Lieut. C. C. PAIGE.^? 
 
 
 MY EXPERIENCES IN 
 THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 I 
 

 I 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/storyofexperiencOOpaig 
 

Lieut. C. C. Paige, 
 
 At the age of twenty-three years. 
 
STORY OF THE EXPERIENCES 
 
 II 
 
 OF LIEUT. CHARLES C. PAIGE 
 IN THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-5 
 
 AS TOLD BY HIMSELF. 
 
 MDCCCCXI 
 
 THE JOURNAL-TRANSCRIPT PRESS. 
 
 PR.A.NKI.IN, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
ilourital-iUransrript ^ress. 
 IPratiklin. N. S. 
 
q7'5. IS I 
 
 FsvbS 
 
 <Lo ®clolicJl ^ife, 
 
 SHARER OF MY SACRIFICES AND VICTORIES, 
 WHOSE PATRIOTISM AND UNSEDFISHNESS 
 MADE POSSIBEE the STORA’ 
 
 IN these pages, and 
 
 who dives to enjoy the fruits of ael — 
 
 THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATEEY 
 DEDICATED. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAflF, 
 
 Introduction, 12 
 
 1. Review of Diary and Experiences Previous to En- 
 
 listing, 14 
 
 2. Deciding the Question and Going to the Front, 18 
 
 3. First Experiences at Soldiering, 22 
 
 4. Fall Campaign of 1862, 26 
 
 5. Fredericksburg Campaign, 29 
 
 6. Leaving Falmouth for Newport News, 42 
 
 7. From Newport News to Cincinnati and Kentucky, 46 
 
 8. From Kentucky to Vicksburg, 56 
 
 9. Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi Campaign, 58 
 
 10. Our Return to Kentucky and Tennessee, 74 
 
 11. Burnside’s Retreat and Siege of Knoxville by Gen. 
 
 Longstreet. Our “Valley Forge” Campaign, 82 
 
 12. Our Return to the Army of the Potomac, 106 
 
 13. At Annapolis, Md. My Wife Visits Me, 109 
 
 14. Wilderness Campaign, 111 
 
 15. Wounded and Sent to Washington, 123 
 
 16. Transferred to Philadelphia, 126 
 
 17. Transferred to Manchester, N. H., and Discharge, 129 
 
 Addenda, 144 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Frontispiece. Picture Taken at Age of Twenty-three. 
 
 Cooper’s Shop, 21 
 
 Sword, Bottle, etc., 39 
 
 Photo in Uniform, 46 
 
 Attack on Fort Saunders, 89 
 
 Canteen and Haversack, 105 
 
 Letter to My Wife, June 16, 1864, 126 
 
 Hospital Photo, 128 
 
 Latest Photo, 144 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Lest this book fall into the hands of strangers or per- 
 sons not immediately connected with my family, two 
 things I wish to call attention to in this prefatory note. 
 
 First, I have not written for the public reading. I have 
 presumed that my immediate family now living and their 
 descendants, may be interested in the war record of their 
 relative, who servied in the Civil War, doubting not that 
 the interest to coming generations will be enhanced as the 
 scenes described will have gone farther into the long ago 
 days, and that my posterity may feel a just pride in the 
 fact that their ancestor was a participant in the greatest 
 Civil War ever fought, and in which patriotism mani- 
 fested its supremacy as in no era of the World’s history. 
 
 Second, I am not attempting to write a history of the 
 Civil War. Several editions faithfully written by his- 
 torians of National fame, have been published, and for 
 me to attempt to enlighten the reading world from my 
 limited vision and circumscribed horizon would only 
 demonstrate my audacity and make too evident my 
 weakness. But what I have endeavored to do in this, 
 my long story, is to give a faithful, simple review of the 
 part I took in this great drama. I have written mostly 
 in dairy style ha\'ing copied from the every day writings 
 sent home to my wife and which she faithfully preserved 
 
 This style, or way of writing, makes more familiar and 
 better understood how a soldier lived, subsisted, fought 
 and spent the weary years through. riting as I do 
 almost wholly from data referred to above and not from 
 the exaggerated imagination of an elderly man looking 
 
 12 
 
back to the years and deeds of young manhood, I think 
 I may truly say that my story is a faithful, reliable nar- 
 ration of real incidents not overdrawn but in most 
 instances too dimly pictured, and with too much of 
 modesty in writing of my own faithfulness and soldierly 
 bearing. 
 
 Not only for the foregoing reason do I re-write my 
 war history. I do not desire again to repeat the service 
 rendered my country in the 60 s but the compensation 
 which comes to me as I review the past is a sufficient 
 
 reward. I live over and almost I am inclined to sav with 
 
 • 
 
 greater enthusiasm the scenes of those thrilling experi- 
 ences. My eyes brighten, my heart beats faster and my 
 soul is stirred to its depths. Grand, I say, and glorious 
 the realization of duty done, victory won, my part in 
 accomplishing it. 
 
 I have brought into this story several of my Company 
 and would gladly furnish a roster in full with a state- 
 ment of their services and present standing in the com- 
 munity of those who survive, but the idea is hardly in 
 keeping with my purpose as above stated. Neither could 
 I do justice to the heroic service rendered at the front, or 
 the honorable citizenship, professional and business suc- 
 cess attained by many of them. I can say with much 
 emotion, “Dear Old Boys, my Comrades in Arms, I love 
 them all.” 
 
 13 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 In my diary which I kept before going to war, I find 
 the last entry was made on August 27, 1862, and it relates 
 to that last day at home and how I occupied the time 
 prior to leaving for camp. On returning home, after my 
 discharge, I did not take up the diary at once to write as 
 before, nor until August 27, 1866, and to begin my story 
 of the experiences incident to my soldier life, I will copy 
 that first entry in my diary. 
 
 “Four years have past since my last record was made. 
 A short blank in this book separates the two dates, but 
 were the dififerenet transactions of each day recorded in 
 length, to compare with the interests involved in those 
 transactions, this and other volumes would be filled. I 
 would like very well to be able to portray as vividly as 
 pen can do, the stern, hazardous and trying experiences 
 of the four years last passed, that others might read and 
 know something of a soldier’s life as well as the severe 
 trials of a wounded soldier. All will ever remain vivid in 
 my own mind, and should I live to be an old man I 
 expect to refer with earnestness to my soldier life.” 
 
 The last record intimates that I go to camp tomorrow 
 to commence a soldier life. I did so. The Company 
 mustered and marched from the Corner (a locality in 
 Candia one mile from the Station) to the Depot where 
 we got aboard the cars and were carried to Concord. We 
 were accompanied to the depot by many of the towns- 
 people where many a “good bye” was said and many 
 tears too, were shed, and I well know fervent pra3-ers 
 were offered for our protection and speed}^ return. 
 
 A new thing; not since the days of our early Fathers 
 have such sights been seen. Companies of men hurrying 
 
 14 
 
from their homes to battle ; terrible, fierce battles where 
 men were cut down like the grass before the scythe. It 
 was hard for our parents, our brothers, our sisters and 
 kind friends to give us up to enter into the deadly con- 
 flict and become victims of its carnage. It was harder 
 still for the partners of our lives, our loving wives to 
 whom some of us were only recently united. 
 
 It was ringing torture thus to be torn from each other’s 
 embrace. I had been married but eight months. My 
 heart was burdened with sorrow but it must not be 
 known. I must help bear another’s woes, and nobly did 
 she wipe away her tears and say, “I’ll be brave and 
 submit.” The aged parent could scarcely speak lest by 
 opening his lips grief would flow and unman him. 
 
 Again in my life, may it please Providence not to 
 cause me to pass through such a fiery furnace. 
 
 But a mighty rebellion is in our land. Our brethren 
 of the South have risen up and recreant to their vows, 
 are seeking, as is were, the life of their own Mother. She 
 has called on her loyal sons for aid, and what can I do 
 but rush to the rescue. God calls, my country calls, and 
 the overflowing patriotism of my soul calls loudly. 
 “I must go,” was my response. “I will go though my 
 limbs be torn from my body, though my life be sacrificed, 
 I cannot stay away.” And I went. 
 
 As previously stated, I had been married only eight 
 months, and had settled down on a farm with my Father, 
 to live with and care for him during his life. I had in 
 process of erection a dwelling house in which my wife 
 and I were to reside. I was obliged to abandon for 
 awhile, and perhaps forever, these pleasant dreams of the 
 near future; sacrifice them for my chances in war. 
 
 And now, at this time of writing, as I glance from the 
 events alluded to, and all through to the present time, I 
 exclaim, “Mysterious indeed are the ways in which the 
 hand of Providence leads us !” 
 
 15 
 
From the breaking out of the Rebellion I had been 
 intensely interested in the conduct of the war, and mv 
 patriotic emotions were wrought to a high pitch; but 
 because of my duties to Father, and the tender relations 
 of husband to the newly wedded wife, and be it truthfullv 
 said, my lack of courage to stem the realities of the 
 battle field, I delayed the decision to be a soldier. 
 My constant and earnest prayer was that I might be led 
 in the path of duty. Day after day the struggle went on, 
 my wife clinging closely to me when patriotic enthusi- 
 asm would rise high and I made efforts toward enlisting. 
 Three questions seemed to block my way. I have 
 already hinted at them, and an incident of my boyhood 
 days will serve as an illustration of the martial spirit 
 manifest early in my life. My eldest sister, Mary Ann, 
 bought me a small snare drum. I was about eight years 
 old, and so pleased was I, that many a day I would 
 march up and down Hanover street, in Manchester, where 
 we resided, playing on my little drum much to the delight 
 of my sister. And here seems a prophecy of future 
 events. Father was indeed a patriot, yet possessed of 
 Quaker ideas regarding war and military matters. He 
 remonstrated quite severely with my sister for giving me 
 the drum, saying, that it would tend to the cultivating of 
 a martial spirit. 
 
 I naturally followed closely the progress of the war, and 
 entered minutely into the battle scenes. Its carnage had 
 a depressing effect on what little natural courage I 
 possessed. As a boy, I chose to avoid a fight with my 
 chums until “forbearance ceased to be a virtue,” and 
 while attending to my daily rounds of farm duties, many 
 have been the engagements in which I have seemed in 
 imigination to participate. So this spectre troubled me 
 and caused me to hold back, until in the process of the 
 struggle, I left it all with my God, and decided that if it 
 were my duty to enlist it mattered not whether in the 
 raging battle I became a victim of its carnage, or whether, 
 
 16 
 
if it pleased Him, my life was spared through all the long 
 war. 
 
 This question being settled, I next was troubled as to 
 how a Christian man could deliberately shoot to kill his 
 Southern foe. This question in turn was settled by the 
 reasoning that human flesh and blood were of little value 
 in His sight when opposed to His Eternal truths and 
 principles of justice. 
 
 Now the last consideration and am I correct in saying, 
 not the least, of leaving all the dear, fond associations of 
 my happy home, my wife and Father, perhaps never more 
 to enter into the felicitious experiences of a true Christian 
 home. I well knew how tenaciously my wife clung to 
 me. Her patriotism had not, as yet, risen to the emer- 
 gency and she used her womanly nature to stay the 
 decision, not by any objectionable methods, but naturally 
 she, with her ardent love, and also her fears, caused me to 
 hesitate. 
 
 Father had never given full expression to his feelings 
 until the day to which T now refer. Our home was a mile 
 or more from the depot and daily I went for the news, or 
 on other errands. It was immediately after the disaster 
 of Bull Run, when President Lincoln had called for three 
 hundred thousand, three-year, and three hundred thou- 
 sand, nine-months’ men. I returned home under con- 
 siderable excitement. Father was at the barn milking, 
 and I went to him and told him the latest news, closing 
 with the remark, “I don’t know but what I shall have to 
 go.” Plis reply, ‘‘Have I ever objected,” did two things. 
 First, it divulged to me the loyalty and unselfishness of 
 the great soul within him, willing to place his youngest 
 son on the altar of his country when he so much needed 
 him to make smooth and easy the few remaining years of 
 his life. 
 
 Second, it bridged the dark chasm which I had so long- 
 dreaded to cross. I was, as it were, cut loose from him, 
 my duty transferred from Father to Country. 
 
 17 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 A rally for the purpose of encouraging enlistments was 
 held in the Congregational Church, a quarter of a mile 
 from our home. We all went to the church, my wife 
 with a neighbor’s wife. I had arrived at that place where 
 I must strip for the conflict. She well knew without my 
 telling her that the crisis was near with me. 
 
 The speakers were Plon. Judge Daniel Clark and Gov- 
 ernor and late Col. Walter Harriman. After they had 
 finished their eloquent and patriotic appeals, the chairman 
 asked for volunteer speeches. I arose and delivered my 
 few words of conviction and decision, saying, that I was 
 read}" to go forward and head the list for a Company. 
 The meeting soon adjourned and I went to my stricken 
 wife and in silence we walked down the hill toward home, 
 when stopping, she wiped her tears from her eyes, turned 
 to me and said, “I will not hold on to you any longer. 
 I’ll be brave, and you may go back to the church and do 
 your duty.” 
 
 The crisis was past and I was fully decided, all the 
 barriers now being removed, and I was in a sense happy, 
 though under a terrible burden. I began at once to 
 arrange my affairs. My prospective home was in process 
 of building. I piled timber already framed in a snug, 
 close pile, covering it securely from the weather. 
 
 As Yeomen of our Granite State, the most of our 
 enlisted men were not proficient in military aff'airs. I had 
 been a member of a home guard company under Captain 
 Anderson, and had quite a little e.xperience in the manual 
 of arms and evolutions of the company drill. Captain 
 
 18 
 
Patten was totally ignorant of all, and I spent quite a 
 little time with him in our barn teaching him these things. 
 I, with about forty other enlisted men, spent the few 
 remaining days in preparing to leave home. We went to 
 Concord and were in camp a few days, drilling, and being 
 supplied with Government clothing, &c., and on Septem- 
 ber 2nd, were mustered into the U. S. service, and in one 
 week started for Washington. 
 
 In looking over my correspondence, (the letters written 
 to my wife, on the average of two a week), I find much 
 matter which unaided memory fails to recall, so I shall 
 make notes from these letters, some of which should be 
 re-written entirely as they are descriptions of scenes 
 interesting to recall and to remember. One such letter 
 of ten pages of foolscap, another pamphlet style, the 
 leaves of which were taken from the railroad office in 
 Knoxville, and several other papers or letters were of 
 special interest. 
 
 My first letter to my wife was written after going into 
 camp at Concord, Aug. 29, 1862, and after one night’s 
 experience in a tent with the ground for a bed, and was 
 previous to my examination or being mustered. 
 
 In a letter sent home by P. W. Sanborn, one of Can- 
 dia’s merchants, I note a few of my needs, and also desire 
 that she be at the station in Manchester when we pass 
 through. We had already said our parting word and 
 had decided that she had better not meet me again when 
 we went through Manchester, but love had its way and 
 could not be restrained. I would that I had a photograph 
 of the scene awaiting the arrival of the long train convey- 
 ing the one thousand men of the 11th Regiment to the 
 front. Throngs of people in the station, above and below 
 it, anxious to say one more word, bestow a bouquet, or 
 some needful thing to their soldier boy or friend. 
 Fathers, mothers, wives with the little ones, to take the 
 last look of their noble sire or friend. Do you suppose 
 
 19 
 
•guards were strong enough, or dread of the point of the 
 Ijayonet sufficient to keep us in the cars? My eyes were 
 anxiously, swiftly scanning the crowd up and down the 
 platform for the Girl I loved. Once more my arms were 
 around her, and perhaps the last kiss received and given. 
 A few words of affection and advice interchanged ; a 
 memento and useful articles received from her. The sad, 
 fond adieu mingled with enthusiastic cheers, and the cars 
 ])ore us from our native heath to the scenes of savage 
 war. How many of us to be sacrificed on its altar, none 
 1)ut God did know. 
 
 Our route to the seat of war was via Worcester, Provi- 
 dence, Stonington, where in the morning we took boat for 
 Jersey City. About noon we started for Philadelphia 
 arriving there in the evening, partook of a good supper 
 provided by a large hotel firm, who have, I think, fur- 
 nished meals for every Regiment passing through that 
 city. There was also in Philadelphia, if not the same 
 eating place, a large improvised building called Cooper 
 Shop, where they gave free meals to all soldiers passing 
 through, and I have the impression that it was supported 
 by contributions from the citizens of Philadelphia. 
 
 As we marched through the streets the people gave us 
 the warmest reception, aged and young ladies shaking 
 hands with nearly every man. (And here I am inclined 
 to copy what I wrote to my girl at home.) 
 
 "I was challenged to kiss one girl, and of course, 
 accepted, and this was my first victory, not over a foe, 
 but in giving and receiving a broadside from a boastful 
 lass. I confessed to her that I was married.” 
 
 M'e camped on a common until about one o’clock, I, 
 spreading my rubber blanket on the ground and covering 
 myself with the woolen blanket, slept soundly until 
 aroused. M’e marched about one mile to the depot, 
 camped down on the floor until morning when we got 
 aboard some cattle cars and were carried to Baltimore, 
 
 20 
 
1 his fohliiijr card was given to us soldiers as we jiasscd llirough lMiiladcl])liia from our home to the seat of 
 war. It sliows what it stands for. All soldiers ])assi ug through I’hiladel phia weri' fed fheri'. Reluru- 
 iiig from flu- front severely wounded, I was taken from the cars al midnight and ])laced in this Cooper 
 fsho]) I lospiliil for .a short lime. 'I'hns goi ng and retnrni ng 1 was cared for al this hosiiil.ahle inn. 
 
arriving about four o’clock in the afternoon, got some 
 supper and about dark got aboard some more cars of the 
 same kind, where we were about as comfortable as cattle 
 are supposed to be in such quarters. We were in the 
 cars all night going a distance of thirty-eight miles arriv- 
 ing in Washington on the morning of the 14th. 
 
 Our breakfast I have never forgotten, and the letter 
 says we had bread and raw salt pork, (the soldier’s name 
 for such as we had is sow belly), and coffee, which I sug- 
 gest you would not relish. Here I pause to say that it 
 seemed to us then, and no less strange as I recall the 
 events of my soldier life, that in Washington, a soldier 
 received less consideration than from any other people, 
 (excepting kindly ministrations in the hospitals) ; but 
 perhaps, until now, we were the petted recruits from 
 homes of tender care and intense patriotism, and on 
 reaching Washington, or even Baltimore, we came under 
 military rules and appointments so new, and to most of 
 us, unexpected. 
 
 At about three o’clock we marched one and one-half 
 miles to our temporary encampment. The locality was 
 called East Capitol Hill. We got up our tents that night 
 (and I record that six of us were Christians), and never 
 had a sweeter night’s rest. W e are an intelligent tent 
 full, cheerful and contented, although some of the boys 
 complain of the hardships of the last two or three days. 
 Rumors are current of a battle going on near Harper’s 
 Ferry (probably it was Antietam) and we were just late 
 enough to miss being in it. Here I remark on the dese- 
 cration of the Sabbath, there seeming to be no difference 
 between it and other days in this country, and I begin to 
 realize how hard to live a Christian life in camp, but am 
 going to try to be faithful to my vows. 
 
 21 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The next letter written from the last named place, 
 Camp Chase, September 17, says, we left Washington 
 yesterday at four o’clock, marched seventeen miles, got 
 there after dark. It rained tonight and we were quite 
 wet but did not take cold. At ten o’clock the next morn- 
 ing we moved one-half mile. It is estimated that there 
 are two hundred thousand soldiers around this camp 
 which is on the Robert E. Lee farm, consisting of twelve 
 hundred acres, and we can see his late residence. 
 
 My tent mates are Charles Rowe, Jesse Bean, George 
 Brown, Calvin Magoon, and Henry Rowe. I write, we 
 have set up the altar of Christ in our tent and enjoy our- 
 selves well. We have been reviewed with several thou- 
 sand others by Gen. Casey, whose division we are in, and 
 Briggs Brigade. We have the right of the division. 
 
 In my letter of September 21, I say that we have an 
 excellent Chaplain, and that we had a general prayer 
 meeting Eriday night. A great number attended and 
 your unworthy husband, by God’s help, lifted up his 
 prayer to Our Father, and felt strengthened. Last eve 
 another meeting was held, many taking part. Two, 
 Charles Lane and Henry Rowe, made a start in the Chris- 
 tian life. I say further, that I hope I have had some 
 influence on Henry Rowe. I took him up to the Chap- 
 lain’s tent, Thursday, and he thought he found Christ 
 there. I have talked with him. He feels keenly the 
 death of his wife. 
 
 ■ Again I write, we have good times in our tent every 
 night; have reading and prayers, and Friday night six 
 
 
others were in. Prayers will be offered in other tents 
 soon I think. Young men seem to feel the necessity of 
 bearing their cross. 
 
 I say, I have just been to the Chaplain’s tent to listen 
 to the funeral sermon of the wife of a young man, who 
 died since he came out here. I shed tears of sympathy. 
 
 My letter of September 24 refers to a grand review, 
 some thirty thousand in line. We went about five miles 
 to a large field. It proved hard and fatiguing for the 
 beys. The sun poured down so hot, and marching so 
 long, some of the boys fainted, but I felt well and could 
 hare gone through it again, or another march after reach- 
 ing camp. 
 
 'i'he weather is about like July in New England. 
 
 It fell to my lot to drill the men and I note their awk- 
 wardness and carelessness, and also the un-soldier-like- 
 ness of many of the officers, which, I say, “would try the 
 patience of a man as patient as Job.” 
 
 I had paid considerable attention to tactics, &c., before 
 enlisting and even drilled my Captain in Father’s barn, 
 and the lack of discipline among our officers and men 
 troubles me much. We are now performing guard duty, 
 and notwithstanding the professed military strictness and 
 punishment to offenders, we have a lot of fun with the 
 raw men. 
 
 Cfn or about October 1st, we left camp, marched to 
 Y’ashington, stopping over night on the common. The 
 next day at nine o’clock, we were loaded into freight cars, 
 and after riding a distance of seventy-five miles, reached 
 Frederick City, about five o’clock the next morning. It 
 was not very comfortable for a whole company in, and on 
 top of two cars and without seats. However this is a 
 part of the game and I am in good spirits ready to march, 
 as we probably shall tomorrow morning. 
 
 Today, the 3rd, we are to join P>urnside’s Command. 
 We are now at Sandy Hook on the Potomac, a little 
 
 23 
 
below Harper’s Ferry, in a locality called Pleasant Valley 
 almost under the east side of the mountain called Mary- 
 land Heights. On this mountain was a Fort, which, with 
 ten thousand men. Miles surrendered to Jackson. Here 
 the army of the Potomac is being reorganized and Gen. 
 McClellan is superseded by Burnside. President Lincoln 
 has been here. 
 
 I have made myself somewhat familiar with the 
 geography and military phase of this place, and think it a 
 very interesting locality. 
 
 We have been assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Divis- 
 ion, under Gen. Sturgis, and are awaiting orders to move 
 down the valley. While here men and officers indulge in 
 sports, drilling, and some of the officers in too serious 
 sporting. 
 
 After giving my wife a description of my tent and 
 mates, I say, we put a board at the feet end to keep us 
 from slipping out endways ; and one night the boys tied 
 a rope to the feet of a Captain, and the other end to a 
 tree to keep him from sliding out. He had probably 
 been to the commissaries and needed to be hitched to 
 something. 
 
 Here to change the subject, in my letter of October 12, 
 written from Pleasant Valley, after referring to my 
 wife’s letter of commiseration and pity for the hardships 
 endured, I tell her that I am not suffering the inconven- 
 iences and hardships which I expected to when I enlisted, 
 and am very joyful, and so far as I and my comfort is 
 concerned, I do not complain. 
 
 V’hile on Brigade inspection and hearing the roar of 
 distant cannon, I thought how magnanimous I wanted 
 her to be and I wished that she could rise above the 
 desponding feelings which seemed natural to one in her 
 position, and be patriotic ; a Heroine. I want to be 
 brave, courageous and unflinching. I hope that no 
 cowardly blood nor shirking disposition is within me. 
 
 24 
 
I feel that if I am called to go into battle I must fight with 
 a different idea than that which actuates many. My 
 watchword is Truth and Justice, Freedom and Equality 
 to all. My prevailing and controlling idea is never to 
 allow myself to go into battle or to fight with an angry, 
 revengeful feeling; not to kill because others do or for the 
 mere sake of killing, but ever to keep in mind that judg- 
 ment and vengeance belongs to God, and that I am 
 merely to fight for the love of His laws from the sense 
 of my duty to Him as a law abiding and loving citizen. 
 
 As a professing Christian, I desire above all things, 
 that the Grace of God may help me in all my- future 
 actions, and above all places, on the battle field. That is 
 the place and time to test the man ; the Christian. 
 
 Perhaps I may have to look back with shame from 
 some scene of conflict, but I will not worry for my heart 
 is all aglow with noble feelings. Patriotism rises high, 
 and prospects of the future do not daunt me, but rather 
 nerve my mind and arm. 
 
 Millie, try for these same aspirations and feelings and 
 mourn no more for me, rather feel joyful that your hus- 
 band is engaged in this struggle for Country and Human- 
 ity. Courage and a determined will is requisite for any 
 great enterprise. Yours is such. 
 
 We are spending much valuable time here. Company, 
 battalion, brigade drills &c., occupy our time in part. 
 
 I have just learned of the death of David Dudley, of 
 Candia, at Frederick City. I saw him when we passed 
 through there. 
 
 25 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 October 27 we l)egan our fall campaign. We went 
 down the Potomac about three miles and crossed on a 
 Pontoon bridge, and the next day we marched three 
 miles into Virginia. 
 
 I am Sergeant of the guard. The boys did some forag- 
 ing tonight. Fresh pork and yearling beef seem to be all 
 the go about the cook tent. 
 
 This 20th morning and liver don’t taste very bad. 
 
 November 1st, we are at a place called Wheatland in 
 the town of Buck. Good times foraging and living high. 
 November 3, in camp near Fredericksburg. November 
 5, near Piedmont. Saw Brother Thomas at Upperville. 
 yesterday. W are moving now a few miles daily. The 
 cavalry are engaged in our front and we follow on as they 
 clear the way. 
 
 This afternoon we marched down a defile a long way, 
 at the bottom of which was a running brook and we 
 could not avoid it, or walking in it a part of the time. 
 After going a mile or two, and nearly to the Rapidan, we 
 were halted, and after a while retraced our steps to the 
 upland. It was said that our officers lost their way and 
 nearly marched us into the Rebel lines. Tonight we 
 lay down in the woods, using leaves for our bed and the 
 next morning found we were covered with snow. 
 
 Today I did some cooking; made flapjacks, as we call 
 them, and Oh ! such light, thick and delicious eating. I 
 got flour from a grist mill and obtained my rising from 
 leaching out ashes ; had a little butter on hand. 
 
 26 
 
We marched from here to a camp farther into the ene- 
 mies’ lines, and, I think, without orders, for it appeared 
 later on that we were in an exposed position and hustled 
 out in a hurry. 
 
 The night of November 12, our Company was sent out 
 nearly a mile on picket. Captain Patten left one half of 
 the Company with me, and took the remainder with him 
 to another post. 
 
