War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,
Camp near New Bridge, June 22, 1862.

Dear Father, — Why don’t they send us reinforcements? From present appearances, we shall stay here all summer sweltering under this powerful sun, our ranks daily .decreasing from sickness and exposure, all from want of reinforcements. Unless we are attacked by the enemy, or unless General McClellan gets some very favorable chance to attack them, there will be no fighting for some time, and in case of a battle the result, to say the least, is extremely doubtful. They greatly outnumber us, and are daily throwing up trenches and batteries right opposite our army. In the face of all these facts, and notwithstanding McClellan’s frequent and earnest appeals for more troops, the Government at Washington refuses us any reinforcements. The Abolitionists in Congress have a great deal to do with this, and are purposely protracting the war in order to render emancipation necessary, and are so endangering our existence as a nation united and whole. It is decidedly disagreeable to sit down here and see things go on so, and feel that we are liable to be whipped at any time, when victory could be made certain for us. McDowell holds hack as long as he can, and would be glad to see McClellan defeated. If he were anything of a general he could defend Washington or the Rappahannock, with 20,000 men and let the rest come here. At the end of the war, I think that a history of these facts will come out, which will fully vindicate McClellan, and show up Stanton and Co. in their true light. By the way, I heard of a remark he made when coming into office. “McClellan organizing the army? It is the Democratic party he is organizing I’ll clip his comb for him.” Now General McC. would not accept of the Presidency if it were offered him, according to the most positive assertions of his friends. He has a complete copy of all telegrams, etc., received from Stanton, which his friends will let out at the proper time. All this, of course, is to be kept for yourself and no one else.

I called on Colonel Barnes the other day and had a very kind reception from him. I also saw my captain. I don’t think there will be any chance for my promotion unless it comes in the regular order from vacancies arising in my regiment which will push me along.

I have got some things which I am going to send home. One is a club which I got from Sayres’s house where Mrs. General Lee was imprisoned. The family have all left, leaving the place in charge of negroes. One of the women, who let me in the house, said the club was one which belonged to John Brown, and which was taken from him at Harper’s Ferry. Then I have some fossils, etc., which I took from a pretty collection there called the Marlborne collection. Also a book which I found in the house, everything except the cabinet being taken away. Also a shell which the rebels fired at us a day or two ago from the other side of the Chickahominy. . . .

Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,
Camp near New Bridge, June 19, 1862.

Dear Father, — . . . I do not have as much to do as I did before the two new aides came, but still General Porter gives me things to do. Yesterday he heard that the enemy had left the vicinity of New Bridge, and sent me down with an order to the battery there to fire 12 rounds at a work the enemy had erected in the woods opposite the bridge, and to see if they could not wake them (the enemy) up. We had erected a small earthwork there to protect our guns, and there I went. We fired about three rounds, when bang went one of their guns, and a shot flew whizzing over our heads. The officers told us to lie down in the trench, whenever we saw a gun fired, and kept a man on the watch, who called out “fire” when he saw a gun go off, and down we would all go. They fired splendidly at us, planting the shell in the battery and all around it. My horse was tied to a tree behind the battery, and I thought his chance of escaping was pretty small. I had to stay till the 12 shots were fired, to tell the general the result, and was glad when they were all fired. Our firing was indifferent. I waited till the enemy had fired two shots in succession, and then made a rush for my horse with a lieutenant from Weeden’s Battery whom I met there. It did not take us long to get out of range. The enemy were 1000 yards distant.

I had a narrower escape the other day than I thought for. The enemy’s infantry were near Mrs. Brockenborough’s house, and a body of their cavalry followed down soon after I went down that road, by Mrs. B.’s house. Then, too, I should have been shot by our own cavalry had they seen me in the woods, for they had orders to shoot any one they saw in the woods, no matter who he was. This was necessary as they were the outpost picket. I refer to the party I mistook for rebels.

Captain Mason is a very pleasant fellow, and I like him very much. He is always kind and polite to me.

I hope General McClellan will receive all the troops he wants. General McCall’s division has arrived, and is on this side of the river. It is under General Porter for the present. He and all his staff came near being captured by the rebel raid the other day.

General Franklin’s corps has passed over the river, and now we are the only corps on this side. . . .

All reports confirm the scarcity of food at Richmond. A darkey who came in this evening said that the rebels were conveying all their specie to Danville, N. C. They seem, however, afraid to trust it all in one place, and are pretty anxious about it.

Don’t place any confidence in newspaper reporters. They are all rascals.

Camp near New Bridge, June 15.

