Battery L, 1st Artillery Regiment (Light) - George Breck Columns: Chapter 8: “Under The New Arrangement” The Army Of Virginia June 30, 1862 – July 30, 1862

The failure of three separate Union forces to corral Stonewall Jackson illustrated the need for a single, unified command in northern Virginia. At the end of June, Lincoln combined Banks’, Fremont’s and McDowell’s corps into a new Army of Virginia and placed it under the command of John Pope, brought from the west after capturing New Madrid and Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River. Lincoln wanted Pope to either move directly on Richmond or, at the very least, disrupt the Virginia Central Railroad, severing Richmond’s link with the Shenandoah Valley. This, it was hoped, would force the Confederates to divert some of their troops confronting McClellan, who had inched within a few miles of Richmond. However, the situation was about to change dramatically. Lee, now in command of the Confederate army confronting McClellan, took the initiative. Reinforced with Jackson’s men from the valley, he launched a series of bloody attacks June 26-July 1, known as the Seven Days Battles, which thoroughly unnerved McClellan and caused him to retreat to Harrison’s Landing on the James River. To Pope, it was clear that an advance on Richmond was no longer practical. Instead, he decided to stand on the defensive until McClellan’s soldiers could be disembarked from the Peninsula and sent to join him.

Camp Goodrich, Headquarters Reynolds’ Battery,
2d Brigade, Gen. Sigel’s Division,
Virginia, June 30, 1862
(Appeared Friday, July 11, 1862)

Dear Union: -- Another change and another move. A change from the 1st to the 2d Brigade of Gen. Sigel’s Division, and a consequent removal to the camp of the 2d Brigade. (1) Why it is called Camp Goodrich, we don’t know. The locality and surroundings of our new camp are entirely different from the one we have just vacated. We are now in the woods, in a comparatively elevated position, hidden almost from view, and a view of almost everything hidden from us, excepting a forest of pine, hickory and oak trees that surround and tower above our quarters, and a hill on whose ascending slope from the camp our battery is parked. The rest of the brigade – composed of the 79th and 60th N.Y. Regiments, 3d Delaware, the Purnell Legion, a Maryland Regiment, District of Columbia Battalion, Crounses’ Artillery company and a squadron of Maryland Cavalry, are encamped on the left of our battery, a short distance from it. In one respect we like our quarters better than those at Camp Sigel. The shade afforded us by the trees is very pleasant, it being a hard matter for the sun’s hot rays to penetrate the myriads of green leaves; and when it rains, as it did yesterday afternoon and last night, we are well protected from the wet. We are obliged to go a long way for water, however, which makes it rather bad. But why discourse so minutely about the peculiar features of our new encampment! We may not remain here 24 hours longer and the uncertainty of our sojourn in this location scarcely warrants a particular description of the place. And then, there is nothing particularly interesting respecting it to describe. Five or six times we have changed our residence since leaving Harper’s Ferry, distant from here some fifty miles. There is a rumor afloat that we are soon to take up our line of march again, “on to Richmond,” under the new arrangement of military affairs in the valley of the Shenandoah. It is a rumor only. No doubt, that we shall shortly make a forward movement of some kind. The army of Virginia, as newly denominated, will not, under its recently appointed and popular commander, remain in statue quo very long. To use that very unpoetical but expressive word, so lately coined and introduced into American phraseology, there will be (no?) more skedaddling up or back, in this valley. At least we think and we hope not. This playing “tag” by our army ought to be played out. Orders were read to us yesterday that purport a speedy advance. Coffee, sugar, salt, hard bread and beef on the hoof are to constitute the rations of the Virginia army for the time being, and such can be drawn only. This indicates marching somewhere.

But a word or two more about the 2d Brigade to which we have been assigned. We take the liberty of saying that we like the change. It was not altogether undesired. Brigadier General Slough, our new commander, is military in looks and address, of considerable military capacity, and has won for himself no little celebrity as a soldier and commander. He is an Ohioan, and greatly distinguished his name when in command of a regiment in New Mexico. He is the man who marched the celebrated Colorado regiment eight hundred miles into New Mexico and turned the tide of affairs in that territory after Col. Canby had lost a battle and was shut up in a fort without resources. He marched his troops one hundred and forty miles in four days, and so creditably did he acquit himself that he was promoted to a brigadier general. (2) He is thorough in the accomplishment of any undertaking and takes a direct interest for the wants, drill and proficiency of the men under his command. From all I can learn he has the confidence and respect of his whole brigade. A commander who does not possess this lacks, in a military sense, the one thing needful. It is next to impossible for soldiers to fight without faith and trust in their leader. They must be conscious that he is able, fitted to take command, and firmness and discipline, combined with kindness and a proper understanding of human nature, will enable a commander, if he is suitably qualified in military tactics, to gain the esteem and confidence of the men under his command.

Capt. Crounse’s Battery, which is attached to Gen. Slough’s Brigade, belongs to the 1st N.Y. Artillery. It is a four gun battery. Major (L.) Kieffer has command of this and our own battery, or rather he is chief of artillery in the 2d Brigade, be there one or more batteries attached to the brigade. This rank entitles him to the command of a battalion or four batteries. He is to camp with us. Lieut. Anderson of our company has been appointed Battalion Quartermaster.

Capt. Reynolds is now Aide-de-Camp on Gen. Sigel’s staff.

Last Saturday we went target shooting again. We tried the range of our guns at a distance of 1300 yards. Some excellent firing was done, which showed the accuracy of our pieces and the skill and good marksmanship of our gunners. One shot passed through the target, and the last one fired leveled it to the ground.

Before leaving the grounds we had quite an interesting conversation with a gentleman who owns the property where we fired, and who has a fine residence adjoining the spot. He is a Virginian and has lived in the Shenandoah Valley for many years. We have seldom come across a man whose good-naturedness, ease of taking life, sociability, and the like, ever pleased us more. A large, heavy man physically, jovially disposed and who, strange to say, never saw a cannon fired in his life until the day before we fired. He had no taste for anything of the kind, he remarked, infinitely preferring the sound of a piano – which he had in his house – and which it was our pleasure to hear. He is the owner of several hundred acres of nice land in and near Middletown, most of which has been left to take care of itself since the running warfare commenced here in the valley. He has a few acres of wheat almost ready to harvest, but before he puts in the sickle he said he was going to see all the Major Generals in this district and ascertain what arrangement he could make towards getting part of his wheat. He was willing to cut it on “shares,” but felt disinclined to sickle and cradle the whole of it and then have it all “pressed” into the service of Uncle Sam by anybody who saw fit to appropriate it. If the Federals or Confederates were going to take it, it was asking a little too much that he should harvest it for either party. They were welcome to it as it was, if they must have it.

