Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Diary of a Young Officer–Josiah Marshall Favill (57th New York Infantry)

[September 18th]

At break of day all fell in, expecting a renewal of the battle, but no movement was ordered and the men walked about trying to pull themselves together.

In the rear of our lines the officers moved about in comparative safety, but any attempt to cross the sunken road on the right intersecting our line at a right angle was almost always fatal. I crossed twice, however, without being hit, having to take orders to the Fifty-second, which lay on the other side of the road. No change in our position occurred during either the day or following night, and we shivered again without other protection than a pretty thin blanket.

[September 17th]

During the night the Eleventh corps, General Mansfield, crossed, and at daylight this morning the combined force commenced an attack which proved to be most sanguinary and without important result. To our astonishment the whole line was not engaged simultaneously, but the old McClellan method of fighting in detail, one corps at a time, the rest of the army looking on. The fight was murderous, the musketry terrific and the number of guns in action almost incredible. About 9 o’clock our division was ordered to follow French, now commanding the Third division across the river, and promptly fell in, marched around the base of the hill into the valley, and crossed at a shallow ford, Caldwell and Meagher in front. We filed off to the left along the stream, and lay down, while Meagher’s brigade supported by Caldwell moved forward to the attack up the hill directly in front. As they approached the summit, they were met by a severe musketry fire, and were shelled by many guns from different directions. The first thing I noticed was General Meagher slip from his horse, and some of the men carrying him to the rear. His brigade, however, marched forward to the crest in beautiful style, but were unable to make further progress. They remained standing in line of battle, loading and firing as fast as they could, their men falling in the ranks every second, and we could see them gradually melting away. Just then Captain Norvell, of General Richardson’s staff, came along, and ordered us forward to relieve them. The order to fall in was given and with nervous force, teeth firmly set and without a word spoken, we marched steadily forward. As we approached the Irish brigade, it opened files and we passed through, immediately coming under a terrific fire of musketry, and artillery. Caldwell, in the meantime, had gone in on our left and gained considerable ground, reaching the crest of the hill. The enemy were in plain sight a very short distance below, and the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth were ordered to charge, which they did, in a most gallant manner, led by Colonel Parisen on horseback. Down the slope, over a sunken road strewn with dead and dying, and into a cornfield pell mell we went, driving the flying rebels before us in splendid shape, bayoneting all who did not promptly surrender. We finally reached a house, since known to be the Piper house, and came under a converging fire or rebel artillery and so were ordered back again, and to the left, taking a position on the slope of the hill overlooking the cornfield. Here the regiment became scattered, and it was some time before it was gotten together under the severe artillery fire. Just at this time Colonel Brooke came up and ordered me to join his staff as aide-de-camp in place of Lieutenant Potts, carried from the field badly wounded. The first thing to do was to reorganize the line. Richardson, on the left, while directing the batteries and infantry as they fell back into new positions, was severely wounded and carried from the field. There was a considerable gap on our right and Colonel Brooke directed me to move up the regiment on the left of Caldwell’s brigade to close it as the enemy were advancing, and there was danger of our line being broken. I walked across the field right on the edge of the cornfield, my ears fairly burning with the singing of the deadly minnie. I could see nothing, but the tips of the cornstalks were constantly toppling over, cut by the rebel infantry fire. When I reached the infantry line, it was lying flat down, and proved to be the Sixty-first New York, commanded by Barlow. The colonel was lying down, too, and I directed him by order of Colonel Brook, to move by the left and close up the gap. To my surprise, he refused to budge, saying he did not recognize Colonel Brooke’s authority. The balls were whistling around me as I stood arguing with him, almost beside myself for chagrin, when Brooke suddenly made his appearance. I told him the colonel refused to recognize his authority, and he, very angry, ordered him instantly to move forward. Barlow got right up, advanced the regiment, and taking the rebels in the flank, gave them a severe drubbing, getting shot himself badly, which I am afraid I thought served him right. Soon afterwards Brooke and I, entirely alone, started for the brigade on the left. As the firing was rather serious, we walked some distance down the side of the hill and then started across. All of a sudden a section of rebel guns appeared on the crest of the hill, unlimbered, and opened fire; they saw us immediately and fired one gun at us exclusively, until we were out of sight, I told the colonel we were certainly in for it now, but he said he did not believe they could hit us anyway, and so we kept right on; the gun plowing up the earth with canister all around us, scattering the dirt and stones everywhere. A piece of shell cut off the colonel’s sword knot, but wonderful to relate, did no further harm. We were not more than seventy-five to one hundred yards distant, on open ground, and could see the operation of loading and firing and the flame of the burning powder bursting out of the cannons’ mouth perfectly. As the colonel seemed to care little for it, and took matters so coolly, I kept up my courage and we talked and walked away until out of range. As soon as the line was re-established we quickly drove these fellows back and so far as we were concerned, the battle was over. While we lay on the ground in position the enemy charged French’s line on our right, but they were so far off when they started, and were in such loose order and small force, that we could easily see they were beaten before they got within range. Cannon everywhere opened upon them, and French’s line, when they came within range, delivered a fire that sent them back much quicker than they advanced. While they were passing our right I took a sergeant’s musket, and fired several long range shots, using the adjustable sight on an Enfield piece. I tried hard, but think it doubtful if I hit any of them.

