October 29th. Marching orders received. Our last day and night at Fort McHenry. Great rejoicing over the prospect of leaving the old place. Packing up and getting ready for an early start on the morrow. Singing and very happy in camp.
Monday, October 29, 2012
October 29.—A skirmish took place on the Ridgeville road, at a point five miles distant from Petersburgh, Va., between two reconnoitring force of Union troops under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk, and a detachment of the rebel General Stuart’s cavalry, resulting in a rout of the latter and the capture of sixteen of their number, with about two hundred head of cattle which the rebels were driving to their camp.—(Doc. 18.)
—Early this morning a force of Union troops under the command of Major Keenan, Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, left Purcellsville, Va., on a reconnoitring expedition. They passed through Berrysville, Snickersville, and Philomont. On arriving at Union they found that town occupied by a battalion of Georgia cavalry, whom they drove out. Here it was ascertained that General Walker, in command of a force of South-Carolina troops, was in position five miles from Middleburgh. Major Keenan also found about a hundred wounded rebel soldiers, all of whom he paroled, and learned that General Longstreet was in command of the rebel forces near Upperville. He next proceeded to Aldie, in the vicinity of which place he unexpectedly came upon a detachment of the First Michigan cavalry, sent out by General Sigel from his command near Centreville. Major Keenan then returned to Purcellsville, having marched thirty-five miles, and obtained some valuable information.
—The brig Baron de Castine, of Boston, Captain Saunders, was this day captured in lat. 39°, long. 69°, by the rebel privateer Alabama, and liberated on a bond for six thousand dollars.
—The ship Alleganian, of New-York, was boarded at night while at anchor off the mouth of the Rappahannock, by a party of rebels, who, after riding her, and taking off the crew, set her on fire. The U. S. steamer Crusader subsequently came up, and endeavored to extinguish the flames, but without success.
—A fight took place near Butler, Bates County, Missouri, between a detachment of the First Kansas colored volunteers, under the command of Colonel Seaman, and a body of rebel guerrillas under Cockerill, resulting in a repulse of the latter with a loss of about thirty killed and wounded. The Unionists had eight men killed and ten wounded.—(Doc. 19.)
Wednesday, 29th—The Eleventh Iowa was detailed to clean up and smooth a tract of ground for inspection. We are to have general inspection of the army here at Corinth, and it is to be made by General Grant.
Wednesday, 29th.—Passed Copper Hill, 11 A. M. Some of our mess foraged to-day; had very good luck; bought bucket each of apple-butter and preserves. Preserves stolen from us that night, but caught the thief before he got to eat any of them.
Wednesday, 29th. Up at daybreak. In the rear guard. Waited several hours for the train to get by. Stewart and Jacobah came up and joked. Read a Leslie. Very slow work today, so many halts. Can not admire Capt. Seward. Had the impudence to keep me carrying water for him to drink. Lingered to guard a sutler, whose stock he tried—the miserable poison. Advance guard fired upon near a mill, three stories. Got into camp at Price’s old headquarters three miles from Maysville—an old Free Love Institute, they say. Had a little conversation with our guide of the 1st Arkansas. Bill and I went to work to get supper—soon others joined us.
[Captain Bradley returned home in October, 1862. Leverett had been clerk of the company for nearly a year, and he had shown great ability for taking pains and accuracy. He learned to write very evenly and picked up knowledge at every turn. The clear perception for which he was noted in after-life can be traced here. The discipline in a camp where petty jealousies and quarrels filled the leisure hours consisted in keeping free from them and rising to every opportunity for responsibility. He also developed his ability to keep his temper and learned to hold his tongue. He was very thoughtful of the family at home, and felt the care of his brother Jere, the drummer-boy, who at this time was fourteen. Leverett was sixteen. The restricted circumstances of the family during the war made him conscientious about self-support.—Ed.]