 I stationed videttes in the road with strict orders to 
 challenge any one coming near, and put out other 
 pickets. The boys found not far from our post, a flock 
 of nice sheep, and one of them came into camp for our 
 use. While dressing it, the picket stationed in the road 
 shouted for me, and upon answering his call, I found a 
 General’s Aid, who was searching for us and ordered us 
 into camp at once, saying, that we were far into the 
 enemies’ lines and liable to capture. Soon Patten’s squad 
 filed by, and as soon as we could cut up and divide the 
 sheep, we followed, and on reaching the camp we found 
 only the burning waste and cracker boxes, the regiment 
 having moved out on the road, leaving a sentinel with 
 orders for us to follow. Here is enacted a scene very 
 human, which showed the metal (or rather the lack of it) 
 in some of the men. We did not know which way to go, 
 and finding the camp deserted, some of our men were 
 much frightened. I with my detail was some fifteen 
 minutes, or more, late getting in, and one of Patten’s 
 squad, (Pll not mention his name) a large, strong, blus- 
 tering, profane, very irreligious man at home and in the 
 army, besought the Captain not to wait for me but to 
 hurry on and get up with the Regiment, but to his credit, 
 the Captain said, “You can go, if you want to, but I shall 
 wait for Paige.” 
 
 We hurried on with our butchering business and got 
 the sheep into our several haversacks, and reached camp 
 a little late, as before said. It was difficult to decide 
 
 27 
 
which road our regiment had taken. However, we hit 
 it right at the first (or No. 1 corner) and went to the left, 
 but were more mixed up when we reached the next 
 junction (or No. 2). I went into a Negro’s house and 
 inquired of the inmates, believing them to be friendly, 
 but the boys were inclined to disagree with me, so I hit 
 upon a plan to make it sure. Striking a match I got my 
 eyes close to the ground and saw which way the tracks 
 pointed, corroborating the statement of the negroes. I 
 can assure you that a rear guard, to keep the men up in 
 place, was not needed for the next mile. We soon came 
 up with our Command, the Rebels following, and in the 
 morning they began shelling us. Here we were first 
 under fire. 
 
 November 17, near Rappahannock station, moving 
 twice since the last event. Nov. 20, Fredericksburg, or 
 Falmouth east of the river from Fredericksburg. Have 
 moved three times, marching thirty miles, much of the 
 time in the rain. The last of the march went hard with 
 me, having the diarrhoea and a suggestion of the 
 jaundice. 
 
 28 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Rebels are in force in Fredericksburg, and in a 
 very strong position. The 22nd we are at Falmouth and 
 in active service, and from a letter of this date, I copy, 
 “We are on picket at the river. The Rebels seem busy 
 over in the city. There has been a flag of truce come 
 across the river twice, and is now coming again. We 
 have had a heavy rain,” and to this day, when I am copy- 
 ing the letter, I remember well the cold and discomfort of 
 such a rainstorm when on picket. The letter also says, 
 “The Rebels and our boys are shouting to each other 
 across the river.” 
 
 November 25, have been on picket three nights and 
 two days. No one seems to know for what reason troops 
 are being massed here. It looks as though we might go 
 into winter quarters, but I think we shall have to fight 
 first. Camp rumors are plentiful. 
 
 We are located on an elevated place, bleak and 
 cheerless. When it rains the mud is deep. Wood at a 
 distance. 
 
 November 30. I have the jaundice but am recovering. 
 Our time is occupied in various drills, dress parade, 
 picket duty, camp and police duty, and much thinking 
 and planning about what to eat. Referring to the matter 
 of eating, in my letter of December 10, I say, “Chas. 
 Rowe obtained some corn meal from a grist mill, and 
 acting as our mess cook, made a five quart dish full, and 
 five of us consumed the whole mess at one meal ; but the 
 next day fell short of accomplishing the feat, and the 
 next day made a pan full to fry for breakfast.” Along 
 
 29 
 
with such delicacies as we purchase ourselves, we have 
 hardtack, rice, salt pork, beans and once in a w'hile 
 desiccated vegetables. 
 
 A few days ago we had orders to fix up our tents, so 
 we got logs or boards and built up the sides and ends, two 
 feet or more ; built a fireplace in one end, of logs covering 
 them with clay. Our tent is some seven or eight feet by 
 ten or twelve feet ; cotton cloth roof. In our fireplace we 
 can bake a ten quart pail full of beans, and splendid they 
 are too. At this time of writing, December 21, Chas. 
 Wason, who is now a tent mate and mess cook, has a 
 pail of beans cooking in the fireplace, and after they are 
 done, he is going to make a suet cake to eat with the 
 beans. 
 
 The internal arrangement of our tent is as follows: On 
 one side we have a row of hard tack boxes which we use 
 for victuals and dishes. We have cedar boughs for straw 
 to lie on, spreading our rubber blankets over them; since 
 the battle, having replenished my blanket store, I spread 
 one over the rubber blanket, and with George Brown’s, 
 who sleeps with me, we have three over us so we are 
 quite comfortable when in tent, and keeping good 
 natured, as we do mostly, we enjoy ourselves and our 
 quarters. 
 
 In a letter mailed the fourteenth, the day after the 
 battle, I give a brief account of the battle, that the folks 
 at home may know that I am safe, but in this eight page 
 letter of large sheets, I give a more detailed account. 
 
 \\’e left our camp Thursday, the 11th, expecting to 
 cross the river, but marched only one and one half miles, 
 and with many other brigades, were held in readiness, but 
 were not called upon to fight. We came back to camp 
 about dark, and went about getting something to eat, but 
 were called on to march back again. We had nearly 
 reached the position left a short time ago, when a rumor 
 came that Fredericksburg was evacuated and we were 
 
 30 
 
again marched to camp through the mud, but with gay 
 hearts, with orders to be ready to march at a moment’s 
 notice. 
 
 Friday, the 12th, we were routed at 4.30 o’clock, ordered 
 to get ready to march at eight o’clock. We went across 
 the river among the first troops, stacked arms near the 
 river above the pontoon bridge. We took quarters in 
 some old, open buildings near by and I, with some others, 
 crawled up to the floor above for the night. This 
 building was much riddled with shell from the cannonad- 
 ing of the previous day, and the floor was very open. I 
 suffered with the cold and got up and went down at three 
 o’clock, kindled a fire and made two fire cakes from flour 
 that I got in the city. The cakes were not very rich, 
 being made of flour and water, but tasted good and 
 especially when, on the field of battle, I laid down on my 
 back and ate some of them. 
 
 Saturday, the 13th, we were on the march through the 
 city at about nine o’clock, going to the lower end of the 
 street, where we waited with other troops. While in 
 this position we were constantly under fire. Minie balls 
 were flying and shrapnel shells bursting among us, 
 sending their myriads of little balls on their errand of 
 death. 
 
 The second day before the battle our batteries were 
 stationed on Falmouth Heights, or the bank of the river, 
 when some two hundred guns shelled the city, and the 
 rebel works with great vigor. The roar and pealing of 
 the guns exceeded any play of the artillery of the Heavens 
 that I ever listened to. It was terribly awful, and 
 yet wonderfully exhilarating. Much damage was done 
 in the city, but how much to the rebels and their works, 
 we know not. This terrible artillery Are helped to make 
 it possible to lay the pontoon over which we and other 
 troops crossed one and two days later. These guns 
 remained in position until after the battle and during the 
 
 31 
 
terrible firing of the rebels, our guns also put in their 
 work, many of whose shells burst among us because of 
 being improperly timed, or imperfect fuse. No doubt 
 many men were wounded or killed by them. 
 
 Saturday morning while we were laying in our first 
 position, on the side of the hill, (after crossing the river 
 the day before), the 12th New Hampshire Regiment 
 came down over the hill on the Falmouth side, the band 
 playing “Yankee Doodle.” It was a great long column 
 of men who had never seen service, brave and defiant in 
 their attitude. The head of the column had got on, or 
 across, the bridge when the rebel guns got their range 
 (as they easily could do for they could plainly see them 
 from their position as they came down the hill on the 
 Falmouth side), and planted several shells right among 
 the men who were at the Falmouth end of the bridge, 
 wounding several. It was surely a serious, hazardous 
 affair but nevertheless, it caused a feeling of levity to see 
 the men skulk and seek shelter in such a hurried and 
 frantic manner as they did. I thought of a brood of 
 chickens when the old hen raised her cry of warning 
 against a hawk. Not a chicken could be seen a moment 
 after. So with the 12th Regiment boys, they got to cover 
 hurriedly. The ludicrous thing to my risabilities was 
 the sudden change from the column formation of that 
 splendid Regiment, marching to "Yankee Doodle,” to an 
 effort to see who would hide first. I hope I may be 
 pardoned if I appear to do injustice to those brave boys 
 who did such good service at Chancellorsville and 
 Gettysburg. 
 
 I recall seeing the Regiment lying in the road shielded 
 as much as they could be in an open street. I was up and 
 alert in this position in full view of the position of the 
 enemy. 
 
 At one o’oclock we were ordered on to the field. We 
 filed to the right, going up a short street. Here, our first 
 
to be wounded, Charles Lane, was struck. Filing to the 
 right, and obliquely, we went on to the field amid terrific 
 musketry and shell, missiles of death. Their infantry 
 were behind intrenchments and big cannon crowned the 
 crest of the ridge known as St. Marye’s Heights. All of 
 these belched forth their constant fire and shells, which 
 did terrible execution. 
 
 From the river the ground gradually rises until the foot, 
 or base, of the Heights is reached ; then an abrupt, steep 
 slope fifty or more feet is reached on which crest are the 
 cannon, while at the base of the Heights is a sunken 
 road (a natural fortification) filled with infantry who had 
 full view of us, and (as I understood) another line of 
 rifle pits filled with men, all of which made it seem an 
 impossible barrier to troops crossing the field over which 
 we were ordered to march. We were ordered to move 
 right obliquely, which movement would expose our whole 
 Regiment to a direct and yet raking fire. We were 
 covered for a little by crossing a ravine and then we came 
 to a board fence, or fences, for the land was divided into 
 small farms, fields or gardens. We were ordered to lie 
 down behind the first fence, but how the bullets and 
 shells made havoc of that fence, and to me it was the most 
 trying time of the day. Crash, crash, pat, pat, whiz, whiz, 
 everything seemed going to destruction. One of my 
 mates, lying near me, seemed in terrible mental agony, 
 groaning and taking on. Perhaps I felt as badly as he 
 but I kept it to myself. I felt that the hand of man or any 
 earthly power was unable to save me, and I appealed to 
 my Heavenly Father to save me, if it were His will. But, 
 soon we were ordered up and forward. “Be firm and 
 brave boys,” rang out from our Colonel. We obeyed, 
 marching in line of battle some one-fourth of a mile, amid 
 the terrible fire, our comrades falling as we went, until we 
 got into our position behind a little rise of land which 
 seemed formed for us. If we kept laid down, or very low 
 
 33 
 
on our posterior, we were out of the way of the solid shot 
 and shell if they did not explode over us, which they often 
 did. We reached this position at one thirty o’clock. 
 Our company and most of the Regiment kept in the 
 fight until dark. Reinforcements in large numbers came 
 lip, and in the rear of our position. When we went 
 forward in line of battle, my position was next to the 
 color bearer, which I did not fancy was safe ; but our 
 colors were not hit, neither was I. Aly position in the 
 ranks was in the center of the Company, which I held 
 during the afternoon, except when I crawled to some 
 wounded or dead man to get his cartridges, or until the 
 last reinforcements came to our position, or when I could 
 get no more cartridges. Capt. Patten was lying down a 
 little to my left, feeling ill. He complimented me on my 
 behavior. I had fifty rounds in my cartridge box, which 
 I used. A few feet to my right a man was killed by a 
 shell, and I crept to him and got his cartridges he had 
 left, twenty-five. I used what Jesse Bean had after he 
 was wounded, also got some of IManson Brickett, after 
 which I got plenty more from reinforcements. One 
 fellow sat down behind me who had one hundred rounds 
 and I used more than one half of them, and then got 
 enough from a Lieutenant to make more than two 
 hundred which I used during the afternoon. Each time I 
 fired, I aimed to hit some one, but I cannot affirm what 
 the lead did. 
 
 Jesse Bean was some two feet to my left when he was 
 hit, and others around me received wounds. Sergeant 
 Nealey also near me, received a mortal wound through 
 the body. After using all my cartridges, I laid down on 
 my side and arm, and partook of the cake which I had 
 baked in the morning. I gave some to Jesse and George 
 Brown and it relished good. 
 
 I was some tired and my knees were wet and covered 
 with mud, for I was on them the most of the time, except 
 
 34 
 
when I wished to aim at some place, which, on account of 
 other heads, I could not reach. 
 
 I know that God was near me, and I felt no fear worth 
 naming. When going on amid the screams, the thunder 
 bolts, bursting of shell, and whizzing bullets, I felt a 
 dread but that soon left me. I tried, no I will not say 
 that I tried, for it did not require much effort, to keep cool 
 and composed m mind. Of course I had to be active and 
 much in earnest to fire two hundred rounds from one- 
 thirty o’clock to five-thirty o’clock. We were constantly 
 expecting the Rebels to charge on us, and they did come 
 over their works two or three times. I also expected that 
 we would make a charge first, before dark. 
 
 The fight was going on for seventeen miles and was 
 severe and the carnage appalling. This was a time to 
 try what men were made of, for all true men do not 
 behave the same in times of danger. There is no doubt 
 but what many shrinking, fearful men are so constitu- 
 tionally made up that they cannot help acting as they 
 sometimes do. One of my men, a Corporal, and a fellow 
 always well made up when in camp, inclined to feel 
 himself a little superior to some of his equals, acted 
 cowardly. He was in my rear and hugged the ground 
 until I felt obliged to threaten him if he did not get up 
 and behave more manly. Another young soldier, when 
 he fired, would not rise far enough from the ground so 
 that his ball would go over the heads of those in front of 
 him. I felt the whiz of his bullets, and was obliged to 
 threaten him in severe terms. 
 
 As we were going on to the field and nearing our 
 destination, a Pennsylvania Regiment that had been on 
 picket, came rushing pell-mell through our ranks to the 
 rear. No threats or sabre lashings could stop them. 
 Such a scene was rather demoralizing to a new Regiment, 
 but it made no difference. 
 
 We pressed on to our position. At about six o’clock I 
 
 35 
 
detailed three men to assist me in carrying 2nd Sergeant 
 Nealey, who was mortally wounded, from the field to a 
 Hospital. The Regiment had just retired to the rear and 
 I supposed Patten, with the Company was near. We 
 placed Nealey, who weighed one hundred and eighty or 
 ninety pounds, on a blanket and started to the rear. It 
 was dark and we knew not where we were nor where to 
 go to find a Hospital. The Rebels, I presume, thought 
 we were retiring, and with redoubled efforts, opened on 
 us. Never can I forget the scene, or obliterate the 
 horrors of that hour. The cannons were belching 
 streams of lightning; solid shot fired point blank, striking 
 the frozen ground ricocheting with streams of fire in their 
 wake, and seemingly heating to a fiery molten color, the 
 terrible missile of death, making more terrible the scene; 
 shell bursting all around and a perpetual storm of leaden 
 hail enveloped us, from which there seemed no escape, 
 and I said to myself, how hellish it seems ; demons let 
 loose with all the conceivable influences of that place 
 where the fire is never quenched, could not have made 
 more horrid the scene. I feared for the lives of us all and 
 told the men we had better lay Nealey down in a corner 
 and wait for the firing to cease, ^^'e did so and directly 
 a shell burst in our midst, fragments hitting two of the 
 men, and 1 said, ‘‘Boys, we may as well be killed carrying 
 Nealey, as waiting here.” 
 
 Supposing our Regiment was in the vicinity, I ran 
 about calling the name of the Regiment and to this call 
 came many responses from poor, wounded men of our 
 owm, and other Regiments, begging me to help them, 
 from all of which I was obliged to turn awa}’, and return 
 to my own charge. 
 
 Such, Oh ! such, are the heart rending scenes and 
 experiences after a battle. A cold, drear night; poor 
 l)leeding, dying boys, to whom no one could bring relief; 
 the powers of the rebellion with their demon like missiles 
 
 36 
 
of destruction, making such merciful errands impossible 
 \\''e started again with our heavy load through the deep 
 mud to find, we knew not where, a Hospital. In the 
 darkness and through fields, over fences we went on 
 until about ten o’clock we reached a street, and Hospital, 
 which was nearly a mile from where we started. It was 
 the hardest task that I ever undertook. The blanket 
 would tear and necessitate our stooping over. Poor 
 Nealey! we tried to be careful, but Oh! how he groaned 
 with pain. He lived about five weeks. 
 
 We hunted up our Regiment which had taken quarters 
 at the upper end of the city. I stopped in the Colonel’s 
 quarters where our slightly wounded were and there I 
 found Jesse Bean, George Brown and Charles Rowe, who 
 had a good bed made up for me on the floor. I ate some 
 more of my good cake. 
 
 About eleven o’clock I went to bed, but was routed at 
 one o’clock, for the Adjutant General brought orders for 
 us to go on picket, near where the fighting had been. 
 ^^’e were about ready to start when the Adjutant General 
 returned, telling us that he had got us relieved. We 
 crawled in and slept until morning. 
 
 Sunday, the 14th, I did some cooking and looked after 
 the wants of Company I. The Regiment were on picket 
 that night near where the battle was fought, and 
 remained in that position until the next night, (the 15th). 
 About midnight we left on the double quick, believing 
 that all the other pickets had withdrawn and we were 
 forgotten. We recrossed the river to our old camp. 
 The troops had all left the city but the pickets and before 
 the next morning, the Rebels were in full possession. 
 Not a Sergeant or Corporal, I think, was fit for duty, but 
 myself. The Captain was on the sick list ; 1st Lieutenant 
 detailed in Commissary department ; 2nd Lieutenant, 
 wounded ; two men killed ; twenty wounded, and some 
 missing. 
 
 37 
 
In this narrative, I speak of the number of cartridges 
 which I used. It seems incredible, but after firing one 
 hundred, my gun was so foul and kicked so badly that I 
 tore up my colored pocket handkerchief and swabbed it 
 out, thus making it possible to fire so many. I also tell 
 a little tale which causes me a little confusion of face. I 
 must have fired away my ramrod for in attempting to 
 reload, I looked in vain for it, but there were plenty more 
 at hand. I brought awa}" from the field, the night we 
 were on picket, a colored bottle with the handle on the 
 side, and a Sergeant’s sword, as mementos or relics from 
 that hard battle. I now have these in my possession. 
 
 While engaged in the fight, I figured out the plan of 
 the battle, as it seemed to me, and since reading the 
 report of Burnside’s plan, I found myself not far from 
 right. I understand that Franklin was on our left with 
 orders to attack in force. Burnside having learned that 
 Lee’s right was weak, and Hooker being on our right was 
 to attack vigorously the heavy line of Lee’s left. Hoping 
 and expecting that this attack would be successful, he had 
 massed Sumner’s grand division in the center, (where we 
 were), and with a determined attack with a large body of 
 men expected to carry St. Marye’s Heights, and set Lee 
 running, or capture his forces. So, I say, earlier in this 
 account, that I was expecting before night to face those 
 frowning heights with their terrible armament, at charge 
 of bayonet, but Franklin disobeying orders attacked a 
 picket line, with a picket line, and before he could get up 
 his reserves, the Rebels were reinforced and made it 
 impossible to take the position. So we in the center and 
 right had to take the long afternoon hammering we 
 received. 
 
 In my letter of January 1, 1863, I acknowledged the 
 receipt of a box of cakes and confectionery. It was a 
 large box in which there were many small ones from 
 friends at home. We went on picket. Our head 
 
 38 
 
C()iii|)!iiiy Koll Call Hook. 2, Swonl and HoUk' 1 got from haltlelkdd of iM'ederick.shnrg, tin.' day after the battle. 
 3, I’ortkdio carried during niv st'r\’ice. 4, A Watch Chain niadi' hy me at Cam]) Chase, .Arlington I leights, Va., 
 from 50c, 25c, IOC, 5c and 3c pii'ces. 5, kocki.'! containing tlu' picture of my wik', carried during my scrvici'. 
 f), A King niadi- hy me from a largi' black button, and inlaid starcut from a thri-e-ccut ])iccc. 7, Sev eral Itlinie- 
 halls, and round hidls in pi'i fi'cl condition, also llaltcncd hy contact with wood or stoiu'. 
 
quarters were in the Lacy house on the brow of the bank 
 overlooking Fredericksburg. I noted that I had a door 
 knob from the house to send home, also an ivory from a 
 piano key from the same house. 
 
 Rumors of moving are in camp. My letter of January 
 8th says, we are on picket again and have had a review of 
 twenty-five thousand men. It seems that another 
 attempt at battle was started about the 22nd, but a severe 
 rain storm made the moving of troops, cannon and 
 wagons impossible. We were on picket during the 
 storm, and in the morning we saw l^atteries stuck in the 
 mud in the road a little way from the Lacy house. 
 
 My letter of January 29 tells of being on picket again 
 in a hard rain and snow storm, and in the morning, 
 wading back to quarters, a distance of two miles, in six 
 inches of snow. 
 
 We hear of Hooker superseding Burnside in command 
 of the army, and hope for much success. 
 
 February 1st. We, as a Regiment, are going on picket 
 again. A bakery is being constructed for baking bread, 
 which looks as if we were to remain here a while longer. 
 I hear that Jesse Bean is no better; that Sergeant 
 Magoon’s arm was amputated ; that George Brown is 
 gaining. 
 
 February 5. Nine of the company went on picket with 
 Lieut. Currier. I remained in camp in charge of 
 company; took them on dress parade in the afternoon. 
 I have not written much of camp life here at Falmouth. 
 The location is cold and bleak. When we first located 
 here, there were plenty of woods near by, so we had all 
 we needed without much effort, though we burned it 
 green. It was mostly hard pine and oak. A large camp 
 like ours, consumes a great quantity of wood, so as time 
 went on, we had to go further for our supply. One 
 wagon-load per day, per company, was too small a supply 
 as much was needed at the cook tent, and at this time of 
 
 39 
 
writing we are obliged to> bring on our shoulders, green 
 wood, a mile to camp, which was very fatiguing. For 
 water, we went about one half mile. 
 
 We had reveille at daybreak; fall in for rations at 
 breakfast time, when the boys, at my call, would come 
 out of their tents with tin place and dipper in hand, 
 march to the cook’s quarters and be served with the 
 delicacies of an army menu, sometimes rice, (mostly 
 scorched or slacked-cooked), soup, boiled salt pork, a 
 potato once in a while, salt “boss” frequently, beans often, 
 hard tack a plenty, a pint tin dipper of coffee with plenty 
 of sugar, varied once in a while with a vegetable prepara- 
 tion. Once in a while I drew whiskey and dealt out 
 small amounts for each man, with quinine in it. 
 
 Next was surgeon’s call, ^^’hen I would go into the 
 company’s street and call out, “Fall in for surgeon’s call,” 
 the lame, sick, and often those not really sick would fall 
 in and march with me to the surgeon’s tent for treatment. 
 He had the power to decide whether a man was fit for 
 duty or not. So by his orders, I would mark against their 
 names, the initial letters indicating his orders. His 
 decision was not always correct. He was imposed upon 
 a good deal, and for this reason did not use good 
 judgment in some cases. For instance: — A good old 
 man, the oldest man in our company, Benjamin Brown, 
 had been quite feeble, yet doing dut}" without complain- 
 ing. The surgeon got the idea that he was “playing it” 
 as the boys say, and would not excuse him. This 
 morning which I have in mind, he fell in for surgeon’s 
 call and feebly marched with others to the surgeon’s 
 tent. Dr. Ross, who was our physician, blurted out 
 “You here again: I’ll fix you so you will not come any 
 more,” or words to the same effect, continued his speech 
 and said, “Sergeant, put him on full duty.” That after- 
 noon we opened a grave on the borders of our camp and 
 tenderly laid our old comrade Brown in it. A victim of 
 
 40 
 
the cruel treatment of one who was paid for keeping men 
 well, and alive. This incident nearly cost him a court 
 martial and loss of position. For my part in this affair, I 
 refused to put him on duty, and reported the thing 
 higher up. Then came orders from division, or brigade, 
 headquarters for a detail of officers and men for guard 
 duty of various kinds for picket, fatigue, etc. I made my 
 detail and saw that they reported to the place ordered. 
 Often we had company drill in the forenoon, and dress 
 parade in the afternoon with occasional brigade and 
 division drill, which constituted the daily round with the 
 exceptions on account of weather, or other reasons. 
 
 Of course dinner and supper were served the same as 
 breakfast. Roll-call came every day, and as I would go 
 into the Company street before bed time to call the roll, 
 it was expected that the men would crawl out of their 
 bunks, fall into line and answer to their names ; but 
 generally, I would tell them that if they would answer 
 promptly when their name was called, I would excuse 
 them from falling into line. 
 
 The last act of the day was taps sounded from head- 
 quarters. All was supposed to be quiet, but many a 
 scene of revelry, of real fun or of serious harrowing 
 nature, of discipline, of service, many a night campfire 
 in front of some comrade’s tent, talking over home days 
 and about loved ones, of adventure, of battles, picket 
 daring, and discussing future campaigns which soldiers 
 always forecasted, politics, etc., all helped to make 
 bearable the soldier life. 
 
 41 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 My letter of February 10 is devoted mostly to an 
 account of our trip from Falmouth to Fortress Monroe, 
 and a description of the beautiful scenery of water and 
 land, passed through. 
 
 We left Falmouth, our old camp, the 9th and got aboard 
 box cars, in and on top of them, and are going to Aquia 
 Creek, the head of the Potomac. Here we got aboard 
 steamers and schooners and were towed through the 
 beautiful country to Fortress Monroe. 
 
 February 13. My letter is mailed from Newport News, 
 where we have arrived and are to make our home for a 
 while. We see the hulls of the Congress and Cumber- 
 land, destroyed by the Merrimac last season. Also, a 
 Monitor and other war vessels in the bay. We are 
 camped near the shore and back of our grounds is a 
 forest of large pitch pine trees. This is a level country, 
 and food is plenty. Apple butter, cheese, cakes, pies, 
 cheap. Oysters plenty, good and cheap, twenty-five 
 cents a quart, but I say, I have no money with which to 
 buy them. My appetite is so good that I am troubled to 
 get enough to satisfy it. 
 
 The letter of February 18 relates in part to tha 
 receiving of boxes from home for the boys. Mine from 
 my wife contained several kinds of food, etc., all of which 
 was spoiled. This was quite a disappointment for I had 
 been looking for it for a long time. 
 
 I here describe our condition in a rain storm. The 
 covering of our tents being new, they leaked like a sieve 
 and we found ourselves lying in a pool of water. We 
 
 42 
 
have constructed some good tents. The pitch pine trees 
 are so straight grained that we can split them into two 
 and three inch plank, and with these we build up the 
 sides and ends two and one-half feet, and we have A 
 tents issued. These we pitch on top of the plank so our 
 quarters are about seven by eight feet with the ridge pole 
 some ten feet. My old mates are with me. 
 
 In the letter of the 25th, I state that Col. Harriman has 
 returned bringing his wife. We have been in a Corps 
 review, truly a grand, imposing sight. Several women 
 witnessed the review. To see women is almost like the 
 visit of angels, so seldom do our eyes feast on such 
 “visions.” We also went on dress parade. We have 
 built a chimney of brick in our tent, and a cosy little 
 home have we. We have prayer and preaching meetings, 
 and Bible class at the Chaplain’s tent, which helps the 
 morals of the command. 
 
 In my letter of March 5th I write, there is a man here 
 from Candia by the name of Brown, who came for the 
 remains of a 10th Regiment boy. I send home by him 
 the brown glass jug, to which I refer in my letter on 
 Fredericksburg battle. 
 
 Capt. Patten is still at home. I write that I weigh 
 more than ever before, one hundred and eighty-two and 
 one-half pounds. There is much sickness. An epidemic 
 of measles. I took four to the hospital this morning. 
 Some of the men are lonesome, low spirited, and 
 becoming sick without any disease, and some give up and 
 die, while I was never in better health, and good spirits. 
 A soldier’s rations of a loaf of white bread does not 
 satisfy me, and I beg of the boys whose appetites are 
 not as good. 
 
