Part 16

We are having nice weather now, but night before last we had a great thunder shower. It came up very suddenly, about sunset, and was the blackest, ugliest-looking sky I ever saw. The rebels have, for some time, been very busy planting torpedoes in the roads leading toward Richmond, and a few days ago a squad of four were scooped in while engaged in this laudable undertaking.

Day before yesterday two regiments of negro cavalry came up from Norfolk, and yesterday I rode up from Yorktown with a couple of the troopers. They kept me in a roar of laughter relating their experiences in the army, which were inexpressibly funny.

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_CXLIV_

CAMP BETWEEN BERMUDA HUNDRED AND PETERSBURG, VA., _May 9, 1864_.

I have just time to write a short letter before going to the Landing to attend to my mail. The indications are that we are going to have a fight today. The Corps has marched out toward the rebel lines, and now a long train of ambulances is going by, which is ominous. This is the day when the old men of Company I figure their time is out, and it is not impossible that some of them may get their final discharges today. I shall go to the Landing, about four miles, for my mail, at ten o’clock, and then hurry out to the front to see how matters are progressing.

We broke camp at Williamsburg on the 4th and embarked from a temporary wharf on the James River. The next morning the bulk of the expedition came up from Fortress Monroe, and it was a great spectacle. As far as the eye could reach swarmed vessels of every description—transports, tugs, ironclads and gunboats. About dark we were at Bermuda Hundred, at the mouth of the Appomattox River. We mounted men were on a different boat from the regiment, and after a vain hunt of a couple hours we gave up trying to find the Second that night and camped by the roadside, picketing our horses and with our saddles for pillows. The next day the troops advanced to our present position, and Heckman’s brigade, of our division, had a smart little fight. Yesterday our boys were throwing up a redoubt down by the Appomattox, but today the work is discontinued and the men have gone out to fight.

I met John Hynes yesterday, on the road to the Landing. [John R., an old-time Manchester printer, in the Third N. H. Regiment.]

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_CXLV_

CAMP NEAR BERMUDA HUNDRED, VA., _May 13, 1864_.

Yesterday morning the Second set out, with the rest of the army, for a raid on the Danville Railroad, and are expected back today, as they took rations for but two days. My duties required that I should stay here, and right glad was I, as it rained nearly all day and through the night, and I was much more comfortable under a good shelter tent than I would have been plugging through the mud. There were about half a dozen left in my camp squad, and we had a jolly time of it. We bought a beef liver and some potatoes for dinner, and sirloin steak and potatoes for supper, and Johnny Powell and I fixed up a tent in which we slept as snug as a bug in a rug.

Day before yesterday Gordon got instructions to make out our final statements, which are the preliminaries to a discharge. He was at work on them when marching orders came, when, of course, he suspended operations until he gets back from this raid, which will probably be today.

_May 17._

I think it is about time to finish this letter. The army has been for five days on a movement against Fort Darling, and got back today. [Here follows an account of the Fort Darling expedition, substantially as given in the succeeding letter, and the reason for duplicating which is made clear in that letter.]

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_CXLVI_

HEADQUARTERS SECOND N. H. V., POINT OF ROCKS, VA., _May 18, 1864_.

This morning I received your letter, dated from Manchester. Yesterday I sent a letter off directed to New London, but as you have concluded not to go there I suppose your chances of getting it right off are not very good. So, to relieve your anxiety, I write again. Our date of discharge has at last been definitely settled, and you need not expect me before the 7th of June. That is General Butler’s fiat, which is law.

This army has had some fighting to do since it landed here. At this very moment the rebels are attacking a portion of our intrenched line not half a mile from where I am sitting, and there is a terrific uproar of cannon and musketry. A week ago the army went out on an expedition to stir up the rebels. They skirmished with them, drove them toward Fort Darling, and took the outer line of rifle-pits. I took the regimental mail up, and found the boys within five hundred yards of a large rebel fort, over which two big garrison flags were floating. They were behind a good log breastwork, and our skirmishers were well out in front, behind logs and stumps, popping away so industriously that the rebels were not working a single one of their cannon. I stayed as long as I could find any excuse, to distribute my mail and to watch the sport, then rode back to camp. The next morning, before I had rolled out of my blankets, I heard heavy firing up the river, and knew that a battle was on. It was a couple hours before I could get started with my mail. The road, after I had gone a piece, was full of wounded men on foot and ambulances loaded with mangled humanity. One driver told me he had in his wagon the body of Captain Platt, who was killed by a bullet in the head.