While speaking of wheat this gentleman informed us that he never knew of a particle of it in the whole State of Virginia to have ever been affected by the weavil, that insect which has made such destructive havoc with the wheat in Northern States. Guano is used quite extensively for cultivating the soil in Virginia; and we have observed that – is employed for the same purpose. Winter wheat is the principal wheat raised in the State. We understood our pleasant and good humored friend to be of the secesh order, but of a very mild type we concluded. He told us that he was formerly a staunch Henry Clay man, as also was the man to whom I referred in a previous letter, and with whom a foraging party our company sent out one day had an interview. (3) He said they both opposed secession with almost violence before Virginia seceded, warning their friends and neighbors of the direful fruits that were certain to follow if Virginia did secede. They were firm friends of the Union, and stood by it till – when do you suppose? Why, till Virginia threw off her allegiance to the good old Union and cast in her lot with traitors and rebels. Then they followed suit, and his friend, (whose name is Hite, and about whose family he gave us a very interesting account) is now one of the strongest advocates of the Confederate Government that can be found. Why this sudden change, we enquired. It puzzled us exceedingly to understand how men who were true Union men before their State seceded, who were heart and hand for the Constitution and the Union previous to their State adopting the act of secession, whipped around so suddenly, changed their opinions and sentiments entirely on the question of remaining in the Union; and instead of remaining Union men when the time demanded an open and practical illustration of the sincerity of their loyal professions, became the advocates of a principal which but a few days before they denounced in unsparing language. We couldn’t comprehend this wonderfully rapid change in the minds and hearts of men and reconcile the change with any principle of truth and sincerity. How was it brought about? State Rights, was the answer. And then, too, the call of the President for 75,000 men turned the minds and hearts of men who were for the Union against it. This call from the Chief Magistrate of the nation meant invasion and subjugation.

O, the damnable heresy secessionism! It has crazed the minds of men and robbed them of sense and reason. O, the mischief working doctrine of State Rights! It has poisoned the wells of patriotism, and sapped the foundations of a government that required seven long, bloody years to lay, and cost the lives of some of the best and greatest men the world ever saw. Can it be true, that besides the masses of the less educated and less intelligent people of the south, there are so many worthy and intelligent men who believe, that in advocating and prosecuting the cause of secessionism, they are doing right and acting for conscience sake? It would seem so, from what we have heard and observed, and this makes the war a war of conscience indeed. Are the people of the North fully awakened to this fact, if fact it be? If so, are they in earnest enough on their part in putting down this giant rebellion, considering that they are contending with a foe who, with a few prominent exceptions, believe with strength of mind and earnestness of heart that they are in the right? I have just been reading an editorial in your paper on the need of more men for the service; the absolute necessity and importance for a decided increase in our army, and the foolishness and shortsightedness of the War Department, stopping recruiting and countermanding the order for reinforcements. (4) I wish that the article might be copied in every Northern newspaper, and acted upon. The Union (and Advertiser) took the proper ground, when the President’s first call was made for troops, that five times the number asked for ought to have been demanded, and it was, and has been a great mistake ever since, on the part of government, viewing the matter of a great, overpowering number of troops (–) in comparison to the armed force of the south, its resources, etc. (–) needless and a foolish expense to the nation. More troops, more troops, government must have notwithstanding the hundreds of thousands who have already so promptly and patriotically responded to their country’s call. I think I am correct in saying that fully 25 per cent of our whole army has been placed in the hospital, laid on the battle field and dismissed from service for disability. Regiments, battalions and batteries have been decimated and are being decimated, low, very low, by sickness which disables and kills faster than rifle bullet or cannon ball. These thin, decimated ranks must be kept full, or fresh troops must take their places, else this monster rebellion will not, cannot be crushed, so far as human discernment can predict – for we cannot say when. That it will be crushed we firmly believe, for our faith in the ultimate success of our cause rests not in human effort alone, but in divine. But surely every person who can perform military duty is inexcusable who does not now hold himself in readiness or come forth and do service for his country. It is a solemn time with our nation, and what may not some unexpected circumstance accomplish? We will not look on the dark side of the picture, however, and must ask pardon for writing so long and freely as we have.

Time and space forbid relating the interesting account of Mr. Hite’s family, as told us. It belongs to the lengthy catalogue of the ups and downs in life, showing how one of the wealthiest and most respected men in Virginia, related to President Madison, became one of the poorest and least respected, became one of the wealthiest, changing positions with the first, becoming possessor of his property, old homestead, etc.

We hope that our mild and pleasant secesh friend’s predictions will not be verified as to the length of the war. Five years, he said it would last, when it commenced. It would consist of four years hard fighting, and then it would require a year to “settle up accounts” satisfactorily.

 

Monday, p.m., June 30

More changes. The telegraph has informed you of the removal of Gen. Fremont, or perhaps I ought to say, his relief from command. He asked for a leave of absence, in the first place, and this not being granted, he asked to be relieved from command for such and such reasons, specified by the Secretary of War, and his request was forthwith complied with. (5) Immediately, he and staff left for New York. We would give a good deal to get hold of a copy of the New York Tribune just now. It must be perspiring pretty freely over recent war orders from the “powers that be.” The appointment of Gen. Sigel to the command of the 1st corps of the army of Virginia must give general satisfaction all over the North. His being ignored at first seemed rather strange and humiliating, not to say unaccountable. But true worth and gallantry have not been set aside. Politics have not been allowed to sacrifice a brave and able general, one whose valuable services our army can illy afford to spare in the nation’s present great emergency. Gen. Sigel’s appointment to the command of the 1st corps of the Virginia army takes him away from our division. This we regret. Gen. Cooper assumes command of the division for the time being.

Capt. Reynolds, in consequence of this appointment of Gen. Sigel, is relieved from Gen. S.’s staff, and has returned to the company. The boys greeted him with feelings of no little joy. – They started with him for their captain and they couldn’t reconcile themselves to the idea that they must be deprived of his immediate command, much less that he should be removed entirely from them by being assigned to another division.

