that at least two bunkies had to stake a board at their feet, lest they
slide from under their blankets. Every one remarked on the beauty of
the locality and comments were made on the five storied flouring-mill
standing in the Gap, the same being thought the finest edifice yet seen
in Virginia. Notwithstanding the recent destruction of railroads on the
Confederate retreat, so quickly were repairs made and so immediate the
communications between the different departments that a wagon supply
train came through in the afternoon and hungry men were fed once more.
One man said his breakfast had consisted of half a hardtack; the same
writer, his stomach being at rest, could enlarge on the beauties of
the moonlight in the evening. Poetic thoughts are not prevalent in the
presence of hunger. The 22d brought inspection, an indication that
the officers, at least, thought us anchored for a while; the 23rd
was marked by a battalion drill, another sign of permanency and, to
complete the soldiers' happiness, quartermaster's stores appeared so
that many defects and wants in uniform were supplied.
[Sidenote: OCT. 23, '63]
While every prospect was pleasing, it was not for sightseeing that
these men in blue were so far from home and all realized that a long
stay here was out of the question, so the orders to be ready for a
start at seven o'clock of the 24th surprised no one. A very heavy,
cold rain had been falling during a large part of the preceding night,
hence wet tents increased the burdens of travel while empty haversacks
reminded the owner of an equally vacant stomach. Every day, during
an active campaign, reminded all concerned of the truth of the old
adage that an army, like a snake, moves upon its belly, and Oliver
Twist, ever insistent on more, was reproduced in every healthy soldier
in the Potomac Army. Only the few who had provided for a possible
lacking of rations had anything to eat this morning, hence no time was
lost in preparing breakfast. It was through a pitiless rain that the
day's march, beginning early in the forenoon, was made back through
Thoroughfare Gap; following the railroad as nearly as possible, luckily
the grade being down rather than up; fording streams, especially
Broad Run, though they could make the men no more wet than they
already were from the rain; through Haymarket, Gainesville to Bristoe
Station, the scene of the Second Corps' fight on the 14th. On every
hand were evidences of the fierce encounter, as dead horses and the
many graves of the slain. Though the most of the brigade halted here,
the Thirty-ninth and the Ninety-fourth New York had not reached their
limit, and they continued until Kettle Run was reached.
The special duty assigned to these two regiments was the guarding of
the railroad, which had been repaired to this point and the bridge
which was in process of building; all were exceedingly tired from the
long day's exactions; there was no food to cook for supper but they
could build big fires and dry to some extent their drenched apparel,
and then seek rest and the sleep which hovers near the wet and weary.
Sunday, the 25th, dawned bright and beautiful, its warmth imparting sun
soon dried what the fires of the night before had failed to do and, had
there only been rations for the hungry men, they might have been in
a better mood for enjoyment. Ten of the clock brought inspection, as
inevitable as death itself; before noon the anxiously expected rations
appeared and, with them disposed of, the Regiment was ready for any
duty that might be assigned. With the food also came some articles of
apparel, so that long needed blankets made nights more comfortable.
For eleven days or until the 5th of November, this locality, the camp
having been changed a bit and more carefully laid out, became the
habitat of the Thirty-ninth. It was during the night of the 25th that
Lieutenant I. D. Paul of Company F came near losing his life; orders
had been given to those on guard to challenge no one but to shoot at
sight; only the recognition of his shoulder strap saved the popular
officer's falling a victim to the very orders that he had himself given
out.
[Sidenote: NOV. 4, '63]
Though the camp was to continue quite a while for an active campaign,
the men did not know it, nor anyone else for that matter, so orders to
be ready for a move were not unheard during this period of comparative
rest; still the regular routine of roll-calls, drill, etc., was
resumed, for absolute ease was unknown to members of the Thirty-ninth.
