This was forty years ago this 9th day of July, 1904, when many
of the survivors, including myself, have been celebrating the
anniversary of the Monocacy fight at Frederick, Md., and on the
battlefield; and even now old department clerks who largely formed
the Home Guard in 1864, and were in the trenches in front of
Washington when Early approached the city, mention with wonder the
apparent indifference and yet alertness with which the veteran Sixth
Corps skirmish line double quicked from in front of the works to
meet and repulse Early's advance. They did it in a matter of fact
way, it seemed to the clerks, as though going to the drill ground in
time of peace for manoeuvres. Those were days though, when we fought
with clenched teeth, and learned to smother our emotions. We had
no time to growl over rations, as in the Spanish-American War, in
more recent times, and did not murmur if at times we got but a hard
tack a day and nothing else and most of the men not even that, as at
Mine Run, and many other places. We were in the field to preserve
the Union and to eliminate the National parasite of human slavery,
and constant fighting had taught every man who from conscientious
motives could always be found when well, on the fighting line and
nowhere else, exactly what to do under most circumstances; and
hence, they were generally cool having thoroughly learned the
science of war.
SUNDAY, July 10, 1864.
Oh! I'm so tired and used up I can hardly write; have been marching
all day on the pike, and my feet are badly blistered, besides being
so lame, sore and stiff from my wound I can hardly move without
groaning and crying out with pain after being still a little while.
We arrived at Ellicott's Mills, Md., about 4 o'clock p. m. where
we remained about two hours and took the cars for the Relay House.
The Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania is with us. The balance of the
division is yet at the mills. Stragglers still continue to pour
in. Our regiment was never before in such disorder, i. e. so many
stragglers. The tension was so great though, having held the enemy
all day with such an attenuated line, that when it did collapse,
being nearly surrounded, it was every man for himself in order
to keep from being captured. The stragglers report the enemy's
cavalry close after them all along the retreat in order to pick up
prisoners. We arrived at the Relay House at sundown with only about
ninety men. But the regiment fought valiantly yesterday up to the
last moment when we were obliged to fall back in disorder or be
made prisoners of war, and anybody could have played checkers on my
coat-tail, I know, if they could have kept up, for Libby Prison had
terrors for me, and I have always looked upon it as being a disgrace
to be taken prisoner by the enemy; but in this I am wrong--_still_
it would hurt my pride to be captured. We found no troops but
a regiment of hundred days' men here, and they were greatly
frightened. We are camped a short distance in rear of the hotel on a
side hill in the woods.
MONDAY, July 11, 1864.
We shall probably remain here several days and rest; am stiff and
do not feel like moving on account of my bruise which is all black
and sore and my hip is stiff. It's reported the enemy is close by
Baltimore. The greatest excitement prevails accordingly, among
citizens, and for fear communication will be cut with Washington. We
can hear everything except reliable news. I've arrived at that stage
where nothing excites me, I've been through so much in the last
seventy days.
TUESDAY, July 12, 1864.
Still the Tenth and Sixty-seventh regiments are allowed to remain
undisturbed by the enemy while it is having things pretty much its
own way in the vicinity of Baltimore and Washington. It's reported
this evening Gilmore's rebel cavalry have burned the Gunpowder
Bridge, destroyed a railroad train, robbed the passengers, etc. The
greatest consternation prevails throughout the country, as the enemy
is reported to be only three miles from the National Capital. We
wait anxiously for the next news.
WEDNESDAY, July 13, 1864.
Good! I have been looking for it! The First and Second Divisions of
the Sixth Corps arrived in Washington last night just in season by
double quicking through the city from the boats to drive the enemy
from the fortifications; can hear heavy guns in that direction this
morning; don't know what the difficulty is but if the rest of our
Corps is there the Johnnies will never take the capital, and we
are all right. Hurrah! I am on picket to-day at Mr. Donaldson's,
a wealthy Union man who has a lovely home and family. This is an
aristocratic neighborhood, and people embarrass me with their
courteous attentions. I would much rather be left to myself, for
I'm tired and haven't anything with me but the clothes worn through
so many battles, besmeared, ragged, riddled with bullets and torn
by exploding shells; so I am not dressed to appear at table with
conventional people; but still they insist upon it, and what plagues
me more make a lion of me. Oh dear! I'd rather make an assault on
such a place as the "Bloody Angle" at Spottsylvania! The young
ladies are awfully pretty, so nice and attentive, too, that I feel
overwhelmed. I'm not sensible enough, though, not to wish myself
somewhere else, for I'm dirty and unpresentable. It's truly a sunny
spot in a soldier's life, though, to run across such families
occasionally when presentable. General Tyler has come in to-night;
all's quiet.
