The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-07-04
Soloirrs' Column.
How the Battle Began.

A correspondent of the Troy Times,
who during the war served in the First
Massachusetts Cavalry, gives an &C
count of the opening of the battle in
the Wilderness, from which we copy
as follows: Thursday morning, May
5, 1864, found the First Massachusetts
Cavalry we'll out on the left flank of
the Union army, which had effected the
crossing of the Rapidan without en-
countering the enemy in force. Grant
had bis troops well in hand, but the lay
of the land was decidedly unfavorable
to military movements. There was
scarcely an open space in the Wilder
ness in which single regiment could
make right wheel without breaking
| Tiles to the rear to avoid obstacles in
the shape of scrub-oak and other kinds
of trees, with an abundance of under
brush, etc. Then the land was all cut
up with gullies washed out by the rain.
We had no suspicion that the rebels
would attempt to bring on a general
engagement in such a miserable place.
We had no choice in the premises. If
our wishes had been consulted the bat
tie of the Wilderness would have been
postponed until we had got out into the
open country further toward the rebel
capital. l have no doubt that surviv-
ing confederates recall much that is I'M
pleasant in connection with the terri
BILE struggle. But the graycoats were
responsible for it-they pitched into us
before breakfast. Bangl A single
shot down the turnpike that led to
Todd's Tavern. The First New Jersey
of our brigade was on duty out there
We were a little off the road, dis
mounted and cooking our coffee. Our
horses were unbridled, with their nose
bags on, eating their allowance of oats
Old soldiers will understand the situ-
alton exactly when 1 say that the water
in our tin cups was just beginning to
the boys had already put in the spoon
full of ground coffee that constituted
the ration and were anxiously waiting
for it to bubble up, the first authentic
rumor of its boiling. Many time the
correctness of the saying, a watched
pot never boils,' was demonstrated to
the hungry soldiers. Bang! bang! bang!
1t was hard for the boys to belive
that the first shot was not accidental,
but when, after an interval of minute
or two, three distinct reports were heard,
we began to wish that we had boiled our
coffee before reveille, to make sure of it.
Still we didn't doubt the ability of the
Jersey lads to take care of the picket
line, but we were apprehensive that
staff officer or somebody in authority
would get excited and order us into our
saddles. She bilesl' exclaimed my
bunkey, who was watching the two tin
cups on our little fire while l was
sprinkling salt and pepper into mix
ture of soaked bareback and pork that
was stewing away in my frying-pan.
When cooked the amalgamation was
sweetened to taste, if there was sugar
in the haversack. If not, we took it
without sugar. The dish was popular
in the army. l never could understand
why it was given the name it was
known by, unless the soldier who chris
tened it entertained well-grounded sus-
picions that the meat used in making it
had been cut from canine instead of
a porker. Just as we were taking our
{ TO horse And the call was empha-
sized by lively picket-firing all along our
front. 1t isn't pleasant to go to war
on an empty stomach protested one
of the boys. You bride both our
horses and I'll try and cool our coffee
so we can drink it, said my partner.
But the order to mount came close on
the heels of the first bugle-call and the
effort to save the coffee resulted in the
blistering of my bunkey's hands. 1t
was impossible for him to get into the
saddle with cup of hot coffee in each
hand. He was so much disguised with
the situation that he threw the coffee
away and was not thoughtful enough
to hold on to the cups. by tours, for
ward, trot, march !! and we were head
ing for the picket-line where the First
Jersey was exchanging leaden compli-
ments with the enemy. A staff officer
came dashing in from the woods where
the fighting had begun, and the COM
mand 'gallOp was given after he had
reached the head of our regiment.
Well run into something if we keep
going at this rate" said Giles Taylor,
as we galloped down the road. Guess
Lees found u.s. said another. Some
body better order us to halt or We'll
ride right into Richmond 1t wasn't
necessary to order a halt-there were
too many Johnnies in our front for us
to go through to Richmond on that line
until we were REINFORCED. While dash
ing down the turnpike to the support
of the First Jersey we saw a cavalry
man with his overcoat on and his head
covered with a piece of shelter-tent
lying up on the bank by the roadside.
Wake up! the rebs have comet
shouted sergeant of our regiment as
we reached the spot where the trooper
lay. AT that moment the wind blew
the covering from the soldiers face
and one glance told the story. He
was dead. Shot on the picket-line-
probably the first shot we heard had
ended his life. He had been carried to
the rear by loving comrades, who placed
his body where, should there be oppor-
tunity, they could find it later on and
give the fallen hero soldiers burial.