the Second +Corps in an attack on the Confederate line behind Mine Run at that +point. But Gen. French, by a mistake of roads, and sundry other +unfortunate errors of judgment, found himself far to the right of his +assigned position, and while blindly groping about in the mazes of that +wilderness country, ran the head of his column against Ewell's Corps and +a brisk fight took place, which was called the battle of Locust Grove.</p> + +<p>De Trobriand's brigade was near the rear of the column and was not +therefore immediately engaged. The familiar sounds of cannon and +musketry indicated to their practiced ears something more than a mere +affair of skirmishers, and soon came an order to take up a more advanced +position in support of the Third Division which was said to be heavily +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>engaged. Upon arriving at the front the sharp shooters were deployed +and ordered forward to a fence a little distance in advance of the main +Union line, and to hold that position at all hazards. Moving rapidly +forward they gained the position, and quickly converted the stout rail +fence into a respectable breastwork from which they opened fire on the +rebels in their front. Near them they found the Tenth Vermont, and thus +once again stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of their native +state. Five times during that afternoon did the enemy endeavor to drive +the sharp shooters from this line, and as often were they repulsed, and +each time with heavy loss. In one of these assaults the colors of a +rebel regiment, advancing immediately against Co. F, fell to the ground +four times, and just there four rebel color bearers lay dead, stricken +down by the fire of the Green Mountain riflemen.</p> + +<p>The line of breastworks were held until the fighting ceased after dark, +when the sharp shooters were relieved and retired from the immediate +front and lay on their arms during the night. Co. F had lost in the +battle of the day five good men; E. S. Hosmer was killed at the fence, +while A. C. Cross, Eugene Payne, Sherod Brown and Corporal Jordan were +wounded. Cross rejoined the company and served faithfully until the +battle of the Wilderness in the following May where he was killed. Payne +returned to duty and served his full term of enlistment and was +honorably discharged on the 13th of September, 1864. Brown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>never fully +recovered from the effects of his wound and was subsequently transferred +to the Veteran Reserve Corps. Jordan also reported again for duty and +served until the 31st of August, 1864, when he was honorably discharged +on surgeon's certificate of disability. The regiment had lost thirty-six +men killed and wounded during the day, while the corps had suffered a +total loss of fifteen hundred, and had not yet reached its objective +point. And this was the soldiers' Thanksgiving Day at Locust Grove. Far +away in quiet northern homes, fathers and mothers were sitting lonely at +the loaded tables thinking lovingly of their brave boys, who were even +then lying stark and cold under the open sky, or suffering untold +agonies from cruel wounds. But this was war, and war is no respecter of +time or place, and so on this day of national thanksgiving and praise, +hundreds of the best and bravest suffered and died that those who came +after them might have cause for future thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>"To the misjudging, war doth appear to be a worse calamity than slavery; +because its miseries are collected together within a short space and +time as may be easily, at one view, taken in and perceived. But the +misfortunes of nations cursed by slavery, being distributed over many +centuries and many places, are of greater weight and number."</p> + +<p>Further severe fighting took place on the next day, but the sharp +shooters were not engaged. On the twenty-ninth (the corps having changed +its position on the previous day, taking up a new <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>line further to the +left), the sharp shooters were deployed as skirmishers and pushed +forward to within sight of the strong works of the enemy on the further +side of Mine Run where they were halted and directed to closely observe +the movements of the rebels, but to do nothing calculated to provoke a +conflict, the preparations for assault not being completed on the Union +side. While laying here in a cold November rain storm they had ample +opportunity to calculate the strength of the enemy's line and the +chances of success. It reminded them strongly of Fredericksburgh. The +position was not dissimilar to that. Here was a swampy morass instead of +a hard plain, but beyond was a height of land and, as at +Fredericksburgh, it was crowned with earth works, while at the base of +the elevation, plainly to be seen by the watchers, were the long yellow +lines that told of rifle pits well manned by rebel soldiers. It looked +like a desperate attempt, but early on the morning of the thirteenth, in +obedience to orders, the sharp shooters advanced across the swamp +through the partly frozen mud, in many places mid-leg deep, driving the +rebel pickets into their works and pressing their way to within a few +rods of the enemy's front, which position they held, being of themselves +unable to go further without support, which was not forthcoming. This +advance had the seeming character of a demonstration only, but the sharp +shooters made the best of their opportunities, picking off a rebel now +and then as the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>chance occurred. Night came on and no hint of relief +came to the worn and weary men.</p> + +<p>It was intensely cold and, of course, they had to endure it as best they +could, since to light a fire within so short a distance of the watchful +rebels would be to draw the fire of every gun within range. Neither +could they get the relief which comes from exercise, for the first +movement was the signal for a shot. So passed the long and dismal night; +the men getting such comfort as they could from rubbing and chafing +their benumbed and frost-bitten limbs. Morning dawned, but yet no relief +from their sufferings; and it seemed to the waiting men that they were +deserted. At times firing could be heard on the right, but of other +indications of the presence of their friends there were none. They +remained in this state all day on the 1st of December, and at night, +after thirty-six hours of this exposure, they were ordered back across +the swamp. Many men were absolutely unable to leave their positions +without aid, so stiff with cold and inaction were they; but all were +finally removed. The army had retired from the front of the enemy and +was far on its way to the river, leaving the Third Corps to cover the +withdrawal; the greater portion of this corps was also en route for its +old camp, and the sharp shooters were thus the rear guard of the army. +The march was simply terrible. All night they struggled on, many men +actually falling asleep as they marched and falling to the ground, to be +roused by shakes and kicks administered by their more wakeful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>comrades. +In spite of all, however, many men left the ranks and lay down in the +fields and woods to sleep, preferring the chance of freezing to death, +or of that other alternative only less fatal—being made prisoners—to +further effort. At day break the regiment arrived at the Rapidan at +Culpepper Mine ford, crossing on a ponton bridge and going into bivouac +on the north bank, where they could at least have fires to warm their +half frozen bodies. Here they lay until noon, their numbers being +augmented by the arrival of the stragglers, singly and in squads, until +all were accounted for, though at day break there were not guns enough +in some of the companies to stack arms with. At night, however, all were +comfortably quartered in their old camp—a thankful lot of men. This was +perhaps the most severe experience that Co. F had to undergo during its +three years of service. On many occasions they had more severe fighting +and had often to mourn the loss of tried and true comrades; but never +before or after did the company, as a whole, have to undergo so much +severe suffering as on this occasion. The principal loss of the regiment +in this campaign was by the death of Lieut.-Col. Trepp, who was shot +through the head and instantly killed on the 30th of November. Col. +Trepp had been with the regiment from the first, having joined as +captain of Co. A. He was a Swiss by birth, and had received a military +education in the army of his native land, and had seen much service in +various European wars. He was a severe disciplinarian, even harsh; but +was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>endeared to the men by long association in the field, and was +sincerely lamented.</p> + +<p>From this time until the 6th of February, 1864, the regiment lay in +camp, inactive. On that day they were engaged in a reconnoissance to the +Rapidan, but were not engaged.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of March the gallant old Third Corps, reduced as it was by +its losses at Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh and Locust Grove to the +proportions of a small division, passed out of existence, being +consolidated with the Second Corps, and becoming the first and second +brigades of the Third Division of that corps, Gen. Birney continuing in +the command of the division, while the corps was commanded by Gen. +Hancock, who had so far recovered from his wound received at Gettysburgh +as to be able to resume his place at the head of his troops. The sharp +shooters were attached to the second brigade, commanded by Gen. Hays.</p> + +<p>This change was viewed by the officers and men of the Third Corps with +great regret. They were proud of their record, and justly so, but the +necessities of the service were paramount, and no sentiment of loyalty +to a corps flag could be allowed to interfere with it. In recognition of +the distinguished services rendered by the old organization, however, +the men were allowed to retain their corps badge; and they took their +places in the ranks of Hancock's command resolved that the honor of the +old Third should be maintained unsullied in the future, as it had been +in the past.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h2>THE WILDERNESS, SPOTSYLVANIA AND<br /> COLD HARBOR.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>On the 10th of March an order was received from President Lincoln +assigning Gen. U. S. Grant to the command of all the armies of the +United States, and during the last days of the same month Gen. Grant +pitched his headquarters tent at Culpepper Court House, and commenced a +study of the situation in Virginia, where the real struggle of the war +had been maintained for nearly three years, and where the strength of +the Confederacy yet lay. The time, until the 3d of May, was spent in +active preparation for the opening of the spring campaign. Sick and +disabled men were sent to the rear. All surplus baggage and stores were +turned in, and the army, stripped for the fight, stood ready whenever +the new commander should sound the advance; for although Gen. Meade was +still commander of the Army of the Potomac, every man knew that Gen. +Grant was there for the purpose of personally directing its movements. +On the 3d of May the sharp shooters broke camp and marched out on that +campaign which was destined to be one continual battle for nearly a year +to come, and at the end of which was to come the final triumph at +Appomattox.</p> + +<p>The organization of Co. F at this time was as follows:</p> + +<p>Captain, C. D. Merriman; vice E. W. Hindes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>honorably discharged on +surgeon's certificate of disability.</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="png143"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">First Lieutenant,</td> + <td class="tdl" width="50%">H. E. Kinsman..</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Lewis J. Allen.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Cassius Peck.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Paul M. Thompson.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">L. D. Grover.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Sergeant,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward F. Stevens.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">First Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Chas. M. Jordan.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Second Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward Trask.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Third Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">M. Cunningham.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fourth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Edward Lyman.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Fifth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">D. W. French.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Sixth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Carlos E. Mead.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Seventh Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Henry Mattocks.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Eighth Corporal,</td> + <td class="tdl">Chas. B. Mead.</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>With this organization and forty-three enlisted men, the company crossed +the Rapidan at Ely's ford at nine o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> on the 4th of +May, 1864. Marching rapidly to the southeast; they bivouacked for the +night near Chancellorsville on the identical ground on which they had +fought exactly one year before under Hooker. The omen was not a happy +one, but with high hopes of success under this new western general who +had always beaten his enemies hitherto, they lay down prepared for +whatever of good or ill the morrow might bring forth.</p> + +<p>Reminders of the conflict of May, 1863, were thickly scattered about on +the ground, and some men in the regiment found their hair covered +knapsacks where they had thrown them off in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>heat of the former +battle, and which they had been forced to abandon. They found also the +graves of some of their lost comrades, buried where they fell, while in +many places human bones shone white and ghastly in the moonlight. It was +the very ground over which the sharp shooters had driven the Stonewall +brigade on the night of the 3d of May of the preceding year. With the +earliest streaking of the eastern sky on the morning of the fifth, the +Second Corps, with the sharp shooters in the advance, was put in motion +towards Shady Grove church, situated some four or five miles to the +southward at the junction of two important roads, and where they were to +form the extreme left of the army. Before the head of the column had +reached that point heavy firing was heard on the right and rear, and the +column was counter-marched and ordered to return to the junction of the +Brock road with the Orange plank road, which the enemy were making +desperate efforts to secure. It was indeed a matter of the utmost +importance to maintain possession of the Brock road, since it was the +very key to the whole battle ground. Running nearly north and south from +the Orange turnpike, near the old Wilderness tavern, it intersects all +the roads leading from the direction from which the enemy were +approaching, and, as it is the only important, or even passable, road +running in that direction, its possession by either army would enable +that party to outflank the other almost at pleasure. Getty's Division of +the Sixth had been detached from that corps on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>the right some hours +before, and ordered to hold this position at all hazards, and it was the +sudden attack on this isolated command that had called the Second Corps +back from its march towards Shady Grove church.</p> + +<p>At about two o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> Birney's Division arrived at the +threatened point and were at once deployed for action on the Brock road, +and to the left, or south, of its intersection with the plank road. Here +the men of Co. F. found themselves again shoulder to shoulder with their +friends.</p> + +<p>The old Vermont brigade formed part of Getty's Division and were already +deployed and sharply engaged; so that Co. F. found themselves in the +immediate neighborhood of the gallant Vermonters. Immediately upon the +arrival of the head of the division upon the field, and pending the +necessarily slower formation of the main line, the sharp shooters were +pushed out towards the enemy and at once came under a heavy fire. It was +their first fight under Hancock, and they felt that not only was their +own well earned reputation to be sustained, but that the honor of the +now dead and gone Third Corps was in a measure committed to their +keeping. There, too, just on their right stood the men of the old +brigade, proud of their own glorious record, and just a little inclined +to rate their own courage and skill above that of any other troops in +the army.</p> + +<p>Under the stimulus of these conditions the sharp shooters as a regiment, +and the men of Co. F in particular, fought with a dash and energy which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>surprised even their own officers who had learned long before that +there was almost no task which the rank and file thought themselves +unequal to. This contest of a skirmish line against lines of battle +continued for nearly two hours; but at about four o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, +the whole of the Second Corps having arrived and being in +position, a general advance was ordered, and now the fighting, which had +been very severe before, became simply terrific. The ground was such +that the artillery could not easily be brought into action. Only two +guns could be brought up, which were placed on the plank road where they +rendered excellent service. The musketry, however, was continuous and +deadly along the whole line. The roar of battle was deafening, and +struck upon the ear with a peculiar effect from the almost total absence +of artillery, usually so noisy an accompaniment of modern battle. The +men who noted this fact, however, were men accustomed to warfare, and +who knew that the fire of infantry was much more deadly than that of +artillery, and never before had they heard such continuous thunder or +confronted such a storm of lead as on this occasion. The fierce struggle +continued with unabated ferocity until the merciful night put an end to +it. The Brock road was held, but it had been impossible to do more. The +enemy were badly shattered, and at points the line had been broken; but +the nature of the ground was such as to prevent an orderly and +systematic pushing of such advantages as were, here and there, gained, +and, except that the key <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>point remained in the hands of the federals, +it was a drawn battle.</p> + +<p>The men lay on their arms during the night, in the position in which the +cessation of the battle found them; and, as illustrative of the +closeness of the contending lines, and the labyrinthian character of the +ground, it may be stated that during the night many men from both armies +while searching for water, or for their wounded friends, strayed within +the opposing lines and were made prisoners. Among the above were Sergt. +Paul M. Thompson and J. H. Guthrie of Co. F. Besides these two men, Co. +F had lost terribly in killed and wounded during the day. Corporal David +French, W. J. Domag and E. E. Trask were killed on the field; A. C. M. +Cross and Wm. Wilson were mortally wounded, while M. Cunningham, +Spafford A. Wright, John C. Page, S. M. Butler and Wm. McKeever suffered +severe and painful wounds—a total of twelve men lost out of the +forty-three who answered to the roll call on that morning, and this in +the first fight of the campaign.</p> + +<p>But the survivors felt that they had well and nobly sustained the honor +of their corps, and of their state. They were proud, also, to have +received the commendation of distinguished officers of the old Vermont +Brigade, and so, with mingled emotions of sorrow and gladness, they lay +down on the bloody field. It will be remembered that the sharp shooters +had been pushed out on the left of the plank road immediately upon their +arrival and while the troops of the line were being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>formed on the Brock +road. In this formation, Birney's Division had been sent to the north or +right of the plank road, and formed on Getty's right; so that during the +subsequent battle the sharp shooters had been separated from their +brigade, and had been fighting in an entirely independent manner, +subject to no orders but those of their regimental and company officers. +At daylight the men were rallied on the colors and moved to the north of +the plank road in search of their proper command, which, after some +search in the tangled forest, they found the shattered remains of. The +brigade commander, Gen. Alexander Hays, and very many other gallant +officers and men had fallen on the preceding day, and so heavy had been +the losses that the entire brigade when deployed, hardly covered the +front of an average regiment as they had stood when the army crossed the +Rapidan.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding his severe losses of the day before, Gen. Grant (who, by +the way, was understood to have expressed the opinion at some time that +"The Army of the Potomac had never been fought up to its capacity") +ordered another general assault along the whole line at five <i>A. M.</i> on +the sixth.</p> + +<p>Promptly at that hour the Second Corps advanced along the Orange plank +road, the sharp shooters being now on the right of that thoroughfare +with their own division. They were, as on the day before, in the front +line, but on this occasion they were heavily supported from the start, +Birney's and Mott's Divisions being in the first line <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>while Getty's +Division formed a second line, the whole supported by Carroll's and +Owen's brigades of the Second Division of the same corps.</p> + +<p>The attack was made with great vigor and impetuosity, and was for a time +successful, the enemy being driven with great loss and disorder from two +strong lines of works, one about four hundred yards behind the other, +which they had materially strengthened during the night. Birney's left, +in front of which was Co. F, advanced further than his right, driving +the Confederates before them and completely disrupting their line at +this point; in fact so far did they penetrate that they were in a +position to take the rebel left in flank and rear, and at one time the +sharp shooters, during a momentary lull on their own front, turned their +attention to a Confederate battery which was actually in rear of their +right, and which they had passed beyond in their charge. They were not +destined to reap the fruits of this victory, however, for at this time +Longstreet's command arrived on the field and commenced a furious attack +on Birney's exposed left. Changing fronts to meet this new enemy, the +sharp shooters, with the aid of their comrades of Birney's Division, +made a vigorous resistance to this counter attack. The momentum of their +own charge was gone; they had now fought their way through nearly a mile +of thickets and swamps and had, necessarily, lost their alignment and +cohesion. The utmost they could now hope to do was to beat back the +oncoming rebels and give the Union troops time to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>reform for another +assault. It was a vain effort, for the fresh masses of rebel troops +succeeded in forcing the advanced left back as far as the center and +right, which was at the same time, about seven o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, +struck by a strong force of Confederates. By desperate effort the line +was held and a reorganization effected, and at about nine o'clock the +offensive was resumed along the plank road. The force of this attack was +seriously impaired by the supposed necessity of protecting the extreme +left which was greatly exposed. For some time heavy firing had been +heard in that direction, and ugly rumors of columns of infantry, too +strong to be checked by the cavalry, were rife. Then, too, a +considerable body of infantry was discovered actually approaching the +left and rear from the direction of Spotsylvania. All this necessitated +the detachment of considerable bodies of troops to guard that wing, +which weakened the force of the main attack. The infantry force which +had occasioned so much uneasiness proved to be a body of convalescents +trying to rejoin the Union army, and the troops sent to oppose them were +restored to the point of action. By this time, in the movement of the +lines, the sharp shooters found themselves, with most of the division, +again on the left of the plank road. The fighting now became as close +and severe as that of the preceding day; so dense and dark was the +thicket, that the lines were often close together before either could +determine whether the other was friend or foe; regiments <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>lost their +brigades and brigades their divisions. Indeed, so confused was the melee +that it is stated that one regiment, being surrounded and ordered to +surrender, actually laid down their arms to another regiment of their +own brigade.</p> + +<p>Still, progress was made, and, on the whole, the federals, although +losing heavily, were gaining substantial ground. After half an hour of +this work the troops on the right of Birney's Division having given way, +Birney detached two of his own brigades to fill the gap, and at about +eleven o'clock the resistance in front of Hancock's Corps having nearly +ceased, another halt was called to readjust the confused and irregular +lines. Before this could be accomplished a new enemy appeared square on +the left of Birney's Division, which was doubled up by the suddenness +and impetuosity of the attack, and the confusion became so great along +the whole line that Gen. Hancock directed a withdrawal of the entire +corps to the breastworks which had been constructed on the Brock road, +and from which they had advanced on the day before. It began to look +like the same old story—as though Chancellorsville was to be +repeated—and as though the most cheerful bulletin Grant would have to +send North would be the often repeated one, "The Army of the Potomac is +again safe across the Rapidan."</p> + +<p>But there, some way, seemed to be no actual movement looking in that +direction—in fact, <i>Grant had ordered the bridges removed as soon as +the last troops had crossed the river</i>, and for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>twenty-four hours there +had been no possibility of recrossing had any one been so minded. Lines +of retreat seemed to have no place in the plans of the new +general-in-chief.</p> + +<p>The enemy followed the retiring Union troops closely, but once within +the breastworks the Second Corps was soon rallied, and, reforming, lay +down behind the rude entrenchments to await the signal for renewed +action. The Confederates pushed their lines to within two or three +hundred yards of the Brock road, but rested at that point until about +four o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, when they took the offensive in their turn +and made a gallant assault on Hancock's command behind the breastworks. +This attack was understood to be under the immediate direction of Gen. +Lee, who was present and commanded in person.</p> + +<p>The rebel line came gallantly forward to within a few yards of the road, +when they halted and opened a fierce fire, which was returned by the +Union troops from their shelter, coolly and with deadly effect.</p> + +<p>Here the sharp shooters had the unusual good fortune to fight in a +sheltered position instead of in the open field, as was usually their +fate. During this affair the woods took fire and for a long time the +troops fought literally surrounded by the flames. The wind was from such +a direction as to bring the smoke from the blazing woods directly in the +faces of the federal soldiers, while the heat and smoke combined made +the position almost untenable, even had there been no other enemy to +contend <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>with. In many places the log breastworks themselves took fire +and became a blazing mass which it was impossible to quench. Still the +battle raged; at some points it was impossible to fire over the parapet, +and the defenders were compelled to withdraw for a short distance. The +rebels were prompt to take advantage of such breaks, and at one point +pushed their advance up to and over the road, planting their battle +flags on the Union works, but a brigade of Birney's Division charged +them with such vigor that their holding was of short duration and they +were driven back in great confusion, leaving numbers of their dead and +wounded inside the breastworks.</p> + +<p>In this charge the sharp shooters were conspicuous. Advancing in line of +battle and at the double quick, they forced the enemy from their front +over and far beyond the road, pursuing them and making prisoners even +beyond the lines which had been held by the rebels previous to their +assault. Their regimental flag was the only one advanced beyond the line +of works; other troops contenting themselves with simply repossessing +the line of the road. In this charge Jacob Lacoy of Co. F. was killed, +the only casualty in the company on that day. Following this repulse +Grant, still aggressive, ordered another attack by Hancock, and the +troops were formed for that purpose; but before the advance actually +commenced the order was countermanded and the men of the Second Corps +lay down for the night along the road which they had so gallantly +defended. The morning of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>third day of the battle opened with the +greater portion of the army quietly resting on their arms; but for the +sharp shooters there seemed no relief or respite. At day break they were +deployed, again on the right of the plank road, and advancing over the +scene of the fighting of the two previous days, now thickly covered with +the dead of both armies, encountered the rebel skirmishers at a distance +of about four hundred yards from the Union line. Ordered to halt here +and observe the enemy, they passed the time until about noon in more or +less active sharp shooting and skirmishing. At twelve o'clock they were +ordered to push the enemy back and develop if possible his main line. +Supported by infantry they dashed forward and after sharp fighting drove +the rebels back into their works, some half a mile away. Here they were +brought to a halt and found themselves unable to advance further. +Counter attacks were made by the rebels which were for a time +successfully resisted; but the regiment was at last so far outflanked +that it became necessary to fall back to avoid the capture of the entire +command. The rebels did not pursue vigorously; the fight was out of +them, and with a few unimportant affairs on different portions of the +line the day passed without battle. Neither party had won a victory. +Grant had not destroyed Lee's army, neither had Lee driven Grant back +across the river, as he had done so many other Union commanders, and the +battle of the Wilderness was of no advantage to either party, save the +fact that Grant had destroyed a certain number of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>Lee's soldiers who +could not easily be replaced, while his own losses could be made good by +fresh levy from the populous North. Whatever may have been Gen. Grant's +idea of the "capacity" of the Army of the Potomac for fighting hitherto, +or whether he believed it to have been now "fought up to its capacity," +he was forced to acknowledge that the fighting of the past three days +had been the severest he had ever seen. But his thoughts were not yet of +retreat; he had seen enough of the Wilderness as a battle field, +however, and on the evening of the seventh issued his orders for a +concentration of his army on Spotsylvania.</p> + +<p>Company F. had lost in the action of this day Edward Giddings and Joseph +Hagan, killed, and Lieut. Kinsman, Dustin R. Bareau, Henry Mattocks and +Edward Lyman, wounded. The wound received by Mattocks, although painful, +was not such as to disable him, and he remained with the company only to +lay down his life on the bloody field of Spotsylvania a week later. The +total losses now footed up nineteen men since the morning of the 5th of +May.</p> + +<p>All night long columns were marching to the southward. It was +evident that the army was to abandon this battle field, but it seemed +strange that the customs and traditions of three years should be thus +ruthlessly set aside by this new man, and that he should have turned his +face again southward, when by all precedent he should have gone north. +The men, however, began to surmise the true state of affairs, and when +during the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>night Grant and Meade, with their respective staffs, passed +down the Brock road headed still south, the men took in the full +significance of the event, and, tired and worn as they were, they sprang +to their feet with cheers that must have told Grant that here were men +fully as earnest, and fully as persistent as himself in their +determination to "fight it out on that line." The stench from the +decomposing bodies of the thousands of dead lying unburied filled the +air and was horrible beyond description, and the sharp shooters were not +sorry when at nine <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, on the morning of May 8th, they were +relieved from their duties on the picket line and, forming on the Brock +road, took up their line of march toward Spotsylvania. They were the +last of the infantry of the whole army; a small body of cavalry only +being between them and the rebels who might well be expected to pursue.</p> + +<p>The cavalry soon found themselves unable to check the pursuers, and Co. +F, now the rear guard of the army, was faced about and deployed to +resist the too close pursuit. In this order, and constantly engaged with +the rebel cavalry following them, they retired fighting, until at Todd's +tavern they found the rest of the division. During the day Wm. Wells was +wounded and taken prisoner, the only casualty in the company during the +day. Wells met the same sad fate which befell so many thousands of +unfortunate prisoners, and died at Florence, S. C., during the month of +September following.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon their arrival a portion of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>regiment, including Co. +F, was placed on the picket line to the west of the tavern, their line +extending across the Catharpin road. Here they met the advance of +Early's rebel corps, and some skirmishing took place; but the rebels +were easily checked, and no severe fighting took place. Early on the +morning of the ninth a strong force of the enemy's cavalry appeared in +their front and made a vigorous effort to force a passage. They were +strongly resisted and at last forced to retire before the well aimed +rifles of the Vermonters. Following rapidly, the sharp shooters pushed +them to and beyond the Po river, along the banks of which they halted.</p> + +<p>During this affair a rebel captain of cavalry was wounded and captured. +Capt. Merriman, whose sword had been shot from his side during the +action of the preceding day, thinking that a fair exchange was no +robbery, appropriated the captured rebel's sabre, and thenceforth it was +wielded in behalf of instead of against the Union. In the afternoon of +this day the sharp shooters were recalled from their somewhat exposed +position, more than two miles from any support, and resumed the march +towards Spotsylvania, skirmishing with the rebels as they retired, until +they reached the high around overlooking the valley of the Po, where +they found the rest of the corps making preparations to force the +passage of the river.</p> + +<p>The Union artillery was noisily at work, while rather faint response +came from the enemy on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>opposite side. A rebel signal station was +discovered some fifteen hundred yards away, from which the movements of +our troops could be plainly observed, and from which Gen. Hancock +desired to drive the observers. A battery opened fire on them, but the +distance was too great for canister, and the saucy rebels only laughed +at shell. The men of Co. F., who were in plain view of both parties, +watched this effort with great interest for half an hour, when they +concluded to take a hand in the affair themselves. Long practice had +made them proficient in judging of distances, and up to a thousand yards +they were rarely mistaken—this, however, was evidently a greater +distance than the rifles were sighted for. They therefore cut and fitted +sticks to increase the elevation of their sights and a few selected men +were directed to open fire, while a staff officer with his field glass +watched the result. It was apparent from the way the men in the distant +tree top looked <i>down</i> when the Sharpes bullets began to whistle near +them that the men were shooting under still, so more and longer sticks +were fitted to still further elevate the sights; now the rebels began to +look <i>upward</i>, and the inference was at once drawn that the bullets were +passing over them. Another adjustment of the sticks, and the rebels +began to dodge, first to one side and then to another, and it was +announced that the range was found. Screened as they were by the foliage +of the tree in which they were perched, it was not possible to see the +persons of the men with the naked eye; their position could only be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>determined by the tell-tale flags; but when all the rifles had been +properly sighted and the whole twenty-three opened, the surprised rebels +evacuated that signal station with great alacrity. Gen. Hancock had been +a close and greatly interested observer of this episode, and paid the +men handsome compliments for their ingenuity and skill. The same night +the division commander, Gen. Birney, ordered that thereafter the sharp +shooters should report directly to his headquarters and also receive +their orders from the same source. They were thus detached from their +brigade. At six o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> the line advanced, and, after +some slight resistance, effected the passage of the river. Pushing +forward the sharp shooters soon found themselves again on the banks of +the same river, which here changes its course to the south so as to +again cross the road along which the corps was advancing. It was now +well into the night, and as the men found the river too deep to ford; +the column was halted and spent the night in this position. The second +corps, which had held the entire left of the Union line ever since the +crossing of the Rapidan a week before, by these maneuvers found itself +now on the extreme right of the army, and its position was a serious +menace to Lee's left flank.</p> + +<p>Indeed Barlow's Division, as it lay that night, was actually in rear of +the rebel left. Lee was quick to perceive the seriousness of the +situation, and during the night he placed a formidable force in +Hancock's front, and by the morning of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>eleventh the corps found a +strong line of works, well manned, to oppose their further progress. +Reconnoissances were made, and a crossing effected at a point lower +down, but the position was deemed too strong to attack, and the troops +who had crossed were retired, soon after which the entire command was +withdrawn to the northern bank of the Po.</p> + +<p>Birney's Division was first over, and thus escaped the severe fighting +which befell the other portions of the command in the movement. During +all this time the battle had been raging furiously on the center and +left of the Union army; repeated desperate assaults had been made at +various points, and everywhere the enemy were found in great force +behind strong works. The different assaults had been bloodily repulsed +and the losses of men had been terrible. Still there was no sign of a +retrograde movement. Grant seemed to have an idea that the true course +of the Army of the Potomac lay to the southward instead of to the north. +A repulse—such as would have been to the former commanders of that army +a defeat—only spurred him to renewed effort, and it was in the evening +of this day that he sent to President Lincoln the celebrated dispatch +which so electrified the people of the North and made it clear to them +that thenceforth there were to be taken no steps backward. "I propose to +fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." The operations of the +past two days had convinced Generals Grant and Meade that a salient near +the center of Lee's entrenched <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>line was his weakest point, and during +the afternoon and night of the eleventh the troops selected were brought +up and formed for the assault. The point at which the attack was aimed +was the one which has since come to be called the Death Angle at +Spotsylvania; and well was it so called. Hancock's command was withdrawn +from the extreme right and placed on the left of the Sixth Corps in such +a position that their advance would bring them, not opposite the exact +angle, but on the rebel right of that point. Birney's Division had the +right formed in two lines of battle, with Mott's Division in one line in +support. The sharp shooters were deployed on the right of Birney's front +line so as to connect the right of the Second Corps with the left of the +troops next on the right. The night was made doubly dark by a thick fog +which shut out all objects from sight at a distance of even a few yards, +and in groping along to find their designated position, the men found +themselves far in advance of the proper point and close up to the rebel +line. As soon as their presence was discovered the enemy opened a brisk +fire upon them, but believing their position to be at least as +advantageous as the one they had left behind, the men lay quietly down +without replying to the enemy and waited the signal of attack. They were +now exactly opposite the Death Angle and only a few yards from the +abatis. At half past four <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> the signal was given, and the +troops of the main line, rising to their feet, moved forward silently to +the attack.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>The sharp shooters, far in the advance, lay quietly until the charging +lines were abreast of them when they too sprang up and dashed straight +at the enemy's works. The lines were now in entirely open ground, +sloping upward toward the enemy, and fully exposed to the fire which +came thick and deadly from every gun that could be brought to bear. Men +fell rapidly, but nothing could stay the magnificent rush of the +veterans of the Second Corps, and with ringing cheers they crowned the +works with their standards and fairly drove the rebels out by the sheer +weight and vigor of their charge. Not all, however—for nearly four +thousand Confederates, including two general officers, surrendered +themselves as prisoners. Some thirty colors and twenty guns were also +captured.</p> + +<p>The sharp shooters were active in the assault and also in the short +pursuit, which was brought to a sudden check, however, by the sight of a +second line of works extending across the base of the triangle made by +the salient. The Union troops were now a confused mass of rushing men. +They had lost their brigade, regimental and even their company +organization, as not unfrequently happens in such assaults, and the +enemy, advancing from behind their second line, compelled the triumphant +but disordered federals to retire to the captured works where they were +rallied. Quickly reversing the order of things, they, in their turn, +became the defenders where they had so lately been the attacking party. +Forming on the exterior slope, they fought the rebels stubbornly. It was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>as apparent to Lee as it had been to Grant and Meade, that this was the +vital point, and now both parties bent their utmost energies—the one to +hold what they had gained, and the other to repossess themselves of what +they had lost. Both lines were heavily reenforced and the fighting +assumed the most sanguinary character of any that had been seen during +the whole of the bloody three years of the war. With desperate valor the +Confederates rushed again and again against the Union lines to be met +with a fierce fire at such short ranges, and into such dense masses, +that every shot told. In some places they gained the crest of the +breastworks and savage hand to hand encounters took place, but it was in +vain; not all the valor of the boasted chivalry of the South could pass +that line. Those who gained the works could not stay and live, and to +retreat was as bad. Many gave themselves up as prisoners, while others, +taking shelter on the other side of the works, kept up the fight by +holding their muskets high above their heads and thus firing at random +among the Union troops on the reverse side. All day long this terrible +combat continued. The dead on each side lay in heaps—literally piled +the one on the other, until in many places the ground was covered three +and four deep. The very trees were cut off by musket balls and fell to +the ground. There is in the War Department at Washington, to this day, +the stump of a tree more than eighteen inches in diameter which was cut +down by this awful fire. Darkness brought with it an abatement, but not +a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>cessation of the struggle; for until three o'clock in the morning of +the thirteenth the strife continued. At that hour the enemy definitely +abandoned the attempt to recapture the angle and retired to an interior +line. Twice during the day had Co. F exhausted the ammunition in its +boxes, and it was replenished by a supply brought to them as they lay by +the stretcher bearers, and once the regiment was retired for a fresh +supply, upon receipt of which they returned to the fighting.</p> + +<p>In this carnival of blood—this harvest home of death—Co. F again +suffered the loss of brave men. Henry Mattocks, Thomas Brown and John +Bowen were killed, and Amos A. Smith and J. E. Chase were wounded. Only +eighteen men were now left out of the forty-three who entered the +campaign; twenty-five had fallen on the field.</p> + +<p>A great sovereign once addressed his general thus: "I send you against +the enemy with sixty thousand men." "But," protested the general, "there +are only fifty thousand." "Ah!" said the Emperor, "but I count <i>you</i> as +ten thousand!" So each man of the gallant few who were left of what had +been Co. F agreed to call his comrade equal to two men, and so they +counted themselves yet a strong company.</p> + +<p>The night of the twelfth was spent on the line which had been won and +held at such a fearful cost of life. At twelve o'clock on the thirteenth +the regiment, now but a handful of men, were moved by the right flank +some three or four hundred yards, and ordered to establish a picket line +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>in front of this new position. This was successfully accomplished with +but little opposition and no loss to Co. F. That evening they were +relieved and returned to division headquarters, where they bivouacked +for the night. The three succeeding days were spent in the same manner; +out before daylight, establishing new picket lines, sharp shooting as +occasion offered, and spending the night near headquarters; but no +important affair occurred, and no casualties were reported.</p> + +<p>The seventeenth was spent quietly in camp—the first day of +uninterrupted repose the men had enjoyed since crossing the Rapidan two +weeks before. During that eventful period there had not been one single +day, and hardly an hour, that the men of Co. F had not been under fire. +It was a short time to look back upon, but what a terrible experience +had been crowded into it! The company which is the subject of this +history had lost more than half of its numbers, while in the Army of the +Potomac the losses had been appalling—no less than four thousand five +hundred and thirty-two men had been killed on the field, and the wounded +numbered eighteen thousand nine hundred and forty-five (a total of +twenty-two thousand four hundred and seventy-seven men) while of the +missing there were four thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, making a +total of twenty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-nine lost from +the effective strength of the army since May 4th. Some idea of the +extent of the losses may be obtained by the casual reader by a +comparison, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>thus: If the entire population of any of the great and +populous counties of Bennington, Orange or Orleans, as shown by the +census of 1880, were suddenly blotted out, the loss would not equal the +total of killed and wounded during the twelve days between the 4th and +17th of May, while the entire population of Grand Isle county is not as +great as the number of the killed alone; and the total loss in killed, +wounded and missing is greater than the population of any county in the +State of Vermont except Chittenden, Franklin, Rutland and Windsor. And +yet there was no sign of retreat. On the contrary, on every side were +evidences of preparation for renewed battle, and during these days of +comparative quiet attempts were made at various points to penetrate the +rebel line, some of these assaults rising of themselves almost to the +dignity of battles, but so insignificant were they as compared with what +had gone before that they hardly attracted the attention, even, of any +but the men immediately engaged.</p> + +<p>On the nineteenth Gen. Grant ordered another movement of the army, again +by the left, and again in the direction of Richmond. No unusual incident +occurred to mark the progress of the sharp shooters until the +twenty-first, when the regiment, by a sudden dash, occupied the little +village of Bowling Green, where the retreating enemy had confined in the +jail all the negroes whom they had swept along with them, and whom they +intended to remove to a point further south <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>where they would be removed +from the temptation to desert their kind masters and join the Union +forces. The advance was too sudden for them, however, and some hundreds +of negro slaves were released from their captivity by the willing +riflemen.</p> + +<p>Two miles beyond Bowling Green the skirmishers met a considerable force +of rebel cavalry, and a sharp skirmish took place. Two regiments of new +troops came into action on the right, but being dispersed and routed +retired to be seen no more, and the sharp shooters fell heirs to their +knapsacks which they had laid off on going into action. The departed +regiments had evidently had a recent issue of clothing, and their +successors were thankful for the opportunity of renewing their own +somewhat dilapidated wardrobes. They were further gratified about this +time by the arrival of four convalescents, which swelled the number to +twenty-two for duty. The twenty-second was a red letter day for the men +who had been confined to such rations as they could carry on their +persons. On this day they were ordered on a reconnoissance which took +them into a section of country not frequently visited by either army. +Halting at the County Poor House, they proceeded to gratify a soldier's +natural curiosity to see what might be found on the premises to eke out +their unsatisfactory rations, and, to their great delight, found +chickens, mutton, milk and eggs in profusion, upon which they regaled +themselves to their hearts' content. If these, thought the delighted +men, are Virginia <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>poor house rations, the poor of Virginia are greatly +to be envied. Proceeding on the twenty-third towards Hanover Junction, +they found their way once again blocked by the rebel army in a strong +position behind the North Anna river and prepared again to receive +battle on a fortified line of their own choosing. This was a +disappointment, for the soldiers had become tired of such work and +ardently desired to get at the rebels in an open field; but Grant, +patient and persistent as ever, at once set about finding a means +whereby he might beat them even here, if such a thing was possible.