When I reached the regiment I learned the full story of the fight The morning was a very foggy one, and the rebels crawled silently toward our lines, and then rushed for our breastworks. But there was an obstacle in the path that they hadn’t dreamed of. Our fellows had busied themselves during the night in weaving telegraph wires among the stumps out at the front, and when the rebs charged they suddenly found themselves sprawling every-which-way, while our boys were pumping lead into them as fast as they could load and fire. The rebs came on again and again, until the ground in front of the Second was carpeted with dead and wounded rebels. But the rebels managed to get through the lines to the right and the left, and the army fell back and formed a new line of battle a mile or less to the rear of the old position. Although there was light skirmishing all day, at some points, the rebels had done about all the attacking they cared to for one day.

I stayed with the regiment all day, to see the fun if there was any more going. One time I thought there would be. The brigade was called to attention and moved forward in battle line, across the fields, toward the woods where the morning’s fight had taken place. Old “Buckskin” and I thoughtlessly jogged along behind the Second. Before we were within ordinary rifle range of the woods, a bullet “pinged” by not far from me. Pretty soon there was another. And then another! Looking up and down, I saw I was the only mounted man on the line, and it dawned upon me that some sharpshooter with a long-range rifle had picked me out as the boss of the expedition and was trying to get me. And he could shoot, too. My pride wouldn’t let me turn and run, badly as I wanted to, and I was about to drop to the ground and walk when the bugles sounded a halt, and we about-faced and marched back—and I was mighty glad to go.

During the night our army came back into the camps. This morning the rebels appeared in front of our lines and lively skirmishing has been going on all day. The army is engaged in throwing up intrenchments, the Second working as hard as any of them.

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_CXLVII_

HEADQUARTERS SECOND N. H. V., NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., _May 24, 1864_.

The discharge of veteran regiments in this command has already begun. Yesterday I went down to Bermuda Hundred with my tentmate, Johnny Powell, and on our way back we met the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery on their way home, their time having expired. The present camp of the Second is delightfully located, in a beautiful pine grove, shady, cool and clean, just to the rear of our rifle-pits. I now have about fifteen minutes’ work each day, carrying the outgoing mail down to brigade headquarters, a distance of a dozen rods, and bringing the regimental mail up over the same course.

Colonel Bailey is determined to go home when we do, and probably will. The regiment will then be reduced below the minimum entitling it to a colonel. Also, if War Department orders are enforced, it will have to be consolidated into companies of one hundred men each and superfluous officers mustered out. Bailey has written to Major Davis, Gen. Butler’s Assistant-Adjutant-General, expressing his wish to be mustered out with the old men and stating the facts in regard to the regiment. His wife, I know, has set her foot down against his staying in the army longer than he is obliged to—just as mine did.

We are having a very quiet time along the lines, just now. For two or three days there has hardly been a shot fired. We have intrenchments behind which we can defy the whole rebel army. But the other night we had noise enough down a little to our right. I had just turned in when it started, and in five minutes there was such a riot that the regiment turned out and manned the breastworks. But our section of the line was not molested, and in half an hour the firing had degenerated into an occasional straggling shot, and the regiment turned in again.

Well, as Bill Pendleton says, “Every day is like an inch on a man’s nose.”

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_CXLVIII_

HEADQUARTERS SECOND N. H. V., NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., _Friday, May 27, 1864_.

In my last letter, written three days ago, I promised to write one more letter from the army. The chances are that if I do not write _now_ I may not have another opportunity, as we are evidently getting in trim to move within a day or two, and we may not get settled down again until we are discharged. Last night an order came here that all men in the regiment who are unable to travel in light marching order shall be sent at once to the division hospital. We will doubtless move very soon—perhaps before tomorrow morning. Hen. Pillsbury has just come in with the news, coming from Dr. Merrow, that we will march within a few hours, a good part of Butler’s force going to reinforce Grant. If so, we will have some hard marching to do.

Now that the time for my release draws nigh, I must say I am getting very impatient. Bill Ramsdell says: “When I get my discharge in my hand, I shall feel as if I had shaken off a man who for three years has had his hand at my throat, trying to strangle me.” And with his experience, I do not wonder that he feels that way.

