Our brigade comprised the Second Maryland, the Ninth New Hampshire, the
Seventh and Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers, and the Forty-Eighth
Pennsylvania regiments, and were under the command of Gen. Naglee. The
Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania were assigned to Lexington, to do provost
duty, and were left behind. By the way, while at Newport News we had an
abundance of all things which it is possible for a soldier to expect.
The schooner Elizabeth & Helen, of Providence, R. I., which arrived at
that place February 16th, laden with vegetables, added to our health and
comfort, and the condition of the regiment improved very materially.
After leaving Newport News, and up to this time, April 14th, we had
nothing but "marching rations," (hard crackers and salt pork,) excepting
what was issued at Lexington April 6th, and what we had been able to
buy.
The commissary department of the First Brigade was now in working order,
and ready to issue rations, April 13th, but our regimental commissary
was tardy again, as at Lexington, and our officers slumbered. We had
plenty of "hard crackers," but these had become a drug with us,
consequently we were tempted to buy what was brought into camp, for
which we paid exorbitant prices. The Kentuckians here were aware of our
coming, and seemed determined to make the most of us. Some of our
officers, whose business it was to attend to these matters, did not
consider that the soldier in the ranks might be obliged to study
economy, and consequently desire the prompt issue of rations, and some
little degree of care and ingenuity in their preparation; thereby saving
them the expense of paying out here and there so much for these
luxuries. They did not seem to consider the responsibility resting upon
them. Perhaps they did not care. The thing was just here. In each
company were from fifty to seventy-five men, whose case was made better
or worse, according as their officers were watchful or slumbering. If
they had been awake, rations would have been drawn with promptness, and
properly cooked; and the consequence would have been that having enough
to eat from their own kitchen, the men would have bought the less
outside; thereby saving in the aggregate, a large sum which in many
instances was needed at home.
Chickens, weighing two and three pounds, were sold here a year ago for
one dollar per dozen. This year they sell for two dollars per dozen.
Poultry brought into camp in small quantities, sold readily at prices
varying from twenty-five cents to one dollar and fifty cents apiece.
This included the chicken of two pound and the turkey of eighteen
pounds. Small quantities of eggs were brought into camp, and sold at
prices varying from fifteen to forty cents per dozen. They were in
demand and commanded any price. Pies were brought on in great abundance;
they were made of peaches and apples, and sold for twenty-five cents
apiece. Some, having a little mercy on the soldier, sold for ten and
fifteen cents. Peaches are very plenty in this part of Kentucky, and are
preserved and dried in large quantities.
The morning of April 15th finding nothing to eat but hard crackers and
pork, and no coffee cooking, I determined to act as commissary for one
day at least. I called on A. W., of Company H, and together, at seven,
A.M., we left camp, and started off across the fields. We passed the
houses nearest camp, and after going about a mile, stopped at a log
shanty. This was occupied by a negro family, who were owned by the
occupant of a house adjoining. The owner was absent, and the negroes had
no authority to sell any thing. We were hoping to have found something
to eat here, but having nothing on hand cooked, we concluded to go
farther. However, we prevailed on them to cook us some cakes, which we
were to call for on our return. Half a mile further on, we came to a
large house. The only person we could find here was a negro woman. She
could sell us nothing. The next place we called at was owned by one Dr.
Evans. Here we found the family at home and busy, preparing to go to
camp, with a load of pies, cakes, chicken pies, &c. We intended to have
got a breakfast at this place, but the family being very much engaged in
their speculation, we continued on.
Espying a house to the right, off some half a mile from this place, we
made for it. We were greeted upon our arrival by about half a dozen
negro children, who looked upon us with as much curiosity as boys would
at home upon the "horned owl" on exhibition. We asked for the woman of
the house. She happened to be out of doors at the time, and was pointed
out to us. We introduced ourselves, and asked her if she could get us a
breakfast. She answered in the affirmative, and asked us into the house.
This was a large log-house, and was the one occupied by the owner of the
premises. The negroes occupied two or three smaller ones in the same
yard, and some five rods distant from the main building.