</p> + +<p>The line of march had brought the Second Corps to the extreme left of +the army, and it struck the river at the point at which the telegraph +road crosses it at the county bridge. Here the enemy had constructed, on +the north side of the river, a strong work for the defense of the bridge +head; while on the southern bank, completely commanding the approaches +to the river, was another, and a still stronger line of fortifications. +The land in front of the nearer of the two was a bare and open plain, +several hundred yards in width, which must be passed over by troops +advancing to the attack, and every foot of which was exposed to the fire +of the enemy on either bank. To Birney's Division was assigned the task +of assaulting this position, and at five o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, on the +twenty-third, the division moved out in the discharge of its duty, +Pierce's and Egan's brigades in the front line, while the Third brigade +formed a second, and supporting line. The sharp shooters <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>were deployed +as skirmishers and led the way. The works were won without serious loss, +and the sharp shooters passed the night near the river, charged with the +duty of protecting the bridge for the passage of the troops on the next +day, Gen. Hancock not deeming it advisable to attempt the crossing at +that late hour of the evening. Attempts were made during the night by +the rebels to destroy the bridge, but it was safely preserved, although +the railway bridge below was destroyed, and on the morning of the +twenty-fourth, the troops commenced crossing covered by the fire of the +sharp shooters, who lined the north bank, and the Union artillery posted +on the higher ground in the rear. The regiment followed the last of the +troops, and were pushed forward beyond the Fox house, a large, though +dilapidated Virginia mansion, where they met the rebel skirmishers. +Sharp firing at long range continued for some hours until the ammunition +in the boxes became exhausted, when the regiment was relieved and fell +back to the Fox house, where breastworks were thrown up and where they +remained during the rest of that day and the next, exposed to desultory +artillery fire, but suffering no considerable loss. The next day the +quartermaster, Lieut. Geo. A. Marden, arrived with the regimental +wagons, and with such stores, clothing, and so forth, as the small train +could bring.</p> + +<p>As it was the first sight the regiment had had of its baggage for +twenty-two days, the arrival was the signal for great rejoicing among +the men, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>especially as the good quartermaster brought a mail, and the +heart of many a brave soldier was made glad by the receipt of warm and +tender words from the loved ones far away among the peaceful valleys of +the state he loved so well.</p> + +<p>The morning of the twenty-sixth brought sharp fighting for the troops on +the right and left, but in Birney's front all was quiet, and the tired +sharp shooters lay still until dark, when they were ordered to relieve a +portion of the pickets of the Ninth Corps on their right. The night was +very dark, and it was with difficulty that they found their designated +position; but it was finally gained and found occupied by the +Seventeenth Vermont, among whom the men of Co. F found many friends.</p> + +<p>During the night the army was withdrawn to the north bank of the river, +and on the morning of the twenty-seventh the sharp shooters were also +withdrawn, and operations on the North Anna ceased. Grant had found the +position too strong to warrant another attempt like those of the +Wilderness and Spotsylvania, and had determined on another movement to +the left. All day, and until two o'clock the next morning, the troops +toiled on, passing on the way the scene of a severe cavalry fight a few +days previous, the marks of which were plainly visible to the eye as +well as apparent to the nose, since the stench from the decaying bodies +of horses and men was almost unbearable. After a few hours of needed +rest the march was resumed at daylight, still to the south, and at four +o'clock they crossed the Pamunkey at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>Hanovertown. They were now +approaching familiar ground. Only two or three miles away was the old +battle field of Hanover Court House, while but little further to the +south lay Mechanicsville and Gaines Hill, where they had fought under +McClellan two years before. Halting in a field near the river they +rested until near noon of the following day.</p> + +<p>During the forenoon of this day an inspection was had, from which it was +inferred by some that it was Sunday, although there was no other visible +sign of its being in any sense a day of rest. In the afternoon a +reconnoissance in force was ordered to determine, if possible, the +whereabouts of the rebels. Some skirmishing took place, but no important +body of the enemy was found until the advance reached the point at which +the Richmond road crosses the Totopotomy, where the enemy were found +strongly posted with their front well covered by entrenchments and +abatis, prepared to resist a further advance. A brisk skirmish took +place, and the rebels were forced into their works. The whole corps was +now ordered up and took position as close to the rebel line as it was +possible to do without bringing on a general engagement, for which the +federal commanders were not ready. In this position they lay, exchanging +occasional shots with the rebel sharp shooters, but with little or no +serious fighting, until the evening of June 1st, when the corps was +ordered again to the left, and by a forced march reached Cold Harbor +early in the forenoon of the second. At two o'clock <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>on +the 30th of May Capt. Merriman had been ordered to take a detail of +twenty-five men from the regiment and establish a picket line at a point +not before fully covered. In the darkness he passed the proper position +and went forward until he reached the rebel picket line, which, after +challenging and receiving an evasive answer, opened fire on him. By +careful management, however, he was able to extricate his little force, +and eventually found and occupied his designated position. This was an +unfortunate locality for Capt. Merriman, for when the corps moved on +Cold Harbor, he, by some blunder, failed to receive his orders and was +thus left behind. Finding himself abandoned, and surmising the reason, +he took the responsibility of leaving his post; and as it was clearly +the proper thing to do under the circumstances, he escaped without +censure. Severe fighting had already taken place between the Sixth and +Eighteenth Corps and the rebels, for the possession of this important +position, and <i>Old</i> Cold Harbor had been secured and held for the Union +army. This little hamlet is situated at the junction of the main road +from White House to Richmond, and the road leading south from +Hanovertown, which, a mile south of Old Cold Harbor intersects the road +leading southeasterly from Mechanicsville, which road in its turn +connects with the Williamsburgh road near Dispatch Station, on the +Richmond & York River Railway. The control of the road from White House +was indispensable to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>Union army, as it was the only short line to +the new base of supply on the Pamunkey.</p> + +<p>A mile to the westward of Old Cold Harbor this road intersects the +Mechanicsville road at a place called <i>New</i> Cold Harbor, the possession +of which would have been more desirable, since it would have given to +the Union commander all the advantages of the roads heretofore mentioned +and, also, the possession and control of the highway from Mechanicsville +to Dispatch Station, which gave to the party holding it the same +advantage which the Brock road had afforded to the Union troops in the +Wilderness; that is, the opportunity to move troops rapidly over a good +road, and by short lines, from right to left, or vice versa. This point +was, however, held by the confederates in great force, and was defended +by formidable works. The heavy fighting of the day before had been for +its possession, and the federals had not only gained no ground, but the +troops engaged had suffered a disastrous repulse with severe loss, no +less than two thousand men having fallen in the assault. The morning of +the 2d of June brought to the anxious eyes of the federals the same +familiar old view. In every direction across their front were seen the +brownish red furrows which told of rifle pits, which at every commanding +point in the rebel line rose stronger and higher works, above which +peered the dark muzzles of hostile artillery.</p> + +<p>It was evident that one of two things would ensue. Either a sanguinary +battle, like those of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, where the rebels, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>strongly intrenched, had all the advantages on their side must be +fought, or Grant must try another move by the left and seek a more +favorable battle ground. But that meant a move to the James river; since +between the White House and the James there could be no new base of +supply. Furthermore, the ground further to the south and nearer the +James, was known to be fully as difficult as that on which the army now +stood and was, presumably, as well fortified. And even if it was not +fortified, the further Grant moved in that direction the stronger grew +Lee's army, since the troops in and about Richmond, reenforced by a very +large portion of those who had so recently made, and still kept, Butler +and his thirty thousand men close prisoners at Bermuda Hundred, could be +safely spared for more active operations in the field against this more +dangerous enemy.</p> + +<p>Moreover Grant had said "I propose to fight it out on this line," and it +was now nineteen days since the fight for the angle at Spotsylvania, and +the Army of the Potomac had hardly lost that number of hundreds of men +in the operations on the North Anna and the Totopotomy. It was time to +fight another great battle, lest the army should forget that it was now +to be "fought up to its capacity," and so the battle of Cold Harbor was +ordained. The position of the Second Corps was now, as at the +Wilderness, on the extreme left of the army; on their left were no +forces, except the cavalry which watched the roads as far to the south +as the Chicahominy. It was well remembered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>ground: two years before the +sharp shooters, then part of the Fifth Corps, had, with that +organization, fought the great battle of Gaines Hill, on this identical +ground, but how changed was the situation.</p> + +<p>They had now the same enemy before them, but the positions were +completely reversed. Then, they were fighting a defensive battle for the +safety of the army. Then, the enemy came far out from their +intrenchments and sought battle in the open field. Now, it was the +federals who were the aggressive party, and the rebels could by no means +be tempted from the shelter of their strong works. Now, the enemy +occupied nearly the same lines held by the federals on the former +occasion, while the federals attacked from nearly the same positions, +and over the same ground, formerly occupied by the rebels. Then, +however, the federals had fought without shelter; now, the rebels were +strongly intrenched. Indeed, an unparalleled experience in warfare had +taught both parties the necessity of preparation of this kind to resist +attack, or to cover reverses. There was, however, a greater change in +the moral than in the physical situation. Then, the rebels had been +haughty, arrogant and aggressive; now, they were cautious and timid. +Brought squarely to the test of battle they were, individually, as brave +as of yore, but the spirit of confidence had gone out of them. They had +learned at last that "one southern gentleman" was not "the equal of +three northern mudsills." The handwriting on the wall was beginning to +appear plainly to them, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>and while they still fought bravely and +well—while they were still able to deal damaging blows, and to inflict +terrible punishment—they never afterwards fought with the dash and fire +which they had shown at Gaines Hill, at Malvern, at the Second Bull Run, +at Chancellorsville, or at Gettysburgh. The noontide of the Confederacy +had passed, and they knew then that henceforth they were marching +towards the darkness of the certain night.</p> + +<p>The 2d of June was spent by both parties in strengthening positions and +other preparations. Constant firing, it is true, was going on all along +the line, but no conflict of importance took place on this day. Co. F +was thus engaged, but no important event occurred on their front. On the +third, however, at half past four <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> the corps moved forward +to the assault. Barlow's and Gibbon's Divisions formed the front line, +while Birney's was in the second.</p> + +<p>The early morning fogs still hung low and rendered it impossible for the +advancing troops to see what was before them; thus many parts of the +line became broken by obstacles which might have been, in part, avoided +had it been possible to discover them in time, and the column arrived at +the point of charging distance somewhat disorganized. Still the vigor of +the attack was such that the rebels could not long resist it; they were +driven out of a sunken roadway in front of their main line, into and +over their intrenchments, and at this point the success of the assault +was complete. Several hundred prisoners and three guns were captured, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>the guns being at once turned upon their former owners.</p> + +<p>The supporting column, however, failed, as is so often the case, to come +up at the proper time and the enemy, being strongly reenforced, advanced +against the victorious men of the Second Corps, and after a desperate +struggle, reminding the participants of the fight at Spotsylvania, +forced them back and reoccupied the captured works. In this affair Co. +F, being with Birney's Division in the second line, was not actively +engaged, nevertheless in the charge they lost two or three men whose +names are not now remembered, slightly, and Alvin Babcock, mortally +wounded. Babcock was one of the recruits who joined the company on the +day after the battle of Antietam, nearly two years before, and had been +a faithful and good soldier. He died on the first of July following from +the effects of his wound. The corps retired in good order to their own +works. A partial attack by the rebels on their position was easily +repulsed, and the rest of the day was passed in comparative quiet. The +picket line, in full view of the rebel works and only about one hundred +yards distant, was held by a regiment for whose marksmanship the rebels +seemed to have a supreme contempt, since they exposed themselves freely, +using the while the most opprobrious epithets.</p> + +<p>The fire of their sharp shooters was constant and close, and a source of +great annoyance to all within range. Co. F lay some distance in the rear +of the pickets and somewhat exposed to the stray bullets <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>which passed +over the front line. They became somewhat restive under this unusual +state of affairs; but receiving no order to move up to take part in the +conflict, and having no liberty to shift their position, Capt. Merriman +and Sergt. Peck determined to see what could be done by independent +effort to relieve the situation. Taking rifles and a good supply of +ammunition they made their way to the front and, taking up an +advantageous position, commenced operations. The first shot brought down +a daring rebel who was conspicuously and deliberately reloading his gun +in full view of a hundred Union soldiers. This single shot and its +result seemed to convey to the minds of the rebels that a new element +had entered into the question, and for a few moments they were less +active. Soon regaining their courage, however, and apparently setting it +down as the result of some untoward accident, they resumed their +exposure of persons and their annoying fire. It did not long continue, +however, for wherever a man appeared within range he got such a close +hint of danger, if indeed he escaped without damage, that the sharp +shooting along that front ceased. Further to the right was a place where +the breastwork behind which the rebel infantry was posted did not quite +connect with a heavy earthwork which formed part of the rebel line, and +which was occupied by artillery. Across this open space men were seen +passing freely and openly, apparently officers or orderlies passing +along the line in the discharge of their duties.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>To this point the two sharp shooters now directed their at attention. +Dodging from tree to tree, now crawling along behind some little +elevation of land, and now running at full speed across some exposed +portion of the ground, they reached a place from which they could +command the passage, and very soon the rebels found it safer and more +convenient to take some other route. Service of this independent nature +had a peculiar fascination for these men. In fact, sharp shooting is the +squirrel hunting of war; it is wonderful to see how self-forgetful the +marksman grows—to see with what sportsmanlike eyes he seeks out the +grander game, and with what coolness and accuracy he brings it down. At +the moment he grows utterly indifferent to human life or human +suffering, and seems intent only on cruelty and destruction; to make a +good shot and hit his man, brings for the time being a feeling of +intense satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Few, however, care to recall afterwards the look of the dying enemy, and +there are none who would not risk as much to aid the wounded victim of +their skill as they did to inflict the wound. War is brutalizing, but +the heat of the actual conflict passed, soldiers are humane and +merciful, even to their foes. The assault of the Second Corps had not +been an isolated attempt to force the rebel line at one point only. On +their immediate right the Sixth and Eighteenth Corps had also advanced, +and had met with severe loss; while far away to the north, even to and +beyond the Totopotomy, miles away, Burnside and Warren had been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>engaged +in more or less serious battle. At no point, however, except in front of +the Second Corps had the enemy's line been entered, and this lodgement, +as has been seen, was of brief duration. Advanced positions had been +held, however, and in many places a distance no greater than fifty to +one hundred yards now separated the opposing lines. Barlow's Division, +magnificent fighters, when forced out of the captured rebel works, had +taken advantage of a slight crest of ground not fifty yards from the +rebel line, and with the aid of their bayonets, tin cups, etc., had +thrown up a slight cover, from which they stubbornly refused to move; +and to this far advanced line Companies F and G were ordered during the +night of the third to keep down, so far as they were able, the rebel +fire when the morning light should enable them to see the enemy. They +spent the fourth in this position, constantly exposed and constantly +engaged, suffering the loss of one man, Joseph Bickford, killed. The +shooting on the part of the rebels was unusually close and accurate, and +was a source of great discomfort to one, at least, of the men of Co. F. +Curtiss Kimberly, known best by his friends as "Muddy," had such a +breadth of shoulders that the small stump behind which he lay for +shelter was insufficient to cover both sides at once. Three times in as +many minutes the stump was struck by rebel bullets, and "Muddy" gravely +expressed the opinion that there was "a mighty good shot over there +somewhere," at the same time uttering an earnest hope that "he might not +miss that stump."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>During the night of the fourth they were moved to the left, and at +daylight found themselves face to face with the rebel pickets near +Barker's Mill. This was indeed "Tenting on the old camp ground," since +this point had been the extreme right of the Union line at the battle of +Gaines Hill, June 27, 1862.</p> + +<p>They lay in this position until the twelfth, engaged every day, to a +greater or less extent, in skirmishing and sharp shooting until the +eleventh, when an agreement was made between the pickets that +hostilities should cease in that part of the line, and the day was spent +in conversation, games, etc., with the rebels. They were ravenous for +coffee, but had plenty of tobacco. The federals were "long" of coffee +but "short" of tobacco, and many a quiet exchange of such merchandise +was made in the most friendly way between men who for days had been, and +for days to come would be, seeking each others lives. It was a curious +scene and well illustrated one phase of war. On the twelfth, the truce +being over, hostilities were resumed and the men who had so lately +fraternized together were again seeking opportunity to destroy each +other. On this day Almon D. Griffin, who had been wounded at +Chancellorsville, was again a victim to bullets. He recovered, however, +and rejoined his company to serve until the expiration of his term of +service, when he was discharged. Grant was now minded to try another +movement by the left, this time transporting his entire army to the +south bank of the James, and on the thirteenth <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>the sharp shooters +crossed the Chicahominy at Long Bridge, and leaving the old battle field +of Charles City cross-roads and Malvern Hill to the right, struck the +James river the same night at Wilcox's landing some two miles below +Harrison's, where McClellan's army had lain so long after his +unfortunate campaign in 1862. This was the first opportunity for a bath +which had been offered since the campaign opened, and soon the water was +alive with the dirty and tired men, their hands and faces of bronze +contrasting strangely with the Saxon fairness of their sinewy bodies, as +they laughingly dashed the water at each other, playing even as they did +when they were school boys in Vermont. It was a luxury which none but +those who have been similarly situated can appreciate.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h2>SIEGE OF PETERSBURGH. MUSTER OUT.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Early on the morning of the fourteenth the regiment crossed the James by +means of a steam ferry boat and spent the day near the south bank. There +was trouble somewhere in the quartermaster's department, and no rations +could be procured on that day. On the next day orders were issued for an +immediate advance; still no rations, and the hungry men started out on +the hot and dusty march of some twenty miles breakfastless and with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>empty haversacks. But a hungry soldier is greatly given to +reconnoissances on private account, he has an interrogation point in +each eye as well as one in his empty stomach. Every hill and ravine is +explored, the productions of the country, animal and vegetable, are +inventoried, and poor indeed must be the section that fails to yield +something to the hungry searcher. Chickens, most carefully concealed in +the darkest cellars by the anxious owners, are unearthed by these +patient seekers, pigs and cows driven far away to the most sequestered +valleys are brought to light; bacon and hams turn up in the most +unexpected places, and on the whole, the soldier on a march fares not +badly when left to his own devices for a day or so. Thus our sharp +shooters managed to sustain life, and at dark went into bivouac in front +of the rebel defenses of Petersburgh.</p> + +<p>The Eighteenth Corps, under Gen. Smith, had preceded the Second, and had +had heavy fighting on the afternoon of this day; they had captured and +now held important works in the line of rebel defenses. Darkness and an +inadequate force had prevented them from following up their advantages, +and thus the first of the series of terrible battles about Petersburgh +had ended.</p> + +<p>At daylight on the morning of the sixteenth the Union artillery opened a +brisk cannonade on the now reenforced enemy. During the forenoon the +sharp shooters lay quietly behind the crest of a slight elevation in +support of a battery thus engaged. At about noon they were deployed and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>advanced against the rebel pickets with orders to drive them into their +main line and also to remove certain fences and other obstructions so as +to leave the way clear for an assault by the entire corps at a later +hour. The advance was spirited, and after a determined resistance the +rebels were driven from their advanced rifle pits, the skirmishers +following them closely, while the reserve companies leveled the fence in +the rear.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> the Second Corps, supported by two +brigades of the Eighteenth on the right, and two of the Ninth on the +left, advanced to the attack, and after severe fighting, in which the +corps suffered a heavy loss in officers and men, they succeeded in +capturing three redans in the rebel line of works, together with the +connecting breastworks, and in driving the enemy back along their whole +front.</p> + +<p>Darkness put an end to the advance, but several times during the night +the rebels attempted to regain their lost works, and were each time +repulsed with loss. In this charge Caspar B. Kent of Co. F was killed on +the field. Co. F moved during the night to a position further to the +left, and farther to the front than any point reached by the Union +troops during the day, and were made happy by an issue of rations, the +first they had received since leaving the lines of Cold Harbor. A fresh +supply of ammunition was also received by them, of which they stood in +great need, they having very nearly exhausted the supply with which they +went into the fight. The rebels in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>their front were active during the +night and a good deal of random firing took place, but of course with +little result so far as execution went. Morning, however, showed a new +line of rifle pits thrown up during the night, not over fifty yards in +front of the sharp shooters who had by no means spent the night in sleep +themselves, but in making such preparations for defense as they could +with such poor tools as bayonets, tin plates and cups. They had been +sufficient, however, and daylight found them fairly well covered from +the fire of the enemy's infantry, and with a zigzag, or covered way, by +means of which a careful man could pass to the rear with comparatively +little danger. Co. F held this advanced line alone, and the day which +dawned on them lying in this position was destined to be one of the most +active and arduous, and the one to be best remembered by the men +present, of any during their entire term of service. No sooner did the +light appear than sharp shooting began on both sides, and was steadily +kept up during the day. The lines were so close that the utmost care was +required to obtain a satisfactory shot without an exposure which was +almost certainly fatal. Nevertheless, the gallant men of the Vermont +company managed to use up the one hundred rounds of cartridges with +which they were supplied long before the day was over. Capt. Merriman, +foreseeing this, had directed Sergt. Cassius Peck to procure a fresh +supply.</p> + +<p>It was a service of grave danger, but taking two haversacks the sergeant +succeeded in safely passing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>twice over the dangerous ground and thus +enabled the company to hold its threatened lines. Many men in the +company fired as many as two hundred rounds on this day, and at its +close the rifles were so choked with dirt and dust, and so heated with +the rapid and continuous firing, as to be almost unserviceable.</p> + +<p>The company suffered a severe loss at this place by the death of +Corporal Charles B. Mead, who was shot through the head and instantly +killed. Corporal Mead was one of the recruits who joined in the autumn +of 1862, and had been constantly with the company and constantly on duty +ever since, except while recovering from a former wound received at +Gettysburgh. He was one of two brothers who enlisted at the same time, +the other, Carlos E. Mead, having been himself wounded. He was a young +man of rare promise, and his early death brought sadness, not only to +his comrades in the field, but to a large circle of friends at home. He +had kept a daily record of events in the form of a diary during his +entire period of service, to which the writer of these lines has had +access, and from which he has obtained valuable information and +assistance in his work.</p> + +<p>Henry E. Barnum was also mortally wounded, and died on the fourteenth of +the following month, while John Quinlan received a severe wound. +Quinlan, however, recovered and served his enlistment to the close of +the war. Sergt.-Major Jacobs, formerly of Co. G, who served with Co. F +on this day, was also mortally wounded.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>The company was relieved at night and retired to the rear for a well +earned rest, to be engaged the next day in the sharp engagement around +the Hare house. Their position here, however, was less exposed and their +service less arduous. The Hare house had but lately been vacated by its +former occupants, a wealthy and influential Virginia family, who had +left so suddenly as to have abandoned nearly everything that the house +contained. The windows of the basement opened full on the rebel works +and rifle pits, the latter within point bank range, and here the sharp +shooters, seated at ease in the fine mahogany chairs of the late owner, +took careful aim at his friends in his own garden. They boiled their +coffee, and cooked their rashers of pork, on his cooking range, over +fires started and fed with articles taken from his elegant apartments, +not, it is to be feared, originally intended for fuel, and ate them on +his dining table. There was, however, no vandalism, no wanton +destruction of property for the mere sake of destruction in all this. +The house and its contents were doomed in any event, and the slight +havoc worked by the sharp shooters only anticipated by a few hours what +must come in a more complete form later. The shooting here was at very +short range, and correspondingly accurate. As an Alabama rifleman, who +was taken prisoner, remarked, "It was only necessary to hold up your +hand to get a furlough, and you were lucky if you could get to the rear +without an extension."</p> + +<p>Silas Giddings was wounded here. Giddings <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>had been a friend and +schoolmate of the Meads, and had enlisted at the same time. Thus of the +three friends two were severely wounded and one was dead. During the day +Birney's Division had made an assault on the main rebel line to the left +of the Hare house which had been repulsed with severe loss. The wounded +were left on the field, some of them close under the enemy's works. They +lay in plain sight during the hours of daylight, but it was impossible +to help them. When darkness came on, however, Capt. Merriman, slinging +half a dozen canteens over his shoulder, crept out onto the field and +spent half the night in caring for the poor fellows whose sufferings +during the day had so touched his sympathies. The 19th, 20th and 21st of +June were spent at this place, sharp shooting constantly going on. On +the twentieth Corporal Edward Lyman received a wound of which he died on +the twenty-fifth. Corporal Lyman was one of the original members of the +company; was promoted corporal on the 15th of August, 1863, and had long +been a member of the color guard of the regiment, having been selected +for that position for his distinguished courage and coolness on many +fields. Some times during these days a temporary truce would be agreed +upon between the opposing pickets, generally for the purpose of boiling +coffee or preparing food. Half an hour perhaps would be the limit of +time agreed upon; but whatever it was, the truce was scrupulously +observed. When some one called "time," however, it behooved every man to +take cover instantly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>Upon one occasion a rebel rifleman was slow to respond to the +warning—in fact he appeared to think himself out of sight; while all +others hurried to their posts he alone sat quietly blowing his hot +coffee and munching his hard-tack. It so happened, however, that he was +in plain sight of a sharp shooter less bloodthirsty than some others, +who thought it only fair to give him one more warning, therefore he +called out, "I say, Johnny, time is up, get into your hole." "All +right," responded the cool rebel still blowing away at his hot cup. +"Just hold that cup still," said the sharp shooter, "and I will show you +whether it is all right or not." By this time the fellow began to +suspect that he was indeed visible, and holding his cup still for an +instant while he looked up, he afforded the Union marksman the +opportunity he was waiting for. A rapid sight and the sharp's bullet +knocked the coffee cup far out of its owner's reach and left it in such +a condition that it could never serve a useful purpose again. The +surprised rebel made haste to get under cover, pursued by the laughter +and jeers of his own comrades as well as those of the sharp shooters. +Thus men played practical jokes on each other at one moment, and the +next were seeking to do each other mortal harm.</p> + +<p>The various assaults having failed to force the enemy from any +considerable portion of the defenses of Petersburgh, it was determined +by the federal commanders to extend again to the left, with the intent +to cut off, one by one, the avenues <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>by which supplies might be brought +to the enemy from the South; and on the twenty-first the Second Corps, +now under Gen. Birney (Gen. Hancock being disabled by the reopening of +an old wound), in company with the Fifth and Sixth Corps, moved to the +left and took up a position with its right on the Jerusalem plank road. +The Sixth Corps, which was to have prolonged the line to the left, not +arriving in position as early as was expected, the enemy took instant +advantage of the opportunity and, penetrating to the rear of the exposed +left of the Second Corps, commenced a furious attack. Thus surprised, +the entire left division gave way in disorder and retreated towards the +right, thus uncovering the left of Mott's Division, which was next in +line, which in its turn was thrown into confusion. The sharp shooters, +who had been skirmishing in advance of the left, had, of course, no +option; they were compelled to retire with their supports or submit to +capture. They fell back slowly and in good order, however, gradually +working themselves into a position to partially check the advancing +rebels and afford a scanty space of time in which the disordered mass +might rally and reform. In this movement they were gallantly supported +by the Fifth Michigan volunteers by whose assistance they were, at last, +enabled to bring the rebels to a halt; not, however, until they had +captured some seventeen hundred men and four guns from the corps. The +company again suffered heavy loss in this affair.</p> + +<p>Barney Leddy and Peter Lafflin were killed on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>the field; Watson P. +Morgan was wounded and taken prisoner; Sergt. Grover was badly wounded +by a rifle ball through the thigh, and David Clark received a severe +wound. Morgan was a young but able and gallant soldier; he had +previously been wounded at Kelly's ford, but returned to his company to +be again wounded, and to experience the additional misfortune of being +made a prisoner. He was exchanged soon after, but subsequently died from +the effect of his wound. Sergt. Grover had also previously been wounded +at Gettysburgh, where he had been promoted for gallantry and good +conduct. Clark recovered to reenlist upon the expiration of his term of +service, and served to the close of the war. Of the forty-seven men who +had been with the company since it crossed the Rapidan only ten were +left for duty—thirty-five had been killed or wounded, and two had been +captured unwounded. From this time to the 26th of July the company were +employed, with short intervals for rest, on the picket line, here and +there as occasion demanded their services, but without important +incident. Active operations having now continued so long in this +particular quarter as to afford room for hope that the rebels might be +caught napping on the north bank of the James, Gen. Grant determined to +send a large force in that direction to co-operate with the Army of the +James, hoping to take the enemy by surprise and, by a sudden dash, +perhaps to capture the capitol of the Confederacy before its real +defenders could get information of the danger. With this view he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>detached the Second Corps and two divisions of cavalry to attempt it.</p> + +<p>The troops marched at one o'clock on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, +and at two o'clock on the morning of the twenty-seventh the corps +crossed the James by a ponton bridge at Jones' Landing. Passing rapidly +to the north, in rear of the lines held by the Tenth Corps (belonging to +the Army of the James), the troops faced to the west and were soon +confronting the enemy in position. The sharp shooters were deployed and +advanced in skirmishing order across an open and level tract of land +known locally as "Strawberry Plains."</p> + +<p>The advancing line was heavily supported and drove the enemy steadily +until they were forced back into their works, when, with a grand dash, +sharp shooters, supports and all in one rushing mass, swept up to and +over the rebel works, capturing in the charge four guns and some seven +hundred prisoners. Notwithstanding this success, the enemy were found to +have been so heavily reenforced by troops from the Petersburgh +lines—who could be transferred by railroad, while the Union forces were +compelled to march—that the full object of the movement could not be +attained. The captured works were held, however, while the cavalry, +moving still further north, destroyed the railroads and bridges north of +the city, and returned to the vicinity of Deep Bottom, where the corps +returned by a night march to their former position in front of +Petersburgh, resting for a few hours by the way on the field of their +battle of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>the 18th of July. The regiment lay in camp until the 12th of +August, engaged in the usual routine of picket duly and sharp shooting, +but without unusually hard service. Indeed, what would once have been +called by them active employment was now enjoyed as a season of grateful +repose, so constantly had they been engaged in bloody battle since +crossing the Rapidan. On the 12th of August the bugle sounded the +general once more, and with knapsacks packed, blankets strapped, +haversacks and cartridge boxes filled, the one hundred and sixty men who +now represented what had once been the First Regiment of United States +Sharp Shooters, marched with their division towards City Point.</p> + +<p>Rumors were rife as to their destination—some said Washington; some +said a southern seaport, while some maintained that the objective point +was Chicago, where they were wanted to maintain order during the coming +democratic convention. At City Point they were embarked on steam +transports and headed down the river. The wisest guessers were now +really puzzled, and the prophet who foretold Chicago had as many chances +in his favor as any of his fellows. A few miles down the river, and the +fleet of laden steamers came to an anchor, and lay quiet for some hours. +The rest, cleanliness, and cool, refreshing breezes from the river, were +very grateful to the tired soldiers so long accustomed to the dirt and +dust of the rifle pits.</p> + +<p>Soon after dark the anchors were got up and the heads of the steamers +turned again up stream. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>Now all was plain, another secret movement was +planned, and at daylight on the morning of the fourteenth the troops +landed at the scene of their crossing on the 26th of July at Deep +Bottom.</p> + +<p>Moving out toward the enemy severe skirmishing took place, but no +engagement of a general character occurred on that day. On the fifteenth +they were detached from the Second, and ordered to the Tenth Corps, now +commanded by their former division commander, Gen. Birney, and at his +especial request. Moving out at the head of the column they found +themselves in the early afternoon the extreme right of the army, and in +front of the enemy at a little stream known as Deep Run, or Four Mile +creek. Deploying under the personal direction of Gen. Birney they +advanced toward a wooded ridge on which they found the rebel skirmishers +in force, and evidently determined to stay. In the language of Capt. +Merriman, who must be accepted as authority, "It was the hardest +skirmish line to start that Co. F ever struck." But Co. F was rarely +refused when it demanded a right of way and was opposed by nothing but a +skirmish line; and on this occasion, as on many former ones, their +steady pressure and cool firing prevailed at last, and after more than +an hour the rebels yielded the ground. On the sixteenth more severe +fighting took place with serious loss to the regiment, but Co. F escaped +without loss—in fact there was hardly enough left of the company to +lose. Col. Craig, commanding the brigade to which they were attached, +was killed, and Capt. Andrews of Co. E, Capt. Aschmann <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>of Co. A. and +Lieut. Tyler of Co. I were wounded. Thus this movement ended, as had the +former one, with no decisive result so far as the participants could +see. A few guns had been captured, a few rebels killed, and a +corresponding loss had been suffered by the federals; but who could tell +what important effect on the great field of action, extending from the +Mississippi to the Atlantic, this apparently abortive movement was +intended to have?</p> + +<p>The men were beginning to understand that marches and battles were not +always for immediate effect at the point of contact; and so they marched +and fought as they were ordered; winning if they could, and accepting +defeat if they must, but with a growing confidence that the end was +near.</p> + +<p>On the seventeenth they rejoined their proper corps and marched again +toward the James, leaving Lieut. Kinsman in charge of a party who, under +a flag of truce, was caring for the wounded.</p> + +<p>The corps recrossed the James on the night of the nineteenth and resumed +a place in the lines of Petersburgh, relieving the Fifth Corps who moved +to the left to try to seize and hold the Weldon railroad, the attempt on +which had been abandoned since the battle on the Jerusalem plank road on +the 22d of July. On the twentieth, companies C and A, whose term of +service had expired, were discharged. In Co. C only five, and in Co. A. +only eleven of the original members were left to be mustered out. The +terrible exposures of three years of fighting had done their perfect +work on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>them, and the little band who answered to the roll call on that +day had little resemblance to the sturdy line that had raised their +hands as they took the oath only three years before. The regiment was on +the eve of dissolution, since other companies were soon to reach the end +of their enlistment and might soon be expected to leave the service. +Indeed, the company whose history we have followed so long, would be +entitled to its discharge on the 12th of September, now only +twenty-three days off.</p> + +<p>The departure of Co. A was made more sad from the fact that they took +with them their wounded captain, who had lost a leg in the battle at +Deep Run on the fifteenth. Capt. Aschmann had been with the company from +its organization, and had participated with distinguished gallantry in +all the battles in which it had been engaged, escaping without a wound, +only to lose his leg in the last fight, and only five days before he +would be entitled to his honorable discharge. It seemed a hard fate. In +Co. F great excitement existed in consequence of the near approach of +the time when they, also, might honorably doff the green uniforms which +had so long been worn as a distinctive mark of their organization, and +turn their faces homeward, once more to become sober citizens in the +peaceful and prosperous North—that North which they had fought so long +and so hard to preserve in its peace and prosperity. Many and frequent +were the discussions around the camp fire as to whether it was better to +leave the service or to reenlist. It was now plain that the days of the +rebellion were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>numbered, and that the end was at hand. It was evident +to these veterans, however, that a few more desperate battles must be +fought before the end was finally reached. They ardently desired to be +present at the final surrender and share the triumph they had suffered +so much to assure. On the other hand they as ardently longed to resume +their places in those home circles which they had left to take up arms, +only that the country and the flag, which they so honored and loved, +might be preserved to their children, and their children's children, +forever. They felt that they had done all that duty required of them, +that they had honorably served their term, and that they might safely +leave it to those who had entered the service later to finish the work +which they had so far completed. They felt, also, that they should leave +behind them an honorable record, on which no stain rested, and second to +that of no body of men in the army.</p> + +<p>There were left of the original one hundred and three men who had been +mustered into the United States service only twenty-five present and +absent. Of these, six, namely, David Clark, Jas. H. Guthrie, Sam'l J. +Williams, Stephen B. Flanders, John Kanaan and Lewis J. Allen, had +reenlisted. The remainder, nineteen in number, as follows, elected to +take their honorable discharge:</p> + +<p class="noin"> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">C. D. Merriman,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Spafford A. Wright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Curtiss P. Kimberly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. C. Kent,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Eugene Payne,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Cassius Peck,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Fitz Green Halleck,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">H. E. Kinsman,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edwin E. Robinson,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Wm. McKeever,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Almon D. Griffin,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">E. F. Stevens,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Watson N. Sprague,</span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jas. M. Thompson,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Thos. H. Turnbull,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. W. Cutting,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">David O. Daggett,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Geo. H. Ellis,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">H. B. Wilder.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Of these, nine only were present with the company to be mustered out. +The remaining six were absent, sick or wounded, or on detached service.</p> + +<p>The few remaining days were destined, however, to be full of excitement +and danger. It seemed to the men that their division commander, aware of +the fact that he was soon to lose them, was determined to use them to +the best advantage while he had them. They were kept constantly engaged +during the hours of daylight, skirmishing and engaged in the rifle pits. +On the 21st of August they drove the rebels from a rifle pit in their +front, capturing forty prisoners, just four times as many as there were +men in their own ranks. From this date until September 10th they were +engaged every day on the picket line. On that day, with other companies, +they were ordered to occupy what had been, by consent, neutral ground +surrounding a well from which both parties had drawn water, and where +rebel and Unionist often met unarmed and exchanged gossip. It seemed a +pity to spoil so friendly an arrangement, but orders must be obeyed, and +soon after daylight the sharp shooters dashed out of their lines and +occupied the ground which they proceeded to fortify, capturing +eighty-five surprised, but not on the whole displeased, rebels.</p> + +<p>The enemy did not relish being deprived of the opportunity of getting +water from this place, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>on that day and the next made repeated +effort to repossess it, but without avail. Carlos E. Mead received his +second wound in repulsing one of these attempts. At last the day arrived +when they might claim to have fulfilled on their part the engagement +which they had entered into with Uncle Sam three years before, and on +the thirteenth the men present took their final discharge and bade +farewell to all the "Pomp and circumstance of glorious war." They were +destined, however, to have one more opportunity to show their skill even +on this last day of their service, for even while they were preparing +for their leave taking a sharp exchange of shots took place, in which +the departing Vermonters paid their last compliments to the enemy whom +they had so often fought, and during which A. W. Bemis, a recruit of +1862, was wounded. At last all was over; reluctantly turning in their +trusty rifles, to which they had become attached by long companionship +in many scenes of danger and death, they answered to the last roll call +and, bidding an affectionate adieu to their comrades who were to remain, +they turned their faces toward City Point and home.</p> + +<p>The small remnant of the company kept up an organization under Sergt. +Cunningham, and was heavily engaged on the 27th of October in the battle +of Burgess Mill, which resulted from Grant's attempt on the South Side +railroad. The few men left fought with their accustomed gallantry, +losing Daniel E. Bessie and Charles Danforth, killed in action, and +Volney W. Jencks and Jay S. Percy, wounded and left on the field.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>The little squad, now reduced to almost nothing, were again engaged on +the 1st of November, when they suffered the loss of still another +comrade, Friend Weeks, who was mortally wounded and died on the +seventeenth of the same month. On the 23d of December the few men left +of the once strong and gallant company were transferred to Co. E of the +Second Sharp Shooters, and Co. F ceased to exist as an organization. +With Co. E the men so transferred participated in the affair at +Hatcher's Run on the 15th of December, and at other points along the +line. On the 25th of February, 1865, the consolidated battalion of sharp +shooters being reduced to a mere skeleton, was broken up and its members +transferred to other regiments, the Vermonters being assigned to Co. G, +Fourth Vermont Volunteers, with which company they served until the +close of the war.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of February, the division commander, Gen. De Trobriand, +under whom they had served for nearly two years, and who knew them +better, probably, than any general officer of the army, issued the +following complimentary order:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="right"><span class="smcap">HEADQUARTERS 3D DIV. 2D ARMY CORPS</span>, }<br /> +February 16, 1865. }</p> + +<p class="cen">GENERAL ORDER NO. 12.</p> + +<p>The United States Sharp Shooters, including the first and +second consolidated battalions, being about to be broken up +as a distinct organization in compliance with orders from +the War Department, the brigadier-general commanding the +division will not take leave of them without acknowledging +their good and efficient service during about three years in +the field. The United States Sharp Shooters leave behind +them a glorious record in the Army of the Potomac since the +first operations against Yorktown in 1862 up to Hatcher's +Run, and few are the battles or engagements where they did +not make their mark. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>brigadier-general commanding, who +had them under his command during most of the campaigns of +1863 and 1864, would be the last to forget their brave deeds +during that period, and he feels assured that in the +different organizations to which they may belong severally, +officers and men will show themselves worthy of their old +reputation; with them the past will answer for the future.