 I have considerable camp duty, drills, etc., and an 
 Orderly Sergeant is a busy man for he really has charge 
 of the Company, making details for guard and police duty, 
 Company reports, etc., etc. 
 
 43 
 
As this is a rainy morning, March 11th, I did not order 
 the men out for surgeon’s call, but went to each tent 
 taking the names, and carrying them to the surgeon’s 
 tent. 
 
 The 13th. Charles Wason, my tent mate, started for 
 home today, on a fifteen days’ furlough. I am now in 
 command of the company. Lieut. Currier is on picket. 
 
 I took the company on dress parade. Think of a 3rd 
 Sergeant in command of a company on dress parade ! 
 
 Two men returned from their furloughs. The 3rd 
 division have gone from here to Suffolk, where the Rebels 
 are reported to be. 
 
 The 18th. I have received a box from father which 
 contained brown bread, flour bread, apples, ginger snaps, 
 butter, cheese, cider, popcorn, pies and sausage. All 
 came in good condition and tasted good. I say, “Well. 
 Millie, if I were an officer, I could attend a grand ball on 
 board the steamer, Mary Hudson, tonight, and have the 
 pleasure of mingling with blacklegs, officers, and the fair 
 inmates of Norfolk Brothels. I expect it will be a high 
 time and many will be beastly drunk before morning.” 
 With shame, I must confess that there were many of this 
 class among our officers from Generals down, and our 
 Regiment was not exempt either. Men, who when at 
 home seemed pure and gentlemanly, sons of Christian 
 parents, college graduates, and of the higher walks at 
 home, now' indulging in frequent debauch, staining their 
 lips with filthy whiskey and vile profanity. No wmnder 
 we had to suffer the long, long war through for their 
 debauches. Dare I tell it? Yes, I wdll, for it is God’s 
 truth. When going on the field of Fredericksburg, led 
 by the gallant Col. Harriman (whom later they tried to 
 court martial), our brigade and division commanders 
 were skulking behind a brick kiln, under the influence 
 of that vile stuff, and pointing to the advanced position, 
 ordered us to take it, w'hile there they remained so far as 
 
 44 
 
we know, for as I recall, we did not see them until a day 
 or two after. This is but a specimen of the many orgies 
 of our respected officers, whom we were expected to 
 honor and obey. I am more ashamed and humiliated to 
 know that officers of my own 11th N. H., and Co. I, were 
 brought to their quarters more in the condition of low 
 brutes than Christian men, which some of them professed 
 to be. I would not write this for the public eye to read 
 for my pride in the grand old Col. Harriman’s 11th, would 
 restrain my hand. 
 
 Lieut. P. Fleath has returned from a furlough. The 
 24th, drilled in company and battalion, played ball, etc. 
 
 45 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Thursday, March 26, at 8.45 p. m., we left Newport 
 News, arriving in Baltimore, Friday at 2.30 o’clock. We 
 are going by rail to Cincinnati. A part of the day rvas 
 spent waiting for transportation. While waiting in the 
 depot, 1 partook of some of the brown bread and sausage 
 which Mother had sent me and how good they tasted. I 
 noticed a man watching me as I ate my lunch, and finally 
 he got courage to speak to me and wanted to know what 
 I was eating. I told him and he tasted of the bread, and 
 said he was a baker and had heard of Boston brown bread 
 but never saw any before. 
 
 'We were loaded on cars and were transported via B. 
 & O. railroad, over the mountains to Cincinnati and we 
 had the usual experience incident to an army moving 
 across country in box cars. We behaved like soldiers, 
 sometimes taking more liberties with movable things 
 than citizens would be warranted in doing. MT enjoyed 
 the scenery of the country through which we went. As 
 one familiar with it, must conclude, our transportation 
 was a little faulty for we were in box cars with board 
 seats placed across the car, and without backs, and at 
 nisfht those who could, stretched out on the seats, and 
 the remainder laid underneath "heads and halls.” In 
 some cases it seemed difficult to decide which were one’s 
 own legs, or the other fellow’s, we lay so thick and mixed 
 up. The bottom of the car was rather hard for flesh and 
 bones, but we were only soldiers away from home and 
 comforts, to save a Nation, and no matter if we were 
 treated with less consideration than were the mules, 
 sometimes we reasoned. 
 
 46 
 
t 
 
 C. C. Paige. 
 
 Taken at Cincinnati while enroute to 
 Kentucky, 1863. 
 
% 
 
In due time we reached Cincinnati, and now the 31st, 
 I am writing from the above place. My brother David, 
 who resides here, learned of our coming and was at the 
 station looking for me. He took me to a restaurant and 
 ordered a nice meal of mutton chops and the things to go 
 with them. I went to his home with him, and saw Sarah, 
 his wife, and Glenna, the little girl. 
 
 I expect the regiment will move on toward our destina- 
 tion, Lexington, Ky., but I am granted a furlough of a 
 day to stop with David. Charlie Wason has returned. 
 
 I should say, that supper was furnished us by the 
 people of Pittsburg, as we passed through that city, and 
 we were also fed by the citizens of Cincinnati, and coflfee 
 was served us at various places along the route. Sister 
 Sarah filled my haversack with all the good things it 
 would hold. I started from there Friday morning and 
 rode eighty miles on the cars to Paris. On arriving 
 there I learned that the Regiment had left three hours 
 previous, so with four other of the boys, we started for 
 Mount Sterling, twenty-two miles away. It was a very 
 hard march considering that we had done but little of 
 late, and I had a heavy load. Brother David weighed it 
 at his factory before my leaving, and it weighed seventy- 
 five pounds. I got some help on the way. My feet were 
 sore, lame and blistered. 
 
 Sunday following, I went to the village church and par- 
 took of the Lord’s Supper which was a sweet privilege. 
 
 \Ye are now after the Rebels, who have been over- 
 riding this country. Mt. Sterling, Ky. Letters April 5, 
 also 8th, describe the country, people and weather. The 
 rebels are not far away in soldiers’ clothes, and nine out 
 of every ten, in citizen’s clothes are rebels in this locality. 
 The Guerillas were in force about here not long ago. 
 
 Capt. Patten has returned from his furlough. The 12th 
 I began this letter in the Methodist church where I was 
 attending a religious service, supposed to be a Rebel 
 
 47 
 
church. I say that I begin this letter while they are 
 going through the preliminaries before sermon, but I tried 
 to be worshipful during devotions and the sermon. My 
 comments on the sermon are, that it was not much of a 
 sermon, and little more than repeating scripture. He did 
 not say a word about us soldiers, or the Nation (and 
 there were quite a squad of us in attendance) ; but our 
 Chaplain made the closing prayer, and it was a right 
 smart union prayer. We went with our equipments. 
 
 April 15, I indulge in a seven page letter on large sheets 
 written from Mt. Sterling. I write of the people, the 
 conditions of the country, somewhat of my own con- 
 stancy to the cause in which I enlisted, my views of 
 Christian patriots, and my purpose to be right whether 
 easy or hard to do so. 
 
 ^^'^inchester, Ky., April 19. We received the first mail 
 for three weeks, I think. 
 
 We had dress parade, followed by orders to move at one 
 o’clock tonight, the last not the most pleasing. We got 
 up at twelve o’clock, and started at three o’clock, went 
 eighteen miles to the above town. After marching half 
 way, our knapsacks seemed too heavy and our company 
 left theirs, and I with a few of my company stopped with 
 them. After a great fuss I pressed a team into our 
 service b}" paying three dollars, and got them carried. 
 However, I had a great time getting it. The man tried 
 to frighten me out of it by showing me an order from 
 the Post Quarter Master which he sent to him, and by 
 stating that he should want a writing to show that I had 
 entered Iris house Avith armed men and forced him to send 
 a team. Also, that he would be in Winchester this week 
 to see about it. I told him I was read}- to meet the order 
 in town, also that I would sign what he wished to write, 
 and did so, the substance of which was as above stated. 
 Then I offered to pay him what he Avished to charge for 
 his serA'ices. He tried not to set a price but I Avas deter- 
 
 48 
 
mined that he should do so. Finally, he said three dollars 
 which I paid ; I then asked for a receipt which he gave 
 me. 
 
 The officers in camp, such as Colonel and Major, and 
 others thought I out-witted the old Rebel, upholding my 
 course, and I could not be hurt for it. I relate this inci- 
 dent as an illustration of the many phases of soldier life. 
 I fear many soldiers would not have been as considerate 
 with him as I was. Might is not necessarily right, out of 
 the army or in it. We were tired and needed help. We 
 were protecting his and other property, and it was his 
 duty to aid us so far as he was able to do so. We were 
 willing to pay him for the use of his team,, and when he 
 refused to do his part, my reasoning is, that might was 
 right in this case. 
 
 More union citizens are found here than in the last 
 town. I have been to church today, and heard a good 
 union sermon, after which, partook of the Sacrament, 
 followed by excellent remarks by the minister. 
 
 The 26th. Sabbath day. I enter this letter to show 
 how another Sabbath, and many another in the past, is 
 occupied. I am not going to town as we are to have a 
 service on the ground by our Chaplain at three o’clock. 
 We have had inspection this morning and have dress 
 parade in the afternoon. This morning, Sunday, is a 
 great day for the negroes to come to camp. They manage 
 to save chickens, butter, eggs and other edibles, such as 
 the soldiers will buy of them and bring to camp early. 
 
 This morning the boys got all the negroes into line 
 and marched them up and down through the camp, fur- 
 nishing each with a stick of wood for a gun, the negroes 
 grinning and seeming to enjoy the sport until the boys 
 begin to play tricks and abuse them. One thing which 
 they do is real cruel ; it is to place a negro in a blanket 
 and then keep swinging and tossing him until they toss 
 him several feet in the air, and when he comes down 
 
 49 
 
repeat the action, excepting when they fail to catch him, 
 and he strikes solid on the ground, a root or stone hurting 
 him terribly. 
 
 The New Yorkers enjoyed a dog fight. Fun and frolic 
 seem to be prevalent. One man in my company, a Dart- 
 mouth man, the most slovenly, lazy soldier in the com- 
 pany, had but just drawn new clothing, and was lying on 
 the dirty ground near the cook’s fireplace, his new pants 
 burst out at the seat. Another soldier, one of the voungf- 
 est of the company, of very opposite make up and habits, 
 full of fun and mischief, enjoyed hectoring man, No. 1. 
 So with a long stick, he began to prod him as he would 
 a big dog lying around the fire. This ended in a fight. 
 My duty as Sergeant was to see that order was kept, and 
 I parted them, and ordered man. No. 1 to his tent. 
 Instead of obeying he began to curse and threaten me. 
 I reported him to Captain Patten, who ordered me to 
 have man No. 1 report to his quarters immediately, which 
 orders were obeyed. A short trial resulted in the Captain 
 ordering me to place a rail and knapsack on the man’s 
 shoulders, and under charge of a Corporal, march up and 
 down the color line for six hours. Man No. 1 threatened 
 that the first time we were in battle, he would shoot me. 
 
 I replied, “I have no fear of that, for you will not get 
 near enough to shoot me.” Poor fellow was killed on 
 picket line. 
 
 My second letter in May, dated the 10th, from near 
 Lancaster, Ky., gives a detailed account of the marches. 
 &c.. for the last few days. Sunday, the third, we had 
 orders to march the next morning at seven-thirty o’clock. 
 We went fourteen miles and I assure you that I was wet 
 with sweat if I ever was. So profusely had I perspired 
 that my knapsack on my back, was wet. We got into 
 camp at five o’clock and got our tents fairly pitched when 
 a hard shower broke on us, and continued at times all 
 night. The next day we marched twelve miles, passed 
 
 50 
 
through Lexington. It rained today and we absorbed 
 some of the rain ; the roads are muddy. The next day we 
 marched seventeen miles, crossing the Kentucky river. 
 Here I describe the beautiful scenery, which needs to be 
 seen to properly appreciate its picturesque, grand 
 appearance. 
 
 It rained pretty hard the last of our march, also all 
 night. W e got a team to carry our knapsacks part of the 
 way. It broke down six miles from camp, and the three 
 of our boys who were with it, managed to get into camp 
 sometime after dark. Lieut. Currier and I got our com- 
 pany into an old school house for shelter. Henry Rowe 
 and I went to a house nearby and got supper, and permis- 
 sion to stop in the kitchen where the family slept. The 
 good, motherl}^ woman spread two pieces of carpeting on 
 the floor and placed two kitchen chairs, backs up for our 
 pillows, then got a nice woolen blanket to put over us. 
 We slept in our wet clothes, our feet near the fireplace 
 and enjoyed a good night’s rest. The good woman 
 regretted that she could not do more for our comfort, but 
 we were truly grateful for what she did do for us. She 
 furnished us breakfast for which we paid her seventy 
 cents. This family has been obliged to leave their home 
 twice, when the Rebels were there, who robbed them of 
 all they had left. I enjoyed my short visit with these 
 good people. 
 
 We started about seven o’clock and marched fifteen 
 miles in the rain. The next morning starting at eight 
 o’clock we marched eight and one half miles. We 
 expected to make a long stop here, and went about clear- 
 ing and fixing our camp, to make it pleasant and comfort- 
 able. This is Saturday, and today we have had orders to 
 march at seven o’clock. W e went back to the place 
 where we stopped two days before, on the other side of 
 Lancaster. It is rumored that Morgan is threatening 
 this locality, and we shall be needed to meet him. We 
 
 51 
 
have had an active week as noted above, and for new 
 troops the men have got along well. To be sure our feet 
 are sore and blistered, and there has been plenty of 
 rain to keep us cooled down, save the first day mentioned. 
 
 In this region are many fine farms, and quite thickly 
 populated, so we have been able to get our knapsacks 
 carried some of the time by paying some citizen to do it. 
 I say of myself, that I am standing the exposure finely 
 and the fatigue splendidly; that I am tough and hearty; 
 cheerful and have no fault to find. Rumors are rife in 
 camp that we are going farther south in the state, also 
 to Nashville. 
 
 In a desultory letter written in two or three install- 
 ments, dated near Lancaster, May 12th, I refer to camp 
 life, home, our need of trust and hope, and then the way 
 some of our officers conduct themselves. Shameful are 
 their lives and example. I send a message to Father 
 Cheney, that I have a lip which cannot easily become 
 flexible. My pluck is pretty large, that is, it seems so to 
 me. 
 
 An incident occurred in camp today, which would not 
 receive the approval of good citizens, were it enacted at 
 home. We have what are called Sutlers, assigned to, or 
 following along with the different Regiments or Brigades. 
 They have a nicely gotten up rig like a peddler’s cart, in 
 which they carry a line of goods, not so much what the 
 men need as what they want to purchase, especially 
 things to eat, many of which are injurious to the men 
 When we are stationed at a place for a few days, or 
 weeks, they do a fine business disposing of a lot of goods. 
 Some of these Sutlers are fair and considerate in their 
 prices but many of them almost rob the men, selling for 
 a big profit. Human nature will bear about so much 
 whether at home in civil life, or at the front among the 
 soldiers. 
 
 In this letter of the 12th is an account of the retribution 
 
 52 
 
fallen on a heartless Sutler, for while I am writing the 
 boys are cleaning out a Sutler (for that is the way we 
 speak of it), and they will get all of his goods, and in most 
 cases there is no recourse for him, as the officers know of 
 his hardness of heart. 
 
 In this part of Kentucky there are many very nice, 
 intelligent farmers, well to do, and owners of many slaves. 
 They read their Bibles and find therein divine approba- 
 tion for slavery. They are well posted in much of 
 national affairs and I have frequent conversation with 
 them. 
 
 While in this camp, Charlie Wason and I were given a 
 pass to go into the country to get something to eat. W e 
 started out across the fields, and about three miles from 
 camp, found an elderly gentleman of the “manor born,” 
 sitting on his porch, wearing on his head the familiar, 
 broad rim hat. W e accosted him in a respectful way, 
 making known our errand, whereupon he bade us come 
 up and take seats with him, for he would like to talk with 
 us. He then said his women folks were away to a 
 funeral and would not return until night. If we would 
 wait until then, we probably might get supper. We felt 
 a little shy, not feeling sure of the honesty of our Land- 
 lord, but desire for something good to eat overcame our 
 fears and we waited. He told us of his ideas of slavery, 
 his treatment to his own slaves, that two of his sons were 
 in the Rebel army, but that he did not favor secession, yet 
 his sympathies, I judged, leaned toward the south. He 
 expressed his pleasure to find some union soldiers of 
 intelligence who were able to talk, and posted on national, 
 as well as other questions, and men who respected the 
 rights and property of others, saying further, that there 
 had been soldiers along, lately, who treated him dis- 
 respectfully, and from whom he had taken pay for food 
 and it seemed to wound his feelings and ideas of hos- 
 pitality to do this. He said that he had never before 
 
 53 
 
taken pay for a meal. When his wife returned she got 
 us a supper of corncake and bacon, &c., which relished 
 well. We bought of them, some butter and milk, paying 
 for them what he asked. He urged us with much 
 earnestness to come again and see him. 
 
 I will continue my story about this man, Jesse Emery 
 by name, though ending months later. 
 
 In a week or two we longed for more corn cake, milk, 
 butter, &c., and obtaining another pass, we made our 
 second visit to the Emery mansion. The old gentleman 
 received us in the kindliest manner and almost the first 
 thing he said, after giving expression to his pleasure at 
 our coming, “I have been ashamed ever since you were 
 here the other day, that I allowed you to pay for your 
 supper.” “Now,” said he, ‘T want you to stop and eat 
 some of my supper with me,” and we could not refuse, so 
 after a long chat we sat down to an elaborate meal, 
 enjoying it and his hospitality very much. Then he filled 
 our dishes with milk free of charge, and sold us some 
 butter and other needful things. He demanded of us a 
 promise that if we ever came into that country again, we 
 would come and see him. 
 
 After our Vicksburg campaign, in the last of July or 
 .\ugust, we did march through this same town on our 
 way to Knoxville, and camped a mile nearer Mr. Emer}- 
 than we did before. I was in command of the company 
 so could not get away, but gave permission to two of our 
 boys to go over to Mr. Emery’s for rations. They asked 
 for food and got it. Then he inquired to what command 
 they belonged, and when he learned that they belonged 
 to N. H., 11th, he said, “Do you know Sergeant Paige of 
 Co. I?” and upon being assured that they were members 
 of my company, he was greatly pleased and had prepared 
 for me two rations of splendid bacon and corn bread, &c., 
 which the boys brought me together with his urgent mes- 
 sage to come over even if I had to follow on after my 
 
 54 
 
Regiment had gone, but I could not do as he wished, or as 
 I would liked very much to have done. 
 
 A splendid specimen of a true Southern gentleman, was 
 Jesse Emery. I regret even to this day that I did not 
 correspond with him until his death. 
 
 55 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The last letter I wrote from Kentucky was dated May 
 17. The next, June 9, on board a steamer going down the 
 Mississippi. In the mean time, I have enjoyed the great 
 privilege of going home on a furlough, and being with 
 my dear ones for two weeks. How those precious days 
 were spent need not be recorded. None can doubt but 
 that up to the extreme limit of time and ability they 
 were faithfully filled with blessing. And then, O ! the 
 pangs of another separation. When the other parting 
 occurred, the experiences of each were untried and we 
 did not know much of the dregs in the bottom of the cup. 
 But now, we know that sorrow, deprivation, sufifering, 
 exposure, perils of all sorts surround our way. We have 
 had a taste, yes, more, we have f'^lt the pangs ; we have 
 entered into the valley of the shadow of death ; we have 
 learned the merciless horrors of battle ; the hidden 
 Satanic cunning of picket duty; we have drunk the 
 poisons of the swamp, and experienced the need of proper 
 food ; we have experienced the exposure of storm, of rain 
 and snow ; the bleak, piercing wind ; the mud ; the search- 
 ing rays of the sun ; and better than before, we know 
 what awaits us, o,r at least partly so. 
 
 We part, seemingly, with deeper sorrow than before. 
 This last letter tells of its poignancy. But thank God, 
 we part with new resolves, with loyalty and patriotism 
 intensified through sufifering, to dare or die, aye, rather to 
 do and die if need be. Greater, harder, to bear will the 
 future experiences be, but a firmer belief in the right and 
 the certainty of its vindication, nerves the arm and fills 
 the heart to do our best under God. 
 
 56 
 
The loneliness of the past year will have darker 
 shadows in the future days of her separation because 
 of this short respite just enjoyed. I know that the 
 activities, the hazardous scenes of the field will tend to 
 deaden the acuteness of my sorrow, but to her comes no 
 such boon. ■ Thousands like her, with proffered sym- 
 pathy only make more acute, by oft repeated tales of fear, 
 the solicitous memory of their soldier boys. 
 
 That spectre of the future, emphasized and emboldened 
 by memories of the anguish already experienced, nearly 
 unnerved the dear ones. The patriotic enthusiasm so 
 prevalent and stimulating at the first, was an absent 
 factor at this parting. The crisis past, I draw the veil 
 o’er the scene and I am again with my comrades as above 
 stated, drifting down the Mississippi. 
 
 57 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 We left Covington, Ky., where I met the Regiment on 
 my return, (or rather where we came soon after my going 
 to the Regiment), starting down the Ohio Friday the 5th 
 of June. We arrived at Cairo, Sunday. Monday we 
 boarded a splendid steamer together with the 35th Massa- 
 chusetts, and a Battery. Our trip down the river was 
 eventful in little incidents interesting, as the first trip 
 under such conditions would be. 
 
 I did not like to drink the dirty, roily, river water, 
 especially when the manure, filth, &c., from our steamer 
 and many others, were dumped into it. Later experi- 
 ences taught me how to prize it. 
 
 W e stopped at several landings and I went ashore in 
 every state we passed. 
 
 Near Snyder’s Bluff, Miss., June .17, 1863. The right 
 wing of Grant’s Army. As we came down the river we 
 bore to our left, up the Yazoo river, and shortly after 
 went out into the Mississippi, down to Young’s Point, 
 opposite Vicksburg. 
 
 Monday morning, we marched across the point near 
 the Canal dug to make a new channel for the river, thus 
 allowing vessels to pass Vicksburg without danger. V'e 
 crossed the river three miles below Vicksburg and began 
 to fix up tents, when in the afternoon, we recrossed the 
 river, returning to Young’s Point, and here beside the 
 river, near dark, pitched our tents. From this place we 
 could look into the besieged city, and could see the large 
 shells as they were thrown from the big mortars on the 
 boats. It was a grand sight to see the huge balls 
 
 5S 
 
revolving- in the air, on their errand of destruction, the 
 burning fuse showing us their course, then -watching for 
 the explosion. Some of these, so far as -we could see, 
 caused no damage, while others set fire to some com- 
 bustible material. This hammering was almost inces- 
 sant, giving the soldiers and citizens no peace nor 
 security. 
 
 After we crossed from the Louisiana side, three 
 miles below Vicksburg, we were then on Grant’s left 
 wing. We got to Young’s Point and crawled in at about 
 nine o’clock, expecting- to get up and start at twelve 
 o’clock, but did not leave until eight o’clock a. m. 
 
 We embarked on the steamer Omaha and with the rest 
 of our division came up the Yazoo ten miles and landed 
 at a place called Snyder’s Bluff, two miles from Haynes 
 Bluff. We slept on the boat in the rain. 
 
 Wednesday morning, the 17th, we marched four miles 
 toward Grant’s right and nearer Vicksburg. We are now 
 on a bluff eight miles from Vicksburg and have seen the 
 position which Sherman took. He could not have taken 
 it by assault. He came up in their rear and surprised the 
 Rebels so that they left guns and ran. There were many 
 guns captured. I say, that it was an awful hard place 
 to take and I blame the Rebels for being outwitted. 
 
 Our Soldiers are within two hundred yards of the ene- 
 mies’ works, around the city, and nearer in some places. 
 Johnson is not far from us, and the men around this place 
 were in line of battle yesterday, expecting him to attack. 
 
 The weather is very warm, or hot. There are plenty 
 of blackberries here and I have picked some. We have 
 found some nice spring water to drink. 
 
 June 28, I write my birthday letter which is more or 
 less sentimental and consists of four pages of foolscap, so 
 I will copy but little. I refer to our rations as being 
 small and not very good. I bought fifty cents worth of 
 flour yesterday, for Charlie and myself, and Leonard 
 
 59 
 
Dearborn, the Captain’s clerk and cook, is going to make 
 some biscuit for us, as he has a stove. 
 
 We are ordered to have forty more rounds of cartridges 
 making in all one hundred, three days’ rations in haver- 
 sacks, and two days’ rations at the commissaries, so as to 
 be ready for a quick march, I suppose. Our corps is in- 
 trenching around for a long distance so as to make our 
 position stronger against an attack. We have confidence 
 that we are all right against Johnson. Grant is steadily 
 at work against Vicksburg, night and day, and the thun- 
 dering of the mortars and cannon is distinctly heard. 
 There was hard fighting one day last week. We hear 
 that Col. Harriman has resigned and gone home. 
 
 T write that Brother David made me a present of a nice 
 dirk to carry in my belt. He thought I would need it 
 down here among the southerners. 
 
 July 1. Free Ridge, Miss. Last Monday we marched 
 ten miles to this place, the hardest march we have had 
 yet, considering the temperature and dusty road. We 
 find blackberries plenty, and I got two quarts today. 
 
 Thursday, two of our boys and I called at a house 
 where there were three young ladies and we spent some 
 time in conversation with them. They were strong 
 “secesh” as we term it. I said, “I suppose that your 
 lovers are in the Rebel army?” “Yes,” they replied. "If 
 they were not, we would not own them.” I said, "You 
 want them to kill as many of us fellows as they can, don’t 
 you?” “Yes, of course we do,” they replied. We 
 laughed and chatted in a good natured way and bade 
 them good bye. They invited us to call again for they 
 said, “We like to talk with you.” They were quite intel- 
 ligent and ladylike. 
 
 We are in a position to operate against Johnson should 
 he at last, attempt the desperate move to interfere with 
 Grant’s investment and relieve Pemberton. V e are under 
 strict orders to remain in camp to be ready at once to 
 
 60 
 
move. AVe have intimations of good news from Grant, 
 and then orir part will be to try to intercept Johnson. I 
 say I have received four good letters and enjoyed reading 
 them very much. This morning we had a still greater 
 cause for joy. Gen. Potter of our division told us that 
 there was no doubt but what Vicksburg had surrendered, 
 and this morning we learned that it was a fact. Some 
 thirty thousand prisoners were taken and one hundred 
 and fifty guns, &c. AVe gave three rousing cheers, and 
 w^as it not good news indeed. Is it not glorious that on 
 our national independence day the Gibraltar of the Mis- 
 sissippi should surrender. It actually surrendered the 
 night before and what a blow to the Confederacy. 
 
 In the whole affair the Confederates lose fifty thousand 
 men and two hundred guns. I say, God be praised, and 
 may we all take courage. Johnson is in a precarious 
 position. AA^ e may and shall fight him if he does not 
 move rapidly. AVe marched four miles last evening in 
 the dark, I eating hardtack and thinking of my wife and 
 home scenes, contrasting the manner of celebrating the 
 day. Camped in the woods. Charlie AA-^ason and I lay 
 down on some rails after eating some pork and hardtack, 
 and had a good night’s rest. 
 
 Sunday morning, the 5th we moved two miles and 
 rested in the woods. AAV heard that Johnson was 
 engaged yesterday and badly whipped. It does not seem 
 much like Sunday. There is much bustle and almost 
 every other man is occupied differently. 
 
