The National tribune., 1902-02-06
BOTTOMS BRIDGE.
The Story OF a Member OF the Pennsylvania
Regiment Last to Leave the Chickahominy.

reading over the letters of the dear ole
boys telling of their experiences in the
stormy times of long ago, ''the past rises
before me like dream" and l feel l an
lucky TO be alive.
l have noticed in some of your recent
issues that there is some difference OF
opinion relative 10 the building of Bot
toms Bridge, the regiment first to cross
The Chickahominy, etc. While ! am moi
certain, l think the bridge was buit by
special details made from the regiments
of Gen. NagleeS Brigade; l remember the
brigade was camped III that vicinity foI
Il few days before crossing the river, and
though | was never included in any of the
details, report said that they We're en-
gagged in cutting timber and building
bridges. So. while | am not sure who
built the bridge, | have Il very distinct
recollection of tho4 who tore it up. This
was done by regiment of PennSylran'
ianS, to which regiment | belonged.
After Jackson had broken Mcclellan
line and gained his rear, Naglec'S Brigade
was dispatched to guard the crossings
along the Chicahominy in the vicinity OF
Bottoms Bridge. My regiment was sta,
toned Mt the bridge. where rifle pits were
hTrTiedly thrown Hp, and for three days
We waited To battle with the redoubtabc
jackson. All was confusion and excite
mCEt. The first IL appear were those who
always led the advance of rCtreating
armies, the suffers. cooks. hosticrs and
the general riff-raf. and the tales these
/ told We're terrible indeed. Our army had
rot only been defeated hut literally cut
| To pieces. and Jackson was coming with
! the whole rebel army sweeping all before
him. At one time it did really look as
| though there was cause for alarm. a
! great cloud of dust was seen above the
woods, coming nearer and nearer. Soon
there emerged from the woods what
seemed to be an army of cavalry on a
mad charge. They proved, however. to be
riderless horses-thrcc or four hundred
which had been turned loose at White
House Landing. and partakinS of the gen
9rai excitement. came on, running their
best, seeming wild from fright. They
rushed to the bridge, crowded its passage,
while many leaped from the bank into the
river, swan across and continued the wild
race in the direction Of the James River.
As l remember now, it was not until
the third day that Jackson's force hove in
sight and opened on us with battery of
artillery. Our guns replying, the COnfed-
crates soon ceased firing. Regiments
would make their appearance in our rear,
as though forming in battle line; then, by
i circuitOus route, gaining cover of woods,
world march off toward the James.
Some time before the set of sun it be-
came apparent that ours was the only
regiment left 10 guard the crossing where
Bottoms Bridge had formerly stood, and
the prospect was not encouraging. These
Pennsylvanians. while they had full con-
fidence in their brigade commander,
doubted his ability to long hold in check,
with one regiment. the valiant Jackson
and his whole army. Pursuant TO orders
we disported ourselves in full view Of the
enemy, making it appear as though we
intended camping on that ground all Sum-
mer simply because we liked the location.
Under the shades of night the regiment
was quickly formed in line and started on
rapid march for White Oak Swamp.
Ny company was temporarily commanded
by First Lieut.. II. ii. jerks, Of Co. l, we
having lost our own company officers in
previous enEaEements-our Captain and
Second Lieutenant wounded and the First
Lieutenant captured-so Co. ID was left
without @ head, as it were.
Hard and hurried marching had been
kept up Cor two hours or more when
halt was called. Water wateri water!
II anyone wants to save my life, give me
a drink of water"' This came from Lieut..
jerks. | replied that j had some water,
but it Was very warm. 'lf it is only wet
let ne have it, said the Lieutenant. So
stepped out of line and let him help HIM
self. Before he finished drinking the line
W do GbdIll lil lliOllDl. anu dS ht lttulI'h
the cork In my canteen, he spoke in my
ear with a sub-rosa tone of voice, saying:
Il have whisky in my canteen. and as
soon as we stop again I'll look you up and
give you a drink" / made no reply. /
was confused, for ] had never taken such
a thing as q drink Of whisky in my life.
Now, lest some of the old boys may be in
clined 10 doubt this, i will explain. My
father, like ST Klegg's, was a Baptist
Deacon, and from my early teachings |
had imbibed the idea that whisky was an
invention of the devil, therefore an abOm
nation, that it biteth like a rattlesnake
and stingeth like humble bee, as well
as doing much else that was terrible. So
resolved never to taste it. But this
nights march was a hard one. As We
kept on my breathing became shorter and
more labored. / had always understood
that whisky was very stimulating and was
good for the weary and worn, go ] finally
concluded that ! would accept the Lieu
tenants treat, and take a big drink of
whisky, even though it killed me on the
spot.
a second halt was called and the Lieu
tenant, true 10 his word, singled me out.
and | WAS soon drawing.on the contents of
his cdnteen. Not knowing what constitut-
ed a good drink Of whisky. / might have
drank all he had, but without intention
as il seemed. he broke my connection and re-
turned 10 ms post at the mead OF the COM
pany. However, ! got a plenty and fatigue
and WEAKNESS sooD left me. could march
with buoyancy such as ] had never felt
before, and whether the regiment was
making for the James, Jerusalem or
Jericho, it was all the same to me. | can
never forget Lieut.. jerks, for never did
a drink OF whisky do me so much good as
that TO which he treated me. | say this
because | have taken two or three drinks
since-when feeling tired and worn out
| was very young when / enlisted for
soldier, had seen but little of the world,
and knew Of it still less.
We caught up with the brigade al
White Oak Swamp and joined il in line
Of battle. 1t was full noon-day when
Jackson's men warned us of their near ap-
nrGach by opening on us with about 30
ueceS Of OF artillery. The!. fire was re-
turned by our batteries, and the fight
went on until night set in, when we again
left in retreat.
In conclusion / will say to my dear old
comrades that it can make but little differ
ence to us now what regiments built the
bridges. crossed the rivers first or were
first TO open fire in battle. Those of us
"hances. obeyed orders and did our best,
are entitled TO share the honors and feel
ourselves lucky TO be alive when we know
of so many Of the dearest friends of car
youth marched forward with us never to
return.-SAM. CHALFANT, Co. ID, 52G Pa
tbetter known to the regiment by the
sObriQuet OF "Curly'), 81 Taylor street,
San Francisco, Cal.