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

August 18th. Reveille at daylight. Immediately after breakfast the troops received several days’ rations, and at 7 A. M. marched out of bivouac, going only four miles, and then for some reason not stated, pitched tents upon a splendid plantation and remained until the next morning. Poultry, fruits, and vegetables were in abundance, and we not only enjoyed a superb rest, but the best of catering. A spread at Delmonico’s could not surpass the dainties of the Fifty-seventh’s mess on this pleasant route. The country is delightful, and riding at the head of one’s regiment in company with so many good fellows, day after day, is simply glorious; a most agreeable change from camp life.

August 17th. Reveille at daybreak, and immediately after breakfast about five o’clock the column fell in and continued the march, at first very slowly, on account of the troops ahead. At 9 A. M., we halted for half an hour, then continued the march to Charles City court house, where we halted for dinner; the heat very oppressive and dust frightful; no one would have guessed our clothing was originally blue, for we certainly looked more like a division of graybacks. The lieutenant-colonel and I rode over to the court house, which is a small, antique building, and found it deserted and dismantled, the floor strewn with public and private deeds, wills, and miscellaneous documents, many of them very ancient and very curious. We spent over an hour in examining them, in company with dozens of other officers, all of whom carried off something. Some of the papers were more than one hundred and fifty years old, and it seems a great pity they should be so summarily destroyed. However, it’s the fortune of war, and we did not begin it.

At 11:30 o’clock we fell in, and having a clear road marched steadily for four hours, passing many fine houses, most of them deserted; others left in charge of ladies, who showed no fear, but in every instance claimed protection. Some of them were attractive and got what they asked for, others had to contribute somewhat to the supplies for the evening meal. We halted about half-past three o’clock for an hour, then continued the march to the Chickahominy, the historic bete noir of our spring campaign. The river here is nearly half a mile wide, I think, quite a formidable stream, and only passable by boats; we found a magnificent pontoon bridge laid across, as straight as an arrow and very beautiful to look upon; no one would imagine these little canvas boats would make so fine a support as they do; the wagons and artillery were crossing in a continuous stream, yet the oscillations and vibrations were almost nil. The engineers had covered the planking lightly with earth, so there was no noise or abrasion of the bridge flooring, and it answered the purpose just as well as a permanent bridge could have done. When we arrived, heavy masses of troops were halted near the bridge approach, so we closed up, stacked arms, and rested till eight o’clock, then passed rapidly over, formed in close column of division, and halted for the night; marched altogether twenty-two miles during the day, and were well tired out, owing more to delays and the intense heat and dust than to the distance covered. Heard to-night that Lee’s army has certainly gone north, and that our destination is the capital.

August 16th. We remained on duty all night, but at 7 A. M. withdrew the picket line and joined the brigade, which was in rear of the division. At 9 A. M. the whole division fell in and marched northerly, following the troops, which, together with the trains, had preceded us; our line of march lay through splendid fields of corn, now quite fit to eat, some of it so remarkably high that I could only just touch the waving plumes with the point of my drawn sword, on horseback. It afforded a grand feast for the men, who were not slow to fill up their haversacks; it is easily roasted by throwing it into burning embers, with the covering intact; this partially steams it, and gives a delicious flavor; marched until evening, making only two short halts for rest, and went into bivouac in a beautiful spot near a large house, which Sumner occupied as headquarters. The country we marched over is much in advance of anything we have seen heretofore, and has not been campaigned over; consequently, our larder contains many delicacies, and within an hour after we arrived, en bivouac, the mess was bountifully served with fricasse chicken, roasted corn, etc.; all are in buoyant spirits at the prospect of active service again. During the night Franklin’s corps passed by.

August 18th. [probably really the 15th] I have omitted any notations since the eighth, for the reason that our wagons have been packed, and everything held in readiness to march at a moment’s notice, for the past week. Of course, we expected to move, and in the interim there was nothing going on. No drills, parades, or reviews, and consequently nothing to record. The camp is filled with rumors of Lee’s disappearance, and there is much anxiety at headquarters as to his intentions. We gather little of importance about the situation from our own resources and trust almost entirely to the New York Herald for news, even of our own movements. While we know nothing positive, the general belief is entertained that the rebel army has undertaken some kind of enterprise which is worrying the commander of the Army of the Potomac a good deal. The situation ought to have been reversed, the Army of the Potomac keeping the rebel army on the anxious seat, but our general is decidedly slow, and I suppose General Lee has concluded we are afraid to undertake another aggressive campaign. The weather has been hot continuously, and the sick list greatly increased.

