The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-16
From the New York Irish american.
THE LAST DAYS
OF THE
SIXTY-NINTH IN VIRGINIA.
A Narrative in Two Parts.
BY THos. FRANCIS MEAGHER,
PART TIE FIRST.

AS far back as the 10Th of July, if re-
collect rightly, the Goth received orders
from General Mcdowell to hold themselves
in readiness to march at moments no.
tice. Knapsacks were to be packed, as
well as trunks, and together with the rest
of the heavy baggage of the regiment, were
to be marked with the name of the party
to which they belonged, the name of the
company, and so forth. These were to be
sent to Alexandra and there stored until
the return of the regiment. The men
were to get themselves into light march
ing order, taking with them sixty rounds,
at least, of buck>and>ball cartrid ge, and
three days rations, whenever the order to
march was given. Such were the general
orders or instructions, and they served as
notes Of preparation, and as very ominous
sings and admonitions of something war
like looming in the future, and that not
far off
The aspect Of the Camp, within and
without Fort Corcoran, all this time,
though animated, full of exciting and pic
turesque life, such as one finds only in {.
camp, and that ON the eve of battle, was
not without its mournfulness and solem-
nifty. In every tent men might be seen
some seated on kegs, others on their KNAPP
sacks, others again on rude blocks, and
two or three on drums-writing their last
letters home. Hundreds were sending to
their wives and families, through Father
O'Reilly, their beloved Chaplain, the
greater portion Of their two months pay,
which they had just receiyed-and in this
way $4,000 were sent to New York by
the regiment-whilst morning and even
ing hundreds were slowly passing through
the little chapel within the Fort, making
their confession and receiving absolution.
Phe men, too, had come to love the Fort,
the huge walls of which they had cement
ed with their sweat. They had become
familiar with it, and with all the deep ra-
vines and beautiful woods and streams
around it for a circuit of three miles
their constant scoutings and outpost du-
ties, generally speaking, being within that
range-anG hence it was with prevail
ing gloominess of heart that they prepared
to bed good bye to it, perhaps forever.
The evening of the 18th of July-the
regiment being drawn up in close column
on parade-Colonel Corcoran read the
special order for the next days march.
The regiment was to march at 2 o'clock,
p. m.-blankets were to be rolled up close
and slung over the left shoulder under the
right arm-muskets were to be in the best
order cartridge boxes full-each man to
carry three days rations in his haversack,
the rations to be delivered early next
morning. All that evening up to tattoo,
the brave fellows busted themselves with
their preparations, and did so with laugh
ing hearts; and long after that, when the
lights were ex.inguished throughout the
Camp, and the Stars and Stripes, damp
with the heavy night dews swayed heavily
on the tall flag staff above the ramparts,
and the lone sentinels paced to and fro in
the clear full moonlight, many suppress
sed voice came from the hushed crowd,
laden with memories and hopes and pray
ers sacred to the homes that were left for
lorn and sorrowful far away; and yet
again these voices, more than once, gave
way to cheerier ones rudely musical with
all the proverbial spirit Of the Irish sol
dier, his pride, recklessness, ard love.
Snatches Of songs-mostly those that Da-
Wis wrote for us-broke at times through
the subdued buzz and hum of those dark
ened ranks, and it was close on dawn when
all was still.
The first news the morning ushered 10,
however, was that we were to march that
day at II o'clock. This, of course, took
the regiment by surprise, and the last pre-
parations for the march were violently
hurried. Nevertheless, at the appointed
hour the Goth left the Fort by Companies,
and assembled on the parade ground-a
6ns rolling meadow fronting it-a thou
sand strong, no. including officers. An
hour after the regimen. was on the road
towards Fairfax, the Corps Of Engineers,
under the command Of Capt. Quinlan, be-
ing in advance. This splendid body Of
men-intelligent, muscular, active and
thoroughly hardened for the toughest
work-presented very striking appear