Burnside commenced an attack on the left in the afternoon which at first seemed successful, ending, however, like most of his undertakings in nothing being accomplished. At sunset, the battle ceased entirely, the victory, although not decisive, undoubtedly being with us. Our men remained throughout the afternoon lying in their ranks, expecting orders every moment for another advance, but none came and we lay in the same position all night. It became very cold during the night, and to keep off the wind we piled up a rampart of dead men and so spent a wretched night. Some of the wounded were brought in during the night by comrades from between the lines, which were very close together. Several times our men hailed the rebel pickets, asking them not to shoot, when the pitious cries of some poor wounded fellow attracted especial notice, and in many cases the friendly Johnnies held their fire, and the victims were brought in.

September 16th, Tuesday. Fell in at daylight but remained in position, much to the surprise of everybody. Shortly afterwards an artillery duel commenced, which continued throughout the day. The enemy have an immense number of guns in position, apparently more than we have, and are liberal in the expenditure of ammunition. So far as our own regiment is concerned it had no effect, we simply lay on our backs and speculated as to where certain shells would burst as they went rushing over our heads. But one cannot always attend to one’s own business and the temptation to note the effect of batteries in action is very great. Frequently several of us crept to the top of the hill and there glass in hand, watched the flight of the twenty pounders shell and marked where they struck or exploded. Unluckily these big guns proved almost useless, three of them blowing away their muzzles whilst I was in the battery, of course disabling them. They are made of cast iron with a wrought iron jacket at the breech and are evidently not strong enough for guns of this calibre. The ten pounders of which we have a great many are all right and very popular.

Nothing occurred of interest on our front until towards evening, when Jack Garcon, an O’Malley type of Irish dragoon, aide-de-camp to General Meagher, amused the troops by a display of horsemanship on the top of the hill, in full view of the enemy during the hottest part of the cannonading.

On the right, however, towards evening Hooker crossed and engaged the rebel left, doing a good deal of fighting.