</p> + +<p>By command of Brig.-Gen. R. De Trobriand.</p> + +<p class="right">W. K. DRIVER, <i>A. A. G.</i></p></div> + +<p>It was a handsome compliment on the part of the commander, well deserved +and heartily bestowed. The history of Co. F would not be complete, or do +justice to the memories of the brave men who died in its ranks, or to +the gallant few yet living, without a record of the names of those who +so freely shed their blood, in the conflict for the Union.</p> + +<p>In all thirty-two of its members died of wounds received in action, of +whom twenty-one were killed on the field while eleven died in the +hospital from the effects of their wounds. Their names are as follows:</p> + +<p class="noin"> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">A. H. Cooper,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jay S. Percy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">E. M. Hosmer,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. J. Domag,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jacob Lacoy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Joseph Hagan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Thos. H. Brown,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Caspar B. Kent,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Barney Leddy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Dan'l E. Bessie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. F. Dawson,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jas. A. Read,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">M. W. Wilson,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Alvin Babcock,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edw'd Lyman,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Watson P. Morgan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Volney W. Jencks,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Pat'k Murray,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">David W. French,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edw'd Trask,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">E. A. Giddings,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Henry Mattocks,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jos. Bickford,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Chas. B. Mead,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Peter Lafflin,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Chas. Danforth,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">B. W. Jordan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">A. C. Cross,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jno. Bowen,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Henry E. Barnum,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Friend Weeks,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">William Wells.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>The wounded who recovered and again reported for duty number forty-five. +The names are given here as second in honorable recollection only to +those who died on the field. The list will be found to contain the names +of several who were subsequently killed, or died of wounds received on +other fields:</p> + +<p class="noin"> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">C. M. Jordan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Wm. McKeever,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Spafford A. Wright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Dustin K. Bareau,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edward Lyman,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">J. E. Chase,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">John Quinlan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">L. D. Grover (twice),</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">A. W. Bemis,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Sam'l Williams,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">C. W. Peck,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Benjamin Billings,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">C. W. Seaton,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. C. Kent,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Brigham Buswell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. H. Blake,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Barney Leddy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">E. M. Hosmer,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jno. Monahan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Chas. B. Mead,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Watson P. Morgan,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">A. J. Cross,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jno. C. Page,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">M. Cunningham (twice),</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">H. E. Kinsman,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Henry Mattocks,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Amos A. Smith,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Almon D. Griffin (twice),</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Silas Giddings,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">David Clark,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Carlos E. Mead (twice),</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Geo. Woolly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Lewis J. Allen,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">E. H. Himes,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Jacob S. Bailey (twice),</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">H. J. Peck,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Ai Brown,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">S. M. Butler,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edward Trask,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Martin C. Laffie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">W. H. Leach,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Edw'd Jackson,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Fitz Greene Halleck,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Eugene Payne,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">Sherod Brown.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Thus out of a total of one hundred and seventy-seven men, including all +recruits actually mustered into the United States service (for it must +be remembered that thirteen of the one hundred and sixteen men who were +mustered by the state mustering officer at Randolph, and charged against +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>the company on the rolls, were discharged at Washington to reduce the +number to the legal requirement of one hundred and three officers and +men), thirty-two, or more than eighteen per cent, died of wounds; while +the killed and wounded taken together number seventy-seven, or +forty-three and one-half per cent of the whole.</p> + +<p>The record shows the severe and dangerous nature of the service +performed by these men, and on it they may safely rest, certain that a +grateful country will honor their memories, even as it does those of +their comrades who fought in the ranks of other and larger +organizations.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<h2>CONCLUSION.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You can have ten descriptions of a battle, or plans of a campaign, +sooner than one glimpse at the unthought of details of a soldier's +life."</p></div> + + +<p>The history of Co. F is finished, and is far from satisfactory to the +writer. Originally undertaken for the purpose of supplying the Hon. G. +G. Benedict, State Military Historian, with material for such a brief +record as he could afford room for in his history of the Vermont troops +in the war of the rebellion, it has grown far beyond what was intended +at the outset, and far beyond what would be proper for him to publish in +such a work as he is charged with. It should have been undertaken by +some other person than myself; by some one more intimately and longer +acquainted with the company in the field: by some one whose personal +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>recollection of the detail of its daily doings is more exact than mine +can possibly be; for the history of so small a portion of a great army +as a company is, should be a personal history of the men who composed +it. The record of a company is mainly made up of the every day scenes +and every day gossip about its company kitchen and its company street. +With these matters the writer does not profess to be, or to have been, +familiar.</p> + +<p>The work has, therefore, become more of a description of campaigns and +of battles, and more a history of the regiment to which it was attached, +I fear, than of the company. Such as it is, however, its preparation has +been a labor of love, and it is published with the earnest hope that it +may serve at least to keep warm in the hearts of the survivors the +memories of those who marched with them in 1861, and whose graves mark +every battle field whereon the Army of the Potomac fought.</p> + +<p class="right smcap"> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Wm. Y. W. R.</span><br /> +</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/deco.jpg" width="25%" alt="End Document Decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> + +Some inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in +the original document has been preserved.<br /> +<br /> +All instances of Rapahannock changed to + Rappahannock<br /> +All instances of Spottsylvania changed to + Spotsylvania<br /> +<br /> +Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br /> +<br /> +Page 3 lands changed to land's<br /> +Page 4 taget changed to target<br /> +Page 9 augered changed to augured<br /> +Page 10 oganized changed to organized<br /> +Page 13 or changed to on<br /> +Page 15 blocade changed to blockade<br /> +Page 20 leggins changed to leggings<br /> +Page 21 complmentary changed to complimentary<br /> +Page 31 navagable changed to navigable<br /> +Page 33 suplemented changed to supplemented<br /> +Page 34 relieveing changed to relieving<br /> +Page 40 consumate changed to consummate<br /> +Page 45 intesely changed to intensely<br /> +Page 53 canonade changed to cannonade<br /> +Page 57 hesitatation changed to hesitation<br /> +Page 59 Seargent changed to Sergeant<br /> +Page 78 removed word "in" before "converted"<br /> +Page 81 at changed to an<br /> +Page 101 Hasting changed to Hastings<br /> +Page 106 Fredricksburgh changed to Fredericksburgh<br /> +Page 107 usul changed to usual<br /> +Page 107 occurence changed to ccurrence<br /> +Page 120 randon changed to random<br /> +Page 121 irresistable changed to irresistible<br /> +Page 142 SPOTTSYLVANIA changed to SPOTSYLVANIA<br /> +Page 144 amry changed to army<br /> +Page 148 Hayes changed to Hays<br /> +Page 149 necessarially changed to necessarily<br /> +Page 155 levie changed to levy<br /> +Page 162 veterns changed to veterans<br /> +Page 164 handfull changed to handful<br /> +Page 167 tweny changed to twenty<br /> +Page 171 Totopotomy changed to Totopotomy<br /> +Page 172 indispensible changed to indispensable<br /> +Page 174 Totopotamy changed to Totopotomy<br /> +Page 175 arogant changed to arrogant<br /> +Page 176 renpered changed to rendered<br /> +Page 182 SEIGE changed to SIEGE<br /> +Page 190 Jeausalem changed to Jerusalem<br /> +Page 202 Wooley changed to Woolly<br /> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Vermont riflemen in the war for the +union, 1861 to 1865, by William Y. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/35088-h/images/deco.jpg b/35088-h/images/deco.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b0c8c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/35088-h/images/deco.jpg diff --git a/35088.txt b/35088.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e89c859 --- /dev/null +++ b/35088.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5475 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, +1861 to 1865, by William Y. W. Ripley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Vermont riflemen in the war for the union, 1861 to 1865 + A history of Company F, First United States sharp shooters + +Author: William Y. W. Ripley + +Release Date: January 26, 2011 [EBook #35088] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VERMONT RIFLEMEN, 1861 TO 1865 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + VERMONT RIFLEMEN + + IN THE + + WAR FOR THE UNION, + + 1861 TO 1865. + + + + + A HISTORY OF COMPANY F, + + FIRST UNITED STATES SHARP SHOOTERS, + + + + + BY + + WM. Y. W. RIPLEY, LT. COL. + + + + + Rutland: + TUTTLE & CO., PRINTERS. + 1883. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord. + That would reduce these bloody days again, + And make poor England weep in streams of blood! + Let them not live to taste this land's increase, + That would with treason wound this fair land's peace! + Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again; + That she may long live here, God say--Amen! + + --_King Richard III._ + +ORGANIZATION. + + +Very soon after the outbreak of the war for the Union, immediately, in +fact, upon the commencement of actual operations in the field, it became +painfully apparent that, however inferior the rank and file of the +Confederate armies were in point of education and general intelligence +to the men who composed the armies of the Union, however imperfect and +rude their equipment and material, man for man they were the superiors +of their northern antagonists in the use of arms. Recruited mainly from +the rural districts (for the South had but few large cities from which +to draw its fighting strength), their armies were composed mainly of men +who had been trained to the skillful use of the rifle in that most +perfect school, the field and forest, in the pursuit of the game so +abundant in those sparsely settled districts. These men, who came to the +field armed at first, to a large extent, with their favorite sporting or +target rifles, and with a training acquired in such a school, were +individually more than the equals of the men of the North, who were, +with comparatively few exceptions, drawn from the farm, the workshop, +the office or the counter, and whose life-long occupations had been such +as to debar them from those pursuits in which the men of the South had +gained their skill. Indeed, there were in many regiments in the northern +armies men who had never even fired a gun of any description at the time +of their enlistment. + +On the other hand, there were known to be scattered throughout the loyal +states, a great number of men who had made rifle shooting a study, and +who, by practice on the target ground and at the country shooting +matches, had gained a skill equal to that of the men of the South in any +kind of shooting, and in long range practice a much greater degree of +excellency. + +There were many of these men in the ranks of the loyal army, but their +skill was neutralized by the fact that the arms put into their hands, +although the most perfect military weapons then known, were not of the +description calculated to show the best results in the hands of expert +marksmen. + +Occasionally a musket would be found that was accurate in its shooting +qualities, and occasionally such a gun would fall into the hands of a +man competent to appreciate and utilize its best features. It was +speedily found that such a gun, in the hands of such a man, was capable +of results not possible to be obtained from a less accurate weapon in +the hands of a less skillful man. To remedy this state of affairs, and +to make certain that the best weapons procurable should be placed in the +hands of the men best fitted to use them effectively, it was decided by +the war department, early in the summer of 1861, that a regiment should +be organized, to be called the First Regiment of United States Sharp +Shooters, and to consist of the best and most expert rifle shots in the +Northern States. The detail of the recruiting and organization of this +regiment was entrusted to Hiram Berdan, then a resident of the city of +New York, himself an enthusiastic lover of rifle shooting, and an expert +marksman. + +Col. Berdan set himself earnestly at work to recruit and organize such a +body of men as should, in the most perfect manner, illustrate the +capacity for warlike purposes of his favorite weapon. + +It was required that a recruit should possess a good moral character, a +sound physical development, and in other respects come within the usual +requirements of the army regulations; but, as the men were designed for +an especial service, it was required of them that before enlistment they +should justify their claim to be called "sharp shooters" by such a +public exhibition of their skill as should fairly entitle them to the +name, and warrant a reasonable expectation of usefulness in the field. +To insure this it was ordered that no recruit be enlisted who could not, +in a public trial, make a string of ten shots at a distance of two +hundred yards, the aggregate measurement of which should not exceed +fifty inches. In other words, it was required that the recruit should, +in effect, be able to place ten bullets in succession within a ten-inch +ring at a distance of two hundred yards. + +Any style of rifle was allowed--telescopic sights, however, being +disallowed--and the applicant was allowed to shoot from any position he +chose, only being required to shoot from the shoulder. + +Circular letters setting forth these conditions, and Col. Berdan +authority, were issued to the governors of the loyal states, and, as a +first result from the state of Vermont, Capt. Edmund Weston of Randolph +applied for and received of Gov. Holbrook authority to recruit one +company of sharp shooters, which was mustered into the service as Co. F, +First United States Sharp Shooters, and is the subject of this history. + +Capt. Weston at once put himself in communication with well known +riflemen in different parts of the state and appointed recruiting +officers in various towns to receive applications and superintend the +trials of skill, without which no person could be accepted. + +The response was more hearty and more general than could have been +expected, and many more recruits presented themselves than could be +accepted--many of whom, however, failed to pass the ordeal of the public +competition--and, as the event proved, more were accepted than could be +legally mustered into the service. + +All who were accepted, however, fully met the rigid requirements as to +skill in the use of the rifle. + +The company rendezvoused at Randolph early in September, 1861, and on +the 13th of that month were mustered into the state service by Charles +Dana. The organization of the company as perfected at this time was as +follows: + + Captain, Edmund Weston. + First Lieutenant, C. W. Seaton. + Second Lieutenant, M. V. B. Bronson. + First Sergeant, H. E. Kinsman. + Second Sergeant, E. W. Hindes. + Third Sergeant, Amos H. Bunker. + Fourth Sergeant, Milo C. Priest. + Fifth Sergeant, L. J. Allen. + First Corporal, Daniel Perry. + Second Corporal, Fred. E. Streeter. + Third Corporal, Ai Brown. + Fourth Corporal, W. C. Kent. + Fifth Corporal, H. J. Peck. + Sixth Corporal, W. H. Tafft. + Seventh Corporal, C. D. Merriman. + Eighth Corporal, C. W. Peck. + Bugler, Calvin Morse. + Wagoner, Edward F. Stevens. + +Thus organized, the company, with one hundred and thirteen enlisted men, +left the state on the same day on which they were mustered, and +proceeded via New Haven and Long Island Sound to the rendezvous of the +regiment at Weehawken Heights, near New York, where they went into camp +with other companies of the regiment which had preceded them. On or +about the 24th of September the regiment proceeded under orders from +the war department to Washington, arriving at that city at a late hour +on the night of the twenty-fifth, and were assigned quarters at the +Soldiers' Rest, so well known to the troops who arrived at Washington at +about that time. On the twenty-sixth they were ordered to a permanent +camp of instruction well out in the country and near the residence and +grounds of Mr. Corcoran, a wealthy resident of Washington of supposed +secession proclivities, where they were for the first time in a +regularly organized camp, and could begin to feel that they were fairly +cut off at last from the customs and habits of civil life. Here they +were regularly mustered into the service of the United States, thirteen +enlisted men being rejected, however, to reduce the company to the +regulation complement of one hundred enlisted men; so that of the one +hundred and thirteen men charged to the company on the rolls of the +Adjt. and Ins.-Gen. of Vermont, only one hundred took the field. Other +companies from different states arrived at about the same time, and the +regiment was at last complete, having its full complement of ten +companies of one hundred men each. + +The field and staff at this time was made up as follows: + + Colonel, H. Berdan. + Lieutenant-Colonel, Frederick Mears. + Major, W. S. Rowland. + Adjutant, Floyd A. Willett. + Quarter-Master, W. H. Beebe. + Surgeon, G. C. Marshall. + Assistant Surgeon, Dr. Brennan. + Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Coit. + +Only one of the field officers had had a military education or military +experience. Lieutenant-Colonel Mears was an officer of the regular army, +a thorough drill master and a strict disciplinarian. Under his efficient +command the regiment soon began to show a marked and daily improvement +that augured well for its future usefulness. The officers of the +regimental staff were, each in his own department, able and painstaking +men. The chaplain alone was not quite popular among the rank and file, +and they rather envied the Second Regiment of Sharp Shooters who were +encamped near them, and whose chaplain, the Rev. Lorenzo Barber, was the +beau ideal of an army chaplain. Tender hearted and kind, he was ever +ready to help the weak and the suffering; now dressing a wound and now +helping along a poor fellow, whose fingers were all thumbs and whose +thoughts were too big for utterance (on paper), with his letter to the +old mother at home; playing ball or running a foot race, beating the +best marksmen at the targets, and finally preaching a rousing good +sermon which was attentively listened to on Sunday. His _faith_ was in +the "Sword of the Lord and of Gideon," but his best _work_ was put in +with a twenty pound telescopic rifle which he used with wonderful +effect. The original plan of armament contemplated the use exclusively +of target or sporting rifles. The men had been encouraged to bring with +them their favorite weapons, and had been told that the government +would pay for such arms at the rate of sixty dollars each, while those +who chose to rely upon the United States armories for their rifles were +to be furnished with the best implements procurable. The guns to be so +furnished were to be breach loaders, to have telescopic sights, hair +triggers, and all the requisites for the most perfect shooting that the +most skillful marksman could desire. + +Many of the men had, with this understanding, brought with them their +own rifles, and with them target shooting became a pastime, and many +matches between individuals and companies were made and many very short +strings were recorded. + +Under the stimulus of competition and organized practice great +improvement was noted in marksmanship, even among those who had been +considered almost perfect marksmen before. On one occasion President +Lincoln, accompanied by Gen. McClellan, paid a visit to the camp and +asked to be allowed to witness some of the sharp shooting of which he +had heard so much. + +A detail of the best men was made and a display of skill took place +which, perhaps, was never before equalled. President Lincoln himself, as +did Gen. McClellan, Col. Hudson and others of the staff, took part in +the firing, the President using a rifle belonging to Corporal H. J. Peck +of the Vermont company. + +At the close of the exhibition Col. Berdan, being asked to illustrate +the accuracy of his favorite rifle, fired three shots at different +portions of the six hundred yard target; when having satisfied himself +that he had the proper range, and that both himself and rifle could be +depended upon, announced that at the next shot he would strike the right +eye of the gaily colored Zouave which, painted on the half of an A tent, +did duty for a target at that range. Taking a long and careful aim, he +fired, hitting the exact spot selected and announced beforehand. Whether +partly accidental or not it was certainly a wonderful performance and +placed Col. Berdan at once in the foremost rank of rifle experts. On the +28th of November, the day set apart by the governors of the loyal states +as Thanksgiving Day, shooting was indulged by in different men of Co. F +and other companies for a small prize offered by the field officers, the +terms being two hundred yards, off hand, the shortest string of two +shots to win. The prize was won from a large number of skillful +contestants by Ai Brown of Co. F--his two shots measuring 4-1/4 inches, +or each within 2-1/8 inches of the center. + +On the 7th of December another regimental shooting match took place; the +prize going this time to a Michigan man, his string of three shots, +fired off hand at two hundred yards, measuring six inches. These records +are introduced here simply for the purpose of showing the wonderful +degree of skill possessed by these picked marksmen in the use of the +rifle. But it was soon found that there were objections to the use in +the field of the fine guns so effective on the target ground. The great +weight of some of them was of itself almost prohibitory, for, to a +soldier burdened with the weight of his knapsack, haversack and canteen, +blanket and overcoat, the additional weight of a target rifle--many of +which weighed fifteen pounds each, and some as much as thirty +pounds--was too much to be easily borne. + +It was also found difficult to provide the proper ammunition for such +guns in the field, and finally, owing to the delicacy of the +construction of the sights, hair triggers, etc., they were constantly +liable to be out of order, and when thus disabled, of even less use than +the smooth-bore musket, with buck and ball cartridge of fifty years +before. Manufacturers of fine guns from all parts of our own country, +and many from Europe, flocked to the camp of the sharp shooters offering +their goods, each desirous of the credit of furnishing arms to a body of +men so well calculated to use them effectively, and many fine models +were offered. The choice of the men, however, seemed to be a modified +military rifle made by the Sharpe Rifle Manufacturing Co., and a request +was made to the war department for a supply of these arms. At this early +day, however, the departments were full of men whose ideas and methods +were those of a half a century gone by; and at the head of the ordinance +department was a man who, in addition to being of this stamp, was the +father of the muzzle loading Springfield rifle, then the recognized arm +of the United States Infantry, and from him came the most strenuous +opposition to the proposal to depart from the traditions of the regular +army. + +Gen. McClellan, and even the President himself, were approached on this +subject, and both recognized the propriety of the proposed style of +armament and the great capacity for efficient service possessed by the +regiment when it should be once satisfactorily armed and fairly in front +of the enemy. But the ordinance department was ever a block in the way; +its head obstinately and stubbornly refusing to entertain any +proposition other than to arm the regiment with the ordinary army +musket; and, to add to the growing dissatisfaction among the men over +the subject of arms, it became known that the promises made to them at +the time of enlistment, that the government would pay them for their +rifles at the rate of sixty dollars each, was unauthorized and would not +be fulfilled; and also that the representations made to them with +respect to telescopic breech loaders were likewise unauthorized. +Discontent became general and demoralization began to show itself in an +alarming form. + +Some of the field officers were notoriously incompetent; the Major, one +of those military adventurers who floated to the surface during the +early years of the war, particularly so; he was a kind of a modern +Dalgetty without the courage or skill of his renowned prototype, rarely +present in camp, and when there of little or no service. The +Lieutenant-Colonel, a man of rare energy and skill in his profession, +and whose painstaking care had made the regiment all that it was at that +time, fearing the after effects of this demoralization on the efficiency +of the command, and seeing opportunity for his talents in other fields, +resigned; and on the 29th of November, 1861, Wm. Y. W. Ripley of +Rutland, Vt., was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Caspar Trepp, +Captain of Co. A., was made Major. Lieutenant-Colonel Ripley had seen +service only as Captain of Co. K, First Vermont Volunteers. Major Trepp +had received a thorough military training in the army of his native +Switzerland, and had seen active service in European wars. The regiment +remained at camp of instruction under the immediate command of +Lieut.-Col. Ripley, employed in the usual routine of camp duty, drills, +etc., during the whole of the winter of 1861-62, particular attention +being paid to the skirmish drill, in which the men became wonderfully +proficient; and it is safe to say that for general excellence in drill, +except the manual of arms, they were excelled by few volunteer regiments +in the service. All orders were given by the sound of the bugle, and the +whole regiment deployed as skirmishers could be as easily maneuvered as +a single company could be in line of battle. The bugle corps was under +the charge of Calvin Morse of Co. F as chief bugler, and under his +careful instruction attained to an unusual degree of excellence. All +camp and other calls were sounded on the bugle, and the men found them +pleasant little devices for translating curt and often rough English +into music. They were bugled to breakfast and to dinner, bugled to guard +mounting and bugled to battle, brigades moved and cavalry charged to the +sound of the bugle. The men often found fanciful resemblances in the +notes of the music to the words intended to be conveyed. Thus, the +recall was sung as follows: + + "Come back again, come back again, + Come back, come back, come back again." + +while the sick call was thus rendered into words: + + "Come to qui-nine, come to qui-nine, + Come to qui-i-nine, come to qui-i-nine." + +They were not, on the whole, bad translations. The winter was an +unusually severe one, and, as the enemy maintained a strict blockade of +the Potomac, the supply of wood was often short, and some suffering was +the result. The health of the regiment remained fairly good; measles, +small pox, and other forms of camp diseases appeared, however, and Co. +F, of course, suffered its share, losing by death from disease during +the winter, Wm. T. Battles, Edward Fitz, Sumner E. Gardner and Geo. H. +Johnson. + +On the 20th of March, 1862, the regiment received orders to report to +Major-Gen. Fitz John Porter, whose division then lay at Alexandria, Va., +awaiting transportation to Fortress Monroe to join the army under +McClellan. At this time the regiment was without arms of any kind, +except for the few target rifles remaining in the hands of their owners, +and a few old smooth bore muskets which had been used during the winter +for guard duty. Shortly before this time the war department, perhaps +wearied by constant importunity, perhaps recognizing the importance of +the subject, had so far receded from its former position as to offer to +arm the regiment with revolving rifles of the Colt pattern, and had sent +the guns to the camp for issue to the men with promise of exchanging +them for Sharpe's rifles at a later day. They were five chambered breech +loaders, very pretty to look at, but upon examination and test they were +found inaccurate and unreliable, prone to get out of order and even +dangerous to the user. They were not satisfactory to the men, who knew +what they wanted and were fully confident of their ability to use such +guns as they had been led by repeated promises to expect, to good +advantage. When, however, news came that the rebels had evacuated +Manassas, and that the campaign was about to open in good earnest, they +took up these toys, for after all they were hardly more, and turned +their faces southward. Co. F was the first company in the regiment to +receive their arms, and to the influence of their patriotic example the +regiment owes its escape from what at one time appeared to be a most +unfortunate embarrassment. + +The march to Alexandria over Long Bridge was made in the midst of a +pouring rain and through such a sea of mud as only Virginia can afford +material for. It was the first time the regiment had ever broken camp, +and its first hard march. It was long after dark when the command +arrived near Cloud's mills; the headquarters of Gen. Porter could not be +found, and it became necessary for the regiment to camp somewhere for +the night. At a distance were seen the lights of a camp, which was found +upon examination to be the winter quarters of the 69th New York in +charge of a camp guard, the regiment having gone out in pursuit of the +enemy beyond Manassas. A few persuasive words were spoken to the +sergeant in command, and the tired and soaked sharp shooters turned into +the tents of the absent Irishmen. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. + + +On the 22d of March the regiment embarked on the steamer Emperor, bound +for Fortress Monroe. The day was bright and glorious, the magnificent +enthusiasm on every hand was contagious, and few who were partakers in +that grand pageant will ever forget it. Alas! however, many thousands of +that great army never returned from that fatal campaign. The orders +required that each steamer, as she left her moorings, should pass up the +river for a short distance, turn and pass down by Gen. Porter's +flag-ship, saluting as she passed--a sort of military-naval review. + +As the twenty-two steamers conveying this magnificent division thus +passed in review, bands playing, colors flying and the men cheering, it +was an inspiring spectacle for the young soldiers who were for the first +time moving toward the enemy. The enthusiasm was kept up to fever heat +until the leading steamers reached Mount Vernon, when, as though by +order, the cheering ceased, flags were dropped to half-mast, the strains +of "The girl I left behind me," and "John Brown's body," gave way to +funereal dirges, and all hats were doffed as the fleet passed the tomb +of Washington. On the twenty-third the regiment disembarked at Hampton, +Va., and went into camp at a point about midway between that place and +Newport's News, where they remained several days, awaiting the arrival +of the other divisions and the artillery and supplies necessary before +the march on Yorktown could commence. + +Hampton Roads was a scene of the greatest activity, hundreds of ships +and steam transports lay at the docks discharging their cargoes of men +and material, or at anchor in the broad waters adjacent awaiting their +turn. Both army and navy here experienced a period of the most intense +anxiety. Only a few days previous to the arrival of the first troops, +the rebel iron-clad, Merrimac, had appeared before Newport's News, only +a few miles away, and had made such a fearful display of her power for +destruction as to excite the gravest apprehension lest she should again +appear among the crowded shipping, sinking and destroying, by the simple +battering power of her immense weight, these frail steamboats crowded +with troops; but she had had a taste of the Monitor's quality, and did +not apparently care to repeat the experiment. While thus awaiting the +moment for the general advance, Fitz John Porter's division was ordered +to make a reconnoissance in the direction of Great Bethel, the scene of +the disaster of June 10, 1861. The division moved on two roads nearly +parallel with each other. A body of sharp shooters led the advance of +each column, that on the right being under the command of Lieut.-Col. +Ripley, while those on the left were commanded by Col. Berdan. + +This was the first time that the regiment had ever had the opportunity +to measure its marching qualities with those of other troops; they had +been most carefully and persistently drilled in this particular branch, +and as they swept on, taking the full twenty-eight inch step and in +regulation time, they soon left the remainder of the column far in rear, +at which they were greatly elated, and when Capt. Auchmuty of Gen. +Morell's staff rode up with the General's compliments and an inquiry as +to "whether the sharp shooters intended to go on alone, or would they +prefer to wait for support," their self-glorification was very great. + +Later, however, they ceased to regard a march of ten or fifteen miles at +their best pace as a joke. Co. F was with the right column, under Col. +Ripley, and came for the first time under hostile fire. No serious +fighting took place, although shots were frequently exchanged with the +rebel cavalry, who fell back slowly before the Union advance. At Great +Bethel a slight stand was made by the enemy, who were, however, soon +dislodged by the steady and accurate fire of the sharp shooters, with +some loss. Pushing on, the regiment advanced some three miles towards +Yorktown, where, finding no considerable force of the enemy disposed to +make a stand, and the object of the reconnoissance having been +accomplished, both columns returned to camp near Fortress Monroe. The +march had been a long and severe one for new troops, but Co. F came in +without a straggler and in perfect order. + +The experience of the day had taught them one lesson, however, and +certain _gray overcoats_ and Havelock hats of the same rebellious hue +were promptly exchanged for others of a color in which they were less +apt to be shot by mistake by their own friends. The uniform of the +regiment consisted of coats, blouses, pants and caps of green cloth; and +leather leggings, buckling as high as the knee, were worn by officers +and men alike. The knapsacks of the men were of the style then in use by +the army of Prussia; they were of leather tanned with the hair on, and, +although rather heavier than the regulation knapsack, fitted the back +well, were roomy and were highly appreciated by the men. Each had +strapped to its outside a small cooking kit which was found compact and +useful. Thus equipped the regiment was distinctive in its uniform as +well as in its service, and soon became well known in the army. + +On the 3d of April Gen. McClellan arrived at Fortress Monroe, and early +on the morning of the fourth the whole army was put in motion toward +Yorktown, where heavy works, strongly manned, were known to exist. The +sharp shooters led the advance of the column on the road by which the +Fifth Corps advanced, being that nearest the York river. Slight +resistance was made by the enemy's cavalry at various points, but no +casualties were experienced by Co. F on that day. + +Cockeysville, a small hamlet some sixteen miles from Hampton, was +reached, and the tired men of Co. F laid down in bivouac for the first +time. Heretofore their camps, cheerless and devoid of home comforts as +they sometimes were, had had some element of permanence; this was quite +another thing, and what wonder if thoughts of home and home comforts +flitted through their minds. Then, too, all supposed that on the morrow +would occur a terrible battle (for the siege of Yorktown was not then +anticipated); nothing less than immediate and desperate assault was +contemplated by the men, and, as some complimentary remarks had been +made to the regiment, and especial allusion to the effect those five +shooting rifles, held in such trusty and skillful hands, would have in a +charge, they felt that in the coming battle their place would be a hot +and dangerous, as well as an honorable one. At daybreak on the morning +of the fifth, in a soaking rain storm, the army resumed its march, the +sharp shooters still in the advance, searching suspicious patches of +woods, streaming out from the road to farm houses, hurrying over and +around little knolls behind which danger might lurk, while now and then +came the crack of rifles from a group across a field, telling of the +presence of hostile cavalry watching the advance of the invaders. More +strenuous resistance was met with than on the day before, but the rebels +fell back steadily, if slowly. The rain fell continuously and the roads +became difficult of passage for troops. The sharp shooters, however, +fared better in this respect than troops of the line, for deployed as +skirmishers, covering a large front, they could pick their way with +comparative ease. At ten o'clock A. M., all resistance by rebel +cavalry having ceased, the skirmishers emerged from dense woods and +found themselves immediately in front of the heavy earth works before +Yorktown. They were at once saluted by the enemy's artillery, and were +now for the first time under the fire of shell. + +Dashing forward one or two hundred yards, the skirmishers took position +along and behind the crest of a slight elevation crowned by hedges and +scattered clumps of bushes. The men of Co. F found themselves in a peach +orchard surrounding a large farm house with its out-buildings. In and +about these buildings, and along a fence running westwardly from the +cluster of houses, Co. F formed its line, at a distance of some five +hundred yards from a powerful line of breastworks running from the main +fort in front of Yorktown to the low ground about the head of Warwick +creek. + +Once in position, Co. F went at its work as steadily and coolly as +veterans. Under the direction of a field officer, who watched the result +with his glass, a few shots were fired by picked men at spots in the +exterior slope of the works to ascertain the exact range, which was then +announced and the order given, "Commence firing." + +The rebels, ensconced in fancied security behind their strong works, +and who up to that time had kept up a constant and heavy fire from their +artillery, while their infantry lined the parapets, soon found reason to +make themselves less conspicuous and to modify very essentially the tone +of their remarks, which had been the reverse of complimentary. Gun after +gun was silenced and abandoned, until within an hour every embrasure +within a range of a thousand yards to the right and left was tenantless +and silent. Their infantry, which at first responded with a vigorous +fire, found that exposure of a head meant grave danger, if not death. + +Occasionally a man would be found, who, carried away by his enthusiasm, +would mount the parapet and with taunting cries seem to mock the Union +marksmen, but no sooner would he appear than a score of rifles would be +brought to bear, and he was fortunate indeed if he escaped with his +life. At this point occurred the first casualty among the men of Co. F, +Corp. C. W. Peck receiving a severe wound. During the day a small body +of horsemen, apparently the staff and escort of a general officer, +appeared passing from the village of Yorktown, behind the line of +breastworks before spoken of, towards their right. When first observed +little more than the heads of the riders were visible above the +breastworks; near the western end of their line, however, the ground on +which they were riding was higher, thus bringing them into plainer view, +and as they reached this point every rifle was brought into use, and it +appeared to observers that at least half the saddles in that little +band were emptied before they could pass over the exposed fifty yards +that lay between them and safety. While the sharp shooters had been +successful in silencing the fire of the enemy's cannon, and almost +entirely so that of their infantry, a few of the rebel marksmen, who +occupied small rifle pits in advance of their line of works, kept up an +annoying fire, from which the Union artillerists suffered severely. + +These little strongholds had been constructed at leisure, were in +carefully selected positions, usually behind a cover of natural or +artificially planted bushes, and it was almost impossible to dislodge +their occupants; every puff of smoke from one of them was, of course, +the signal for a heavy fire of Union rifles on that spot; but sharp +shooters who are worthy of the name will not continue long to fire at +what they cannot see, and so, after one or two shots, the men would +devote their attention to some other point, when the Confederate gunner, +having remained quite at his ease behind his shelter, would peer out +from behind his screen of bushes, select his mark, and renew his fire. + +One spot was marked as the hiding place of a particularly obnoxious and +skillful rifleman, and to him, Private Ide of Co. E of New Hampshire, +who occupied a commanding position near the corner of an out house, +devoted himself. Ide was one of the few men who still carried his +telescopic target rifle. Several shots were exchanged between these men, +and it began to take the form of a personal affair and was watched with +the keenest interest by those not otherwise engaged, but fortune first +smiled on the rebel, and Ide fell dead, shot through the forehead while +in the act of raising his rifle to an aim. His fall was seen by the +enemy, who raised a shout of exultation. It was short, however, for an +officer, taking the loaded rifle from the dead man's hand, and watching +his opportunity through the strong telescope, soon saw the triumphant +rebel, made bold by his success, raise himself into view; it was a fatal +exposure and he fell apparently dead. + +At nine o'clock P. M. the sharp shooters were relieved by another +regiment and retired to a point about half a mile in the rear, where +the tired soldiers lay down after nearly twenty hours of continual +marching and fighting. The fine position they had gained and held +through the day, was regained, however, by the rebels by a night sally +and was not reoccupied by the Union forces again for several days. On +the next day, Gen. Porter, commanding the division, addressed the +following highly complimentary letter to Col. Berdan: + + HEADQUARTERS PORTER'S DIVISION, + THIRD ARMY CORPS. + CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN, April 6, 1862. + + _Col. Berdan, Commanding Sharp Shooters:_ + + COLONEL.