EXPEDITION TO HARPER'S FERRY.
On Saturday, 8th of June, orders came for an expedition to Harper's
Ferry. The day before starting, we had issued to us new caps of the
French forage pattern, also white linen havelocks, to wear over them,
which added greatly to the appearance of the men, being likewise a
decided protection from the scorching rays of the June sun.
June 10th, the regiment broke camp, and marching to Washington took
cars for Baltimore, arriving at which place we marched across the
city to embark for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. We had anticipated
trouble in marching through the streets of Baltimore; but the roughs
of the then rebellious city knew better than to oppose the passage of
a regiment and battery armed and equipped as was the 1st Rhode
Island. The regiment marched across the city from the depot where we
landed, without a halt, with its band playing national airs. We were
well supplied with ammunition, and the battery could have swept the
streets of any mob essaying to obstruct its progress. We soon reached
and boarded the cars, arriving at Chambersburg at noon, 11th, and
starting again by rail for Greencastle, Pennsylvania, which place we
reached at sunset the same day. After leaving the train we marched
about three miles beyond the town, where we bivouacked for the night
in a grove beside the road. We had no tents nor rations, the wagons
not having come up. The regiment formed in a hollow square, stacked
their muskets, and lay down on the ground, without covering, other
than their blankets; sentinels were posted on the road, the battery
parked in the rear of the regiment, and every precaution taken
against surprise during the night. Tents arrived the next morning at
daylight, but no rations. The tents we pitched and made preparations
for a few days' stay. Troops were all the time coming and marching.
The army to which we were at that time attached, comprised about nine
thousand men, commanded by General Patterson, and was organizing for
an attack upon Harper's Ferry.
June 12th, at noon, Governor Sprague rejoined us, having left Rhode
Island at once on learning that we had departed from Washington.
At about sunset, while many of the regiment were seated on fences
watching the passing troops, a Pennsylvania regiment came along the
road, halting a few moments for rest in front of our camp. Directly
some of our regiment discovered a man in one of the Pennsylvania
companies who had been arrested by our regiment as a spy, while we
were quartered at the Patent office in Washington. A rush was made
for him, he was dragged from his company, and but for the
intervention of some of our officers he would have been strung up on
the spot.
Saturday morning, June 13th, we once more started, our destination
being Williamsport, Maryland, distant fourteen miles. This was one of
the hardest marches that we made. The weather was hot, the roads
rough and dusty, and when we went into camp at Williamsport, there
was only one officer and fourteen men of our company with the colors,
present. The balance of the company were exhausted, and were
straggling along the road, but by sunset they had all arrived in
camp. We pitched our tents in the woods and rested the whole of
Sunday.
Monday morning, June 15th, broke camp at daylight, and started on the
road for Harper's Ferry. We had barely got started, when a mounted
orderly arrived from Hagerstown, Maryland, with orders for Colonel
Burnside to return with his regiment and battery to Washington, at
once. Harper's Ferry had been evacuated by the rebels, who were also
moving in the direction of Washington. Our regiment and battery set
out at once on the road for Hagerstown, arriving there at noon.
Without stopping we marched on through Funkstown, arriving at
Boonsboro, Maryland, at 3 P. M., where we halted for a rest. We found
the people of the place loyal, and disposed to show us every possible
attention. We halted on the public square, or common, and the ladies
of the town gathered in large numbers and supplied many of us with
cake and other refreshments. Here the regiment and battery rested
until 5 P. M., when the march was resumed. Entering a pass of the
South Mountain, the acclivity looming up on both sides, every
precaution was taken against any possible surprise by the enemy. The
battery was divided, one-half in the advance and the remainder in
the rear of the column.
At 9 P. M. we reached Middletown, where the people showed themselves
in large numbers, as we passed their quiet homes. We made no stop at
Middletown, but tramped along, tired and hungry, stopping about
midnight and camping on a hill on the outskirts of Frederick City,
Maryland, having marched thirty-six miles since daylight. Men from
all the companies soon collected rails and built a camp-fire,
illuminating the surrounding country and causing the ringing of a
fire alarm in Frederick City.
At 4 A. M. June 18th, we broke camp and marched into Frederick,
halting at some old barracks, said to have been built during the
Revolutionary war. We were the first Union troops that had entered
Frederick City since the commencement of hostilities, and the event
naturally caused no little stir among the inhabitants of that
semi-rebellious city. Nearly if not quite all its prominent citizens
were in sympathy with the rebel cause, and we were consequently not
regarded by them with any degree of favor. The presence, however, of
twelve hundred well drilled and disciplined troops and a battery of
six rifled guns, proved a quite potent reminder of what might be
expected should there be any undue interference. Soon after entering
Frederick, our company was marched to a restaurant and provided with
an excellent breakfast, after which we returned to the old barracks.