Since I began this letter the preparations for departure have set in in good earnest. The shovels which we have used in throwing up defensive works are being loaded up, the sick men have taken up their line of march for the hospitals, and the cooks are busy preparing two days’ rations. If Grant has got Lee back pretty well toward Richmond, it may not be a very hard march to join him. But if he is still at the Anna rivers we will have some right smart “huffing” to do. At any rate, I will not be troubled with a heavy load—only what I may need to make myself comfortable. I have turned in my horse, and will “frog it” with the boys, which will be rather pleasant, and I will not have the horse to care for. It has been some time since I have received a letter from you, but suppose you do not write for fear I may not get it, being liable to start for home any day. Good bye, for a very short time.

* * * * *

_This was the Soldier Boy’s last letter from the army. The Eighteenth Army Corps did join Grant, being transported to White House, on the Pamunky, by water. The Second gloriously maintained its ancient reputation in the sanguinary battle of Cold Harbor, and an ill fate took heavy toll from the little handful of old men whose faces were already turned joyously toward home and the loved ones. Three company commanders—including Captain Gordon—were killed, and the rank and file were decimated. Immediately after this terrible sacrifice the remnant returned to New Hampshire and were mustered out._

FOOTNOTE:

[1] Many, many years afterward, Ed. came from Dayton, Ohio—where he was an inmate of the National Military Home—to the Weirs reunion, especially “to see Mart. Haynes.” There, in the Second Regiment house, he told to an interested audience the story of his being wounded and of being discovered and relieved by me, substantially as given in my letter, but with greater elaboration and detail. And he closed with a climax which I had omitted in my letter and in the long lapse of years had all but forgotten. “Then Mart. said, ‘Ed., it’s going to rain, and you are in no shape to lay out without any cover. I’ve lost my whole outfit, but I’ll see if I can’t pick up something for you.’ And he went off, and in half an hour he came back. He said, ‘Don’t ask any questions, Ed.’ And he covered me up with an officer’s overcoat—a splendid garment, heavily braided—tucked me in, and made me comfortable. I honestly believe he saved my life.” I loathe a thief, but I am glad I stole that overcoat.

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Transcriber’s Note (continued)

Obvious punctuation errors in the transcribed text have been repaired. Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been retained as published in the original book, except as follows:

Page 10 – “tommorrow” changed to “tomorrow” (he will be hanged today or tomorrow)

Page 12 – “ammunion” changed to “ammunition” (a large supply of ammunition)

Page 13 – “Centerville” changed to “Centreville” (were encamped about a mile from Centreville)

Page 14 – “Centerville” changed to “Centreville” (Before reaching Centreville)

Page 24 – “pleasares” changed to “pleasures” (the pleasures of letter-writing)

Page 25 – “divison” changed to “division” (The infantry of this division)

Page 32 – “dischagre” changed to “discharge” (accidental discharge)

Page 35 – “a wouldn’t” changed to “I wouldn’t” (it was a question sometimes whether I wouldn’t)

Page 35 – “sightseeing” changed to “sight-seeing” (who drop down sight-seeing)

Page 43 – “seige” changed to “siege” (siege artillery)

Page 44 – “probable” changed to “probably” (our camp is probably a mile and a half from)

Page 52 – “venomons” changed to “venomous” (fairly venomous)

Page 53 – “to to take” changed to “to take” (joined in season to take part in the fight)

Page 58 – “to to be” changed to “to be” (Company I happened to be one)

Page 60 – “seive” changed to “sieve” (a fine sieve)

Page 67 – “a lots” changed to “a lot” (The actual fate of a lot of the boys)

Page 69 – “Bull Ren” changed to “Bull Run” (killed at Bull Run)

Page 70 – “tournequit” changed to “tourniquet” (pocket tourniquet)

Page 70 – “To-night” changed to “Tonight” (NB ‘tonight’ used 18 times, ‘to-night’ this once)

Page 74 – “reboubts” changed to “redoubts” (There are redoubts and rifle pits)

Page 86 – “may” changed to “way” (made its way back to the old camps)

Page 90 – “Sergeant Major” changed to “Sergeant-Major” (Frank Wasley is now Sergeant-Major)

Page 93 – “as it it is” changed to “as it is” (as it is a delightful location)

Page 132 – “matrass” changed to “mattress” (a good mattress, made by filling my bunk with hay)

Page 134 – “matrass” changed to “mattress” (a good mattress and half a dozen quilts)

Page 146 – “Farnham” changed to “Farnam” (You ask me about Charlie Farnam)

Page 157 – “nonchalently” changed to “nonchalantly” (I answered, nonchalantly,)

Page 164 – “seige” changed to “siege” (the siege is still going on)

Page 169 – “throught” changed to “thought” (One time I thought there would be)

The single footnote has been re-indexed using a number and moved to the end of the book.