The season being the last of October, the weather was sharp, the rains
cold and need of warm clothing apparent. The 29th brought quite a
rarity in the shape of a ration of "soft bread" as the soldiers always
called the baker's product, in the shape of loaves, in distinction from
the hard bread or the regulation hardtack, the real standby. The last
day of the month was written down as the date of muster for two months'
pay and the fact that food was abundant, since, being right on the
railroad, by means of steam, rations came direct from Washington. On
Tuesday, November 3rd, there was a brigade drill, conducted by Colonel
Leonard of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, commanding the brigade, and
the giving out of eight days' rations had a decided look towards a
change of camps. The 4th was signalized by the arrival of boxes from
home and many a boy's heart, as well as stomach, was made glad by
evidence of home regard and recollection.
While the men regretted leaving their comparatively comfortable camp,
all realized that the mutations of war demanded almost constant action,
so the orders while battalion drill was in progress to get ready for a
move were not entirely a surprise; besides, the many rations of the day
before were a warning. Arms having been stacked, tents were pulled down
and everything made ready for the start, which was about 4 p. m., and
a large part of the march to Catlett's station, some seven miles away,
was made after dark, hence tedious, made all the more so by the burden
of extra rations and a winter outfit of clothing and tent material.
Some one has characterised the march as a helter-skelter one, every man
"going on his own hook," without regard to regimental formation, let
alone so compact a matter as a company; each man camped down where he
could do so most comfortably; "there was no roll-call that night." The
next day the soldiers found their own, and the Regiment moved half a
mile or so from the night's bivouac and pitched tents on a side-hill,
resuming the routine of regular camp life, and entry is made of the
burning of the tall grass which grew near, necessitating some energetic
work on the part of the campers to extinguish, and the all too apparent
exertions of the preceding twenty-four hours merited the whiskey ration
which was dealt out.
That no degree of permanency had yet been attained was evident when
early orders were received to be ready to march at 6.30 a. m. of
the 7th, and the start was made at 7, much nearer than usual to
the allotted hour, and the trend was southward, through Warrenton
Junction and Elktown to the vicinity of Morristown, a few miles from
the Rappahannock. Not only was the entire First Corps in motion but
the same was true of the Second and Third as well, all indications
pointed to a resumption of the status prior to the October Northward
move. Whatever the plans or purposes, they were not carried out
without provocation to firing as appeared in the sounds from the river
region; later knowledge acquaints us that the noise arose from portions
of the Sixth and Fifth Corps at Rappahannock Station and the Third
Corps at Kelly's Ford, disputing possession with the ever present and
always vigilant enemy. The distance marched varied according to the
one estimating, the same ranging from fifteen to seventeen miles. In
October, 4.30 a. m. is a long while before daylight, yet this was the
time of waking on the 8th and, after the very essential coffee-making,
the line was off soon after six o'clock. The first considerable halt
was at Grove Church where were seen a large number of Confederate
wounded from yesterday's engagements.
BRANDY STATION
[Sidenote: OCT. 10, '63]
The Rappahannock was crossed at Kelly's Ford by means of a pontoon
bridge and, at 5 p. m., the Regiment was near Brandy Station, having
marched ten or twelve miles; the route, where possible, was along the
railroad which will be in operation to-morrow probably. Tents were
pitched and large fires built and many were pleased to find not so very
far away the Tenth (Sleeper's) Massachusetts Battery which we had left
at Poolesville and now is connected with the First Division, Third Army
Corps and which, yesterday, had borne its part in the incidents of the
day. Many a handshake and "Glad to see you" signalized the meeting. The
earlier part of the 9th was passed in the halting place of yesterday,
some of the men improving the chance to call on friends in the Tenth
Battery, but at two in the afternoon, the familiar "Pack-up" order was
heard with the accompanying direction to be ready to march at four
o'clock. A little before sunset, the start was made by a countermarch,
recrossing the Rappahannock on the pontoon bridge and a long,
wearisome, night trip followed, one of the features being the first
snowstorm of the season, all tending to make a very tired lot of men,
who were pushed along without halting to Licking Run, between Bealton
and Warrenton Junction, possibly fifteen miles from the starting place,
arriving a little past midnight. Very many fell out on the way quite
unable to stand the pace, and those who did stick to the colors wasted
no time in preparations for camp, but dropped at once and straightway
fell asleep.