This is the way the buildings are arranged by the country farmers in
this part of the State. The negroes all occupy log-houses. Some of the
owners have nothing better, and inhabit the same; but most of them have
frame houses, and many of these are large and elegant. The negro women
have charge of all the children, both white and black, and the cooking
for all is done in the out-houses. We were well entertained at this
place. The woman of the house was apparently about seventy-five years of
age, and was very intelligent and sociable. Her husband owns a large
farm, and some fourteen or fifteen negroes. They raise hemp, keep sheep,
spin and weave, as our folks did at home fifty years ago. They have
suffered from the raids of the enemy, principally in the loss of
horses, not having enough left to cultivate their farms. This is indeed
a serious loss to them.
After the lapse of half an hour, our breakfast was brought to us. We had
hot biscuit, fried bacon, johnny-cake, butter and milk. We bought five
pounds of butter at this place for twenty-five cents a pound, and four
dozen of eggs, for which we paid twenty-five cents per dozen. We went
beyond here one mile, and procured three dozen eggs more. From here we
started on our return to camp. Stopped at a house, and finding the owner
absent on an expedition to camp, I prevailed on the negroes to bake us
some cake. Here we stopped three-quarters of an hour, during which time
the women cooked enough to fill my haversack, for which they charged me
twenty-five cents. Leaving here, we called at the place we first stopped
at in the morning, and found our bread awaiting us--one large
johnny-cake, and one loaf of white bread. This finished our load, and at
one, P.M., we arrived in camp, prepared to live again.
We had a most beautiful camp at this place. It was situated in a grove,
at a spot where we had every convenience necessary in the shape of wood
and water, with plenty of grass to roll and tumble upon. The trees in
this grove were perhaps forty feet apart from one another on an average.
These consisted of maple, cherry, black walnut, and the common
shell-bark, and many of them were of large size. The ground underneath
was swept clean, and all brush, chips, &c., removed.
We had "brigade guard mounting" here at nine, A.M. The band would
strike up at precisely nine o'clock, and as we watched the movements of
the guard as they approached simultaneously from their different
regiments to take the place assigned them, we were struck with the
beauty of the scene. The guard approaching, take their places, and the
music ceases. The "camp guard" upon the right of the line, with nothing
but gun and equipments; the "picket" upon the left, with canteen,
haversack and blanket, in addition. The line being formed, the
sergeant-major, who arranges it, makes a "present" to the officer
commanding, and immediately takes his place upon the left. After he gets
his position, the order is given "front." Upon this, the commissioned
officers march twelve paces in front of the line, the sergeants eight,
and the corporals four. The officer in command advances and gives
special instructions to all the officers in person. He then returns to
his position, and gives the order, "officers and non-commissioned
officers, about face," "inspect your guards." The officers return; the
corporals take their places in line; the lieutenants inspect the front
rank, the sergeants the rear. The band play during inspection.
Inspection over, the music ceases, and the officers take their places in
line again. Then comes the order, "music, beat off." The band commences
playing a "slow march," and, coming to the front, proceed the length of
the line. After going through the manoeuvres, which bring them to an
"about face," they return playing a quickstep, and take their former
position. Then the order, "by platoons! right wheel! march!" Immediately
upon the completion of the half wheel, which brings them from line of
battle into column, the order is given, "pass in review! column forward!
guide right! march!" The band strike up, the first platoon make a left
half wheel, and march forward, preceded by the band. The other platoons
coming up, wheel upon the same spot of the first. After marching forward
a certain distance, another left half wheel is made. Marching straight
forward from this, they pass the "officer of the day," who takes the
position directly in front of the centre of the line, as it was before
moving vacated by the officer in command of the guard, who places
himself upon the right of the first platoon, and directs the movement of
the column. As each platoon passes in front of the "officer of the day,"
the officers in charge of their respective platoons come to a "present,"
saluting, and pass on,--the "camp guard" to the relief of the "old
guard," the "picket" to the place assigned them--the band cease playing,
and the review ends. The brigade guard mounting, of which I have
endeavored to give a description, is a beautiful and imposing spectacle.
Although the soldier endures many hardships and privations, still there
are many pleasant scenes and associations connected with a soldier's
life; and I think that should the war continue, many of the men, looking
back upon the pleasant side of their campaign, will have a yearning for
the scenes and associations in connection with it, and again enter the
ranks.
God grant they may! and with willing hearts and hands, and with the
assurance of the righteousness of the cause for which they contend, may
they consecrate themselves anew to the cause of Freedom.