This forenoon the company was mustered in for pay. Four month’s pay is now due them. A little money would be a wonderful convenience to the boys just at present. A good deal has been said against sutlers; but after all they are by no means a curse. Ask the soldier, whose daily subsistence, as furnished him by Uncle Sam, consists of hard crackers, salt pork, interspersed with fresh meat now and then, and a few other luxuries of a similar character, if he considers the sutler a “nuisance,” as they have been pronounced by many? Barnum never had a greater rush to his mammoth curiosity shop than the sutlers in this division have to and around their wagons or tents whenever they come with or receive a fresh supply of bread, cheese, butter, ginger cakes, and savory provisions of a like nature. Bread sells for 15 to 30 cents a loaf, butter 25 to 30 cents per pound in this vicinity, and the demand outstrips the supply by a large per centage. Our contraband, “Bill,” goes and watches for the arrival of the sutler’s precious wagon hours before it comes, that he may be among the first to attack it, and make sure of some of its supplies. He often comes back, however, empty as he went. But my letter is growing altogether too long, and so will bid sutlers and yourself good-bye. G.B. (6)

Near Front Royal, Va.
July 6, 1862.
(Appeared Friday, July 18, 1862)

Dear Union: On the banks of the south branch of the Shenandoah river we have pitched our tents, and as I now write, companies of cavalry – I should think a whole regiment – are fording the river right opposite our tent. Below us a short distance are the abutments of a bridge destroyed by the rebel army, and just below these stone abutments is a large wooden bridge erected for temporary use. A few feet rise of the river would rapidly sweep away the bridge. We crossed it this forenoon on arriving here with our battery. The scenery about is very beautiful. Looking across and up the Shenandoah we witness a variety of landscape scenery, hills, mountains, fields, forests, etc., and the river itself spread out before us is not the least attractive sight presented to view. There is quite a high dam above our camp and the fall of water over it is large and heavy. This water power is excellent for milling purposes, as you can well imagine, and it is improved for this object, there being a nice large mill erected near the dam which has eight run of stone and, in appearance, it looks more like a Northern mill than any we have yet seen in Virginia. It is the property of a Pennsylvanian, I believe, who lives in a pretty two-story frame house not far from the mill. The house is deserving of notice, as it is not all chimney built on the outside, as is characteristic of most of the private dwellings here in this valley. The lady of the house is Secesh, a true Virginian, but very pleasant and hospitable. She thinks it impossible for the North and South ever to become reconciled, the feeling existing between the two sections being too intensely bitter to allow it.

The two branches of the Shenandoah River, the north and south, unite a little below the wooden bridge alluded to above. We cannot complain of want or scarcity of water in our present encampment as we did at Camp Goodrich. There is an abundance of it here, and a spring that flows with the richest and most refreshing draughts of this best of beverages. The boys cannot fail, with the Shenandoah running at their feet, to attend to that part of their health relating to the necessity of bathing.

But a word about our coming here. Last Thursday (July 3) the two brigades of our division received orders to hold themselves in readiness to march at any hour. I was informed that Gen. Sigel’s corps started for Front Royal that day. Saturday afternoon (July 5) the orders to march came, and at 6 o’clock we bade good-bye to Camp Goodrich and were en route for Front Royal. We felt delighted at the prospect of marching in the night instead of doing so in the day time as we would be exempt from heat and dust, and the night being moonlight, beautiful and brilliant, the march we anticipated would be very pleasant and to some of us entirely novel. We were obliged to make a retreat two or three miles, through Middle town, in order to get on the Front Royal road. We met two or three regiments who seemed to be going to take our places. The first brigade was quite a distance ahead of us, and in consequence of the baggage teams attached to and in rear of it, and I may also say owing to the mismanagement of whoever conducted the march, we were seventeen hours going twelve miles. It was “forward” and “halt!” all night long, and till half-past ten the next forenoon. We would go about the length of a regiment and then stop, perhaps one or two hours, expecting every minute to hear the command to move forward again. This wouldn’t have been so bad had we been notified, as we might have been, when or how long we were going to stop, for it would have afforded some rest to the boys. Just as they would prepare to take a “nap” the drum would beat or the bugle blow preparatory to another start.

The brilliancy and pleasure of our moon-light night march was considerably marred, owing to the above, and then came morning, without rest and minus food, we felt more or less “used up.” But we didn’t wish to complain. A querulous, complaining soldier has no business to be in the army, and yet there are sometimes good reasons for complaint, and some grievances, that it is hard to keep still about. For instance […] something wrong in the sanitary and commissary departments in this valley, especially the former. It ought to be corrected, and now that there has been a change in military affairs along the Shenandoah, I presume that there will be an improvement in these matters. Soldiers are men, and after enlistment retain all the characteristics of humanity the same as before. Half rations and half medical care, when there is no necessity for anything of the kind, are difficult to put up with without so much as an allusion to the matter. Hospitals, and ambulances for transporting the feeble and sick, and everything of a sanitary nature ought to receive particular attention in our army now that the warm summer months have come.

Perhaps it would be “contraband” to state the number of troops that have come down the valley since last Thursday or Friday, and the forces that keep coming. What this large movement means, in this direction, I do not know. We have our surmises. Richmond may be the place of our destination. The object may be the reinforcement of M’Clellan. We think this is it, and if so, why of course our stay here will be very brief. I have said that we are encamped along the banks of the Shenandoah. The ground was occupied not long since by a New York infantry regiment. Besides the destroyed bridge below the dam, which we have just learned was a railroad bridge, there are relics of another above the dam, connecting with the turn-pike road. Front Royal is about one mile and a half south of us. We have not seen the town and therefore cannot speak particularly about it.

The troops that Fremont had command of are highly pleased with their new commander, Gen. Sigel. He found them, I will not say in how bad and wrecked a condition. Twenty-five thousand men Fremont had, so I have been told, when he was in the mountains. When he was relieved he had nine thousand. One of his troops was asked on coming from Strasburg what had become of his large army. The reply was, “wherever there is a hospital in Virginia, there will be found some of Gen. Fremont’s men.”

Fourth of July was celebrated by our battery in a quiet manner. In the morning we fired a national salute, and about noon both brigades were drawn up in line at the encampment of the 1st brigade to hear a speech from Gen. Cooper, who is at present acting division commander. We were too far away from the speaker to hear anything he said. What wouldn’t we have given that day, the day commemorative of the birth right of our nationality and of American Independence, to have heard the glorious news of the fall and capture of Richmond and the final crushing of this great and iniquitous rebellion! We thought, or rather we tried to flatter ourself with the hope, that perhaps one reason why there had been no reliable intelligence from the Potomac army was that it should be reserved till the Fourth of July that it might be communicated to the loyal States and all the rest of the Federal army, announcing the glorious success of our arms, which would make the Fourth of July, 1862, a day of glory and rejoicing indeed. But sad reports were all we heard, and though the day was bright and beautiful, there was a cloud which seemed to overhang the brightness of our country’s future. (7) Since her last anniversary, thousands of brave men have been consigned to the sod beneath many a battle field as the result of vindicating her integrity, and before another proud era of her existence rolls around, must there be tens of thousands more slain as the price of this vindication? It appeared so, but our heart said, let the price be paid if thereby our country, with her glorious liberties and rights, will be preserved, and this is the only way which it seems it can be preserved. A nation’s honor and integrity, what price is too costly to pay for it?

