The National tribune., 1894-04-12
IN THE EARLY DAYS.
The ed Conn.'s Movements Before and
After Bull Run.

interested me; for my regiment, I'd Conn.,,
was the first troops to camp at Falls Church
and picket the Fairfax and Vienna roads.
1t was on the 18th of June, think, that a
detachment of the I'd Ohio went on re-
connoissance 80 Vienna with engine and plat
form and box-cars. When l saw the train
passing our camp, we thought they were
going to repair some'par of road or bridges.
Sometime after about SO men of the I'd
Conn.,, including Adjt Russell, went picking
berries on hill some half mile from camp
and about three miles from Falls Church.
Some of us had gathered all the berries we
wanted, and while sitting on the fence our
attention was called from constant blowing
of a locomotive whistle from the direction of
Falls Church. We knew something was
wrong with the Ohio boys. We were all
soon on the run for our camp, and reached it
| in time to fall in with our companies then
| forming.
The Engineer informed Col. Terry that the
Ohio men had been cut to pieces by masked
battery at Vienna. When fired upon the
Engineer cut loose the platform cars, which
were in front of engine, and the men tumbled
off into the brush. If the commander of
the Confederate battery had waited a mo-
ment, the train would have passed on into
the depot and all aboard been captured.
1t was great mistake for our General to
advance into an enemys country without
| pickles, scouts or skirmish-line out. Seven
men were killed.
The day on which the Ohio regiment was
attacked at Vienna. the Cd Conn. left its
camp at Meridian Hill, Washington, at an
early hour, and marched to Roach's Springs
to relieve the 1st Conn.,, while the 1st went
to Washington for a review.
About the 1st of July, 1861, and while a
company was on picket on Fairfsx road
near Col. Delaney's mansion, two young
| ladies by the name of Scott enticed a
Yankee Captain from his post to escort them
home through the woods some distance and
out of sight of our picket-lines. The Cap
| tain took with him one man to follow some
distance in the rear. As soon as the Captain
entered the yard at the Scott house squad
of Johnnies put him On one of their horses,
and forwarded him to Richmond via Fairfax
Courthouse.
The private returned on the run and gave
the alarm, but it was too late; besides the
| company had no orders 10 leave their post.
The Captain did not come back again, that l
remember. Later the girls were hauled up
and raked over the Goals.
On the march to Bull Run field the
Connecticut Brigade-1st, ID, Sd regiments,
and I'd Me-, took the Vienna road for some
distance, then changed direction by the left
flank and came in between Fairfax and Ger
mantown.
As our brigade was marching in line-of-
battle through the fields and over rising
ground, we could see the enemy marching
from the field into the road and hurryng
on TO Germantown and Centerville Our
skirmishers fired few shots at the retreat
ing enemy. The bugle sounded a halt.
Command was given by the right-fiank,
and we marched by fours through the fields
parallel and on right of Centervile road, and
across the Vienna and Germantown road,
when command was given by the left flank,
which brought our brigade in line-of battle,
and advanced into the woods, when the
bugle sounded Halt-Command fix bay
onetsi"
There was line of earthworks in our
front. Our artillery opened the ball. After
few she'll were thrown command was given
to charge. On over their works we sailed, but
the enemy had lit out"; left their break fast
cooking on the stoves, also their shovels, picks
axes, etc. Our boys were going TO eat tie
Johnnies' breakfast; others said Don't d64t;
there is poison in the meat" All, but it did
not take many months for soldiers to learn
that neither side had time to poison food
when run out with bayonets.
At Germantown our brigade halted, and
some of the boys made raid on a cross
roads store and fitted themselves, from a
pair of overalls to silk hat
While resting at Germantown some New
York regiments came in on the Fairfax road.
| remember seeing the 14th BROOKLYN, 69th
and 18th regiments pass, and from the looks
of the 69th n. Y. thought they had done
nothing but forage since they struck Vir-
ginia, for the men had pigs, ducks, and chick
ems fastened 10 their bayonets and slung over
their shoulders. The "loikes / never saw be-
fore, and only equaled in 1862, '63. ga, in the
Shenandoah Valley. Soon as the New York
regiments had passed on the Connecticut
Brigade fell into line and marched to Center
vile, and lay all night in line-of-battle on
right of the road. Gen. Blenkers troops lay
parallel on the left of the road, and his men
threw up temporary works.
Saturday, July 81, our brigade was up at
a. N. and On the road to Bull Run field.
That day seemed as if we were on wild
goose chase; commands being split up, sent
here and there, not knowing the location of
our troops; tangled up in the woods and
crossroads, fighting Independently but our
thoughts were " On to Richmond" and up to
3 p. M. it seemed we would soon be driving
the Confederates on to Richmond; but we
had to fall back to Centerville and from
there on to Germantown. The road was
strewn with abandoned wagons, etc, as the
drivers and others had cut the horses loose
and scooted for Washington.
On July %, about 2 p. H., the I'd Conn.
formed hollow square on their old camp,
side Of Taylor's Hotel, Falls Church, and
stood in heavy rainstorm until night await
ing the coming of the Black Hoss or any
other Confederate cavalry. During said time
our camp equipage was forwarded to Wash
ington, and the night OF July % the I'd
Conn. stopped at the abandoned camp of the
Ohio troops, some miles from Falls Church,
and on the road to Washington. The 23d
our regiment sent in the camp equipage Of
the Ohio regiments, and then marched to
Fort Corcoran and stopped day; then to
Washington to camp side of the 18th Pa.
Reserves. r. PILKINGTON, I'd Conn,
West Newbury, Mass.
Longest First Enlistment.
r. G. Conley, Sergeant, Co. B, 10Th Ind,
Richmond, Ind, writes: II was enrolled ON