The Republican journal., 1882-05-04
NUMBER 1S.
Sketches of Army Life.
SECOND SERIES. NUMBER FIVE.
HATCIIER'S RUN.

The bloody campaign of 1864 had closed. The
Army of the Potomac was encrcling the rebel
capitol like girdle Of DEATH 1t stretched in its
power from the James River upon its right to
lIatcher's Run upon the left. 1t was evident to
all that the time for the last great struggle was
rapidly approaching. Grant, the great COM
mander in chief Of the Union armies. was hold
ing the throat of the confederacy in a giants
grasp. Sherman. the invincible leader of the
southwest, was sundering the confcdcracy in
twain as he marched to the sea. Sheridan. the
most brilliant leader on the continent. had de-
stroyed the great army of General Early in the
Shenandoah valley. The Army of the Potomac
was i'll winter quarters, but there was constant
skirmShing between the hostile armies Our
brigade was encamped upon the left of the
Union line at Hatchers Run. near the late bat
tle-fiell Of that name.
had been away from the regiment since re-
Of the previous May. In December, at Augusta
Maine, had volunteered to return to my regi-
ment, although my wound was yet nhealed |
had been detained few weeks at Gallop'S
island i'll Boston harbor. and Will hundreds of
others had shiyercd and grumbcd in the cold,
miserable barracks that crowned that bleak
island. | had been Storm-tosSed for Il week or
more, and nearly wrecked on the over crowded
Government transport, DE Mnlav," and was
then landed at City Point, in Nirginia where
for a few days | was permitted to enjoy the
Very pleasant associations of the Distribution
Camp at that placc-the camp that enioved the
classical title of ''Rull Pen" Both pen uud time
would fail me We're | to attempt TO describe it,
Language cannot do Justice to the subject. 50 |
pass it in silence, only asking the old soldiers
who with me passed a few days in that camp to
remember with me for a moment all the discom-
forts of that filthy place At length the order
came for all the men who belonged to the Fifth
corps to march out through the gate Of the high
picket fence that enclosed the camp 1t was the
most joyous summons | received during the
three years of my service. | haStcned to my
bunk, from which had been absent but few
moments, and found that in my absence some
one had stolen my oy' coat. 1t was no use to
endeavor to find stolen property in a place like
that, but it would not answer for me TO 70 to
the front ri hat season Of the wear without an
overroat. There was only one method Of re-
dress. My nearest neghbor was sound asleep.
lie had new overcoal folded under his head
for a pillow. | gently raised his head. removed
the coat, and went on my way rejoicing leaving
the brave soldier boy to dream of Home and
mother" For several miles WE rode on the
military railroad the army had constructed from
City Point up near Petersburg. Then 4 short
march across the country brought me near the
locality where our regiment must be cncamped.
Where is the camp of the 10Th Maine" | veil
ed to a fellow who was passing in my front
with a dozen canteens hanging over his shout
der. "ONer there" and he pointed to cluster
of white tents. standing upon the plain some
thirty rods away.
The sun was Just setting at the close of day
felt strangely happy. ! wanted to >er the boys.
| felt like one returning home after ong ab-
>encr. The old flag was mfurled in front Of
the tolonel> tent. our Orderly Sergeant wa,
standing i'll the street Of Company III. making
picket detail for the following day Tie law mo
approaching under the weight Of Il weIl filed
knapSack, and >alutcd mt with '.GrrriSh will
report for picket Tomorrow | was quickly
surrounded by Old comrades from whom | re-
ceivcd such i welcome. But, alas how many
forms had vanished. HOW many voices had
been hu>hed. Horton, Merriam, Davis. York,
and score of other brave fellows had been
taken from Us since we entered the Wilder
mess. But Clark, WinsoW MorriSon Tar
bell. Gilmore. and Il few other. remained
while the depleted ranks of the companv had
been filled with recruits whom had never seen
The boys We're bronZcd with sun and storm
They We're hardy and ragged, but the same
grand old fellows whose Soricty had missed
50 much. With the liberty alWay exercised bv
old soldiers they quickly made themselves ia
miliar with the contents of my knapSack and
the fine wooden undcrclothing and stockings
that had purchased in Maine were quickly
appropriated t2 their Use. | never gave nv
consent to this, because it was never asked
But do know that it gave me much more. sat
i>faction to thus supply their want, than it did
them to have their wants supplied. II was late
that night before Went to sleep. had to tell
the boys about Maine. and of their friends
whom had met, and they told me OF Laurel
Hill, Cold liarbor, Pcrble'S Farm ana many
other bloody fields where our brave men had
fought and died. 1t was sad and yet Joyous
evening. one laughablc event occurred at the
evening roll call. When my name was called,
and answered to it, 4 number Of recruits who
had joined the company after | left. and who
now fancird they We're old soldiers, >uppoSing
| Was 4 recruit. gathered around me 10 initiate
me into the mysteries of Il soldiers life. !
thought of the recruits the winter before at
Rappahamock Station, Of the Jokes wr then
played upon them, and As thus found myself
mistaken for one OF that unfortunate class and
almost made victim of the same Jokes | had
helped 70 originate felt that for the recruits
''timc had brought its revenge" | found the
boys All i'll excellent spirits. They We're deter
mined, like their great commander. ITO fight ii
out on that line" The reelection OF President
Lincoln had been source Of qualification to the
army, and every man was determined that no
compro mise should b. made with treason.
Our regiment had only been cncampcd at that
plac" for few weeks, and the quarters were
not nearly as comfortable as they had been at
Rappahannock Station, but we made life enjoy
able. We told stories. Sang songs, went out on
picket, foragcd what we could and plavcd
many games which think that | had bcttrrnot
name, as it is not fair to tell tales out of school
The days passed very rapidly and those few
weeks passed on the banks of ''IIatcher's Run"
will be pleasantly remembered by the >url iving
members of our regiment. The weather was
unusually fine, the bands used to plav the most
delicious strains Of music, and the men were all
anxious for the forward movement to be made
Each day we saw new indications of the fear
full struggle so soon to open. Slowly and sure
ly the cords of death Were drawn around the
gallant army Of General Lee We knew that
although the coming campaign might be brief,
it would be one of the most desperate and bloody
of the war. Notwithstanding all the iov and
mirth in our regiment, there were some anxious
hours in those days of active preparations.
Some had been with the regiment every dav
since it had been mustered into the service: had
suffered in all its fatigue, endured all its hard
ShinS and fouUht i'm all it> hattI.S Only