And here let us repeat the remark made in our letter of June 30th. Now that the nation has made a fresh demand for thousands and tens of thousands of more troops to save and defend her very existence, it is the duty of every man who can enlist, to do so. (8) For our part we don’t see how that person who professes a sincere love for his country and her institutions, and can serve his country by enlistment, can justify himself in not enrolling his name in the army. To us who are in the field it seems strange, very strange, how there can be military organizations in the peaceful cities of the North, whose sole object appears to be street parades, reviews, a display of good clothes, all indulged, no doubt, with the best of motives, but cui bono we ask, when the country is calling aloud for “more troops, more troops,” to save her from treason and rebellion – how persons can parade the streets in military attire for the mere fun and glory of being a citizen soldier when he is needed, by all that duty can require, to enlist in the sacred cause of his country; and when such a person has no just excuse for not responding to the demands of his bleeding, add it may be perishing country, is a matter of no little wonderment to multitudes who are at the seat of war. Consistency, thou art a jewel. If our citizen soldiery be in need of new uniforms we can inform them that Uncle Sam will be glad to supply them with brand new suits without resorting to the necessity of getting up concerts for that object. (9) Indeed, the kind and beneficient old gentleman will furnish most excellent music in the bargain, some of the finest music we ever listened to, as for illustration, the 60 N.Y. Regiment’s band attached to our brigade.

July 7th, 1862.

We have to record the death of another member of our company who died this morning a little past four o’clock of typhoid fever. Herman Riley Benedict, of Irondequoit, who three or four days ago was apparently in the vigor of health, has been taken from us suddenly by disease, and is now no more. His death is a severe stroke to the company, and we mourn his loss with deep sorrow.

Last Friday morning (July 4) he first complained of sickness, of headache attended with diarrhea. – He was excused from duty and received medical attention. Saturday morning he was worse. We disliked sending him to the hospital, as those of the boys who had been sent complained of the treatment received there, getting little or no attention. All the hospitals in Winchester and in other towns along the valley are poorly, in some instances, shamefully conducted. There seems to be a lack of everything, medical skill, good nursing and proper nourishment. (10) As remarked above, however, there is a change being effected in this particular in the hospitals along the Shenandoah Valley.

The orders to move coming Saturday afternoon, and to move at an hour and a half’s notice, gave but little time to get ready and start. No ambulance could be obtained for our sick to convey them to any hospital, and to leave them in the woods without medical care could not be thought of. We must bring them along with us the best we could; arrange as comfortable a bed as possible in one of the wagons. In this way Riley Benedict was brought, but poor boy, the typhoid fever, in a very malignant form, had marked him for its victim, and on arriving here he grew worse, and though the skill of three physicians was summoned to and employed in his case, it could not avert the fatal shaft of death. He died at the time above mentioned as easily as if dropping to sleep. – He was unconscious at his death, and was so, in fact, during most of his sickness. – This afternoon his remains were deposited in a grave a short distance west of the abutments of the turnpike bridge, on the edge of the banks along the Shenandoah River beneath some trees. They were followed to their resting place by the entire company, the Chaplain of the 78th N.Y. Regiment officiating at the funeral. On the breast of the deceased lay a small bunch of beautiful flowers, in colors emblematical of our flag, for which the silent dead, though not dying for it on the field of battle, as truly gave his life for, by disease. They were placed there by Sergeant William Hays, to whose detachment young Benedict was assigned. Sergeant Hays wept for him as for an own brother. The deceased was eighteen years of age, and was among the first to join the company. Never was there a better or more faithful soldier. During his connection with the battery he never gave occasion for a word of censure or reproof, for neglect of duty or disobedience of military rule or orders. Always prompt and ready to do what was required of him, and like Jabez Stutterd, respected by us all. The officers and members of the company desire to extend their heart-felt sympathies to the family and friends of our deceased brother soldier in this their hour of great bereavement. It may be that God, in His wisdom, saw fit to call him gently away by the hand of disease, rather than in the heat and carnage of the battle field, to which, as a company, we may now be hastening.

Our post office address must be changed again. Letters and papers will now be directed, “Care Reynolds’ Battery, 1st N.Y. Artillery, Gen. Banks’ Corps, Washington, D.C.” From Washington they will be sent to wherever the company may be.

The weather is extremely hot to-day.

I hear it reported that troops now at Front Royal are to be sent forward to Richmond.

In haste, G.B.

Camp of Reynolds’ Battery
Four Miles West of Warrenton, Va.
July 12th, 1862
(Appeared Monday, July 21, 1862)

Dear Union: -- My last letter to you was written near Front Royal. I gave it to a sutler to take to Winchester to mail, but if reports be true about the reoccupation of Middletown, Kernstown, Winchester, and other places in the Shenandoah Valley by the rebels, my communication of the 7th inst. may never reach its destination. These reports, however, I do not credit. The above places may be occupied by the rebels in the sense that they have been evacuated by Federal troops, and all their inhabitants being secesh, these towns or villages are consequently in possession of rebel hands.

A glance at the map will show that we are no longer in the Shenandoah Valley, but considerably east of it. A march of about four miles more and a ride of some thirty-five or forty miles by railroad would take us to Washington city. We have no idea that we are destined there, but it is not improbable that we may go to Alexandria and thence down the Potomac, up the James River and join McClellan’s army. But this is all conjecture. (11) We don’t know where we are going no more than your readers do.

At five o’clock, Wednesday morning (July 9), we struck our tents on the banks of the beautiful Shenandoah and took up our line of march directly south. We passed through Front Royal, which is a small town, rather prettier than most Southern towns and villages we have seen, but very far from being royal in appearance though Royal in name. The houses all look old and dingy, and everything seems to be a quarter or half a century behind the times.

Tuesday night we had some experience in this nominally royal place, in the way of finding a house for three or four of our boys who were too sick to accompany us in our march. There being no hospital there it became necessary to make one, and to accomplish this the efforts of the Provost Marshal were requisite. He had been ordered by Gen. Cooper to take possession of any vacant house he might find. A small one-story frame building was found, the property of a widow woman who lived next door, and who used the building for a storehouse. A colored servant was told to open the door, but she refused doing so, as her missus wouldn’t like it. She was told to go and see her missus and say to her that she must give up the house or it would have to be broken open. While she was performing this errand we went in search of a doctor. We discovered one – one of the old school physicians, old fashioned in style and practice. He was informed that there were some Federal soldiers he must take care of, and the best of care too. He would be paid in time by Uncle Sam for all the medical services he might render. At first the old doctor objected complying with the request, on the ground that he was entirely out of “staple medicines.” Well, then, he must use what he had, and a pass would be given him to go to Winchester and get a fresh and full supply if he wished. He saw there was no use of objecting any farther, and very good naturedly promised he would do all he could for our patients. Returning to the little house we found it unopened, with no prospects of its being opened. Time was precious, the sick were in the ambulances waiting to be taken out, and no quarters had been provided for them yet. Asking and “moral suasion” had been of no avail. Something else must be tried. The widow woman must be seen in person, and if she still refused to give up the house, she must be compelled to. She was aroused from sleep by a loud thumping on the door, and was informed that there was no alternative. The house must be had without further words. The result was that the woman allowed the house she occupied, or rather a part of it, to be used for our sick, which proved a good deal better than if the storehouse had been given for that purpose. She was assured nothing would be harmed, as the young man who was to remain and take charge of the sick was in every respect a gentleman, and would protect her property from all injury. Thus the matter ended satisfactorily to ourselves, if not quite so satisfactorily to the other party. We had secured comfortable quarters for our three sick boys, who would retain them until they got well, or till the establishment of a hospital in Front Royal. The neglect of establishing one by our military authorities had necessitated this […] making a hospital out of a private house. Since leaving Front Royal we have learned that a public hospital has been established there.