 Some are running round for plunder, others washing, 
 getting water to drink, cooking, eating, playing cards, 
 reading, writing, sleeping, chatting, killing striped backs, 
 and most every other imaginable thing that one might do. 
 This camp scene would be an interesting one for our 
 northern people to look upon. Here a little squad gath- 
 ered under the shade of a tree, some lying down reading, 
 others sleeping. Under another tree, others are writing; 
 
 61 
 
another, mending his clothes, another eating, and a little 
 way off men are gathered around a fire with a piece of 
 pork on a stick, broiling it ; others roasting corn and cook- 
 ing coffee; still under another tree, one is sitting with a 
 piece of pork in one hand and hardtack in the other, feast- 
 ing on both ; another is eating the roasted corn, &c. You 
 would laugh, I think, to see these varied scenes of camp 
 life, but might ask to be excused from being a party in 
 the play. But we are cheerful, full of fun, and happy. 
 When Charlie and I were sitting on the bed, made of 
 rails, on which we slept last night, eating our pork and 
 hardtack, I said to him, “Isn’t this nice,’’ and repeated 
 the old adage, “Home is home, if ever so humble,” apply- 
 ing it to our improvised bed. I really think we are more 
 cheerful and happy than you people are at home. I am 
 more happy and contented here with my privations, 
 fatigue and exposures than when at home with my friends 
 amid comfort and plenty. Then I little realize my privi- 
 leges or their worth, while now I see plainly all that and 
 also need of making the best of what I have here. 
 
 I shall send you the wings of a blue tail fly from this 
 place. 
 
 July 8, 1863. Here. But I hardly know where we are. 
 
 Wednesday. After I wrote you Sunday, we marched 
 three miles and stacked arms, waiting orders. We 
 remained there until yesterday, when at two o’clock we 
 started to cross the Big Black river, two and one half 
 miles from where we stacked arms. It was a terrible 
 warm day. We went across a plain, or river bottom, a 
 mile wide, and no air stirring. The men suffered terri- 
 bly- Many fell from sunstroke and fainted. After 
 crossing the river we marched over another such bottom, 
 and 1 have not seen men fall out as during this last mile. 
 Capt. Patten came near having a sunstroke, but after 
 crossing the plain, I got him into the shade and took care 
 of him until the ambulance came along and took him in. 
 
 62 
 
The Regiment having marched on, I was a good distance 
 in the rear but hurried along, overtaking them halted to 
 make cofifee, at about seven o’clock. I was warm and 
 heated from my extra exertion to overtake the Regiment 
 and my clothing was wringing wet from sweat. I had 
 but little time to rest or make cofifee, as the Regiment 
 soon moved forward until midnight through the woods, 
 but such a night’s march has seldom been repeated in our 
 army experience, not because of fighting or picket duty, 
 but the rain, thunder and lightning, mud, darkness, 
 swearing, laughing, &c., &c. Oh! Oh! my letter gives it 
 in much detail. It rained, thundered and lightened for 
 two hours to beat the record so far as we had kept it. I 
 say that the peals of thunder were awful and the light- 
 ning so incessant that one could read almost continuously 
 by its glare. The rain came in torrents and the roads 
 were soon deep with mud by the many feet paddling over 
 them. They were greasy and treacherous, causing the 
 men to slip down into the clayey mess. The men with 
 their rubber blankets, white tent pieces, &c., over their 
 shoiilders, all reeking wet from sweat and rain. Charlie 
 and I carried two tent pieces each, enabling us to have a 
 cover from the storms, but tonight, others got under our 
 roof and Lieut. Currier got in also, or part way, and 
 in his attempt to be in away from another shower in the 
 night, crowded all four of us up hill, and I found myself 
 outside the tent in the morning. Strange to say I am all 
 right. I ate a good breakfast, marched ten miles the next 
 day, and on our way to Jackson, where we expect to find 
 Johnson. Charlie Wason has a bad sore on his hand and 
 is in the hospital. This letter was written in sections. 
 Now it is the 15th. 
 
 My next letter was written the 18th, a general letter 
 to allay the nerves of the dear ones until I found oppor- 
 tunity to write details of the operations of the last few 
 days. 
 
 C8 
 
On the 19th I wrote the letter just referred to, and it 
 must have been quite interesting, perhaps exciting, as 
 they read it. Also the fact of writing very fine and 
 closely on eight small bristol board cards, two and a 
 quarter by three and one-half inches, which I took from 
 the Rebel printing office in Jackson. 
 
 Although a lengthy story I feel obliged to give it 
 nearly as written on the cards, to do justice to the affair. 
 Here I will say, is another quite different experience from 
 my previous one, which helps in the large range and 
 variety of those experiences. 
 
 About one and a half miles out of Jackson, Miss. This 
 Sabbath morning, July 19th. I will write you a letter 
 and whether it be long or short, you can tell when you 
 have finished reading it. As my sheets are small, I can- 
 not easily tell how long my letter will be. Since giving 
 you the story of our crossing the Big Black river, and the 
 night march in the rain, we have done some marching 
 each day, until Friday the 10th when we came up with 
 the Reljels some three miles out of Jackson. 
 
 A line of battle was formed at four o’clock p. m. Our 
 forces skirmished some two miles, driving the enemy into 
 their works. Our Regiment was thrown out as picket on 
 the left to prevent any flank movement by them. We 
 were relieved a little before dark, and advanced two 
 miles, lying down for the night. 
 
 At nine o’clock, we marched two and one half miles 
 around to the left of our line, where we remained until 
 the morning, as reserves. I remember distinctly about 
 how my bed was constructed, also that it rained that 
 night. 
 
 I took two fence rails, laid one end on a little elevation, 
 perhaps on the lower fence rail, the other on the ground 
 so arranged that the rain would run off more readih^ On 
 these, or between them, or both, I lay down covering my 
 body with my rubber blanket. At three-thirty in the 
 
 64 
 
morning we were ordered to the front, and took position 
 on the crest of a ridge lying between the woods in our 
 rear and those occupied by the enemy, a few hundred 
 3^ards apart. From this crest the land sloped toward 
 the enemy, making our position very open to them. This 
 position we occupied until the next morning. 
 
 I was personally in charge of the picket line for some 
 distance, placing men five or six feet apart, which position 
 we maintained all day under a scorching sun, and the fire 
 of the Rebel sharp shooters, and picket line. We were 
 obliged to lie flat inbetween the hills where corn had been 
 raised last year, and watch our opportunity to fire. We 
 could not see them as they had places built in the large 
 liA^e Oak trees to shield them from our fire, while others 
 hid in the woods among the trees. I lay with my loaded 
 rifle pointing to where I last saw a puff of smoke, and as 
 soon as I would see it, would fire, but they were too well 
 concealed, at least those I fired at, for I failed to dislodge 
 them. I kept up this style of fighting until past noon, 
 when I decided that for me to expose myself, by my own 
 smoke was reckless and uncalled for, so I placed my 
 blanket roll at my head to shield me a little, if possible, 
 and said, “I will keep holy the Sabbath so far as I can.” 
 As I lay there in the scalding sun, three sharp shooters 
 had my range and if I moved, three bullets would pass 
 me. It was serious business. Some bullets would pass, 
 cutting the air like a knife. Such causes one to cringe, 
 for had it hit at the head, it would have gone through my 
 body; others with a zip which we did not relish; while 
 others went by singing, awhew, awhew, awhew, which 
 would provoke a laugh from the veteran soldier. My let- 
 ter reads, that under these conditions I took out my Bible 
 and read and tried to lift my heart to God in prayer. I 
 felt the need of his Grace to keep and assist me, so I 
 spent much of the time in meditation. The day wore 
 slowly away, but seemed a long one. 
 
 65 
 
After I ceased firing, the Rebels seemed bolder and 
 about three o’clock, Benjamin’s Battery of our division 
 got in position down over the hill in our rear, and sent 
 some twenty pound shell over to my neighbors in the 
 trees. Never did a friend receive a heartier welcome. I 
 jumped to my feet, swung my cap and cheered. How 
 good the sound of that gun sounded I cannot tell you, but 
 “Johnny Reb” crawled to his hiding for a while, but 
 soon commenced his killing work, and so the day wore 
 on until dark. To go back to our picket line. I could 
 not remain in one place until later in the forenoon and 
 afternoon, for my duty was to rally, encourage, and keep 
 the men to their duty. It was a hard, trying service. 
 Some were brave, but overcome with heat, some 
 wounded, others overcome with heat and fear, who 
 must be dealt with, and my line became so thin, that 
 where I had a man every five or six feet, there would 
 be none in three times that distance. This condition, and 
 the boldness of the Rebel sharp shooters, taxed my 
 courage, patriotism and Christian devotion to the cause, 
 until I exclaimed, “I’ll stay here on the line, if I die.” To 
 get drink or food, we would run to the rear as fast as we 
 could, risking the flying bullets. At dark we dug pits 
 for those who were to relieve us. 
 
 I advanced our line toward the Rebels, leaving a part 
 of the detail in the old, and placing others in the new 
 position so near the woods that we could hear noises 
 made by tbe Rebels to decoy us, or draw our fire. I also 
 placed a vidette, a rod or more in advance of this front 
 line to watch for a crawling upon us, and a surprise. I 
 spent the night walking back and forth along the line of 
 men, keeping them awake and alert. It was a terribly 
 dangerous place. As I said, they used devices to draw 
 our fire so as to expose our position, and then rush on 
 the men who had no charge in their guns. They evi- 
 dently had a rope tied to a bell which was at some dis- 
 
 66 
 
tance from the man who operated it, and to show the 
 desperation of these Rebels, the next night, the 6th N. H. 
 occupied our position, and because they were not alert 
 and watchful, the Rebels rushed on them and bayoneted 
 two men. The Rebels seemed busy in the city and 
 inside their fortifications ; something special was doing. 
 
 were relieved at three o’clock in the morning, 
 having been on duty in this place twenty-four hours. 
 \\"e retired some six rods into the woods to act as a sup- 
 port. We were all sleepy and tired, but I could hardly 
 get to sleep. However, I did get to sleep once, but was 
 awakened by the command to fall in as quick as possible. 
 The rifles were popping away at a great rate. We fell 
 in and waited orders but the Rebels who undertook a 
 charge on our skirmish line were repulsed, and retired 
 back to the woods. After waiting awhile we lay down 
 again but the bullets flew in among us all the time. We 
 were relieved the next morning after being on duty 
 seventy-five hours, and under fire all of the time. I say, 
 there was a fierce cannonading both by our batteries and 
 those of the enemy, while we were lying on the field 
 above described. Screech and bang would go the 
 shells over us. Again I say, that I never feel better than 
 when I am in such an afifair, and when I can hear our 
 guns playing away briskly at the Rebels. We lay idle 
 for two days resting. 
 
 Thursda}' morning at two o’clock we got up and went 
 to our former place and relieved the support. Bullets 
 whizzed over our heads all day, but I had dug a pit so 
 that I cared but little for them, but the Rebels fired a few 
 shells among us which made us wink a little. We were 
 called into line at about four o’clock p. m., with the inten- 
 tion of making a charge on the Rebels, so to advance 
 our lines, as it was believed by our Generals that the 
 Rebels were evacuating. So when the second signal 
 guns were fired, the charge was begun on the right, but 
 
 67 
 
did not extend far. The Rebels had not left their works 
 and poured a volley into our column, and the charge was 
 abandoned. The Rebels lost a good many, so the citi- 
 zens later informed us. While we were in line waiting 
 for the signal guns, and I had taken my position at the 
 right of our company, the Rebels threw a forty-two 
 pound shell which struck the ground twenty feet in front 
 of me, and exploded, which made us snap our eyes. We 
 slept pretty well tonight, or a part of it, for we got up at 
 two o’clock and went into the pits, relieving the out- 
 posts. At six o’clock in the morning, we were ordered 
 out of the pits, and forward, to ascertain if the Rebels had 
 evacuated or not. We went on at charge bayonet ; 
 receiving no bullets we thought they were reserving their 
 fire until it would be most effectual. But on w'e went 
 into their picket lines, and finally over their works, to 
 find them evacuated except a few stragglers which we 
 picked up. The old forty-two pound gun was left, all 
 loaded to give us another salute. Our Regiment was the 
 first to enter their works, and the city, but as our color 
 bearers were behind, the 35th Massachusetts claimed the 
 honor, raising their colors on the works. I assure you 
 that there were many happy hearts as we leaped over the 
 works, finding the enemy gone from them, and then skir- 
 mishing down into the city, we picked up in all some five 
 hundred Rebels. There was a big fire raging which had 
 been set by the Rebels, and before night others were 
 started, and in this way the city was nearly destroyed by 
 the citizens and our soldiers. 
 
 The citizens take this time to reek their vengeance on 
 some neighbor, and lay the mischief to the Union army. 
 
 Our boys got plenty of sugar, molasses, tobacco, and 
 other things, but little other food stuff. I and a few of 
 our boys got a boiled dish dinner at a house. 
 
 I took from a deserted house which had been broken 
 into by the Confederate soldiers, a beautiful volume of 
 
 68 
 
Mrs. Hemans’ poetical works, also some glass thread, a 
 novelty to me. I note that I sent this glass home in a 
 letter, also the cards above referred to, and some 
 envelopes made from brown wrapping paper, three of 
 which I sent home, laso a copy of the Mississippian, a 
 weekly paper printed in Jackson. 
 
 We moved back to onr quarters of the 15th. Johnson 
 is reported on the way to Alabama. He crossed the river 
 out of Jackson hurriedly and we gave up the chase, as 
 he had railroad transportation and we had none, and as 
 we would have to move through a ReRbel country. 
 
 I refer to a new suit of clothes which I had on, and how 
 they must have looked after rolling in the mud several 
 days, also how dirty we were for we could scarcely find 
 water enough to drink and that was so thick with mud 
 that one-fourth inch of it in a dish, would prevent our 
 seeing the bottom of the dish. I say, that I was not so 
 dirty looking as might be supposed, for I sweat so much 
 that I could easily wash my face in its streams. 
 
 After referring to the exigencies of a soldier life as 
 above related, and comparing the state of his mind with 
 those who are at home, (our dear ones), I say, I am sitting 
 on a bucket, leaning against a tree in the very best of 
 spirits, happy as the singing birds with certain exceptions, 
 with bright hopes of a good future and many happy days 
 with my better half. 
 
 Omitting some of the more personal sayings and 
 reflections, advice, and wishes concerning my wife, the 
 story on the little cards is told. 
 
 My next letter written from Mildale, Miss., July 23, is 
 in order, though short. We have returned from Jackson 
 and have had one hundred miles tramp. We helped to 
 send Joe Johnson’s army out of this part of the country. 
 Have seen much of this part of the state and basked in 
 its beautiful, balmy air, refreshed by its gentle showers, 
 and Yazoo drinking water; have lunched on the green 
 
 69 
 
corn and fresh beef, and visited some of the mansions ; 
 have become saturated with its malaria and mud; am 
 filled to the full with the fine dust which would rise like 
 clouds as we marched along the roads. 
 
 On our march out to Jackson, doubtless we left many a 
 remembrance not pleasing to the owners of the large 
 estates along our way. Like Sherman, we lived on the 
 good of the land when that good could be obtained. The 
 white people had fled to the swamps, leaving their 
 negroes in charge of the home, thus inviting plunder and 
 destruction, and much was done. 
 
 My next letter, written from Mildale July 23, is short 
 and furnishes no matter for this paper further than to say 
 we have returned from Jackson. 
 
 Letters of the 25th and 29th, also furnish no data, but 
 my diary furnished a daily record of the eventful march 
 back and so does a letter, written from Covington, Ky., 
 Aug. 15, give a full account of the campaign, more 
 minutely than does my card letter. 
 
 Monday, the 20th, we started at four-thirty a. m., on 
 our return march. We came twenty miles, stopping a 
 while at noon for dinner which I will describe. 
 
 The Quarter Master drove a herd of cattle along with 
 the army, and as soon as we halted for rations, he would 
 shoot several creatures, dress and distribute almost 
 while the meat was quivering. Each Regiment would be 
 supplied with this kind of beef, killed when the creatures 
 were overheated and panting, and to each company and 
 man, was dealt out a ration. We would kindle a fire, 
 broil the meat by holding it on a stick over the blaze, and 
 for desert, we would go to the corn fields which seemed 
 plentiful, gather green field corn and roast it on the coals. 
 Splendid rations on which to march under the scorching 
 rays of the Mississippi sun, and in our heated condition. 
 
 I was carrying quite a load in my knapsack, besides 
 my usual load, I had the Mrs. Hemans book which 
 
 70 
 
weighed several pounds. It was this day that the men 
 met their severest trial. As we were ordered in for the 
 afternoon march, many failed to respond, but later in the 
 day started, coming into camp late in the evening. 
 
 Tuesday the 21st, we started at four-thirty a. m., 
 marched fifteen or more miles. I said above, that this, 
 (the 20th) is the hardest day’s march we have experi- 
 enced, but today we have suffered more. It has been 
 hotter and more tedious, our feet are sore, and my heel 
 felt every step, as if a thorn was pressing in and drawing 
 out. We stopped on the way for lunch, and between two 
 and three o’clock started again. Many of the men did 
 not fall in and as we went on, men fell out until in Com- 
 pany C not a man was following the officers, and in my 
 company, three or four besides me, were following Capt. 
 Patten and Lieut. Currier, who had an old mule which 
 they rode alternately. My ambition was gratified on this 
 day’s march. Orderly Sergeant Lyford of Company C, 
 and I had not openly challenged each other on the matter 
 of endurance and soldierly conduct, but an unspoken 
 rivalry was a fact, and up to this day, neither of us had 
 fallen out on the march, but after marching a while this 
 afternoon, the heat was too much for him, and he raised 
 his hand and with gesture which denoted emphasis, and 
 a swear word to make it more so, said he would not gd 
 another step for the whole country, and then I wickedly 
 laughed and plodded on. It was too much for man or 
 beast. We got into camp about nine o’clock p. m., and 
 camped within two or three miles of Big Black River. 
 
 Wednesday the 23d, started at four p. m. We crossed 
 the Big Black river, and immediately after crossing it, 
 a terrible shower struck us, which was worse in the vol- 
 ume of rain by far than any we had experienced, and my 
 letter says, in a minute or two, we were wet enough, and 
 in ten minutes the road was three inches deep, all the way 
 across it, with running water. It rained until dark, and 
 
 71 
 
the gullies, where no water ran before the shower, were 
 now in some instances nearly too deep to wade. The 
 road became quite muddy. We plodded on until ten 
 o’clock, then were filed off into a field where corn was 
 raised the previous season, and where the mud was still 
 deeper than it was in the road. There we camped, or 
 stopped. A negro camp follower had come into camp 
 with a fence rail on his shoulder, which I got, cutting it 
 in two lengths, and laying it across the corn rows, it 
 raised me a little from the mud. I took off my boots and 
 socks and lay down on my bed (on or between the rails) 
 and for a pillow I used my old hat. I spread my wet 
 rubber blanket over me and stopped there until light the 
 next morning. 
 
 1 could not jump up as sprightly as usual. When we 
 went into camp it was very dark, and as a matter of 
 course, we knew nothing where to get wood or water, but 
 the boys found a fence nearby which they used for fire 
 wood. I had a small quantity ol water in my canteen 
 with which I made some coffee. This I drank, and with- 
 out supper, as I remember, went to bed as described 
 above. 
 
 We started at sunrise the next morning, marching 
 eight miles to our old camp at Mildale, and I say truth- 
 fully, home never looked better to me than did our old 
 camp. 
 
 It is no time or place to boast, indeed there is never 
 such a time or place, but to state facts as they exist has 
 the flavor of boasting of one’s accomplishments or deeds, 
 but I was in my place every day leading the company 
 and looking out for its welfare, as my position demanded. 
 I would make the remark in answer to something said 
 by some officer, that when I fall out or leave the company, 
 they all might as well stop. While in line after the first 
 dress parade, after returning to Mildale, the Adjutant 
 read some very complimentary orders from Gen. Grant, 
 
Gen. Sherman, Smith and Park. They were quite flat- 
 tering. We were praised for our good behavior and sol- 
 dierly bearing, for our heroic and brave conduct before 
 the enemy, and generally for our prompt action where- 
 ever we were placed. We are ordered to inscribe on our 
 battle flag, Vicksburg and Jackson. We fear that the 
 western boys will be taken down a pace at this order, 
 however, they all admit that we fight well. 
 
 73 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 We remained at Mildale until August 6, doing camp 
 and picket duty. Many are sick with malarial fever, and 
 the 5th, we sent them off on the boat up the river to the 
 hospitals. We lose more men from sickness in this cam- 
 paign than in all our service up to this time. The water 
 is bad, even the spring water. People either drink cis- 
 tern or Mississippi water. 
 
 I am feeling badly from the poisonous air and con- 
 ditions here in this country, and from the excessive ser- 
 vice of this campaign. We marched some four miles to 
 the boat and I could not do much more, and think if I had 
 remained here a week longer, my name would have been 
 with those wdro have left enroute for some hospital, but 
 thanks to my hardy constitution and ability to look out 
 for myself, and the great kindness of God, I escaped that 
 experience. 
 
 We had the usual experience of troops on a transport 
 coming up the Mississippi to Covington, Ky. We 
 arrived at three o’clock this morning of the 14th, and had 
 rather a rough, uncomfortable time last night on the 
 cars, as we could not lie down, without lying partly on 
 one another. As I said before our ride on the boat was 
 uninteresting in a way; scenery not particularly pleasing 
 along the river, and on board the boat we were much 
 crowded, having four Regiments and one hundred and 
 fifty horses on board. The boat goes slow. Stopped at 
 Memphis and I went ashore and got something to eat. 
 
 Two of our Regiment have died since starting and 
 quite a number are sick. 
 
 74 
 
Arriving- at Cairo, went ashore and Companies D and I 
 unloaded our stores. 
 
 W e started for Cincinnati on the cars, at eleven o’clock 
 and got supper at Centralia, eighty miles from Cairo. 
 We changed cars at Sardovel eight miles farther on, and 
 got dinner at Vincennes, Ind., at eleven o’clock, and had 
 supper at Seymour. These notes are for Thursday, the 
 13th. Until the 27th, we remained in camp at Coving- 
 ton and enjoyed the stay very much except that the 
 weather was unusually cool and we were uncomfortable 
 nights. But little duty save dress parade. Many visi- 
 tors from the city. I have been to David’s several 
 times and have stopped with them two nights. He has 
 been away so I did not see him until Saturday the 22nd. 
 
 Thursday the 27th, we were ordered to move, and about 
 noon took the cars for Nicholasville, Ky., one hundred 
 miles away. I took a severe cold last night and do not 
 feel very well. Arrived at Nicholasville at two o’clock 
 a. m., got off the cars and slept on the ground until morn- 
 ing. We started again at noon and mached four miles. 
 Fixed up my tent today, and got Charlie Wason into the 
 hospital. He is threatened with fever. 
 
 Sunday the 30th. I went some one and a half miles 
 into the country to get some milk and eggs to make a 
 custard for Wason. Water froze here Saturday. Quite 
 a sudden change for us from Mississippi weather. 
 
 Sept. 8, near Nicholasville. I am writing from the 
 Captain’s tent as I am in command of the company. The 
 captain has gone home for conscripts and the Lieutenant 
 is absent on leave. I have to take the company on dress 
 parade and other drills. We moved this morning at six- 
 thirty o’clock. Marched sixteen miles. Lieut. Currier 
 returned to the company in time to go with us. 
 
 The 17th. Moved at eight o’clock and marched ten 
 miles. We passed a place on a hill called Wild Cat, 
 where a fight occurred a few weeks ago. 
 
 75 
 
The 18th. Moved at six o’clock, marched ten miles to 
 wdthin two and one half miles of Loudon. 
 
 Sunday, the 20th. Had inspection and dress parade. 
 
 I am acting Sergeant Major. Our new Chaplain gave us 
 a sermon today. He has recently come to us, the former 
 one having resigned. 
 
 I have attended guard mount as Sergeant Major for 
 the first time. Adjt. Morrison returned yesterday. We 
 hear that Bragg has whipped Rosecrans. 
 
 I sent to brother David for our Company’s overcoats. 
 He stored them for us in Cincinnati this summer. 
 
 Cattle and horses are passing here in great numbers, 
 also troops. The rest of our Brigade have come up. We 
 seem to be occupying an out post station in the foot hills 
 of the Cumberland range. It is a wild, rough country, 
 much like the rough part of New Hampshire. I have a 
 large tent, the fly of Lieut. Currier’s. Charlie M'ason 
 tents with me and we are fixed up quite comfortable. 
 In this locality are farms, and we do not think it at all 
 out of the way to dig some of the farmer’s sweet potatoes, 
 or gather their apples for them, or appropriate a nice pig 
 if we can catch him. Charlie and I have made attempts 
 at such foraging. 
 
 Lieut. Currier has gone home on a furlough, and I don’t 
 know whether I will be ordered back to the company to 
 take command or not. My duties are man)" in this place 
 as Sergeant Major. It is not all work with us, and we 
 have much recreation in various ways. 
 
 Today, the 10th, some of the officers and I went out 
 squirrel hunting, three miles from camp. W'e got six. 
 I had never seen the fox squirrel before. He is larger 
 than the gray. M’e got dinner and supper at a house on 
 our way, and spent a part of the evening there. The next 
 day, Sunday, I was invited to the officers’ mess to eat 
 squirrel with them. 
 
 70 
 
Our Chaplain held service today, also prayer meeting 
 in the evening. 1 attended both and took part. 
 
 The 15th. Our Regiment team returned today with 
 clothing for the men. 
 
 The 16th. I have been busy today on clothing rolls, 
 and getting ready to move. Besides attending to Ser- 
 geant Major's duties, I keep the company’s books and 
 attend to all the business of the company. Lieut. Cur- 
 rier wished me to do it while he was away. 
 
 The 17th. We got ready to move at ten o’clock but 
 did not start until three o’clock. Went nine miles. 
 
 18th. We started at seven-thirty, marched six miles. 
 It rained quite hard until noon. 
 
 19th. We stopped under some sheds last night and 
 got our clothes well dried. Started at seven-thirty this 
 morning; went nearly one mile south of Barbersville. 
 This is the last village on our way to Cumberland Gap, 
 thirty miles away. 
 
 20th. Started at nine o’clock. Our march was along 
 the Cumberland river, very rough and mountainous. 
 
 21st. We stopped near the ford today. We are wait- 
 ing for a train which we are to guard. It rains today. 
 Pine mountain is near us. 
 
 22nd. We lay in the same camp today. The train has 
 come up. Six men were hung near here a year or so ago. 
 A destitute country. We marched ten miles today in a 
 hard, driving, cold rain storm. The roads were heavy 
 with mud and water. My boots had large holes in them 
 and every time that I stepped the water would run in 
 and spurt out. We were, of course, very wet and cold. 
 We got shelter, at least my company did, in an open 
 barn ; dried our clothes by a big fire in front of the barn, 
 and crawled into the corn fodder and slept like pigs all 
 night. 
 
 To go back a few days to a letter written from Crab 
 Orchard the 12th, reference is made to uncle Jesse 
 
Emery, as I called him, who treated me so kindly while 
 near Lancaster, and his memory of me when the boys 
 went to his place for rations. This letter gives general 
 information of the happenings for several days. 
 
