War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

June 11. — Slight shower in the morning. Received a letter from Father. Put on my captain’s straps to-day for the first time. Received orders in the evening to move before daybreak.

Headquarters 1st Army Corps, June 10, 1863.

Dear Mother, — . . . We are still in our old camp near White Oak Church, and although we are under orders to move at any minute, I begin to think that we may be here some weeks yet. We may relieve the Sixth Corps, which has a division across the river at Franklin’s old crossing, but that is the only move we shall make, in my opinion. This crossing the river was made solely to keep the enemy here, and prevent them from going out West or to any other point to reinforce their troops. Of course it may lead to a battle, should they attack us. . . .

My mind is made up to see this war through, if it don’t see me killed beforehand. We have got to whip and partially exterminate the South, although it may take some years to do so. I have got my dander up, and am mad with the rascals. I even think seriously of going back to my regiment and serving there, so as to be well posted in tactics, and fitted to take a higher position. I feel in much better spirits than when at home. I still think that the Government have treated General Porter shamefully, but live on in the hope of seeing him righted some day. We all feel here that we can whip the rebels if we only have a man who can command us properly. This Army of the Potomac is truly a wonderful army. They have something of the English bull-dog in them. You can whip them time and again, but the next fight they go into, they are in good spirits, and as full of pluck as ever. They are used to being whipped, and no longer mind it. Some day or other we shall have our turn. At present we are doing a great deal of good in holding Lee in check and preventing him from reinforcing Pemberton. . . .

Will you please get me some ginger and send it on. I tried to buy some in Washington, but could not get any. I want some sugared and dry and not preserved in liquid. It is very nice on a march, and is convenient to carry. . . .

Yesterday our cavalry had a real hand-to-hand fight with the rebels near Kelly’s Ford. Our men behaved splendidly, and drove the rebels 5 miles. We captured all Stuart’s private papers, and found that he was to have started this morning, with 25 guns and 12,000 cavalry, to make his raid into Pennsylvania.

Tell Henry that Jackson is dead, and that I send him a kiss and will let him ride my horse when I get home. . . .

June 10. — Had a letter from Hannah this morning. Went over to see Captain Starr, and from there to headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, after dinner. Heard of the fight our cavalry were in, and found that they behaved very well. Went over to the Engineer Brigade, but found no one there. Day warm, and towards evening cloudy and threatening rain.

June 9. — The general sent me down to the Fitzhugh house to see if there was anything new from the rebel force opposite Mrs. Seddon’s.

Could discover nothing new. Camp[1] had just found a new rebel signal station. Towards evening one of our guns opened on the rebels, who replied to them. I was sent again to the Fitzhugh house and Mrs. Seddon’s, but could discover nothing new. In the evening, Colonel Sanderson celebrated his birthday by a punch and speeches. All the tents had lanterns, and inscriptions in front. Nigger-dancing, music, etc., completed the festivities. Got a cook named George Minot this morning.

[1] Signal officer.

June 8. — Remained in camp until after dinner, when I started for the Engineer Brigade. On the way there, I met Clapp, Strang, and Nares, on their way down to the river. I tried to get my horse shod at the Engineer Brigade quarters, but the wind was so bad that it could not be done. Came back to camp in about an hour. We had a very pretty serenade last night from a violin and a tambourine. Weather cool and pleasant. I heard that, when we crossed the river this last time, some fifty prisoners were taken in the rifle-pits, belonging to the 2d Florida. General Benham rushed up to them and asked them whether they knew him. They said they did not. Then he asked them if they did not know who built the sea-wall at St. Augustine. One of them said that he had heard it said that “red-haired Benham” built it. I hear that General Benham now tells every one that he was recognized by the rebels from their rifle-pits on the other side of the river.

June 7. — The weather was much cooler to-day, owing to the shower of last night. Spent the whole day in camp. We are still under orders to move. James made up his mind to stay with me, for $20 a month.

June 6. — Got up at 3.30 A.M., but all to no purpose, as we did not move to-day. In the afternoon, I went with General Reynolds down to the signal station near the Fitzhugh house. Could see two guns in position on the Bowling Green Road, and the enemy behind their rifle-pits. On the way back, General Reynolds sent me to General Sedgwick. Found his headquarters on the bluff, just opposite the bridges. He was very kind indeed, and spoke of receiving a letter from Miss Kate Sedgwick, in which she spoke about me. As I left General S. the rain began to pour down, and before I reached camp we had quite a heavy thunder shower which was extremely welcome. Introduced myself to General Wright[1] this afternoon. He remembered me and was quite pleasant.

[1] General Horatio G. Wright was the officer with whom I served at Port Royal as volunteer aide. He afterwards commanded the Sixth Corps.

June 5. —We received orders this afternoon to be ready to move at daylight to-morrow. General Reynolds told me to keep my horse saddled all night. Sent James down to Aquia Creek to get some mess stuff and a box from Adams Express. Day pleasant and cool. Had a mess-chest made, and got all my things packed up, ready for a move. Heard heavy firing in the afternoon. Found out that it came from Sedgwick, who crossed the river at Franklin’s old crossing with one division. Captain Cross of the Regular Engineers was killed during the crossing.

Headquarters 1st Army Corps, June 4, 1863.

Dear Father, — Will you please make an application for my degree as A.M. I think that I receive it this year; if possible I shall try and get a leave of absence to come home for Commencement, but I am afraid that I shall stand a slim chance of getting it. . . .

I received a letter from Hannah yesterday, saying that I had received a commission as captain in my regiment. Will you please send me a copy of the paper announcing it. My regiment is at United States Ford at present, so that I have no chance to see my colonel about it at present.

I spoke to Palfrey this morning in regard to what you wrote about getting him a commission in the 55th. He was very much obliged to you, and said that Dr. Palfrey and Charles Hale were both trying to get him a commission, that he would not like to lose any chance for a commission that they might have obtained for him, by asking for one in the 55th. I think the best plan would be for you to see them, and if they have any chance of getting him a place in a white regiment, then you could aid them. If not, why then he would like a position in the 55th, and you three could probably obtain it for him. I would be very much obliged to you if you could get him a place. I enclose a note from him to you.

We are under orders to march at any moment, probably to resist any attempt the enemy may make to cross the river. The rascals are up to something, and I think it may be that they will try to cross the river above, and attack us. I think that we are waiting here simply to prevent the rebels opposite from going to Vicksburg. Were it not for the critical state of affairs there, I think we should go to Washington, in order to fill up the army with conscripts, and reorganize it. . . .