Early this morning, the Fifty-seventh was detailed for picket duty, the first we have done in this camp. We left our tents standing, but empty, all our traps having been packed for the last week, crossed outside the entrenchments, and down the Charles City road until we reached the picket line, posted on fine open ground, having a commanding prospect. Our regiment relieved the troops found on duty, and established itself comfortably in the open country. On our way out, we observed many of the camps deserted, and long trains of wagons moving down the peninsula, indicating a general movement of some kind. As soon as the pickets were posted, Lieutenant-Colonel Parisen and I rode over to the cavalry videttes and enjoyed a splendid gallop in the open. The officer commanding the videttes told us from what he could learn the rebel army had gone, and that there was only a small cavalry force in front. About noon, our regimental wagons joined us and reported the camp struck, and the whole army in motion towards the north. They report a rumor at the landing that the rebel army has gone for Washington, and that the people there are scared out of their wits. It seems improbable, but General Lee is a brilliant commander, and must by this time be a little tired of waiting for us to move, and may try to take advantage of our sluggishness by making a sudden and unexpected attack on the capital. If it proves true, what a reflection it will be on the “Little Napoleon.”

August 9th. Heat fearful; troops neglecting everything not absolutely necessary. At dress parade the following circular was read at the head of each regiment:

Headquarters First Division, Second Corps,

Camp Near Harrison’s Landing, August 7, 1862.

Circular.

The general commanding the division desires to express to the command his appreciation of their successful efforts in bringing back the division to the high standard which it held previous to the recent battles.

This division has now a high reputation for valor and for endurance, and also for subordination, without which the other soldierly qualities are valueless. You are again called upon to hold yourselves ready to meet an enemy in arms against his own country and his own flag!

Soldiers of the First Division, you are ready.

W. H. French,
Brigadier-General Commanding Division.

About noon, a tall, fine looking young officer called upon me and claimed acquaintance on account of similarity of names. He is a captain, not over twenty-three or four years old, and comes from Little Falls, New York, where his family of Favills have been established since 1690, I think he said; found him very agreeable and enjoyed the interview.

August 8th. A lovely quiet morning. No news from the Irish brigade, and not a shot fired in any direction. At 9 A. M. the wagons came up with soft bread, fresh beef, potatoes, etc. We were mighty glad to see the soft bread, which is the greatest of all luxuries when you have been without it for a couple of months. We could hardly wait to have it issued, so eager were we to taste it. Just after the company’s cooks had gotten things ready for a swell feast, orders were received to return to camp immediately. The heat was intense, and nearly one-half the regiment fell out; reached camp at 2 P. M., much exhausted by heat and dust.

August 6th. This is my birthday. I am twenty years old, and have served nearly eighteen months in the army, fully a year in active campaigning. Events are so crowded in these warlike times that it makes one feel real old. I seem to have lived always in the army, and can hardly convince myself that campaigning is not the ordinary business of life.

In the morning the regiment was supplied with white duck leggings, after the French army pattern; it is to be henceforth part of the uniform. They look quite gay, and now that they are clean seem very ornamental; the men appear to like them. At six o’clock fell in and marched out on the drill ground for a division drill, General French commanding. The drill lasted till nine o’clock, very interesting, but the men were tired out. As soon as we reached camp after the drill, we were ordered to fall in in light marching order, and immediately marched out of camp and halted in front of General Sumner’s headquarters. Presently the general came out, and we followed him outside the breastworks to within two miles of Malvern Hill, when we halted upon a hill, with a good view of the surrounding country, formed line of battle in rear of one of the batteries and lay down and rested. In half an hour we were ordered to march by file right, which would take us back to camp, but after going about two miles, turned off into a large open field, formed line, and stacked arms, when the men lay down in their ranks to sleep; this was about 2 A. M.; at five o’clock, we marched to the top of the hill in front and formed line in support of several batteries in position there; the Fifty-seventh and the Sixty-fourth, the latter lately added to our brigade, formed the line which commanded the road leading to Malvern Hill, and were in position to furnish support in case of need to the Irish brigade, which has been sent forward to find the enemy. It seems McClellan is getting a little anxious at last, at the prolonged quietness of the rebel army, and it is just possible it may have something on hand that will astonish us. Spent most of the day on this hill, very pleasantly; all glad to get out of camp, which has become very irksome, as we seem unable to find the enemy we may possibly go ahead and try and take Richmond.

August 5th. At midnight last night the troops were ordered to fall in and be ready to march. We concluded this was a sure thing and packed up everything, waited on the color line almost two hours, and were then dismissed, and turned in again. Early in the morning heard artillery firing in the direction Hooker had gone yesterday. About nine o’clock it became very heavy, gradually receding, so we concluded the reconnoissance was pushing well forward. This is the first time a reconnoissance has been made since the second day of our arrival, and the enemy’s position is wholly unknown to us. It does seem as though the newspaper people find out more about the enemy than the general staff and War Department combined. During the day, the wounded returning from Hooker’s command, reported him several miles beyond Malvern Hill, meeting with little opposition. Early in the day, Major Potter went to work, and towards evening finished paying off the regiment. There were no drills or parade of any kind, on account of the paymaster. Weather intensely hot and sultry.

August 4th. General Hooker, with his division, made a reconnoissance to Malvern Hill to-day and drove in the enemy’s pickets. In the evening had a brigade drill. While taking our supper under the awning in front of our tent our old friend, the genial paymaster of the division, Major Potter, arrived. He always puts up with us, and makes himself delightfully agreeable. He gives us the gossip of the capital and such army news as is not to be had in the field; in the evening we initiated him into some more of the mysteries of camp life.