September 14th, Sunday morning. Early this morning we marched out towards the South Mountains in which direction we heard the sullen sound of an occasional gun. We passed through Boonsboro, and began the ascent of the mountain, forming line of battle as we neared the gap, expecting to find the enemy in possession. Moving slowly, and carefully forward, we soon came upon several dead rebels, and as we aproached the gap the ground was liberally strewn with them, lying behind rocks and boulders, which covered the ascent near the gap. There was a sharp action here yesterday it seems, between Pleasanton’s cavalry, and the First and Ninth corps, and the enemy’s advance guard, the latter being driven back with considerable loss. We met with no opposition and rapidly descended the western slope, marching through Keedysville. As in Frederick City, here too, we were received with tumultuous cheering. All the inhabitants apparently, being in the streets, who showed their patriotism by serving out water, waving their handkerchiefs, etc. They told us the rebels had been there and taken all their provisions and horses and were now only a short distance in front of us. Passing through Keedysville we marched along the Sharpsburg pike towards the Antietam, our brigade leading the corps and the Fifty-seventh the brigade; we were marching at the route step in column of fours, taking it leisurely, Colonel Parisen and I some distance in advance, when all at once we noticed the dust flying suspiciously in many places around us. We halted the column, took out our glasses, and there, directly in front of us, saw the rebel army drawn up in battle array about half a mile in front. To get a better view, I rode up to a fence a short distance ahead, and standing on the top rail, easily made out the long gray lines, extending from left to right, as far as I could see. My further observation from this position was interrupted by a round shot which struck the fence and sent some of the rails spinning out of sight and me to the ground, sans ceremonie; after some delay, General Richardson came up and ordered line of battle formed parallel to the river, which brought our regiment just under the crest of a considerable hill, overlooking the whole country, and from which we subsequently examined the enemy’s lines at leisure. They were admirably posted in rear of the Antietam upon a long line of low hills, commanding the entire valley. The left of our division rested on the Sharpsburg road; Sykes’s division formed on the other side of it as soon as it came up, extending the line well towards the left. During the formation the enemy, who could distinctly see us, shelled us and for a while made things lively. One of our batteries of three inch guns in position on the hill in front of our brigade, replied, but was immediately stopped by General Hooker, who just then came along and directed all offensive operations to cease until more troops came up, as the whole rebel army was in front of us, he said, while the greater part of ours was yet many miles in rear. Fresh columns of troops arrived on the ground continuously, and went into position on either side of us, the reserve artillery as it came up occupying all the commanding positions with heavy guns. A battery of twenty pounder Parrots replaced the three inch guns on the hill, just in front of the Fifty-seventh. During the evening, many of the natives came from the other side and told us what they knew of the enemy’s movements. It seems they only came on the ground about an hour before our division, and were in fact selecting their positions, when the head of our column came in sight. These countrymen say only a part of the rebel army is in front, a considerable force having been detached to capture Harper’s Ferry, which is held by a garrison of ten thousand men under Colonel Miles. We understood this however, several days since, and also that Franklin corps had been detached to try and cut them off, or at least detain them long enough for us to thrash these fellows now in front of us. We slept on the side of the hill, rolled in our blankets, expecting to open the ball at daylight.

September 13. Remained in bivouac yesterday near Clarksburg, and this morning marched for Frederick City, arriving in the afternoon. As we entered the main street the drums sounded attention, and the troops marched in regular order, with bands playing and colors flying. We were received with open arms by the inhabitants, who crowded the streets and sidewalks, waving handkerchiefs, and showing every manifestation of delight. Women and girls ran into the ranks handing out water, pies, bouquets and handkerchiefs, and were beside themselves with joy. The crowd, indeed, was so great; that we had all we could do to keep our horses from stepping on them. When the Fifty-second regiment reached the principal part of the town, it broke out into one of its sonorous and magnificent war songs, producing a wonderful effect. This is the first real opportunity we have had of showing off to our grateful countrywomen, and we made the most of it, displaying our horsemanship to the best advantage. We passed through the town, going into bivouac on the western side. As soon as the troops were established in bivouac, Colonel Parisen and I rode back to town, ant spent the evening there, meeting a lot of army fellows we had long lost sight of. Frederick City is nearly fifty miles northwest of Washington and is close to the South Mountain range. The whole of the army is near by and the enemy between us and the Potomac.

September 11, 1862. In bivouac near Clarksburg, there is great anxiety in regard to the enemy’s movements, which does not, however, prevent our enjoying this magnificent country. The contrast between Virginia and Maryland is so extraordinary, that Maryland seems an elysium, where the most charming and delightful views are unfolded day by day, as in a panorama. Every part appears to be cultivated, and the farms, villages, farm houses and buildings, are models of good taste, and evidences of wealth and enterprise. Some of the country houses indeed are abodes of luxury, which remind one of the stately homes of England.

September 6th, Friday. At noon we struck tents and marched through a lovely country to Rockville, where the whole corps went into bivouac. This place is about twenty five miles northwest of Washington, and nearly ten from the Potomac.

The army has been divided into wings, Sumner has the Second and Twelfth corps, Franklin the Fifth, and Sixth, and Burnside the First and Ninth.