The morning of the 10th revealed a tired array of men and a
snow-covered earth, but human nature and human bodies rally readily.
After a short move further into a considerable piece of woods, camp
was pitched and preparations were made for as comfortable a stay as
possible, some of the men expressing the wish that they might remain a
while because of the abundance of wood and water, and here they were
to remain almost two weeks, though from them the fact was concealed;
probably no one knew what the future would unfold. There was work for
many of the men repairing the railroad, some having to go into the
woods to cut sleepers, others to assist with pick and shovel. This
day, the 10th, the promotion of 1st Sergeant Dusseault, Company E, was
announced and he was assigned to Company H as Second Lieutenant. Within
this period, drills were resumed and all else that pertained to routine
and efficiency; clothing was drawn, the Regiment was paid for September
and October on the 16th and 17th and by a singular coincidence the
sutler made his appearance at the same time. Evidently some of the men
were in arrears, as for that matter, most soldiers were wont to be.
Considerable care was taken with the tents of both officers and men,
the idea gaining credence that a prolonged stay might be made here, but
neither army was ready, as yet, for winter quarters.
Orders to move were circulated on the 22d and at four o'clock in the
forenoon of the 23rd, drowsy men were summoned from their sleep to
pack-up and be ready for another change, starting from their late
camp at about sunrise. On reaching Bealton, a union was effected with
the remainder of the division and a few miles further, towards the
Rappahannock, camp was made for the night, all realizing that cold
weather was upon them and that the burdens, on the march by day, had
to be heavy in order to insure any comfort for the night. Rain fell
very easily during those days, and it was somewhat discouraging to have
to turn out at 4 a. m. and, breakfasting at an early hour, to stand
in line momentarily expecting the order, "Forward," and all the time
pelted by the falling rain. After a while we were ordered to put up
our tents again, a change of mind having been experienced higher up.
Wednesday, the 25th, differed in no essential from its predecessor,
though many of the men were wondering whether the mail, express or
freight, would bring them anything from home by way of a reminder of
Thanksgiving, due on the 26th. Disappointment was the lot of all, for
authorities in Washington must have known of impending activity and so
withheld what thoughtful friends had attempted to forward to the army;
sutlers however put in an appearance, an ill-starred act, on their
part, as the morrow was to show.
MINE RUN
[Sidenote: NOV. 26, '63]
Thanksgiving day in the North, November 26th, should be remembered as
the beginning of the famous Mine Run affair, one of the greatest of
the battles that were never fought. Judging from results in former
years, when campaigning was undertaken at this season of the year, it
would seem that winter quarters would be a better proposition for the
army than another forward movement, but General Meade, feeling that
the Northern public demanded some aggressive movement on his part,
determined to avail himself of the withdrawal of Longstreets' Corps
and the remoteness of Lee's remaining Corps, Ewell's and Hill's, from
each other, and to take the offensive. Ewell's men, under the command
of General Jubal A. Early, Ewell being ill, held the Confederate right,
the same resting on the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, while Hill's forces
in their dispersion extended fully twenty miles to the southwest.
Meade could lead 70,000 men into the assault, while Lee's troops were
rated at 50,000; the lower fords of the Rapidan were quite uncovered,
Lee depending for defence on a line of fortifications extending along
the left bank of Mine Run, an insignificant stream, tributary to the
Rapidan and entering the same near Morton's Ford. The words of Robert
Burns concerning the plans of mice and men never had better application
than in the events of the following days. Had army corps crossed and
attacked as projected, considering the detached, not to say scattered,
condition of the enemy, it seems as though he would have been beaten in
detail.