THURSDAY, July 14, 1864.
Major Dillingham, with a detachment of the Eighty-seventh
Pennsylvania, went through on the train tonight to Washington to
open the railroad. There is no truth in the report that the road
was torn up. We took the cars at the Relay House at 11 o'clock a.
m. and arrived in Washington at 3 o'clock p. m. The excitement has
mostly subsided in the city. The rest of our Corps is reported at
Poolesville, Md. We stay in Washington to-night.
FRIDAY, July 15, 1864.
Remained in camp until 8 o'clock a. m. and then marched up
Pennsylvania Avenue by the Treasury, White House and War Department,
amidst a continuous ovation for fully three miles. Great respect
was shown our Division, as it was known that it was its stubborn
fighting at Monocacy that had saved Washington, and the sidewalks,
windows, balconies, housetops, etc., were thronged with enthusiastic
people. The business-like appearance of our regiment, its proud
bearing, fine cadence and marching, its weather-beaten, tattered
old battle flags all in strings from shot and shell, as well as
the men's clothes, its splendid band, together with the evergreen
sprig proudly worn by some of us, which always gains us recognition,
captured the crowd, and the heartiness of our deserved ovation over
all other regiments in line was very noticeable. It was a proud day
for the plucky Tenth Vermont, never to be forgotten--even prouder
than when showered with flowers on our return home at Burlington
a year later--for we were the feature of the parade--real live
heroic Green Mountain Boys, as true and valiant as was ever Ethan
Allen. We had a right to be proud, for hadn't we proved to the world
many times what Meade said to us at Spottsylvania and Sedgwick at
the Wilderness, when some wag said to Meade at Spottsylvania when
in rear of our regiment, as the lines were being hastily formed
for assault on the enemy a stone's throw away, that he was in a
dangerous place, and he replied, "I'm safe enough behind a Vermont
regiment, anywhere?" We marched via Georgetown and Tennallytown to
within a few miles of Offutt's crossroads and bivouacked. It is
rumored that we are to join our corps at Poolesville. Probably we
shall have to chase the enemy down the Shenandoah Valley again. As
the Sixth Corps is the best marching, fighting and most reliable one
in the army, I reckon Grant and Meade knew what they were about when
they concluded to send it after Early. Now, if they will only send
us Sheridan, we will lick the whole rebel army if they will set it
on to us in detail, and finish up the war.[11]
[11] As General Sheridan was soon sent us, this prediction was as
good as proven, but many a poor fellow bit the dust first.
SATURDAY, July 16, 1864.
Arrived at the crossroads about dark and camped for the night.
Lieut. Merritt Barber and I went on a scout for some supper, but
couldn't find much, as the rebels have taken everything in the
country. The men are very tired; arrived at the Potomac about dark
and waded the river two miles below Edward's Ferry at Young's
Island; are in camp for the night on the Leesburg pike just on
the south side of Goose Creek. The rest of the Sixth Corps is at
Leesburg.
SUNDAY, July 17, 1864.
Oh, such a horrid night's rest! Being near the mountains it was cold
with a heavy dew, and I had nothing but a rubber poncho for cover,
and am not feeling very well in consequence of being so chilled
after marching all day in the hot sun. We marched at 7 o'clock and
arrived at Leesburg at 8 o'clock a. m., where we rested an hour. We
found Col. Stephen Thomas here with the Eighth Vermont Infantry,
now of the Nineteenth Corps. The balance of our Corps was about two
miles ahead, and we overtook it at 6 o'clock p. m. and are camped in
a shady grove for the night. General H. G. Wright of our Corps is
in command of this army now, which numbers about 25,000 men. It is
composed of the Sixth Corps, two Divisions of the Nineteenth Corps
under General Emery, and General George Crook's Eighth Corps of
about 7,000 men, which has operated largely in West Virginia and the
Shenandoah Valley.
MONDAY, July 18, 1864.
