Campaign to Centreville--Falmouth--Fredericksburg--Thoroughfare
Gap--Rapidan River.
For some time rumors had prevailed of a forward movement, but nothing
of a definite nature occurred until March 9th, when orders were issued
that four days rations be cooked, and the battery prepared to march
at an early hour the next morning; the limbers of the pieces and the
caissons were supplied with ammunition, and everything put in order for
a campaign against the enemy.
At an early hour on the 10th of March, "boots and saddles" was blown,
the battery was speedily hitched up, and in a short time Capt. Monroe
gave the order, "Right piece, forward," and we moved out of park, from
Camp Dupont, where we had spent four months, for the last time. The
line of march was toward the Centreville Pike, and when we reached
Baily's Cross Roads, a halt was made near the road until our turn
should come to join the column. The entire Army of the Potomac was on
the march for Centreville, where the enemy was reported to be in force.
It was several hours before our turn came, but at last we were ordered
to move into the road, and commenced our march in earnest. It was a
most disagreeable day, very cold, and a heavy mist prevailed, which
soon wet our clothing; the freezing temperature soon converted this
moisture into a coating of ice, making it exceedingly uncomfortable for
the men, particularly the drivers, who were obliged to sit their horses
without any opportunity to warm themselves by exercise.
Our progress was slow and tedious. Six o'clock found us in the vicinity
of Fairfax Court House, where we made camp. Early next morning we
hitched up and had barely time to prepare coffee for ourselves, when
we were ordered to join the column, and proceeded on our way towards
Centreville, but after marching about a mile we were ordered to make
camp.
It had been discovered by our advance that the enemy had retired upon
our approach, and there was to be no opportunity to display our valor.
We remained in this camp until the 15th.
On the morning of the 15th, the army started on its return towards
Washington. Soon after starting it began to rain, and by noon the water
was coming down in torrents, soon wetting the men to their skins. The
column marched much more rapidly than they did when going out, they
evidently hoping to find shelter at their old camps.
About 7 o'clock P.M., Battery D turned into the dooryard of Mr. Cloud,
at Cloud's Mill. Both officers and men were in a miserable condition,
and they immediately set about improving it to the best of their
ability. The fence in front of the house was soon demolished, and
a fire started, around which all hovered until morning. During the
forenoon of the 16th we marched back to Camp Dupont, after an absence
of just one week. This seemed like home to us, and we all felt that
we would like to stay here for a while at least; but that was not to
be, for next morning we were ordered to proceed at once to Fairfax
Seminary, where we remained until April 4th. While in this camp, on
March 29th, our first batch of recruits, nine in number, were received
from Rhode Island.
At daylight on April 4th, the battery, with the First Division of
the army, under Gen. McDowell, the rest of the Army of the Potomac
having gone by transports to Fortress Monroe, marched to Fairfax,
and bivouacked for the night, early the next morning continued on to
Manassas, remained over night, and at daylight next morning started on
to Bristow Station.
The weather on this trip up to this time had been pleasant and fairly
comfortable; but on the night of the 8th there came a change; it grew
rapidly cold, and about 10 P.M. began to snow. Those of the men who
were not frozen out and obliged to hover around the camp-fires, found
themselves covered by a blanket of snow about four inches deep in the
morning.
We remained at Bristow until the 16th, and then continued on the march
to Catlett's Station, remaining one day, and on the 18th marched to
within three miles of Fredericksburg, camping near the village of
Falmouth. Some of our men started into the village and attempted to
make small purchases, but the people of the place were very loyal to
the South, and at this early period of the war had great confidence
in the Confederate money, and but very little in Uncle Sam's crisp
greenbacks, and refused to take them in exchange for their goods.
Now it so happened that an enterprising firm in Philadelphia had just
issued a _fac simile_ of the rebel money, of various denominations,
and the men had purchased several thousand dollars worth, as _curios_.
These were offered the rebellious tradesmen, and accepted with great
glee, as an indication of the final success of their side, that the
Yankees were already being obliged to use their money. They soon
discovered that the bills were not genuine, some one having pointed
out to them the printer's name and location in the margin, and they
refused to take any more, notwithstanding the Yankee customers assured
them that the bills were worth just as much as the genuine. A complaint
was made to head-quarters, but the general, after hearing both sides,
decided that they were entitled to no redress.
