The National tribune., 1892-07-07


WH&5A NJ CITY, as we were ex
HT sM~R@7 peciing the enemy II
make an attack at any
moment
During the latter part of the Summer or fal
of 1861 we were brigaded with the .th aho
10th Mass. and Seth n y. and estabilsheu oui
camps at Brightwood, just north OF the sol
diers' Home. Here was where we saw tha'
noble chieftain, Gen. d. n Conch, our brlgad
commander We had not been stationed here
long before orders came for drill picket duty,
building forts etc. The last duty the eoys
thought was waste of time, thinking the iorts
would never lie needed. But when Gen; Eariy
was Knocking at the doors OF the Capltai' loo4,
we were glad 10 have Forts Stephens ana
Slocum fer protection. Here also was where
our beloved and departed President Lincoln
took hand with Us to keep the foe from the
Capital.
AT Ball Run we had lost our brave Slocum,
who was killed while leading his regiment I'D
the first charge. Our Lieut.-Coi. Frank
Wheaton was promoted in his place ooi,
Wheaton was soldier, every inch Of him. and
the discipline the regiment received under MIN
told throughout its four years service.
The campaign on the Peninsula was in the
minds Of our leading chiefs at the time but
little Gid The boys know what awaited Them
1t was the latter part of March, 1867, when we
got orders to strike tents and be ready 70
march We were soon on the road to Wash
ington On our arrival we learned that trans
ports awaited us 10 take US TO Fortress Monroe.
The VOYAGE down the Potomac on the steamer
John Brooke. accompanied By three companies
of the 18th y Y of our brigade, was delight
full sail for soldier. The steamers bell tolied
as we passed Mt. Vernon. the home OF WASH
ington Upon our arrival at Fortress monroe
our attention was called To an insignificant
object floating just ahead of our steamer AS
soon as the boys learned that il was the Mon
itor. the little giant that got away with the
Merrinlac short time previous, they yelled
and chrered As we were disembarking 1T was
grand sight TO look out upon the green held,
thinking that soon perhaps We would be stalk
ing out camp ground.
On the morning OF the 25th Of March our
regimental line was formed, and we were ad-
rancing on Virginia soil once more. We passed
through Hampton, where Gen. Armstrong s
school is now located, to find that the enemy
had burned il just before eyacuating. We es-
tablished our temporary camp few miles be-
youd HAMPTON on the Yorktown road, naming
our camp w. f. Smith.
He remained in the camp until the 4th of
April when we received orders TO pack up and
proceed - Warwick Courthouse via Youngs
Mills Upon our arrival at the Courthouse we
found ourselves almost stuck in the mud
Wagons were blocked; so il was difficult to get
our supplies 1t was double distance on half
rations; new tactics instead of bareback"
We remained in the vicinity of Warwick
Courthouse. doing picket duty along the War
wick River, until the evacuation OF Yorktown
by the rebel army The enemy retreated as
far as Williamsburg. where they made q stand.
Our regiment. which had been left as rear
guard. Was ordered up in time to relieve the
95th Pa. that was in line Of battle in a belt
of woods IN front of Fort Magruder. which was
occupied by the enemy. The battle turned in
our favor. although costing rs over 1900 men,
We were detailed the next day To help bury
the dead. In looking over the field we found
q young Confederate who belonged to the 1st
Va He could not have been more than Is or
Is years Of age. He had been severely wounded
in the leg. The poor little fellow had appro-
priated p battery saddle for pillow. As we
entered iBto conversation with him he opened
his heart to Us, and was anxious for me to call
upon his mother and sister, who lived in Rich
mon5, and tell them about him. His faith was
stronger than ours as We did not reach Rich
nona We never SAW our Confederate friend
again after he WIS taken froia the field upon a
ftretcHer.
That night as / lay upon the ground. with
nothing but an army blanket over me, thought
OF the bleeding hearts North and South and the
face OF the boy Confederate as he lay upon the
saddle. 1 could net sleep. and liz spite OF the
brave spirit that patriotism gives found my
for the gray. The following morning Gen. Nc
Clellan rode through the camps addressing a
few encouraging words 10 the soldiers and we
began 10 forget the past and thought of pressing
toward the foe. Gen. St0neman had been Sc
1ected TO command adYanee-guard of Nc
Clellan's army at this place. The regiment to
which the writer belonged was selected as one
of the Light Brigade, associated with the a9th
Pa, the 9Th u 5. Cav, and 9Th III. Cav
The artillery was composed of one United
States battery and one Pennsylvania battery
The cavalry boys called u flying infantry, as
we were anxious TO aeep up with them. At
Statewide we overlook the rear-guard of the
enemy and they formed line to resist US.
Our regiment depoyed as skirmishers, sup
ported Ivy The 9sth Pa. and the cavalry and
artillery After a short and brisk engagement
the enemy retfeated. Our mission was TO open
communication with Gen. Franklin which we
accomplished. pushing TO New Kent Court
house, arriving there al noon of April TO-
Here we halted for the greater part Of the
aftern0ssi TO enable the cavalry 10 clear the
road The troops marched to the Pamunkey
landing. planted batteries, and turned in for
the night, with equipments on and arms at
hand m case OF emergency. The following day
the lith-we got good rest, but On the 18th
we stood TO arms, expecting an attack from
the enemy; but as they did not put IN their ap-
pearance in the evening our Light BRIGADE
"
and at midnight bivouacked on the farm of
Gen. Lee. The troops from the main army be.
gan 10 come up and the enemy slowly retired
before ne.
On April 16 Gen Mcclellan visited the
headquarters OF the advances uard-Camp
Scotland the band OF the Cd L. l. compli-
mented him with serenade. The Light Bri-
gade steadily pushed forward. crossing over to
the lelt bank Of the Chickahominy above
Gainess Mill and near Mechanicsville. The
rain had made the roads difficult for marching
Here WAS where the dough boys mashed
mud"
On the Goth Cos. L and i OF the Cd r. T. were
on special duty. On the 23i there was sharp
skirnlish near Wilkinson's Bridge, at the cross
ing Of the Chckahominy. in which the artillery
was mostly engaged. supported by the infantry.
On April q, Gen. Fiiz John Porter moved
mp 10 Hanover Courthouse for the purpose OF
breaking the euemy's railroad communication
with the North and West. Gen. Stoneman,
with the Sth Iii. Cav and 9th u. s. Cav TO-
gether with the 3Sth Pa. and Cd X. J. aud the
artillery, supported the movement taking
picked men from the infantry regiment. Gen.
Porter reached the Virginia Central, now
called the Chesapeake 4 Ohio Railroad had a
smart engagement with the enemy, and gained
vctcry for our side.
On April 20 party Of cavalry burnt the
bridge across the North Anna at Ashland on
the fredericksburg & Richmond Railroad.
Our regiment. accom- panied by one or two
pieces of artillery, made for the Virginia Cen.
tral Raj rsad. arriving there just in time to in
teTcep. :. ilaia going toward Richmond, which