 Again to return one day or so, to a letter which gives 
 more details of our waiting at the ford than my diary 
 does. W e arrived here, Wednesday night, after march- 
 ing sixteen miles. That night a telegraph dispatch came 
 ordering us back to guard a train, as there was a force of 
 Rebels coming on. Two-thirds of the regiment went 
 back six miles, that night, and there received orders to 
 return to camp and wait until the train came up and 
 guard it to Knoxville. As before written we moved on 
 to Cumberland Gap. This is an interesting location. I 
 say in my letter that I am going to put my foot on the 
 spot which marks Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 
 This I did not do but rather placed my hand on the stone 
 tablet which marks the place. It was also of interest to 
 us of the 9th Corp.«, because of the capture of two 
 thousand fine Georgia veterans, a short time ago. This 
 place was held by these Confederate soldiers and blocked 
 Burnside’s path to Knoxville. He placed a force of raw 
 Indiana soldiers, which we named Infants, on the north- 
 ern side of the Gap so as to prevent the Rebels from get- 
 ting out of the Gap that way. Then he mounted ten 
 thousand infantry, marching farther south through a gap 
 in the mountains, coming up in the rear of the Rebels, 
 from the south, and so bagged them that they had no 
 alternative but to surrender. 
 
 As we were marching up the Gap these Georgia Rebels 
 passed us under guard, going north, and such an angry, 
 insolent horde of men, I never saw before. They said it 
 was humiliating after being marched from one state to 
 another during the war, so far, and never having a chance 
 to get into a battle. To be captured by those Indiana 
 Infants was too much for their Southern blood. 
 
 78 
 
One day this week Parson Brownlow and daughter of 
 Knoxville whig fame, passed us enroute for Knoxville. 
 He spoke a few words as he was leaving. The following 
 were some of them. “My parting advice to you is, that 
 you never take a Guerrilla prisoner, and if I had my way 
 about it, no other one. Shoot them.” He is an intelli- 
 gent, spare and careworn looking man, and his daughter, 
 was rather tall and not very good looking. I have a copy 
 of his paper called Brownlow’s Knoxville Whig and Rebel 
 Ventilator, which I obtained while in Knoxville. I have 
 already written about the roughness of the country, and 
 the bad roads, but I fear that I may not be credited as 
 truthful if I tell all we know or have experienced going 
 over the mountain. One incident, or a series of them, 
 will suggest what it meant to feed, clothe, furnish ammu- 
 nition and all needful supplies for an army about Knox- 
 ville. The mountain seems to be a mass of shelving 
 limestone ledges, which have a good cleavage. I have 
 seen the wagon master stand at a place where there was 
 a square step of a foot over which the wagons must be 
 hauled, and with his long black snake whip, as it was 
 called, heartlessly applying the same and yelling, “yea 
 there, yea there,” and supplemented by the driver, who 
 rides on one of the wheel mules, the mules leaping for 
 dear life would bring the wagon up over the step in the 
 ledge, excepting in cases where the mules would be 
 killed by such exertion (and they are not few.) 
 
 Saturday, the 24th, we passed through the Gap at 
 twenty-live minutes of one o’clock, having gone only six 
 miles. 
 
 Sunday the 25th, we marched seven miles. 
 
 Monday, the 26th, we went sixteen miles passing 
 through Tazwell. This place had been partly burned by 
 the Rebels. 
 
 Tuesday, the 27th, we made fifteen miles passing 
 through Maynardsville. 
 
 79 
 
W ednesday, the 28th, arrived in the suburbs of Knox- 
 ville after a long and tiresome march. Our rations while 
 on the march were rather scanty. The day before reach- 
 ing Knoxville, we were all out of bread stuff. Charlie 
 W ason and I had a bag of coffee, perhaps a pound ; we 
 went to a house, way in from the road where some per- 
 son of foreign birth lived and there traded our coffee for 
 a part of a loaf of bread, and went off by ourselves and 
 ate a part of it. Many of the boys had none to eat and it 
 may seem unkind and heartless not to have given the 
 remainder of our loaf to others who had none, but if you 
 knew how insistent I was to have the boys fill up their 
 haversacks with hardtack when they would start on a 
 march, and how they would disregard my orders, not 
 wanting to be burdened with the load, you would not 
 blame the man who had carried along his rations for not 
 giving to these shiftless ones. 
 
 Our wagon train not arriving until sometime after we 
 reached Knoxville, we were destitute of food. It might 
 have been amusing, or it might have excited sympathy, 
 for the poor soldier, had you seen Charlie and me shake 
 out the crumbs from our haversack onto the clean grassy 
 sward, and then lay on our stomachs and pick up the 
 dirty leavings of bread, pork, beef, &c., and eat them. 
 
 I recall that near this place we found a woman who 
 would bake us some biscuit and we got a dozen little ones 
 for twenty-five cents. 
 
 As I previously said, much of the company business 
 devolves upon me, and also much regimental work for 
 the Sergeant Major is to the Adjutant, what an Orderly 
 Sergeant is to the Captain of a company. Soon after the 
 teams got in, I went about the muster rolls as these must 
 be made out in order to get our pay, and they served as 
 a record of the army on which our chief officers based 
 their reports and by which they were able to plan cam- 
 paigns. This work was quite laborious in detail, and if 
 
 80 
 
I am allowed to repeat what my letter to my wife said, 
 “My rolls were made out more promptly and in better 
 shape than those made by some line ofificers.” The 
 reports of the Adjutant had to be forwarded to Brigade 
 Headquarters, and this was a part of my duty as Ser- 
 geant Major. 
 
 Well, about our camp ; soldiers, like folks at home, are 
 usually interested in their quarters, and we began to fit 
 up ours. We were in the midst of a hard pine grove, 
 with small sized trees, and these we cut and made log 
 houses, or at least the lower part of the walls, stretching 
 our tents over them. We had ours well along, when 
 conditions changed our plans, and hard work went for 
 naught. As just noted, I carried Regiment and Company 
 reports to Brigade Headquarters, and this morning, the 
 14th of November, I went to the city with the intention 
 of going to Louden with our reports. Our Brigade is 
 there. 
 
 I found that the train went two hours earlier than 
 usual, because Gen. Burnside and staff had urgent busi- 
 ness there, so I had to go back to camp and the next day 
 at one p. m., I took the train and went to Loudon. 
 
 81 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 I will now begin the detailed account of the retreat of 
 Gen. Burnside and of the siege of the city of Knoxville as 
 related in a long letter sent to my wife after the siege 
 was raised. 
 
 The operations in Grant’s army around Chattanooga 
 were assuming much interest, and in rather a critical 
 condition. Bragg was manoeuvering doubtless to crush 
 Grant. Jeff Davis had sent Gen. Longstreet to his aid 
 from the army of Virginia, a force of thirty thousand of 
 the best troops of that army. The political condition of 
 the country was a matter of great solicitude and Ken- 
 tuky and Tennessee seemed in the balance. Both north 
 and south needed her help and for that reason in part I 
 suppose we were sent into that country. Jeff Davis was 
 especially anxious to clear out the northern soldiers, so 
 ordered Longstreet to go to Knoxville and drive out or 
 capture Burnside’s army. No move of the Rebel forces 
 could have been made which would have pleased Grant 
 as well, for it would make it possible for him to fight and 
 win a victory over Bragg, which later he accomplished. 
 Longstreet started for Knoxville, some eighty miles 
 away. The fighting and retreat commenced Saturday 
 the 14th of November. It seems that Longstreet had 
 reached the river opposite where our forces were on the 
 13th, and put down a pontoon in the very front, and in 
 the face of Gen. Vhite’s command, and if reports are 
 correct he was not ignorant of what was being done. It 
 seems that part of the enemy’s forces had crossed the 
 river by daylight, and an order had been given by our 
 
 82 
 
Generals in command to Gens. White and Potter to 
 retreat, and a stampede was the result. The trains, artil- 
 lery and infantry were started for Knoxville, a distance 
 of twenty-five miles. The trains had got a good distance 
 away, the artillery and infantry a few miles, when Burn- 
 side and staff arrived on special train from Knoxville, 
 and immediately changed the order to about face, and 
 sent a force back from Lenoir to near Loudon to hold the 
 army in check. However they were too strong and 
 forced our men gradually back near Lenoir, when those 
 of the 23rd corps were relieved by the 2nd division of the 
 9th corps, who held the Rebels in check for some hours. 
 Having business for our Regiment at Brigade Head 
 quarters, I went to Lenoir today (Sunday) at one o’clock 
 p. m. Our forces were then holding the Rebels but 
 apparently preparing for a retreat, which commenced 
 that night, the second division covering it. It was a very 
 interesting, vivid and exciting scene to me. I had a few 
 hours to wait before the train started for Knoxville, and 
 to witness the manoeuvering of troops, the break-neck 
 rush of batteries, the rush and hurry of baggage wagons, 
 the firing, in fact not a camp parade but an actual war 
 manoeuvre and fight, (and) was more than lever expected 
 to behold and not be a participant. It certainly was 
 exciting, but as prudence is the best part of valor, I 
 crawled into a car nearly filled with sacks of grain and 
 rode down to Knoxville, arriving there at eleven o’clock. 
 We passed artillery, infantry trains, and also wagons 
 burning so as to destroy them, for they needed the 
 horses for the artillery. It was an exciting, eventful 
 ride. The Rebels followed and skirmished with our 
 forces until they were two miles below Concord, and 
 fourteen from Knoxville. A field fight took place, and 
 the enemy tried to flank our forces. It is reported by 
 many officers that an army was never manoeuvred in a 
 more splendid manner than Gen. Burnside directed this. 
 
 83 
 
He was hard pressed by a superior force of the best con- 
 federate soldiers, and without artillery to retard this 
 march, while Burnside had heavy twenty pound guns to 
 save, and also a train which he was finally obliged to 
 destroy to get the mules to haul the batteries. The 
 Rebels suffered badly in the terrible charges on our 
 guns, shotted with grape and canister. Our estimate of 
 their loss was four hundred. Our forces fell back, Mon- 
 day night, and part of them reached Knoxville by morn- 
 ing. Skirmishing was continued today. Our forces fell 
 back and established their lines across the city some five 
 miles in a half circle, each flank resting on the Holsten 
 river, also on the south side of the river. 
 
 The 11th we were called up by the long rolls at five 
 o’clock, Monday morning, and moved from camp toward 
 the city, some half a mile and formed in line for battle, 
 fronting towards the Gap, for report said a raid was 
 expected from that direction. We had got nicely asleep 
 in the evening when we were ordered to change our 
 position, some one-half mile to the left, and throw out 
 pickets, which order we obeyed. Being broken of my 
 rest last night, I was sleepy and laid down by a fire and 
 slept until morning. We remained in nearh- this position 
 until night, when we were ordered to join the Brigade 
 which was in camp in the city. It really seemed strange 
 when we marched into the city so crowded with teams 
 and troops, the camps all aglow with camp fires. I 
 thought of the counter we played in surrounding and 
 holding the Rebels at Vicksburg, when now they were 
 outside and we in. We have rifle pits dug, and fortifi- 
 cations thrown up and have a very strong position. 
 
 Today, AVednesday, we were ordered to send out on 
 picket one Captain, six Sergeants, ten Corporals and one 
 hundred and sixteen men, and the remainder went into 
 the rifle pits. The enemy is in our front and at our left 
 and seem to be making round to the right. There has 
 
 84 
 
been a charge by the Rebels on our left, but it was 
 repulsed in good shape. There has been artillery firing 
 today. Gen. Hartranft is building a dam across a stream 
 near our pits so as to overflow a ravine in front of our 
 lines, and thus aid us in repelling, or preventing a suc- 
 cessful charge. The line is very quiet and I slept well 
 tonight. 
 
 Thursday the 19th we sent one hundred men on picket. 
 It has been quiet all day with but little firing. We 
 are really in a besieged city, each day expecting that the 
 Rebels will make an assault on our works. I think it 
 will be a sorry job, and do not fear much their ability to 
 capture our position, but if they do succeed with the 
 seige, it will be by starving us out. 
 
 Friday the 20th, we changed our position across Gay 
 street on the heights beyond and occupied some pits 
 newly dug. We worked today improving and strength- 
 ening them. A strong position. It is with difficulty that 
 a man can climb the hill in our front and with a pond of 
 water from two to six feet deep, at the base, we feel quite 
 secure from a successful assault. 
 
 Sent on picket today eighty-five men. 
 
 Saturday the 21st. Eighty-five men and two Lieuten- 
 ants. The 2nd Maryland Regiment fell back today as 
 they have done before, losing ground. They do not show 
 good metal. We are molested but little ; the enemy open 
 on us once in awhile with their artillery, which calls forth 
 a speedy response from ours. I suppose that very impor- 
 tant operations are going on in Rosecrans’ army, also in 
 Mead’s. We hear various rumors. We may get help in 
 a week or two. We have a good quantity of rations on 
 hand and are constantly having them replenished from 
 the other side of the river. 
 
 Sunday, the 22nd, it has been quiet most of the day : 
 little picket firing. A few shells were thrown to one of 
 our forts toward evening doing no harm ; also a few into 
 
our picket line; the clay is fine and it does not seem that 
 a fierce foe is so near ns, waiting for his prey, but it is 
 true. 
 
 I hope, however, that it will prove with them as with 
 Haman of old, that they may sufifer the evil they are 
 planning for us. Time is the great revealer to man. I 
 wait patiently for the verdict. We sent on picket 
 seventy-five men, two Lieutenants. 
 
 Monday the 23rd. We awake to find ourselves all 
 right and in apparent safety. I have to be up consider- 
 able nights, standing guard, and in one and another 
 capacity. We have to work very hard, the men being out 
 every other day, and on other duty most every intermedi- 
 ate day. 
 
 The 2nd Maryland and 48th Pennsylvania were 
 driven in from their position this evening which made a 
 bad thing for the rest of their line. The Rebels gained a 
 good position and much distance towards our works. Vfie 
 lost some men ; one was killed in Company B and two 
 others in the Brigade. Our folks burned a number of 
 buildings between the lines to prevent the Rebels’ 
 pickets occupying them. The scene from our elevated 
 position was grand and exciting. A beautiful, bright 
 moon was giving her part to the play, and the burning 
 buildings lighted up the country making a scene for the 
 eye beautiful to behold. The play was made more realis- 
 tic, entertaining and exhilarating by the display and roar 
 of exploding cartridges, bursting shell and bombs, which 
 were started in an old grist mill at the base of the hill in 
 front of us. 
 
 A miniature battle without the carnage accompani- 
 ment, the rush of men to the charge, or blood-curdling 
 yell of the oncoming enemy. I shall not soon forget the 
 event. 
 
 Tuesday the 24th. The 21st IMassachusetts and 48th 
 Pennsylvania Regiments went out soon after light and 
 
 86 
 
charged on the Rebels’ pickets, driving them back to their 
 former position. Three men were killed in our Brigade, 
 and one in Company B, and another wounded, one taken 
 prisoner. Corporal Whipple, Co. C. Farther up on the 
 line to our left in the 1st division they suffered con- 
 siderably. 
 
 A Michigan Regiment charged on the enemy’s rifle 
 pits but were forced to retire a little. The morning was 
 quite fogg}^ making it favorable for our side. Since 
 morning all has been quiet, the weather stormy. As a 
 matter of course, we kept in or near our pits in the former 
 part of the day lest our pickets should be driven in. The 
 enemy appear to have a large camp not more than a mile 
 from, and in front, of us. We cannot conjecture their 
 movements, but are constantly on the look out for an 
 attack by them. We sent on picket this morning 
 seventy-one men, two Lieutenants, and tonight forty- 
 four men and Lieut. Everett, the last as a reserve for the 
 weak place where the Rebels advanced last night 
 
 Wednesday, the 25th. Sent out ninety-six men, one 
 Captain, one Lieutenant. A very heavy detail. I took 
 every man, all Orderly Sergeants but Lyford, who is 
 acting Lieutenant, and myself, and then, at six o’clock 
 p. m., sent our forty-four men and one Lieutenant. All 
 seemed quiet until about two-thirty o’clock when we 
 were all ordered to the pits as an attack was expected. 
 We heard considerable firing across the river on the left 
 and suppose it to be Shackford trying to capture a body 
 of the enemy whom he surrounded. We learn that he 
 took six hundred prisoners, and dispersed the remainder, 
 but no further demonstration in our front. 
 
 Thursday, the 26th, is Thanksgiving day in New 
 Hampshire as also throughout the north by proclamation 
 of the President. It has been quiet in this besieged city 
 and the soldiers are in good spirits, hardly believing 
 that we are soon to march to Richmond under guard. I 
 
 87 
 
wish wife and other friends at home were as well, and 
 happy at heart as I am. I fear that great anxiety and 
 premonitions of evil are torturing them, not receiving • 
 letters from us for a long time, and no direct news in the 
 papers, and knowing as they must that a large army 
 surrounds us. They very naturally believe that the 
 worst fate awaits us. 
 
 A stubborn resistance by a beleaguered army, if bi'ave, 
 is among the worst and hardest to endure. There is no 
 alternative but to surrender on demand, or to hght to 
 the death. \AT fully realize this as our situation, and I 
 personally realize our condition and am trying to be 
 prepared so far as my relations with my God and also 
 with relation to my duty here. Considering it from the 
 usual standpoint I should say that I have not had much 
 of a Thanksgiving day. 
 
 One year ago today I was in Falmouth, Va., and sick 
 with the jaundice. I have been in many very di\ crse 
 and trying scenes since that date. I do think that I feel 
 thankful for the kind Providence which has watched over 
 mine and me, and if consistent with the will of that kind 
 Protector, I earnestly pray that by another (annual) 
 Thanksgiving day, this cruel war may be over, and I, as 
 well as thousands more of the nations’ saviors, may 
 return to our homes and dear ones. It is cold today. 
 Sent on picket two Lieutenants, four Sergeants, eight 
 Corporals, and seventy-six men. 
 
 Friday, the 27th, has passed without much disturbance 
 some picket firing as usual. Sent out two Lieutenants, 
 four Sergeants eight Corporals on picket. My quarters 
 are with the ofificers in a house near the pits as it seems 
 necessary for me to be near Col. Cogswell, who is in com- 
 mand so as to carry out his orders promptily. New forti- 
 fications are being thrown up, and our men are making 
 this position stronger daily. The Rebels are very quiet 
 for a few days, ominous of impending trouble for us. 
 
 88 
 

Saturday, the 28th. Quiet all day until midnight when 
 the Rebels began to be bold, advancing their skirmish 
 line considerably, and because of the frequent outbreak 
 of firing we were kept awake and up the most of the nighv. 
 
 Sunday, the 29th, our Regiment with the 51st Pennsyl- 
 vania and 35th Massachusetts went to the front and drove 
 back the Rebel line and reoccupied our position in front, 
 of our Brigade; no other was fully gained along the line. 
 While we were at the front, occupied as above, the Rebels 
 commenced a brisk Artillery fire from two different forts, 
 into our Fort Saunders, and at the same time started an 
 assault with twelve or thirteen hundred men. This 
 assault was quick, determined and fierce, hoping to cap- 
 ture this, our strongest fort in our works, manned with a 
 battery of twenty pound parrot guns and a battery of 
 brass, twelve pound Napolion guns, and a support of two 
 hundred infantry. 
 
 The ten guns were worked to their limit loaded with 
 grape, canister, old iron nuts from the railroad shop, &c., 
 making terrible havoc with the assaulting column. The 
 guns were trained on the Rebels as they stumbled over 
 and through net work of telegraph wire, stretched 
 from stump to stump in front oft he incline approaching 
 the fort. A thousand men at least were killed, woundec! 
 or taken prisoners; and such horrible wounds. The 
 moat, some six by eight feet, in front surrounding the 
 embankment, was literally filled with wounded and dead 
 Rebels. Their desperation was so fierce, and courage so 
 great, that many clambered up from the moat to the 
 embrasure and even to the top of the parapet, their blood 
 stains witnessing to their bravery and desperation. 
 
 In one case, an officer with battle flag in hand, climbed 
 to an embrasure stamping the staff into the earth, said, 
 “I am the man for you to surrender this for to.” Benja- 
 min in command of the twenty pound gun, replied, “The 
 H you are,” pulled the lanyard, sending the officer 
 
 89 
 
and the associates quickly to eternity. The ground 
 around where the wire was stretched from stump to 
 stump, was strewn with dead and wounded men. Surely 
 war is horrid, and if this particular incident is not the 
 Hell, Sherman meant, I have not seen, and don’t care to 
 view it. An armistice was on until five o’clock p. m. 
 I talked with the Rebels. They treated us respectfully 
 and appear well. They are Georgia troops. Though 
 they may feel ill toward us for the morning lesson given 
 them, they cannot blame us. If they had kept on their 
 own ground, it would have been otherwise. They told 
 us that their officers assured them that only new 23rd 
 Corps men manned the fort, otherwise they would have 
 hesitated in attacking the 9th corps men. We have strict 
 orders now. Sent two Lieutenants, five Sergeants, eight 
 Corporals and eighty-one men on picket. 
 
 Monday the 30th. All is very quiet since the armistice 
 of yesterday. Sent the same number on picket as yes- 
 terday. Our men are worked hard. Besides being on 
 picket twenty-four hours out of sixty hours, they have a 
 great amount of fatigue duty. M'e are continually 
 strengthening our position. 
 
 One of the second Maryland boys was shot through 
 the head, near our works. 
 
 Tuesday, Dec. 1, is quiet on both sides. Engaged same 
 as yesterday. We have very cheering news. A circular 
 was forwarded from headquarters which read as follows : 
 
 “Information has been received at these Headquarters 
 that Gen. Grant has driven Bragg from Lookout Moun- 
 tain and Missionary Ridge ; that Bragg is in full retreat 
 for Dalton, Ga. Grant attacked Bragg and whipped him 
 severely ; though Gen. Sherman was repulsed on the left 
 with a loss of three hundred killed and twenty-five hun- 
 dred wounded ; Grant took six thousand prisoners, fifty 
 pieces of artillery, and Bragg is broken up effectually, 
 and our army following him.’’ Also that reinforcements 
 
 90 
 
are within forty miles of ns. This is really good news. 
 Each Regiment gave nine hearty cheers for the success 
 of our arms. We are expecting another attack tonight 
 and the Generals are very particular to have us all keep 
 a good watch. We are constantly under excitement, and 
 getting but little sleep. I am up each night two or more 
 hours as officer of the sentinels, and more on other duty, 
 but I do not complain for it is necessary to be very vigi- 
 lant these times and not lose the reputation which the 
 old 9th corps has so dearly earned. 
 
 The Rebels are up to something this eve, but we 
 cannot tell what. 
 
 \\'ednesday, the 2nd. We are still in the besieged 
 city, yet it hardly seems so. It is very quiet so far as 
 firing goes, most of the daytime, but some nights we have 
 considerable excitement. At times the Rebels will 
 attempt to charge or to advance their lines, when our 
 camp will be routed at once. The sight would appear 
 ludicrous could it be placed on canvas by some artist, for 
 the eyes of the northern people. 
 
 The sentinel arouses the men in the pits. The officer 
 in charge of the sentinels, which is myself, awakens the 
 officers, who are mostly together in the room where I am. 
 In a moment all are awake. Indeed we do not sleep 
 soundly as at other times. Almost every night, we are 
 aroused once or more and a general scrabbling for boots, 
 sword, belt, overcoats and hats ensues. It is a very 
 wearing, tiresome situation and I wish never to have a 
 second experience of this kind. Our food is getting 
 scarce and poor. We have pretty good rations of meat, 
 but the poorest Indian corn meal made into pudding, or 
 mush as we call it, generally without molasses or sugar 
 to eat on it. It is not palatable I assure you. These are 
 the only rations nowdays. I don’t feel like complaining, 
 however, if it were not for the boys foraging cattle, hogs, 
 some ffour and bran near the picket lines, they would be 
 
 91 
 
very short indeed, but Providence has provided thus far, 
 and I think will, so that we shall escape falling into the 
 hands of the Rebels. They seem to be up to some move. 
 They are either making ready to leave our front for 
 Richmond, or massing their forces to attack us. Let 
 them try it, we are ready. Sent on picket the usual 
 number. 
 
 Thursday the 3rd was a comparatively quiet day. Not 
 much picket firing, but toward night, one of our batteries 
 shelled a train of troops moving as we supposed. The 
 fort in the center of our Regiment is nearly completed, 
 and is a formidable work. There are five embrasures in 
 it, but only three guns at the present time. I think the 
 enemy cannot get up to our position, much more take it. 
 The 11th are all ready for a brush with them, but prob- 
 ably will not get it. News continues cheering. Sherman 
 is reported across the river with six thousand cavalry. 
 His advance and infantry fifteen miles away. 
 
 Friday, the 4th, sent on picket the usual detail. 
 The Rebels seem to be leaving without taking us along 
 with them, as they promised us they would do. Although 
 they keep up a bold front, they gave us their parting 
 salute, firing their cannon just before evening. Our 
 guns replied with a brisk cannonade. 
 
 We keep up our picket duty. Nothing of interest hap- 
 pening save that Sherman has arrived with sixteen hun- 
 dred cavalry, and two thousand infantry are near. I am 
 glad that his forces are so near and that the seige is 
 raised, sooner, no doubt, on account of his coming. 
 
 Saturday, the 5th. AVe awoke to find “Johnny Rebs” 
 nearly all gone. Our pickets had orders to go forward 
 and learn if the enemy still occupied their post. We 
 found them deserted. The pickets followed on to the 
 woods where their camp was and picked up a large num- 
 ber of Rebel soldiers, probably many of whom wanted to 
 
 92 
 
be taken by us. It is estimated that our men brought 
 in one thousand rebels. 
 
 Our own brigade, and the Ist were sent out to recon- 
 noiter the woods and country. We went five miles 
 toward the Gap, the cavalry preceding us, and as the 
 Rebel cavalry guarded their rear, we the infantry, could 
 effect no good in pursuing them. The roads are bad. 
 Returned to camp about two o’clock p. m. 
 
 We have now seen the closing act of the greatest siege 
 our army has endured during this war. A siege in which 
 the beleaguered forces have maintained a most praise- 
 worthy example of courage and discipline. Our army of 
 not more than twelve thousand, composed in part of new 
 ine.xperienced troops of the 23rd corps, have occupied a 
 line of works six miles long as a defense against an army 
 of thirty thousand seasoned veterans commanded by the 
 brilliant and fighting General Longstreet. That army 
 has invested and held us practically as prisoners, as they 
 have termed it, and humanely thinking and speaking, 
 they spoke rightly. 
 
 They have not at any time totally cut off our com- 
 munications, but have prevented us mostly from forag- 
 ing. During this time they have made several charges 
 on our skirmish lines which has been out from the 
 fortifications from two-thirds of a mile to a distance of 
 only the railroad bed between them. As often as our line 
 has been driven in, and our position taken by them, so 
 often have we made counter charges, gaining our lost 
 position. We have lost but few men while they must 
 have lost nearly three thousand. I have said before that 
 this service has been very wearing on our nervous as well 
 as our physical systems. Out of two hundred and eighty 
 men, in our regiment, who carried guns, we have sent 
 from seventy to one hundred and sixteen on picket each 
 day, besides forty who have been out in buildings 
 between the lines as sharp shooters, thus causing the men 
 
 93 
 
generally to go on picket as often as every other day and 
 in some cases, oftener, losing twenty-four hours sleep out 
 of forty-eight, and even when they were in camp, I have 
 been obliged to detail them for work on the fortifications 
 all day or night, when they would lie down in the damp 
 pits to sleep only to be awakened by sentinels, whom I 
 placed on duty each night to arouse the camp in case of 
 an attack or charge on our pickets. Seldom have we 
 gone to bed and remained there for the whole night. I 
 have been up nearly every night, two hours, and often 
 have been aroused by the enemy or by orders from head- 
 quarters to give some orders to the men, and right here 
 I wish to further add and say with emphasis, even in 
 consideration of the awful carnage of Fredericksburg, 
 the hard marches and fighting from Vicksburg to Jackson 
 and return, this has been for the time being the most 
 wearing, tedious, nervous strain that we have experi- 
 enced, living each day with the uncertainty which always 
 attends the experiences of the besieged, and for a time 
 with the grave doubt of our ability to ward of¥ a general 
 assault by such an army as Longstreet’s. 
 