Had General French and his Third Corps started at the early hour named
in the orders; had not the engineer miscalculated the width of the
stream and so provided too few pontoons for the bridge which had to be
pieced out with a trestle; had not the banks of the river proved too
precipitous for the artillery which had to go down to Germanna Ford
and even then, if the Corps had not taken a wrong road and so fallen
foul of Confederate General Edward Johnson and his forces, the entire
story of the war might have been very different from what is written.
In brief, the expedition was scheduled to begin early in the morning
of the 23rd, but was delayed by the severe rain of that and subsequent
days. The orders under which the start of the 27th was made were
that the Third Corps, General French, followed by the Sixth, General
Sedgwick, should cross the Rapidan at Jacob's Mills; the Fifth, General
Sykes, followed by the First, General Newton, was to cross at Culpeper
Mine, while the Second, General Warren, was to cross by the Germanna
Ford, between the other fords named. With ten days' rations carried by
the men, General Meade was justifiable "in cutting loose from his base
of supplies, and undertaking the feat in three columns of seizing the
plank road and turnpike and, by advancing rapidly towards Orange Court
House, of turning the enemy's works and compelling him to give battle
on ground not previously selected or prepared."
[Sidenote: NOV. 26, '63]
That the expedition failed is history, its outlines have often been
told in many places; our interest rests principally in what the First
Corps and Thirty-ninth Regiment were doing during these days of stroke
and counter stroke. General John Newton, commanding the First Corps,
in his report to the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, tersely
narrates the doings of each day from Thursday, Nov. 26th, to Thursday,
Dec. 3rd, both dates inclusive. Leaving the Third Division of the Corps
guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad from Rappahannock Station
to Manassas, he advanced the other two divisions to the Culpeper Mine
Ford, getting only one of them across by seven o'clock; starting at
3.30 a. m. of the 27th, he reached the rear of Robertson's Tavern a
little after 7 p. m.; the Corps was roused at 3 a. m. of the 28th and
put in position at the left of the Second Corps and Robertson's Tavern;
about seven o'clock the corps was ordered to advance, still keeping to
the left of the Second Corps; advancing in two lines through the woods
to near Mine Run, the enemy was discovered in line of battle to receive
us. Establishing a picket line, with a little firing of the enemy,
the corps remained in position for the remainder of the day. November
29th, an attack on the enemy being contemplated on the right and left,
General Newton, in the centre, commanded his own troops and some of
the Fifth and Sixth Corps; at 8 a.m., agreeably to orders, cannonading
began along his front, continuing a short time only; skirmishers were
sent across Mine Run who performed their duties gallantly, losing
in killed and wounded about forty men; under cover of the picket
lodgement, four bridges were built, for later use if necessary; under
advice from headquarters the pickets were withdrawn to the Federal or
east bank of the Run at 3 a. m. of the 30th and an hour later fell back
to Germanna Ford to cover the crossing of the Fifth and Sixth Corps.
Dec. 1st all of the army recrosses; Dec. 2d, under orders, leaving a
single brigade at Germanna, proceeded to Stevensburg with the remainder
of the Corps; Dec. 3rd reached Paoli's Mills about noon and sent a
brigade to Kelly's Ford.
Returning to the 26th of November and confining ourselves to the work
of the Thirty-ninth we find the same awakened at an early hour and
starting out before four o'clock. The Rappahannock was again crossed at
the station of the same name as the river. During a brief halt on the
south side of the stream, Colonel Leonard, commanding the brigade, read
a telegram from headquarters, announcing the great victory of General
Grant at Chattanooga and at least one soldier remarked, "That's good
news to march on." With hourly halts, the extended march was not so
tiresome as certain shorter though more rapid ones had proved. About
6 p. m. the Rapidan was crossed at Culpeper Mine, and ascending an
elevation south of the river, a mile further along, camp was pitched
for the night. Not a few commented on the change from Thanksgiving Day
the year before, and still more remarked on the difference between the
day at home and that passed in active campaigning; no cases of insomnia
were heard of during the night, for all were tired and sleepy and
"taps," if sounded, found very few waiting to obey. Eighteen miles were
put down as the distance marched.