But to come back to our march. It was a long one, the longest and hardest one we had ever performed in any one day. The road was rough and hilly, some portions of it filled up with stones and rocks. We were made to think that in clearing and cultivating the fields, the stones had been thrown in the road and there left as monuments of Virginian agricultural skill and labor. The country through which we marched was rich with ripe harvest fields, and cherry trees, loaded with fruit, lined both sides of the road. They didn’t remain very long “loaded” however, with neither cherries nor limbs. Ripe cherries were too tempting to be let alone by soldiers, and all matter of ceremony was forgotten in appropriating them. They were a good and palatable change from granite crackers. Besides an abundance of cherries, there were endless quantities of blackberries, or rather dem berries, growing in the fields. These berries grow like strawberries, the vines running on the ground, and are found almost everywhere in the valley and where we now are.

At 12 o’clock we arrived at a place called Grove Mills, and here we stopped and rested, turning our horses out to pasture and turning ourselves out to rest and feed. We put up at a farmer’s house where, for a wonder, we found an ice house and plenty of nice cold ice water, a decided luxury down here. I don’t know as I ought to say this, however, for the Shenandoah Valley literally abounds with luxurious streams and springs of water. We must have seen a score of them in our march to Grove Mills. The farmer, a very pleasant, clever man, told us that our soldiers had been playing the “deuce” with his property. Since morning they had been passing his house, and many of them had stopped and made free with some twenty-seven barrels of flour, corn, and his poultry had suffered terribly in the loss of their necks or the wringing of them. It was the first time he had been molested by either army. We congratulated him on that fact, and remarked he had been a lucky man indeed to escape so long without an unceremonious call from either the Confederate or Federal troops. He wanted to know if he couldn’t have a guard to protect his house and property. We couldn’t very well furnish him any, but two of our company being too unwell to proceed on the march, it was deemed advisable to leave them at the house of the farmer, who promised to take care of them, one of them being well enough in fact, to take care of himself, but remained behind both to serve as a guard and to recuperate.

At 4 p.m. we resumed our march, and at 6 o’clock we arrived at Gaines’ Cross Roads. Here we expected to encamp for the night; but no, we were to push on to Washington – not Washington, D.C., but Washington, the county seat of Rappahannock county, a distance of four or fives miles further. We had marched nineteen miles, and the march had begun to tell on our horses, which had done more hard pulling, I venture to say, than they had ever done before in a single day.

At Gaines’ Cross Roads there are roads leading in various directions – to Richmond, Fredericksburg, Luray, and to several other points. There is one house and a blacksmith shop at these Roads. The house belongs to and, I was told, is the home of a brother to John Letcher. (12) It seemed to be tenanted by officers and soldiers when we passed it. We passed the 1st brigade of our division at these Roads, which was encamped here for the time being. After a rest of half an hour we started again, and about 9 o’clock we reached the town of Washington, the prettiest place we have seen since leaving Baltimore. We were pretty well jaded out, for we had come thro’ Chester Mountain Gap, had gone up hill and down hill, forded streams and had marched with our heavy guns and carriages twenty-three if not twenty-five miles. We camped in the woods, and it was not long before we made our bed on the ground and were sleeping soundly. Officers and men turned in without a morsel of supper, but the boys made no complaint, and I must say that they have borne the privations and hardships of long and tedious marches very bravely and heroically. These marches differ from those we took in Baltimore. That was play; this is work.

The next morning several of us sallied forth for something to eat, the commissary stores not having all come. We patronized the “Washington Hotel,” a very cheap looking concern, both inside and outside. A decent breakfast was served up however, by a very lady like woman, to which ample justice was done by a table full of hungry men. Come to settle the bill there was a difficulty which presented itself. Not that the price for our morning rations was too exorbitant, but how to make change, that was the question. The landlady couldn’t think of taking New York money, or Pennsylvania, or Maryland money even. A five dollar “green back” was presented for her acceptance, but […] couldn’t be looked at. It was looked at and examined, for it was the first note of Uncle Sam’s money the lady had seen, and she called her little boy to see the curiosity; but as for taking anything of the kind for a meal of victuals it could not be done. “Haven’t you any of our money?” the lady asked, and she took from her pocket a fifty cent shin-plaster good only in the county of Rappahannock, and showed it to us as the kind of money she most preferred. We felt sorry that we hadn’t any to accommodate her with. We might have had our pockets full of it just as well as not, if we had only known the character of currency so desired in Washington, and had spoken to one of the boys in our company, who is an engraver, about getting some of it up. He could have done it with a pin and some coarse brownish paper. The landlady was induced to take a Baltimore bill, rather than take nothing at all. Secesh puts a big face on silver and gold. – I have seen them look at a silver half dollar with all the delight imaginable, and if they once get hold of the metal it becomes a most precious treasure. (13)

We learned that a small party of rebel cavalry was in Washington last Sunday, but a still smaller body of our cavalry gave them chase and put them to flight.

At 9 o’clock we had orders to get ready in twenty minutes, and march to Sperryville. Our tents had just been pitched, but they were immediately struck again, and at the appointed time we were all in readiness to march again. Just as we were about to start off, the orders for moving were countermanded. – Again we pitched our tents, as it had begun to rain. They didn’t remain standing but a few minutes, however, before orders again came to get ready and march back to Gaines Cross Roads. What was to pay? Rumor said that the 1st Brigade was drawn up in line of battle at the Cross Roads, momentarily expecting an attack from the enemy. We must obey orders, any way, though it did seem a little funny that we should be marched right back again, up and down those awful high hills. But back we went, the whole 2d Brigade, in command of Col. Ulmann, acting Brigadier General, Gen’l Slough being in Washington city on business, the character of which I do not feel at liberty to mention, but which I and many another officer in this division most devoutly hope and pray he may accomplish. (14) Politics! It is the curse of our army, and may be the ruination of it and our country. It is the great draw-back to the true, patriotic soldier. It disheartens, discourages him more than anything else. O that these selfish, wily, rascally politicians, who are plotting day and night to engraft themselves into office, political and military, no matter at what price it may cost our country, now bleeding and struggling for its very existence, might be torn up root and branch, and transplanted to some region where our country would no longer be harmed, and her institutions jeopardized, by their unholy ambition and pernicious influence. We write just as we feel, and that we have every reason for feeling so we know, because we have seen and are cognizant of some things that are enough to make every patriotic soldier in our great army, and every loyal citizen, cry out against such things, and against those who unblushingly do them.