Marched at 4 o'clock a. m., passed through Snickersville on a narrow
stony road, and arrived at Snicker's Gap about noon. We went through
the gap, but on arriving at the Shenandoah river at Island Ford
about 6 o'clock p. m. found that some of Crook's force had crossed
and was skirmishing; did not fight very well; fell back to the river
in a stampede, plunged in and some were drowned; probably green
troops. Mosby's guerillas have been in our rear all day and robbed
some of our stragglers. The artillery shelling this evening made us
feel uncomfortable, as the shells landed right among us.
TUESDAY, July 19, 1864.
The enemy did not press us further than the river last night, nor
have they made an advance to-day, yet they remain in our front. They
are busy caring for their wounded. Both sides are within shelling
distance; have remained in our works all day which we built last
night.
WEDNESDAY, July 20, 1864.
We shelled the enemy about 3 o'clock a. m. It left our front during
the night. We crossed the river about noon to-day, marched about
four miles and halted in a hard thunder shower. We fell in soon and
the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps started on our back track, supposedly
for Petersburg via Washington. General Crook's Corps followed Early
on up the Shenandoah Valley.
THURSDAY, July 21, 1864.
Marched hard all night and daylight found us nearly through the gap;
have marched hard--fairly raced--all day; brought up on the east
side of Goose Creek again, where we are in camp for the night tired
and worn out. We marched through Leesburg with stars and stripes
waving and bands playing national airs, something unusual for us to
do without it's a large place. Rumor says that our rear guard burned
the place, but I don't believe it, although it has the reputation
of being strongly rebel--a regular hotbed.
FRIDAY, July 22, 1864.
The Tenth Vermont has been train guard to-day; marched reasonably;
are in camp east of Difficult Creek for the night. Yesterday a boy
soldier was shot down in cold blood by a guerilla within sight of
the ambulance corps; only heard of it to-day.
SATURDAY, July 23, 1864.
I was awakened at 4 o'clock and told the Corps would march at 4.30
o'clock p. m., but it didn't till much later. We are train guard
again to-day; crossed the Chain Bridge at 3 o'clock p. m. and camped
just below Tennallytown on the Georgetown pike. Major Harper is
paying off some of the troops. Probably we shall be paid before
we go to Petersburg, but rumors are such we may not go. Early has
driven Crook back to Martinsburg with loss.
SUNDAY, July 24, 1864.
Have been in camp resting all day. Adjutant Lyman is fixing up
the pay rolls. I can't find my valise; guess it's lost. We had
inspection at 10 a. m.; cloudy; looks like rain.
MONDAY, July 25, 1864.
Got supper in town last night. It began to rain about 10 o'clock p.
m. and continued to hard all night. I stayed at the National Hotel;
went to camp early this morning; regiment paid last night; went to
town again and bought clothes; went to the Canterbury Theatre in
the evening; stayed at the National Hotel again. There's no sign of
a move to-night.
TUESDAY, July 26, 1864.
I was aroused early this morning by Major Dillingham, who said
the army had moved at daylight. I engaged a hack and went up to
camp, but found everything as we left it. We marched at 9 o'clock
a. m. for Rockville; passed through the town just before dark and
camped for the night about two miles out on the Rockville road. I
have called on the Henning, Higgins and Dr. Stonestreet families;
enjoyed the visits greatly. These families were very kind to me in
the winter of 1862-63 when ill with typhoid fever; splendid people.
General Crook's back on the Maryland side of the Potomac again and
Early's forces are raiding the country again, too.
WEDNESDAY, July 27, 1864.
Marched about 5 o'clock a. m.; took a crossroad and went to the
Rockville and Alexandria pike; hard march; camped at Hyattstown; are
headed for Frederick Junction on the Monocacy River, where we had
our fight July 9, 1864.
THURSDAY, July 28, 1864.
Very dry; no prospect of rain; wish we might have some; marched at
6 o'clock a. m. for Frederick Junction; band played as we passed
through Urbana; arrived at the Junction at 1 o'clock p. m.; remained
about two hours and marched for Jefferson City; arrived there at 11
o'clock p. m. and camped.
FRIDAY, July 29, 1864.
Marched at 7 o'clock a. m. for Harper's Ferry; passed through the
town about noon and camped on the Winchester pike about two miles
to the south; warm and sultry; am not well to-night; hope to get a
day's rest here; all's quiet, except rumors of Early's raiders.
SATURDAY, July 30, 1864.