We were given permission by our officers to look about the city, with
orders to report in camp at noon. Many of the citizens were found to
be true Union men, by whom we were courteously received and kindly
treated, and I don't believe that during our brief stay in town any
member of the regiment, either by word or deed, left any unfavorable
impression among the inhabitants. In the afternoon, just previous to
the departure of the regiment, a deputation of Union citizens, both
men and women, waited upon us and presented to Mrs. Kady Brownell an
elegant American flag. Mrs. Brownell was the wife of Robert S.
Brownell, of Company H, and when her husband enlisted, in Providence,
she insisted on accompanying him, and was with the regiment during
its entire term of service, in all its long marches sharing its
privations and enduring its hardships. At the battle of Bull Run she
was on the skirmish line with her husband, who was at the time a
sergeant. She wore a uniform somewhat similar to that of the
regiment, and was proficient in the use of a revolver and a short,
straight sword, that she always wore suspended at her side.
At about 4 P. M., the regiment took up the line of march for the
depot, to take cars for Washington. In marching through one of the
principal streets leading to the depot, a crowd of rebel toughs
issued from a side street, and following us, volunteered insulting
remarks concerning us and the flag. Captain Tew, of our company, had
at that time a colored servant, who had been with us for some time.
This sooty individual, who was known by the name of John, had
somewhere on the march picked up an antiquated sword and belt, which
he had buckled on and felt very proud of. The sight of this negro,
thus attired, appeared to kindle the wrath of Frederick City's
chivalry to such an extent that they attempted to seize and make way
with the boy, and for a short time the excitement ran high. The color
sergeant, seeing that an attack upon us was threatened, drew his
revolver and stood on the defensive. The right wing of the regiment,
not being aware of the disturbance, continued on its march.
Lieutenant Colonel Pitman, who was in command of the left wing,
noticing the aspect of things, took prompt action, halting the
companies, most of the men of F company loading their muskets, as
they expected that the mob, which by this time had largely increased
in numbers, would make an attack. At this juncture Colonel Burnside
rode up and was about to issue some order to our officers, when a
squad of city police, or home guard, appeared upon the scene and
dispersed the mob, after which we resumed our march, soon arriving at
the depot, where we took a train for Washington, reaching that place
at daylight the next morning, June 19th.
Company F was immediately detailed to unload tents and other baggage
from the cars. The regiment marched at once to our old quarters at
Camp Sprague. While engaged on our work of unloading, our ever
thoughtful commissary sent us a barrel of Camp Sprague ginger-bread,
for lunch, and some good friend of the company, I never knew who,
furnished us with a barrel of "conversation water" to wash it down
with. We finished our work at 5 A. M., and marched out to camp, where
we found a nice breakfast awaiting us. We resumed camp duties at
once. Although we had been on a ten days' tramp, and had made one of
the longest marches that had up to that time been made, in one day,
by any troops, and had not during the whole time been over-stocked
with rations, all the boys were in good condition and in readiness
for any duty required of them.
Saturday June 22d, at 3 A. M., the camp was aroused by the beating of
drums, and for a few minutes all was excitement, until it was
announced that the occasion of the alarm was the arrival at our camp
of the 2d Rhode Island regiment, via Washington, which place they had
reached a few hours previous, and were waiting outside to allow us
time to form our regiment so as to receive them in true military
style, which was done a few minutes later, and K Company, Captain
Charles W. Turner, our company asked to breakfast with us that
morning. The 2d Regiment went into camp in tents in a shady grove
adjoining us, and as long as we remained in Washington, both
regiments mounted guard and had dress parade together every day. Many
officers of the Second had seen service in our regiment previous to
the formation of theirs, and we were intimately acquainted with many
of its men, particularly those from Newport; and the men of our
company will always look back with a great deal of pleasure to those
days in the summer of '61, when the men of the two regiments passed
so many pleasant hours in each others' society. The associations
formed at that time, and later on in the war, between soldiers, were
fraternal in their character, and to this day the same feeling exists
among members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and will continue as
long as the men that were associated with us shall live.
June 28th, the 1st and 2d Regiments, with the band of each, and the
two Rhode Island light batteries, made a parade in the city of
Washington, marching up through Pennsylvania Avenue to the White
House, and counter-marching and passing in review before the
President and other notables, among whom was the venerable General
Winfield Scott, then so aged and feeble as to be unable to stand,
sitting in a chair as the troops moved past. The parade was a grand
showing for Little Rhody, over two thousand men in line, and so
finely officered, armed and equipped. The Washington papers were
enthusiastic in their praises of our soldierly appearance. In this
parade we marched full company front, three ranks deep. The Hardee
tactics were then in use in the army, but on this occasion we
observed the three-rank formation prescribed in the Scott tactics
previous to the war. The old General was highly pleased to see troops
thus formed, as he was the originator of the three-rank formation,
and I do not think he ever before or after saw so many troops
arranged in that manner. We returned to camp at 5 P. M., and at
evening parade Colonel Burnside complimented the troops highly for
their soldierly bearing and general behaviour while in the city that
day.
