Removal to Vicinity of Chain Bridge.—Upsetting of
Ambulances.—The Regiment Brigaded.—Frequent Alarms and
Reconnoissances.—Reviewed by General McClellan.—Crossing
of the Potomac.—Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen.—Formation of
Divisions.—Colonel Stevens.—First Skirmish with the Enemy
at Lewinsville Camp.—General Brooks.—General Davidson.—The
Seventy-seventh New York added to the Brigade.—A Novel
Wedding in Camp.—Circulating a Temperance Pledge.—Battle of
Drainesville.
Thursday, July 6th, the Regiment broke camp, and proceeding through
Georgetown, along the River Road, took up a new position near the
Reservoir, about one-half of a mile from Chain Bridge.
This spot had previously been designated as Camp Lyon, after the
lamented hero of Springfield, Mo. Two heavy four-horse ambulances,
containing the sick, were accidentally precipitated down a steep
embankment, while moving to the new camp. Fortunately no one was killed,
though several were severely injured. The baggage wagons did not come
up the first night, and the men were compelled to sleep in the open
air, without blankets. A report being brought in that the rebels were
advancing on the Maryland side of the river, a detachment of one hundred
men, consisting of ten from each Company, started out on a reconnoissance
about one o’clock in the morning. Discovering no signs of the enemy,
however, the force returned at daylight.
The Thirty-third was here for the first time brigaded, being placed,
together with the Third Vermont and 6th Maine, under the command of
Colonel, since General, W. F. Smith. The Second Vermont was afterwards
attached to the Brigade. The time was principally employed in drilling,
constructing rifle-pits, and a redoubt mounting three guns. There were
repeated alarms during the stay here.
[Illustration: CAMP LYONS.]
On one occasion word was received from General McClellan that the enemy
had crossed the Potomac in large force, and were advancing upon the
city. General Smith immediately ordered out his command, posting the
Thirty-third behind a stone wall, where they remained until the returning
cavalry scouts reported the alarm to be false. During the latter part of
the month one Company crossed the Long Bridge, on a reconnoissance, with
a section of artillery and fifty cavalry, and proceeding on the Falls
Church road, thence to Lewinsville, drove the rebel cavalry pickets to
their camp at Vienna, arrested a prominent secessionist, and returned by
way of Langley, reaching camp at sunset.
General McClellan, accompanied by President Lincoln, Secretaries Seward,
Chase and Cameron, reviewed the Brigade on the 29th of August.
The following changes took place while here: Henry N. Alexander appointed
Quarter-Master, vice H. S. Suydam, resigned.
Sylvanus Mulford, promoted to full Surgeon, vice T. R. Spencer, promoted
to Brigade Surgeon.
Patrick Ryan, 2nd Lieutenant of Company K, resigned, succeeded by Edward
Cary, who was immediately detailed to General Smith’s staff.
Peter Weissgreber, Co. G, died in camp.
On the 3rd of September a detachment of fifty-two men, from Companies C
and D, crossed the river, and proceeding as far as Langley, threw out
skirmishers to the right and left of the road. During the afternoon an
alarm was created by the pickets coming upon General Porter’s, stationed
further to the left, who were mistaken for rebels. They were all
immediately withdrawn, with the exception of three members of Company D,
who refused to leave, in their eagerness to get a shot at the supposed
grey-backs. This mistake provoked considerable merriment, although it
resulted very unfortunately in the shooting of the most valuable spy in
the employ of the government, who imprudently ventured beyond the line of
skirmishers.
About eleven o’clock on the same evening the entire Brigade crossed over
the Long Bridge. On reaching the Virginia shore the Thirty-third filed
off in the fields at the left, Companies A, F and D being deployed in
front, as skirmishers, for a mile or more. The remainder of the Regiment
lay upon their arms all night, with the exception of a small party
employed in cutting away timber which interfered with the artillery range.
Other troops, to the number of ten thousand, likewise crossed over
that night, and eighteen hundred axes were immediately set to work in
felling the dense forest of half-grown pines, where forts Marcy and Ethan
Allen now stand. This location was christened Camp Advance. Numerous
fortifications were constructed, and in three days’ time heavy siege
guns mounted. The troops always slept upon their arms, ready to repel an
attack at a moment’s notice. One night a severe rain storm washed several
of the knapsacks belonging to the Thirty-third into a gully running near
by, filled the band instruments with water, and drenched through to the
skin all who were not provided with shelter. The arrival of tents on the
15th occasioned much joy among the men.
[Illustration: CAMP ADVANCE.]
During the same day the æronauts reported the enemy as moving in large
numbers, and the entire army slept on their arms. The “movement” proved
to be merely a raid for the purpose of destroying “Hall’s House,” and
property belonging to other Unionists. Lieutenants Mix and Gifford were
sent north from here on recruiting service, and D’Estaing Dickinson, of
Watertown, was appointed Assistant Surgeon.
Hitherto the army had been organized into Brigades simply. Divisions
were now formed, and the Thirty-third was attached to the Third Brigade,
commanded by the lamented Colonel Stevens, and consisting of the
Forty-ninth and Seventy-ninth N. Y. and Forty-seventh Pa. General Smith
was appointed commander of the Division. This change consummated, Camp
Advance was abandoned for Camp Ethan Allen, which was taken possession of
September 24th. The men were employed in working on Fort Allen, slashing
timber, performing picket duty, &c., &c. A visit from the Paymaster was
made here, who distributed several months’ pay among the troops. Colonel
Stevens, in a special order, prohibited profanity in his command.
