The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-02
NUMBER 8.
Sketches of Army Life.
NUMBER NINE.

FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK TO GETTYSBU re-
AT the close of the battle of charlottesville
public sentiment in the South strongly demand
ed that General Lee should no longer remain
upon the defensive. They looked with hungry
eyes upon the fertile fields of the prosperous
North, and argued that by transferring the war
to Northern soil they could feed their half-starv-
ed soldiers: that with Washington and Balti-
more in the possession of the rebels Europe
would demand that the blockade Of the South
ern ports be raised; and that public sentiment
in the North would demand cessation of hos
tities, and thus the whole situation would be
changed. General Lee Welded to the pressure
thus brought to bear upon him, and soon began
the campaign that closed in his fatal defeat at
Gettysburg.
For Il number of days he succeeded III con-
cealing his movements from General Hooker.
but the latter was soon in hot pursuit of the
rebels. Our own regiment for several davs per-
formed duty, guarding the fords of the Rappa-
hammock river above the city Of Frcdcrcl, ,bIlrg,
and then followed the army by the way of Nor
rlst0wn, CatlettS Station, and Manassas June
ton, through Leesburg, and then crossed the
Potomac river at Edwards Ferry 1t was a
most critical moment in the history of our coun-
try. General Lee with veteran army of one
hundred thousand men, flushed with victory.
was on Northern soil Behind him was 4 des-
perate South determined TO make his campaign
successful. Our foreign relations were in a
were both i'll active sympathy with the South.
and We're Only awaiting a decisive rebel victory
to acknowledge the Confederacy as a nation.
and then raise the blockade. In the North
public sentiment was much divided. A portion
of the people had been opposed to the war from
the beginning, and our repeated defeats had
strengthened their opposition. Another large
portion was loyal to the government but severe
ly censured and criticised all the moy emcnts
made to suppress the rebellion, and the little
success gained by our troops in the field. OF
the remainder many We're hopeful, but others
were Respondent, and feared that General Lee
would be able to dictate his own terms to the
defenders of the Union. When Lee crossed the
Potomac and his troops overran MARYLAND,
threatening Washington and Baltimore, a tor
rent of abuse was poured upon the Army of the
Potomac by its Northern critics. Men gathered
on the farms, in the stores and on the street
corners. and discussed the campaigns in Nir-
ginia. Each one knew lust how it should be
done, and thus through those fearful months a
great many men helped crush the rebellion by
critlcSing the army and cvatling the draft. And
Ill newspaper offices and halls of legislation
enough military campaigns were planned by
those who had never seen battalion of troops,
TO have crushed all the rebelliOns the world
ever saw. if One-half of them had been carried
into effect. The Army of the Potomac was ut
first soundly beratcd for allowing Lee to enter
Maryland, but as his forces advanced towards
pennsylvania and the danger became more ap-
parent, tins tone Of abuse was changed. and
from ministerial studies and editorial sanctunS.
there came the most frantic appeals to the army
These men felt that it was gross violation of
their rights as American citizens to have the
rebels so near, and their peaceful minds dis
turbed by scenes Of bloodshed and fears Of per-
sonal danger, and they called upon the soldiers
courage and Notwithstanding them to she'd
their last drop of blood, if necessary. to hurl
Lees forces back across the Potomac. "Rptter
try il on themselves and see how they like. ii ''
multered the boys in blue. as tired, foot,orc.
and hungry. they pressed on after the rebels
"Confound those fellows" growed Il sergeant
one night as he dropped Il daily "Trbune' he
been -, +1,.,
Kid glOyed fellows telling Us What to DO. and
etcrnllIy finding fault because we do not do
more. | wish they had to try it themselves" !"
YES chimcd III another. 1t is a mighty easy
thing for them to tell Us to shed the last drop of
our blood i'll this glorious cause but notice
the fellerS who make that kind of talk ncyel,
enlist. That's 50. Bill" continued q third
speaker, land if they are drafted they either
have cranp in the stomach. or an old mother
dependent upon them for her support | wish
they had to face the music" II move that we
ger up regiment Of Bcecher> and Grrelrys," ,"
said another, "and arm them With sixteen
shooters. Lord, wouldn't the JohnnieS laugh
to see them shoot" '''rhat's good cried Il lit
tie ragged private who was living on his back
with his bare bliStcrcd feet elevated over an
knapsack that they would cool of in the
evening air, land give them nggcr officers
They will probably shoot themselves, the Mig
gers, or the rebels, and i'll either ease it will be
an almighty benefit to the Government" A loud
laugh here ran around the circle of soldiers and
three lusty cheers We're given for the Beecher
and Greeley Guards.
But it was not all mrth and carelesSnrss
within the ranks rs the days passed by. If
you could have seen these men as they toicd
on in the intense heat along those dusty roads
ol sat With them around The camp fires that
flckered out through the darkness, you would
have noticed that they Were sober, candid. in
telgen, thoughtful men. and while they indig-
nantly rejected the class Of criticism to which
have alluded. they had not forgotten the
anxious friends at home. or their grave respon-
sibility as defenders of the nations life Look
for a moment at this little scene on 4 hillside in
Maryland. 1t has been a long. tedious dav's
march of thirty miles. The scantv supper of
hard tack and coffee has been eaten. The thin
blankets have been spread upon the hard ground
for the soldiers bed. They know that before
sunrise tomorrow the >hr blasts of the bugc
will awaken the echoes upon the hillSides. cali
ing them to ''full in" for another DAYS march,
but they cannot retire yet; they are thinking of
loved ones far away. Little packages are ten
derly taken from the pocket over the heart and
carefully unrollcd. Letters from home received
weeks before are read again and again; the pic
lures of dear friends are eagerly scanned until
lines and features alike are blurred by the fall
ing tears; and thus around the camp fires
amidst these sacred reminders. and beside the
torn and faded battle flags. resolutions were
formed that We're TO be felt upon the battle field.
Resolutions that sealed the defeat of General
Lee before the thunders Of Gettysburg proclaim
ed it to the world. We had expected to find the
States of Maryland and Pennsylvania in arms
to repel the invaders. but we were surprised at
the indifference of the people. They gave lis
warm welcome, but endeavorcd to make money
by selling us water, fruit. and provisions at
most eXorbitant prices. We usually purchased
their entire stock, and as we had no money told
them to 'charge it to Uncle Sam" They en-