But I am digressing. When we reached Gaines Cross Roads we were told to push on to Warrenton, if possible, or at any rate across the upper part of the Rappahannock river. We arrived just this side of the Rappahannock quite late Thursday night (July 10), having marched 16 or 17 miles since 12 at noon. The country grew less and less mountainous the further west (east?) we went, and the soil we found more sandy and rocky. We passed Gen. Banks’ headquarters and the encampments of several regiments and batteries belonging to his corps. What the soldiers, many of them, did along the road I will not say, for my readers might think our army was becoming very demoralized. But, poor fellows, although we don’t approve of such practices, nay, we condemn them, still, as there was “no beef on the hoof” to be seen, as said there would be, and no prospect of getting anything on reaching camp excepting those inevitable hard crackers and kindred luxuries, why, it is not surprising that a few fowls were taken on the wing and a few turkeys were made to gobble their last farewell. All wrong; but an appetite that hasn’t been appeased for 24 hours has a ready way for making it seem all right in an enemy’s country.

Yesterday morning we again took up our line of march, crossing the river by fording it. A march of four miles brought us to this place, and a most elegant place it is, too, for an encampment. We are about a mile from the road leading to Warrenton, on one of the highest eminences we have ever encamped. It is a plantation and is the property of a Major in the rebel army, whose name I have not learned. He owns three thousand acres of land in this vicinity. There is a signal corps encamped here also belonging to Gen. Banks’ army. A house occupied by some elderly folks stands in a field on our right, and it is the only building we have as yet seen about here. The scenery all around us is beautiful, of a mountainous nature, and it reminds us of Oriental scenery, as portrayable in pictures. There is the greatest profusion of cherry trees – wild and cultivated – about here one ever saw, and they are filled with the nicest of cherries. Fields of berries are scattered all about.

How long we shall stay here is, of course, uncertain. Gen. Banks passed us to-day with his troops, and is now camped a mile or two west of us. We may go to Warrenton to-morrow. We shall probably move somewhere, it being Sunday, the great moving day for small and large armies. I have been informed since I commenced this that we are bound for Centreville. McDowell has two brigades at Warrenton. It may be that that place will be made the base of military operations by Gen. Pope, if it be true that Gen. Halleck is coming up in the rear of Richmond with a large army, and Gen. Burnside is aiding McClellan with all his forces. Gen. Sigel is at Luray. It would seem that our army are encircling, though at distant points, the city of Richmond. But events occur so rapidly that we will wait for them to determine matters.

The company was paid to-day for March and April. The boys feel the better for it, as every cent amongst them was “played out.” How are they any better off, it may be asked, with money which nobody but Unionists will take. One of the boys on receiving his pay went to a secesh house, procured some milk and eatables, and then offered a five dollar Treasury note in payment for what he had got. It was refused. The boy considered the money “legal tender,” and come off with the bill unbroken, and the rations too. There is no telling what that five dollar “green back” will not accomplish, before it becomes converted into smaller currency.

Here’s an instance of love for and devotion to the Union, against turkeys. I will relate it and then close this altogether too lengthy letter. A member of our company, who is generally wide-awake, espied some turkeys near our camp. He made a bold stroke for them, when he was stopped by a man who exclaimed, “For heaven’s sake let those turkeys alone.” “Hang out the Union flag, then,” was the reply. “That’s played out,” responded Mr. Secesh. “Very well,” answered the soldier boy, “here go your turkeys,” and they did go. G.B.

Camp of Reynolds’ Battery, near Washington Village, Va.
July 24, 1862
(Appeared Thursday, July 31, 1862)

Dear Union: -- A decided contrast between the weather of to-day and of yesterday. To-day a bright sun is shining, the sky is almost clear, though large, white fleecy clouds are floating here and there beneath the firmament’s blue expanse, and darker ones may be seen just behind the mountains and overhanging them rather portentous in their looks, but somewhat relieved of their threatening appearance by the lighter clouds surrounding them. The air is warm and pleasant, and altogether it is a fair day. The boys are using it to advantage, for they have got out their blankets drying them in the sun, and some of them have taken down their shelter tents to give the ground on which they were pitched the benefit of a dry day. Yesterday, everything and nearly every body received a thorough drenching. A steady rain fell most of the day, sometimes coming down in torrents. The shelter tents with which the company is provided are about as serviceable in a rainy day as so much brown paper. They are by no means water proof, but rather water receivers and water sprinklers. They dispense the rain as freely as they catch it. We expected to hear this morning many a one complaining of colds, coughs, rheumatism and other ills that flesh is heir to, especially those of a character incident to army life. But happily, we were disappointed in this respect. Those that were sick, quite sick, are better to-day, and so we won’t find fault with what we thought and said was a miserable rainy day. So much for the weather, the most prolific of all themes.

Now, where are we? The caption of my letter says near Washington village. Of course not where we were when my last letter was written, at Gaines’ Cross Roads. To stay in any one place over twenty-four or forty-eight hours is not the destiny of our battery, or hasn’t been lately, with now and then an exception. We have been told, however, that we are in a “permanent position” for the present. The present may mean till to morrow.

We left Gaines’ Cross Roads Sunday noon (July 20), receiving orders to march in half an hour’s time. At the appointed time we were ready to start, and took up our line of march in the direction of Washington or Sperryville. After a march of four miles we halted on a hill near some woods, about a mile south-east of Washington and about four or five miles from Sperryville, a small creek separating us from the former place. Just as we began pitching our tents, a heavy thunder shower sprung up, accompanied with a severe gale, and for a few minutes matters looked “shaky” enough. We managed to get our tents up, however, before it began raining very hard, and we were permitted to witness again a storm among the mountains, a sight more terribly grand than almost any other that can be presented to the eye. The pen of the most imaginative writer cannot describe a sublimer scene than when “God’s monuments,” the mountains of the earth, are enveloped in clouds and darkness, and the most vivid flashes of lightning and the loudest peels of thunder are seen and heard breaking on the mountains and melting them, it would seem, in the graphic language of the scripture, and making them and the earth to tremble. – Our present encampment commands mountain scenery that is very beautiful. The Blue Ridge mountains are directly west of us, and not very far distant. Tuesday (July 22) we were ordered to break up camp again, and move about half a mile further east, to a large field. Only the two batteries attached to the 2d Brigade, Capt. Crouse’s and our own, were ordered to do this. I understood that the two batteries in the 1st Brigade of our division are to be parked with us, constituting a battalion under the command of Major Keefer. I have also been informed that we have been detached from the 2d brigade, and the four batteries are to be located as an independent regiment.

