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

July 1st. The enemy are heading for Gettysburg, their cavalry scouting through Chambersburg and to the very outskirts of Harrisburg, where everything is said to be in great disorder. We fell in at daylight, took breakfast, and immediately marched, expecting to meet the enemy towards evening. Passed through Taneytown, and during the afternoon heard heavy artillery firing ahead of us. The cavalry under Pleasanton and the First corps under General Reynolds are in front and reported to be heavily engaged, and so we accelerated our steps and made every effort to reach the battlefield before night, but the distance was too great. General Hancock, however, went ahead to assume command (Reynolds having been reported killed), directing us to follow as rapidly as possible. With few halts for rest to the music of the distant guns, we hurried over the dusty roads, and at 10 P. M. reached the slope of a rocky hill, about a mile and a half in rear of the battlefield. The moment the column halted the men dropped down on the road and most of them fell asleep immediately, exhausted by the march of thirty miles on a July day over roads knee deep in dust.

We were ordered to establish a guard, and together with the officer ordered to command it, I endeavored to wake the men up to fill the detail, but found it impossible to do so and had to give it up. They were too utterly exhausted. Zook sent me to report the fact to General Caldwell, who suggested that the troops be allowed to remain in the road for the night, which was obviously the only thing to be done.

On arrival we learned that a very severe action had been fought, lasting from daylight till dark by Pleasanton and Reynolds against the bulk of Lee’s army. They had stubbornly contested the fighting, desiring to preserve Gettysburg until the rest of the army came up, but had been overpowered and driven through the town with great loss, holding on, however, to Cemetery Ridge, a commanding position, where our line of battle is now established. General Reynolds was killed, gallantly fighting, and both cavalry and infantry did well. Hancock, with the assistance of General Warren of Meade’s staff selected the lines now established, where the fate of the Union of these United States must be decided before to-morrow night. What a momentous epoch in our history! With this thought uppermost, we dismounted, wrapped ourselves in our blankets, and by the side of a large friendly boulder, surrounded by thousands of sleeping forms, great numbers of whom were sleeping their last earthly sleep, we lay down and were instantly asleep, the general and I lying close together to keep warm.

[June 30th]

The enemy are making a bold effort and devastating a wide stretch of country. I trust this will prove our chance for ending the rebellion by utterly routing them. Weather very hot; remained all day in bivouac, awaiting orders. During the day the lame ducks came up and rejoined their colors.

This evening we hear Hooker has been relieved of the command, and that General Meade from the Fifth corps is appointed in his place. There is not an officer in the army, I think, who does not rejoice at the news. We saw enough of Hooker at Chancellorsville to assure us he was not capable of commanding an army like this.

June 29th. The command marched at 6 A. M. and made the longest and most severe march in its history. We passed through Liberty and Jonhsville to Uniontown, a distance of fully thirty miles. Some say thirty-five. The roads were good but fearfully dusty. We rested occasionally, perhaps three hours all told, and went into bivouac in fair condition, although there were many stragglers. The day was beautiful, but the sun much too hot for comfort. Riding at the head of the column the general suggested that every man be required to contribute something for the amusement of the party. I unexpectedly made quite a hit by relating a lot of Ovid’s metamorphoses, which some of them had never heard of before and thought very wonderful. Occasionally we dismounted and walked, and at times rode out of the column to neighboring houses to have a chat with the natives, get a cool drink of water, and perhaps a chat with the girls of the establishment. How one does enjoy a stretch on the cool green grass after the day’s march is over, and what an immense appetite one has at night. Nothing can be more delightful and interesting than campaigning in a civilized country at this season of the year. Uniontown is a pretty secluded village, patriotic, but paralyzed just now by the nearness of the rebel army.

In passing through these towns, we usually resume the regular step, and with bands playing and colors flying make a stunning appearance. The Fifty-second, as in days gone by, although now with fewer voices, sing their memorable songs, which creates more enthusiasm than do the bands.

June 28th. Reveille at daybreak and immediately afterwards breakfast. At 6 A. M. the column was en route, stepping out at a brisk pace, arriving after a march of about twenty-five miles at Monocasy Junction with few stragglers and in excellent condition.

The country we marched through to-day is very beautiful and the inhabitants greatly excited over the invasion. The rebel cavalry is scouring the country, driving off the fanners’ stock and scaring everybody out of their wits. The militia have been called out again and are hurrying to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington; exactly similar proceedings to those of last September.

June 27th. Remained in bivouac until 3 P. M., by which time the stragglers had come up and the command well rested. Then marched via Poolsville to Barnsville, arriving at the latter place at 11 P. M. The weather cleared up and the roads rapidly improved, so that the day’s march, although long and exhausting, was much less distressing than that of yesterday.

Passing through these various towns, our experiences of last autumn were renewed. Everybody was, of course, on the streets and showed us the greatest attention, looking in amazement at the interminable lines of infantry, moving day and night without interruption. We came in for many presents of cherries, which were in abundance.