What a superb opportunity is once more offered McClellan to achieve enduring fame. He has an immense army, well equipped and disciplined and eager for the fray; brains, and genius only are wanting to accomplish the greatest results.

The possibilities of a disaster to our arms at this juncture are so momentous that every man feels the necessity of doing his utmost, regardless of all personal considerations. Baltimore, Washington, and perhaps Philadelphia would be the prizes to fall into the hands of the rebels if successful, and that is surely enough to stimulate us to the highest deeds of valor.

September 5th. Thursday morning, mounted guard in presence of a large crowd, including many ladies in carriages. Throughout the day hosts of people flocked about the camps, all very friendly, including one charming group of school girls, who, to us, were as the first appearance of the sun to the Northern explorer, after an arctic winter. Rumors of the enemy crossing the upper Potomac coming in hourly; the whole army is concentrating here and the country is covered with camps.

UPON our return to the defenses of Washington we heard for the first time that General McClellan had been relieved from the command of the army of the Potomac, which was a great surprise to us, and caused much anxiety. There is no doubt the army feels very kindly toward the General, although our expectations have not been realized. Still, he created this army, and for that alone is entitled to every consideration. It seems the President has formed another army called the army of Virginia, which was in position along the line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, extending from Frederickburg on the left, to Rapidan Station on the Orange, and Alexandria railroad on the right, and an officer unknown to us, General Pope, is in command. When the Army of the Potomac was ordered to withdraw from the Peninsula, Pope was directed to make a demonstration on Gordonsville to attract Lee’s attention. Consequently on the 9th of August, the day McClellan sent out his first reconnoissance toward Malvern Hill and Richmond, Banks, with his corps crossed the Rapidan and advanced towards the objective point, soon meeting the enemy, who proved to be in greater force than expected, and so after a stubborn engagement, was obliged to retire with considerable loss behind Cedar Run. From prisoners taken it was learnt that Jackson’s division was part of the opposing force. The rebel General Stuart’s adjutant was captured, and from papers in his possession it was discovered that both Jackson and Longstreet were in full force, and about to attack Pope’s army in hopes of a great success, before the army of the Potomac could be brought around to its assistance.

It is almost certain that Lee received information of our intended movement as soon as it was decided upon, certainly before it commenced, and was thus at liberty to move securely and swiftly, by an inner circle, with every prospect of successfully engaging Pope’s army. Pope, after learning of Jackson’s presence, contracted his lines by withdrawing from the Rapidan to the Rappahannock, and, watching the fords, intending to defend that river until the army of the Potomac, joined him, which was being sent forward with all possible speed.

On the 25th of August, the enemy made extensive preparations for crossing. It proved however, only a ruse to throw Pope off the track of his real movements. Jackson, with twenty-five thousand men marching in broad daylight, by way of Olean, Salem, and Thoroughfare Gap, placed himself on the morning of the 26th, in position at Bristoe Station, squarely in rear of the army of Virginia, and across its lines of communication, without opposition. At the same time, he sent a column to Manassas Junction, in rear of Bristoe Station, which captured the garrison and immense quantities of stores, setting fire to what he could not carry away.

On the evening of the 26th General Pope was informed that rail communication with the rear was interrupted, and immediately ordered Hooker’s division, just arrived from the army of the Potomac, to clear away the supposed cavalry raiders. When the division arrived it found the station held in force by infantry, and in the course of a sharp fight, in which the enemy was driven back, the true state of affairs was discovered and immediately telegraphed to General Pope, who promptly ordered up Porter’s corps and Kearney’s division, fresh from the army of the Potomac, to Hooker’s assistance, and directed the concentration of all the other troops at Gainsville during the night. Jackson, finding himself opposed by a large body of infantry, retired during the night to the north side of the Warington pike, and took up a strong position behind an old railway embankment, running from Sudley Springs to Gainsville.