Gen. Banks’ corps can be seen scattered in the fields and on the hills for some three miles, on both sides of the road leading to Gaines’ Cross Roads. There is considerable sickness in some of the regiments, the typhoid fever prevailing to great extent. This is hardly to be wondered at, considering the terrible bad weather, the long tedious marches, and the many exposures to which the army have been subjected within the last few weeks. And then, the troops in the Shenandoah Valley have not had the benefit of that medical attendance and good hospitals, which ought to have been extended them. This fault or neglect is being somewhat corrected since Gen. Pope took command of the army. At Warrenton a fine hospital has been established, and at Front Royal two buildings erected especially for hospital purposes by Stonewall Jackson are now used for the sick of our own army. A good physician in a company or regiment is a great blessing. The service he renders to his country is of inestimable value, and a welcome face is his to the sick soldier. But sad to say, there are bogus M.D.’s in the army. Their counsel and practice are almost certain death to the person who is so unfortunate as to receive medical treatment at their hands. Their knowledge of medicine and their method of prescribing it are surpassed by a green apothecary’s apprentice.

The confiscation bill, recently passed by Congress and followed by orders from Gen. Pope, making the country in rebellious districts to serve the army, placing villages and towns through which the troops pass and in which they are stationed, under contribution to them, etc., please the soldiers exceedingly. (15) It is all right they say, and ought to have been done long ago. The army of Virginia hailed these orders with delight. There is no denying the fact that the sentiment respecting the confiscation of rebel property is all in its favor among the soldiers. The idea of protecting the property of rebels who are in arms against the Government or are secretly its enemies – who have a sufficiency of the good things of this life, while our own soldiers are in many instances permitted to suffer for want of something to eat, is “played out” in every sense of that expressive phrase. Guarding rebel property when you know the owner of it wouldn’t hesitate to point a rifle at your breast, if certain circumstances would admit of his doing so; this has become too severe a dose for the soldier to take. And yet scarcely a house have we passed in village, town or in the country that has not had its sentinel standing in front of or by the door with shouldered gun ready to challenge any man who might approach the sacred premises. Now, it is true that many of these houses are habited by defenceless women whose husbands or brothers are in the rebel army, and guards are placed about them to prevent lawless and marauding soldiers committing outrages and depredations.

This is as it ought to be, no doubt, but the question has arisen in many serious and candid minds, whether such protection ought to be granted when it is known the women are open secessionists and have no hesitancy in avowing their sentiments though it may be in a very womanly, lady-like way. It is almost a sure thing that they communicate intelligence of the movements of our army to their husbands or brothers who are in the confederate service. They give “aid and comfort to the enemy,” and more aid and comfort, in many cases, than is dreamed of. But here they are, all alone, with little children, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and nobody to protect them or their property from depredation, pillage or vandalism.

They ask our generals for a guard, telling them of their situation, their fears, etc. Now feeling and sympathy have a voice in times of war as well as peace, and it is not to be silenced either. But still these defenceless women are in enmity against the country, and they wish and hope and help, and it may be pray, that the confederate government may be established and our own destroyed. Shall their request to the generals be refused? Now is there any other method to pursue that ought to be pursued with man or woman in this land of secessia, except to require of all, no exceptions, who ask for protection from the Federal army, to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government? If they refuse to take it then they must abide the consequences. Allegiance and protection, or non-allegiance and probable destruction. Is there any other true line to be drawn, save this, in all instances where protection of rebel property is sought? But events are fast determining, have determined, perhaps, this matter. With 300,000 more troops in the field to-day, what will they accomplish if thousands of them are taken to guard rebels and their property, and vigor tempered with wisdom is not executed in the handling of them?

But then again, there is another side to this question. If the property of rebels, of those who refuse to take the oath of allegiance, is left unprotected, what will be the effect upon our soldiery? Will they not ravage and spoil everything they can lay their hands upon, and, unrestrained, will not some of the worst passions of human nature be encouraged and developed? Would not our army, now the pride of our nation, become demoralized, so as to become a shame and a curse? Now I take it that the guards about rebel premises and property are placed there, more to benefit our own army, morally considered, than from compliance with or out of respect to the wishes of rebels. At least I try to flatter myself with this belief.

The confiscation bill and the orders of General Pope, however, look to the taking and using of rebel property not in an indiscriminate manner, but in a proper manner and by proper persons, and to accomplish this purpose rebel property may, and probably will have to be guarded as now and heretofore to prevent plunder and an unlicensed appropriation of it by our own soldiers. But pardon me, I didn’t mean to argue or discuss the subject of confiscation. An off-hand, hurriedly written letter doesn’t invite such a discussion, and it is out of my “beat.”

The death of George I. Alling of our company, a son of Mr. D.C. Alling, of Rochester, has caused additional sorrow to us all. The telegraph dispatch to his father, announcing his son’s dangerous illness, was followed by his death the next day. He died in the hospital at Front Royal on Wednesday morning of last week (July 16) of typhoid fever. He was indeed a young man of more than ordinary worth and promise. While he was connected with the company, most of his time was employed in detached service, first for Gen. Duryea, then for Gen. Cooper, then for Major Gen. Dix, and then again for Gen. Cooper. His business was writing and copying orders, and other business of a similar character, and he was doing service for Gen. Cooper when he was taken sick. He was appreciated by these Generals and at one time he was detailed to go to Fortress Monroe on Gen. Dix’s staff, after the General had been assigned to that post. He did not go, however, but joined the company at Kernstown or Cedar Creek where, on his arrival, he was immediately detailed for duty by Gen. Cooper. He was taken ill at Cedar Creek, and on our march from there down the valley was obliged to be left at Front Royal.

We lament his death and would bear testimony to his purity and uprightness of character, and the sympathies of the company are extended to the afflicted family of deceased.

Lieut. E. A. Loder has tendered his resignation as 1st Lieutenant of the company, in consequence of the delicate condition of his wife’s health which has been quite seriously impaired for several months past. It was some time before Lieut. Loder could make up his mind to resort to this step, feeling very reluctant to sunder his connection with the company which he helped to organize, and in whose welfare he has taken a lively interest. But circumstances seemed to demand his presence at home, and as no furlough could be granted him any proper length of time, he has been obliged to proffer his resignation. It has not been returned yet, fully approved, but probably will be, as it has been forwarded to Washington for final approval.