June 26th. Rained nearly all last night, and in consequence the roads are very bad. To-day at 6 A. M. marched to Edward’s Ferry on the Potomac, reaching there at midnight. The march was excessively fatiguing, as we were eighteen hours on the road, the latter part of which was execrable. Crossing the river immediately upon our arrival, we formed in close column of division, stacked arms, and lay down to sleep, the men badly used up, many of them missing. There was much confusion here, caused by the immense trains, which occupied the roads to the exclusion of the troops. Many of the wagons were disabled, and the road was constantly blockaded. We heard on our arrival that Lee had crossed the Potomac and was heading directly for Pennsylvania.

[June 25th]

Early the 25th General Hancock telegraphed Zook to have everything in readiness to move at a moment’s notice on Gum Springs via Sudley Church. At 10 A. M. one of our mounted picket posts was captured, and the patrol came galloping in, followed by the enemy’s cavalry on the Warrenton road. At 10:30 A. M. we received the order to withdraw and promptly fell in and marched to Sudley Church. The telegraph operator cut the wires, removed his instruments, and rode with us. Marched out of Gainsville in fine form, a rear guard of two guns, a squadron of cavalry, and full regiment of infantry following a considerable distance in rear. Flankers were deployed on each side of the column, and in fine spirits we stepped out at a lively gait. Shortly after starting, the enemy’s cavalry completely surrounded us, keeping at a respectful distance, but in full view all the time. At half past two P. M. the head of the column reached Sudley’s Church and crossed the Bull Run river at the ford.

Opposite the ford the ground was high, and here the general posted Arnold’s battery to cover the crossing. He directed the movement of the troops on the opposite side in person and charged me with the supervision of the crossing below. There were eighty wagons and ambulances, and it was a considerable undertaking to keep them all in motion, but by much effort they were kept moving. In the course of half an hour or so an orderly rode in from the rear and reported the enemy pressing the rear guard, and a rebel battery coming up. I sent an orderly to notify Zook, and with some of the quartermaster’s officers examined the river for another ford, luckily finding one almost as good as the regular ford. Shortly afterwards, the rebel guns opened on us and dropped their shells most annoyingly. Arnold was obliged to take position and soon drove them away. Everything safely crossed, and vastly satisfied with the honor of superintending the movement of so many troops, I rejoined the general, who occupied a most commanding position on unobstructed ground. We were greatly amused at the audacity of the rebel cavalry. They completely surrounded us, keeping in full view, but confining themselves simply to watching our movements, and so we made no attempt to disturb them, not being desirous of masking our intentions. We remained in this position for an hour, resting the troops and giving the teams an opportunity of getting into good order, when an orderly from General Hancock came with directions to proceed at once to Gum Springs and there join the rest of the corps. So we marched at once, unluckily getting on the wrong road, causing considerable delay, but striking out across the country. Soon found the proper road and arrived at Gum Springs about 9 P. M.

On the route we passed over the old Bull Run battlefield and at the junction of a railroad crossing saw hundreds of human skeletons bleached white as snow, a ghastly monument of those who had fallen in the great cause. We were considerably depressed by this horrible side of war, and I noticed the soldiers were anxious to hurry away.

The evening was a typical campaign bivouac, and around a cheerful camp fire we sat down to a substantial supper, afterwards regaling ourselves with a toddy prepared by the general’s trusty man, Ferguson; the fatigues and anxieties of the day all forgotten in the glorious and exhilirating surroundings of a thousand camp fires and the music of innumerable bands.

[June 24th]

At daylight every man of the staff was in the saddle and all the troops under arms. In person the general then rode out to the advance posts and spent most of the morning in obtaining information and inspecting the position of the advanced guard. We found this independent command a fine thing and ourselves great Moguls. We dined with the family in the house on chickens and soft bread, our cooks furnishing the supplies and doing the work, notwithstanding which we paid the thrifty housewife fifty cents per head for every meal we took there. During the day I think, we received fifty telegrams from General Hancock, who is at the Gap. He reported Stuart skirmishing all around his position, that his pickets were frequently driven in, and cautioned us time and again to be on the alert, which was entirely superfluous, as we even sleep with one eye open and never more than half of us at a time.

July 23d. [actually June 23d] Early this morning General French was directed to turn over the command at Gainsville to General Zook, French having been assigned to the command of Harper’s Ferry. This was most agreeable news for both French and Zook. French was delighted to go to Harper’s Ferry and Zook to get an independent command. He immediately issued an order assuming command and announced me as the adjutant-general of the post. The command consists of Arnold’s First Rhode Island battery, two squadrons of cavalry, our own brigade, and the Third division, lately French’s, amounting altogether to about three thousand men.

Zook promptly made himself acquainted with the position of the troops and the character of the ground. He established a picket line personally, completely surrounding the camp with detachments of cavalry, pushed well out on every road converging on the place, also mounted patrols, who kept up communication between the pickets and our headquarters.