It was while lying at Camp Ethan Allen that the Thirty-third engaged in
its first skirmish with the enemy.
On the morning of September 29th, Smith’s entire Division moved up
the Lewinsville Turnpike, to attack, as was generally supposed, the
rebel force at Vienna. On arriving, however, at Makell’s Hill, between
Langley and Lewinsville, the men were formed in line of battle, and
Mott’s battery planted in front, supported by the Thirty-third. Other
batteries were also unlimbered, and placed in position. Co. B., together
with twenty-five New Hampshire sharp shooters, were deployed in front
as skirmishers. After firing a few shots—from Mott’s battery—at and
dispersing a squad of rebel cavalry in the distance, the force moved
forward to the edge of a dense pine forest. Taking seven men with him,
Lieut. Draime proceeded through the thicket, to reconnoitre the country
beyond, and was, not long after, followed by the entire Company, under
Captain Corning. Several herd of cattle were captured, and a large amount
of booty secured, at the residence of Captain Ball, the rebel cavalryman
who was taken prisoner at Alexandria, and afterwards violated his parole.
Great numbers of wagons were in the meantime sent out, in various
directions, to secure forage. Very suddenly, however, the rebels opened a
warm artillery fire along the whole line, which was responded to by our
batteries. Many of the enemy’s missiles struck among the Thirty-third,
but fortunately no one of the regiment was injured during the entire
skirmish. Seeing Lieutenant Draime and his men at the Ball residence,
they shelled them furiously, but did not prevent their carrying off
a good supply of honey, which was highly relished by them and their
comrades.
Having obtained a large amount of spoil, the whole force returned to
camp. Lieut. Col. Walker resigned at Camp Ethan Allen, and Capt. Corning
was appointed to his place. He was succeeded by Lieut. White, and he, in
turn, by 2d Lieut. Draime.
[Illustration: CAMP GRIFFIN.]
On the 10th of October, the whole Division again moved out to Makell’s
Hill, and formed in line of battle, skirmishers being thrown out in
front. After remaining here several hours, the force fell back to
Langley, and from there proceeded east on the Kirby road to “Big
Chestnut.” In the afternoon of the next day they advanced half a mile
further, and went into camp, at what has since been known as “Camp
Griffin,” where the Thirty-third remained until the final advance was
made.
On the second day after locating here, sixty men, under command of
Capt. Platner, proceeded on a reconnoissance beyond the picket line,
and falling in with some rebel cavalry, killed two of the number;
Lieut. White shooting one of them dead. The fleeing enemy were pursued
until they reached the cover of a dense thicket, when, being strongly
reinforced, they turned upon the pursuing party, who escaped back in
safety to camp by closely following the sinuous windings of the Virginia
rail fences.
On the same afternoon Co. E. had a skirmish with the rebel cavalry,
killing several of them in the woods where they were engaged. Some of
the other Companies hastened to its support, but did not reach the
ground in time to participate in the melée. This was the last of the
picket firing before Washington. The men were employed here in drilling,
“slashing,” reviews, sham-fights, and picket duty. Frequently they
proceeded out on picket at two or three o’clock in the morning, when the
mud was knee-deep, often remaining for thirty hours or more without being
relieved.
During the month of October, Col. Stevens left for the south, taking
the Seventy-ninth Highlanders with him. Col. Taylor assumed command of
the Brigade, until Gen. Brennan was sent to take charge of it. Not long
after he was likewise ordered south. The Forty-seventh Pennsylvania
accompanied him, the Eighty-sixth New York taking its place. Gen. Brooks
now commanded the Brigade for a few days, at the end of which time
General Davidson, a loyal Virginian, from Fairfax County, was placed over
it. Previous to the outbreak he had been a Major in the regular cavalry
service, and was a brave and popular officer. He rode a spirited mustang,
presented to him by Kit Carson, while serving on the western frontier.
The Eighty-sixth New York was soon sent back to Casey’s Division, and the
Seventy-seventh, raised in the vicinity of Saratoga, succeeded it. As
an instance of the great cutting down of the impedimenta of our armies,
this regiment then employed one hundred and five double wagons for
transportation, where only five are now used for that purpose. The same
can be said of most of the commands.
A novel wedding came off one night at the Chaplain’s quarters, the happy
couple being a private and a laundress belonging to Company C. The affair
was conducted with all the ceremony the circumstances of the case would
permit of, and to the satisfaction of the guests, who were regaled with
wedding cake, wine, and other refreshments, decidedly palatable after the
long experience on “hard tack.” While the after-festivities were happily
progressing, the fortunate bridegroom suddenly brought them to a close by
grasping the hand of his “fair one,” and disappearing in the direction
of his domicile, with a general invitation to “call round.” The wife
remained with her husband until the battle of Antietam, when, he being
wounded, they both departed for the North.
About $400 were contributed by the various Companies for a chapel-tent
and reading-room. A temperance pledge, circulated among the men, was
signed by a large number, many of whom have kept it until this time.
On the day of the battle of Drainesville, the long roll beat, and the
Brigade proceeded out to “Freedom Hill,” where it was drawn up in line of
battle to intercept the rebels, should they, in case of a defeat, attempt
to escape in that direction. The enemy not appearing, the Regiments
returned to camp at sunset.
At the time of the Ball’s Bluff affair they were furnished with three
days’ rations preparatory to again moving, but were not called out.