In losing Lieut. Loder from our midst we shall miss him not a little, as a friend, a soldier and an officer, and most heartily will our best wishes attend him, hoping that his return home may result in the restoration of his wife’s health. Circumstances may permit him to do active service again for his country by reenlisting; and if so, we sha’nt be at all surprised to hear of his raising a new artillery battery, or be assigned to a position in some company. (16)

While speaking of the disagreeableness of yesterday, I forgot to mention how the sweet was mixed with the bitter, in that we received a bag full of letters and papers – something that the company had’nt been favored with for ten long days. We had become almost famished from the want of something to read, in the shape of a letter or paper. Next to food for the stomach the soldier wants food for the mind, in the form of newspapers and epistolary correspondence.

In a former communication allusion was made to the large quantities of blackberries everywhere found in the Valley of Virginia. We had’nt begun to see then the “slathers” of blackberries and huckleberries we have seen since. These “rations,” so freely provided by nature, have helped to season wonderfully the rations furnished by Uncle Sam to his children. They have served, or the picking of them has, as a pleasant pastime to the soldiers, and they have often returned to camp with large heaping pails full of berries almost as large as your thumb. Lieut. R. and your correspondent picked about twenty-four quarts in the course of an afternoon. A soldier’s life is’nt all marching and fighting. G.B.

Camp of Gen. Banks’ Army Corps,
Near Little Washington, Va.
July 30, 1862
(Appeared Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1862)

Dear Union – From the above address you will infer that the troops constituting General Banks’ Corps are encamped together, or the several regiments or brigades are near each other. Such is the case. The two divisions of Banks’ Corps, or the 2d corps of the Army of Virginia, comprising five brigades, were massed together on Friday of last week (July 25) in three or four large open fields adjoining woods, separated by stone and rail fences and intervened by hills. Reynolds’ Battery is in the rear, on a line with three other batteries, and in front of us are the 27th Indiana and 2d Massachusetts Regiments, each about 700 or 800 strong, and composed of men who, in personal appearance, are large, heavy and athletic, whose personel is all that a soldier need possess. In the 2d Massachusetts there are no exceptions to this remark, and in respect to the looks of men, their stature, apparent strength, etc., I think that the Eastern and Western troops compare more favorably than do those from the Middle States. The 2d Massachusetts Regiment is commanded by Col. (George L.) Andrews and the 27th Indiana is commanded by Col. (Silas) Colgrove. In another field in front of us is encamped Gen. Geary’s Brigade, or rather regiment, as the brigade consists of but one regiment with a company of cavalry attached. This regiment is probably the largest in the field, it being some 1,400 strong. Gen. Geary was formerly Colonel of it, and attempted, so I have been informed, to raise a full brigade. He succeeded in organizing a command of 1,500 men, some say 1,800, and since then he has been commissioned a Brigadier General. (17) It is a fine spectacle to see this large regiment, known as the 28th Pennsylvania Regiment, drawn up in line for review or parade. A fine band is attached to it, as also to the 2d Massachusetts Regiment, but as all regimental bands are to be mustered out of service we shall soon be denied the pleasure of listening to the sweet music discoursed every day by those two bands, unless one is retained as a brigade band. (18)

General (Alpheus S.) Williams commands the 1st division of Banks’ corps, and Generals (George H.) Gordon, (John W.) Geary and (John P.) Hatch the three brigades composing the division.

Gen. Hatch has command of the cavalry, and is now, or his command is, doing active duty.

The massing of Banks’ corps in its present position obliged our battery to leave the position it occupied when I last wrote, and which was thought to be a “permanent” one. We moved about half a mile south-west. “All is quiet,” and has been since we have been here, excepting a faint rumbling of cannonading far away to our south, heard yesterday and this morning. There was a report last night that Sigel had had a brush with the enemy yesterday morning. How much of a one, we didn’t learn, neither has the report been confirmed. Whether Banks’ corps is to make an advance, or wait till attacked, or what movement it is to make, is a matter of which I am entirely ignorant. I might conjecture a great many things that are likely to or may possibly take place, but this your readers can do, and perhaps just as correctly.

The recent orders of Gen. Pope, especially that relating to taking the oath of allegiance, are received with joy, I may say enthusiastic joy, among the troops. There will be less visiting and riding through our camps by Virginia citizens than there has been. Well, it is all right. It is as it should be, to such a complexion has this rebellion come at last. It is not to be temporized with any longer. Only let acts swiftly follow the bold, energetic, uncompromising words or orders that have just been issued by Gen. Pope. A vigor of deeds, as well as words, is needed. (19)

I intimated in my last letter that it might, probably would be necessary, to guard property belonging to rebels, even if they refused to take the oath of allegiance, as a protection against depredations that might be committed by our own soldiers, the commission of which would naturally and necessarily tend to demoralize our army. It seems, however, that there is, or will not be, any such necessity, as commanding officers of companies, regiments, and commands in general are to be held strictly accountable for any misconduct their men may be guilty of, in pillaging or plundering private or public property. This, I believe, is in accordance with army regulations. We are certainly glad that our troops are not to be employed to guard rebel property in any way, or for any purpose. They cannot be spared from the ranks to say the least, for every enlisted man has business enough in the matter of fighting the foe, let alone guarding his property. Oh, for energy, vigor, dash of action, every where thro’out our army! Let the young men of the North enter and swell its thin ranks immediately, and with a strong arm and determined heart, with trust in God and reliance on Him for success, our cause must, will prosper, and our country must, will be saved.

On Monday (July 28) Gen. Banks’ corps was reviewed by himself, staff and subordinate Generals, but we saw little of the review, our battery being stationed almost on the extreme left of the line, on the side of a high hill which concealed from view most of the troops. It was rather a tedious affair to us as we were obliged to stand in a hot sun for about three hours while the infantry were being reviewed. The batteries, eight of them, then passed in review before Gen. Banks, and the review then ended.

I suppose I ought not to state the number of troops now constituting the 2d Army Corps – not any too many, depend upon that. We don’t think there will be any more disbanding of companies or regiments on the ground that they are a superfluity. “O wisdom,” etc.

A word about the health of our company. The friends and relatives of the company may be assured that we are now suffering less with sickness, as repeatedly remarked by the doctor, than any other company in this corps. We have an excellent physician, who looks after the “boys” when they are ill, attending them with every care and skill. We expect to have a doctor who will be permanently attached to the battery, and have been promised a good ambulance to transport our sick when marching. There are none with us at present who are dangerously sick. G.B.

Transcribed And Donated By Bob MarcotteTranscribed And Donated By Bob Marcotte
​​​​​​​Robert E. Marcotte
Rochester, N.Y.
February 2005