Oh, it's been _so_ warm! I do wish we could have some rain, it would
be so refreshing! We remained in camp until 3 o'clock p. m., when it
was reported the enemy was passing through South Mountain, and of
course we had to "get." Our brigade is train guard; got a large mail
to-night. My commission came as First Lieutenant of Company E, Tenth
Vermont, but I cannot get mustered, as Captain Smith, our mustering
officer, is in Washington.
SUNDAY, July 31, 1864.
Remained on Bolivar Heights last night; regiment went on picket
about 10 o'clock p. m.; train mostly crossed the river last
night, but did not all move till near noon to-day; heat intense,
but haven't marched hard. The train, as anticipated, did not go
further than Sandy Hook, as the mules were completely fagged out,
so our brigade was ordered to join the Corps which is at Frederick;
camped at Jefferson City. We were startled yesterday afternoon when
half-way up the mountain, by the explosion of a magazine filled with
ammunition. The report was alarming and was followed by a shower
of stones, gravel, sticks, pieces of shell and dirt which was very
demoralizing, besides, we didn't know what to make of it at first.
It gave us quite a scare; suspected a mine at first. Many men have
had sunstrokes and died to-day.
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 1864.
Marched for Frederick at 5 o'clock a. m.; dusty and hot; arrived
at 9 o'clock a. m.; camped in a shady grove; Chambersburg reported
burnt by the enemy because it couldn't or wouldn't meet a levy by
McCausland of $500,000 in currency; also that Grant has blown up a
sixteen-gun battery and taken one complete line of works; have been
mustered today; took command of Company E as First Lieutenant of
that Company.
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 1864.
Have remained in camp; rest much appreciated; have written Dr. Almon
Clark. It's reported to-night that Grant fell back again to-day
to his old position; also reported that forty families here in
Frederick who sympathize with the rebels are to leave for the South
in the morning; don't believe it; can hear all sorts of improbable
things when so much excitement prevails.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 1864.
Received orders to march at 5 o'clock a. m., but as we were train
guard we did not move till 7 o'clock a. m.; camped at 1 o'clock p.
m. near Buckeystown at Monocacy Mill on the Monocacy river; bathed
in the river; all's quiet to-night.
THURSDAY, Aug 4, 1864.
Remained in camp all day; services were held today over the remains
of the First Division Inspector; various rumors about moving.
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 1864.
Received marching orders at 4 o'clock a. m. to be ready to move at 5
o'clock, and thus it has been all day, but night finds us still in
the same camp. It's rumored our pickets were driven in last night at
Harper's Ferry. I have pitched my tent and made arrangements to stay
all night, which is the only indication of a move; generally move
when I do this.
SATURDAY, Aug. 6, 1864.
As I expected, I hadn't more than nicely gotten asleep when the
bugle sounded the assembly, and in less than thirty minutes we were
on the march for Frederick Junction; arrived there about midnight;
got orders to make ourselves comfortable for two hours, and then
take the cars for Harper's Ferry, but did not start until about
noon; saw Grant at the Junction; looks like fighting ahead; is
probably arranging the campaign in his car with others.
SUNDAY, Aug. 7, 1864.
This morning found us in line about two miles outside of Harper's
Ferry, but no signs of an enemy in our immediate front; has been
quite warm all day; have written Pert and Will Clark; most of the
regiments have had dress parade, but Colonel Henry can't see it
quite yet that way. It is rumored that General Sheridan is to
command this army--good!
MONDAY, Aug. 8, 1864.
All quiet in camp to-day. Lieut. D. G. Hill and Sergt. J. M. Read's
commissions came this afternoon. Lieut. Hill has been mustered;
haven't done much but read Harper's Weekly and visit; baggage came
up this evening; warm and sultry; rumors of a move to-night; men
have been enjoying themselves to-day.
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 1864.
Am making out muster and pay rolls; got a letter from J. R. Seaver
and another from Aunt Nancy Merrill of Chelsea, Vt. Lieut. J. M.
Read reported to his Company for duty this afternoon. Captain L. D.
Thompson and Lieut. G. E. Davis have gone on picket this evening;
good news from Sherman and the Gulf Department to-night; rumors of a
move this evening.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 1864.
Marched this morning at 5 o'clock about fifteen miles to
Charlestown, West Virginia, and camped about three miles from
Berryville at Clifton; very warm; many fell out from sunstroke and
heat; rained this evening; no signs of the enemy.