Soon after the arrival of the 2d Regiment, a change was made in the
detail for camp guard. Previous to this there were ten men and a
non-commissioned officer detailed every day from each company, for
guard duty. But owing to the increased size of the camp, it was
necessary that more men should be detailed, consequently an order was
issued that a full company from each regiment be detailed every day
for that duty. This new order of things was the occasion for
considerable argument among the members of Company F, and we had men
with us who were always ready for an argument, particularly if they
believed they would be benefited by it. Albeit, while most of the
company were ever ready and willing to obey every order emanating
from proper authority, there were yet some who always reserved the
right, as they thought, to growl. Some contended that it was contrary
to army regulations, and that Company F could not be thus detailed,
they were the color company of the regiment, and in case of an alarm,
if the entire company were detailed for extraneous duty the colors
would be without a guard. The matter was finally referred to Colonel
Burnside, who at once decided that the color guard of eight men were
exempt from general guard duty, but the balance of the company would
mount guard. It would seem as though this should have settled the
matter, but such was not the fact; in a few days Company F was
detailed for guard duty, and at the proper time we were marched upon
the parade ground, the customary evolutions pertaining to guard mount
gone through with, and the order was given to march the guard off to
the guard-house. Off we started, the band playing, but on our arrival
at the guard-house our first sergeant was not with us, and on looking
in the direction of the parade ground he was observed standing there
alone, Robinson Crusoe like, "monarch of all he surveyed." On being
requested by the adjutant to report for duty, he objected to doing
so, and went to his quarters. He was soon ordered to report at
headquarters, charged with disobedience of orders, but was allowed to
give his reasons for not complying with orders relating to guard
duty, which he readily did. They were that a 1st sergeant of a
company was not a duty sergeant, and was consequently by the
regulations exempt from such duty while in camp. The matter being
referred to Colonel Burnside, that officer promptly ruled that the
sergeant was right, and ever after the 1st sergeants of companies
were relieved from service in that direction while in camp. It was a
notable circumstance, which I wish to record here, that while Colonel
Burnside always exacted of us a strict compliance with all orders, he
was at the same time ready and willing to listen and act upon any
complaint from officers or men, and invariably his decisions were
just. He treated all alike, and was ever on the look out for the
welfare and comfort of the men. As an illustration of General
Burnside's ideas of duty, it was decided to erect a temporary
structure for the purpose of holding religious services on the
Sabbath. One day the sergeant-major made application to the captains
of companies for a detail of mechanics for this work, in response to
which details were sent from all except one of the companies, the
captain of this company stating to the sergeant-major in response
that he had no mechanics, his company being composed wholly of
business men and clerks. This circumstance being duly reported to
Colonel Burnside, he instructed the sergeant major to direct the
captain of that company to detail ten men at once, as there were some
foundation holes to dig, and he did not wish mechanics to do that
sort of work.
Fourth of July was celebrated by both regiments in camp. There was a
review of the regiments and batteries, and services held appropriate
to the day, in which were included singing, music by the bands, and
an oration by Rev. Father Quinn. In the afternoon we had sports of
all kinds; a member of the second regiment gave a tight rope
performance, and a member of the battery procured and turned loose a
pig, well greased, said porker to become the property of the one that
could catch and hold him; prizes were offered for the champion
wrestler and clog dancer, respectively, both of which were captured
by members of Company F, notwithstanding they had to compete with
picked men from both regiments. James Markham took the clog dancer
prize, and John H. Robinson laid every man on his back that presented
himself before him.
We now commenced to have early morning drill. Every morning,
directly after sick call, all the companies of the regiment moved out
of camp in different directions, for one hour's drill before
breakfast. This new order was not relished any better by the officers
than the men, there was seldom more than one officer with us on these
occasions, and often, as soon as a point outside the camp had been
reached, the order to rest was given, particularly if there was a
shady place handy; and I am of the opinion that those morning drills
did not add much to our efficiency as soldiers.
On the morning of July 9th, the battery of the 2d Regiment were
marching out for drill, and when a short distance from camp one of
the ammunition chests exploded, killing one man, and mortally
wounding the corporal of the gun, the latter dying in a few hours;
the caisson was blown to pieces, and the wheel horses fatally
injured. That afternoon funeral services were held in the camp of the
2d Regiment, and the remains of the deceased comrades were that
evening put on board the cars for transportation to Providence.
About the 10th of July, there were rumors in camp of an intended
advance into Virginia; extra rations were ordered, and new shoes
issued to the company.
July 11th Edward Wilson, of F company, who had deserted at Frederick
City, returned to camp, was placed in the guard house, and at dress
parade, July 12th, his dishonorable discharge was read to the
regiment. William H. Durfee and George S. Ward were the same day
discharged on account of disability.
July 14th, we received orders to be in readiness to march at short
notice, in light marching order, with no tents or unnecessary
baggage. The order was received by the men, generally, with much
enthusiasm, and as a decided relief from the monotonous existence
incident to camp duty. The men had come out there to assist in
putting down the rebellion and sustaining the honor of the flag, and
as their term of service drew towards a close, they felt anxious that
their journey to and sojourn in Washington and vicinity should be
productive in results.