Some delay was caused by lack of knowledge of Jackson’s exact whereabouts, but on the 28th his position, being defined was attacked with great vigor, without result however, and on the 29th the contest was renewed, but after great slaughter, Pope was obliged to retire, unable to drive Jackson out of his formidable position. On the 30th Longstreet, through the treacherous inactivity of Fitz John Porter, succeeded in joining his forces to those of Jackson, and falling upon Pope with his combined force, compelled the latter to retire across Bull Run to Centerville, where he was in position when Franklin and our corps (Sumner’s) arrived on the field.

The extraordinary conduct of Fitz John Porter in permitting Longstreet to pass in front of him to join in the action furiously going on on his right, everybody says, is the cause of the misfortune to our arms. Porter was in position in the rear of a small stream, Dawkins Run, for the express purpose of preventing the union of the rebel forces, and had been ordered to prevent Longstreet joining at all hazards. Instead of attacking Longstreet s right flank, which was entirely exposed, as he was directed to do, Porter remained absolutely inactive, not firing a shot, although fully acquainted with the desperate nature of the battle being fought so near to him. Porter is McClellan’s bosom friend, and it is said he failed to accomplish anything on account of his antipathy to Pope, and chagrin at McClellan’s dismissal. Such a state of things seems incredible, and it must be that there is some other cause for his lamentable failure. Lee’s army did not cross the Bull Run to continue the fighting, but moved in the direction of the upper Potomac, reports say, to cross the river and “carry the war into Africa,” in other words, to invade the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our withdrawal to Washington, together with the entire Union army, of course, followed, and we are now to move on an inner circle through Maryland, in order to head off the rebel forces, which means another battle greater than any we have yet fought. As a choice of evils McClellan has been placed in command again, and is directing the present operations; the excitement North is tremendous. That the rebel army should be advancing into the Northern states is something no one dreamed possible and the people are quick to recognize the fact that war at home is quite a different affair to war at the other fellow’s home.

The militia are under arms hurrying to the defenses of Washington, and Baltimore, and everybody is on the tip toe of expectation for:

“Grim visaged war is at their very doors.”

Early on Wednesday morning, September 4th, our corps crossed the chain bridge, and marched direct to Tennallytown, a pretty village about six miles from Washington. We experienced for the first time the pleasure of marching through a country where the populace was friendly, which made us feel proud to belong to the gallant army that was hurrying to place itself across the path of the invader. Camp was pitched in a commanding position overlooking a lovely and picturesque country. Nearby were two forts garrisoned by new regiments, who took a lively interest in our veteran soldiers. As soon as the troops were in position, several of the officers rode into the village for a taste of civilization. We found almost the whole population in the street viewing with intense interest the sunburnt soldiers, on whom so much depends.

When our party rode up crowds of women and youngsters surrounded us, offering fruit, flowers and water, and gazed with admiration at our dress and accoutrements. We took kindly to the glory of finding ourselves the heroes of the hour, and reciprocated the crowd’s interest, parting with many of our buttons to the prettiest girls. Colonel Brooke is in command of the brigade. Zook being absent, I am sorry to say sick, and Parisen the lieutenant-colonel is in command of the regiment.

[1st]

At daylight passed through Fairfax court house and went into position two miles north of it on Flint Hill, stacked arms, and got our breakfast. Just ahead of us were large bodies of troops and vast parks of wagons and artillery, all taking a rest; as we were to remain till they were gone, we lay down and got some much needed sleep. About 3 P. M., the ground being clear in front, we fell in and were just about to resume the march, when a rebel horse battery came in sight, deliberately unlimbered, went into position, and opened fire, but we gave them so hearty a reception they only remained about five minutes, leaving the field at a gallop, amidst a shower of shrapnel from our guns. This little incident over, we limbered up and proceeded, passing over the identical ground covered by us of the Seventy-first in ’61, through Vienna, to the chain bridge on the Potomac, where the whole corps encamped. The men were greatly fatigued by the march, which was interrupted constantly by the breakdown of the wagons, as well as by stragglers and invalids. Our business was to clean up everything before us, which we did completely and successfully, assisting in the repair of wagons, cheering up the faint-hearted, compelling stragglers to step out, and putting all those actually unable to walk in ambulances. Everything was done leisurely and orderly. We were not afraid of the enemy this time, as we were in ’61, and that makes all the difference.