--The Commanding General instructs me to + say to you that he is glad to learn, from the admissions of + the enemy themselves, that they begin to fear your sharp + shooters. Your men have caused a number of the rebels to + bite the dust. The Commanding General is glad to find your + corps are proving themselves so efficient, and trusts that + this intelligence will encourage your men, give them, if + possible, steadier hands and clearer eyes, so that when + their trusty rifles are pointed at the foe, there will be + one rebel less at every discharge. I am, Colonel, very + respectfully, your obedient servant, + + FRED. T. LOCKE, A. A. G. + +Gen. McClellan, believing the place too strong to be carried by assault, +and his plans for turning the position having been disarranged by the +detention in front of Washington of Gen. McDowell's corps, to which he +had entrusted the movement, the army went into camp and settled down to +the siege of Yorktown. The ensuing thirty days were full of excitement +and danger, and Co. F had its full share. Several of the companies were +detached and ordered to other portions of the army. Co. F, however, +remained at regimental headquarters. Heavy details were made every day +for service in the rifle pits, the men leaving camp and occupying their +positions before daylight, and being relieved by details from other +regiments after dark. Details were also frequently made for the purpose +of digging advanced rifle pits during the night. These pits were +approached by zigzags, and could only be reached during the hours of +daylight by crawling on the hands and knees, and then only under +circumstances of great danger. They were pushed so far to the front +that, when the evacuation took place on the night of the 3d of May, they +were hardly more than one hundred yards from the main rebel line of +works, and hardly half as far from the rebel rifle pits. Frequent sharp +conflicts took place between bodies of rebel and Union soldiers striving +for the same position on which to dig a new rifle pit, in several of +which Co. F took a prominent part and suffered some loss. + +So close were the opposing lines at some places that sharp shooting +became almost impossible for either side, as the exposure of so much as +a hand meant a certain wound. + +In this state of affairs the men would improvise loop holes by forcing +sharpened stakes through the bank of earth in front of the pits, through +which they would thrust the barrels of their breach loaders, over which +they would keenly watch for a chance for a shot, and woe to that +unfortunate rebel who exposed even a small portion of his figure within +the circumscribed range of their vision. + +The regimental camp before Yorktown was beautifully situated near the +York river and not far from army headquarters. Great rivalry existed +between the different companies as to which company street should +present the neatest appearance, and the camp was very attractive to +visitors and others. The officers mess was open to all comers and was a +constant scene of visiting and feasting. For a few days, it is true, the +troops, officers and men alike, were on short rations, but as soon as +the river was opened and docks constructed, the necessities, and even +the luxuries of life were abundant. At this camp the first instalment of +the much desired and long promised Sharpe rifles arrived. Only one +hundred were received in the first consignment, and they were at once +issued to Co. F as an evidence of the high esteem in which that company +was held by the officers of the regiment, and as a recognition of its +particularly good conduct on several occasions--it was a compliment well +deserved. On the night of the 3d of May, the rebels kept up a tremendous +fire during the whole night. Heavy explosions, not of artillery, were +frequent, and it was evident that some move of importance was in +progress. At an early hour the usual detail of sharp shooters relieved +the infantry pickets in the advanced rifle pits, and soon after daylight +it became apparent to them that matters at the front had undergone a +change, and cautiously advancing from their lines they found the rebel +works evacuated. + +Pressing forward over the earth works which had so long barred the way, +the sharp shooters were the first troops to occupy the village of +Yorktown, where they hauled down the garrison flag which had been left +flying by the retreating rebels. All was now joyous excitement; what was +considered a great victory had been gained without any considerable loss +of life--a consideration very grateful for the soldier to contemplate. +Seventy-two heavy guns were abandoned by the rebels, which, though of +little use to them, and of less to us, by reason of their antiquated +styles, were still trophies, and so, valuable. + +Regimental and brigade bands, which, together with drum and bugle corps, +had been silent for a month, by general orders (for the rebels had kept +up a tremendous fire on every thing they saw, heard or suspected), now +filled the air with many a stirring and patriotic strain. Salutes were +fired, and with the balloon, used for observing the movements of the +enemy, floating in the air overhead, one could easily believe himself to +be enjoying a festival, and for a moment forget the miseries of war. At +Yorktown the rest of the regiment received their Sharpe's rifles and, +with the exception of a few men who still clung to their muzzle loaders, +the command was armed with rifles of uniform calibre, and which were +entirely satisfactory to those who bore them. The Colt's five shooters +were turned in without regret; for, although they had done fairly good +service, they were not quite worthy of the men in whose hands they were +placed. + +On the 5th of May was fought the battle of Williamsburgh, on which hard +fought field two companies of the regiment, A and C, bore an honorable +part--Co. F, however, was with the part of the command retained in front +of Yorktown. The guns were plainly heard at the camp, and painful rumors +began to be circulated. At about ten o'clock A. M. there came an order +to prepare to march at once, with three day's cooked rations; the +concluding words of the brief written message, "prepare for hard +fighting," were full of significance, but they were received with cheers +by the men who were tired of rifle pit work, and desired ardently an +opportunity to measure their skill with that of the boasted southern +riflemen in the field--a desire that was shortly to be gratified to an +extent satisfactory to the most pronounced glutton among them. The +preparations were soon made, and the regiment formed on the color line, +but the day passed and the order to march did not come. The battle of +Williamsburgh was over. On the evening of the eighth the regiment was +embarked on the steam transport "State of Maine," and under convoy of +the gun boats proceeded up the York river to West Point where they +disembarked on the afternoon of the ninth, finding the men of Franklin's +division, which had preceded them, in position. Franklin's men had had a +sharp fight the day before with the rear guard of the Confederate army, +but were too late to cut off the retreat of the main body, whose march +from the bloody field of Williamsburgh had been made with all the vigor +that fear and necessity could inspire. Here the sharp shooters remained +in bivouac until the thirteenth, when they were put in motion again +towards Richmond. The weather was warm, the roads narrow and dusty, +water scarce and the march a wearisome one. Rumors of probable fighting +in store for them at a point not far distant were rife, but no enemy was +found in their path on that day, and near sundown they went into camp at +Cumberland Landing on the Pamunkey. + +On the fourteenth the regiment was reviewed by Secretary Seward, who +made a short visit to the army at this time. On the fifteenth they +marched to White House, a heavy rain storm prevailing through the entire +day. The sharp shooters were in support of the cavalry and had in their +rear a battery, the guns of which were frequently stalled in the deep +mud, out of which they had often to be lifted and pulled by sheer force +of human muscle. The march was most fatiguing, and although commenced at +half-past six A. M., and terminating at four P. M., only about six miles +were gained. White House was a place of historic interest, since it was +here that Washington wooed and married his wife; a strict guard was kept +over it and its surroundings, and it was left as unspoiled as it was +found. Above White House the river was no longer navigable, and the York +river railroad, which connects Richmond, some twenty miles distant, with +the Pamunkey at this point, was to be the future line of supply for the +army. On the nineteenth the troops again advanced, camping at Turnstall's +Station that night and at Barker's Mill on the night of the twentieth. +On the twenty-sixth they passed Cold Harbor, a spot on which they were +destined to lose many good and true men two years later, and went into +camp near the house of Dr. Gaines, and were now fairly before Richmond, +the spires of which could be seen from the high ground near the camp. On +the morning of the twenty-seventh, at a very early hour, there came to +regimental headquarters an order couched in words which had become +familiar: "This division will march at daylight in the following order: +First, the sharp shooters." * * * Three days cooked rations and one +hundred rounds of ammunition were also specified. This looked like +business, and the camp became at once a scene of busy activity. At the +appointed hour, in the midst of a heavy rain shower, the column was put +in march, but not, as had been anticipated, towards the enemy who +blocked the road to the rebel capitol. The line of march was to the +northward towards Hanover Court House. + +As the head of the column approached the junction of the roads leading +respectively to Hanover Court House and Ashland, considerable resistance +was met with from bodies of rebel cavalry supported by a few pieces of +light artillery and a small force of infantry. At the forks of the road +a portion of Branch's brigade of North Carolina troops were found in a +strong position, prepared to dispute the passage. This force were soon +dislodged by the sharp shooters, the twenty-fifth New York, a detachment +from a Pennsylvania regiment and Benson's battery, and retreated in the +direction of Hanover Court House. Prompt pursuit was made and many +prisoners taken, together with two guns. Martindale's brigade was left +at the forks of the road before spoken of, to guard against an attack on +the rear from the direction of Richmond, while the rest of the division +pushed on to destroy, if possible, the bridges at the points where the +Richmond & Fredericksburgh and the Virginia Central railroads cross the +North and the South Anna rivers; the destruction of these bridges being +the main object of the expedition, although it was hoped and expected +that the movement might result in a junction of the forces under +McDowell, then at Fredericksburgh only forty miles distant from the +point to which Porter's advance reached, with the right of McClellan's +army, when the speedy fall of Richmond might be confidently expected. + +The sharp shooters accompanied the column which was charged with this +duty. The cavalry reached the rivers and succeeded in completing the +destruction of the bridges, when ominous reports began to come up from +the rear, of heavy forces of the enemy having appeared between this +isolated command and the rest of the army twenty miles to the southward. +Firing was heard distinctly, scattering and uncertain at first, but soon +swelling into a roar that gave assurance of a hotly contested +engagement. + +The column was instantly faced about, not even taking time to +counter-march, and taking the double quick--left in front--made all +haste to reach the scene of the conflict. The natural desire to help +their hard pressed comrades was supplemented by a conviction that their +own safety could only be secured by a speedy destruction of the force +between them and their camp, and the four or five miles of road, heavy +with mud, for, as usual, the rain was falling fast, were rapidly passed +over. As they neared the field of battle the sharp shooters, who had +gained what was now the head of the column, were rapidly deployed and +with ringing cheers passed through the ranks of the 2d Maine, opened for +the purpose, and plunged into the woods where the enemy were posted. The +spirit of the rebel attack was already broken by the severe losses +inflicted upon them by Martindale's gallant brigade which, although +out-numbered two to one, had clung desperately to their all important +position; and when the enemy heard the shouts of this relieving column, +and caught sight of their advancing lines, a panic seized them and they +fled precipitately from the field. Pursuit was made and many prisoners +taken, who, with those captured in the earlier part of the day, swelled +the total to over seven hundred. Two guns were also taken, in the +capture of which Co. F bore a prominent part. This affair cost the Union +forces four hundred men; the loss, however, principally falling on +Martindale's brigade, who bore the brunt of the rear attack. The sharp +shooters lost only about twenty men, killed and wounded--three of whom, +Sergt. Lewis J. Allen, Benjamin Billings and W. F. Dawson were of Co. F; +Dawson died on the 1st of June from the effects of his wound. + +The regiment, however, met with a great loss on that day by the capture +of its surgeon, Guy C. Marshall, who, with other surgeons and +attendants, was surprised by a sudden attack on the field hospital by +the enemy's cavalry. Dr. Marshall never rejoined the regiment. Being +sent to Libby Prison, he was, with other surgeons, allowed certain +liberties in order that he might be the more useful in his professional +capacity. Placed upon his parole he was allowed, under certain +restrictions, to pass the prison guards at will, for the purpose of +securing medicines, etc., for use among the sick prisoners. The terrible +sufferings of his comrades, caused mainly by what he believed to be +intentional neglect, aroused all the sympathy of his tender nature, and +as the days passed and no attention was paid to his protests or efforts +to get relief, his intense indignation was aroused. Taking advantage of +his liberty to pass the guards, he succeeded in getting an audience with +Jefferson Davis himself. It is probable that his earnestness led him +into expressions of condemnation too strong to be relished by the so +called President. Howsoever it was, his liberty was stopped and he was +made a close prisoner. He continued his labors, however, with such +scanty means as he could obtain until, worn out by his over exertions, +and with his great heart broken by the sight of the suffering he was so +powerless to relieve, he died,--as truly the death of a hero as though +he had fallen at the head of some gallant charge in the field. He was a +true man, and those who knew him best will always have a warm and tender +remembrance of him. + +On the twenty-ninth, the whole command returned to their camp near +Gaines Hill. The experience of Co. F for the next thirty days was +similar to that of Yorktown--daily details for picket duty were made, +and always where the danger was greatest; for, as it was the province of +the sharpshooter to shoot some body, it was necessary that he should be +placed where there was some one to shoot. In a case of this kind, +however, one cannot expect to give blows without receiving them in +return, hence it came about that the sharp shooters were constantly in +the most dangerous places on the picket line. At some point in the Union +front, perhaps miles away, it would be found that a few rebel sharp +shooters had planted themselves in a position from which they gave +serious annoyance to the working parties and sometimes inflicted serious +loss, and from which they could not readily be dislodged by the +imperfect weapons of the infantry. In such cases calls would be made for +a detail of sharp shooters, who would be gone sometimes for several days +before returning to camp, always, however, being successful in removing +the trouble. + +On the thirty-first, the guns of Fair Oaks were distinctly heard, and +early the next morning the Fifth Corps, to which the regiment was now +attached, was massed near the head of New Bridge on the Chicahominy, +with the intention of forcing a passage at this place to try to convert +the repulse of the rebels at Fair Oaks on the day before into a great +disaster. The swollen condition of the river, however, which had proved +so nearly fatal to the Union forces on the day of Fair Oaks, became now +the safety of the rebels. A strong detachment of the sharp shooters, +including some men from Co. F, were thrown across the river at New +Bridge to ascertain whether the water covering the road beyond was +fordable for infantry. This detachment crossed the bridge and passed +some distance along the road, but finding it impracticable for men, so +reported and the attempt was abandoned. + +No incidents of unusual interest occurred to the Vermonters after June +1st until the movements commenced which culminated in what is known in +history as the seven days battle, commencing on the 25th of June at a +point on the right bank of the Chicahominy at Oak Grove, and ending on +the first of July at Malvern Hill on the James river. + +For some days rumors of an unfavorable nature had been circulating among +the camps before Richmond, of disasters to the Union forces in the +valley. It was known that Stonewall Jackson had gone northward with his +command, and that he had appeared at several points in northern Virginia +under such circumstances and at such times and places as caused serious +alarm to the government at Washington for the safety of the capitol. To +the Army of the Potomac, however, it seemed incredible that so small a +force as Jackson's could be a serious menace to that city, and +preparations for a forward movement and a great and decisive battle went +steadily on. On the 25th of June, Hooker advanced his lines near Oak +Grove, and after severe fighting forced the enemy from their position +which he proceeded to fortify, and which he held. On the night of that +day, the army was full of joyous anticipation of a great victory to be +gained before Jackson could return from his foray to the north. On the +morning of the twenty-sixth, however, scouts reported Jackson, +reinforced by Whiting's division, at Hanover Court House pressing +rapidly forward, with 30,000 men, toward our exposed right and rear. At +the same time large bodies of the enemy were observed crossing the +Chicahominy at Meadow Bridge, above Mechanicsville. It was at once +apparent that the Army of the Potomac must abandon its advance on +Richmond, for the time at least, and stand on its defense. McCall, with +his division of Pennsylvania reserves, occupied a strong position on the +left bank of Beaver Dam creek, a small affluent of the Chicahominy, near +Mechanicsville, about four miles north of Gaines Hill, and this command +constituted the extreme right of the Union army. On this isolated body +it was evident that the first rebel attack would fall. + +At about three o'clock P. M. the division of the rebel General A. P. +Hill appeared in front of McCall's line, and severe fighting at once +commenced. About one hour later Branch's division arrived to the support +of the rebel general, and vigorous and repeated assaults were made at +various points on the Union line; the fighting at Ellison's Mills being +of a particularly desperate character. Porter's old division, now +commanded by Morell, was ordered up from its camp at Gaines Hill to the +assistance of the troops so heavily pressed at Mechanicsville. The sharp +shooters, being among the regiments thus detailed, left their tents +standing, and in light marching order, and with no rations, moved out at +the head of the column. Arriving at the front they took post in the left +of the road, in the rear of a rifle pit occupied by a battalion of +Pennsylvania troops and on the right of a redoubt in which was a battery +of guns. It was now nearly dark, the force of the attack was spent, and +the sharp shooters had but small share of the fighting. The night was +spent in this position, and the rest of the soldiers was unbroken, +except by the cries and moans of the rebel wounded, many of whom lay +uncared for within a few yards of the Union line. Some of the men of Co. +F, moved by pity for the sufferings of their enemies, left their lines +to give them assistance; they were fired on, however, by the less +merciful rebels and had to abandon the attempt. Before daylight the +order was whispered down the line to withdraw as silently as possible. +The men were especially cautioned against allowing their tin cups to +rattle against their rifles, as the first sign was sure to be the signal +for a rebel volley. Cautiously the men stole away, and, as daylight +appeared, found themselves alone. + +They were the rear guard and thus covered the retreat of the main body +to Gaines Hill. As they approached the camp they had left on the +preceding afternoon a scene of desolation and destruction met their +astonished eyes. Enormous piles of quartermaster and commissary stores +were being fired, tents were struck, the regimental baggage gone, and +large droves of cattle were being hurried forward towards the lower +bridges of the Chicahominy--the retreat to the James had commenced. +Halting for a few minutes amidst the ruins of their abandoned camp +where, however, they found the faithful quartermaster-sergeant with a +scanty supply of rations, very grateful to men who had eaten nothing for +twenty hours and expected nothing for some time to come. They hastily +commenced the preparation of such a modest breakfast as was possible +under the circumstances, but before it could be eaten the pursuing +rebels were upon them, and the march towards the rear was resumed. A +mile further and they found the Fifth Corps, which was all there was of +the army on the south bank of the Chicahominy, in line of battle +prepared to resist the attack of the enemy, which it was apparent to all +would be in heavy force. The position was a strong one, and the little +force--small in comparison to that which now appeared confronting +it--were disposed with consummate skill. Dust--for the day was intensely +hot and dry--arising in dense clouds high above the tree tops, plainly +denoted the line of march, and the positions of the different rebel +columns as they arrived on the field and took their places in line of +battle. + +Deserters, prisoners, and scouts, all agreed that Jackson, who had not +been up in time to take part in the battle of the previous day as had +been expected, was now at hand with a large force of fresh troops, and +it was apparent that the Fifth Corps was about to become engaged with +nearly the whole of the rebel army. Any one of three things could now +happen, as might be decided by the Union commander. The force on Gaines +Hill might be re-enforced by means of the few, but sufficient, bridges +over the Chicahominy and accept battle on something like equal terms; +or the main army on the right bank of the river might take advantage of +the opportunity offered to break through the lines in its front, +weakened as they must be by the absence of the immense numbers detached +to crush Porter on the left bank; or the Fifth Corps might by a great +effort, unassisted, hold Lee's army in check long enough to enable the +Union army to commence in an orderly manner its retreat to the James. +Whichever course might be decided upon, it was evident that this portion +of the army was on the eve of a desperate struggle against overwhelming +odds, and each man prepared himself accordingly. + +In front of Morell's division, to which the sharp shooters were +attached, was a deep ravine heavily wooded on its sides, and through +which ran a small stream, its direction being generally northeast, until +it emptied into the Chicahominy near Woodbury's bridge. The bottom of +the ravine was marshy and somewhat difficult of passage, and near the +river widened out and took the name of Boatswain's swamp. On the far +side of this ravine the sharp shooters were deployed to observe the +approach of the enemy and to receive their first attack. In their front +the ground was comparatively open, though somewhat broken, for a +considerable distance. At half-past two P. M. the enemy's skirmishers +appeared in the rolling open country, and desultory firing at long range +commenced. Soon, however, the pressure became more severe, and a +regiment on the right of the sharp shooters having given way, they, in +their turn, were forced slowly back across the marshy ravine and part +way up the opposite slope; here, being re-enforced, they turned on and +drove the rebels back and reoccupied the ground on which they first +formed, soon, however, to be forced back again. So heavily had each of +the opposing lines been supported that the affair lost its character as +a picket fight, and partook of the nature of line of battle fighting. +The troops opposed at this time were those of A. P. Hill, who finally, +by sheer weight of numbers, dislodged the sharp shooters and their +supports from the woods and permanently held them. They were unable, +however, to ascend the slope on the other side, and the main federal +line was intact at all points. There was now an interval of some half an +hour, during which time the infantry were idle; the artillery firing, +however, from the Union batteries on the crest of the hill was incessant, +and was as vigorously responded to by the rebels. From the right bank of +the Chicahominy a battery of twenty pound Parrots, near Gen. W. F. +Smith's headquarters, was skillfully directed against the rebel right +near and in front of Dr. Gaines' house. At six o'clock P. M. Slocum's +division of Franklin's corps was ordered across to the support of +Porter's endangered command. + +At seven o'clock the divisions of Hill, Longstreet, Whiting and Jackson +were massed for a final attack on the small but undismayed federal +force, who yet held every inch of the ground so desperately fought for +during five long hours. + +Whiting's division led the rebel assault with Hood's Texan brigade in +the front line. The attack struck the center of the line held by +Morell's division, and so desperate was the assault and so heavily +supported, that Morell's tired men were finally forced by sheer weight +of masses to abandon the line which they had so long and so gallantly +held. Had the rebels themselves been in a position to promptly pursue +their advantage, the situation would have been most perilous to the +Union forces. The enemy had now gained the crest of the hill which +commanded the ground to the rear as far as the banks of the Chicahominy. +This deep and treacherous stream, crossed but by few bridges--and they, +with one exception, at a considerable distance from the field of +battle--offered an effectual barrier to the passage of the routed army. + +But while the federals had suffered severely, the losses of the rebels +had been far greater. The disorganization and demoralization among the +victors was even greater than among the vanquished; and before they +could reform for further advance the beaten federals had rallied on the +low ground nearer the river and formed a new line which, in the +gathering darkness, undoubtedly looked to the rebels, made cautious by +experience, more formidable than it was in fact. Their cavalry appeared +in great force on the brow of the hill, but the expected charge did not +come; they had had fighting enough and rested content with what they had +gained. The least desirable of the three choices offered to the Union +commander had been taken, as it appeared, but a precious day had been +gained to the army already in its retreat to the James. A fearful price +had been paid for it, however, by the devoted band who stood between +that retreating army and the flushed and victorious enemy. Of the +eighteen thousand men who stood in line of battle at noon, only twelve +thousand answered to the roll call at night. One-third of the whole, or +six thousand men, had fallen. They had done all that it was possible for +men to do, and only yielded to superior numbers. It is now known that +less than 25,000 men were left for the defense of Richmond; the rest of +the rebel forces, or over 55,000 men, had been hurled against this wing +of the Union army hoping to crush it utterly, and the attempt had +failed. + +Co. F had done its full share in the work of the day, and, although out +of ammunition, retained its position with other companies of the +regiment on the front line until the general disruption on the right and +left compelled their retirement from the field. Tired, hungry and +disheartened, they lay down for the night on the low ground a mile or +more in the rear for a few hours of repose. At about eleven o'clock +P. M. they were aroused and put in motion, crossing the Chicahominy at +Woodbury's bridge and going again into bivouac on the high ground near +the Trent Hospital some distance in the rear of the ground held by the +Vermont brigade on the northern, or right, bank of the river. During the +night the entire corps was withdrawn and the bridges destroyed. A fresh +supply of ammunition was obtained and issued at daylight, and at ten +o'clock A. M. the sharp shooters, with full cartridge boxes, but empty +haversacks, took up their line of march towards the James. In this +action the regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded. B. W. Jordan and +Jas. A. Read of Co. F were mortally, and E. H. Himes severely wounded. +Passing Savage Station, where the 5th Vermont suffered so severely on +the next day, the regiment crossed White Oak swamp before dark on the +twenty-eighth, and went into bivouac near the head of the bridge. + +Wild rumors of heavy bodies of Confederate troops, crossing the +Chicahominy at points lower down prepared to fall upon the exposed flank +and rear of the federals were prevalent, and the dreaded form of +Stonewall Jackson seemed to start from every bush. + +During the night, which was intensely dark, the horses attached to a +battery got loose by some means and, dashing through a portion of the +ground occupied by other troops, seemed, with their rattling harness, to +be a host of rebel cavalry. A bugle at some distance sounded the +assembly, drums beat the long roll, and in the confusion of that night +alarm it seemed as though a general panic had seized upon all. The sharp +shooters, like all others, were thrown into confusion and momentarily +lost their sense of discipline and disappeared. When the commanding +officer, perhaps the last to awake, came to look for his command they +were not to be found; with the exception of Calvin Morse, bugler of Co. +F, he was alone. The panic among the sharp shooters, however, was only +momentary; the first blast of the well known bugle recalled them to a +sense of duty, and, a rallying point being established, the whole +command at once returned to the line reassured and prepared for any +emergency. + +At daylight the march was resumed and continued as far as Charles City +cross roads, or Glendale, the junction of two important roads leading +from Richmond southeasterly towards Malvern Hill; the lower, or +Newmarket road, being the only one by which a rebel force moving from +the city could hope to interpose between the retreating federals and the +James. + +The sharp shooters were thrown out on this road some two miles with +instructions to delay as long as possible the advance of any body of the +enemy who might approach by that route. This was the fourth day for Co. +F of continuous marching and fighting; they had started with almost +empty haversacks, and it had not been possible to supply them. The +country was bare of provisions, except now and then a hog that had so +far escaped the foragers. A few of these fell victims to the hunger of +the half-starved men; but, with no bread or salt, it hardly served a +better purpose than merely to sustain life. To add to their discomforts +the only water procurable was that from a well near by which was said to +have been poisoned by the flying owner of the plantation; his absence, +with that of every living thing upon the place, made it impossible to +apply the usual and proper test, that of compelling the suspected +parties to, themselves, drink heartily of the water. A guard was +therefore placed over the well, and the thirsty soldiers were compelled +to endure their tortures as best they could. The day passed in +comparative quiet; only a few small bodies of rebel cavalry appeared to +contest the possession of the road, and they being easily repulsed. Late +in the afternoon the sharp shooters were recalled to the junction of the +roads, where they rested for a short time to allow the passage of +another column. At this point a single box of hard bread was procured +from the cook in charge of a wagon conveying the mess kit of the +officers of a battery; this was the only issue of rations made to the +regiment from the morning of the 25th of June until they arrived at +Harrison's landing on the 2d of July, and, inadequate as it was, it was +a welcome addition to their meager fare. + +At dark the regiment marched southwardly on a country road narrow and +difficult, often appearing no more than a path through the dense swamp; +the night, intensely dark, was made more so by the gloom of the forest, +and all night the weary unfed men toiled along. At midnight the column +was halted for some cause, and while thus halted another of those +unaccountable panics took place--in fact, in the excited condition of +the men, enfeebled by long continued labors without food, a small matter +was sufficient to throw them off their balance; and yet these very men a +few hours later, with an enemy in front whom they could see and at whom +they could deal blows as well as receive them, fought and won the great +battle of Malvern Hill. During the night Co. F. with one or two other +companies were detailed to accompany Gen. Porter and others on a +reconnoissance of the country to the left of the road on which the +column was halted. With a small force in advance as skirmishers, they +passed over some two miles of difficult country, doubly so in the +darkness of the night, striking and drawing the fire of the rebel +pickets. This being apparently the object of the movement, the +skirmishers were withdrawn and the command rejoined the main column. So +worn and weary were they that whenever halted even for a moment, many +men would fall instantly into a sleep from which it would require the +most vigorous efforts to arouse them. Shortly before daylight they were +halted and allowed to sleep for an hour or two, when, with tired and +aching bodies, they continued their march. At noon they passed over the +crest of Malvern Hill and before them lay, quiet and beautiful in the +sunlight, the valley of the James; and, at the distance of some three +miles, the river itself with Union gun boats at anchor on its bosom. + +It was a welcome sight to those who had been for six long days marching +by night and fighting by day. It meant, as they fondly believed, food +and rest, and they greeted the lovely view with cheers of exultation. +But there were further labors and greater dangers in store for them +before the longed for rest could be obtained. Passing over the level +plateau known as Malvern Hill, they descended to the valley and went +into bivouac. Here was at least water, and some food was obtained from +the negroes who remained about the place. + +No sooner were ranks broken and knapsacks unslung than the tired and +dirty soldiers flocked to the banks of the beautiful river, and the +water was soon filled with the bathers, who enjoyed this unusual luxury +with keen relish. + +The bivouac of the regiment was in the midst of a field of oats but +recently cut and bound, and the men proceeded to arrange for themselves +couches which for comfort and luxury they had not seen the like of since +they left the feather beds of their New England homes. Their repose, +even here, was, however, destined to be of short duration; for hardly +had they settled themselves for their rest when the bugles sounded the +general, and the head of the column, strangely enough, turned northward. +Up the steep hill, back over the very road down which they had just +marched, they toiled, but without murmur or discontent, for _this_ +movement was _towards_ the rebels, and not away from them. Inspiring +rumors began to be heard; where they came from, or how, no one knew, but +it was said that McCall and Sumner had fought a great battle on the +previous day, that the rebel army was routed, that Lee was a prisoner, +that McClellan was in Richmond, and the long and short of it was that +the Union army had nothing more to do but to march back, make a +triumphal entry into the captured stronghold, assist at that often +anticipated ceremony which was to consign "Jeff. Davis to a sour apple +tree," be mustered out, get their pay and go home. When they arrived on +the plateau, however, a scene met their eyes that effectually drove such +anticipations from their minds. A mile away, just emerging from the +cover of the forest, appeared the forms of a number of men; were they +friends or enemies? Glasses were unslung and they were at once +discovered to be federals. Momentarily their numbers increased, and soon +the whole plain was covered with blue coated troops, but they were +without order or organization, many without arms, and their faces +bearing not the light of successful battle, but dull with the chagrin of +defeat. The story was soon told. Sumner and McCall had fought a battle +at Charles City cross roads, but had been forced to abandon the field +with heavy loss in men and guns. Instead of a triumphant march to +Richmond, the Fifth Corps was again to interpose between the flushed and +confident rebels and the retreating federals--but not, as at Gaines +Hill, alone. This was late in the afternoon of June 30. That night the +sharp shooters spent in bivouac near the ground on which they were to +fight the next day. At dawn on the 1st of July the men were aroused, and +proceeding to the front were ordered into line as skirmishers, their +line covering the extreme left of the Union army directly in front of +the main approach to the position. Malvern Hill, so called, is a hill +only as it is viewed from the southern or western side; to the north +and east the ground is only slightly descending from the highest +elevation. On the western side, flowing in a southerly direction, is a +small stream called Turkey run, the bed of the stream being some one +hundred feet lower than the plateau. On the south, toward the James, the +descent is more precipitous. The approaches were, as has been stated, +from the north where the ground was comparatively level and sufficiently +open to admit of rapid and regular maneuvers. The position taken by the +Union army was not one of extraordinary strength, except that its flanks +were well protected by natural features: its front was but little higher +than the ground over which the enemy must pass to the attack, and was +unprotected by natural or artificial obstacles. No earth works or other +defenses were constructed; although the "lofty hill, crowned by +formidable works," has often figured in descriptions of this battle. The +simple truth is it was an open field fight, hotly contested and +gallantly won. + +The Union artillery, some three hundred guns, was posted in advantageous +positions, some of the batteries occupying slight elevations from which +they could fire over the heads of troops in their front, the most of +them, however, being formed on the level ground in the intervals between +regiments and brigades. The gun boats were stationed in the river some +two miles distant, so as to cover and support the left flank, and it was +expected that great assistance would be afforded by the fire of their +immense guns. + +Porter's corps held the extreme left, with its left flank on Turkey run, +Morell's division forming the front line with headquarters at Crew's +house. Sykes' division, composed mostly of regulars, was in the second +line. McCall's division was held in reserve in rear of the left flank. +On the right of Morell's line thus formed, came Couch's division; +further to the right the line was refused, and the extreme right flank +rested on the James; but with this portion of the line we have little to +do. The main attack fell on the Fifth Corps, involving to some extent +Couch's troops next on the right. In this order the army awaited the +onset. In front of Morell's division stretched away a field about half a +mile in length, bounded at its opposite extremity by heavy woods. + +Nearly level in its general features, there extended across it at a +distance of about one-third of a mile from the federal front, and +parallel with it, a deep ravine, its western end debouching into the +valley formed by Turkey run. This open field was covered at this time +with wheat just ready for the harvest. + +Along the north side of this ravine, covered from view by the waving +wheat, the sharp shooters were deployed at an early hour and patiently +awaited the attack of the enemy. A few scattered trees afforded a scanty +supply of half grown apples which were eagerly seized upon by the +famished men, who boiled them in their tin cups and thus made them +fairly palatable; by such poor means assuaging as best they could the +pangs of hunger. + +At about twelve o'clock heavy clouds of dust arising in the north +announced the approach of the Confederate columns, and soon after scouts +and skirmishers began to make their presence known by shots from the +edge of the woods, some two hundred yards distant, directed at every +exposed head. A puff of smoke from that direction, however, was certain +to be answered by a dozen well aimed rifles from the sharp shooters, and +the rebel scouts soon tired of that amusement. In the meantime the +artillery firing had become very heavy on both sides, our own depressing +their muzzles so as to sweep the woods in front; the effect of this was +to bring the line of fire unpleasantly near the heads of the advanced +sharp shooters. The gun boats also joined in the cannonade, and as their +shells often burst short, over and even behind the line of skirmishers, +the position soon became one of grave danger from both sides. + +At about half-past two the artillery fire from the rebel line slackened +perceptibly, and soon appeared, bursting from the edge of the forest, a +heavy line of skirmishers who advanced at a run, apparently unaware of +any considerable force in their front. Bugler Morse of Co. F, who +accompanied the commanding officer as chief bugler on that day, was at +once ordered to sound commence firing, and the sharp shooters sent +across the field and into the lines of the oncoming rebels, such a storm +of lead from their breach loading rifles as soon checked their advance +and sent them back to the cover of the woods in great confusion and with +serious loss. The repulse was but momentary, however, for soon another +line appeared so heavily re-enforced that it was more like a line of +battle than a skirmish line. Still, however, the sharp shooters clung to +their ground, firing rapidly and with precision, as the thinned ranks of +the Confederates, as they pressed on, attested. They would not, however, +be denied, but still came on at the run, firing as they came. At this +moment the sharp shooters became aware of a force of rebel skirmishers +on their right flank, who commenced firing steadily, and at almost point +blank range, from the shelter of a roadway bordered by hedges. The bugle +now sounded retreat, and the sharp shooters fell back far enough to +escape the effect of the flank fire when they were halted and once more +turned their faces to the enemy. The tables were now turned; the rebels +had gained the shelter of the ravine, and were firing with great +deliberation at our men who were fully exposed in the open field in +front of the Crew house. Still the sharp shooters held their ground, +and, by the greater accuracy of their fire, combined with the advantage +of greater rapidity given by breach loaders over muzzle loaders, kept +the rebels well under cover. Having thus cleared the way, as they +supposed, for their artillery, the rebels sought to plant a battery in +the open ground on the hither side of the woods which had screened their +advance. The noise of chopping had been plainly heard for some time as +their pioneers labored in the woods opening a passage for the guns. +Suddenly there burst out of the dense foliage four magnificent stray +horses, and behind them, whirled along like a child's toy, the gun. +Another and another followed, sweeping out into the plain. As the head +of the column turned to the right to go into battery, every rifle within +range was brought to bear, and horses and men began to fall rapidly. +Still they pressed on, and when there were no longer horses to haul the +guns, the gunners sought to put their pieces into battery by hand; +nothing, however, could stand before that terrible storm of lead, and +after ten minutes of gallant effort the few survivors, leaving their +guns in the open field, took shelter in the friendly woods. Not a gun +was placed in position or fired from that quarter during the day. This +battery was known as the Richmond Howitzers and was composed of the very +flower of the young men of that city; it was their first fight, and to +many their last. A member of the battery, in describing it to an officer +of the sharp shooters soon after the close of the war, said pithily: "We +went in a battery and came out a wreck. We staid ten minutes by the +watch and came out with one gun, ten men and two horses, and without +firing a shot." + +The advanced position held by the sharp shooters being no longer +tenable, as they were exposed to the fire, not only of the rebels in +front but to that of their friends in the rear as well, they were +withdrawn and formed in line of battle in the rear of the fourth +Michigan volunteers, where they remained for a short time. The rebel +fire from the brink of the ravine from which the sharp shooters had +been dislodged, as before described, now became exceedingly galling and +troublesome to the artillery in our front line, and several horses and +men were hit in Weeden's R.I. battery, an officer of which requested +that an effort be made to silence the fire. Col. Ripley directed Lieut. +J. Smith Brown of Co. A, acting Adjutant, to take twenty volunteers far +out to the left and front to a point designated, which it was hoped +would command the ravine. The duty was one of danger, but volunteers +were quickly at hand, among whom were several from Co. F. The gallant +little band soon gained the coveted position, and thereafter the fire of +the rebel riflemen from that point was of little moment. Lieut. Brown's +command maintained this position during the entire battle, and being +squarely on the flank of Magruder's charging columns, and being, from +the very smallness of their numbers, hardly noticeable among the +thousands of struggling men on that fatal field, they inflicted great +damage and loss in the Confederate hosts. It was now late in the +afternoon, no large bodies of the rebel infantry had as yet shown +themselves, though the clouds of dust arising beyond the woods told +plainly of their presence and motions. A partial attack had been made on +the extreme right of Morell's line, involving to some extent the left of +Couch's division, but was easily repulsed; the fire of Co. E of the +sharp shooters, which had been sent to that point, contributing largely +to that result. The artillery fire had been heavy and incessant for +some hours, and shells were bursting in quick succession over every +portion of the field. Suddenly there burst out of the ravine a heavy +line of battle, followed by another and another, while out of the woods +beyond poured masses of men in support. The battle now commenced in +earnest. + +The Union infantry, heretofore concealed and sheltered behind such +little inequalities of ground as the field afforded, sprang to their +feet and opened a tremendous fire, additional batteries were brought up, +and from every direction shot and shell, canister and grape, were hurled +against the advancing enemy, while the gun boats, at anchor in the river +two miles away, joined their efforts with those of their brethren of the +army. It was a gallant attempt, but nothing human could stand against +the storm--great gaps began to be perceptible in the lines, but the +fiery energy of Magruder was behind them and they still kept on, until +it seemed that nothing short of the bayonet would stop them. Gradually, +however, the rush was abated; here and there could be seen signs of +wavering and hesitation; this was the signal for redoubled efforts on +the part of the Union troops, and the discomfited rebels broke in +confusion and fled to the shelter of the woods and ravines. + +At the critical moment of this charge the sharp shooters had been thrown +into line on the right of the fourth Michigan regiment and bore an +honorable part in the repulse; indeed, so closely crowded were the Union +lines at this point that many men of the sharp shooters found themselves +in the line of the Michigan regiment and fought shoulder to shoulder +with their western brothers. The battle was, however, by no means over; +again and again did Magruder hurl his devoted troops against the Union +line, only to meet a like repulse; the rebels fought like men who +realized that their efforts of the past week, measurably successful +though they had been, would have failed of their full result should they +now fail to destroy the Army of the Potomac; while the Union troops held +their lines with the tenacity of soldiers who knew that the fate of a +nation depended upon the result of that day. At the close of the second +assault the sharp shooters found themselves with empty cartridge boxes +and were withdrawn from the front. The special ammunition required for +their breech loaders not being obtainable, they were not again engaged +during the day. In this fight the regiment lost many officers and men, +among whom were Col. Ripley, Capt. Austin and Lieut. Jones of Co. E, +wounded. In Co. F, Lieut. C. W. Seaton, Jacob S. Bailey and Brigham +Buswell were wounded. Buswell's wound resulted in his discharge. Bailey +rejoined the company, only to lose an arm at Chancellorsville. + +The final rebel attack having been repulsed and their defeat being +complete and final, the Union army was withdrawn during the night to +Harrison's landing, some eight miles distant, which point had been +selected by Gen. McClellan's engineers some days before as the base for +future operations against Richmond by the line of the James river; +operations which, as the event proved, were not to be undertaken until +after two years of unsuccessful fighting in other fields, the Army of +the Potomac found itself once more on the familiar fields of its +earliest experience. + +The campaign of the Peninsula was over; that mighty army that had sailed +down the beautiful Potomac so full of hope and pride less than four +months before; that had through toil and suffering fought its way to +within sight of its goal; found itself beaten back at the very moment of +its anticipated triumph, and instead of the elation of victory, it was +tasting the bitterness of defeat; for, although many of its battles, as +that of Hanover Court House, Williamsburgh, Yorktown, Mechanicsville and +Malvern Hill, had been tactical victories, it felt that the full measure +of success had not been gained, and that its mission had not been +accomplished. While the army lay at Harrison's landing the following +changes in the rolls of Co. F. took place: Sergent Amos H. Bunker, Azial +N. Blanchard, Wm. Cooley, Geo. W. Manchester and Chas. G. Odell were +discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, and Brigham Buswell +was discharged on account of disability resulting from the wound +received at Malvern Hill. Benajah W. Jordan and James A. Read died of +wounds received at Gaines Hill and W. S. Tarbell of disease. E. F. +Stevens and L. D. Grover were promoted sergeants, and W. H. Leach and +Edward Trask were made corporals. At this camp also Capt. Weston +resigned and Lieut. C. W. Seaton was appointed captain, Second Lieut. +M. V. B. Bronson was promoted first lieutenant and Ezbon W. Hindes +second lieutenant. Major Trepp was promoted lieutenant-colonel, vice Wm. +Y. W. Ripley, and Capt. Hastings of Co. H. was made major. + +The regiment remained at Harrison's landing until the army left the +Peninsula. The weather was intensely hot and the army suffered terrible +losses by disease, cooped up as they were on the low and unhealthy +bottom lands bordering the James. The enemy made one or two +demonstrations, and on one occasion the camp of the sharp shooters +became the target for the rebel batteries posted on the high lands on +the further side of the river, and for a long time the men of Co. F were +exposed to a severe fire to which they could not reply, but luckily +without serious loss. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD. + +SECOND BULL RUN. ANTIETAM. FREDERICKSBURGH. + + +About the middle of August, the government having determined upon the +evacuation of the Peninsula, the army abandoned its position at +Harrison's landing. Water transportation not being at hand in sufficient +quantity, a large portion of the army marched southward towards Fortress +Monroe, passing, by the way, the fields of Williamsburgh. Lee's Mills +and Yorktown, upon which they had so recently stood victorious over the +very enemy upon whom they were now turning their backs. Co. F. was with +the division which thus passed down by land. Upon arriving at Hampton +the Fifth Corps, to which the sharp shooters were attached, embarked on +steamboats and were quickly and comfortably conveyed to Acquia Creek, at +which place they took the cars for Falmouth, on the Rappahannock +opposite Fredericksburgh. + +No sooner did McClellan turn his back on Richmond in the execution of +this change of base, than Lee, no longer held to the defense of the +rebel capitol, moved with his entire force rapidly northward, hoping to +crush Pope's scattered columns in detail before the Army of the Potomac +could appear to its support. Indeed, before McClellan's movement +commenced, the Confederate General Jackson--he whose foray in the valley +in May had so completely neutralized McDowell's powerful corps that its +services were practically lost to the Union commander during the entire +period of the Peninsular campaign--had again appeared on Pope's right +and rear, and it was this apparition that struck such dread to the soul +of Halleck, then General-in-Chief at Washington. Now commenced that +campaign of maneuvers in which Pope was so signally foiled by his keen +and wary antagonist. + +The Fifth Corps left Falmouth on the 24th of August, marching to +Rappahannock Station, thence along the line of the Orange & Alexandria +R. R. to Warrenton Junction where they remained for a few hours, it +being the longest rest they had had since leaving Falmouth, sixty miles +away. On the 28th of August the sharp shooters arrived, with the rest of +the corps, at Bristoe's Station where Porter had been ordered to take +position at daylight to assist in the entertainment which Pope had +advertised for that day, and which was to consist of "bagging the whole +crowd" of rebels. + +The wily Jackson, however, was no party to that plan, and while Pope was +vainly seeking him about Manassas Junction, he was quietly awaiting the +arrival of Lee's main columns near Groveton. The corps remained at +Bristoe's, or between that place and Manassas Junction, inactive during +the rest of the twenty-eighth and the whole of the twenty-ninth, and the +sharp shooters thus failed of any considerable share in the battle of +Groveton on that day. During the night preceding the 30th of August, +Porter's corps was moved by the Sudley Springs road from their position +near Bristoe's to the scene of the previous day's battle to the north +and east of Groveton, where its line of battle was formed in a direction +nearly northeast and southwest, with the left on the Warrenton turnpike. +Morell's division, to which the sharp shooters were attached, formed the +front line with the sharp shooters, as usual, far in the advance as +skirmishers. With a grand rush the riflemen drove the rebels through the +outlying woods, and following close upon the heels of the flying enemy, +suddenly passed from the comparative shelter of the woods into an open +field directly in the face of Jackson's corps strongly posted behind the +embankment of an unfinished railroad leading from Sudley Springs +southwestwardly towards Groveton. + +It was a grand fortification ready formed for the enemy's occupation, +and stoutly defended by the Stonewall brigade. Straight up to the +embankment pushed the gallant sharp shooters, and handsomely were they +supported by the splendid troops of Barnes and Butterfield's brigades. +The attack was made with the utmost impetuosity and tenaciously +sustained; but Jackson's veterans could not be dislodged from their +strong position behind their works. The sharp shooters gained the +shelter of a partially sunken road parallel to the enemy's line and +hardly thirty yards distant; but not even the splendid courage of the +men who had held the lines of Gaines Hill and Malvern against this same +enemy, could avail to drive them from their shelter. + +To add to the peril of the charging column, Longstreet, on Jackson's +right, organized an attack on Porter's exposed left flank. The corps +thus placed, with an enemy in their front whom they could not dislodge +and another on their unprotected flank, were forced to abandon their +attack. The sharp shooters were the last to leave their advanced +positions, and then only when, nearly out of ammunition, Longstreet's +fresh troops fairly crowded them out by sheer numerical superiority. Of +Co. F the following men were wounded in this battle: Corporals H. J. +Peck and Ai Brown and Private W. H. Blake. Corporal Peck was honorably +discharged on the 26th of October following for disability resulting +from his wound. The sharp shooters were not again seriously engaged with +the enemy during Pope's campaign. On the night after the battle they +retired with the shattered remains of the gallant Fifth Corps, and on +the 1st of September went into camp near Fort Corcoran. So far the +campaigns of the sharp shooters had, although full of thrilling incident +and gallant achievement, been barren of result. Great victories had been +won on many fields, but the end seemed as far off as when they left +Washington more than five months before. + +Disease and losses in battle had sadly thinned their ranks, but the +remnant were soldiers tried and tempered in the fire of many battles. +They were not of the stuff that wilts and shrivels under an adverse +fortune, and putting the past resolutely behind them, they set their +faces sternly towards the future, prepared for whatever of good, or of +ill, it should have in store for them. + + +THE ANTIETAM CAMPAIGN. + +On the 12th of September, the main portion of the army having preceded +them, the Fifth Corps crossed to the north bank of the Potomac, and by +forced marches came up with the more advanced columns on the sixteenth +and took part in the maneuvers which brought the contending armies again +face to face on the banks of the Antietam. + +The rebels, flushed with the very substantial advantages they had +gained during the past summer, were confident and full of enthusiasm. +Posted in an exceptionally strong position, their flanks resting on the +Potomac while their front was covered by the deep and rapid Antietam, +they calmly awaited the Union attack, confident that the army which they +had so signally discomfitted under Pope would again recoil before their +fire. But the Union situation was not the same that it had been a month +before; McClellan had resumed the command, not only of the old Army of +the Potomac--the darling child of his own creation, and which in turn +loved and honored him with a devotion difficult for the carping critic +of these modern times to understand--but of the remains of the army of +Northern Virginia as well. + +These incongruous elements he had welded together, reorganized and +re-equipped while still on the march, until, when they stood again +before Lee's hosts on the banks of Antietam creek on the 17th of +September, they were as compact in organization and as confident as at +any previous time in their history. Then, too, they were to fight on +soil which, if not entirely loyal, was at least not the soil of the so +called Confederate States; and the feeling that they were called upon +for a great effort in behalf of an endangered North, gave an additional +stimulus to their spirits and nerved their arms with greater power. But +with the history of this great battle we have little to do. The Fifth +Corps was held in reserve during the entire day. It was the first time +in the history of the company that its members had been lookers on +while rebel and Unionist fought together; here, however, they could, +from their position, overlook most of the actual field of battle as mere +spectators of a scene, the like of which they had so often been actors +in. + +On the day after the battle they received a welcome addition to their +terribly reduced ranks by the arrival of some fifty recruits under +Lieut. Bronson, who had been detached on recruiting service while the +army yet lay along the Chicahominy during the previous month of June. On +the 19th of September the pursuit of Lee's retreating army was taken up, +the Fifth Corps in the advance, and the sharp shooters leading the +column. The rear guard of the enemy was overtaken at Blackford's ford, +at which place Lee had recrossed the Potomac. + +The rebel skirmishers having been driven across the river, preparations +for forcing the pursuit into Virginia were made, and the sharp shooters +were ordered to cross and drive the rebel riflemen from their sheltered +positions along the Virginia shore. The water was waist deep but, +holding their cartridge boxes above their heads, they advanced in +skirmish line totally unable to reply to the galling fire that met them +as they entered the stream. Stumbling and floundering along, they at +last gained the farther shore and quickly succeeded in compelling the +rebels to retire. + +Advancing southward to a suitable position, Co. F was ordered to +establish an advanced picket line in the execution of which order a +party under Corporal Cassius Peck discovered the presence of a small +body of the enemy with two guns, who had been left behind for some +reason by the retreating rebels. This force was soon put to flight and +both guns captured and one man taken prisoner. The captured guns were +removed to a point near the river bank, from which they were +subsequently removed to the Maryland shore. Remaining in this position +until after dark the sharp shooters were ordered back to the north bank +of the river, to which they retired. Morning found them posted in the +bed of the canal which connects Washington with Harper's Ferry, and +which runs close along the Maryland shore of the Potomac at this point. +The water being out of the canal, its bed afforded capital shelter, and +its banks a fine position from which to fire upon the rebels, now again +in full possession of the opposite shore from which they had been driven +by the sharp shooters the previous afternoon, but which had been +deliberately abandoned to them again by the recall of the regiment to +the northern shore on the preceding night. + +It now became necessary to repossess that position, and a Pennsylvania +regiment composed of new troops were ordered to make the attempt. +Covered by the close and rapid fire of the sharp shooters, the +Pennsylvanians succeeded in crossing the river, but every attempt to +advance from the bank met with repulse. Wearied and demoralized by +repeated failures, the regiment took shelter under the banks of the +river where they were measurably protected from the fire of the enemy, +and covered also by the rifles of the sharp shooters posted in the +canal. Ordered to recross the river, they could not be induced by their +officers to expose themselves in the open stream to the fire of the +exulting rebels. + +Every effort was made by the sharp shooters to encourage them to +recross, but without avail. Calvin Morse, a bugler of Co. F, and thus a +non-combatant (except that Co. F had no non-combatants), crossed the +stream, covered by the fire of his comrades, to demonstrate to the panic +stricken men that it could be done; but they could not be persuaded, and +most of them were finally made prisoners. In these operations Co. F was +exceptionally fortunate, and had no casualties to report. + +The regiment remained at or near Sharpsburgh, Maryland, until the 30th +of October following. The members of Co. F, except the recruits, were +but poorly supplied with clothing; much had been abandoned and destroyed +when they left their camp at Gaines Hill on the 27th of June, and much, +also, had been thrown away to lighten the loads of the tired owners +during the terrible marches and battles they had passed through since +that time, and the little they had left was so worn and tattered as to +be fit for little more than to conceal their nakedness. The rations, +too, were bad; the hard bread particularly so, being wormy and mouldy, +and this at a place and time when it seemed to the soldiers that there +could be no good reason why such a state of things should exist at all. +But time cures all ills, even in the army, and on the 30th of October +the regiment, completely refitted, rested and in fine spirits, crossed +the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and were once more on the sacred soil of +Virginia. Moving southwardly towards Warrenton they arrived, on the +evening of November 2d, at Snicker's Gap and were at once pushed out to +occupy the summit. The night was intensely dark, and the ground +difficult; but a proper picket line was finally established and occupied +without event through the night. The next morning's sunlight displayed a +wonderful sight to the eyes of the delighted sharp shooters. They were +on the very summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and below them, like an +open map, lay spread out the beautiful valley of Virginia. + +Scathed and torn as it was, to a close observer, by the conflicts and +marches of the past summer, from the distant point of view occupied by +the watchers, all was beautiful and serene. No sign of war, or its +desolating touch, was visible; except that here and there could be seen +bodies of marching men, and long trains of wagons, which told of the +presence of the enemy. Now, however, the head of every column was turned +southward, and the rebel army, which had swept so triumphantly northward +over that very country only two months before, was retiring, beaten and +baffled, before the army of the Union. The scene was beautiful to the +eye, while the reflections engendered by it were of the most hopeful +nature, and the sharp shooters descended the southern slope of the +mountain with high hopes and glowing anticipations of speedy and +decisive action. + +From Snicker's Gap the army advanced by easy marches to Warrenton, +where, on the 7th of November, Gen. McClellan was relieved from the +command and Gen. Burnside appointed to that position. The army accepted +the change like soldiers, but with a deep sense of regret. The vast mass +of the rank and file honored and trusted Gen. McClellan as few generals +in history have been trusted by their followers. He was personally +popular among the men, but below and behind this feeling was the belief +that in many respects Gen. McClellan had not been quite fairly treated +by some of those who ought to have been his warm and ardent supporters. +They felt that political influences, which had but little hold upon the +soldiers in the field, had been at work to the personal disadvantage of +their loved commander, and to the disadvantage of the army and the cause +of the Union as well. + +Whether they were right or wrong, they regretted the change most deeply, +and in this general feeling the sharp shooters stood with the great mass +of the army. + +While they were always ready with a prompt obedience and hearty support +of their later commanders, the regiment never cheered a general officer +after McClellan left the head of the Army of the Potomac. + +After a few days of rest at Warrenton to allow Gen. Burnside to get the +reins well in hand, the army was put in motion towards Fredericksburgh +where they arrived on or about the 23d of November. While at Warrenton +Gen. Burnside effected a complete reorganization of the army, on a plan +which he had been pressing upon the notice of his superiors for some +time. The entire army was divided into three Grand Divisions, the right +under Sumner, the center under Hooker, and the left under Franklin. The +Fifth Corps formed part of the Center Grand Division under Gen. Hooker, +and at about the same time Gen. F. J. Porter, who had been its commander +since its organization while the army lay before Yorktown during the +preceding April, was relieved from his command and was succeeded by Gen. +Dan'l Butterfield. + +Gen. Burnside, having been disappointed in finding his ponton trains, on +which he depended for a rapid passage to the south bank of the +Rappahannock, ready on his arrival at Falmouth, was constrained to +attempt to force a passage in the face of Lee's now concentrated army. +The position was one well calculated to dampen the ardor of the troops +now so accustomed to warfare as to be able to weigh the chances of +success or failure as accurately as their commanders, and to judge +quickly of the value to their cause of that for which they were asked to +offer up their lives, but they undertook the task as cheerfully and as +willingly as though it had been far less uncertain and perilous. The +Rappahannock at this point is bordered by opposing ranges of hills; that +on the left bank, occupied by the troops of the Union and called +Stafford heights, rising quite abruptly from the river bank; while on +the southern shore the line of hills, called Marye's heights, recedes +from the river from six hundred to two thousand yards, the intervening +ground being generally open and, although somewhat broken, affording +very little shelter from the fire of the Confederate batteries posted on +Marye's heights. On the plain and near the river stands the village of +Fredericksburgh. + +During the night of the 10th of December Gen. Burnside placed in +position on Stafford heights a powerful array of guns, under cover of +whose fire he determined to attempt the passage of the river at that +point, while to the Left Grand Division under Franklin was assigned the +task of forcing a passage at a point some two miles lower down. On the +night of the 11th attempts were made to lay the ponton bridges at a +point opposite the town. The enemy, however, well warned, posted a +strong force of riflemen in the houses and behind the stone walls +bordering the river, whose sharp fire so seriously impeded the efforts +of the engineers that they were forced to retire. The guns on Stafford +heights were opened on the town, and for nearly two hours one hundred +and fifty guns poured their shot and shell upon the devoted town. Each +gun was estimated to have fired fifty rounds; but at the close of the +bombardment the annoying riflemen were still there. Three regiments were +now thrown across the river in ponton boats, and after a severe fight in +the streets of the town, and after heavy loss of men, succeeded in +dislodging the enemy, and the bridges were completed. Of course a +surprise, upon which Burnside seems to have counted, was now out of the +question; but urged on by the voice of the North, whose sole idea at +that time seemed to be that their generals should only fight--anywhere, +under all circumstances and at all times--he threw Sumner's Grand +Division over the river and determined to try the issue of a general +battle. + +The Center Grand Division, under Hooker, were held on the left bank of +the river and were thus unengaged in the earlier portion of that +terrible day; but from their position on Stafford heights, the sharp +shooters were eye witnesses to the terrible struggle in which their +comrades were engaged on the plain below--where Hancock's gallant +division, in their desperate charge upon the stone wall at the foot of +Marye's height, lost two thousand men out of the five thousand engaged +in less than fifteen immortal minutes, and where a total of twelve +thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine Union soldiers fell in the +different assaults; assaults that every man engaged knew were utterly +hopeless and vain; but to the everlasting honor of the Army of the +Potomac be it said that, although they well knew the task an impossible +one, they responded again and again to the call to advance, until +Burnside himself, at last convinced of the hopelessness of the +undertaking, suspended further effort. + +During the day Griffin and Humphrey's divisions of the Fifth Corps, and +Whipple's of the Third, all belonging to the Center Grand Division, +were ordered over the river to renew the attack which had been so +disastrous to the men of the Second and Ninth Corps. Hooker in person +accompanied this relieving column, and after a careful personal +inspection of the field, convinced of the uselessness of further effort +in that direction, sought to persuade the commanding general to abandon +the attack. + +Burnside, however, clung to the hope that repeated attacks must at last +result in a disruption of the enemy's line at some point, and the brave +men of the old Fifth were in their turn hurled against that position +which had been found impossible to carry by those who had preceded them. +Griffin and Humphrey's divisions fought their way to a point farther +advanced than had been reached in former attempts, some of the men +falling within twenty-five yards of the enemy's line, but they were +unable to reach it and were compelled to retire. It was clearly +impossible to carry the position. Hooker's educated eye had seen this +from the first, hence his unavailing suggestion before the useless +slaughter. His report contains the following grim lines: "Finding that I +had lost as many men as my orders required me to lose, * * * I suspended +the attack." With his repulse the battle of Fredericksburgh +substantially closed. The sharp shooters were not ordered to cross the +river on the thirteenth, and thus had no share in that day's fighting +and no casualties to report. On the early morning of the fourteenth, +however, the remainder of the Center Grand Division crossed to the +south bank, remaining in the streets of the town until the night of the +fifteenth, when the sharp shooters relieved the advanced pickets in +front of the heights, where considerable firing occurred during the +night, the opposing lines being very near each other. The ground was +thickly covered with the bodies of the gallant men who had fallen in the +several assaults, lying in every conceivable position on the field, gory +and distorted. How many of the readers of this book will make it real to +themselves what gore is? A familiar and easily spoken word, but a +dreadful thing in reality, that mass of clotted, gelatinous purple +oozing from mortal wounds. + +Such things are rarely noted in the actual heat of the battle, but to +occupy such a field after the fury of the strife is over is enough to +unman the stoutest heart, and many a brave man, who can coolly face the +actual danger, turns deathly sick as he looks upon the result as shown +in the mangled and blood stained forms of those who were so lately his +comrades and friends. During the night the army was withdrawn to the +north bank, and just before daylight the sharp shooters were called in. +So close were the lines that great caution was necessary to keep the +movement from the sharp eyes of the peering rebel pickets. To aid in +deceiving the enemy the bodies of the dead were propped up so as to +represent the presence of the picket line when daylight should appear. +The ruse was successful, and the sharp shooters were safely withdrawn to +the town. They were the last troops on this portion of the field, and +on arriving at the head of the bridge found that the planking had been +so far removed as to render the bridge impassable. They had, therefore, +to remain until the engineers could relay sufficient of the planks to +enable them to cross. In their retreat through the town they picked up +and brought away about one hundred and fifty stragglers and slightly +wounded men who had been left behind by other commands. The Army of the +Potomac was again on the north bank of the Rappahannock. They had fought +bravely in an assault which they had known was hopeless; they had left +behind them twelve thousand of their comrades and gained absolutely +nothing. The loss which they had inflicted bore no proportion to that +which they had suffered; what wonder, then, if for a time officers and +men alike almost despaired of the cause of the Union? This feeling of +depression and discouragement was, however, of short duration. The men +who composed the Army of the Potomac were in the field for a certain +well defined purpose, and until that purpose was fully accomplished they +intended to remain. No reverse could long chill their ardor or dampen +their splendid courage. Defeated to-day, to-morrow would find them as +ready to do and dare again as though no reverse had overtaken them. + +Thus it was that after a few days of rest the army was ready for +whatever task its commander might set for it. The sharp shooters +remained quietly in their camp until the 30th of December, when they +accompanied a detachment of cavalry on a reconnoissance northwardly +along the line of the Rappahannock to Richard's Ford, some ten miles +above Falmouth. The cavalry crossed the river at this point, covered by +the fire of the sharp shooters; a few prisoners were taken, and on the +1st of January, 1863, the command returned to their comfortable camp +near Falmouth, where they were agreeably surprised to find the Second +Regiment of Sharp Shooters, and among them, two other companies from +Vermont. The little band of Green Mountain boys composing Co. F had +sometimes felt a little lonesome for the want of congenial society, and +hailed the advent of their fellow Vermonters gladly. + +At about this time Col. Berdan became an appendage to the general staff, +with the title of Chief of Sharp Shooters. The two regiments were +distributed at various points along the line, and the detachments +reported directly to Col. Berdan. The right wing, under Lieut. Col. +Trepp, was assigned to the Right Grand Division under Gen. Sumner, but +Company F remained near army headquarters. + +On the 19th of January the Grand Divisions of Franklin and Hooker moved +up the river to essay its passage at Banks' ford, some six miles above +Falmouth, but in this affair, known as the Mud Campaign, the company had +no share, not even leaving their camp. Of this campaign it is enough to +say that it had for its object a turning operation similar to that +undertaken by Hooker some months later; but a furious rain storm +converted the country into one vast quagmire, in which horses, wagons, +guns and men were alike unable to move. It was entirely abortive, and, +after two days of exhausting labor, the disgusted troops floundered and +staggered and cursed their way back to their camps, actually having to +build corduroy roads on which to return. In consideration of their dry +and comfortable condition in camp, the sharp shooters freely conceded +all the glories of this campaign to others, preferring for themselves an +inglorious ease to the chance of being smothered in the mud. Some of the +difficulties of the march can be understood by recalling the requisition +of the young engineer officer who reported to his superior that it was +impossible for him to construct a road at a certain point which he had +been directed to make passable for artillery. "Impossible," said the +commander, "nothing is impossible; make a requisition for whatever is +necessary and build the road." Whereupon the officer made the following +requisition in the usual form: + + SPECIAL REQUISITION. + + REQUISITION FOR MEN. + + Fifty men, each twenty-five feet high, to work in the mud + eighteen feet deep. + + I certify that the above described men are necessary to the + building of a road suitable for the passage of men and guns, + in compliance with an order this day received from + Major-Gen. ----. Signed, + + ----, _Lieut. Engineers._ + +On the 25th of January Gen. Burnside was relieved from the command and +Gen. Hooker appointed to succeed him. The army accepted the change +willingly, for although they recognized the many manly and soldierly +qualities possessed by Gen. Burnside, and in a certain way respected and +even sympathized with him, they had lost confidence in his ability to +command so large an army in the presence of so astute a commander as +Lee. His manly avowal of his sole responsibility for the terrible +slaughter at Fredericksburgh commended him to their hearts and +understandings as an honest and generous man; but they had no wish to +repeat the experience for the sake of even a more generous +acknowledgement after another Fredericksburgh. + +The remainder of the winter of 1862-3 was spent by the men of Co. F in +comparative comfort, although severe snow storms were of frequent +occurrence, and occasional periods of exceedingly cold weather were +experienced, to the great discomfort of the men in their frail canvas +tents. Both armies seemed to have had enough of marching and fighting to +satisfy them for the time being, and even picket firing ceased by tacit +agreement and consent. + +Soon after assuming command, Gen. Hooker reorganized the army on a plan +more consistent with his own ideas than the one adopted by his +predecessor. The system of Grand Divisions was abandoned and corps were +reorganized; some corps commanders were relieved and others appointed to +fill the vacancies. The cavalry, which up to this time had had no +organization as a corps, was consolidated under Gen. Stoneman, and soon +became, under his able leadership, the equals, if not the superiors, of +the vaunted horsemen of the South. In these changes the sharp shooters +found themselves assigned to the first division of the Third Corps, +under Gen. Sickles. The division was commanded by Gen. Whipple, and the +brigade by Gen. De Trobriand. The detachments were called in and the +regiment was once more a unit. Under Gen. Hooker's system the army +rapidly improved in morale and spirit; he instituted a liberal system of +furloughs to deserving men, and took vigorous measures against +stragglers and men absent without leave, of whom there were at this time +an immense number--shown by the official rolls to be above eighty +thousand. Desertion, which under Burnside had become alarmingly +prevalent, was substantially stopped; and by the 1st of April the tone +and discipline of the army was such as to fairly warrant Hooker's proud +boast that it was "the grandest army on the planet." + +The sharp shooters parted with their comrades of the Fifth Corps with +regret. They had been identified with it since its organization, while +the army lay before Yorktown, in April of 1862; they had shared with it +splendid triumphs and bitter defeats; they had made many warm friends +among its officers and men, with whom they were loth to part. Of the +officers of the Third Corps they knew nothing, but they took their place +in its ranks, confident that their stout soldiership would win for them +the respect and esteem of their new comrades, even as it had that of the +friends they were leaving. Gen. De Trobriand, their new brigade +commander, was at first an object of special aversion. Foreign officers +were at that time looked upon with some degree of suspicion and dislike, +and perhaps the foreign sound of the name, together with the obnoxious +prefix, had an undue and improper influence in the minds of the new +comers. However it came about, the men were accustomed to speak of their +superior officer as Gen. "Toejam," "Frog Eater," and various other +disrespectful appellations, much to his chagrin and discomfiture. Later, +however, when they became better acquainted, they learned to have a +mutual respect and esteem for each other and two years later, when they +parted company finally, the general issued to them a farewell address +more than usually complimentary, as will be seen further on. Indeed, +long before that time and on the field of actual and bloody battle he +paused in front of the line of the regiment to say to them: "Men, you +may call me _Frog Eater_ now if you like, or by whatever name you like +better, if you will only always fight as you do to-day." The sharp +shooters passed the winter months in comparative inaction except for the +ordinary routine of drills, inspections, etc., incident to winter +quarters; they took part in all the grand reviews and parades for which +Hooker was somewhat famous, and which, if somewhat fatiguing to the men +and smacking somewhat of pomp and circumstance, had at least the effect +of showing to each portion of the great army what a magnificent body +they really were, thus adding to the confidence of the whole. + +On the twenty-first of February First Lieut. Bronson resigned, and was +succeeded by Lieut. E. W. Hindes, while, in deference to the unanimous +petition of the company, Sergt. C. D. Merriman was promoted second +lieutenant, both commissions to date from February 21, 1863. The roster +of the company now stood as follows: + + Captain, C. W. Seaton. + First Lieutenant, E. W. Hindes. + Second Lieutenant, C. D. Merriman. + First Sergeant, H. E. Kinsman. + Second Sergeant, A. H. Cooper. + Third Sergeant, Cassius Peck. + Fourth Sergeant, Edward F. Stevens. + Fifth Sergeant, Lewis J. Allen. + First Corporal, Paul M. Thompson. + Second Corporal, Ai Brown. + Third Corporal, L. D. Grover. + Fourth Corporal, Chas. M. Jordan. + Fifth Corporal, E. M. Hosmer. + Sixth Corporal, Edward Trask. + Seventh Corporal, W. H. Leach. + Eighth Corporal, M. Cunningham. + +The winter was not altogether devoted to sober work. Sports of various +kinds were indulged in, one of the most popular being snowball fights +between regiments and brigades. Upon one occasion after a sharp conflict +between the first and second regiments of sharp shooters, the former +captured the regimental colors of the latter, and for a short time some +little ill feeling between the regiments existed, a feeling which soon +wore away, however, with the opening of the spring campaign. + +On the 5th of April the first regiment had a grand celebration to mark +the anniversary of the advance on Yorktown where the sharp shooters were +for the first time under rebel fire. Target shooting, foot races, +jumping and wrestling were indulged in for small prizes. Jacob S. Bailey +of Co. F won the wrestling match against all comers and Edward Bartomey, +also of Company F, won the two hundred yards running race in +twenty-eight and one-half seconds. In the shooting test the Vermonters +were unfortunate, the prize going to Samuel Ingling of Michigan. Gen. +Whipple, the division commander, accompanied by several ladies who were +visiting friends in camp, were interested spectators of the games. As +the season advanced and the roads became settled and passable, +preparations began on all sides for an active campaign against the +enemy. "Fighting Joe Hooker" had inspired the army with much of his own +confidence and faith in the future, and it was believed by the troops +that at last they had a commander worthy in every respect of the +magnificent army he was called to command. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +On the 28th of April the Third Corps, to which the sharp shooters were +now attached, moved down the river to a point some five miles below +Falmouth to support Sedgwick's command which was ordered to cross the +Rappahannock at or near the point at which Gen. Franklin had crossed his +Grand Division at the battle of Fredericksburgh. + +Some days prior to this all surplus clothing and baggage had been turned +in. Eight days rations and sixty rounds of ammunition were now issued, +and the "finest army on the planet" was foot loose once more. Sedgwick's +crossing was made, however, without serious opposition, and on the +thirtieth the Third Corps, making a wide detour to the rear to avoid the +notice of the watchful enemy, turned northward and on the next day +crossed the river at United States ford and took its place in the lines +of Chancellorsville with the rest of the army. This great battle has +been so often described and in such minute detail that it is not +necessary for us to attempt a detailed description of the movements of +the different corps engaged, or indeed proper, since this purports to be +a history of the marches and battles of only one small company out of +the thousands there engaged. It will be remembered that the regiment was +now attached to the Third Corps, commanded by Gen. Sickles, the First +Division under Gen. Whipple and the Third Brigade, Gen. De Trobriand. +At eleven o'clock A. M. on this day, being the first of May, the battle +proper commenced, although severe and continuous skirmishing had been +going on ever since the first troops crossed the river on the 29th of +April. The Third Corps was held in reserve in rear of the Chancellorsville +house, having arrived at that point at about the time that the assaulting +columns moved forward to the attack. Almost instantly the fighting became +furious and deadly. The country was covered with dense undergrowth of +stunted cedars, among and over which grew heavy masses of the trailing +vines which grow so luxuriantly in that portion of Virginia, and which +renders the orderly passage of troops well nigh impossible. To add to +the difficulties which beset the attacking forces, it was impossible to +see what was in front of them; hence the first notice of the presence of +a rebel line of battle was a volley delivered at short range directly in +the faces of the Union soldiers, whose presence and movements were +unavoidably made plain to the concealed enemy by the noise made in +forcing a passage through the tangled forest. Notwithstanding these +disadvantages the Fifth Corps, with which the sharp shooters had so +recently parted, struck the enemy at about a mile distant from the +position now held by the Third Corps, and drove them steadily back for a +long distance until, having passed far to the front of the general line, +Meade found his flank suddenly attacked and was forced to retire. Other +columns also met the enemy at about the same distance to the front and +met with a like experience, gaining, however, on the whole, substantial +ground during the afternoon; and so night closed down on the first day +of the battle. + +On the morning of the 2d of May a division of the Third Corps was +detached to hold a gap in the lines between the Eleventh and Twelfth +Corps which Gen. Hooker thought too weak. The sharp shooters, however, +remained with the main column near the Chancellorsville house. Early on +this day the Confederate Gen. Jackson commenced that wonderful flank +march which resulted in the disaster to the Eleventh Corps on the right, +later in the day. This march, carefully masked as it was, was, +nevertheless, observed by Hooker, who at first supposed it the +commencement of a retreat on the part of Lee to Gordonsville, and Gen. +Sickles was ordered with the two remaining divisions of his corps to +demonstrate in that direction and act as circumstances should determine. +In this movement Birney's division had the advance, the first division, +under Whipple, being in support of Birney's left flank. The sharp +shooters were, however, ordered to report to Gen. Birney, and were by +him placed in the front line as skirmishers, although their deployment +was at such short intervals that it was more like a single rank line of +battle than a line of skirmishers. Sickles started on his advance at +about one o'clock P. M., his formation being as above described. Rapidly +pressing forward, the sharp shooters passed out of the dense thickets +into a comparatively open country, where they could at least breathe +more freely and see a little of what was before them. They soon struck a +line of rebels in position on the crest of a slight elevation, and brisk +firing commenced; the advance, however, not being checked, they soon +cleared the hill of the enemy and occupied it themselves. Changing front +to the left, the regiment moved from this position obliquely to the +southeast, and soon found themselves opposed to a line which had +evidently come to stay. The fighting here was very severe and lasted for +a considerable time. The rebels seemed to have a desire to stay the +advance of the Union troops at that particular point, and for some +particular reason, which was afterwards made apparent. + +After some minutes of brisk firing, the sharp shooters, by a sudden rush +on their flank, succeeded in compelling the surrender of the entire +force, which was found to consist of the Twenty-third Georgia regiment, +consisting of three hundred and sixty officers and men, which had been +charged by Jackson with the duty of preventing any advance of the Union +troops at this point which might discover his march towards Hooker's +right, hence the tenacity with which they clung to the position. + +In this affair Co. F lost Edward Trask and A. D. Griffin, wounded. + +The obstruction having been thus removed, the Third Corps, led by the +sharp shooters, pressed rapidly forward to the southward as far as +Hazel Grove, or the old furnace, some two miles from the place of +starting, and far beyond any supporting column which could be depended +on for early assistance should such be needed. It had now become +apparent to all that Jackson, instead of being in full retreat as had +been supposed, was in the full tide of one of the most violent +offensives on record; and at five o'clock P. M. Sickles was ordered to +attack his right flank and thus check his advance on the exposed right +of the army. But at about the same time Sickles found that he was +himself substantially cut off from the army, and that it would require +the most strenuous efforts to prevent the capture or destruction of his +own command. Furthermore, before he could make his dispositions and +march over the ground necessary to be traversed before he could reach +Jackson's right, that officer had struck his objective point, and the +rout of the Eleventh Corps was complete. The most that Sickles could now +do, under the circumstances, was to fight his own way back to his +supports, and to choose, if possible, such a route as would place him, +on his arrival, in a position to check Jackson's further advance and +afford the broken right wing an opportunity to rally and regain their +organization, which was hopelessly, as it appeared, lost. In the +darkness and gloom of the falling night, with unloaded muskets (for in +this desperate attempt the bayonet only was to be depended upon), the +two divisions of the Third Corps set their faces northwardly, and +pressed their way through the tangled undergrowth to the rescue of the +endangered right wing. + +As usual, the sharp shooters had the advance, and received the first +volley from the concealed enemy. They had received no especial orders +concerning the use, solely, of the bayonet, and were at once engaged in +a close conflict under circumstances in which their only superiority +over troops of the line consisted in the advantage of the rapidity of +fire afforded by their breech loaders over the muzzle loading rifles +opposed to them. Closely supported by the line of Birney's division, and +firing as they advanced at the flashes of the opposing guns (for they +could see no more), they pushed on until they were fairly intermingled +with the rebels, and in many individual instances, a long distance +inside the enemy's line, every man fighting for himself--for in this +confused melee, in the dense jungle and in the intense darkness of the +night, no supervision could be exercised by officers and many shots were +fired at distances no greater than a few feet. So they struggled on +until, with a hurrah and a grand rush, Birney's gallant men dashed +forward with the bayonet alone, and after ten minutes of hand to hand +fighting, they succeeded in retaking the plank road, and a considerable +portion of the line held by the left of the Eleventh Corps in the early +portion of the day and lost in the tremendous charge of Jackson's corps +in the early evening. Sickles had cut his way out, and more, he was now +in a position to afford the much needed aid to those who so sorely +required it. Both parties had fought to the point of exhaustion, and +were glad to suspend operations for a time for this cause alone, even +had no better reasons offered. But the Union army was no longer in a +position for offense; the extreme left, with which we have had nothing +to do, had been so heavily pressed during the afternoon that it had been +with difficulty that a disaster similar to the one which had overtaken +the right had been prevented on that flank, and in the center, at and +about Hazel Grove and the furnace, which had been held by Sickles, and +from which he had been ordered to the support of the right as we have +seen, an absolute gap existed, covered by no force whatever. This, then, +was the situation, briefly stated. + +The left was barely able to hold its own, the center was absolutely +abandoned, and the right had been utterly routed. In this state of +affairs the Union commander was in no mood for a further offense at that +time. On the other hand, the controlling mind that had conceived, and +thus far had successfully carried out this wonderful attack which had +been so disastrous to the Union army, and which bade fair to make the +Southern Confederacy a fact among the nations, had been stricken down in +the full tide of its success. Stonewall Jackson had been wounded at +about nine o'clock by the fire of his own men. He had passed beyond the +lines of his pickets to reconnoiter the Union position, and on his +return with his staff they were mistaken by his soldiers for a body of +federal cavalry and he received three wounds from the effects of which +he died about a week later. So fell a man who was perhaps as fine a type +of stout American soldiership as any produced on either side during the +war. + +The sharp shooters, with the remnant of the Third Corps, passed the +remainder of the night on the plank road near Dowdall's tavern. Co. F +had left their knapsacks and blankets under guard near the +Chancellorsville house when they advanced from that point in the +morning, as had the rest of the regiment. Under these circumstances +little sleep or rest could be expected even had the enemy been in less +close proximity. But with the rebel pickets hardly thirty yards distant, +and firing at every thing they saw or heard, sleep was out of the +question. So passed the weary night of the disastrous 2d of May at +Chancellorsville. + +During the night Gen. Hooker, no longer on the offensive, had been +busily engaged in laying out and fortifying a new line on which he might +hope more successfully to resist the attack which all knew must come at +an early hour on the morning of the third. On the extreme left the +troops were withdrawn from their advanced positions to a more compact +and shorter line in front of, and to the south and east of the +Chancellorsville house. The center, which at sunset was unoccupied by +any considerable body of Union troops, was made secure; and at daylight +Sickles, with the Third Corps, was ordered to withdraw to a position +indicated immediately in front of Fairview, a commanding height of land +now strongly occupied by the Union artillery. It was not possible, +however, to withdraw so large a body of troops from their advanced +position, in the face of so watchful an enemy, without interruption. In +fact, even before the movement had commenced, the enemy took the +initiative and commenced the battle of that day by a furious attack upon +the heights of Hazel Grove, the position so handsomely won by the Third +Corps on the previous day and from which they were ordered to the relief +of the Eleventh Corps at five o'clock on the preceding afternoon, as we +have seen. This height of land commanded almost every portion of the +field occupied by the Union army, and from it Sickles' line, as it stood +at daybreak, could be completely enfiladed. This position was held by an +inadequate force for its defense; indeed, as it was far in advance of +the new line of battle it may be supposed that observation, rather than +defense, was the duty of its occupants. They made a gallant fight, +however, but were soon compelled to retire with the loss of four guns. +The rebel commander, quick to see the great importance of the position, +crowned the hill with thirty guns which, with the four taken from the +Unionists, poured a heavy fire on all parts of the line, devoting +particular attention to Sickles' exposed left and rear. + +At almost the same period of time the rebels in Sickles' front made a +savage attack on his line. The men of the Third Corps fought, as they +always fought, stubbornly and well, but, with a force more than equal to +their own in point of numbers, flushed with their success of the +previous afternoon and burning to avenge the fall of Jackson, in their +front, and this enormous concentration of artillery hammering away on +their defenseless left, they were at last forced back to the new line in +front of Fairview. + +In preparation for the withdrawal contemplated, and before the rebel +attack developed itself, the sharp shooters had been deployed to the +front and formed a skirmish line to the north of the plank road with +their left on that highway, and thus received the first of the rebel +attack. They succeeded in repulsing the advance of the first line and +for half an hour held their ground against repeated attempts of the +rebel skirmishers to dislodge them. The position they held was one of +the utmost importance since it commanded the plank road which must be +the main line of the rebel approach to Fairview, the key to the new +Union line, and aware of this the men fought on with a courage and +determination seldom witnessed even in the ranks of that gallant +regiment. After half an hour of this perilous work, the regiment on +their right having given way, the sharp shooters were ordered to move by +the right flank to cover the interval thus exposed, their own place +being taken by still another body of infantry. Steadily and coolly the +men faced to the right at the sound of the bugle, and commenced their +march, still firing as they advanced. Necessarily, however, the men had +to expose themselves greatly in this movement, and as necessarily their +own fire was less effective than when delivered coolly from the shelter +of some friendly tree, log or bank which skirmishers are so prone to +seek and so loath to leave. Still the march was made in good order and +in good time, for the sharp shooters had only just time to fill the gap +when the rebels came on for a final trial for the mastery. For a long +time the green coated riflemen clung to their ground and gave, certainly +as good, as they received. But the end of the long struggle was at hand; +the regiment which had taken the position just vacated by the sharp +shooters was driven in confusion, and to cap the climax of misfortune, +the Union artillery, observing the withdrawal of other troops, and +supposing that all had been retired, opened a furious fire of canister +into the woods. The sharp shooters were now in a sad case--before them a +furious crowd of angry enemies, on the left the rebel artillery at Hazel +Grove sweeping their lines from left to right at every discharge, while, +worst of all, from the rear came the equally dangerous fire of their own +friends. To retreat was as bad as to advance. The ground to their right +was an unknown mystery and no hopeful sign came from the left; so taking +counsel from their very desperation they concluded to remain just there, +at least until some reasonable prospect of escape should present itself. +Taking such cover as they could get, some from the fire of our own guns +and some from those of the rebels, shifting from side to side of the +logs and trees as the fire came hotter from the one side or from the +other, but always keeping up their own fire in the direction of the +enemy, they maintained the unequal fight until an officer, sent for the +purpose, succeeded in stopping the fire of our own guns, and the sharp +shooters willingly withdrew from a position such as they had never found +themselves in before, and from a scene which no man present will ever +forget. + +They were sharply pressed by the advancing enemy, but now, being out of +the line of the enfilading fire from Hazel Grove, and no longer subject +to the fire of their own friends, the withdrawal was made in perfect +order, the line halting at intervals at the sound of the bugle and +delivering well aimed volleys at the enemy, now fully exposed, and even +at times making countercharges to check their too rapid advance. + +In one of these rallies there fell a man from another company whose +death as well deserves to be remembered in song as that of the "Sleeping +Sentinel." He had been condemned to death by the sentence of a court +martial, and was in confinement awaiting the execution of the sentence +when the army left camp at Falmouth at the outset of the campaign. In +some manner he managed to escape from his guards, and joined his company +on the evening of the second day's light. Of course it was irregular, +and no precedent for it could possibly be found in the army regulations, +but men were more valuable on that field than in the guard house; +perhaps, too, his captain hoped that he might, in the furor of the +battle, realize his own expressed wish that he might meet his fate there +instead of at the hands of a firing party of the provost guard, and +thus, by an honorable death on the battle field, efface to some extent +the stain on his character. However it was, a rifle was soon found for +him (rifles without owners were plenty on that field), and he took his +place in the ranks. During all of that long forenoon's fighting he was a +marked man. All knew his history, and all watched to see him fall; for +while others carefully availed themselves of such shelter as the field +afforded, he alone stood erect and in full view of the enemy. Many times +he exhausted the cartridges in his box, each time replenishing it from +the boxes of his dead or wounded companions. He seemed to bear a charmed +life; for, while death and wounds came to many who would have avoided +either, the bullets passed him harmless by. At last, however, in one of +the savage conflicts when the sharp shooters turned on the too closely +following enemy, this gallant soldier, with two or three of his +companions, came suddenly upon a small party of rebels who had +outstripped their fellows in the ardor of the pursuit; he, being in the +advance, rushed upon them, demanding their surrender. "Yes," said one, +"we surrender," but at the same time, as ---- lowered his gun, the +treacherous rebel raised his, and the sharp shooter fell, shot through +the heart. He spoke no word, but those who caught the last glimpse of +his face, as they left him lying where he fell, knew that he had +realized his highest hope and wish, and that he died content. The sequel +to this sad personal history brings into tender recollection the memory +of that last and noblest martyr to the cause of the Union, President +Lincoln. The case was brought to his notice by those who felt that the +stain upon the memory of this gallant, true hearted soldier was not +fully effaced, even by his noble self-sacrifice, and would not be while +the records on the books stood so black against him. The President was +never appealed to in vain when it was possible for him to be merciful, +and, sitting down, he wrote with his own hand a full and free pardon, +dating it as of the morning of that eventful 3d of May, and sent it to +the widow of the dead soldier in a distant state. It was such acts as +this that made Abraham Lincoln so loved by the soldiers of the Union. +They respected the President, but Abraham Lincoln--the man--was _loved_. + +Upon the arrival of the retreating riflemen at the new line in front of +Fairview, they found their division, the main portion of which had, of +course, preceded them, in line of battle in rear of the slight defenses +which had been thrown up at that point, where they enjoyed a brief +period of much needed repose, if a short respite from actual personal +encounter could be called repose. They were still under heavy artillery +fire, while musketry was incessant and very heavy only a short distance +away, the air above their heads being alive, at times, with everything +that kills. Yet so great was their fatigue, and so quiet and restful +their position in comparison with what it had been for so long a time, +that, after receiving rations and a fresh supply of ammunition for +their exhausted boxes, officers and men alike lay down on the ground, +and most of them enjoyed an hour of refreshing sleep. So + + "Use doth breed a habit in a man." + +Their rest was not of long duration, however, for the rebels made a +desperate and savage attack on the line in their front and the Third +Corps soon found itself again engaged. The enemy, under cover of their +artillery on the high ground at Hazel Grove, made an assault on what was +now the front of the Union line, (if it could be said to have a front,) +while the force which the sharp shooters had so long held in check +during the early part of the day made a like attack on that line now the +right of the entire army. So heavy was the attack, and so tenaciously +sustained, that the Union troops were actually forced from their lines +in front and on the flank of Fairview, and the hill was occupied by the +rebels, who captured, and held for a time, all the Union guns on that +eminence. It was at this stage of affairs that the Third Corps was again +called into action, and charging the somewhat disorganized enemy they +retook the hill with the captured guns, and following up the flying +rebels, they drove them to, and beyond the position they had occupied in +the morning. Here, however, meeting with a fresh line of the enemy and +being brought to a check, they were ordered again to retire; for Hooker, +by this time intent only upon getting his army safely back across the +river, had formed still another new line near to, and covering, the +bridges and fords by which alone could he place his forces in a position +of even comparative safety. To this line then the Third Corps, with the +tired and decimated sharp shooters, retired late in the afternoon, +hoping and praying for a respite from their terrible labors. For a +little time it looked, indeed, as if their hopes would be realized, but +as darkness drew on the corps commander, desiring to occupy a wooded +knoll at some little distance from his advanced picket line, and from +which he anticipated danger, ordered Gen. Whipple, to whose division the +sharp shooters had been returned, to send a brigade to occupy it. Gen. +Whipple replied that he had one regiment who were alone equal to the +task and to whom he would entrust it, and ordered the sharp shooters to +attempt it. + +Between this wooded hill and the position from which the regiment must +charge was an open field about one hundred yards in width which was to +be crossed under what might prove a destructive fire from troops already +occupying the coveted position. It was a task requiring the most +undaunted courage and desperate endeavor on the part of men who had +already been for two full days and nights in the very face of the enemy, +and they felt that the attempt might fairly have been assigned to a +portion of the forty thousand men who, up to that time, had been held in +reserve by Gen. Hooker for some inscrutable purpose, and who had not +seen the face of an enemy, much less fired a shot at them; but they +formed for the assault with cheerful alacrity. To Co. F was assigned +the lead, and marching out into the open field they deployed as +regularly as though on their old drill ground at camp of instruction. +Corps, brigade and division commanders were looking on, and the men felt +that now, if never before, they must show themselves worthy sons of the +Green Mountain state. Led by their officers, they dashed out into the +plain closely supported by the rest of the regiment. Night was rapidly +coming on, and in the gathering gloom objects could hardly be +distinguished at a distance of a hundred yards. Half the open space was +crossed, and it seemed to the rushing men that their task was to be +accomplished without serious obstructions, when, from the edge of the +woods in front, came a close and severe volley betraying the