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 1864.
Marched at 6 o'clock a. m. Our regiment has been train guard;
cavalry has had warm work in the locality of Winchester, Va., as
considerable cannonading has been heard in that vicinity. We are
camped on the same ground the rebs were on last night; should judge
we were making for Manassas Gap by the course we are taking; made an
easy march to-day.
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 1864.
Another day still finds us marching in dust and under a scorching
sun. The heat has indeed been intense. Many a poor soldier has
fallen out on the way from exhaustion and sunstroke. We have passed
through Newtown and Middletown, both of which were nearly deserted,
and those left are bitter secessionists. We have been chasing the
enemy, which accounts for our marching so hard; its rear guard left
Newtown as we entered it. We camped for dinner here and to wait for
stragglers to catch up.
An amusing thing occurred here. Three young officers, Lieutenants
D. G. Hill, G. P. Welch and myself, went to the only hotel to
get dinner, but found the front door locked and the blinds all
drawn. The back yard and garden containing vegetables, fruit
trees, flowers, etc., in luxuriance, was inclosed by a high brick
wall about eight feet high with an entrance on a side street. A
matronly-looking attendant unlocked the door at our request, and
admitted us to the garden and back door of the hotel, which stood
open to the kitchen, which we entered, the attendant remaining
within hearing. Here we found the landlady, who declared in an
assumed, distressed manner that she had nothing in the house to
eat, the enemy having taken everything she had, at the same time
relating a tale of woe which I presumed might be partially true, if
not wholly so. Soon, however, after parleying, she produced a plate
of fine hot tea biscuit, nervously forcing them into our very faces,
saying, "Have biscuit! have biscuit!" which, rest assured, we did.
After this I started to leave. The colored woman who had admitted
us, having heard all that was said, hid by the corner of the house
en route to the garden entrance, and when I passed shyly told me
that a table in the parlor where the curtains were down, was loaded
down with a steaming hot dinner with the best the house afforded,
prepared for a party of rebel officers who had fled about when it
was ready because of the approach of our army. I returned to the
kitchen bound to have that dinner just because it had been prepared
for rebel officers and told the landlady what I had discovered,
and that we _must_ have that dinner, but were willing to pay her
for it. Seeing she was outmanoeuvered and that her duplicity was
discovered, she looked scared and laughing nervously led the way to
the parlor, where we found the table actually groaning with steaming
viands as though prepared for and awaiting us. She graciously bade
us be seated, presided at the table with dignity and grace as
though nothing had happened, and we met her with equal suavity,
laughter and dignity as though she was the greatest lady living, she
admitting when through, that she had had a "real good time." We
paid for the dinner and parted good friends.[12]
[12] The landlady had a young son--a lad--who a few years later,
after the war, graduated from West Point and was assigned to the
Sixth U. S. Cavalry, my regiment. One evening years afterwards in
quarters at Camp Apache, A. T., among other stories I related this
to a lot of officers, when Lieutenant ----, who was present, to
my surprise informed me it was of his mother we got our dinner,
and that he had heard her laughingly relate the incident. He was a
good officer and fellow, but knowing what rabid secessionists some
members of the family were, including himself, the charm of his
friendship was gone, but I never let him know it. He is now many
years dead. The landlady was very stubborn, and unwilling to oblige
us until cornered, when her detected duplicity disconcerted her, and
with a nervous laugh she yielded to our demand because she thought
she had to. Otherwise we should have only helped ourselves in a
courteous way and paid her for what we got.
SATURDAY, Aug. 13, 1864.
Well, were it natural for me to be despondent, I should say that
things looked rather gloomy for our cause. I do not doubt but what
General Grant is doing all in his power to prosecute the war.
Apparently, however, there is little doubt but what there are those
under him who fail to perform their whole duty. If there were only
more fighting generals and fewer get-along-easy fellows, what a
splendid thing it would be for the country. But Grant will weed 'em
out in time--see if he don't! We arrived at Cedar Creek and went
about a mile when we again found Early in our front; have remained
here all day.
SUNDAY, Aug 14, 1864.
Have remained idle all day; enemy occupy the other side of
Strasburg. Our pickets are just this side of town; very warm and
sultry; are in the shade. Captain Merritt Barber and Lieut. J. M.
Read have gone on picket; no skirmishing to-day; rations and mail
expected to-night.
MONDAY, Aug. 15, 1864.