Madison, Tuesday, Aug. 26. I got partially rested by my short sleep, but I was awake long ere the rising of the sun. I awoke to a different scene to which had hitherto been my lot. Instead of the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, was the rattle of the drum and the “hooray” of the volunteers. To-day we were examined by the surgeon and went up-town for the purpose of drawing our bounty money, but the press of business was too large, and we were put off till the next day. In the evening I had to bid good-bye to my brother John, who had accompanied me to camp. It was a difficult task—my constant companion in labor, my adviser and counsel in everything. I had to part. It seemed as if I was like a ship on sea without a compass, without other safeguard than my own firmness and weight.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
August.—The New York State S. S.¹ convention is convened here and the meetings are most interesting. They were held in our church and lasted three days. A Mr Hart, from New York, led the singing and Mr Ralph Wells was Moderator. Mr Noah T. Clarke was in his element all through the meetings. Mr Pardee gave some fine blackboard exercises. During the last afternoon Mr Tousley was wheeled into the church, in his invalid chair, and said a few words, which thrilled every one. So much tenderness, mingled with his old time enthusiasm and love for the cause. It is the last time probably that his voice will ever be heard in public. They closed the grand meeting with the hymn beginning:
” Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love.”
In returning thanks to the people of Canandaigua for their generous entertainment, Mr Ralph Wells facetiously said that the cost of the convention must mean something to Canandaigua people, for the cook in one home was heard to say, ” These religiouses do eat awful!”
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¹ Sunday School
(Click on image for larger version)
Sketch showing positions of Second Corps, A.N.Va., August 26th to September 2, 1862 : embracing engagements at Bristoe Station, Manassas Junction, Groveton or Second Manassas, and Ox Hill or Chantilly, Va.
– Shows names of some residents.
– Relief shown by hachures.
– Title and scale from Stephenson’s Civil War maps, 1989.
– Pen-and-ink, colored pencil, and pencil mounted on cloth.
– Similar to the map reproduced in the Atlas to accompany the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1891-95, pl. 111, no. 1.
Library of Congress map.
Headquarters 5th Army Corps, Aug. 26,1862.
Camp five miles from Bealeton.
Dear Mother, — . . . We are continually on the go now, and are guarding several of the fords through the Rappahannock. Griffin’s brigade is at Barrett’s Ford some eleven miles from here. Butterfield and Martindale are at Kelly’s Ford six miles from here, and Sykes’s division is with us on the way to Rappahannock Station, where the Orange and Alexandria R.R. crosses the Rappahannock River. The first three brigades (Griffin’s, Butterfield’s, and Martindale’s) compose More11’s (Porter’s old) division. The corps has quite a long line to guard. Sumner, however, is landing his corps to-day at Aquia Creek and will soon join us. Heinzelman went to Alexandria and part of his force is 5 miles from us. Franklin lands at Alexandria and marches up to join Pope. Keyes stops to guard the Peninsula. You now know where McClellan’s army is. Burnside came to Aquia Creek with 7000 men; 5000 of them are with Pope and the remainder with General Burnside at Falmouth. To-day I was in the saddle at seven o’clock A.M. and out at 4 o’clock P.M., having ridden all over the country with the general. As a general thing the country is barren, stony, and unproductive. There arc some five or six gold mines round here, which were worked by New York companies but which do not amount to much.
I am remarkably well, and grow stronger every day. . . .
August 26 — Last night at one o’clock our old bugle bleated around camp and waked us from a very sweet sleep to weary marching, and I felt very much like choking the man that dares to make such a blasted blowing noise at the stilly hour of midnight; but such is war when well followed. Whenever our haversacks are loaded with three days’ rations we may look for marching orders at any moment, day or night. Soon after the bugle sounded we were on the march toward the Blue Ridge. At daylight we arrived at Amissville, a small village in the southeastern edge of Rappahannock County. We halted there for the brigade wagons, which came up at nine o’clock. Then we renewed our march and moved to Gaines’ Crossroads, and camped. Gaines’ Crossroads is in Rappahannock County, twelve miles west of Warrenton. A great many of Jackson’s wagons are camped here.
Warrenton, Va. Street in front of courthouse; by Timothy H. O’Sullivan in August 1862.
Library of Congress image.
26th.—I have been to Washington and Georgetown today, and really enjoyed the scenes of civil life. There is a rumor to-day that our worn-out regiment is to go to Baltimore to guard the Fort there. To the regiment generally this would be a god-send, but I confess that for myself I prefer the active duties of the field.
Tuesday, 26th—We remained on railroad guard all day again. Nothing of importance happened, but we had quite an exciting time for a while last night. When George Cush of Company E was on vedette, he thought he heard someone ahead of him in the brush, and gave the usual command to halt, but without response. Then as the noise continued he let fire, and although he hit nothing, yet that shot was enough to arouse the whole reserve post, and we remained in line the rest of the night, thinking that the rebels would make a charge on us before daylight. In the morning, upon investigation, we concluded that the noise must have been made by a hog or a calf, for there was not the least sign of the rebels. But the boys of the company began teasing George about his scare, and it is not likely that they will let him know the last of it for some time.
MONDAY, [August] 25 and Tuesday, 26.— In Washington. Here all arrangements connected with army matters are perfect. An efficient military police or patrol arrests all men and officers not authorized to be absent from their regiments, and either returns them to their regiments or puts them under guard and gives notice of their place. A good eating-house feeds free of expense and sleeps all lost and stray soldiers. An establishment furnishes quartermasters of regiments with cooked rations at all times; fine hospitals, easily accessible, are numerous. The people fed and complimented our men (chiefly the middling and mechanical or laboring classes) in a way that was very gratifying. We felt proud of our drill and healthy brown faces. The comparison with the new, green recruits pouring in was much to our advantage. Altogether Washington was a happiness to the Twenty-third.
Tuesday, 26th. In the morning read some. Finished a letter to Sarah Felton. She is a splendid girl. I wish she would be content to stop study for a year like Fannie A. and Fannie H. In the afternoon issued five days’ rations. Had a very pleasant time talking with the boys. Mail came in the evening. None of us but John Thayer, received letters. Rather disappointed. Andy enlisted and left for Mount Vernon. Rather sorry to see him go—good boy.