Certain men were detailed as pickets, and it was their duty to see to
it that no harm befell their sleeping comrades; going on duty at ten
o'clock last night, they came off at two this morning (27th) and an
hour later the camp was alert with preparations to depart. Starting a
little before daylight, we marched southward, passing through a part of
the country very near the Chancellorsville battlefield of the preceding
May and of the Wilderness, yet to be. After striking the Orange and
Fredericksburg pike at eight o'clock in the morning, a halt was called
and the men rested while the wagon and ambulance trains passed. The
march continued till after dark, ending at Robertson's Tavern with a
total distance covered of about thirty miles, from the starting point
of yesterday.
The 28th of November, Saturday, brought a part of the Regiment under
fire. Before daylight an advance of a mile or so was made, followed
by breakfast and the use of pick and shovel in entrenching and then
a still further, though brief, advance. The sound of the skirmishing
comes from front and battle line is formed; Companies C and E being
detailed as skirmishers, they went forward some 300 yards, the regiment
remaining behind the crest of the hill. As a Company C participant
wrote, "It commenced to rain very soon and we lay on our bellies and
watched the Rebs.; their sharpshooters watched us closely and some were
wounded. Benj. Dow of our company was shot through the leg,[G] but the
boys were cool and stood their first fire like veterans; after lying
thus all day, cold and wet through to the skin, we were relieved about
eight o'clock and rejoined the Regiment, tired and hungry; the Rebs.
are in good position and I doubt whether Meade will attack first."
[Sidenote: NOV. 29, '64]
The night that followed, though quiet, brought very little comfort
to the men, thoroughly chilled by the rain of yesterday and, at 3 a.
m. of the 29th, some of them were stirring to prepare the soldiers'
solace, a cup of hot coffee. Everybody expected to storm the enemy's
works at some time on this day; knapsacks were piled up that full use
of all the muscles might be had. Old campaigners were writing their
names and regiments on bits of paper and pinning them on their garments
for identification since it seemed sure that the works could not be
assailed without a terrible loss of life. A brigade of the Fifth Corps
formed the first line of battle and our brigade came next; skirmishing
between the rival lines prevailed all day. Shells even came over from
the Confederates, but they drew no reply from our lines. The rebels
having withdrawn across the Run, the same wider than usual through
having been dammed, formed the line of separation between the blue
and the gray. At nightfall, to shield themselves from the cold wind,
trees were cut down for a shelter, and to the mercies of the night the
soldiers again commended themselves.
Sunday was the last day of the month, and it seemed impossible that the
day should pass without the long impending assault; three days' rations
were distributed and the men were told that they must make them last
five, a pretty severe exaction from an army which we have been told
moves on its stomach. The attack did not take place, but there was a
deal of activity in arranging the forces for the projected advance.
It was understood by the leading officers that in the early morn of
the 1st of December there should be a simultaneous cannonading along
the entire line to be followed by an assault by Warren and his massed
forces, to be succeeded on the right by like action on the part of
Sedgwick and his loyal Sixth Corps followers. The morning of the first
day of winter came, but Warren did not order the assault as expected.
To his practiced eye, the works erected and defended by the enemy were
too strong for the attack and to his judgment Meade, himself, deferred
when he had ridden to the extreme left and there saw their magnitude
and strength. His messenger, who happened to be his own son, rode with
breathless speed to countermand the orders of the day before and the
Battle of Mine Run was not fought. At nightfall the backward movement
began and at or near midnight, the Thirty-ninth with many other
regiments was at the Rapidan once more.