presence of +a rebel line of battle; how strong could only be judged by the firing, +which was so heavy, however, as to indicate a force much larger than the +attacking party. On went the brave men of Co. F, straight at their work, +and behind them closely followed the supporting force. In this order +they reached the edge of the forest when the enemy, undoubtedly +supposing from the confidence with which the sharp shooters advanced +that the force was much larger than it really was, broke and fled and +the position was won. + +From prisoners and wounded rebels captured in that night attack it was +learned that the force which had thus been beaten out of a strong +position by this handful of men was a portion of the famous Stonewall +brigade, Jackson's earliest command, and they asserted that it was the +first time in the history of the brigade that it had ever been driven +from a chosen position. The sharp shooters were justly elated at their +success and the more so when Gen. Whipple, riding over to the point so +gallantly won, gave them unstinted praise for their gallant action. In +this affair the regiment lost many gallant officers and men, among whom +were Lieut. Brewer of Co. C and Capt. Chase, killed, and Major Hastings +and Adjt. Horton, wounded. In Co. F Michael Cunningham, J. S. Bailey and +E. M. Hosmer were wounded. + +Major Hastings had not been a popular officer with the command. Although +a brave and capable man, he was of a nervous temperament, and in the +small details of camp discipline was apt to be over zealous at times. He +had, therefore, incurred the dislike of many men, who were wont to apply +various opprobrious epithets to him at such times and under such +circumstances as made it extremely unpleasant for him. Such were the +methods adopted by some soldiers to make it comfortable for officers to +whom they had a dislike. + +In the case of the Major, however, this was a thing of the past. On this +bloody field the men learned to respect their officer, and he, as he was +borne from the field, freely forgave the boys all the trouble and +annoyance they had caused him, in consideration of their gallant bearing +on that day. Adjt. Horton, also a brave and efficient officer, received +a severe wound--which afterwards cost him his good right arm--while +using the rifle of J. S. Bailey of Co. F, who had been wounded. + +Co. F, which, it will be remembered, had been acting as skirmishers, +were pushed forward in advance of the main portion of the regiment to +further observe the movements of the enemy and to guard against a +surprise, and shortly afterwards were moved by the flank some two +hundred yards to the right, and were soon after relieved by a force of +infantry of the line which had been sent up for that purpose. While +retiring toward the position to which they were directed, they passed +nearly over the same ground which they had just vacated when they moved +by the right flank, as previously mentioned, and received from the +concealed rebels, who had reoccupied the line, a severe volley at close +range. Facing to the right, Co. F at once charged this new enemy and +drove them in confusion from the field. Lying down in this advanced +position they passed the remainder of the night in watchful suspense. + +At day break on the fourth day of the battle, Co. F was relieved from +its position on the picket line and returned to the regiment, which was +deployed as skirmishers, and led the van of Whipple's division in a +charge to check movements of the enemy which had for their apparent +object the interposition of a rebel force between the right wing of the +army and its bridges. Firing rapidly as they advanced, and supported by +the division close on their heels, they drove the enemy from their rifle +pits, which were occupied by the infantry of the Third Corps, the sharp +shooters being still in front. Here they remained, exchanging occasional +shots with the rebel sharp shooters as occasion offered, for some hours. +Hooker was not minded to force the fighting at Chancellorsville; +preferring to await the result of Sedgwick's battle at Salem Church, +which had raged furiously on the preceding afternoon until darkness put +an end to the strife, and the tell tale guns of which even now gave +notice of further effort. + +Lee, however, pugnacious and aggressive, determined to renew his attack +on the right, and, if possible, secure the roads to the fords and +bridges by which alone could the defeated army regain the north bank of +the river. With this view he reenforced Jackson's (now Stuart's) corps, +and organized a powerful attack on the position of the Third Corps. The +force of the first onset fell on the sharp shooters, who fought with +their accustomed gallantry, but were forced by the weight of numbers +back to the main line. Here the fighting was severe and continuous. The +one party fighting for a decisive victory, and the other, alas, only +bent on keeping secure its last and only line of retreat; but the +incentive, poor as it was, was sufficient, and the rebels were unable to +break the line. After four hours of continued effort they abandoned the +assault and quiet once more prevailed. In this fight Gen. Whipple, the +division commander, was killed. He was a gallant and an able soldier, +greatly beloved by his men for the kindliness of his disposition. He had +an especial liking for and confidence in the sharp shooters, which was +fully understood and appreciated by them, and they felt his death as a +personal loss. + +To add to the horrors of this bloody field, on which lay nearly nine +thousand dead and wounded Union soldiers and nearly or quite as many +rebels, the woods took fire and hundreds of badly wounded men, unable to +help themselves, and hopeless of succor, perished miserably in the +fierce flames. Nothing in the whole history of the war is more horrible +than the recollection of those gallant men, who had been stricken down +by rebel bullets, roasted to death in the very presence of their +comrades, impotent to give them aid in their dire distress and agony. + + "Oh, happy _dead_ who early fell." + +It was reserved for the _wounded_ to experience the agonies of a +ten-fold death. Hour after hour the conflagration raged, until a +merciful rain quenched it and put an end to the horrible scene. The +Third Corps remained in their position during the night, the sharp +shooters, oddly enough as it seemed to them, with a strong line of +infantry behind works between them and the enemy. Nothing occurred to +break their repose, and for the first time for seven days they enjoyed +eight hours of solid sleep unbroken by rebel alarms. + +At day break on the morning of the 5th of May they were aroused by the +usual command of "sharp shooters to the front," and again found +themselves on the picket line confronting the enemy. The day passed, +however, without serious fighting, one or two attacks being made by +rebel skirmishers, more, apparently, to ascertain if the Union troops +were actually there than for any more serious business. + +These advances were easily repulsed by the sharp shooters without other +aid, and at nine o'clock P. M., after seventeen hours of +continuous duty without rations--for the eight days rations with which +they started from their camp at Falmouth had long since been exhausted, +and the scanty supply they had received on the afternoon of the third +was barely enough for one meal--they were relieved and retired to the +main line. The company lost on this day but one man, Martin C. Laffie, +shot through the hand. Laffie was permanently disabled by his wound, and +on the 1st of the following August was transferred to the Invalid Corps +and never rejoined the company. Several prisoners were captured by the +men of Co. F on that day, but on the whole it was, as compared with the +days of the preceding week, uneventful. On the 6th the army recrossed +the Rappahannock by the bridges which had been preserved by the stubborn +courage of the Third Corps, and the battle of Chancellorsville passed +into history. The sharp shooters returned to their old camp at Falmouth +as they had returned to the same camp after the disastrous battle of +Fredericksburgh. It seemed as though they were fated never to leave that +ground to fight a successful battle. Only eight days before they had +marched out with buoyant anticipations, full of courage and full of +hope. They returned discouraged and dispirited beyond description. + +At Fredericksburgh the army had marched to the attack without hope or +expectation of victory, for their soldiers' instinct told them that that +was impossible. At Chancellorsville, however, they felt that they had +everything to hope for--a magnificent army in full health and high +spirits, an able and gallant commander, for such he had always shown +himself to be, and a fair field. The thickets of the wilderness, it is +true, were dense and well nigh impassable for them, but they were as bad +for the enemy as for themselves, and they had felt that on anything like +a fair field they ought to win. Now they found themselves just where +they started; they had left seventeen thousand of their comrades dead, +or worse than dead, on the field, and fourteen guns remained in the +hands of the rebels as trophies of their victory; guns, too, that were +sure to be turned against the federals in the very next battle. Twenty +thousand stand of small arms were also left on the field to be gathered +up by the victors. It was a disheartening reflection, but soldier-like +the men put it from their thoughts and turned their minds and hands to +the duties and occupations of the present. In this battle Co. F lost +Edward Trask, Jacob S. Bailey, Almon D. Griffin, Martin C. Laffie and +John Monahan, wounded, besides several more whose names do not now occur +to the writer. Bailey had been previously wounded at Malvern Hill and on +this occasion his wound necessitated the amputation of his left arm, and +he was honorably discharged from the service on the twenty-sixth of the +following August. Monahan was transferred to the Invalid Corps and +Griffin returned to his company and remained with it to be honorably +mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service, on the 13th of +September, 1864. Trask returned to his company to serve with it until +the 5th of May, 1864, when he was killed in the battle of the +Wilderness. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +GETTYSBURGH TO THE WILDERNESS. + + +From the date of their return from the field of Chancellorsville to the +11th of June, the sharp shooters remained in camp near Falmouth engaged +only in the usual routine duties of camp life. Drills, reviews and other +parades of ceremony were of frequent occurrence, but nothing of moment +took place to essentially vary the monotony of their lives. Occasionally +a detail would be made from the company for a day or two of especial +service at some portion of the picket line where the rebel sharp +shooters had become unusually aggressive, but affairs in those parts +generally soon became satisfactory, and the men would be ordered back to +camp. These little episodes were eagerly welcomed by men tired again of +the inactivity of their lives in permanent camp. During this time, +however, important changes in the organization of the company took +place. Capt. Seaton, who had never entirely recovered from the effects +of his wound received at Malvern Hill, resigned on the 15th day of May, +and E. W. Hindes was appointed and commissioned captain. C. D. Merriman +was promoted to be first lieutenant and H. E. Kinsman second lieutenant, +the two former to date from May 15, 1863, and the latter from May 26. + +The non-commissioned officers were advanced to rank as follows: + + First Sergeant, Lewis J. Allen. + Second Sergeant, A. H. Cooper. + Third Sergeant, Cassius Peck. + Fourth Sergeant, Paul M. Thompson. + Fifth Sergeant, Edward F. Stevens. + First Corporal, Jacob S. Bailey. + Second Corporal, L. D. Grover. + Third Corporal, Chas. M. Jordan. + Fourth Corporal, E. M. Hosmer. + Fifth Corporal, Edward Trask. + Sixth Corporal, W. H. Leach. + Seventh Corporal, M. Cunningham. + Eighth Corporal, Edward Lyman. + +The new officers had been connected with the company from its +organization; they were all roll of honor men, straight up from the +ranks, and were men of distinguished courage and skill, as they had +demonstrated already on at least fifteen occasions upon which the Army +of the Potomac had been engaged in pitched battles with the enemy, +besides numberless minor engagements and skirmishes. Indeed, their +lives might be said to have been passed, for the year and a half they +had been in the field, in constant battle, and the same was true of +every man in the company as well. The month of June was, however, +destined to bring with it hard marches and stirring events. + +Not content with the results of the Maryland campaign of 1862, which had +resulted in a disastrous rebel defeat at Antietam, Lee, perhaps +recognizing the historical fact that a power which allows itself to be +placed entirely on the defensive is sure to be beaten in the end, +determined to essay once more an invasion of the loyal states, and to +transfer the seat of war, if possible, from the impoverished and +suffering South, to the soil of populous and wealthy Pennsylvania. + +His route was substantially the same one pursued by him the previous +year, but not now, as on that occasion, was the severe fighting to take +place on the soil of Virginia. + +By skillful feints and rapid marches, he succeeded in placing his army +north of the Potomac before the Union commander could strike a blow at +him. Early in the month it was certain that Lee was about to take the +field in some direction. Sick and wounded were sent to northern +hospitals, all surplus baggage and stores were turned in, and the Union +army, stripped of everything but what the men carried on their persons, +was ready to follow or to confront him. On the 11th of June the sharp +shooters broke camp at five o'clock P. M., and, for the third time, +marched out from the ground that had been their home for nearly seven +months. Twice before had they left the same place to fight desperate +battles with the same enemy, and twice had they returned to it, defeated +and despondent. Many a man, as the regiment marched out, wondered in his +heart if such would be their fate again; but soldiers are optimists by +nature and education; they soon learn that to fear and dread defeat is +to invite it; that confidence begets confidence, and that the example of +courage and cheerfulness is contagious. Not for a long time, therefore, +did these gloomy thoughts possess their minds, and soon they were +stepping out merrily to the sound of the bugle. + +Other portions of the army had preceded them, and still others were +starting by different roads; and as far as the eye could reach, as the +columns passed over some height of land, could be seen the clouds of +dust that, rising high in the air, betrayed the presence of marching +men. Pressing rapidly northward, passing successively Hartwood church, +Rappahannock Station, Catlet's Station, Manassas Junction, Centerville +and Green Springs--all familiar as the scenes of past experience, and +many of them sacred to the memory of dead comrades--they forded the +Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on the 25th of June and reached the mouth of +the Monocacy, having marched thirty-one miles on that day. Arriving at +that point, tired and foot-sore, as may be imagined after such a march, +they found an aide-de-camp ordered to conduct them to their allotted +camp ground. He appeared to be one of those nice young men who were so +often appointed to positions on the staff for their beauty or their +fragrance, or for the general elegance of manners, rather than for their +ability to be of any real service. This young person, with no apparent +idea of where he wanted to go, marched them up and down and around and +about, until the patience of Trepp, the Dutch lieutenant-colonel, was +exhausted. Commanding halt, he turned to the bewildered aide and with +phrases and objurgations not fitted for the polite ears of those who +will read this book, concluded his lecture with "Now mine frent, dese +men is tired and dey is to march no more dis day," then, turning to the +regiment, he commanded, in tones that might have been heard at +Washington, "Men, lie down!" and the sharp shooters camped just there. +Leaving this place on the twenty-sixth, they marched to Point of Rocks, +and on the twenty-seventh to Middletown. On the twenty-eighth they +marched via Frederick and Walkersville and crossed the Catoctin +Mountains at Turner Gap. On this day the corps commander, General +Sickles, returned to his command after a short absence, and on the same +day General Hooker, not being able to make his ideas of the campaign +square with those of the department generals at Washington, was +relieved, at his own request, and General Meade was appointed to the +command. The army parted with Hooker without very much regret. They +recognized his wonderful fighting qualities as a division or corps +commander, and he was personally popular, but they had never quite +forgiven him for Chancellorsville, where he took his army, beaten and +well nigh crushed, back from an enemy numerically weaker than his own, +while he had yet nearly forty thousand soldiers who had not been engaged +in the action, and hardly under fire. It is safe to say that his army +had no longer that degree of confidence in his ability to handle large +armies, and to direct great battles, so essential to success. Of his +successor the army only knew that he was a scholarly, polished +gentleman, personally brave, and that as a brigade, division and corps +commander he had made few mistakes. On the whole, his record was +favorable and the men marched willingly under him, although the choice +of the rank and file might possibly have been some other man. + +On the twenty-ninth the sharp shooters marched with the corps to +Taneytown, some twenty miles distant, and on the next day to within two +miles of Emmetsburgh, where they camped for the night. On the morning of +July 1st the guns of Reynold's fight at Gettysburgh were plainly heard, +and in the late afternoon they started for the point of action, some ten +miles distant, making most of the distance at the double quick. + +At about sunset they arrived on the field and went into bivouac in the +rear of the hill known in the history of the subsequent battle as Little +Round Top, and were once more confronting their ancient antagonists. The +sharpshooters were now attached to the second brigade, commanded by Gen. +J. H. H. Ward, of the first division, under Gen. Birney, the old third +division having been consolidated with the first and second after the +terrible losses of the corps at Chancellorsville, and in this connection +we shall have to follow them through the battle of Gettysburgh. The +battle of the 1st of July was over. The First and Eleventh Corps had +sustained a serious defeat, and at the close of that day the rolls of +these two corps showed the terrible loss of over nine thousand men, and +yet the battle had hardly commenced. The situation was not an +encouraging one to contemplate; not half the Union army was up, some +corps being yet thirty or forty miles distant, while the events of the +day showed that the rebel army was well concentrated--but the die was +cast, events forced the battle then and there, and thus the rocky ridges +of Gettysburgh became of historic interest and will remain so forever. + +Troops arrived rapidly during the night and were assigned places, as +they arrived, in the chosen line, which was in a direction nearly north +and south. The extreme left rested on a rocky height rising some three +hundred feet above the level of the surrounding country; some five +hundred yards to the north of this hill, called Round Top, rises a +similar elevation, although of less height, called Little Round Top; +thence north to Cemetery Hill, immediately overlooking the village of +Gettysburgh about two miles distant, the Union troops occupied, or were +intended to occupy, a rocky ridge overlooking and commanding the plain +to the westward. From Cemetery Hill the line was refused and curved +backward to the east until the extreme right rested on a wooded eminence +called Culp Hill, and fronted to the east, so that the entire line was +some three miles, or perhaps a little more, long, and was in shape like +a fish hook, the shank lying along the ridge between Round Top and +Cemetery Hill, and the point on Culp Hill. Below the bend of the hook, +at the base of Cemetery Hill, lay the village of Gettysburgh. Such was +the Union position at daylight on the morning of the 2d of July, 1863. +Fronting that portion of the federal troops which was faced to the west, +and at a distance of about one mile, ran another ridge, parallel to the +first, called Seminary Ridge, and which was occupied by the Confederate +army. To the north and east of Gettysburgh the ground was open, no +ridges or considerable body of wood land existed to cover or screen the +movements of the rebel troops. The village of Gettysburgh was occupied +by the enemy on the afternoon of the 1st of July after the defeat of the +First and Eleventh Corps, and yet remained in their possession. Midway +between the two armies ran the Emmetsburgh road, following the crest of +a slight elevation between the two lines of battle. The position +assigned to the Third Corps was that portion of the line immediately +north of Little Round Top where the ridge is less high than at any other +portion. Indeed, it sinks away at that point until it is hardly higher +than the plain in front, and not as high as the ridge along which runs +the Emmetsburgh road. At an early hour on the morning of the 2d, +Sickles, believing himself that the latter ridge afforded the better +position, and perhaps mistaking Gen. Meade's instructions, passed down +into the valley and took up the line of the Emmetsburgh road, his center +resting at a point known in the history of the battle as the "peach +orchard." From this point his line was prolonged to the right by +Humphrey's Division along the road, while Birney's Division, to which +Ward's brigade with the sharp shooters was attached, formed the left, +which was refused; the angle being at the peach orchard, and the extreme +left resting nearly at the base of Round Top, at a point known by the +altogether suggestive and appropriate name of the Devil's Den--a name +well applied, for a more desolate, ghostly place, or one more suggestive +of the home of evil spirits can hardly be imagined. Barren of tree or +shrub, and almost destitute of any green thing, it seems cursed of God +and abandoned of man. + +Pending the deployment of the Third Corps, four companies of the sharp +shooters, F, I, D and E, with the Third Maine, a small regiment of only +two hundred men, were detached from Ward's brigade and ordered to a +point in front and to the right of the peach orchard, where they were +directed to advance to a piece of wooded land on the west of the +Emmetsburgh road and feel for the enemy at that point. The four +companies, deployed as skirmishers, advanced in a northwesterly +direction, and at about nine o'clock encountered a strong force of the +rebels, consisting of at least one brigade of Longstreet's command, +who, with arms stacked, were busily engaged in preparing their breakfast +when the rifles of the sharp shooters gave them notice of other +employment. They were taken entirely by surprise, and quickly perceiving +this fact, the riflemen dashed forward, firing as they pressed on as +rapidly as the breech loaders could be made to work. The rebels made but +a short stand; taken entirely unprepared and unaware of the +insignificant numbers of the oncoming force, they seized their guns from +the stack, and, after one or two feeble volleys, retreated in confusion. + +The general in command made a gallant personal effort to rally his men, +but fell dead from his horse immediately in front of Co. F. The rout of +the enemy at this point was now complete, and pressing their advantage +to the utmost the sharp shooters drove them back nearly to the main +rebel line on Seminary Ridge, capturing many prisoners who were sent to +the rear, and a large number of small arms which, however, they were +unable to bring away. Having thus cleared the ground nearly to the main +rebel line, they took position behind walls, fences, etc., and for the +two or three hours following were engaged in sharp shooting with the +enemy similarly posted in their front. Their position was now some +distance to the right of the peach orchard and in front of the right, or +right center, of Humphrey's Division. + +At about half-past three in the afternoon Longstreet commenced his +attack on Sickles' extreme left near Round Top, the battle soon +becoming very severe also at the angle in the peach orchard and +involving Humphrey further to the right. The attacking columns had +passed to the left of the sharp shooters and the fighting was now in +their left and rear. The rebels in their front also became very +aggressive and they were gradually pushed back until they became +intermingled with the troops of Humphrey's Division posted along the +Emmetsburgh road where the struggle soon became close and deadly. The +angle at the peach orchard was the key to Sickles' line, and against it +Longstreet pushed his best troops in dense masses, and at this point +occurred some of the hardest fighting that took place on the whole +field; but as the troops whose doings are chronicled in these pages had +no part in that struggle, it is enough to say that after a gallant +resistance the line was broken at the angle and the shouting rebels, +rushing through the gap, took both portions of the line in reverse, +while both portions were yet resisting heavy attacks on their fronts. +Such a situation could have but one result--both wings were compelled to +retire in confusion. + +Anticipating this, Meade had ordered heavy supporting columns to be +formed behind the crest of the ridge and these were ordered down to the +relief of the sorely tried Third Corps. Barnes' Division of the Fifth +Corps, the same to which the sharp shooters had been attached for so +long a time, and in the ranks of which they had fought in all the +battles previous to Fredericksburgh, came gallantly to the rescue, but +were unable to withstand the terrible vigor of the Confederate assault, +and Caldwell's Division of the Second Corps was also thrown in to check +the onset. + +These troops fought with the greatest courage but were defeated with the +loss of half the men engaged. In the mean time Longstreet, finding the +ground between the left of Birney's Division and the base of Round Top +unoccupied, pushed a force behind the Union left at that point which +succeeded in gaining a position in the rocky ravine between the two +Round Tops from which they pushed forward to secure the possession of +the lesser elevation, at that moment unguarded. This was the key to the +entire Union line, and once in the hands of the rebels would probably +decide the battle in their favor. But Warren, another old Fifth Corps +friend, quickly discovered the danger and ordered Vincent with his +brigade to occupy and defend this important point. The struggle for its +possession was terrible, but victory perched upon the Union banners and +the hill was made secure. Vincent and Hazlett, both of the Fifth Corps +also, were killed here. They had been well known and highly esteemed by +many of the officers and men of the sharp shooters, and by none were +they more sincerely lamented. + +Darkness put an end to the battle of July 2d. Lee had gained +considerable ground, for the whole of the line occupied by the Third +Corps was now in his possession. There yet remained for him to carry the +real line of the federal defenses which was as yet intact. The position +taken by Gen. Sickles had been intrinsically false, and was one from +which he would have been withdrawn without fighting had time allowed. +Lee had gained ground, and that was all, unless the inspiriting effects +of even partial success can be counted. + +Many thousands of Union soldiers lay dead and wounded on the field, and +the Army of the Potomac was the weaker by that number of men, but Lee +had lost an equal, or more likely a greater number, so that on the whole +the result of the day could not be counted as a substantial gain for the +rebels, and when the federals lay down for the night, it was with +confidence and assurance that the morrow would bring its reward for the +mishaps of the day. The corps commander, Gen. Sickles, had been wounded +and Gen. Birney succeeded to the command. Gen. Ward took command of the +division, and thus it came about that Col. Berdan was in command of the +brigade. + +Company F had killed on this day Sergeant A. H. Cooper, and Geo. Woolly +and W. H. Leach wounded. Woolly's wound was severe and resulted in the +loss of his arm. Other companies in the regiment had suffered more or +less severely, the four companies engaged in front and to the right of +the peach orchard losing twenty men, killed and wounded, out of the one +hundred engaged. + +During the night succeeding the 2d of July the shattered remains of the +Third Corps was withdrawn from the front line and massed behind the +sheltering ridge as a reserve. Its terrible losses of the day, added to +those sustained at Chancellorsville, had reduced the once powerful corps +almost to the proportions of a brigade. As the troops stood in line the +colors were like a fringe along its front, so close together were they. +The regiments that defended them were like companies--indeed, many +regiments had not the full number of one hundred men which is called for +on paper by a full company. The Third Corps was nearly a matter of +history, but the few men left with their colors were veterans, tried and +true, and although they were not displeased to be relieved from the +active fighting yet in store for the federals, they were quite ready to +stand to arms again whenever it should please Gen. Meade to so direct. +At daylight the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire all along the line. +The random nature of the firing was proof, however, that nothing more +serious than demonstration was intended. + +Late at night on the preceding day the rebels had succeeded in gaining +important ground on the extreme right, and had indeed possessed +themselves of almost the whole of the wooded eminence known as Culp's +Hill, from which their artillery, should they be allowed time to get it +up, would take almost the entire Union line in the rear. To regain this, +Geary's Division was sent in early in the day, and after four hours of +severe fighting the rebels were dislodged and the Union right was +restored. Affairs now became quiet and so remained for some +hours--suspiciously quiet indeed, and all felt that some great effort +was about to be made by the Confederates. At about one o'clock a single +gun was fired as a signal from the Confederate lines near the seminary, +and instantly one hundred and fifteen guns opened on the Union center, +which was held by the First and Second Corps, supported by all that +remained of the Third. Never before had the Union troops been subjected +to such an artillery fire. Previous to this battle the cannonading at +Malvern Hill had always been quoted as the heaviest of the war. The +bombardment of Fredericksburgh had also been on a magnificent scale, but +here the troops were to learn that still further possibilities existed. +Eighty Union guns responded vigorously, and for two hours these +guns--nearly two hundred in number--hurled their shot and shell across +the intervening plain in countless numbers. The Union artillery was +posted along the crest of, or just behind the ridge, while the lines of +infantry were below them on the western slope. The soldiers lay prone on +the ground, sheltering themselves behind such inequalities of the +surface as they could find, well knowing that this awful pounding was +only the precursor of a struggle at closer quarters, which, if less +demonstrative and noisy, would be more deadly; for experience had taught +them that however frightful to look at and listen to, the fire of shell +at such long range was not, on the whole, a thing to inspire great fear. +It is a curious fact, however, that heavy artillery fire, long +sustained, begets an irresistible desire to sleep; and hundreds of Union +soldiers went quietly to sleep and slept soundly under the soothing +influence of this tremendous lullaby. + +At three o'clock the artillery fire ceased, and from the woods crowning +Seminary Ridge, a mile away, swarmed the grey coated rebels for another +attempt on the federal line. Lee had tried the left and had failed; he +had been partially successful on the right on the preceding evening, but +had been driven back in the morning. It only remained for him to try the +center. In the van of the charging column came Picket's Division of +Virginia troops, the flower of Lee's army, fresh and eager for the +strife. On his right was Wilcox's brigade of Hill's corps, and on his +left Pender's Division. Could Picket but succeed in piercing the Union +center, these two supporting columns, striking the line at points +already shattered and disorganized by the passage of Picket's command, +might be expected to give way in turn, and the right and left wings of +the federal army would be hopelessly separated. But others besides Lee +saw this, and Meade hastened to support the points on which the coming +storm must burst with all the troops at his command. The Third Corps was +ordered up and took position on the left of the First, directly opposite +the point at which Wilcox must strike the line, if he reached so far. +Our artillery, which had been nearly silent for some time, opened on the +oncoming masses as they reached the Emmetsburgh road with canister and +case shot which made fearful gaps in their front, but closing steadily +on their colors they continued to advance. Their courage was +magnificent and worthy of a better cause. Eight Union batteries, +brought forward for the purpose, poured an enfilading fire into the +rushing mass, while Stannard's Second Vermont Brigade, far in advance of +the main line, suddenly rose up and, quickly changing front, forward on +the right, commenced a close and deadly fire directly on their exposed +right flank. Their track over that open plain was marked by a swath of +dead and dying men as wide as the front of their column; still they +struggled on and some portion of the attacking force actually pierced +the Union line, and the rebel Gen. Armistead was killed with his hand +upon one of the guns of Wheeler's battery. The point had been well +covered, however, and no sooner did the rebel standards appear crowning +the stone wall, which was the principal defensive work, than the troops +of the second line were ordered forward and for a few moments were +engaged in a fierce hand to hand fight over the wall. The force of the +rebel attack was, however, spent; exhausted by their march of a mile +across the plain in the face of the deadly fire, and with ranks sadly +thinned, the rebels, brave as they undoubtedly were, were in no shape to +long continue the struggle. They soon broke and fled, thousands, +however, throwing down their arms and surrendering themselves as +prisoners rather than risk the dangerous passage back to their own +lines, a passage only in a degree less perilous than the advance. + +In the meantime Wilcox, on the right, had pushed gallantly forward to +strike the front of the Third Corps where the sharp shooters had been +posted in advantageous positions to receive him. They had opened fire +when he was some four hundred yards away, too far for really fine +shooting at individual men, but not so far as to prevent considerable +execution being done on the dense masses of men coming on. This attack, +however, was not destined to meet with even the small measure of success +which had attended Picket's assault, for Col. W. G. Veazey of the +Sixteenth Vermont, one of the regiments of Stannard's Second Vermont +Brigade, which had been thrown forward on the right flank of Picket's +column, seeing that attack repulsed, and being aware of the approach of +Wilcox in his rear, suddenly counter-marched his regiment and made a +ferocious charge on the left of Wilcox's column, even as he had just +done on the right of Picket's. The effect was instantaneous; they +faltered, halted, and finally broke. Launching forward, Veazey captured +many prisoners and colors, many more, in fact, than he had men in his +own ranks. + +The fighting of the 3d of July now ceased and the federals had been +signally successful. The morrow was the 4th of July, the birthday of the +nation; would it be ever after celebrated as the anniversary of the +decisive and closing battle of the war? Many hearts beat high at the +thought, and the troops lay on their arms that night full of hope that +the end was at hand. + +The repulse of Lee's final assault on the 3d of July had been so +complete and crushing, so apparent to every man on the field, that there +were none who did not awake on the morning of the 4th with the full +expectation that the Army of the Potomac would at once assume the +offensive and turn the repulse of the last two days into such a defeat +as should insure the utter destruction of the rebel army. Everything +seemed propitious; Sedgwick's gallant Sixth Corps had arrived late on +the night of the second, and had not been engaged. The men were fresh +and eager to deliver on the national holiday the death blow to the +rebellion. The troops who had been engaged during that terrible three +days battle were equally eager, notwithstanding their labors and +sufferings, but Meade was eminently a conservative leader, and feared to + + "Put it to the touch + To win or lose it all." + +And so the day was spent in such quiet and rest as could be obtained by +the men. The wounded were gathered and cared for, rations and ammunition +were issued, and every preparation for further defense should Lee again +attack, or for pursuit should he retreat, was made. Some rather feeble +demonstrations were made at various points, but no fighting of a serious +character took place on that day. The sharp shooters were thrown forward +as far as the peach orchard where they took up a position which they +held during the day, constantly engaged in exchanging shots with the +rebel pickets posted behind the walls and fences in the open field in +front of the woods behind which lay the rebel army. It was of itself +exciting and dangerous employment; but, as compared with their +experiences on the two preceding days, the day was uneventful. Co. F +lost here, however, two of its faithful soldiers, wounded, L. B. Grover +and Chas. B. Mead. Both recovered and returned to the company, Grover to +be promoted sergeant for his gallantry on this field, and Mead to die by +a rebel bullet in the trenches at Petersburgh. The regiment as a whole +had suffered severely. The faithful surgeon, Dr. Brennan, had been +severely wounded while in the discharge of his duty in caring for the +wounded on the field, and Capt. McLean of Co. D was killed. + +Many others, whose names have been lost in the lapse of years, fell on +this bloody field. The fifth was spent in gathering the wounded and +burying the dead. On the sixth Meade commenced that dilatory pursuit +which has been so severely criticised, and on the twelfth came up with +the rebel army at Williamsport, where Lee had taken up and fortified a +strong position to await the falling of the river, a sudden rise of +which had carried away the bridges and rendered the fords impassable. + +The army was eager to attack; flushed with their success, and fully +confident of their ability to give rebellion its death blow, they fairly +chafed at the delay--but Meade favored the cautious policy, and spent +the twelfth and thirteenth in reconnoitering Lee's position. Having +finished this preliminary work, he resolved on an attack on the +fourteenth; but Lee, having completed his bridges, made a successful +passage of the river, and by eight o'clock on that morning had his army, +with its trains and stores, safe on the Virginia side. + +On the seventeenth the Third Corps crossed the river at Harper's Ferry +and were once more following a defeated and flying enemy up the valley, +over the same route by which they had pursued the same foe a year before +while flying from Antietam. The pursuit was not vigorous--the men +marched leisurely, making frequent halts. It was in the height of the +blackberry season, and the fields were full of the most delicious +specimens. The men enjoyed them immensely, and, on a diet composed +largely of this fruit, the health of the men improved rapidly. + +On the nineteenth the sharp shooters reached Snicker's Gap, where, on +the 3d of the previous November, they had looked down on the beautiful +valley of Virginia and beheld from their lofty perch Lee's retreating +columns marching southward. To-day, from the same point of view, they +beheld the same scene; but how many changes had taken place in that +little company since they were last on this ground! Death, by bullet and +by disease, had made sad inroads among them, and of the whole number +present for duty the previous November, less than one-half were with +their colors now, the others were either dead in battle, or of wounds +received in action, or honorably discharged by reason of disability +incurred in the service. Sheridan once said that no regiment was fit for +the field until one-half of its original numbers had died of disease, +one-quarter been killed in action, and the rest so sick of the whole +business that they would rather die than live. Judged by this rather +severe standard, Co. F was now fit to take rank as veterans. Descending +the mountains, they marched southward, passing the little village of +Upperville on the twentieth. + +On the twenty-third the Third Corps was ordered to feel the enemy at +Manassas Gap, and there ensued a severe skirmish, known as the affair of +Wapping Heights. The sharp shooters opened the engagement and, indeed, +bore the brunt of it, dislodging the enemy and driving them through the +gap and beyond the mountain range. They inflicted considerable loss on +the rebels, and made a number of prisoners. + +In this affair a man from another company came suddenly face to face +with an armed rebel at very short range; each, as it subsequently +appeared, had but one cartridge and that was in his gun. Each raised his +rifle at the first sight of the other and the reports were simultaneous. +Both missed--the rebel bullet struck a tree so close to the sharp +shooter's face that the flying fragments of bark drew blood; the Union +bullet passed through the breast of the rebel's coat, cutting in two in +its passage a small mirror in his breast pocket. They were now upon +equal terms but each supposed himself at the disadvantage. Yankee cheek +was too much, however, for the innocent Johnnie, for the sharp shooter, +with great show of reloading his rifle, advanced on the rebel demanding +his surrender. He threw down his gun with bad grace, saying as he did +so: "If I had another cartridge I would never surrender." "All right, +Johnnie," said the Yankee, "If I had another you may be sure I would not +ask you to surrender." But Johnnie came in a prisoner. In this action +the sharp shooters expended the full complement of sixty rounds of +ammunition per man, thus verifying the assertion of their ancient enemy +in the ordnance department that "the breech loaders would use up +ammunition at an alarming rate;" both he and others were by this time +forced to admit, however, that the ammunition was expended to very +useful purpose. Passing now to the southeast over familiar grounds they +encamped at Warrenton on the twenty-sixth, and on the thirty-first at or +near White Sulphur Springs, where they remained until the 15th of +September, enjoying a much needed rest. It was eighty-one days since +they left their camp at Falmouth to follow and defeat Lee's plans for an +invasion of the North, and during that time they had not had one single +day of uninterrupted rest. Here the regiment had the first dress parade +since the campaign opened. + +On the 15th of September they broke camp and marched to Culpepper, some +ten miles to the southward, where they remained until the 10th of +October. On the 22d of September eight days rations had been issued and +it looked as though serious movements were contemplated, but the plan, +if there was one, was not carried out. + +On the 11th of October, with full haversacks and cartridge boxes, they +broke camp and moved again northward, crossing the Rappahannock by +Freeman's ford, near which they remained during the rest of that day and +the whole of the twelfth on the picket line, frequently engaged in +unimportant skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry. On the thirteenth they +marched in the early morning, still towards the north, prepared for +action, and at Cedar Run, a small tributary of the Rappahannock, they +found the enemy in considerable force to dispute the crossing. Here a +severe action took place, and as the emergency was one which did not +admit of delay, the attack was made without the formality of throwing +out skirmishers, and the sharp shooters charged with the other regiments +of the division in line of battle. Edward Jackson was severely wounded +here, but returned to his company to remain with it to the close of the +war. Quickly brushing away this force the corps advanced northwardly by +roads lying to the west of the Orange & Alexandria railroad and parallel +with it, and after a fatiguing march arrived at Centerville, only a few +miles from Washington. + +The cause of this rapid retrograde movement was not easily understood by +the men at the time, but was subsequently easily explained. Lee had not +been satisfied with the results of his three previous attempts to +destroy the Union army by turning its right and cutting it off from +Washington, and had essayed a fourth. It had been a close race, but the +Union commander had extricated his army from a position that, at one +time, was one of grave peril, and had it compact and ready on the +heights of Centerville with the fortifications of Washington at his +back. Lee was now far from his own base of supplies and must attack the +Union army in position at once, or retreat. He took one look at the +situation and chose the latter alternative, and on the nineteenth the +Army of the Potomac was once more in pursuit, the Third. Corps with the +sharp shooters passing Bristoe's Station on that day with their faces +toward the South. On the twentieth they forded Cedar Run at the scene of +their battle of the week before, and on the same day, owing to an error +by which the sharp shooters were directed by a wrong road, they +recrossed it to the north bank, from which they had, later in the day, +to again ford it to reach their designated camping place on the south +side near Greenwich, thus making three times in all that they waded the +stream on this cold October day, sometimes in water waist deep. The next +camp made was at Catlet's Station, when the sharp shooters with the +Third Corps remained inactive until the 7th of November awaiting the +repairing and reopening of the Orange & Alexandria railroad which had +been greatly damaged by Lee in his retreat, and which, as it was the +main line of supply for Meade's army, it was necessary to repair +before the army could move further southward. + +On the seventh, the railroad having been completely repaired and the +army fully supplied with rations, ammunition and other necessary +articles, Meade determined to try to bring his enemy to a decisive +action in the open field, and to that end directed the right wing of his +army, consisting of the Fifth and Sixth Corps under Sedgwick, to force +the passage of the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station, while the left +wing, consisting of the First, Second and Third Corps, was directed on +Kelly's Ford, some five miles lower down the river. + +The Third Corps, under Birney, had the advance of the column, the sharp +shooters acting as flankers, until the head of the column arrived at the +river opposite the designated crossing place. The enemy were found in +strong force occupying rifle pits on the opposite bank, and the column +was deployed to meet the exigency of the occasion. The sharp shooters +were at the front as skirmishers and advanced at the double quick in +splendid order until they reached the bank of the river, when they took +such cover as was afforded by the inequalities of the ground, and +commenced an active fire upon the enemy in the rifle pits on the +opposite side. It was soon found, however, that they could not be driven +from their strong position by simple rifle work, and the regiment was +ordered to cross the stream and drive them out by close and vigorous +attack. It was not a cheerful prospect for the men who were to wade the +open stream nearly waist deep and exposed to the cool fire of the +concealed enemy, who would not aim less coolly because the sharp +shooters would necessarily be unable to return the fire; but the line +was carefully prepared and at the sound of the bugle every man dashed +forward into the cold and rapid water and struggled on. Co. F was one of +the reserve companies and thus followed the skirmishers in column of +fours instead of in a deployed line. As the skirmishers arrived on the +further shore they naturally took such cover as they could get, and +opened a rapid fire. The Vermonters, however, closely following the +movement, passed the skirmish line thus halted and pushed on without +stopping to deploy even. Capt. Merriman, who had just succeeded to his +well deserved promotion, led the way until he stood upon the very edge +of the works overlooking the rebels within, of whom he demanded an +immediate and unconditional surrender. He was far in advance of his men, +and the rebels, at first taken aback by the very boldness of the demand, +now seeing him unsupported as they thought, refused with strong language +to surrender, but on the contrary called upon him to yield himself up as +their prisoner. Merriman, however, was not minded to give up his +captain's sword on the very first day he had worn it, and called out for +"Some of you men of Co. F with guns to come up here." His call was +obeyed, and five hundred and six Confederates surrendered to this little +company alone. In the company the casualties were as follows: Patrick +Murray, killed; Eugene Mead, Watson P. Morgan and Fitz Green Halleck, +wounded. Having thus uncovered the ford the sharp shooters were pushed +forward some distance to allow the remainder of the left wing to cross +and form on the south bank. Advancing about a mile from the river they +took up a position from which they repulsed several feeble attacks +during the day, and at dark were relieved. + +For their gallantry and dash in this affair they received unstinted +praise from their brigade commander, De Trobriand, they having been +transferred back to his brigade some days previous. On the next day the +troops advanced towards Brandy Station where the union of the two wings +of the army was expected to take place. Considerable resistance was met +with at several points during the day, and at one point the skirmishers +of the third division, which was in advance, being unable to start the +rebels, the corps commander sent back his aide for "the regiment that +crossed the river the day before," but the brigade was some miles in +rear of the point of obstruction, and Gen. De Trobriand, rightly +believing that it would be unjust and cruel to require these men to +march so far at the double quick after their severe service of the day +before, sent the second regiment instead, who fully met the requirement +and soon cleared the road for the head of the column. On arriving at +Brandy Station the vast open plain was found packed and crowded with +troops, the entire Army of the Potomac being now concentrated here. The +sharp shooters went into camp on the farm of the so called loyalist John +Minor Botts, where they remained for the eighteen days following. In +consideration of his supposed loyalty, every effort was made to protect +the property of the owner of the plantation, but _rails_ are a +temptation that no soldier was ever known to withstand on a cold +November night. Evil disposed troops of other organizations raided the +fences every night, and the troops nearest at hand, the sharp shooters, +were required to rebuild them every day; and in this manner they passed +the time until the 26th of November, when the army broke camp and +crossed the Rapidan at several points simultaneously. + +This was the initial movement in what is known as the Mine Run campaign. +The Third Corps crossed at Jacobs Mills ford, their destination being +understood to be Robertson's Tavern where they were to join the Second +Corps in an attack on the Confederate line behind Mine Run at that +point. But Gen. French, by a mistake of roads, and sundry other +unfortunate errors of judgment, found himself far to the right of his +assigned position, and while blindly groping about in the mazes of that +wilderness country, ran the head of his column against Ewell's Corps and +a brisk fight took place, which was called the battle of Locust Grove. + +De Trobriand's brigade was near the rear of the column and was not +therefore immediately engaged. The familiar sounds of cannon and +musketry indicated to their practiced ears something more than a mere +affair of skirmishers, and soon came an order to take up a more advanced +position in support of the Third Division which was said to be heavily +engaged. Upon arriving at the front the sharp shooters were deployed +and ordered forward to a fence a little distance in advance of the main +Union line, and to hold that position at all hazards. Moving rapidly +forward they gained the position, and quickly converted the stout rail +fence into a respectable breastwork from which they opened fire on the +rebels in their front. Near them they found the Tenth Vermont, and thus +once again stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of their native +state. Five times during that afternoon did the enemy endeavor to drive +the sharp shooters from this line, and as often were they repulsed, and +each time with heavy loss. In one of these assaults the colors of a +rebel regiment, advancing immediately against Co. F, fell to the ground +four times, and just there four rebel color bearers lay dead, stricken +down by the fire of the Green Mountain riflemen. + +The line of breastworks were held until the fighting ceased after dark, +when the sharp shooters were relieved and retired from the immediate +front and lay on their arms during the night. Co. F had lost in the +battle of the day five good men; E. S. Hosmer was killed at the fence, +while A. C. Cross, Eugene Payne, Sherod Brown and Corporal Jordan were +wounded. Cross rejoined the company and served faithfully until the +battle of the Wilderness in the following May where he was killed. Payne +returned to duty and served his full term of enlistment and was +honorably discharged on the 13th of September, 1864. Brown never fully +recovered from the effects of his wound and was subsequently transferred +to the Veteran Reserve Corps. Jordan also reported again for duty and +served until the 31st of August, 1864, when he was honorably discharged +on surgeon's certificate of disability. The regiment had lost thirty-six +men killed and wounded during the day, while the corps had suffered a +total loss of fifteen hundred, and had not yet reached its objective +point. And this was the soldiers' Thanksgiving Day at Locust Grove. Far +away in quiet northern homes, fathers and mothers were sitting lonely at +the loaded tables thinking lovingly of their brave boys, who were even +then lying stark and cold under the open sky, or suffering untold +agonies from cruel wounds. But this was war, and war is no respecter of +time or place, and so on this day of national thanksgiving and praise, +hundreds of the best and bravest suffered and died that those who came +after them might have cause for future thanksgiving. + +"To the misjudging, war doth appear to be a worse calamity than slavery; +because its miseries are collected together within a short space and +time as may be easily, at one view, taken in and perceived. But the +misfortunes of nations cursed by slavery, being distributed over many +centuries and many places, are of greater weight and number." + +Further severe fighting took place on the next day, but the sharp +shooters were not engaged. On the twenty-ninth (the corps having changed +its position on the previous day, taking up a new line further to the +left), the sharp shooters were deployed as skirmishers and pushed +forward to within sight of the strong works of the enemy on the further +side of Mine Run where they were halted and directed to closely observe +the movements of the rebels, but to do nothing calculated to provoke a +conflict, the preparations for assault not being completed on the Union +side. While laying here in a cold November rain storm they had ample +opportunity to calculate the strength of the enemy's line and the +chances of success. It reminded them strongly of Fredericksburgh. The +position was not dissimilar to that. Here was a swampy morass instead of +a hard plain, but beyond was a height of land and, as at +Fredericksburgh, it was crowned with earth works, while at the base of +the elevation, plainly to be seen by the watchers, were the long yellow +lines that told of rifle pits well manned by rebel soldiers. It looked +like a desperate attempt, but early on the morning of the thirteenth, in +obedience to orders, the sharp shooters advanced across the swamp +through the partly frozen mud, in many places mid-leg deep, driving the +rebel pickets into their works and pressing their way to within a few +rods of the enemy's front, which position they held, being of themselves +unable to go further without support, which was not forthcoming. This +advance had the seeming character of a demonstration only, but the sharp +shooters made the best of their opportunities, picking off a rebel now +and then as the chance occurred. Night came on and no hint of relief +came to the worn and weary men. + +It was intensely cold and, of course, they had to endure it as best they +could, since to light a fire within so short a distance of the watchful +rebels would be to draw the fire of every gun within range. Neither +could they get the relief which comes from exercise, for the first +movement was the signal for a shot. So passed the long and dismal night; +the men getting such comfort as they could from rubbing and chafing +their benumbed and frost-bitten limbs. Morning dawned, but yet no relief +from their sufferings; and it seemed to the waiting men that they were +deserted. At times firing could be heard on the right, but of other +indications of the presence of their friends there were none. They +remained in this state all day on the 1st of December, and at night, +after thirty-six hours of this exposure, they were ordered back across +the swamp. Many men were absolutely unable to leave their positions +without aid, so stiff with cold and inaction were they; but all were +finally removed. The army had retired from the front of the enemy and +was far on its way to the river, leaving the Third Corps to cover the +withdrawal; the greater portion of this corps was also en route for its +old camp, and the sharp shooters were thus the rear guard of the army. +The march was simply terrible. All night they struggled on, many men +actually falling asleep as they marched and falling to the ground, to be +roused by shakes and kicks administered by their more wakeful comrades. +In spite of all, however, many men left the ranks and lay down in the +fields and woods to sleep, preferring the chance of freezing to death, +or of that other alternative only less fatal--being made prisoners--to +further effort. At day break the regiment arrived at the Rapidan at +Culpepper Mine ford, crossing on a ponton bridge and going into bivouac +on the north bank, where they could at least have fires to warm their +half frozen bodies. Here they lay until noon, their numbers being +augmented by the arrival of the stragglers, singly and in squads, until +all were accounted for, though at day break there were not guns enough +in some of the companies to stack arms with. At night, however, all were +comfortably quartered in their old camp--a thankful lot of men. This was +perhaps the most severe experience that Co. F had to undergo during its +three years of service. On many occasions they had more severe fighting +and had often to mourn the loss of tried and true comrades; but never +before or after did the company, as a whole, have to undergo so much +severe suffering as on this occasion. The principal loss of the regiment +in this campaign was by the death of Lieut.