 I gave my diary to our Quarter Master Sergeant to 
 give to my wife, thinking if I were captured he might get 
 away on his horse. For the encouragement of the army. 
 General Burnside ordered the band to play each day at 
 his headquarters. He also had read in general orders, 
 encouraging orders, and saying that if the city was taken, 
 he should be taken with the men, meaning that he had 
 faith in our ability to withstand the siege and that he 
 should not attempt to get away m case it was captured. 
 
 T wish to mention a fact which I think is not generally 
 known, and which should have been noted farther back 
 in this narrative. After Longstreet had left the vicinity 
 of Chattanooga and while but a little way from our posi- 
 tion at Louden, where I mentioned our troops were first 
 
 94 
 
met b}' Longstreet, Burnside received a dispatch from 
 Grant, the purport of which was as follows: 
 
 “Gen. Burnside, you will refrain from attacking Long- 
 street in force, but allow him to follow your force, draw- 
 ing him on to Knoxville ; allowing yourself to be 
 besieged, holding him there even to the sacrifice of your 
 whole command.” In view of the operations around 
 Chattanooga, one can see the reasonableness and the 
 g'reat importance of carrying out Grant’s orders. Long- 
 street must be enticed far enough away so that he could 
 not quickly return to Bragg. The capture of our whole 
 command would be a cheap price to pay for the destruc- 
 tion of Bragg’s army and the strategic position of Chatta- 
 nooga. With Bragg broken up, Grant could send Sher- 
 man at once after Longstreet and again open up East 
 Lennessee in case we were captured, so I feel that we 
 ought to have inscribed on our banner, Lookout Moun- 
 cain and Missionary Ridge. 
 
 I have entered into many details in this narrative, but 
 also have omitted much that is written in the letter from 
 which I copy many personal allusions, much of my per- 
 sonal feelings and experiences written for the dear one, 
 waiting in sorrow and terrible suspense those many days 
 in which no tidings of good or ill reached her. I was 
 happy with the assurance of the watchful care of my 
 Heavenly Father, and of his will being accomplished in 
 my faithfulness to Him, my country and to my fellow- 
 men. I was continually grateful to Him for all of good, 
 and I might say, of evil, which was mine to enjoy and 
 endure. I am proud of the privilege of the experience 
 which was mine, and I hope, not boastfully either, that I 
 did my full duty and encouraged many a weaker com- 
 rade to faithfulness. 
 
 I will say in closing this story that I kept a daily 
 record of the events noted herein, writing them on paper 
 which I obtained from the railroad office, three leaves 
 
 95 
 
from a long, narrow journel and nine leaves from a 
 smaller ruled book. I have also in a brief pocket diary 
 a synopsis of the above. 
 
 Now, having disposed of Longstreet and his army, I 
 will follow on with our campaign in East Tennessee. 
 On the last date in this narrative, I wrote a letter to my 
 wife so that she might learn from me of our safety. A 
 few days later, the 7th, I mailed the letter from which 
 the above account is written. 
 
 Today, the 7th of December, we started after the 
 Rebels on the Morristown road and marched twelve 
 miles. 
 
 The 8th. Lay in camp till noon, then went eight miles. 
 Rations are not more than one fourth of the regular. I 
 say we are very hungry and cannot buy anything to eat. 
 
 The 9th. Came fourteen miles. The country seems 
 devastated. The Rebels have taken everything they 
 could, leaving the people destitute. The Rebels are 
 some distance ahead of us. We remained in this last 
 camp, Rutledge, until the 15th, receiving orders almost 
 daily to be ready to move, and today we ha^'e formed a 
 line of battle on account of rumors of the advance of the 
 enemy. 
 
 I received a letter from wife which was the first in five 
 weeks. From this place we retreated back five miles 
 tonight. Did not get much sleep tonight. The 23rd 
 Corps passed us the next morning, the 16th, after which 
 we retreated six miles, our division covering the move- 
 ment, flanked by our Cavalry. The Rebels did not press 
 us very hard. At about two o'clock we halted, formed 
 fine of battle and made preparations for a fight, but the 
 enemy did not give us a chance, except on the flanks 
 where some fighting was done, we taking some prisoners. 
 We are now at Lee Springs and have been here four 
 weeks, doing outpost duty, going out on reconnoissance 
 in force, but the enemy has left this vicinity for the pres- 
 
 96 
 
ent, but my letters say that there are many of he 
 strongest Rebels left about here in the persons of the 
 inhabitants, which makes it difficult for our army and 
 dangerous for us to go into the country without our 
 arms. 
 
 I say that they are not as loyal as the Northern papers 
 make it appear. From my letters, also, comparing with 
 a separate diary, Lee Springs and Blain Cross Roads 
 must have been one and the same place, or town. 
 
 From memory I recall incidents of our stay there and 
 of our leaving. I relate that in marching from Rutledge 
 to Strawberry Plains, we have seldom experienced worse 
 marching for reason of the mud. We camped in the 
 woods, and we were obliged to go three-fourths of a mile 
 to the Holsten River for drinking water, requiring at 
 least three quarters of an hour to go and return, on 
 account of the deep mud. 
 
 One day I did break the ice on a puddle of water in 
 the road, and dipped up some of the water and made my 
 coffee with it. I did not need milk for the mud made it 
 look like coffee well colored with cream, and strange to 
 say, tasted so. Would you like to sip a cup of such, 
 knowing the chemical mixture of roads traveled over by 
 many horses. We stopped at this place from Saturday 
 until the next Friday. Broke camp, marching one-half 
 mile, lying there until eleven o’clock at night, then mov- 
 ing on toward Knoxville, two miles, being followed by 
 the Rebels. From here we (our Brigade) drew three 
 guns, more than three miles because the battery horses 
 gave out. It was a hard pull. 
 
 As my letters of late speak of short rations, we had the 
 experience here, as well as the opposite. I write that as 
 a substitute for good food, parched corn, or corn other- 
 wise prepared does very well. Hard tack, when we could 
 get it was dainty food, so was one half pound of flour or 
 cob meal, prized when we could obtain it. 
 
 97 
 
One day, after waiting since morning for rations, a load 
 of ears of corn came into camp and each man received one 
 or two ears. We parched it, then ground it in our tin 
 dippers, made sort of a mush, and having a little pork fat, 
 made a gravy to go with it. I have handled over the corn 
 fodder which was thrown into the barn yard several 
 inches deep, for the nubbins of corn. I have picked up 
 the corn left by the cavalry horses, and one night, while 
 on a retreat at about midnight, the Adjutant ordered me 
 to detail one man and the cook from each company to go 
 down to the Holsten river where our stores were, and 
 get some pork and flour. Knowing that two men could 
 bring but a small amount for each company, I told 
 Charlie Wason to go down and get some pork for us. 
 This pork, by the way, was driven over the mountains 
 from Kentucky and slaughtered here, corded up out of 
 doors and salt thrown over it. Charlie returned with a 
 great ham, weighing nearly twenty-five pounds, which I 
 carried that night and part of the next day until I could 
 get it onto an ambulance driven by Charles Rowe, one of 
 my company, and a former tent mate. 
 
 One-half pound of flour was dealt out to each man, and 
 these were all the rations furnished by the commissary 
 for five days. But to go back to Lee Springs; together 
 with the conditions above written, the weather was cold 
 as we were in the hill country of East Tennessee. My 
 tent was located on one side of a ravine which had its 
 outlet in another deeper valley through which ran a 
 stream of water. The head of my tent came against the 
 bank, the foot all open above ground. Cotton ducking 
 tent pieces made our roof and closed up the foot end of 
 the tent. We kept a big log fire most of the time, near 
 the feet end of the tent, but my record notes that one 
 night the water in a pail froze nearly one inch thick. I 
 remember well the aching feet those cold nights. As we 
 were in a forest of great oaks, we had plenty of wood for 
 
 98 
 
the cutting. Our clothing was worn and ragged ; my 
 letters speak of mending, patching, &c. 
 
 We had beef issued, slaughtered by our quarter master 
 butcher. As we were so far from our base of supplies, 
 which was Nicholes, Ky., some two hundred and fifty 
 miles away to be gotten to us over roads described above, 
 it was next to impossible to furnish us with the actual 
 necessities of life, and in many an unheard of way, we 
 tried to substitute. Ten of our company were almost 
 without shoes in that wintry country where at times 
 there were several inches of snow and with the mercury 
 at zero. 
 
 I issued raw hide fresh from the slaughtered cattle, 
 from which they made shoes by cutting the hide into 
 shape to tie up with strings from the same. This made a 
 fairly warm shoe as they used the hair inside. 
 
 We had considerable outpost picket duty which was 
 anything but pleasant this wintry, stormy weather. Our 
 marches which were frequent, were over muddy, slippery 
 roads, and we have often called this our Valley Forge 
 campaign. But as there is more than one side to most 
 questions, or things, so there was to this which I have 
 shown so dreary, hard and filled with deprivation and 
 suffering. We did not quite starve for we could obtain 
 passes to go into the country for forage. (And by the 
 way, I have preserved two or three of these.) (A copy 
 of which may be found on the closing pages of this 
 book.) 
 
 In my letter of December 31st, near Blains Cross 
 Roads, I refer to a chicken dinner three of us had, 
 and how we filled up. Also an account of Sergt. Magoon 
 and I going into the country, traveling sixteen miles 
 before returning with two geese for which we paid forty 
 cents each, six chickens at twenty-five cents each, one- 
 half bushel potatoes for fifty cents, eighteen ears of corn 
 for ten cents. We got a hot dinner for thirty cents each. 
 
 99 
 
and I think four canteens of sorghum. These we toted 
 from four to six miles. It was rather a heavy load. The 
 geese were troublesome merchandise. Every little while 
 they would get their wings loose and such a cuffing of 
 our ears and head we don’t care to have repeated. This 
 plunder (no, not that, for we made a fair deal for it all) we 
 divided, each selling a part of his to other comrades. As 
 Charlie Wason and I tented together we cooked a chicken 
 and afterwards baked a goose in a dutch oven we found 
 somewhere, and we had coffee with milk in it. I obtained 
 the milk from a house a few rods from m3" tent. 
 
 While I am writing to my wife of all this good fortune, 
 Charlie is hulling corn, and I will tell you how he does it. 
 He puts it in a kettle as any woman would, then in the 
 absence of a bag, puts the ashes in with the corn, boiling 
 the corn until the hulls will come off. Charlie thinks 
 they start well. Then after cleansing it, we shall boiEit 
 until it is fit to eat. So much for rations. 
 
 As I have just said, I got some milk from a house 
 nearb3" and in m3" letter, I go on to sa3', and even to mv 
 wife (and how did I dare to confess so much) that there 
 are two unmarried women in this house, not three rods 
 from m3" tent, who are quite accommodating to me. (I 
 presume they loaned me the iron kettle and dutch oven). 
 And now that I have begun, I may as well tell all. When 
 we first came to this place most of the regiment were on 
 the skirmish line, and as Headquarters were at this house, 
 it was mv stopping place. The staff officers all slept in 
 the house on the floor. The two girls and their father, 
 and I, also slept in the same room as there was but one 
 in the upstairs of the house. I was in the house with the 
 officers more or less and became well acquainted with 
 the girls, before the regiment came into the valle3' to 
 camp. I close 1113" reference to the girls b3' sa3dng that 
 they are not good looking or sprightly enough to capti- 
 
 100 
 
rate one. I do not recall whether they were snufif eaters 
 or not. 
 
 Leonard Dearborn has returned to the Regiment from 
 home, and another Candia boy. I am writing by the 
 light of my camp fire. In writing of the family with 
 whom I spent a few nights, I forgot to say that the father 
 of the girls, was an old veteran of 1815. His snowy locks 
 remind me of my aged and much loved sire. 
 
 Yes, here in this sort of a prison lives, for a time, a body 
 of three hundred brave sons of the Granite State. Cheer- 
 ful and happy as the gay throng who fill the streets of 
 Northern cities. Lying here for their country’s protec- 
 tion, to repel the marauder, to crush the Rebel who is 
 hardy enough to desecrate this quiet retreat. Thus it is 
 true of soldier life as of civil. As Brother Wesley put it 
 in verse, “This life is of mingled yarn, ’tis good and ill 
 together.” 
 
 I have been copying from letters of January 9th, and 
 the next I find mailed from Strawberry Plains, Tenn. 
 
 The 20th. Various rumors are circulating in camp. 
 “They say,” is the most prominent character in camp, and 
 he says that Longstreet is forcing our front back. Also 
 the 9th Corps is to report back to Cincinnati, and each 
 regiment to go to its respective state to recruit. 
 
 My next written on a small card from Knoxville, Jan. 
 24. We have gone below the city a few miles, in camp. 
 
 The 31st at Erin’s Stations, refers to a religious seiwice 
 by the Chaplain, as it is Sunday. We have in the last 
 few weeks been going up and down this country forty or 
 more miles, driving the Rebels and then retreating hastily 
 with the loss of much forage and other stores. We 
 were started off a few nights ago in the middle of the 
 night. There was a force of the Rebels across the river 
 from where we were, and we rvere ordered to pick up and 
 leave. They followed us and the next day was very 
 interesting to me. As I have said previously, I am act- 
 
 101 
 
ing Sergeant Major, and on the march I am compara- 
 tively free and at liberty; do not carry a gun, or luggage 
 save my blanket, coat, and haversack, and as our retreat 
 was more or less in an open wide valley between two high 
 ridges, I had a good view of the operations. 
 
 The retreat was conducted as orderly as a division or 
 corps drill in camp. I kept with the rear of our troops 
 as near as prudence allowed, and where I had full view 
 of the enemy pressing on. 
 
 Our division would form, say one brigade in line of bat- 
 tle across the wide valley, the other retire and form in 
 a more advanced position, when that in the rear or 
 nearest the Rebels, would fall back on the new line, pass 
 through it and make a new formation. I did go ahead 
 once, and on to an elevated position where I could wit- 
 ness the maneouver, which to a military person was very 
 interesting and exciting. The Rebels followed on until 
 finally we formed a line of battle in a good position, then 
 the Rebels retired. We marched on seven miles below 
 Knoxville, and lay here a short time and then on the 3rd 
 had orders to march which we did at four thirty o’clock. 
 It seems that we had left some of our things at this place, 
 and now we were ordered to take all with us as if we were 
 not to return to this camp below Knoxville. 
 
 We were ordered to march with three days’ rations. 
 We marched up through Knoxville across the Holston 
 River about one mile and camped at about eight thirty. 
 Of the march I say, one could just about as well climb up 
 a hill, rocky and rough, all covered with ice, as to march 
 over some of the road we traveled, because the mud was 
 so very slippery. 
 
 The next morning the 4th, we received the cheering 
 news that we were going back to camp and not follow the 
 Rebels. We lay here quietly until the 11th when we 
 moved six miles nearer the city. 
 
 Monday, the 15th. It has rained hard all day. The 
 
 102 
 
weather cold and very uncomfortable. I often think on 
 such a cold, muddy, rainy day, how uncomfortable it will 
 be tonight. How wet I shall be when I go into camp, the 
 ground so cold and muddy that I surely cannot make a 
 comfortable bed. But somehow I nearly always have a 
 pretty good bed, and good night’s rest under such 
 conditions 
 
 W e lay here until Thursday when we moved two miles 
 nearer the city, and near the Rebel’s old fort. 
 
 Wednesday, the 24th we broke camp and started after 
 the Rebels. We w^ent to and beyond Strawberry Plains, 
 marching twenty miles. It was a hard march for us. 
 The first ten miles we did not have ten minutes’ rest. 
 Our knapsacks were large and heavy and we traveled 
 fast. Major General Schofield is with the expedition. 
 He has recently come to this department. Major Gen- 
 eral Park is also with us in command of our corps. Gen. 
 Stoneman is in command of the 23rd. The Rebels have 
 not done much mischief to the railroad from Knoxville 
 to Strawberry Plains, but have destroyed the pontoon 
 bridge across the Holston River, before we could get here. 
 
 The 25th. We lay here in camp today. Preparations 
 are being made to get the troops across the river and to 
 get rations from Knoxville. We have stored our knap- 
 sacks with all our things except blanket and overcoat,and 
 tent pieces, at the Plains. W e are to march in light 
 marching order. 
 
 The 26th. We crossed the river and camped. 
 Started this morning the 27th, and came thirteen miles 
 to Mossey Creek. The 28th, went fourteen miles in the 
 rain to Morristown. 
 
 The 29th, we were mustered for pay today. 
 
 March 1. A very rainy day. I could not keep comfor- 
 table. I tried to keep a fire but in so doing got wet 
 through. It cleared ofif before dark and we dried out our 
 clothes. Orders to march in the morning. We are 
 
 103 
 
going back but do not know the reason unless the Rebels 
 are in too large force at Bull’s Gap or at Greenville. They 
 have had a large force at this place with good winter 
 quarters built. 
 
 The 2nd. We came to Mossey Creek and pitched 
 tents. At one of our camps along here, Charlie Wason 
 and I traded our coffee, of which we had four pounds, for 
 a bag of meal and a bag of flour. We also bought some 
 eggs. 
 
 It was the practice of the men to forage and sell to 
 others who were out of food, so we at once gave notice 
 that we had meal and flour to sel lat twenty cents per 
 quart, the going price in camp. We had got a brisk sale 
 started when orders came to march at once. We hardly 
 knew what to do with our stuff', but we rushed our sale 
 as fast as possible and got rid of all but enough to fill 
 two haversacks each, and fell in a little late, and were 
 obliged to carrry our meal and flour several miles before 
 camping again. Hard luck, we thought. 
 
 Just as we were going to sleep here at iMossey Creek, 
 we had orders to fall in and stack arms. As I was 
 obliged to put my blanket on the team in order to have it 
 carried along as they were going to start off, I was left 
 without anything to cover and keep me warm. I was 
 very uncomfortable sitting and lying around the camp fire 
 all night, for it was frosty and cold. 
 
 The 3rd. The reason for our being called out last 
 evening, was that a few rebels were prowling around and 
 frightening our pickets. We have orders to march at a 
 moment’s notice-. 
 
 The 4th. We lay in camp today at Mossey Creek. 
 Friday the Rebels made a dash on a Regiment of Tenne- 
 sians, driving them in three miles, and but for our pickets, 
 would haA'e captured them. 
 
 Monday, the 7th. Col. Harriman with one hundred 
 recruits came to us. He was received with great enthusi- 
 
 104 
 
r.. - ■ V ■ ^ ,'• ' • '[*.’/''• 3 '’,' 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
My Haversack which I had on when wounded. 2, 3, 4, I’late, fork, and Hard Tack which were in my haver- 
 sack at that lime. 5, Cartridge liox. 6, Canteen — l)oth used in Civil War. 
 
asm. Were glad to see him. At eleven o’clock we went 
 out nine miles on a reconnoissance returning tonight. It 
 began to rain before we started on the return and was 
 bad traveling and very dark also. 
 
 Friday, the 11th Capt. Patten and Brown returned 
 bringing with them a few recruits whom Colonel left 
 with them at Knoxville. The Captain has been away six 
 months after conscripts. 
 
 The 12th. We marched this morning at daylight 
 toward Morristown and went fourteen miles and camped. 
 
 The 13th. Our company went on picket, stopped until 
 noon and were ordered to camp when the Regiment went 
 to Morristown. Went into camp here and stopped a few 
 days. We had squad, company, battalion drills and 
 dress parade. We had orders to move at six o’clock, 
 Thursday, the 17th, and most gladly do we begin to march 
 leaving these scenes of our toil and suffering, for we are 
 told that we are going North soon. We hail the order 
 with great hilarity. We marched to New Market more 
 than twenty miles. 
 
 The 18th, we marched to within six miles of Knoxville, 
 going twenty miles. The wind blew furiously and in 
 place of mud the dust filled the air and eyes. 
 
 105 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The 19th, went eight miles, camped outside of Knox- 
 ville. The 20th, stopped in camp today. The 21st, we 
 started for the North over the mountain route and made 
 tw'enty miles, camping at Clinton. The 22nd, marched 
 at daylight, crossed the Clinch river and went within four 
 miles of Jacksborough, making fifteen miles. I am 
 appointed acting Q. M. Sergeant by the Colonel. 
 
 It snowed all day. Rough for us. 
 
 The 23rd, went to Jacksborough and drew four days’ 
 rations. Then crossed the mountains, very rugged coun- 
 try. Made eighteen miles. On our return march w'e saw 
 many evidences of the difficulties encountered in furnish- 
 ing the army with food, clothing, munition of war, for- 
 age, &c., &c. Hundreds of dead mules and other wreck- 
 age all along the way. It was reasoned that if two 
 wagons should start from our base of supplies fully 
 loaded, only one would be available for the army at the 
 front as the contents of the other would be needed to sup- 
 ply the two going and returning. Cattle and hogs were 
 driven from Kentucky to our troops and slaughtered 
 there. 
 
 The 24th, marched at daylight and went through Chick- 
 wood, eighteen miles today. 
 
 The 25th, marched at daylight again. Went from Ten- 
 nessee to Kentucky today. Went eighteen miles. 
 
 The 26th started at light, made nineteen miles. 
 Camped in Sloan’s Valley. It rained and snowed today. 
 The 27th, moved at daylight, and passed through Burn- 
 side Point, stopping there four hours. The boys cleaned 
 
 106 
 
out a number of Sutlers. Went eighteen miles and 
 crossed Cumberland river. Passed through Somerset, 
 one mile and camped. The 28th, marched eighteen miles. 
 W e are up now in the good country of Kentucky and as 
 no event of interest occured, will say that I find myself in 
 Cincinnati, this 3rd day of April, enjoying a day or two 
 with Brother David. A sad affliction has come to his 
 family. His wife is insane and in the asylum. I went 
 with him to call on her, and if I ever pitied a man it was 
 my dear brother. A little boy has come to the home 
 since I was there. They call him Freddie. We soon 
 went to Annapolis, Md., where we are to reorganize for 
 the 1864 campaign, I suppose. 
 
 Thus has the East Tennessee campaign gone into his- 
 tory, and we, its actors, are back in civilization. Its car- 
 nage, much marching up and down the state, lack of 
 proper and sufficient food, the extreme cold, the pelting 
 rains, and pitiless snow storms, the terrible wearying, 
 ardous, exposed experience of twenty days’ siege with 
 the uncertainties of its outcome, are all to be forgotten, 
 and we nerve ourselves for other, possibly severer tests 
 of patriotism and endurance. Each campaign has dif- 
 fered widely in conditions and experiences, save that in 
 each hardships and suffering has attended them all. Our 
 first, the Fredericksburg campaign, found new, raw 
 recruits exposed to out door life on a long march ending 
 in the terrible ordeal of the slaughter on that memorable 
 13th of December. Then the transfer to Kentucky for 
 a short period followed by another long journey on the 
 cars and boat to the hot, malarious bogs of the Yazoo, 
 made still more unbearable and disastrous by the march 
 to and from Jackson with the exhausting duties while 
 there. Our return to Kentucky, the march of two hun- 
 dred and fifty miles over mountain wastes, and the experi- 
 ences referred to in the Knoxville campaign, have all con- 
 tributed to make of us, to say the least, seasoned soldiers, 
 
 107 
 
or broken down men only fit for the hospital, or to 
 receive an honorable discharge to go home and die, or eke 
 out a few years in pain and decrepitude, but as such 
 experiences are the common lot of the real patriot soldier, 
 we accept cheerfully and without regret the worst that 
 falls to our lot to bear. With quickened step, grasping 
 our muskets more firmly, welcome the further and more 
 trying experiences which may await us. 
 
 108 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 We are at Annapolis recruiting and reorganizing for the 
 spring campaign. A great many troops are here. 
 Beside my usual duties with the company I have been 
 detailed in the Provost guard as Sergeant of the guard 
 with quarters in my separate wall tent in the city. 
 Charlie Wason is with me. I desired that my wife should 
 go to Cincinnati while we were west, hoping that in 
 passing through that' city from East Tennessee we might 
 meet. She did go to Cincinnati, spending several weeks, 
 but on account of the sickness and trouble in the family 
 of my brother, she returned to New York before our 
 return from the west to this place, very dispirited and 
 lonely at not seeing me, and as I have been trying to make 
 it possible for her to come here for a few days, I have 
 at last succeeded in finding a room and telegraphed for 
 her to come. 
 
 As stated in a letter of April 19th, she came and stopped 
 with me a few days. I found a room where we could 
 lodge, and I spent what time I could get from duty with 
 her. But as we had orders to move, she was obliged to 
 go back to New York today the 23rd, and our corps also 
 started on our 1864 campaign. I am detailed as Q. M. 
 Sergeant. Adjt. Morrison came to me with the detail, 
 saying that some one was to be detailed from our regi- 
 ment, and he wanted me to take it. As I would be 
 relieved from active service at the front and my luggage 
 carried, and because this was to be the hardest campaign 
 of the war, I owed it to myself to accept the place. I told 
 him that I enlisted to fight with the boys and did not 
 
 109 
 
want to leave them, but finally after much persuasion on 
 his part, I accepted the position with the understanding 
 that I could go back to the Company when 1 wished. If 
 any one thinks that the Q. M. Sergeant’s position is a soft 
 one, they need the experience in a train of hundreds of 
 teams on the muddy, dusty roads of Virginia, surrounded 
 with Guerrilla bands, liable to be captured. Say nothing 
 of continuous breakdowns and casualties of various kinds. 
 They will know then, as I learned, that one pays rather 
 dearly for having their knapsack carried. 
 
 After the troops are in camp and nicely cared for the 
 Quarter Master service has its night’s work to do, deliv- 
 ering rations and fodder, mending up breaks, &c., ready 
 for the next day or night’s march. 
 
 110 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Well, this first day, we made twelve miles toward 
 Alexandria. 
 
 The 24th we went eighteen miles, but did not get into 
 camp until eleven o’clock. It rained before the teams got 
 into Park. 
 
 The 25th, we went sixteen miles, parked the teams 
 near, and next morning had some trouble on the way. 
 
 Tuesday, the 26th, we stopped in camp near Alexandria. 
 The 27th, moved at ten o’clock and went fifteen miles. I 
 had good luck with the teams until just as we went into 
 camp, then by doing as Col. Collins ordered me to do, 
 one of the wagons upset so did not get to bed until eleven 
 o’clock. 
 
 The 28th we went twenty miles. The 29th, got up early 
 and strung out the teams and waited until past noon, 
 then had orders to go back to camp. Bristoe Station, the 
 30th, I have helped Currier make out payrolls. We were 
 mustered for pay. Troops were going by all night on the 
 cars to the front 
 
 May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, lay at the same place. Lieut. 
 Cilley of Company I is commisioned Captain A. Q. M. 
 Lieut. Johnson of Company A is appointed Regiment 
 Q. M. 
 
 May 4th, we started at eight o’clock this morning and 
 went eighteen miles. A hard march ; got in camp ten 
 o’clock. 
 
 May 5th, started in good season, came two miles across 
 the Rapidon and Germania Ford, a long march of twenty 
 miles or more. There was fighting yesterday and today. 
 
 Ill 
 
It may be recorded that the active campaign began the 
 4th of May. The Rebel lines are about four miles 
 away from our camp. Cannons are booming, heavy mu.s- 
 ketry can be heard. 
 