Oct. 29, 1862
To the family at home:
How would you like me to get in the navy? You know I spoke of it before I left home and it has been in my head ever since, 1st for, and then against it. I don’t know as I could; but would try hard. I think you could do all you could there, and I, here; but I would not do it against your wish. Mr. G. is one of them to get a chance at and I did n’t know but what the Capt. and he could talk and I would see Asst. Secretary Fox, of the Navy here. It is the only service that has done anything since the war. I don’t know as I could get out of the army, into it; but think I could. I, perhaps, could pass no kind of an examination; but I think I could get very good recommendations. Now don’t say “pooh,” but just think it over and see what you think of it. It is the place to bring up a boy anyway. There are land services and sea services. Now, please ponder and weigh the subject well and give only your opinion. You may think I have changed that “California” note; but by this means I could stand a better sight.
Sunrise.
The beautiful morning sun is just peeping into my tent quite cheerily. It was not very cold last night and I slept like a good one. Have answered roll-call and built a fire and now can write. Can Frank go through the sword exercise?
I hope you will meet with success in your great speech to be made shortly. Have everything on your tongue’s end that you are going to say and then let them have it; but I don’t know as I can give you any advice.
[He was sixteen, writing to his father.—Ed.]
Obsolete banknote from the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. Printed in black with a warrior pictured center. SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS. Dated Oct. 29, 1862.
Col. Upton Leaves Us.
Oct. 29. .Our regiment is now left with only one field officer, Major Pickett. Col. Upton left us yesterday and Lieut. Col. Sprague and Adjutant Harkness left us two weeks ago. Lieut. Col. Sprague left to take command of a nine months’ regiment already recruited in the city of Worcester. Adjutant Harkness is commissioned major of the same regiment. Col. Upton resigned on account of failing health, which I hope he may speedily recover after reaching home. All three of these officers have had the confidence and respect of the regiment in a marked degree, and our best wishes attend them in other fields. .As a slight token of their regard for Col. Upton, the enlisted men are having manufactured a $1000 sword, which they intend to present to him. Major Pickett will succeed to the colonelcy, and according to military usage, Capt. Moulton of company II will be lieutenant colonel and Capt. Atwood of company C will be major. This will fill the field again, and occasion some changes and promotions in the line. I reckon if I was of an ambitious turn of mind, I should aspire to some of these places of honor and emolument, but remembering the promise that whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted, I will continue to wait on.
Reinforcements.
Massachusetts boys are getting thick as blueberries about here, and we are glad to see them. Three regiments of nine months’ troops have just arrived, the 3d, 5th and 44th regiments, and I hear that more are coming. A good many of the new comers have called on us and seem desirous of making our acquaintance, to which we are not averse, seeing they are good appearing fellows and have plenty of money, which is not a bad qualification, especially when introduced to the sutler. I learn that Gen. Foster leaves tomorrow on an expedition, taking with him nearly all the force here, including the three new regiments. That will be breaking them in pretty quick after getting here. They, of course, have not had much drill and probably half of them never fired a gun. But to us, a little trip up the country is cheering news. After being shut up in camp so long any change is gladly accepted.
OCTOBER 29TH.—There was a rumor yesterday that the enemy were marching on Weldon; but we have no confirmation of it to-day.
Loring, after all, did not send his cavalry into Pennsylvania, I presume, since nothing has been heard of it.
The Charleston Mercury has some strictures on the President for not having Breckinridge in Kentucky, and Price in Missouri, this fall. They would doubtless have done good service to the cause. The President is much absorbed in the matter of appointments.
Gen. Wise was again ordered down the Peninsula last Saturday; and again ordered back when he got under way. They will not let him fight.
October 29th. The corps did not commence crossing until to-day. At 4 P. M. our division struck tents, and at five o’clock were en route. We crossed the Potomac with rather heavy hearts, and advanced directly up the valley, skirting along the mountain’s base; marched six miles, and then halted, and bivouacked on the north side of Key’s Pass. As soon as the troops were placed in position, I rode back to Harper’s Ferry with General Meagher and an escort, to get my teeth put in order by a dentist, a friend of Captain La Valley, the acting brigade commissary. My teeth lately have been very troublesome, and as we are constantly exposed I thought the present chance too good to be overlooked. I put up with La Valley, who is a bon vivant as well as a good commissary, and enjoyed a pleasant evening with a crowd of friends.