-Col. Trepp, who was shot +through the head and instantly killed on the 30th of November. Col. +Trepp had been with the regiment from the first, having joined as +captain of Co. A. He was a Swiss by birth, and had received a military +education in the army of his native land, and had seen much service in +various European wars. He was a severe disciplinarian, even harsh; but +was endeared to the men by long association in the field, and was +sincerely lamented. + +From this time until the 6th of February, 1864, the regiment lay in +camp, inactive. On that day they were engaged in a reconnoissance to the +Rapidan, but were not engaged. + +On the 28th of March the gallant old Third Corps, reduced as it was by +its losses at Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh and Locust Grove to the +proportions of a small division, passed out of existence, being +consolidated with the Second Corps, and becoming the first and second +brigades of the Third Division of that corps, Gen. Birney continuing in +the command of the division, while the corps was commanded by Gen. +Hancock, who had so far recovered from his wound received at Gettysburgh +as to be able to resume his place at the head of his troops. The sharp +shooters were attached to the second brigade, commanded by Gen. Hays. + +This change was viewed by the officers and men of the Third Corps with +great regret. They were proud of their record, and justly so, but the +necessities of the service were paramount, and no sentiment of loyalty +to a corps flag could be allowed to interfere with it. In recognition of +the distinguished services rendered by the old organization, however, +the men were allowed to retain their corps badge; and they took their +places in the ranks of Hancock's command resolved that the honor of the +old Third should be maintained unsullied in the future, as it had been +in the past. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WILDERNESS, SPOTSYLVANIA AND COLD HARBOR. + + +On the 10th of March an order was received from President Lincoln +assigning Gen. U. S. Grant to the command of all the armies of the +United States, and during the last days of the same month Gen. Grant +pitched his headquarters tent at Culpepper Court House, and commenced a +study of the situation in Virginia, where the real struggle of the war +had been maintained for nearly three years, and where the strength of +the Confederacy yet lay. The time, until the 3d of May, was spent in +active preparation for the opening of the spring campaign. Sick and +disabled men were sent to the rear. All surplus baggage and stores were +turned in, and the army, stripped for the fight, stood ready whenever +the new commander should sound the advance; for although Gen. Meade was +still commander of the Army of the Potomac, every man knew that Gen. +Grant was there for the purpose of personally directing its movements. +On the 3d of May the sharp shooters broke camp and marched out on that +campaign which was destined to be one continual battle for nearly a year +to come, and at the end of which was to come the final triumph at +Appomattox. + +The organization of Co. F at this time was as follows: + +Captain, C. D. Merriman; vice E. W. Hindes honorably discharged on +surgeon's certificate of disability. + + First Lieutenant, H. E. Kinsman. + First Sergeant, Lewis J. Allen. + Second Sergeant, Cassius Peck. + Third Sergeant, Paul M. Thompson. + Fourth Sergeant, L. D. Grover. + Fifth Sergeant, Edward F. Stevens. + First Corporal, Chas. M. Jordan. + Second Corporal, Edward Trask. + Third Corporal, M. Cunningham. + Fourth Corporal, Edward Lyman. + Fifth Corporal, D. W. French. + Sixth Corporal, Carlos E. Mead. + Seventh Corporal, Henry Mattocks. + Eighth Corporal, Chas. B. Mead. + +With this organization and forty-three enlisted men, the company crossed +the Rapidan at Ely's ford at nine o'clock A. M. on the 4th of May, 1864. +Marching rapidly to the southeast; they bivouacked for the night near +Chancellorsville on the identical ground on which they had fought +exactly one year before under Hooker. The omen was not a happy one, but +with high hopes of success under this new western general who had always +beaten his enemies hitherto, they lay down prepared for whatever of good +or ill the morrow might bring forth. + +Reminders of the conflict of May, 1863, were thickly scattered about on +the ground, and some men in the regiment found their hair covered +knapsacks where they had thrown them off in the heat of the former +battle, and which they had been forced to abandon. They found also the +graves of some of their lost comrades, buried where they fell, while in +many places human bones shone white and ghastly in the moonlight. It was +the very ground over which the sharp shooters had driven the Stonewall +brigade on the night of the 3d of May of the preceding year. With the +earliest streaking of the eastern sky on the morning of the fifth, the +Second Corps, with the sharp shooters in the advance, was put in motion +towards Shady Grove church, situated some four or five miles to the +southward at the junction of two important roads, and where they were to +form the extreme left of the army. Before the head of the column had +reached that point heavy firing was heard on the right and rear, and the +column was counter-marched and ordered to return to the junction of the +Brock road with the Orange plank road, which the enemy were making +desperate efforts to secure. It was indeed a matter of the utmost +importance to maintain possession of the Brock road, since it was the +very key to the whole battle ground. Running nearly north and south from +the Orange turnpike, near the old Wilderness tavern, it intersects all +the roads leading from the direction from which the enemy were +approaching, and, as it is the only important, or even passable, road +running in that direction, its possession by either army would enable +that party to outflank the other almost at pleasure. Getty's Division of +the Sixth had been detached from that corps on the right some hours +before, and ordered to hold this position at all hazards, and it was the +sudden attack on this isolated command that had called the Second Corps +back from its march towards Shady Grove church. + +At about two o'clock P. M. Birney's Division arrived at the threatened +point and were at once deployed for action on the Brock road, and to the +left, or south, of its intersection with the plank road. Here the men of +Co. F. found themselves again shoulder to shoulder with their friends. + +The old Vermont brigade formed part of Getty's Division and were already +deployed and sharply engaged; so that Co. F. found themselves in the +immediate neighborhood of the gallant Vermonters. Immediately upon the +arrival of the head of the division upon the field, and pending the +necessarily slower formation of the main line, the sharp shooters were +pushed out towards the enemy and at once came under a heavy fire. It was +their first fight under Hancock, and they felt that not only was their +own well earned reputation to be sustained, but that the honor of the +now dead and gone Third Corps was in a measure committed to their +keeping. There, too, just on their right stood the men of the old +brigade, proud of their own glorious record, and just a little inclined +to rate their own courage and skill above that of any other troops in +the army. + +Under the stimulus of these conditions the sharp shooters as a regiment, +and the men of Co. F in particular, fought with a dash and energy which +surprised even their own officers who had learned long before that +there was almost no task which the rank and file thought themselves +unequal to. This contest of a skirmish line against lines of battle +continued for nearly two hours; but at about four o'clock P. M., +the whole of the Second Corps having arrived and being in position, a +general advance was ordered, and now the fighting, which had been very +severe before, became simply terrific. The ground was such that the +artillery could not easily be brought into action. Only two guns could +be brought up, which were placed on the plank road where they rendered +excellent service. The musketry, however, was continuous and deadly +along the whole line. The roar of battle was deafening, and struck upon +the ear with a peculiar effect from the almost total absence of +artillery, usually so noisy an accompaniment of modern battle. The men +who noted this fact, however, were men accustomed to warfare, and who +knew that the fire of infantry was much more deadly than that of +artillery, and never before had they heard such continuous thunder or +confronted such a storm of lead as on this occasion. The fierce struggle +continued with unabated ferocity until the merciful night put an end to +it. The Brock road was held, but it had been impossible to do more. The +enemy were badly shattered, and at points the line had been broken; but +the nature of the ground was such as to prevent an orderly and +systematic pushing of such advantages as were, here and there, gained, +and, except that the key point remained in the hands of the federals, +it was a drawn battle. + +The men lay on their arms during the night, in the position in which the +cessation of the battle found them; and, as illustrative of the +closeness of the contending lines, and the labyrinthian character of the +ground, it may be stated that during the night many men from both armies +while searching for water, or for their wounded friends, strayed within +the opposing lines and were made prisoners. Among the above were Sergt. +Paul M. Thompson and J. H. Guthrie of Co. F. Besides these two men, Co. +F had lost terribly in killed and wounded during the day. Corporal David +French, W. J. Domag and E. E. Trask were killed on the field; A. C. M. +Cross and Wm. Wilson were mortally wounded, while M. Cunningham, +Spafford A. Wright, John C. Page, S. M. Butler and Wm. McKeever suffered +severe and painful wounds--a total of twelve men lost out of the +forty-three who answered to the roll call on that morning, and this in +the first fight of the campaign. + +But the survivors felt that they had well and nobly sustained the honor +of their corps, and of their state. They were proud, also, to have +received the commendation of distinguished officers of the old Vermont +Brigade, and so, with mingled emotions of sorrow and gladness, they lay +down on the bloody field. It will be remembered that the sharp shooters +had been pushed out on the left of the plank road immediately upon their +arrival and while the troops of the line were being formed on the Brock +road. In this formation, Birney's Division had been sent to the north or +right of the plank road, and formed on Getty's right; so that during the +subsequent battle the sharp shooters had been separated from their +brigade, and had been fighting in an entirely independent manner, +subject to no orders but those of their regimental and company officers. +At daylight the men were rallied on the colors and moved to the north of +the plank road in search of their proper command, which, after some +search in the tangled forest, they found the shattered remains of. The +brigade commander, Gen. Alexander Hays, and very many other gallant +officers and men had fallen on the preceding day, and so heavy had been +the losses that the entire brigade when deployed, hardly covered the +front of an average regiment as they had stood when the army crossed the +Rapidan. + +Notwithstanding his severe losses of the day before, Gen. Grant (who, by +the way, was understood to have expressed the opinion at some time that +"The Army of the Potomac had never been fought up to its capacity") +ordered another general assault along the whole line at five A. M. on +the sixth. + +Promptly at that hour the Second Corps advanced along the Orange plank +road, the sharp shooters being now on the right of that thoroughfare +with their own division. They were, as on the day before, in the front +line, but on this occasion they were heavily supported from the start, +Birney's and Mott's Divisions being in the first line while Getty's +Division formed a second line, the whole supported by Carroll's and +Owen's brigades of the Second Division of the same corps. + +The attack was made with great vigor and impetuosity, and was for a time +successful, the enemy being driven with great loss and disorder from two +strong lines of works, one about four hundred yards behind the other, +which they had materially strengthened during the night. Birney's left, +in front of which was Co. F, advanced further than his right, driving +the Confederates before them and completely disrupting their line at +this point; in fact so far did they penetrate that they were in a +position to take the rebel left in flank and rear, and at one time the +sharp shooters, during a momentary lull on their own front, turned their +attention to a Confederate battery which was actually in rear of their +right, and which they had passed beyond in their charge. They were not +destined to reap the fruits of this victory, however, for at this time +Longstreet's command arrived on the field and commenced a furious attack +on Birney's exposed left. Changing fronts to meet this new enemy, the +sharp shooters, with the aid of their comrades of Birney's Division, +made a vigorous resistance to this counter attack. The momentum of their +own charge was gone; they had now fought their way through nearly a mile +of thickets and swamps and had, necessarily, lost their alignment and +cohesion. The utmost they could now hope to do was to beat back the +oncoming rebels and give the Union troops time to reform for another +assault. It was a vain effort, for the fresh masses of rebel troops +succeeded in forcing the advanced left back as far as the center and +right, which was at the same time, about seven o'clock A. M., struck by +a strong force of Confederates. By desperate effort the line was held +and a reorganization effected, and at about nine o'clock the offensive +was resumed along the plank road. The force of this attack was seriously +impaired by the supposed necessity of protecting the extreme left which +was greatly exposed. For some time heavy firing had been heard in that +direction, and ugly rumors of columns of infantry, too strong to be +checked by the cavalry, were rife. Then, too, a considerable body of +infantry was discovered actually approaching the left and rear from the +direction of Spotsylvania. All this necessitated the detachment of +considerable bodies of troops to guard that wing, which weakened the +force of the main attack. The infantry force which had occasioned so +much uneasiness proved to be a body of convalescents trying to rejoin +the Union army, and the troops sent to oppose them were restored to the +point of action. By this time, in the movement of the lines, the sharp +shooters found themselves, with most of the division, again on the left +of the plank road. The fighting now became as close and severe as that +of the preceding day; so dense and dark was the thicket, that the lines +were often close together before either could determine whether the +other was friend or foe; regiments lost their brigades and brigades +their divisions. Indeed, so confused was the melee that it is stated +that one regiment, being surrounded and ordered to surrender, actually +laid down their arms to another regiment of their own brigade. + +Still, progress was made, and, on the whole, the federals, although +losing heavily, were gaining substantial ground. After half an hour of +this work the troops on the right of Birney's Division having given way, +Birney detached two of his own brigades to fill the gap, and at about +eleven o'clock the resistance in front of Hancock's Corps having nearly +ceased, another halt was called to readjust the confused and irregular +lines. Before this could be accomplished a new enemy appeared square on +the left of Birney's Division, which was doubled up by the suddenness +and impetuosity of the attack, and the confusion became so great along +the whole line that Gen. Hancock directed a withdrawal of the entire +corps to the breastworks which had been constructed on the Brock road, +and from which they had advanced on the day before. It began to look +like the same old story--as though Chancellorsville was to be +repeated--and as though the most cheerful bulletin Grant would have to +send North would be the often repeated one, "The Army of the Potomac is +again safe across the Rapidan." + +But there, some way, seemed to be no actual movement looking in that +direction--in fact, _Grant had ordered the bridges removed as soon as +the last troops had crossed the river_, and for twenty-four hours there +had been no possibility of recrossing had any one been so minded. Lines +of retreat seemed to have no place in the plans of the new +general-in-chief. + +The enemy followed the retiring Union troops closely, but once within +the breastworks the Second Corps was soon rallied, and, reforming, lay +down behind the rude entrenchments to await the signal for renewed +action. The Confederates pushed their lines to within two or three +hundred yards of the Brock road, but rested at that point until about +four o'clock P. M., when they took the offensive in their turn and made +a gallant assault on Hancock's command behind the breastworks. This +attack was understood to be under the immediate direction of Gen. Lee, +who was present and commanded in person. + +The rebel line came gallantly forward to within a few yards of the road, +when they halted and opened a fierce fire, which was returned by the +Union troops from their shelter, coolly and with deadly effect. + +Here the sharp shooters had the unusual good fortune to fight in a +sheltered position instead of in the open field, as was usually their +fate. During this affair the woods took fire and for a long time the +troops fought literally surrounded by the flames. The wind was from such +a direction as to bring the smoke from the blazing woods directly in the +faces of the federal soldiers, while the heat and smoke combined made +the position almost untenable, even had there been no other enemy to +contend with. In many places the log breastworks themselves took fire +and became a blazing mass which it was impossible to quench. Still the +battle raged; at some points it was impossible to fire over the parapet, +and the defenders were compelled to withdraw for a short distance. The +rebels were prompt to take advantage of such breaks, and at one point +pushed their advance up to and over the road, planting their battle +flags on the Union works, but a brigade of Birney's Division charged +them with such vigor that their holding was of short duration and they +were driven back in great confusion, leaving numbers of their dead and +wounded inside the breastworks. + +In this charge the sharp shooters were conspicuous. Advancing in line of +battle and at the double quick, they forced the enemy from their front +over and far beyond the road, pursuing them and making prisoners even +beyond the lines which had been held by the rebels previous to their +assault. Their regimental flag was the only one advanced beyond the line +of works; other troops contenting themselves with simply repossessing +the line of the road. In this charge Jacob Lacoy of Co. F. was killed, +the only casualty in the company on that day. Following this repulse +Grant, still aggressive, ordered another attack by Hancock, and the +troops were formed for that purpose; but before the advance actually +commenced the order was countermanded and the men of the Second Corps +lay down for the night along the road which they had so gallantly +defended. The morning of the third day of the battle opened with the +greater portion of the army quietly resting on their arms; but for the +sharp shooters there seemed no relief or respite. At day break they were +deployed, again on the right of the plank road, and advancing over the +scene of the fighting of the two previous days, now thickly covered with +the dead of both armies, encountered the rebel skirmishers at a distance +of about four hundred yards from the Union line. Ordered to halt here +and observe the enemy, they passed the time until about noon in more or +less active sharp shooting and skirmishing. At twelve o'clock they were +ordered to push the enemy back and develop if possible his main line. +Supported by infantry they dashed forward and after sharp fighting drove +the rebels back into their works, some half a mile away. Here they were +brought to a halt and found themselves unable to advance further. +Counter attacks were made by the rebels which were for a time +successfully resisted; but the regiment was at last so far outflanked +that it became necessary to fall back to avoid the capture of the entire +command. The rebels did not pursue vigorously; the fight was out of +them, and with a few unimportant affairs on different portions of the +line the day passed without battle. Neither party had won a victory. +Grant had not destroyed Lee's army, neither had Lee driven Grant back +across the river, as he had done so many other Union commanders, and the +battle of the Wilderness was of no advantage to either party, save the +fact that Grant had destroyed a certain number of Lee's soldiers who +could not easily be replaced, while his own losses could be made good by +fresh levy from the populous North. Whatever may have been Gen. Grant's +idea of the "capacity" of the Army of the Potomac for fighting hitherto, +or whether he believed it to have been now "fought up to its capacity," +he was forced to acknowledge that the fighting of the past three days +had been the severest he had ever seen. But his thoughts were not yet of +retreat; he had seen enough of the Wilderness as a battle field, +however, and on the evening of the seventh issued his orders for a +concentration of his army on Spotsylvania. + +Company F. had lost in the action of this day Edward Giddings and Joseph +Hagan, killed, and Lieut. Kinsman, Dustin R. Bareau, Henry Mattocks and +Edward Lyman, wounded. The wound received by Mattocks, although painful, +was not such as to disable him, and he remained with the company only to +lay down his life on the bloody field of Spotsylvania a week later. The +total losses now footed up nineteen men since the morning of the 5th of +May. + +All night long columns were marching to the southward. It was +evident that the army was to abandon this battle field, but it seemed +strange that the customs and traditions of three years should be thus +ruthlessly set aside by this new man, and that he should have turned his +face again southward, when by all precedent he should have gone north. +The men, however, began to surmise the true state of affairs, and when +during the night Grant and Meade, with their respective staffs, passed +down the Brock road headed still south, the men took in the full +significance of the event, and, tired and worn as they were, they sprang +to their feet with cheers that must have told Grant that here were men +fully as earnest, and fully as persistent as himself in their +determination to "fight it out on that line." The stench from the +decomposing bodies of the thousands of dead lying unburied filled the +air and was horrible beyond description, and the sharp shooters were not +sorry when at nine A. M., on the morning of May 8th, they were relieved +from their duties on the picket line and, forming on the Brock road, +took up their line of march toward Spotsylvania. They were the last of +the infantry of the whole army; a small body of cavalry only being +between them and the rebels who might well be expected to pursue. + +The cavalry soon found themselves unable to check the pursuers, and Co. +F, now the rear guard of the army, was faced about and deployed to +resist the too close pursuit. In this order, and constantly engaged with +the rebel cavalry following them, they retired fighting, until at Todd's +tavern they found the rest of the division. During the day Wm. Wells was +wounded and taken prisoner, the only casualty in the company during the +day. Wells met the same sad fate which befell so many thousands of +unfortunate prisoners, and died at Florence, S. C., during the month of +September following. + +Immediately upon their arrival a portion of the regiment, including Co. +F, was placed on the picket line to the west of the tavern, their line +extending across the Catharpin road. Here they met the advance of +Early's rebel corps, and some skirmishing took place; but the rebels +were easily checked, and no severe fighting took place. Early on the +morning of the ninth a strong force of the enemy's cavalry appeared in +their front and made a vigorous effort to force a passage. They were +strongly resisted and at last forced to retire before the well aimed +rifles of the Vermonters. Following rapidly, the sharp shooters pushed +them to and beyond the Po river, along the banks of which they halted. + +During this affair a rebel captain of cavalry was wounded and captured. +Capt. Merriman, whose sword had been shot from his side during the +action of the preceding day, thinking that a fair exchange was no +robbery, appropriated the captured rebel's sabre, and thenceforth it was +wielded in behalf of instead of against the Union. In the afternoon of +this day the sharp shooters were recalled from their somewhat exposed +position, more than two miles from any support, and resumed the march +towards Spotsylvania, skirmishing with the rebels as they retired, until +they reached the high around overlooking the valley of the Po, where +they found the rest of the corps making preparations to force the +passage of the river. + +The Union artillery was noisily at work, while rather faint response +came from the enemy on the opposite side. A rebel signal station was +discovered some fifteen hundred yards away, from which the movements of +our troops could be plainly observed, and from which Gen. Hancock +desired to drive the observers. A battery opened fire on them, but the +distance was too great for canister, and the saucy rebels only laughed +at shell. The men of Co. F., who were in plain view of both parties, +watched this effort with great interest for half an hour, when they +concluded to take a hand in the affair themselves. Long practice had +made them proficient in judging of distances, and up to a thousand yards +they were rarely mistaken--this, however, was evidently a greater +distance than the rifles were sighted for. They therefore cut and fitted +sticks to increase the elevation of their sights and a few selected men +were directed to open fire, while a staff officer with his field glass +watched the result. It was apparent from the way the men in the distant +tree top looked _down_ when the Sharpes bullets began to whistle near +them that the men were shooting under still, so more and longer sticks +were fitted to still further elevate the sights; now the rebels began to +look _upward_, and the inference was at once drawn that the bullets were +passing over them. Another adjustment of the sticks, and the rebels +began to dodge, first to one side and then to another, and it was +announced that the range was found. Screened as they were by the foliage +of the tree in which they were perched, it was not possible to see the +persons of the men with the naked eye; their position could only be +determined by the tell-tale flags; but when all the rifles had been +properly sighted and the whole twenty-three opened, the surprised rebels +evacuated that signal station with great alacrity. Gen. Hancock had been +a close and greatly interested observer of this episode, and paid the +men handsome compliments for their ingenuity and skill. The same night +the division commander, Gen. Birney, ordered that thereafter the sharp +shooters should report directly to his headquarters and also receive +their orders from the same source. They were thus detached from their +brigade. At six o'clock P. M. the line advanced, and, after some +slight resistance, effected the passage of the river. Pushing forward +the sharp shooters soon found themselves again on the banks of the same +river, which here changes its course to the south so as to again cross +the road along which the corps was advancing. It was now well into the +night, and as the men found the river too deep to ford; the column was +halted and spent the night in this position. The second corps, which had +held the entire left of the Union line ever since the crossing of the +Rapidan a week before, by these maneuvers found itself now on the +extreme right of the army, and its position was a serious menace to +Lee's left flank. + +Indeed Barlow's Division, as it lay that night, was actually in rear of +the rebel left. Lee was quick to perceive the seriousness of the +situation, and during the night he placed a formidable force in +Hancock's front, and by the morning of the eleventh the corps found a +strong line of works, well manned, to oppose their further progress. +Reconnoissances were made, and a crossing effected at a point lower +down, but the position was deemed too strong to attack, and the troops +who had crossed were retired, soon after which the entire command was +withdrawn to the northern bank of the Po. + +Birney's Division was first over, and thus escaped the severe fighting +which befell the other portions of the command in the movement. During +all this time the battle had been raging furiously on the center and +left of the Union army; repeated desperate assaults had been made at +various points, and everywhere the enemy were found in great force +behind strong works. The different assaults had been bloodily repulsed +and the losses of men had been terrible. Still there was no sign of a +retrograde movement. Grant seemed to have an idea that the true course +of the Army of the Potomac lay to the southward instead of to the north. +A repulse--such as would have been to the former commanders of that army +a defeat--only spurred him to renewed effort, and it was in the evening +of this day that he sent to President Lincoln the celebrated dispatch +which so electrified the people of the North and made it clear to them +that thenceforth there were to be taken no steps backward. "I propose to +fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." The operations of the +past two days had convinced Generals Grant and Meade that a salient near +the center of Lee's entrenched line was his weakest point, and during +the afternoon and night of the eleventh the troops selected were brought +up and formed for the assault. The point at which the attack was aimed +was the one which has since come to be called the Death Angle at +Spotsylvania; and well was it so called. Hancock's command was withdrawn +from the extreme right and placed on the left of the Sixth Corps in such +a position that their advance would bring them, not opposite the exact +angle, but on the rebel right of that point. Birney's Division had the +right formed in two lines of battle, with Mott's Division in one line in +support. The sharp shooters were deployed on the right of Birney's front +line so as to connect the right of the Second Corps with the left of the +troops next on the right. The night was made doubly dark by a thick fog +which shut out all objects from sight at a distance of even a few yards, +and in groping along to find their designated position, the men found +themselves far in advance of the proper point and close up to the rebel +line. As soon as their presence was discovered the enemy opened a brisk +fire upon them, but believing their position to be at least as +advantageous as the one they had left behind, the men lay quietly down +without replying to the enemy and waited the signal of attack. They were +now exactly opposite the Death Angle and only a few yards from the +abatis. At half past four A. M. the signal was given, and the troops of +the main line, rising to their feet, moved forward silently to the attack. + +The sharp shooters, far in the advance, lay quietly until the charging +lines were abreast of them when they too sprang up and dashed straight +at the enemy's works. The lines were now in entirely open ground, +sloping upward toward the enemy, and fully exposed to the fire which +came thick and deadly from every gun that could be brought to bear. Men +fell rapidly, but nothing could stay the magnificent rush of the +veterans of the Second Corps, and with ringing cheers they crowned the +works with their standards and fairly drove the rebels out by the sheer +weight and vigor of their charge. Not all, however--for nearly four +thousand Confederates, including two general officers, surrendered +themselves as prisoners. Some thirty colors and twenty guns were also +captured. + +The sharp shooters were active in the assault and also in the short +pursuit, which was brought to a sudden check, however, by the sight of a +second line of works extending across the base of the triangle made by +the salient. The Union troops were now a confused mass of rushing men. +They had lost their brigade, regimental and even their company +organization, as not unfrequently happens in such assaults, and the +enemy, advancing from behind their second line, compelled the triumphant +but disordered federals to retire to the captured works where they were +rallied. Quickly reversing the order of things, they, in their turn, +became the defenders where they had so lately been the attacking party. +Forming on the exterior slope, they fought the rebels stubbornly. It was +as apparent to Lee as it had been to Grant and Meade, that this was the +vital point, and now both parties bent their utmost energies--the one to +hold what they had gained, and the other to repossess themselves of what +they had lost. Both lines were heavily reenforced and the fighting +assumed the most sanguinary character of any that had been seen during +the whole of the bloody three years of the war. With desperate valor the +Confederates rushed again and again against the Union lines to be met +with a fierce fire at such short ranges, and into such dense masses, +that every shot told. In some places they gained the crest of the +breastworks and savage hand to hand encounters took place, but it was in +vain; not all the valor of the boasted chivalry of the South could pass +that line. Those who gained the works could not stay and live, and to +retreat was as bad. Many gave themselves up as prisoners, while others, +taking shelter on the other side of the works, kept up the fight by +holding their muskets high above their heads and thus firing at random +among the Union troops on the reverse side. All day long this terrible +combat continued. The dead on each side lay in heaps--literally piled +the one on the other, until in many places the ground was covered three +and four deep. The very trees were cut off by musket balls and fell to +the ground. There is in the War Department at Washington, to this day, +the stump of a tree more than eighteen inches in diameter which was cut +down by this awful fire. Darkness brought with it an abatement, but not +a cessation of the struggle; for until three o'clock in the morning of +the thirteenth the strife continued. At that hour the enemy definitely +abandoned the attempt to recapture the angle and retired to an interior +line. Twice during the day had Co. F exhausted the ammunition in its +boxes, and it was replenished by a supply brought to them as they lay by +the stretcher bearers, and once the regiment was retired for a fresh +supply, upon receipt of which they returned to the fighting. + +In this carnival of blood--this harvest home of death--Co. F again +suffered the loss of brave men. Henry Mattocks, Thomas Brown and John +Bowen were killed, and Amos A. Smith and J. E. Chase were wounded. Only +eighteen men were now left out of the forty-three who entered the +campaign; twenty-five had fallen on the field. + +A great sovereign once addressed his general thus: "I send you against +the enemy with sixty thousand men." "But," protested the general, "there +are only fifty thousand." "Ah!" said the Emperor, "but I count _you_ as +ten thousand!" So each man of the gallant few who were left of what had +been Co. F agreed to call his comrade equal to two men, and so they +counted themselves yet a strong company. + +The night of the twelfth was spent on the line which had been won and +held at such a fearful cost of life. At twelve o'clock on the thirteenth +the regiment, now but a handful of men, were moved by the right flank +some three or four hundred yards, and ordered to establish a picket line +in front of this new position. This was successfully accomplished with +but little opposition and no loss to Co. F. That evening they were +relieved and returned to division headquarters, where they bivouacked +for the night. The three succeeding days were spent in the same manner; +out before daylight, establishing new picket lines, sharp shooting as +occasion offered, and spending the night near headquarters; but no +important affair occurred, and no casualties were reported. + +The seventeenth was spent quietly in camp--the first day of +uninterrupted repose the men had enjoyed since crossing the Rapidan two +weeks before. During that eventful period there had not been one single +day, and hardly an hour, that the men of Co. F had not been under fire. +It was a short time to look back upon, but what a terrible experience +had been crowded into it! The company which is the subject of this +history had lost more than half of its numbers, while in the Army of the +Potomac the losses had been appalling--no less than four thousand five +hundred and thirty-two men had been killed on the field, and the wounded +numbered eighteen thousand nine hundred and forty-five (a total of +twenty-two thousand four hundred and seventy-seven men) while of the +missing there were four thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, making a +total of twenty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-nine lost from +the effective strength of the army since May 4th. Some idea of the +extent of the losses may be obtained by the casual reader by a +comparison, thus: If the entire population of any of the great and +populous counties of Bennington, Orange or Orleans, as shown by the +census of 1880, were suddenly blotted out, the loss would not equal the +total of killed and wounded during the twelve days between the 4th and +17th of May, while the entire population of Grand Isle county is not as +great as the number of the killed alone; and the total loss in killed, +wounded and missing is greater than the population of any county in the +State of Vermont except Chittenden, Franklin, Rutland and Windsor. And +yet there was no sign of retreat. On the contrary, on every side were +evidences of preparation for renewed battle, and during these days of +comparative quiet attempts were made at various points to penetrate the +rebel line, some of these assaults rising of themselves almost to the +dignity of battles, but so insignificant were they as compared with what +had gone before that they hardly attracted the attention, even, of any +but the men immediately engaged. + +On the nineteenth Gen. Grant ordered another movement of the army, again +by the left, and again in the direction of Richmond. No unusual incident +occurred to mark the progress of the sharp shooters until the +twenty-first, when the regiment, by a sudden dash, occupied the little +village of Bowling Green, where the retreating enemy had confined in the +jail all the negroes whom they had swept along with them, and whom they +intended to remove to a point further south where they would be removed +from the temptation to desert their kind masters and join the Union +forces. The advance was too sudden for them, however, and some hundreds +of negro slaves were released from their captivity by the willing +riflemen. + +Two miles beyond Bowling Green the skirmishers met a considerable force +of rebel cavalry, and a sharp skirmish took place. Two regiments of new +troops came into action on the right, but being dispersed and routed +retired to be seen no more, and the sharp shooters fell heirs to their +knapsacks which they had laid off on going into action. The departed +regiments had evidently had a recent issue of clothing, and their +successors were thankful for the opportunity of renewing their own +somewhat dilapidated wardrobes. They were further gratified about this +time by the arrival of four convalescents, which swelled the number to +twenty-two for duty. The twenty-second was a red letter day for the men +who had been confined to such rations as they could carry on their +persons. On this day they were ordered on a reconnoissance which took +them into a section of country not frequently visited by either army. +Halting at the County Poor House, they proceeded to gratify a soldier's +natural curiosity to see what might be found on the premises to eke out +their unsatisfactory rations, and, to their great delight, found +chickens, mutton, milk and eggs in profusion, upon which they regaled +themselves to their hearts' content. If these, thought the delighted +men, are Virginia poor house rations, the poor of Virginia are greatly +to be envied. Proceeding on the twenty-third towards Hanover Junction, +they found their way once again blocked by the rebel army in a strong +position behind the North Anna river and prepared again to receive +battle on a fortified line of their own choosing. This was a +disappointment, for the soldiers had become tired of such work and +ardently desired to get at the rebels in an open field; but Grant, +patient and persistent as ever, at once set about finding a means +whereby he might beat them even here, if such a thing was possible. + +The line of march had brought the Second Corps to the extreme left of +the army, and it struck the river at the point at which the telegraph +road crosses it at the county bridge. Here the enemy had constructed, on +the north side of the river, a strong work for the defense of the bridge +head; while on the southern bank, completely commanding the approaches +to the river, was another, and a still stronger line of fortifications. +The land in front of the nearer of the two was a bare and open plain, +several hundred yards in width, which must be passed over by troops +advancing to the attack, and every foot of which was exposed to the fire +of the enemy on either bank. To Birney's Division was assigned the task +of assaulting this position, and at five o'clock P. M., on the +twenty-third, the division moved out in the discharge of its duty, +Pierce's and Egan's brigades in the front line, while the Third brigade +formed a second, and supporting line. The sharp shooters were deployed +as skirmishers and led the way. The works were won without serious loss, +and the sharp shooters passed the night near the river, charged with the +duty of protecting the bridge for the passage of the troops on the next +day, Gen. Hancock not deeming it advisable to attempt the crossing at +that late hour of the evening. Attempts were made during the night by +the rebels to destroy the bridge, but it was safely preserved, although +the railway bridge below was destroyed, and on the morning of the +twenty-fourth, the troops commenced crossing covered by the fire of the +sharp shooters, who lined the north bank, and the Union artillery posted +on the higher ground in the rear. The regiment followed the last of the +troops, and were pushed forward beyond the Fox house, a large, though +dilapidated Virginia mansion, where they met the rebel skirmishers. +Sharp firing at long range continued for some hours until the ammunition +in the boxes became exhausted, when the regiment was relieved and fell +back to the Fox house, where breastworks were thrown up and where they +remained during the rest of that day and the next, exposed to desultory +artillery fire, but suffering no considerable loss. The next day the +quartermaster, Lieut. Geo. A. Marden, arrived with the regimental +wagons, and with such stores, clothing, and so forth, as the small train +could bring. + +As it was the first sight the regiment had had of its baggage for +twenty-two days, the arrival was the signal for great rejoicing among +the men, especially as the good quartermaster brought a mail, and the +heart of many a brave soldier was made glad by the receipt of warm and +tender words from the loved ones far away among the peaceful valleys of +the state he loved so well. + +The morning of the twenty-sixth brought sharp fighting for the troops on +the right and left, but in Birney's front all was quiet, and the tired +sharp shooters lay still until dark, when they were ordered to relieve a +portion of the pickets of the Ninth Corps on their right. The night was +very dark, and it was with difficulty that they found their designated +position; but it was finally gained and found occupied by the +Seventeenth Vermont, among whom the men of Co. F found many friends. + +During the night the army was withdrawn to the north bank of the river, +and on the morning of the twenty-seventh the sharp shooters were also +withdrawn, and operations on the North Anna ceased. Grant had found the +position too strong to warrant another attempt like those of the +Wilderness and Spotsylvania, and had determined on another movement to +the left. All day, and until two o'clock the next morning, the troops +toiled on, passing on the way the scene of a severe cavalry fight a few +days previous, the marks of which were plainly visible to the eye as +well as apparent to the nose, since the stench from the decaying bodies +of horses and men was almost unbearable. After a few hours of needed +rest the march was resumed at daylight, still to the south, and at four +o'clock they crossed the Pamunkey at Hanovertown. They were now +approaching familiar ground. Only two or three miles away was the old +battle field of Hanover Court House, while but little further to the +south lay Mechanicsville and