 May 6, the 2nd Brigade went into the fight and the 11th 
 did bravely. Col. Collins was killed. Lieut. Hutchins, 
 Col. Harriman were taken prisoners. Lieut. Currier was 
 wounded through his mouth. Sergt. iMagoon through his 
 thigh, afterwards proving fatal. Three privates were 
 wounded. Baxter Brown and many others and prisoners 
 taken. Our Regiment was badly used, but where was 1. 
 while my comrades were fighting. Our brigade moved 
 off before daylight from the place where they and the 
 train were camped. 
 
 There had come to our army many new troops, loaded 
 as new troops usually are with much clothing, and arti- 
 cles for their comfort. 
 
 These had been burdensome in the march already made 
 from Annapolis, and now that they were starting in the 
 active field service, the men decided to throw away much 
 that had become burdensome. So as the men started out 
 on this morning of the 6th, much stuff was left on the 
 ground. I noticed an elderly soldier casting out his extra 
 luggage and after he had gone, I picked up a testament 
 he had purposely or accidentally left. I read on the fly 
 leaf the words, “Dear Father, O, read this often when far 
 away.” No name being signed, I could not find the 
 owner or giver much to my regret. I hope the poor 
 father did not intentionally cast it away and I have won- 
 dered as I open it and read the loving words of the deai 
 daughter, if ever again, she welcomed home the father. 
 
 I was left with the teams as a matter of course, and lav 
 there until the next morning when the battle opened 
 away to our left obliquely, growing louder and louder 
 with its roar of musketry and cannon, I as by instinct, 
 went out in the direction of the firing to get nearer to the 
 
 112 
 
boys of my regiment. I felt that they were being slain 
 and I skulking in camp. I went back to camp and told 
 Quarter Master Johnson that I could not stand it and 
 should report back to my regiment for duty at the front. 
 He not only ridiculed the idea, but used hard words for 
 my foolish decision, telling me that I was honorably out 
 of it, and it was my duty to stay out. Some soldier must 
 accept the position. 
 
 The 7th. The fighting continues. Our train was cue 
 off last night and we slept within the Rebels’ lines, jusi 
 escaping capture. We moved into our lines some eight 
 miles. As we came in sight of our army, their works 
 and guns were facing us, having been thrown around 
 their flank in the night, to counteract Lee’s attempt to 
 flank Grant. 
 
 In this vicinity our army has met more than one disas- 
 ter, and Lee tried the same game on Grant, but he found 
 a man equal to the emergency. Grant after fighting this 
 sixth of May Wilderness battle, moved by the left flank 
 in an endeavor to get around Lee’s right, and again I say, 
 Lee tried to check this move by attacking Gran’t right 
 and causing a stampede. This explains why, as i under- 
 stand it, that at this juncture of things. Grant said, order 
 the troops back, and we will fight it out on this line, if it 
 takes all summer, and because of this movement by Lee 
 swinging around Grant’s left, we with our train were in 
 the Rebels’ lines all night, and the Rebel Cavalry had 
 passed on the road which we came in on but a short time 
 before. 
 
 I was out all the night of the 7th, trying to get rations 
 to our Regiments but did not succeed. 
 
 The 8th. The battle goes on but not severe fighting. 
 Two thousand have been wounded but few killed so far. 
 I say that the Rebels are in full retreat for Richmond, 
 but find later that I was somewhat mistaken. I refer 
 
 113 
 
again to my feelings with regard to being away from the 
 Regiment, and think I shall report back. 
 
 The 9th. Continuous fighting but more manoeuvering 
 for position. Brigade teams moved some three miles to 
 inside the old Fredericksburg works. 
 
 The 10th. The division moved five miles to the front, 
 took position in line and stopped there until the next 
 morning. The train was some one and one-half miles in 
 rear of the troops. 
 
 The 11th. Our corps were not engaged much today, 
 only skirmishing. Heavy fighting on the right. 
 
 The 12th. This has been a serious one for our corps, 
 and especially to our 2nd Brigade, and more so to the 
 1 1th Regiment. We have lost heavily and many are 
 severely wounded. I spent some of my time today at 
 the hospital helping what I could ; my train is parked 
 near the hospital. Many of our Regiment were brought 
 in, seriously wounded. Among them was our Adjutant 
 Morrison, shot through the bowels. Also Sergeant 
 Brown. 
 
 The train was ordered awa)", and we came to within 
 three miles of Fredericksburg tonight. It is very rainy, 
 and awful traveling. More than nine thousand prisoners 
 came along the road and it is reported that forty pieces of 
 cannon were captured today. This is the hardest fought 
 battle so far. 
 
 The 13th. Our corps is not much engaged but occupy- 
 ing their position at the front. 
 
 The 14th. AT remain in Park and there is not much 
 liappening with us today, or at the front. Since Thurs- 
 day both armies have been comparatively quiet, and well 
 they may be, for that was a day of fierce fighting and 
 terrible slaughter. I am feeling discontented continually. 
 I do not feel right or at home away from the Regiment. 
 
 Sunday, the 15th. A'e are still in the same place. I 
 Avent to town (Fredericksburg) to carry some baggage 
 
 114 
 
for wounded officers. I saw Seargeant Magoon and he 
 looked badl3^ He cannot live. , It surely has not seemed 
 like Sunday to me, neither have I observed it. I am 
 really shocked at my profanation of the sacred day. 
 
 Monday, the 16th. Moved some three miles nearer to 
 Fredericksburg where we lay the rest of the day. 
 
 The 17th. I went to town with some baggage. I sent 
 Lieut. Currier’s valise to him ; got a little sugar and pork 
 at Commissaries. About noon had orders to move; came 
 to the front one and one-half miles in the rear of line of 
 battle, where we stopped tonight. Here I saw Mayor 
 Bunton of Manchester, Mr. Patterson, and others from 
 that city. 
 
 The 18th. Moved twice today and now are within two 
 miles of where we were this morning. I went to the 
 hospital to see Charles Wason, who is wounded by a 
 minie ball through his arm. I was surprised to see 
 Brother Aaron Young at the hospital. He is just from 
 New Hampshire with Gov. Smith and others. I told 
 him that I was going back to my company. He gave me 
 a severe scolding for considering such a rash act and said 
 that this was to be the hardest campaign of the war and 
 it was my duty to stay where I was. I learned after- 
 wards that on returning home he told our people that 
 they might expect to hear any day of my being killed, 
 as I was going back to my Regiment. 
 
 Thursday, the 19th. We moved at daylight, as also 
 did our corps, and all the other troops, two mile's further 
 to the left. I have seen Brother Thomas today. We 
 moved just before night up to within a few rods of the 
 Regiment. The Rebels made a weak attempt to flank 
 us. Capt. Dudley, who is in command of the regiment, 
 wants my help very much. 
 
 Blere, in view of the liability of going back to my 
 Company, I write a word of encouragement to my wife. 
 
 I say, ‘T want you to be of good cheer and not worry 
 
 115 
 
about me. I shall try to take good care of myself, the 
 best I can wherever I may be. Try with all your heart 
 to bear all your troubles should you have any. Be brave, 
 and Charlie will try and do his part when and where he 
 is asked to. Look earnestly to God for help. In Him 
 I trust. God help and keep you.” 
 
 Friday, the 20th. I came back to my company by 
 order of Capt. Dudley, as he said the interests of the 
 company demanded my presence. Today our train 
 moved into the lines. After the affair of the 6th of May. 
 
 I saw Capt. Dudley, who had then taken command of the 
 regiment, and told him that he was at liberty to order me 
 back to the company whenever he chose to, or needed me, 
 and this is the reason in part why he has done so. I am 
 not feeling well ; have taken cold and my stomach is out 
 of order; am bilious; have a headache and am almost 
 blind, and dizzy. I laid down in the rifle pits most of 
 the day. 
 
 The 21st. We went out this afternoon on a reconnois- 
 sance to ascertain the position of the enemy. Had no 
 trouble in finding them. Went back to quarters, but 
 toward nigrht we moved off. Marched ten miles which 
 took us all night and until eight or nine o’clock the next 
 morning to do. As we started on this night tramp and 
 after going a little ways, I felt too sick to march further, 
 and got into an ambulance in the rear of the column. I 
 had been in this but a short time when the Rebels began 
 to shell the head of the column, and I said to myself, this 
 is not the place for me if there is fighting at the front, so 
 I left the ambulance and walked down the line and 
 learned that the enemy were shelling our train. I tried 
 to find the ambulance again, but could not, so was obliged 
 to march with the men and teams all night. It was a very 
 hard march for me though the distance was not great. 
 I was weak from dieting, my head aching badly, and I 
 
 116 
 
was feeling sick all over. W e ■were marching on the 
 same road with the long train of wagons to guard them. 
 So many troops and teams passing over the road made 
 it bad for the teams and caused continual trouble, halting 
 and starting, and the same process was going on with the 
 troops. We would hear the order, “Halt;” and would 
 get fairly laid down in the road, our head on our knap- 
 sack, thinking we were to rest awhile, when the order, 
 "Forward,” would ring out. The men, I fear, O! I fear 
 they said bad words enough to sink Sodom. This pro- 
 cess repeated all night was anything but pleasant, and 
 endurable for well men. I kept along until in the 
 morning there seemed to be preparations making to halt 
 and camp. I fell out and laid down to rest until I saw 
 the troops finally file off into a field a mile or so ahead of 
 me, when I got up and joined them. This is the first 
 time that I have fallen out on the march. 
 
 The 22nd. This is Sunday again, but the two days 
 are blended in one to us for we have had no night, neither 
 sleep. I have tried to get some rest until we moved at 
 two o’clock. Went eight miles, gained in our advance 
 some three miles. I saw Aaron and Gov. Smith again 
 today. I sent my compliments to Millie and Father by 
 them. 
 
 The 23rd. Started at seven-thirty but did not make 
 good progress as our corps is in the rear. Got into 
 camp at nine o’clock ; tired. The day has been warm. 
 Our front ran into Lee’s column and fighting ensued. 
 There was heavy cannonading, shelling the woods to 
 drive the rebels away from the river, (North Anna.). 
 
 The 24th. We lay where we camped last night until 
 four o’clock, then moved to the left four miles, crossed 
 the river and took position in line as support. There is 
 considerable cannonading today. The rebels shelled us 
 pretty briskly while we were crossing the bridge. Our 
 troops drove them from a very good position, yesterday. 
 
 117 
 
Rumors in camp are that Gen. Longstreet is dead, and 
 Gen. Lee is wounded, probably camp rumor only. While 
 sitting here, writing this beautiful morning of the 25th, 
 while the musketry is heard all along the line far and 
 near, and occasionally a little minie comes whirring 
 through the leaves of the trees where we are, (for we are 
 in the woods), I am reminded that a year ago I was with 
 my wife, parents, brothers and sisters enjoying their 
 hospitality. No danger then surrounded me. No 
 enemy aiming a deadly shot. No shrieking shell flying 
 about me. O ! how enviable that home life ! Soon may 
 I and all my comrades in arms, enjoy such felicity. But 
 we must not desire it until we have done our part in con- 
 quering our foe. We lay here in the woods all day with 
 not much, worthy of note, occurring, only the usual inci- 
 dents of the skirmish line and here and there a rush, a 
 charge, now and then a wounded or dead comrade taken 
 from the line. It has rained today. I write of myself 
 as being quite easy and comfortable lying round, resting, 
 thinking, sleeping, wrapped in my tent piece and rubber 
 blanket. AV^e were aroused once in the night by our 
 picket, and a sharp musketry firing. 
 
 The 26th, Thursday morning, eight o’clock, and I am 
 seated on a log under my tent piece, for it is raining 
 smartly. AA’e moved from this place tonight and as we 
 were leaving, a brisk firing began. AA’e are changing 
 base of operations. AATnt two miles and lay down for 
 the night. 
 
 Friday, the 27th. AVe started at noon and marched 
 eight miles. Our regiment was rear guard of the corps. 
 Camped at twelve o’clock tonight. Not a very pleasant 
 tramp. 
 
 Saturday, the 28th. Started at seven o’clock and 
 marched twenty miles. Got into camp at twelve o'clock 
 and a fault-finding, growling set of men, they mostly 
 
 118 
 
were. We lay down for the night, ^^’e crossed the 
 Pamunkey River just before camping. 
 
 Sunday, the 29th. We got up before sunrise and went 
 four miles, where we stopped until noon. Commenced 
 to build breastworks, then moved one mile and rested, 
 which we enjoyed very much. I say, I am going to give 
 this letter to Charles Rowe who looks out for my things 
 on the train. I cannot get a chance to send a letter. 
 
 The 30th. We moved this morning some three miles. 
 A\’e have changed position several times today. Our 
 Brigade supported the 1st Brigade. There were a few 
 charges on our works by the Rebels, but they were 
 repulsed. Enjoyed a good night’s rest. There was but 
 little firing. The Rebel skirmishers have been driven 
 more than two miles today. 
 
 The 31st. We advanced a number of times today. In 
 the afternoon a desperate charge through a muddy ravine 
 was made by our Brigade, the Rebels forced back. The 
 way rve operated today was to force the Rebels from 
 their line and then at once proceed to make earth works, 
 by cutting down trees, piling them up and throwing- 
 earth against them. Then from this position drive the 
 rebels again, and repeat the earth work process. These 
 operations were in the woods, down a hill, then up 
 another on the other side of the valley, until we came 
 into the opening where we could see the enemy in force, 
 some two hundred and fifty yards away. 
 
 All night we were intrenching, making our position 
 safe from attack. About this afternoon’s work a little 
 more might be written. As in all things, nearly all 
 strong, influential men and people usually get what they 
 want to the injury or lack of consideration of the weaker 
 and less influential. So in army life. Not as in revolu- 
 tionary days; no Gen. Stark to give New Hampshire 
 troops prestige. We had no Major Generals, and most 
 of our Regiments were Brigaded with those of larger 
 
 119 
 
states, and in our case with older troops, consequently, 
 seldom did we get praise for our valor and achievements. 
 
 As notably, at Fredericksburg, our green, raw regi- 
 ment, acting under orders faced the Lion in his den, even 
 when an old Pennsylvania regiment was skedaddling 
 through our ranks to the rear. No record on the rolls of 
 honor have been made of that incident, and no worthy 
 mention made. With such facts in mind, I recall what 
 the ranking Colonel of the 6th N. H. Regiment said, for 
 it was the 6th, 9th and 11th N. H. Regiments who 
 accomplished, unaided, this last feat. “There,” said he, 
 “let them say if they can, that New Hampshire did not do 
 that.” 
 
 June 1st, Wednesday, nine a. m. I am sitting just back 
 of the rifle pits, writing a little for Millie, and to send 
 when I can do so. Minie balls are whizzing over my 
 head, but what do I care if they do not harm anybody. 
 I have been trying for sometime to get sight of a rebel 
 who is firing at us, but fail to do so. Our guns are firing 
 an occasional shell over our heads in the lines of the 
 enemy. One of the shells burst over our heads and a 
 piece fell three feet from me. The next one just went 
 over our pits and exploded. I think they had better stop 
 such careless practice. ’Tis enough for us to dodge the 
 “Johnny’s shell.” 
 
 We are now fifteen miles from Richmond, near Atlas 
 Station. Thursday morning, June 2. I close a letter, 
 my last on the field and I say, I am all right. 
 
 My next letter which may be called from the front as 
 it goes over my experience, (given from memory) from 
 my going back to the regiment, on to the day and cir- 
 cumstances of my being wounded, and written July 24 
 from Filburt Street hospital where I was an inmate. 
 
 From the position we occupied the 2nd, we moved off 
 in the afternoon and went some three or four miles, we 
 being the extreme right of our army, executed our part 
 
 120 
 
in this last flank movement culminating in the terrible 
 battles and carnage of Cold Harbor on the following day, 
 and days. We came out of the woods into a large open 
 tract of land, and rested. As usual, the boys at once 
 began to make coffee and have a lunch, when suddenly 
 the picket firing began out on the road over which we had 
 so recently traveled, the Rebels following us closely. At 
 once our batteries went into position facing outward, 
 began shelling in that direction, Orderlies and staff offi- 
 cers galloped from headquarters to the several commands, 
 delivering orders. Strong skirmish or picket lines were 
 thrown out into the woods on our flank only to come in 
 conflict with the enemies skirmish line, which they were 
 rapidly throwing around our flank and rear. Darkness 
 soon made it a very peculiar and precarious position for 
 us. Pickets were so near each other that they would 
 challenge one another, and crack would go a rifle, and one 
 or the other was wounded or killed. 
 
 All the troops were moved into position in line of battle, 
 supporting the skirmish line. I carried a rifle although 
 in command of the Company, and that night I sat on a 
 board leaning my head against the embankment of the 
 rifle pits, holding my rifle with the lock in the hollow of 
 my arm, and the rest of it covered as much as I could do, 
 for it rained all night. We occupied the reverse side of 
 the rifle pits from which our army, who had constructed 
 them, had done. This was necessary as the Rebels had 
 got around to our rear with a brigade, I judge. 
 
 We were aroused at three o’clock to build new breast 
 works a few rods in the rear of those we were occupying. 
 
 We finished them about seven o’clock. We sat behind 
 them only a little while when we were ordered to 
 advance. We jumped over the works and advanced 
 some sixty rods where we were ordered to lie down out 
 of the way of the bullets. Just before leaving the rifle 
 pits, I had received a letter from Leonard Dearborn in 
 
 121 
 
Washington, asking for his descriptive list. I read it 
 when we had got to our new position, and then handed it 
 to Capt. George Sheppard, our newly appointed Captain, 
 saying as it relates to Company matters you had better 
 take it now as we know not what may happen. 
 
 122 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 We were ordered to advance and went one fourth of a 
 mile and the two right companies, C and I were ordered 
 across an elevated plain to a position in a road to silence 
 a battery which was doing much mischief. In executing 
 this order of rushing directly toward the enemy and in 
 full view, these two companies were the plain target of 
 a whole brigade in the woods skirting this open field. 
 Under the circumstances while running double quick I 
 was struck by a minie ball in my left arm, four inches 
 above the elbow, directly in front and center of the 
 humerous bone, breaking it clean off. In this condition 
 with my arm dangling a part of the time, and partly held 
 by the fingers with the other hand, I ran forward some 
 forty feet and laid down behind a stump or small log, 
 partly shielding me from further injury. 
 
 Sergeant Bennett of Co. C received a ball in his fore- 
 arm, others were wounded and some were killed. Ben- 
 nett and I soon got up and went as fast as we could to the 
 rear, he placing a strap around my arm to prevent bleed- 
 ing. I soon met Sergeant Dearborn of my company, 
 who had failed to fall in when I formed the company for 
 this movement, and he helped me to the rear. His assist- 
 ance was appreciated when a little later I was obliged to 
 go up a hill. My arm came to its full feeling, the bones 
 punctured the flesh so that it caused me faintness for a 
 little. I went directly to our Regimental hospital, estab- 
 lished by our Surgeon Ross in an old house in full range 
 of rebel shell. He placed me on a bed, giving me whiskey 
 to deaden the pain and said that he would amputate my 
 
 123 
 
arm then and there, but had no chloroform or ether to 
 give me. So I lay there until afternoon, when with many 
 others, I was carried in an ambulance some four miles 
 over corduroy and rocky roads to the division hospital. 
 Here I found in charge my grammar school teacher. Dr. 
 Webster of Manchester, who kindly cared for Bennett 
 and me, giving us an early opportunity of going onto the 
 operating table ahead of hundreds lying all about the 
 grounds. I expected my arm would be amputated. I 
 asked Dr. A\^ebster to look right after me and do the thing 
 which was best. So I went to sleep and on waking I was 
 surprised to see my arm still there. The doctors said they 
 decided to give me the benefit of the doubt, but their own 
 judgment was to amputate. Sergeant Bennett and I 
 were made as comfortable as two wounded men could be. 
 lying in the shade of the bushes without bed or blankets, 
 and nothing but soldiers’ delicacies to eat and drink, 
 until the next afternoon, when we were loaded into ambu- 
 lances with many others and started on our way to 
 Washington, or more directly Wdiitehouse Landing, 
 tliirty miles awa}'. 
 
 A cold rain made us uncomfortable, as we were poorly 
 clad and protected, the jolting of the wheels over very 
 rough roads, hurt me terribly, but I shut my mouth hard 
 and gripped my wounded arm with the other hand hug- 
 ging it tightly to my side. We went half way and 
 stopped for the night. Bennett and I tried to get into 
 the houses of some of the white folks in the locality, but 
 they would not take us in. Finally a negro allowed us 
 to come in and sleep on the floor of the room where he, 
 with his wife and children were in bed. He had a good 
 fire in the fireplace, so we were warm and comfortable as 
 men in our condition could expect to be. In the morning 
 my arm was so sore that I needed help to get up. I will 
 say here that there were no splints put on my arm by the 
 
 124 
 
doctors, sufficient to support it in place, which made it 
 much more troublesome and irritated. 
 
 We started again, arriving at the White House Land- 
 ing that day. Here I found abundant preparations, and 
 men and women of the Christian Commission ready and 
 anxious to assist, and make us comfortable. My arm 
 was dressed by one of the Commission surgeons, and here 
 I found that Surgeon Hayes of my Regiment was in 
 charge of loading the boats with the wounded for Wash- 
 ington. He kindly gave us a place with the officers, 
 telling them that he wanted us well treated. Because 
 Bennett’s wound was only a flesh wound he could wait 
 on me, and in turn, I being badly wounded, could obtain 
 special favors, so I begged the privilege of having Bennett 
 go along with me, so we kept together until we separated 
 on his going home from Philadelphia, later on. We were 
 taken to Washington and to the Harwood hospital where 
 we remained a week or so, my arm growing worse and 
 becoming very bad. Had I remained here a short time 
 longer, I would have lost my arm and I fear my life. 
 Nothing but simply dressing it was done for me and no 
 nourishment was given other than common baker’s 
 bread, salt pork, or hard salt beef. Fever conditions 
 and early stages of mortification were very evident, and 
 a weakened system in general. Only one event which 
 I can recall with pleasure occurred while here. One 
 morning who should I see walking up the floor from the 
 further end of the ward, but my dear old tent mate, 
 Charhe Wason, who, himself was an inmate. 
 
 125 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 In closing the last chapter I say that I recall but one 
 incident of a cheering nature. One more cheering and 
 helpful did come to us when, after a ten days’ or more 
 sta)^ in this hospital when an order was received to send 
 all men who could be moved to Philadelphia. Bennett 
 and I were of the number, so we were taken to the 
 station. A negro attendant took me in his arms and 
 laid me in a berth improvised in a common passenger 
 car, and at midnight we were in the city of Brotherly 
 Love and big heart for Hncle Sam’s soldier boys. We 
 stopped at the hospital carried on and supported by the 
 citizens. It seems quite providential or an unusual 
 coincidence that the Cooper shop restaurant, which fed 
 me and more than three hundred and fifty thousand other 
 soldiers, should have connected with it a hospital, and 
 that on my return from the front having served my 
 country in battle, being wounded, and sent to the rear, 
 that this same humane Christian institution should again 
 give me much more needed aid. I was placed in a clean 
 bed and ni}- arm dressed, and proper nourishment 
 supplied. 
 
 We remained here until the following day when we 
 were distributed to various hospitals in and about the 
 city, Bennett and I to the 16th and Filburt Street hospital 
 near the center of the city. As is their custom on 
 receiving new patients, the surgeon in charge with his 
 corps of surgeons go through the various wards examin- 
 ing the new cases and giving orders as to their treatment 
 or disposal. On coming to me the order was to amputate 
 
 126 
 
Philadelphia, June k^th, 1864 . 
 
 My Dear Millie: 
 
 I feel very anxious that you should hear from me as 
 soon as you can after my arrival here. And as I have no 
 one to write for me, I will do so; and 3^011 see, I make it 
 go pretty well. I had a prett}^ hard time 3"esterda3'' com- 
 ing from but not as hard as I supposed. I had a 
 good bed and m}" arm did very well. It feels a little 
 inflamed, but will be gaining soon. I shall get a furlough 
 as soon as my arm will admit of it. Do not be too 
 anxious. You will direct 3mur letters in the following 
 manner : C. C. Paige. Sixteenth and Philbert Con- 
 
 valescent Idospital, Philadelphia, Pa. Do not put the 
 Co. or Regt. on. 
 
 I should like to see you, dear, but there does not seem 
 to be any conveniences for 3"OU here. You must write 
 to all the folks for me. I cannot. I have received no 
 letter from you since being wounded. 
 
 Good br^e, dear. 
 
 Stopped at the YYlunteer hospital last night. 
 
and I don’t wonder. It was dark and bad looking, 
 passed beyond the usual inflammation to mortification 
 conditions, the pus burrowing around the bone, eating 
 away the periosteum down toward the elbow. After a 
 little while Dr. McMackin my ward surgeon came back 
 to me unattended, and made a critical examination, then 
 told me the orders he had received, but also said, “I am 
 going to save that arm,” and without going into details 
 of the many kind things, and interest, he took in my 
 case, he started it on the road to recovery, for which I 
 shall never cease to bless his memory. I fell into good 
 hands on reaching Philadelphia, as we did when going 
 to the front as related early in this diary. Not only did 
 I have a surgeon who did his best for me, but beautiful 
 ladies came daily to the hospital to minister to our needs. 
 Two sisters in particular came in daily, soon after 
 ten o’clock, remaining until nearly three o’clock, one 
 a widow, and the other a maiden lady. Miss McAllister, 
 both daughters of old Mr. McAllister, whose father was 
 the earliest optician in Philadelphia. These ladies were 
 people of means, having two servants at home, and were 
 Episcopalians in church connection. 
 
 Another young lady not more than twenty-two, 
 or four years of age, I think, came often and held a Bible 
 class in the dining room, also a chaplain, who was very 
 kind, and many others. 
 
 But to return to myself, and my health. It was some- 
 time before I improved much. The condition of my arm 
 had caused feverish symptoms, and reduced my strength. 
 The discharge was profuse and I was quite low. The 
 steward told me later that they feared that I would not 
 live. I am hoping and perhaps expecting to recover 
 to that extent that I can go to the front again, and be 
 mustered as 1st Lieutenant, if not to remain at the front. 
 The Colonel has written me to come, but the mustering 
 officer writes me that he can’t muster me in my condition. 
 
 127 
 
But why dwell on, or enlarge upon, or write further of 
 nay hospital experience. Day after da}^ it is the same 
 experience, a little varied, a pleasure here, a pain there, 
 an attempt to be trusting, cheerful, hopeful, mingled with 
 doubts for the future and sympathy for absent loved 
 ones, and the days, weeks, and months wend their weary 
 way till I am transferred to the Webster Hospital in 
 Manchester, to be cared for by my old school-master, 
 who saved my life on the field. 
 