On the 19th the battery marched to a position directly opposite
Fredericksburg, on the north branch of the Rappahannock River. The guns
were placed in position, pointing directly at the city, but the next
day the pieces were limbered and a regular camp laid out, tents were
pitched, and preparations made which indicated that we were to tarry
here for some time. Drill received our undivided attention; from four
to six hours a day being given to that work, excepting on Sundays,
which were given up to inspections of the men and material of the
battery. Cleanliness was important, and was carefully looked after.
On the 10th of May the battery was ordered to move down to the bank of
the river, near the railroad bridge, for the purpose of protecting it
from an expected attack of the enemy; but they did not come, and things
soon quieted down and assumed their normal condition, and the battery
resumed its usual occupation of drilling.
The effect of such long-continued and constant work in this direction
began to show itself in the accuracy with which the movements were
executed. The efficiency of the battery began to attract attention, and
almost every day when we reached the ground where we were to have our
field-drill there would be quite an audience awaiting us. Senators and
Representatives from Washington, visiting officers, and distinguished
people from all over the country, would be taken out to see the show.
As an illustration of how it impressed one individual from our own
State, I quote from an article which he sent to the _Providence
Journal_:
"The proficiency attained by the sturdy fellows of Battery D, is
really surprising, and would do credit to a company of Cadets fresh
from the rapid practice of West Point. I saw them yesterday, under
command of Captain Monroe, performing the evolutions of field-drill
with such accuracy as to command the admiration of old army officers
who were present."
On the 26th of May the battery crossed the Rappahannock River into
Fredericksburg, and made camp on a common in the centre of the town,
remaining until the 29th.
Union soldiers were not welcome guests in that city at that time, and
the citizens took no pains to disguise the fact. Their manner towards
us and treatment of us left no doubt in our minds that they wished we
were anywhere but in their presence. We did not mind it, however, and
made ourselves just as much at home as though we were welcome.
Early in the morning of the 29th the battery recrossed the river, and
joining our division, commenced our journey for Thoroughfare Gap,
for the purpose of aiding Gen. Banks, who was being badly pressed
by the rebel Gen. Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley. We made only a
short distance the first day, but did better next day, making nearly
twenty-five miles, and reached Catlett's Station.
On the 31st we marched only four miles, but pushed on the next, and
reached Haymarket, near the Gap.
June 1st was a day of rest for us, but on June 2d the troops were early
in motion, and after marching through the Gap were halted for an hour,
then countermarched, passing through the Gap, and encamped on almost
the same spot that they had left in the morning.
This was a movement which at the time was very confusing to us, but
time developed the fact that the emergency which demanded our presence
in the Shenandoah Valley had passed, Jackson having accomplished what
he desired, and his troops being wanted at Richmond by Gen. Lee, he had
left the Valley, and at the moment of our arrival at the Gap, was well
on his way. Our stay at Haymarket continued for three days.
On the 6th we had orders to move. Our destination was Warrenton, where
we arrived after an easy march, late in the afternoon. Here we remained
until the 8th, moving on that date to Warrenton Junction, bivouacking
for the night, continuing on the next day towards Catlett's Station,
which we reached on the 10th, and made a stay of four days. This trip
was very pleasant to us; the weather was good, the roads were fair, our
marches were not long, and the whole more of a pleasure trip through a
rather interesting country.
June 15th we marched to Cannon Creek, and after remaining for five
days we continued our journey to Spotted Tavern, and, after a stay of
forty-eight hours, returned to Fredericksburg on the 23d, after nearly
a mouth of marching, and made camp within a short distance of the old
one, in which we remained until Aug. 5th, our time being occupied with
the usual duties of camp life, drills, inspections, etc.
July 2d we turned in our battery of Parrotts and howitzers and drew
one of light twelves or Napoleons. These guns were of brass, smooth
bore, and had fixed ammunition. They were of short range, which would
necessitate our coming in close contact with the enemy; but the fixed
ammunition would enable them to be fired much more rapidly; and as they
had the reputation of being very destructive when used at short range,
the exchange was on the whole very acceptable to the men.
July 4th was celebrated by a salute in the morning, and repeating it in
the afternoon.
Aug. 5th the battery, with a portion of our Division, started on a
reconnoisance towards the Rapidan River. Towards noon on the second day
out, a portion of our troops had a slight skirmish with the enemy, but
it was of short duration.
Early on the morning of the third day of the reconnoisance our column
countermarched, and marched rapidly towards Fredericksburg. Our cavalry
were constantly skirmishing with the enemy. When within fifteen miles
of the town a regiment of infantry and our battery went into position,
but after firing a few shots the enemy fell back, and we rejoined
the column. Continuing our march we reached our old camp on the
Rappahannock Aug. 8, where we remained until Aug. 22d.