Gaines Hill, where they had fought under +McClellan two years before. Halting in a field near the river they +rested until near noon of the following day. + +During the forenoon of this day an inspection was had, from which it was +inferred by some that it was Sunday, although there was no other visible +sign of its being in any sense a day of rest. In the afternoon a +reconnoissance in force was ordered to determine, if possible, the +whereabouts of the rebels. Some skirmishing took place, but no important +body of the enemy was found until the advance reached the point at which +the Richmond road crosses the Totopotomy, where the enemy were found +strongly posted with their front well covered by entrenchments and +abatis, prepared to resist a further advance. A brisk skirmish took +place, and the rebels were forced into their works. The whole corps was +now ordered up and took position as close to the rebel line as it was +possible to do without bringing on a general engagement, for which the +federal commanders were not ready. In this position they lay, exchanging +occasional shots with the rebel sharp shooters, but with little or no +serious fighting, until the evening of June 1st, when the corps was +ordered again to the left, and by a forced march reached Cold Harbor +early in the forenoon of the second. At two o'clock A. M. on the 30th +of May Capt. Merriman had been ordered to take a detail of twenty-five +men from the regiment and establish a picket line at a point not before +fully covered. In the darkness he passed the proper position and went +forward until he reached the rebel picket line, which, after challenging +and receiving an evasive answer, opened fire on him. By careful +management, however, he was able to extricate his little force, and +eventually found and occupied his designated position. This was an +unfortunate locality for Capt. Merriman, for when the corps moved on +Cold Harbor, he, by some blunder, failed to receive his orders and was +thus left behind. Finding himself abandoned, and surmising the reason, +he took the responsibility of leaving his post; and as it was clearly +the proper thing to do under the circumstances, he escaped without +censure. Severe fighting had already taken place between the Sixth and +Eighteenth Corps and the rebels, for the possession of this important +position, and _Old_ Cold Harbor had been secured and held for the Union +army. This little hamlet is situated at the junction of the main road +from White House to Richmond, and the road leading south from +Hanovertown, which, a mile south of Old Cold Harbor intersects the road +leading southeasterly from Mechanicsville, which road in its turn +connects with the Williamsburgh road near Dispatch Station, on the +Richmond & York River Railway. The control of the road from White House +was indispensable to the Union army, as it was the only short line to +the new base of supply on the Pamunkey. + +A mile to the westward of Old Cold Harbor this road intersects the +Mechanicsville road at a place called _New_ Cold Harbor, the possession +of which would have been more desirable, since it would have given to +the Union commander all the advantages of the roads heretofore mentioned +and, also, the possession and control of the highway from Mechanicsville +to Dispatch Station, which gave to the party holding it the same +advantage which the Brock road had afforded to the Union troops in the +Wilderness; that is, the opportunity to move troops rapidly over a good +road, and by short lines, from right to left, or vice versa. This point +was, however, held by the confederates in great force, and was defended +by formidable works. The heavy fighting of the day before had been for +its possession, and the federals had not only gained no ground, but the +troops engaged had suffered a disastrous repulse with severe loss, no +less than two thousand men having fallen in the assault. The morning of +the 2d of June brought to the anxious eyes of the federals the same +familiar old view. In every direction across their front were seen the +brownish red furrows which told of rifle pits, which at every commanding +point in the rebel line rose stronger and higher works, above which +peered the dark muzzles of hostile artillery. + +It was evident that one of two things would ensue. Either a sanguinary +battle, like those of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, where the rebels, +strongly intrenched, had all the advantages on their side must be +fought, or Grant must try another move by the left and seek a more +favorable battle ground. But that meant a move to the James river; since +between the White House and the James there could be no new base of +supply. Furthermore, the ground further to the south and nearer the +James, was known to be fully as difficult as that on which the army now +stood and was, presumably, as well fortified. And even if it was not +fortified, the further Grant moved in that direction the stronger grew +Lee's army, since the troops in and about Richmond, reenforced by a very +large portion of those who had so recently made, and still kept, Butler +and his thirty thousand men close prisoners at Bermuda Hundred, could be +safely spared for more active operations in the field against this more +dangerous enemy. + +Moreover Grant had said "I propose to fight it out on this line," and it +was now nineteen days since the fight for the angle at Spotsylvania, and +the Army of the Potomac had hardly lost that number of hundreds of men +in the operations on the North Anna and the Totopotomy. It was time to +fight another great battle, lest the army should forget that it was now +to be "fought up to its capacity," and so the battle of Cold Harbor was +ordained. The position of the Second Corps was now, as at the +Wilderness, on the extreme left of the army; on their left were no +forces, except the cavalry which watched the roads as far to the south +as the Chicahominy. It was well remembered ground: two years before the +sharp shooters, then part of the Fifth Corps, had, with that +organization, fought the great battle of Gaines Hill, on this identical +ground, but how changed was the situation. + +They had now the same enemy before them, but the positions were +completely reversed. Then, they were fighting a defensive battle for the +safety of the army. Then, the enemy came far out from their +intrenchments and sought battle in the open field. Now, it was the +federals who were the aggressive party, and the rebels could by no means +be tempted from the shelter of their strong works. Now, the enemy +occupied nearly the same lines held by the federals on the former +occasion, while the federals attacked from nearly the same positions, +and over the same ground, formerly occupied by the rebels. Then, +however, the federals had fought without shelter; now, the rebels were +strongly intrenched. Indeed, an unparalleled experience in warfare had +taught both parties the necessity of preparation of this kind to resist +attack, or to cover reverses. There was, however, a greater change in +the moral than in the physical situation. Then, the rebels had been +haughty, arrogant and aggressive; now, they were cautious and timid. +Brought squarely to the test of battle they were, individually, as brave +as of yore, but the spirit of confidence had gone out of them. They had +learned at last that "one southern gentleman" was not "the equal of +three northern mudsills." The handwriting on the wall was beginning to +appear plainly to them, and while they still fought bravely and +well--while they were still able to deal damaging blows, and to inflict +terrible punishment--they never afterwards fought with the dash and fire +which they had shown at Gaines Hill, at Malvern, at the Second Bull Run, +at Chancellorsville, or at Gettysburgh. The noontide of the Confederacy +had passed, and they knew then that henceforth they were marching +towards the darkness of the certain night. + +The 2d of June was spent by both parties in strengthening positions and +other preparations. Constant firing, it is true, was going on all along +the line, but no conflict of importance took place on this day. Co. F +was thus engaged, but no important event occurred on their front. On the +third, however, at half past four A. M. the corps moved forward to the +assault. Barlow's and Gibbon's Divisions formed the front line, while +Birney's was in the second. + +The early morning fogs still hung low and rendered it impossible for the +advancing troops to see what was before them; thus many parts of the +line became broken by obstacles which might have been, in part, avoided +had it been possible to discover them in time, and the column arrived at +the point of charging distance somewhat disorganized. Still the vigor of +the attack was such that the rebels could not long resist it; they were +driven out of a sunken roadway in front of their main line, into and +over their intrenchments, and at this point the success of the assault +was complete. Several hundred prisoners and three guns were captured, +the guns being at once turned upon their former owners. + +The supporting column, however, failed, as is so often the case, to come +up at the proper time and the enemy, being strongly reenforced, advanced +against the victorious men of the Second Corps, and after a desperate +struggle, reminding the participants of the fight at Spotsylvania, +forced them back and reoccupied the captured works. In this affair Co. +F, being with Birney's Division in the second line, was not actively +engaged, nevertheless in the charge they lost two or three men whose +names are not now remembered, slightly, and Alvin Babcock, mortally +wounded. Babcock was one of the recruits who joined the company on the +day after the battle of Antietam, nearly two years before, and had been +a faithful and good soldier. He died on the first of July following from +the effects of his wound. The corps retired in good order to their own +works. A partial attack by the rebels on their position was easily +repulsed, and the rest of the day was passed in comparative quiet. The +picket line, in full view of the rebel works and only about one hundred +yards distant, was held by a regiment for whose marksmanship the rebels +seemed to have a supreme contempt, since they exposed themselves freely, +using the while the most opprobrious epithets. + +The fire of their sharp shooters was constant and close, and a source of +great annoyance to all within range. Co. F lay some distance in the rear +of the pickets and somewhat exposed to the stray bullets which passed +over the front line. They became somewhat restive under this unusual +state of affairs; but receiving no order to move up to take part in the +conflict, and having no liberty to shift their position, Capt. Merriman +and Sergt. Peck determined to see what could be done by independent +effort to relieve the situation. Taking rifles and a good supply of +ammunition they made their way to the front and, taking up an +advantageous position, commenced operations. The first shot brought down +a daring rebel who was conspicuously and deliberately reloading his gun +in full view of a hundred Union soldiers. This single shot and its +result seemed to convey to the minds of the rebels that a new element +had entered into the question, and for a few moments they were less +active. Soon regaining their courage, however, and apparently setting it +down as the result of some untoward accident, they resumed their +exposure of persons and their annoying fire. It did not long continue, +however, for wherever a man appeared within range he got such a close +hint of danger, if indeed he escaped without damage, that the sharp +shooting along that front ceased. Further to the right was a place where +the breastwork behind which the rebel infantry was posted did not quite +connect with a heavy earthwork which formed part of the rebel line, and +which was occupied by artillery. Across this open space men were seen +passing freely and openly, apparently officers or orderlies passing +along the line in the discharge of their duties. + +To this point the two sharp shooters now directed their at attention. +Dodging from tree to tree, now crawling along behind some little +elevation of land, and now running at full speed across some exposed +portion of the ground, they reached a place from which they could +command the passage, and very soon the rebels found it safer and more +convenient to take some other route. Service of this independent nature +had a peculiar fascination for these men. In fact, sharp shooting is the +squirrel hunting of war; it is wonderful to see how self-forgetful the +marksman grows--to see with what sportsmanlike eyes he seeks out the +grander game, and with what coolness and accuracy he brings it down. At +the moment he grows utterly indifferent to human life or human +suffering, and seems intent only on cruelty and destruction; to make a +good shot and hit his man, brings for the time being a feeling of +intense satisfaction. + +Few, however, care to recall afterwards the look of the dying enemy, and +there are none who would not risk as much to aid the wounded victim of +their skill as they did to inflict the wound. War is brutalizing, but +the heat of the actual conflict passed, soldiers are humane and +merciful, even to their foes. The assault of the Second Corps had not +been an isolated attempt to force the rebel line at one point only. On +their immediate right the Sixth and Eighteenth Corps had also advanced, +and had met with severe loss; while far away to the north, even to and +beyond the Totopotomy, miles away, Burnside and Warren had been engaged +in more or less serious battle. At no point, however, except in front of +the Second Corps had the enemy's line been entered, and this lodgement, +as has been seen, was of brief duration. Advanced positions had been +held, however, and in many places a distance no greater than fifty to +one hundred yards now separated the opposing lines. Barlow's Division, +magnificent fighters, when forced out of the captured rebel works, had +taken advantage of a slight crest of ground not fifty yards from the +rebel line, and with the aid of their bayonets, tin cups, etc., had +thrown up a slight cover, from which they stubbornly refused to move; +and to this far advanced line Companies F and G were ordered during the +night of the third to keep down, so far as they were able, the rebel +fire when the morning light should enable them to see the enemy. They +spent the fourth in this position, constantly exposed and constantly +engaged, suffering the loss of one man, Joseph Bickford, killed. The +shooting on the part of the rebels was unusually close and accurate, and +was a source of great discomfort to one, at least, of the men of Co. F. +Curtiss Kimberly, known best by his friends as "Muddy," had such a +breadth of shoulders that the small stump behind which he lay for +shelter was insufficient to cover both sides at once. Three times in as +many minutes the stump was struck by rebel bullets, and "Muddy" gravely +expressed the opinion that there was "a mighty good shot over there +somewhere," at the same time uttering an earnest hope that "he might not +miss that stump." + +During the night of the fourth they were moved to the left, and at +daylight found themselves face to face with the rebel pickets near +Barker's Mill. This was indeed "Tenting on the old camp ground," since +this point had been the extreme right of the Union line at the battle of +Gaines Hill, June 27, 1862. + +They lay in this position until the twelfth, engaged every day, to a +greater or less extent, in skirmishing and sharp shooting until the +eleventh, when an agreement was made between the pickets that +hostilities should cease in that part of the line, and the day was spent +in conversation, games, etc., with the rebels. They were ravenous for +coffee, but had plenty of tobacco. The federals were "long" of coffee +but "short" of tobacco, and many a quiet exchange of such merchandise +was made in the most friendly way between men who for days had been, and +for days to come would be, seeking each others lives. It was a curious +scene and well illustrated one phase of war. On the twelfth, the truce +being over, hostilities were resumed and the men who had so lately +fraternized together were again seeking opportunity to destroy each +other. On this day Almon D. Griffin, who had been wounded at +Chancellorsville, was again a victim to bullets. He recovered, however, +and rejoined his company to serve until the expiration of his term of +service, when he was discharged. Grant was now minded to try another +movement by the left, this time transporting his entire army to the +south bank of the James, and on the thirteenth the sharp shooters +crossed the Chicahominy at Long Bridge, and leaving the old battle field +of Charles City cross-roads and Malvern Hill to the right, struck the +James river the same night at Wilcox's landing some two miles below +Harrison's, where McClellan's army had lain so long after his +unfortunate campaign in 1862. This was the first opportunity for a bath +which had been offered since the campaign opened, and soon the water was +alive with the dirty and tired men, their hands and faces of bronze +contrasting strangely with the Saxon fairness of their sinewy bodies, as +they laughingly dashed the water at each other, playing even as they did +when they were school boys in Vermont. It was a luxury which none but +those who have been similarly situated can appreciate. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SIEGE OF PETERSBURGH. MUSTER OUT. + + +Early on the morning of the fourteenth the regiment crossed the James by +means of a steam ferry boat and spent the day near the south bank. There +was trouble somewhere in the quartermaster's department, and no rations +could be procured on that day. On the next day orders were issued for an +immediate advance; still no rations, and the hungry men started out on +the hot and dusty march of some twenty miles breakfastless and with +empty haversacks. But a hungry soldier is greatly given to +reconnoissances on private account, he has an interrogation point in +each eye as well as one in his empty stomach. Every hill and ravine is +explored, the productions of the country, animal and vegetable, are +inventoried, and poor indeed must be the section that fails to yield +something to the hungry searcher. Chickens, most carefully concealed in +the darkest cellars by the anxious owners, are unearthed by these +patient seekers, pigs and cows driven far away to the most sequestered +valleys are brought to light; bacon and hams turn up in the most +unexpected places, and on the whole, the soldier on a march fares not +badly when left to his own devices for a day or so. Thus our sharp +shooters managed to sustain life, and at dark went into bivouac in front +of the rebel defenses of Petersburgh. + +The Eighteenth Corps, under Gen. Smith, had preceded the Second, and had +had heavy fighting on the afternoon of this day; they had captured and +now held important works in the line of rebel defenses. Darkness and an +inadequate force had prevented them from following up their advantages, +and thus the first of the series of terrible battles about Petersburgh +had ended. + +At daylight on the morning of the sixteenth the Union artillery opened a +brisk cannonade on the now reenforced enemy. During the forenoon the +sharp shooters lay quietly behind the crest of a slight elevation in +support of a battery thus engaged. At about noon they were deployed and +advanced against the rebel pickets with orders to drive them into their +main line and also to remove certain fences and other obstructions so as +to leave the way clear for an assault by the entire corps at a later +hour. The advance was spirited, and after a determined resistance the +rebels were driven from their advanced rifle pits, the skirmishers +following them closely, while the reserve companies leveled the fence in +the rear. + +At six o'clock P. M. the Second Corps, supported by two brigades of the +Eighteenth on the right, and two of the Ninth on the left, advanced to +the attack, and after severe fighting, in which the corps suffered a +heavy loss in officers and men, they succeeded in capturing three redans +in the rebel line of works, together with the connecting breastworks, +and in driving the enemy back along their whole front. + +Darkness put an end to the advance, but several times during the night +the rebels attempted to regain their lost works, and were each time +repulsed with loss. In this charge Caspar B. Kent of Co. F was killed on +the field. Co. F moved during the night to a position further to the +left, and farther to the front than any point reached by the Union +troops during the day, and were made happy by an issue of rations, the +first they had received since leaving the lines of Cold Harbor. A fresh +supply of ammunition was also received by them, of which they stood in +great need, they having very nearly exhausted the supply with which they +went into the fight. The rebels in their front were active during the +night and a good deal of random firing took place, but of course with +little result so far as execution went. Morning, however, showed a new +line of rifle pits thrown up during the night, not over fifty yards in +front of the sharp shooters who had by no means spent the night in sleep +themselves, but in making such preparations for defense as they could +with such poor tools as bayonets, tin plates and cups. They had been +sufficient, however, and daylight found them fairly well covered from +the fire of the enemy's infantry, and with a zigzag, or covered way, by +means of which a careful man could pass to the rear with comparatively +little danger. Co. F held this advanced line alone, and the day which +dawned on them lying in this position was destined to be one of the most +active and arduous, and the one to be best remembered by the men +present, of any during their entire term of service. No sooner did the +light appear than sharp shooting began on both sides, and was steadily +kept up during the day. The lines were so close that the utmost care was +required to obtain a satisfactory shot without an exposure which was +almost certainly fatal. Nevertheless, the gallant men of the Vermont +company managed to use up the one hundred rounds of cartridges with +which they were supplied long before the day was over. Capt. Merriman, +foreseeing this, had directed Sergt. Cassius Peck to procure a fresh +supply. + +It was a service of grave danger, but taking two haversacks the sergeant +succeeded in safely passing twice over the dangerous ground and thus +enabled the company to hold its threatened lines. Many men in the +company fired as many as two hundred rounds on this day, and at its +close the rifles were so choked with dirt and dust, and so heated with +the rapid and continuous firing, as to be almost unserviceable. + +The company suffered a severe loss at this place by the death of +Corporal Charles B. Mead, who was shot through the head and instantly +killed. Corporal Mead was one of the recruits who joined in the autumn +of 1862, and had been constantly with the company and constantly on duty +ever since, except while recovering from a former wound received at +Gettysburgh. He was one of two brothers who enlisted at the same time, +the other, Carlos E. Mead, having been himself wounded. He was a young +man of rare promise, and his early death brought sadness, not only to +his comrades in the field, but to a large circle of friends at home. He +had kept a daily record of events in the form of a diary during his +entire period of service, to which the writer of these lines has had +access, and from which he has obtained valuable information and +assistance in his work. + +Henry E. Barnum was also mortally wounded, and died on the fourteenth of +the following month, while John Quinlan received a severe wound. +Quinlan, however, recovered and served his enlistment to the close of +the war. Sergt.-Major Jacobs, formerly of Co. G, who served with Co. F +on this day, was also mortally wounded. + +The company was relieved at night and retired to the rear for a well +earned rest, to be engaged the next day in the sharp engagement around +the Hare house. Their position here, however, was less exposed and their +service less arduous. The Hare house had but lately been vacated by its +former occupants, a wealthy and influential Virginia family, who had +left so suddenly as to have abandoned nearly everything that the house +contained. The windows of the basement opened full on the rebel works +and rifle pits, the latter within point bank range, and here the sharp +shooters, seated at ease in the fine mahogany chairs of the late owner, +took careful aim at his friends in his own garden. They boiled their +coffee, and cooked their rashers of pork, on his cooking range, over +fires started and fed with articles taken from his elegant apartments, +not, it is to be feared, originally intended for fuel, and ate them on +his dining table. There was, however, no vandalism, no wanton +destruction of property for the mere sake of destruction in all this. +The house and its contents were doomed in any event, and the slight +havoc worked by the sharp shooters only anticipated by a few hours what +must come in a more complete form later. The shooting here was at very +short range, and correspondingly accurate. As an Alabama rifleman, who +was taken prisoner, remarked, "It was only necessary to hold up your +hand to get a furlough, and you were lucky if you could get to the rear +without an extension." + +Silas Giddings was wounded here. Giddings had been a friend and +schoolmate of the Meads, and had enlisted at the same time. Thus of the +three friends two were severely wounded and one was dead. During the day +Birney's Division had made an assault on the main rebel line to the left +of the Hare house which had been repulsed with severe loss. The wounded +were left on the field, some of them close under the enemy's works. They +lay in plain sight during the hours of daylight, but it was impossible +to help them. When darkness came on, however, Capt. Merriman, slinging +half a dozen canteens over his shoulder, crept out onto the field and +spent half the night in caring for the poor fellows whose sufferings +during the day had so touched his sympathies. The 19th, 20th and 21st of +June were spent at this place, sharp shooting constantly going on. On +the twentieth Corporal Edward Lyman received a wound of which he died on +the twenty-fifth. Corporal Lyman was one of the original members of the +company; was promoted corporal on the 15th of August, 1863, and had long +been a member of the color guard of the regiment, having been selected +for that position for his distinguished courage and coolness on many +fields. Some times during these days a temporary truce would be agreed +upon between the opposing pickets, generally for the purpose of boiling +coffee or preparing food. Half an hour perhaps would be the limit of +time agreed upon; but whatever it was, the truce was scrupulously +observed. When some one called "time," however, it behooved every man to +take cover instantly. + +Upon one occasion a rebel rifleman was slow to respond to the +warning--in fact he appeared to think himself out of sight; while all +others hurried to their posts he alone sat quietly blowing his hot +coffee and munching his hard-tack. It so happened, however, that he was +in plain sight of a sharp shooter less bloodthirsty than some others, +who thought it only fair to give him one more warning, therefore he +called out, "I say, Johnny, time is up, get into your hole." "All +right," responded the cool rebel still blowing away at his hot cup. +"Just hold that cup still," said the sharp shooter, "and I will show you +whether it is all right or not." By this time the fellow began to +suspect that he was indeed visible, and holding his cup still for an +instant while he looked up, he afforded the Union marksman the +opportunity he was waiting for. A rapid sight and the sharp's bullet +knocked the coffee cup far out of its owner's reach and left it in such +a condition that it could never serve a useful purpose again. The +surprised rebel made haste to get under cover, pursued by the laughter +and jeers of his own comrades as well as those of the sharp shooters. +Thus men played practical jokes on each other at one moment, and the +next were seeking to do each other mortal harm. + +The various assaults having failed to force the enemy from any +considerable portion of the defenses of Petersburgh, it was determined +by the federal commanders to extend again to the left, with the intent +to cut off, one by one, the avenues by which supplies might be brought +to the enemy from the South; and on the twenty-first the Second Corps, +now under Gen. Birney (Gen. Hancock being disabled by the reopening of +an old wound), in company with the Fifth and Sixth Corps, moved to the +left and took up a position with its right on the Jerusalem plank road. +The Sixth Corps, which was to have prolonged the line to the left, not +arriving in position as early as was expected, the enemy took instant +advantage of the opportunity and, penetrating to the rear of the exposed +left of the Second Corps, commenced a furious attack. Thus surprised, +the entire left division gave way in disorder and retreated towards the +right, thus uncovering the left of Mott's Division, which was next in +line, which in its turn was thrown into confusion. The sharp shooters, +who had been skirmishing in advance of the left, had, of course, no +option; they were compelled to retire with their supports or submit to +capture. They fell back slowly and in good order, however, gradually +working themselves into a position to partially check the advancing +rebels and afford a scanty space of time in which the disordered mass +might rally and reform. In this movement they were gallantly supported +by the Fifth Michigan volunteers by whose assistance they were, at last, +enabled to bring the rebels to a halt; not, however, until they had +captured some seventeen hundred men and four guns from the corps. The +company again suffered heavy loss in this affair. + +Barney Leddy and Peter Lafflin were killed on the field; Watson P. +Morgan was wounded and taken prisoner; Sergt. Grover was badly wounded +by a rifle ball through the thigh, and David Clark received a severe +wound. Morgan was a young but able and gallant soldier; he had +previously been wounded at Kelly's ford, but returned to his company to +be again wounded, and to experience the additional misfortune of being +made a prisoner. He was exchanged soon after, but subsequently died from +the effect of his wound. Sergt. Grover had also previously been wounded +at Gettysburgh, where he had been promoted for gallantry and good +conduct. Clark recovered to reenlist upon the expiration of his term of +service, and served to the close of the war. Of the forty-seven men who +had been with the company since it crossed the Rapidan only ten were +left for duty--thirty-five had been killed or wounded, and two had been +captured unwounded. From this time to the 26th of July the company were +employed, with short intervals for rest, on the picket line, here and +there as occasion demanded their services, but without important +incident. Active operations having now continued so long in this +particular quarter as to afford room for hope that the rebels might be +caught napping on the north bank of the James, Gen. Grant determined to +send a large force in that direction to co-operate with the Army of the +James, hoping to take the enemy by surprise and, by a sudden dash, +perhaps to capture the capitol of the Confederacy before its real +defenders could get information of the danger. With this view he +detached the Second Corps and two divisions of cavalry to attempt it. + +The troops marched at one o'clock on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, +and at two o'clock on the morning of the twenty-seventh the corps +crossed the James by a ponton bridge at Jones' Landing. Passing rapidly +to the north, in rear of the lines held by the Tenth Corps (belonging to +the Army of the James), the troops faced to the west and were soon +confronting the enemy in position. The sharp shooters were deployed and +advanced in skirmishing order across an open and level tract of land +known locally as "Strawberry Plains." + +The advancing line was heavily supported and drove the enemy steadily +until they were forced back into their works, when, with a grand dash, +sharp shooters, supports and all in one rushing mass, swept up to and +over the rebel works, capturing in the charge four guns and some seven +hundred prisoners. Notwithstanding this success, the enemy were found to +have been so heavily reenforced by troops from the Petersburgh +lines--who could be transferred by railroad, while the Union forces were +compelled to march--that the full object of the movement could not be +attained. The captured works were held, however, while the cavalry, +moving still further north, destroyed the railroads and bridges north of +the city, and returned to the vicinity of Deep Bottom, where the corps +returned by a night march to their former position in front of +Petersburgh, resting for a few hours by the way on the field of their +battle of the 18th of July. The regiment lay in camp until the 12th of +August, engaged in the usual routine of picket duly and sharp shooting, +but without unusually hard service. Indeed, what would once have been +called by them active employment was now enjoyed as a season of grateful +repose, so constantly had they been engaged in bloody battle since +crossing the Rapidan. On the 12th of August the bugle sounded the +general once more, and with knapsacks packed, blankets strapped, +haversacks and cartridge boxes filled, the one hundred and sixty men who +now represented what had once been the First Regiment of United States +Sharp Shooters, marched with their division towards City Point. + +Rumors were rife as to their destination--some said Washington; some +said a southern seaport, while some maintained that the objective point +was Chicago, where they were wanted to maintain order during the coming +democratic convention. At City Point they were embarked on steam +transports and headed down the river. The wisest guessers were now +really puzzled, and the prophet who foretold Chicago had as many chances +in his favor as any of his fellows. A few miles down the river, and the +fleet of laden steamers came to an anchor, and lay quiet for some hours. +The rest, cleanliness, and cool, refreshing breezes from the river, were +very grateful to the tired soldiers so long accustomed to the dirt and +dust of the rifle pits. + +Soon after dark the anchors were got up and the heads of the steamers +turned again up stream. Now all was plain, another secret movement was +planned, and at daylight on the morning of the fourteenth the troops +landed at the scene of their crossing on the 26th of July at Deep +Bottom. + +Moving out toward the enemy severe skirmishing took place, but no +engagement of a general character occurred on that day. On the fifteenth +they were detached from the Second, and ordered to the Tenth Corps, now +commanded by their former division commander, Gen. Birney, and at his +especial request. Moving out at the head of the column they found +themselves in the early afternoon the extreme right of the army, and in +front of the enemy at a little stream known as Deep Run, or Four Mile +creek. Deploying under the personal direction of Gen. Birney they +advanced toward a wooded ridge on which they found the rebel skirmishers +in force, and evidently determined to stay. In the language of Capt. +Merriman, who must be accepted as authority, "It was the hardest +skirmish line to start that Co. F ever struck." But Co. F was rarely +refused when it demanded a right of way and was opposed by nothing but a +skirmish line; and on this occasion, as on many former ones, their +steady pressure and cool firing prevailed at last, and after more than +an hour the rebels yielded the ground. On the sixteenth more severe +fighting took place with serious loss to the regiment, but Co. F escaped +without loss--in fact there was hardly enough left of the company to +lose. Col. Craig, commanding the brigade to which they were attached, +was killed, and Capt. Andrews of Co. E, Capt. Aschmann of Co. A. and +Lieut. Tyler of Co. I were wounded. Thus this movement ended, as had the +former one, with no decisive result so far as the participants could +see. A few guns had been captured, a few rebels killed, and a +corresponding loss had been suffered by the federals; but who could tell +what important effect on the great field of action, extending from the +Mississippi to the Atlantic, this apparently abortive movement was +intended to have? + +The men were beginning to understand that marches and battles were not +always for immediate effect at the point of contact; and so they marched +and fought as they were ordered; winning if they could, and accepting +defeat if they must, but with a growing confidence that the end was +near. + +On the seventeenth they rejoined their proper corps and marched again +toward the James, leaving Lieut. Kinsman in charge of a party who, under +a flag of truce, was caring for the wounded. + +The corps recrossed the James on the night of the nineteenth and resumed +a place in the lines of Petersburgh, relieving the Fifth Corps who moved +to the left to try to seize and hold the Weldon railroad, the attempt on +which had been abandoned since the battle on the Jerusalem plank road on +the 22d of July. On the twentieth, companies C and A, whose term of +service had expired, were discharged. In Co. C only five, and in Co. A. +only eleven of the original members were left to be mustered out. The +terrible exposures of three years of fighting had done their perfect +work on them, and the little band who answered to the roll call on that +day had little resemblance to the sturdy line that had raised their +hands as they took the oath only three years before. The regiment was on +the eve of dissolution, since other companies were soon to reach the end +of their enlistment and might soon be expected to leave the service. +Indeed, the company whose history we have followed so long, would be +entitled to its discharge on the 12th of September, now only +twenty-three days off. + +The departure of Co. A was made more sad from the fact that they took +with them their wounded captain, who had lost a leg in the battle at +Deep Run on the fifteenth. Capt. Aschmann had been with the company from +its organization, and had participated with distinguished gallantry in +all the battles in which it had been engaged, escaping without a wound, +only to lose his leg in the last fight, and only five days before he +would be entitled to his honorable discharge. It seemed a hard fate. In +Co. F great excitement existed in consequence of the near approach of +the time when they, also, might honorably doff the green uniforms which +had so long been worn as a distinctive mark of their organization, and +turn their faces homeward, once more to become sober citizens in the +peaceful and prosperous North--that North which they had fought so long +and so hard to preserve in its peace and prosperity. Many and frequent +were the discussions around the camp fire as to whether it was better to +leave the service or to reenlist. It was now plain that the days of the +rebellion were numbered, and that the end was at hand. It was evident +to these veterans, however, that a few more desperate battles must be +fought before the end was finally reached. They ardently desired to be +present at the final surrender and share the triumph they had suffered +so much to assure. On the other hand they as ardently longed to resume +their places in those home circles which they had left to take up arms, +only that the country and the flag, which they so honored and loved, +might be preserved to their children, and their children's children, +forever. They felt that they had done all that duty required of them, +that they had honorably served their term, and that they might safely +leave it to those who had entered the service later to finish the work +which they had so far completed. They felt, also, that they should leave +behind them an honorable record, on which no stain rested, and second to +that of no body of men in the army. + +There were left of the original one hundred and three men who had been +mustered into the United States service only twenty-five present and +absent. Of these, six, namely, David Clark, Jas. H. Guthrie, Sam'l J. +Williams, Stephen B. Flanders, John Kanaan and Lewis J. Allen, had +reenlisted. The remainder, nineteen in number, as follows, elected to +take their honorable discharge: + + C. D. Merriman, + Spafford A. Wright, + Curtiss P. Kimberly, + W. C. Kent, + Eugene Payne, + Cassius Peck, + Fitz Green Halleck, + H. E. Kinsman, + Edwin E. Robinson, + Wm. McKeever, + Almon D. Griffin, + E. F. Stevens, + Watson N. Sprague, + Jas. M. Thompson, + Thos. H. Turnbull, + W. W. Cutting, + David O. Daggett, + Geo. H. Ellis, + H. B. Wilder. + +Of these, nine only were present with the company to be mustered out. +The remaining six were absent, sick or wounded, or on detached service. + +The few remaining days were destined, however, to be full of excitement +and danger. It seemed to the men that their division commander, aware of +the fact that he was soon to lose them, was determined to use them to +the best advantage while he had them. They were kept constantly engaged +during the hours of daylight, skirmishing and engaged in the rifle pits. +On the 21st of August they drove the rebels from a rifle pit in their +front, capturing forty prisoners, just four times as many as there were +men in their own ranks. From this date until September 10th they were +engaged every day on the picket line. On that day, with other companies, +they were ordered to occupy what had been, by consent, neutral ground +surrounding a well from which both parties had drawn water, and where +rebel and Unionist often met unarmed and exchanged gossip. It seemed a +pity to spoil so friendly an arrangement, but orders must be obeyed, and +soon after daylight the sharp shooters dashed out of their lines and +occupied the ground which they proceeded to fortify, capturing +eighty-five surprised, but not on the whole displeased, rebels. + +The enemy did not relish being deprived of the opportunity of getting +water from this place, and on that day and the next made repeated +effort to repossess it, but without avail. Carlos E. Mead received his +second wound in repulsing one of these attempts. At last the day arrived +when they might claim to have fulfilled on their part the engagement +which they had entered into with Uncle Sam three years before, and on +the thirteenth the men present took their final discharge and bade +farewell to all the "Pomp and circumstance of glorious war." They were +destined, however, to have one more opportunity to show their skill even +on this last day of their service, for even while they were preparing +for their leave taking a sharp exchange of shots took place, in which +the departing Vermonters paid their last compliments to the enemy whom +they had so often fought, and during which A. W. Bemis, a recruit of +1862, was wounded. At last all was over; reluctantly turning in their +trusty rifles, to which they had become attached by long companionship +in many scenes of danger and death, they answered to the last roll call +and, bidding an affectionate adieu to their comrades who were to remain, +they turned their faces toward City Point and home. + +The small remnant of the company kept up an organization under Sergt. +Cunningham, and was heavily engaged on the 27th of October in the battle +of Burgess Mill, which resulted from Grant's attempt on the South Side +railroad. The few men left fought with their accustomed gallantry, +losing Daniel E. Bessie and Charles Danforth, killed in action, and +Volney W. Jencks and Jay S. Percy, wounded and left on the field. + +The little squad, now reduced to almost nothing, were again engaged on +the 1st of November, when they suffered the loss of still another +comrade, Friend Weeks, who was mortally wounded and died on the +seventeenth of the same month. On the 23d of December the few men left +of the once strong and gallant company were transferred to Co. E of the +Second Sharp Shooters, and Co. F ceased to exist as an organization. +With Co. E the men so transferred participated in the affair at +Hatcher's Run on the 15th of December, and at other points along the +line. On the 25th of February, 1865, the consolidated battalion of sharp +shooters being reduced to a mere skeleton, was broken up and its members +transferred to other regiments, the Vermonters being assigned to Co. G, +Fourth Vermont Volunteers, with which company they served until the +close of the war. + +On the 16th of February, the division commander, Gen. De Trobriand, +under whom they had served for nearly two years, and who knew them +better, probably, than any general officer of the army, issued the +following complimentary order: + + HEADQUARTERS 3D DIV. 2D ARMY CORPS, + February 16, 1865. + + GENERAL ORDER NO. 12. + + The United States Sharp Shooters, including the first and + second consolidated battalions, being about to be broken up + as a distinct organization in compliance with orders from + the War Department, the brigadier-general commanding the + division will not take leave of them without acknowledging + their good and efficient service during about three years in + the field. The United States Sharp Shooters leave behind + them a glorious record in the Army of the Potomac since the + first operations against Yorktown in 1862 up to Hatcher's + Run, and few are the battles or engagements where they did + not make their mark. The brigadier-general commanding, who + had them under his command during most of the campaigns of + 1863 and 1864, would be the last to forget their brave deeds + during that period, and he feels assured that in the + different organizations to which they may belong severally, + officers and men will show themselves worthy of their old + reputation; with them the past will answer for the future. + + By command of Brig.-Gen. R. De Trobriand. + + W. K. DRIVER, _A. A. G._ + +It was a handsome compliment on the part of the commander, well deserved +and heartily bestowed. The history of Co. F would not be complete, or do +justice to the memories of the brave men who died in its ranks, or to +the gallant few yet living, without a record of the names of those who +so freely shed their blood, in the conflict for the Union. + +In all thirty-two of its members died of wounds received in action, of +whom twenty-one were killed on the field while eleven died in the +hospital from the effects of their wounds. Their names are as follows: + + A. H. Cooper, + Jay S. Percy, + E. M. Hosmer, + W. J. Domag, + Jacob Lacoy, + Joseph Hagan, + Thos. H. Brown, + Caspar B. Kent, + Barney Leddy, + Dan'l E. Bessie, + W. F. Dawson, + Jas. A. Read, + M. W. Wilson, + Alvin Babcock, + Edw'd Lyman, + Watson P. Morgan, + Volney W. Jencks, + Pat'k Murray, + David W. French, + Edw'd Trask, + E. A. Giddings, + Henry Mattocks, + Jos. Bickford, + Chas. B. Mead, + Peter Lafflin, + Chas. Danforth, + B. W. Jordan, + A. C. Cross, + Jno. Bowen, + Henry E. Barnum, + Friend Weeks, + William Wells. + +The wounded who recovered and again reported for duty number forty-five. +The names are given here as second in honorable recollection only to +those who died on the field. The list will be found to contain the names +of several who were subsequently killed, or died of wounds received on +other fields: + + C. M. Jordan, + Wm. McKeever, + Spafford A. Wright, + Dustin K. Bareau, + Edward Lyman, + J. E. Chase, + John Quinlan, + L. D. Grover (twice), + A. W. Bemis, + Sam'l Williams, + C. W. Peck, + Benjamin Billings, + C. W. Seaton, + W. C. Kent, + Brigham Buswell, + W. H. Blake, + Barney Leddy, + E. M. Hosmer, + Jno. Monahan, + Chas. B. Mead, + Watson P. Morgan, + A. J. Cross, + Jno. C. Page, + M. Cunningham (twice), + H. E. Kinsman, + Henry Mattocks, + Amos A. Smith, + Almon D. Griffin (twice), + Silas Giddings, + David Clark, + Carlos E. Mead (twice), + Geo. Woolly, + Lewis J. Allen, + E. H. Himes, + Jacob S. Bailey (twice), + H. J. Peck, + Ai Brown, + S. M. Butler, + Edward Trask, + Martin C. Laffie, + W. H. Leach, + Edw'd Jackson, + Fitz Greene Halleck, + Eugene Payne, + Sherod Brown. + +Thus out of a total of one hundred and seventy-seven men, including all +recruits actually mustered into the United States service (for it must +be remembered that thirteen of the one hundred and sixteen men who were +mustered by the state mustering officer at Randolph, and charged against +the company on the rolls, were discharged at Washington to reduce the +number to the legal requirement of one hundred and three officers and +men), thirty-two, or more than eighteen per cent, died of wounds; while +the killed and wounded taken together number seventy-seven, or +forty-three and one-half per cent of the whole. + +The record shows the severe and dangerous nature of the service +performed by these men, and on it they may safely rest, certain that a +grateful country will honor their memories, even as it does those of +their comrades who fought in the ranks of other and larger +organizations. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + +"You can have ten descriptions of a battle, or plans of a campaign, +sooner than one glimpse at the unthought of details of a soldier's +life." + + +The history of Co. F is finished, and is far from satisfactory to the +writer. Originally undertaken for the purpose of supplying the Hon. G. +G. Benedict, State Military Historian, with material for such a brief +record as he could afford room for in his history of the Vermont troops +in the war of the rebellion, it has grown far beyond what was intended +at the outset, and far beyond what would be proper for him to publish in +such a work as he is charged with. It should have been undertaken by +some other person than myself; by some one more intimately and longer +acquainted with the company in the field: by some one whose personal +recollection of the detail of its daily doings is more exact than mine +can possibly be; for the history of so small a portion of a great army +as a company is, should be a personal history of the men who composed +it. The record of a company is mainly made up of the every day scenes +and every day gossip about its company kitchen and its company street. +With these matters the writer does not profess to be, or to have been, +familiar. + +The work has, therefore, become more of a description of campaigns and +of battles, and more a history of the regiment to which it was attached, +I fear, than of the company. Such as it is, however, its preparation has +been a labor of love, and it is published with the earnest hope that it +may serve at least to keep warm in the hearts of the survivors the +memories of those who marched with them in 1861, and whose graves mark +every battle field whereon the Army of the Potomac fought. + + WM. Y. W. R. + + + + + +------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | + | original document have been preserved. | + | | + | = sign denotes bold type | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | All instances of Spottsylvania changed | + | to Spotsylvania | + | All instances of Rapahannock changed | + | to Rappahannock | + | Page 3 lands changed to land's | + | Page 4 taget changed to target | + | Page 9 augered changed to augured | + | Page 10 oganized changed to organized | + | Page 13 or changed to on | + | Page 15 blocade changed to blockade | + | Page 20 leggins changed to leggings | + | Page 21 complmentary changed to complimentary | + | Page 31 navagable changed to navigable | + | Page 33 suplemented changed to supplemented | + | Page 34 relieveing changed to relieving | + | Page 40 consumate changed to consummate | + | Page 45 intesely changed to intensely | + | Page 53 canonade changed to cannonade | + | Page 57 hesitatation changed to hesitation | + | Page 59 Seargent changed to Sergeant | + | Page 78 removed word "in" before "converted" | + | Page 81 at changed to an | + | Page 101 Hasting changed to Hastings | + | Page 106 Fredricksburgh changed to Fredericksburgh | + | Page 107 usul changed to usual | + | Page 107 occurence changed to ccurrence | + | Page 120 randon changed to random | + | Page 121 irresistable changed to irresistible | + | Page 142 SPOTTSYLVANIA changed to SPOTSYLVANIA | + | Page 144 amry changed to army | + | Page 148 Hayes changed to Hays | + | Page 149 necessarially changed to necessarily | + | Page 155 levie changed to levy | + | Page 162 veterns changed to veterans | + | Page 164 handfull changed to handful | + | Page 167 tweny changed to twenty | + | Page 171 Totopotomy changed to Totopotomy | + | Page 172 indispensible changed to indispensable | + | Page 174 Totopotamy changed to Totopotomy | + | Page 175 arogant changed to arrogant | + | Page 176 renpered changed to rendered | + | Page 182 SEIGE changed to SIEGE | + | Page 190 Jeausalem changed to Jerusalem | + | Page 202 Wooley changed to Woolly | + +------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Vermont riflemen in the war for the +union, 1861 to 1865, by William Y. 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