 128 
 
C. C. Paige. 
 
 From a photograph taken while in hospital. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 In my home city. Here I remained until my discharge 
 in August, 1865. I had a general pass to go and come at 
 pleasure, staying with my wife in the city nights and 
 Sunda 3 ^s ; having my wounds dressed, and my meals at 
 the hospital. But before I leave this part of my soldier 
 life and experiences, I wish to give expression to my 
 feelings as I read my letters to my wife, informing her 
 of my condition and experiences from day to day. It 
 seems as if another than myself were the actor in this 
 drama, and the perusal of the record of his baring his 
 breast to the leaden hail, the screeching, bursting shell, 
 the suffering from hunger, cold, storm, march, scorching 
 sun, the sick, weary days when doing duty was wringing 
 torture. “All this, and all this,” aye, much more. 
 Bereft of home and all its dear ones and its loved asso- 
 ciations, away from, and impossible to indulge in, the 
 activities, pleasures, and emolument of civil life, left all, 
 sacrificed all, was it for $13.00 or $17.00 of three-fold 
 depreciated paper money, or because his soul burned 
 with love of country, and that future generations might 
 live under, and enjoy, an undivided Nation. I say, 
 as I review the hospital life, my heart grows tender, 
 emotional, pity and condolence seem fitting. None 
 other can know the extent of deprivation and deep 
 sorrow, so none other can drop too tender tears of 
 sympathy or glorify the sacrifice made, and again I say, 
 as I read these letters written to the dear one at home, 
 filled with the various experiences and sufferings of those 
 days, those many, weary, painful, sick days, I think not 
 
 129 
 
of myself as the one about whom all these things are 
 written, but it seems like another’s troubles, sorrows, 
 pains and deprivations were being portrayed, and my 
 heart softens and tears flow and pity for such suflfering 
 patriots overwhelms me, and I say, for whom was all, 
 this borne. Why need he pass through such dark valleys 
 almost to the shadow of death? Was it for me, for my 
 loved America, for the institutions of this land of the free, 
 the home of the brave? Did he suffer all this that I and 
 mine might have peace, and plenty again he assured the 
 millions of our great country? Had he committed some 
 great misdemeaner that need be expiated on the field of 
 carnage the pains of long hospital experiences? No, no, 
 and not irrevently I say, it was for you, it was for me, O ! 
 reader of this tale of sorrow. However a partial compen- 
 sation for suffering came to us in the persons and deeds 
 of noble, generous, loving men and women who were 
 ever alert and anxious to serve us in some material or 
 sympathetic way. This fact also causes my heart the 
 tenderest emotions. Reading over the letters witten to 
 my wife on the occasion of my wounding and early 
 hospital life, by comrades of mine, by gentle kindly 
 ladies, daily visiting the hospital, by men of position and 
 hbnor, stooping to give a cup of water in the message of 
 consolation and advice to the weeping, saddened one at 
 home. Beautiful are the messages, and kindly the spirit 
 which prompted them, some of which I copy, for others 
 to read and admire the spirit which prompted such kind 
 generous acts. 
 
 Now, as I am nearing the end of m}' long story, I wish 
 briefly to repeat, or place in different phases some of the 
 things already written, that a more direct view may be 
 had of them. First, my correspondence with my wife. 
 When leaving home we pledged each other to write twice 
 each week whether we received each others letters or 
 not. Also for her not to believe me dead until some one 
 
 130 
 
who saw me in that condition should verify the report. 
 Many of my letters were very lengthy, ten pages of fools- 
 cap and written between lines, and notably the narration 
 of the battle of Fredericksburg, the seige of Knoxville, 
 when for twenty days we were shut in, and many other 
 times when in active campaigns no opportunity to send 
 or receive mails, was ours. Five weeks elapsed once, I 
 recall, without hearing from home. My stationery would 
 attract attention in a museum because of its variety of 
 style, quality, color, size, etc. Foolscap, note, Bristol 
 board cards, blank book leaves of different sizes, one in 
 pamphlet form, suggestive pictures on the envelopes, 
 mottoes, Christian Commission furnishings, &c., &c. 
 These written in diary form, of consecutive dates are 
 sacred to my wife, and preserved, also, at my request, 
 thus enabling me to write a connected, faithful story of 
 my soldier life as I saw it, experienced it, and understood 
 its various phases, at the time and on the spot. 
 
 So, I am not obliged, neither disposed, to write under 
 the caption that distance lends enchantment, and incline 
 to magnify my mental vision in the picture I draw, but 
 the rather more realistic by far is the scene as I then 
 viewed it. 
 
 I tried to be, not simply a tool, a fighting machine, but 
 an intelligent citizen soldier, forecasting in my mind, 
 plans and manoeuvers. Being always much interested in 
 military affairs, I was somewhat proficient in manual and 
 drill. Often have I written of the position or rank I held. 
 On this subject there is due me an explanation. I was 
 mustered a third sergeant. This I may have referred 
 to in the early part of this record. I was promised the 
 3rd position from the Captain by him. I, being the only 
 officer above a Corporal, left for duty after the battle of 
 Fredericksburg — the duties of Orderly Sergeant fell to 
 me to perform. Our 1st Lieutenant Cilley was detailed 
 into the Commissary department, which blocked pro- 
 motion in his place — as we could not get him into battle, 
 
 131 
 
the 2nd Lieutenant was at the hospital quite a little, the 
 Orderly Sergeant also in the hospital more than a year, 
 I performing his duties, ^^'hen the Sergeant Major was 
 away on furlough or detached dut}', I was detailed to act 
 in his place. When the Quarter Master Sergeant left us. 
 I was detailed to act in that capacity. When the com- 
 missioned officers were away on furloughs, or wounded. 
 I was placed in command of the Company. I filled all 
 of these positions on Sergeant’s pay, but not without a 
 protest to our Colonel. When after a more than usual 
 setting forth my abuses, and his disinterestedness, and 
 threatening to carry my demands for recognition higher 
 up than to him, he recommended me for promotion first 
 to 2nd Lieutenant, than to 1st Lieutenant, but unfor- 
 tunately did not receive my commissions until after I was 
 wounded. I made no complaint for doing duty above my 
 rank, but I did complain of doing the work and service 
 of those in the hospital fully able to return to the Regi- 
 ment. Here I wish to record the name of Sergeant 
 Solomon Dodge, one of the bravest and most faithful 
 soldiers in the 11th Regiment, whose merits have never 
 been publicly acknowledged, he having been granted a 
 commission, he could not be mustered in his own 
 company C as I held a commission for that Compoany. 
 It was my happy privilege to waive my rights that he 
 might occupy that position, which he so honorably filled 
 after being mustered. He was the only man in front of 
 me at Fredericksburg. 
 
 I have also written something of the religious phase of 
 camp or army life. Possibly people at home thought of 
 us all as let loose from restraint, indulging in any and 
 every thing that the baser passions of men incline to, but 
 not so. While the majority of men did lead an 
 unchristian life, as the majority do at home, many a 
 Christian soldier and officer proved true to their great 
 profession. IMany and often can be found in my letters 
 
 132 
 
desertations on this subject. Doubtless in many of the 
 tents prayer was never heard, but my mates were all 
 praying boys, and as I read in my messages to the dear 
 one, I am almost surprised at the often professions of 
 trust and reliance in my God, and in the efficacy of prayer 
 and am greatly rejoiced at the fact of early in life giving 
 my heart into His keeping, and because I early began the 
 Christian life, I was so much better able to maintain it in 
 the latter stress and trials which overwhelmed me. 
 These later thoughts and facts I wish above all else T 
 have written, to leave as a precious legacy to posterity or 
 to any who may chance to read this soldier story. 
 
 I indulged much in composition, gave much expression 
 to my religious proclivities, as before said, and great 
 confidence in God, my devotion to Him, to country, home 
 relations, my constancy to, and love for, my wife and 
 parents, my activities as a soldier, fidelity to my trust, 
 faithfulness in the discharge of duty assigned me, 
 description of my activities before the enemy, all, if 
 written about some other worthy person, might be 
 highly proper to enlarge upon. While I do indulge a 
 little in this line in these reminiscences, modesty pre- 
 vents me from relating many, many real incidents and 
 communications of merit. 
 
 If no other eyes than those of my kindred would read 
 these records I might indulge more in the inner and 
 prevailing tone and secrets of those communications. 
 
 There is much of sentiment encircling the events and 
 facts of a civil war in this our great Republic, and in the 
 devotion of patriots for its preservation and for her 
 integrity. But far more and of greater prominence does 
 the principle involved for which the union soldiers fought 
 the actual sufferings endured, the carnage of battle 
 experienced and the real quality of the men engaged in 
 the terrible conflict appear. 
 
 ’Tis true, many there were who forced by draft or 
 
 138 
 
other unpatriotic reasons were not found in the ranks, 
 but skulking to the rear. But tens of thousands with 
 ideals high and noble, with patriotism burning in their 
 souls, a firm belief and confidence in God and the right, 
 went forth to dare, to do, to die if need be, and if I claim 
 to be one of this last class, I am claiming for myself only 
 what is true of many another soldier boy. Little of 
 natural ability or acquirements do I boast, but no man 
 shall stop my declamations of loyalty, and none dare rise 
 up among my associates in the field, or from the citizens 
 with whom I made my home, who can, or shall be able to 
 disclaim that in our Civil war I did my full duty as God 
 made known that obligation to me. I think it hardly 
 proper to multiply words further. Doubtless those who 
 in later years may read my tale will agree with me that 
 already I have lengthened my yarn almost to its breaking. 
 \\dth a few lines in conclusion on. Well, zvhat of it!. What 
 has the war or its experiences netted to me, physically, 
 morally, financially, and otherwise? Through life I shall 
 carry by my side, the poor, bent, emaciated, painful arm, 
 and with it gratitude that is is no worse and that it serves 
 me so well. For six years I was obliged to suspend it 
 from my neck in a sling, suffer many operations of 
 extracting bone, dress an open wound for most of that 
 time, forced into other means of earning a living, 
 although I have done more or less heavy, painful work 
 but with injury to my general system. I was obliged to 
 leave the dear old Father and his home, as I could no 
 longer be a farmer, and there make his declining days a 
 joy and comfort. 
 
 Morally, — my life purposes were strengthened, broad- 
 ened, and ennobled. The immature circumscribed life 
 at home, tenderly guarded by helpful religious influences, 
 had matured and become more ideal under the stress of 
 excitement, the constant dangers, and untoward influences 
 of an active military life in the field, and these experiences 
 
 134 
 
have become, as it were, an accumulated fund, rich in 
 intrinsic value, from which in these later days I am able 
 to clip may a coupon. 
 
 Materially or Financially, — This and the former con- 
 sideration, is so interwoven in my way of reasoning, I 
 hardly need to refer to it, yet there is, as usually viewed, 
 a wide difference. At my time of life, it could not be 
 expected that my possessions were very considerable, 
 going to live with my father, on an old run down farm, 
 with poor, delapidated buildings, soon after leaving my 
 apprenticeship. I had but little money saved up, and 
 now all my earnings must go to make conditions on the 
 farm, better. The panic of ’57, with other causes, cut 
 down Father’s revenue from his Manchester property. I 
 had a serious illness during the fall and winter of ’60, 
 consuming the nearly one hundred dollars earned in 
 Lawrence during that season, and as related at the 
 beginning of this story about my building venture, well, 
 I had a little money when I left home which my wife 
 carefully guarded during my absence, and auganented 
 from the allotment of eight dollars per month, she 
 received of my seventeen dollars, monthly pay. She 
 supported herself by working in the store and at her 
 trade as a milliner. Now, what I wish to make emphatic 
 is that the opportunity for a successful of lucrative 
 l)usiness, or financial life, were not very flattering. Flad 
 I remained at home with Father, I would have inherited 
 the small farm, with all its handicapped conditions, as 
 did he, his father’s homestead. While by going to war 
 and by reason of my wounding, this plan and kind of life 
 was necessarily abandoned, and I forced into other 
 callings, or activities. 
 
 The second year after my discharge, or 1866, I came 
 to Franklin, bought a stock of millinery goods at Sheriff’s 
 sale. This business, wife and I conducted for about four 
 or five years, when I bought an interest in a Door, Sash, 
 
 135 
 
Blind and jobbing- business, and selling out the other. 
 This I conducted with a partner to my disadvantage five 
 years, after which I started the Furniture and Under- 
 taking Business, in which I continued some thirty-three 
 years, meeting with a well earned success. 
 
 What of my decision to give my all of material things, 
 my all of home comforts and plans, of privileges, and mv 
 all of the dearest relations in life, my loving and loved 
 wife, and the dear old Father. All of these I did 
 surrender, and was I recompensed? As I view it today, 
 have I received a sufficient compensation for all these 
 deprivations and sufferings? Providence has kindly 
 marked out the way, led my feet to pursue the hidden 
 path, watched over and brought me nearly to its widening, 
 glorified terminal, where I am waiting, watching, and 
 expecting to meet the Great Captain of my Salvation, and 
 hear from His Imperial Head Quarters, the general 
 order, the war is over, victory yours, and you will place 
 on your battle stained ensign, having sacrificed your all 
 to help save your country from dissolution, you are 
 entitled to the gratitude of this great prosperous republic 
 of one hundred millions happy people, and your name 
 recorded on your Country’s never fading roll of honor, 
 and heaven’s scroll of worthy mention. 
 
 Gained, — I have the consolation which conies to one of 
 enlarged opportunities, and accomplishments, through 
 sacrifice and suffering. What have I lost? Lost the 
 selfishness that results from a restricted life and environ- 
 ments. Gained? I have a broader thought and interest 
 in my fellow men. Lost? I lost the little oportunity 
 which the country home gave me in earning for my 
 comfort and for Charities and Christ’s cause, some of 
 which I have been able to gain because of faithfulness to 
 convictions of duty and right. 
 
 In short and finally: — In settling the question which 
 above all others at that time, (my duty to my countri- in 
 
 136 
 
the great emergency of our Civil war), God has been 
 faithful in rewarding me far, far beyond my deserts and 
 expectations. If success has attended me in material or 
 other directions, that has been the contribuing cause. 
 My incentive for this laborious, yet pleasant task of sift- 
 ing out of my correspondence, the foregoing incidents, is 
 that if I may be granted the blessing of a posterity, that 
 they may, and I trust will, read with much interest of the 
 part their sire played in the greatest Civil war of history, 
 and be truly grateful that he saw fit to leave a record 
 of it. 
 
 Without further apologies or criticisms by myself on 
 this long, spun out story of a soldier in the Civil war, and 
 relying on the good sense, charity and kindness of heart 
 of any or all who may read this, I subscribe myself, 
 
 Late Lieut. C. C. PAIGE, 
 
 Co. I, 11th Regt., N. H. Vols. 
 
 These following letters written to my wife informing 
 her of my wounding and of my condition will explain 
 themselves I think. I introduce them at the close of my 
 story to show the interest manifested by people for the 
 wounded soldier and his friends in the days of our Civil 
 war. They are a true copy of the original which I have 
 sacredly preserved. 
 
 Copy. Head Quarters 2d Brig. 2d Div. 9th a. c. 
 
 In the field near Richmond, June 3, ’64. 
 
 Mrs. C. C. Paige — 
 
 I have to inform you that your husband was wounded in the 
 fight today, the ball passing through his left arm above the 
 elbow. Charles is in the very best of spirits and doing as well 
 as could possibly be expected. He will soon be able to write you 
 himself. Have no fears. 
 
 The battle is still raging. Yours in Haste, 
 
 Ira G. Wilkins, 
 
 Ldeut. and A. A. A. Gen’l., 2d Brig. 2d Div. 9th a. c. 
 
 Note. Ira G. Wilkins, the writer of this letter was a member 
 of Co. C, 11th Regt., and a good friend of mine. 
 
 137 
 
Copy. 
 
 White House, Va., June 5, 1864. 
 
 Mrs. Paige: 
 
 Dear Friend. At the request of your husband, I take my 
 pencil to write you a few lines. He is wounded, but not 
 dangerously. A ball struck the left arm about midway between 
 the elbow and shoulder. He is doing finely, is able to walk 
 about and can take some care of himself. He will probably go 
 from here to Washington, Philadelphia, or Annapolis to the 
 General Hospital. 
 
 He requests that you do not come to him until you hear again 
 as it will be uncertain what hospital he will go to. 
 
 He also requests you to write his brother Samuel immediately 
 not to come until he shall hear from him. He will write as soon 
 as he gets to a hospital. 
 
 Do not worry about him. He is doing well and I hope will 
 be able to go home soon. 
 
 Yours in haste, 
 
 Wm. B. Dodge. 
 
 For Charles C. Paige. 
 
 Copy. 
 
 Harwood Genl. Hospital Ward 6. 
 Washington D. C., June 8th, 1864. 
 
 Dear Wife Millie. 
 
 I am most too lazy to write this morning, and luck or Provi- 
 dence has provided me with a scribe, and you will be pleased to 
 know that it is Charlie Wason. 
 
 I arrived in Washington, yesterday, about eleven o’clock and 
 arrived at this hospital in an ambulance about four o’clock 
 where I am trying to make myself as comfortable and cosy as 
 possible. By the aid of Charlie Wason and others around the 
 hospital. You can imagine my feelings last evening as I lay 
 here on my little couch nearly destitute of acquaintances to see 
 my friend Charlie W. come in so unexpectedly. It was like the 
 old adage, like a cup of cold water to the thirsty soul. 
 
 I am comfortable as can be expected and doing nicely. I do 
 not know whether it is best for you to come out or not. I shall 
 be able to come home before long probably. I am at Harewood 
 Hospital, Ward 6. I will not try to write much more at present. 
 
 138 
 
Keep up good courage about me for I shall get along well now. 
 I will close this with good bye. 
 
 Write soon as you get this. 
 
 From your true husband, 
 
 Charlie. 
 
 P. S. Direct to Harewood Genl. Hospital, Ward 6, Washington, 
 D. C. 
 
 Note. This was written by my old tent mate, at my dictation. 
 He was wounded at Spottssylvania, and sent to this Hospital. 
 
 Copy. 
 
 Washington, June 9th. 
 
 Mrs. Chas. Paige. 
 
 Your husband is quite bright today. Keeps up good spirit and 
 wishes you to do the same. He expects to be transferred to 
 Philadelphia in a few days. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 M. K. Rockwell. 
 Washington, D. C., June 11, 1864. 
 
 To Mrs. Charles C. Paige, Manchester, N. H. 
 
 Dear Madam. Your husband desires me to write to you, for 
 him, as follows: — 
 
 I am as well today as I was yesterday and am still in Hare- 
 wood Hospital, but expect to be transferred to Philadelphia city 
 before long. Should much like to see some of you, but wish you 
 to do as you feel proper and right about coming on either now, 
 or after I get to Philadelphia, should I be removed there. My 
 spirits are good, and I mean to keep in good heart, so, please, 
 do not worry about me, it cannot do any good. Indeed, it will 
 only affect your health, and that will make me more unhappy. 
 So for my sake as well as your own, hope always for the best 
 and do not grieve for what is past, for God is over all, and He 
 will always do whatever is really right and best. 
 
 Please inform the rest of our relatives and friends — tell them 
 to write to me as often as they can, and believe me very truly, 
 and affectionately, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Chas. C. Paige. 
 
 I will only add that Harewood Hospital is beautifully situated 
 and surrounded, on high ground, out of and North of the City, is 
 well ventilated, airy, cleanly, and is well attended. Myself and 
 
 139 
 
wife visit there, (as do others) frequently, to minister to and' 
 look after the welfare of our hrave wounded and sick soldiers. 
 
 A. B. Grosh, 
 
 Box 980, Washington, D. C. 
 
 If you need my aid in any matter, I refer you to Rev. B. M. 
 Tillotson, Manchester, N. H., for information concerning my or 
 Mrs. Grosh’s characters. A.B.G. 
 
 Copy. 
 
 Washington, D. C. June 17, 1864. 
 
 Mrs. Chas. C. Paige, Manchester, N. H. 
 
 Dear Madam: Yours of the 13th inst., came to hand yesterday 
 morning: and it gives me much pleasure to inform you that your 
 husband’s condition improved so rapidly that last Sunday he 
 was transferred to Philadelphia, where no wounded soldier ever 
 lacks sympathy or aid. Indeed, I hope that ere now, he has 
 obtained a furlough and is with you in person, or at most, soon 
 will he. But should this hope not be realized to you, and you 
 desire to address him, you can do so hy giving his name. 
 Company, and Regiment, and addressing “Care of Eben Swift, M. 
 D., 1103 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.” Dr. Swift is the 
 Medical Director, and will know to which Hospital to send it. 
 
 Meanwhile I shall forward yours to me in the same manner, 
 lest he may he detained there, as I know that its lines will be 
 very pleasant to his eyes and heart. 
 
 Should it unhappily be necessary for you to go to him, applica- 
 tion to Dr. Swift at the office, 1103 Girard Avenue, above 11th 
 St., will secure the proper direction, and any Philadelphian will 
 direct you to that. But I feel sanguine that no such journey will 
 be necessary. 
 
 May our heavenly Father bless you and yours, now and ever. 
 
 Very respectfully, yours, 
 
 A. B. Grosh. 
 
 Address him thus on an envelope, and enclose that in another 
 addressed to Dr. Swift, — perhaps would be the best. A. B. G. 
 
 140 
 
Copj 
 
 Philadelphia, June 29. 
 
 Dear Mrs. Paige. 
 
 I was in to see your husband yesterday. He wished me to 
 write a line to inform you how he was getting along, said he did 
 not feel like writing, it tired him so much. He said tel! you he 
 was getting along well, kept up good courage, had been up six 
 hours when I was there, never had set up only about three hours 
 before. They took him out in the afternoon, was out in the 
 Park about three hours, walked round considerable. He looked 
 much better than when I saw him last. The Doctor says his 
 wound is doing well. I think the Hospital where he is is nicely 
 conducted. The men seem to be well cared for, the ladies are 
 very kind to them. I know you feel very anxious about your 
 husband, but if he must be away from home I don’t think he 
 could be where he would receive better care than in Philadelphia. 
 His bed is near a window so he can get good fresh air. His 
 Doctor seems very kind to him. Anything I can do for him I 
 shall be happy to do it. I will call and see him often. If any 
 change for the worse should happen you may be assured I will 
 inform you of it. I hope you will keep up good courage, and 
 write cheerful letters to him. Sergt. Bennett thinks he may go 
 home this week, but it is uncertain. If he does he will call and 
 see you and tell you more about your husband than I can write. 
 
 Please accept my kind wishes for yourself and husband from 
 
 Mrs. F. A. Brown. 
 
 141 
 
H’d Qr’s. 2’ Brig. 2’ Div. 9’o’c. 
 Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 27. ’63. 
 
 Captain : 
 
 You will make the following detail from your command 
 for picket duty to report at these Headquarters at six 
 p. m., this evening. 
 
 Lieut. Sergt. Corpl. Private. 
 
 1 2 4 38 
 
 Also the following detail for same duty to report to 
 Capt. Woodward, 11 N. H. Vols. at four A. M. tomorrow. 
 Lieut. Sergt. Corpl. Private 
 1 2 4 38 
 
 By Command of Edwin Schall, 
 
 Lieut. Col. Comd’y 
 Laneshart, 
 
 Capt. & a a a Genl. 
 
 Capt. Coggswell 
 
 Cam.d’y 11 N. H. Vols. 
 
 Copy. 
 
 Camp IP N. H. Vols 
 Near Blains Cross Roads, Tenn. 
 Dec. 29th, 1863. 
 
 Guards & Patrols : Please pass the bearer Acting 
 Sergt. Major Charles Paige out the lines and return. 
 
 L. M. Cogswell, 
 Capt. Comd’y Regt. 
 
 Approved 
 M. N. Collins 
 
 Lt. Col. Comd’y 2nd Brig. 2nd Div. 9. o’c. 
 
 142 
 
Copy. 
 
 Provost Marshal’s Ofifice. 
 Dept. 9th A. C. Apr. 23rd, 1864. 
 
 Guards and Patrols will pass Sergt. C. C. Paige, 11th 
 N. H. Vols. until 9 a. m. of Apr. 24th. 
 
 By order of Chas. W. Davis, 
 
 Capt. & Pro. Mar. Dept. 9th A. C. 
 Per Lt. Goodrich 
 
 143 
 
Lieut. Chari.es C. Paige. 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 While it has no direct connection with the story of my 
 soldier life, and no apparent or sufficient reason for this 
 addenda, yet, I feel that as my sketch is dedicated to my 
 family for their perusal, it is quite proper to mention my 
 brothers’ names, and the reason why they were not in the 
 army, as also to note the fact that two of my brothers-in- 
 law did service at the front, and one in the Navy. 
 
 My eldest brother, Samuel B. Paige of Eawrence, 
 Mass., had passed the age limit when he might do mili- 
 tary duty, though he was patriotic enough to enlist, if 
 younger. 
 
 Brother David O. Paige of Cincinnati, Ohio, had an 
 invalid wife, and a baby girl, Glenna, who needed his care 
 and attention, and his duty seemed to be towards his 
 family. He was connected with the Hall Safe Co., of his 
 City and did quite a business for the Government in 
 making over fire arms. 
 
 At one time Cincinnati was in great danger of an attack 
 by the Rebels raiders and the City was placed under mar- 
 tial law. I think fortifications were constructed and my 
 brother was in charge of many men called out to defend 
 the city. Many times has he expressed to me his regrets 
 that he could, or did not enter the army for the suppres- 
 sion of the rebellion. 
 
 My sister Sarah’s husband, William S. Pierson of Man- 
 chester, N. H., enlisted under the call for three months’ 
 men. He went as a musician in Baldwin’s Manchester 
 Brass Band. Later in the war, 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
 
 144 
 
pany C, 1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, leaving 
 behind a wife and two small boys, W. O. and Frank W. 
 Pierson. 
 
 Soon after the regiment in which Pierson enlisted had 
 reached Washington and been assigned to Fort Reno, he 
 was detailed as a musician and helped to organize the 
 headquarters band. In his company there was a male 
 quartette composed of William S. Pierson, Lieut. Reuben 
 Dodge, Joseph E. Walker and Madison Gray. 
 
 After the fall of Richmond they were ordered by Col. 
 Long, commanding the regiment, to go to the headquar- 
 ters of the army in Washington, D. C., and sing. From 
 there in company with the band they went to the home of 
 Secretary of War Stanton and serenaded him. Stanton 
 raised the window and thanked them, and said, “To 
 whom am I indebted for this serenade?” 
 
 Col. Long replied, “To the 1st N. H. Heavy Artillery 
 Band.” Soon all the house was aglow and the band was 
 invited in to partake of a collation served at the hands of 
 the Secretary of A¥ar. 
 
 The quartette was prominent in many military and 
 State functions in those days. 
 
 Pierson was mustered out in 1865. 
 
 Luther Cheney, my wife’s eldest brother, served two 
 or three years in the Navy as Assistant Engineer on one 
 of the Cruisers. His duty mostly was in foreign waters, 
 looking after our shipping interests and operating against 
 Confederate privateers. To go into the U. S. service 
 necessitated bidding adieu to a loving wife and two 
 children, Frank and Ella. 
 
 His devotion to the old flag which floated from the 
 mast of many a vessel which he had sailed on in earlier 
 days, was the only incentive that could have turned him 
 from his little family to whom he was greatly devoted. 
 
 Thomas C. Cheney, second brother of my wife, resided 
 
 145 
 
in Manchester, N. H. He was an enthusiastic republi- 
 can and in his breast the fires of patriotism burned 
 fiercely and notwithstanding he had a wife and two small 
 boys looking to him for support, he heeded his Country’s 
 call and enlisted in the First New Hampshire Battery 
 and served three years. 
 
 Fred W. Cheney, his oldest boy, was six years of 
 age and Clinton but a babe sitting on the floor, when 
 his father said good bye to them all ; perhaps never again 
 to see and embrace the dear ones. 
 
 He received a niinie ball in the hip at the battle of 
 Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, and but for the ball striking 
 his case knife and deeply indenting it, would have frac- 
 tured his hip joint. 
 
 I am pleased to place the names of these patriots who 
 left wives, children and other dear ones to do duty at the 
 front, with my own. Their record is honorable indeed 
 and they did their duty as they understood it, faithfully. 
 
 146 
 
y- 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 

 CALL NUMBER 
 
 973.781 
 
 P876S 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Date (for periodical) 
 
 
 Copy No. 
 
 SEP 13 
 
 ^ Author;