Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-10-18

ana dlencoe, covering about twelve
miles of the railroad with the regi-
mental head: quarters at Coeleyville.
The battles Of South Mountain and
Antietam were sin the meantime
fought aud the tide of war .again
flowed back TO Virginia. We still
remained in Maryland, and under a
rigid system of drills and inspec-
tions the regiment made rapid pro-
gress in discipline, and in all duties
OF the soldier in camp. About the
only drawback to efficiency was In
the arms received at Harrisburg-a
short, heavy, unwieldly, worthless
gun, surmounted by an ugly sabre
bayonet and called the 'Vincennes
rifle, calibre go. When we Joined
the army of the Potomac, CARRYING
these ugly implements of destruc-
tion-thOugh they were not very
dangerOas-tne boys were often
taunted witifbeing heavy artillery
or dismounted cavalry, or a crossbe-
tween the two-the gun represent
ing the one arm of service and the
sabre bayonet the other. To their
credit, however, belt said, they hore
all with as good grace as possible,
though sometimes IL did make them
slittle angry. These arms were af-
forwards eXchangedfor bright, new
Springfield rifles, and there were no
more jeers or taunts.
The armies in Virginia confronted
each other at Fredericksburg. and
in themonth .eEDecember, the l4Sth
was ordered from the pleasant ca mps
of the past three months to the
frort. Passing threlgh Baltimore
and WashlngtOn-a tiresome march
to Liverpool Point-thence by ferry
boats across the Potomac to Ac quia
Greek Landing-another march of
twelve or fifteen miles on cold
dreary, driZzlY afternoon and night
to Falmouth, and on the 18th of De-
cember We became q part of the
army of the Potomac, joining the
1st brigade, 1stdiyision, I'd Army
Corps. From that time until the
end of the war the fortunes of the
regiment were identified with the
f. operations of that army.
We marched to Chancellorsville,
and in the struggle of May 1st, 2nd
and Sd, 1858, the metal of our
ranks was st tested, and the sever
w of the test is shown by the long
sad list of killed and wounded. The
result of the battle was unfortunate,
and we tramped ba *, through mud |
and rain, to the ok. camp near Fal-
mouth. The prospect was not en-
couraging. A short ten days previ- |
Gus we had gone for h cheerful and
ouoyant, with full ranks in splendid |
array. Just before we started the |
Governor of the State looked upon
us, his neighbors and friends, with !
pride swelling his warm heart, and |
he spoke eloquent, hopeful words to |
us. After ogr return he saw us |
again, ana to him what a sorrowful |
contrast! The ranks were no longer
full; many noble fellows, well known
to him, had fallen; many others
were suffering from painful wounds;
and withal there was no success to |
cheer and compensate. Vain in
deed were his efforts to conceal his |
sad emotions. Looks or words
could not hide them, and few that
heard his touching and pathetic adj
dress in that dismal camp will ever
forget it. Among those who fell |
were Lieuts. VIM. II. Bible and
Frank Stevenson, both of Company |
G. Both were well known in the |
regiment and sadly missed. Lieut..
Bible was cast in natures biggest
mould. His tall, commanding form
always attracted notice, while his
IN any excellent traits had drawn
nearly all of his brother officers to-
ward him in ties of warm friend
ship. Lieut.. Stevenson also had
many friends, who will not soon
permit the remembrance of hrs hap
py. jovial disposition to drop from
memory.
But it is not for soldiers to brood
long in gloom and despair over the
past. A few weeks given TO recu-
peration, and the regiment was once
more ready for the field whenever
the summons should come. For
this we did not have long to wait.
Lee lad begun his movement north
which eliminated at Gettysburg,
and early in June, with the End
corps, we started in the same direc-
tion, maj ching by way of Stafford,
Dumfries and Occoquan to Centre
vile, and from Centreville to Thor
oughfare Gap, where we remained
4 number of days. Here we found
some of The cavalry of tie enamv