Dear Father, — I have had a pretty narrow squeak from being sent to Richmond in advance of our army. The circumstances under which I came near being taken were as follows. I went out Friday, June 13, with a light wagon and four horses and a negro driver named Sam. I am caterer for our mess now, and was going out to get some butter and eggs, etc. I went out to Hall’s Mill some six miles from camp, and the place where our outpost pickets are stationed. From here, I took a road to the right, which led me to Mrs. Brockenborough’s, the wife of a doctor in the rebel army. I bought 36 pounds of butter and a few onions, and turned round to come home. I should have told you before that Hall’s Mill is situated at a point where four roads meet. One, the road I came on, which goes on to Hanover Court House. Another goes to Richmond, and on the prolongation of this latter road away from Richmond, I was getting my butter, etc. When I passed our pickets at Hall’s Mill, they said that it was safe for me to go to Mrs. Brockenborough’s as our pickets were there. As I said, I got my things all safely and turned round to go back to H.’s Mill, and from there home. When within 200 or 300 feet of the mill, I saw cavalry proceeding at a rapid rate towards Old Church, coming from the road to Hanover. At first I thought that it was all right, as the pickets had told me that our scouting parties had gone out in that direction. I thought, though, that their uniform looked rather light and so told my driver to stop while I crept up nearer them. I went into some woods on the right of the road and crept along the fence till I came within 50 or 60 feet of the rascals, and could plainly see that they were Secesh. At first, indeed, I could hardly believe that they were rebels, but thought they must be some regiment of our cavalry dressed in gray, but I remembered that we had none dressed that way. I could see and distinguish the officers by a broad gold stripe which they had on the pants and caps. The men were dressed in all kinds of clothes. Some had gray clothes, some the bluish gray, some white shirts, some red, and in fact almost all the colors of the rainbow were there. The coverings for their heads were of all sorts. Some had caps and others slouched hats, etc. A bend in the road I was on concealed the wagon from them while passing the mill, but when they had passed by the mill a few rods, there was nothing to conceal us from them. Luckily they were riding away from us, and so happened not to see us. I waited nearly an hour for them to get past us, and then turned the wagon round. I was afraid to do it before, because I thought it would attract their attention to move while they were so near. In order to turn, my man had to drive still nearer the mill where the road was broader, and this took him beyond the bend, so that he came in sight of some of them feeding their horses. They saw him, too, but made no effort to catch him. The only reason I can assign is that they took our wagon for one of the farmers’ wagons belonging in the vicinity. There must have been two thousand cavalry in all, and after them three pieces of artillery. As soon as I had the wagon turned, I set the horses off on a good smart trot, expecting to see the cavalry pursuing me every moment. No one came, however, and I thought that I was all safe. I luckily knew the way to Old Church, and followed it as quickly as I could.

I was going in the direction in which the horses are faced, when I first came in sight of the cavalry. I then turned round and went in the direction of the arrow, and thought myself safe, thinking of course that the enemy would never dare come as far as Old Church. When about a quarter of a mile from Old C. I saw the rascals burning the camp of the 5th Cavalry, and the main body drawn up in line along the side of the road. I was thus cut off from our camps, as there was no other road I could take to get back. I instantly drove my horses and wagon into the woods on the right of the road, hid there in the bushes, and covered over the tracks of the wheels. I then went to the road where I could watch the rebels and not be seen. Pretty soon the main body started and went on to White House. Stragglers and pickets stayed behind, however, making it impossible for me to leave the woods. Besides, I did not know but what they might have infantry with them, and intended to occupy the place. As it turned out they went on to Garlick’s Landing two miles from White House and from there to Tunstall’s Station and then across the Chickahominy at Charles City. It was a bold and brilliant dash, well executed. The enemy had all the information they wanted in regard to the position and number of our troops, from the inhabitants around there, one of whom we have arrested, he having been seen the morning the rebels came, at H. Ct. House. He will swing for it, I suppose. We had only three companies of cavalry (5th U. S.) to oppose all the rebels, and of course they could make very slight resistance to 20000 men. The camp of two companies of the 5th Cavalry, on picket at Old Church, was burned amidst loud cheers from the rebels, which I arrived in time to hear. After being in the woods some little while, three men from the 5th Cavalry came in, they having been in the fight which the three companies of the 5th had with the rebels. Two of them had lost their horses. I got a negro who was by the roadside to let me know if any rebels came along, and I myself stood where I could look down the road. Soon I came where I could see a company of rebels, as I thought, coming towards me, and the negro motioned me back into the woods. These cavalry were in their shirt-sleeves and in the dust looked just like the rebels. I went back into the swamp a little way and waited there. A horse belonging to one of the 5th Cavalry neighed and drew the whole body of cavalry into the road to the wagon. I heard them talking there for more than an hour, and as it was getting pretty dark I started for home, walking through the woods. There was a private from the 5th Cavalry and my driver with me. I wandered through the woods, losing my way and expecting to meet with the enemies’ pickets every minute. At about 1 o’clock in the morning I saw some of our pickets and called to them. I was in as much danger of getting shot by our own pickets as by theirs, for they are not apt to challenge when they know the enemy are near. I saw them first, and called to them, and found out the way to camp. At three o’clock, after tramping along through forests and woods, and mud knee deep, I came to a church where I met a Lieutenant Winsor, who was in my class for a year. He very kindly lent me a horse which I rode home to camp. I never was more grateful for any favor than I was for the loan of this horse, for I was worn out mentally from constant watchfulness for the enemy and for pickets, and the cords of my legs were sore enough from tugging through the mud, swamps and woods, besides not having eaten anything since morning. I got back to camp a little past four and glad enough I was to see it. The general and staff had all given me up and expected that I was a prisoner in Richmond. They all were very glad to see me.

The next day I went out with some cavalry and found the wagon and brought it home. The horses and contents of the wagon were gone. I am quite confident now that they were our own men who were there, and expect to get the horses in a few days. From seeing them in white shirts and from the negro’s warning I thought they were Secesh. I shall be mighty careful how I go again foraging.

The enemy burned some schooners and stores at Tunstall’s Station and captured some of our wagons. It is a shame that they escaped so easily. There was nothing to prevent them from going to White House and burning up everything there, and then we should have been in a nice fix. I was not afraid when I saw them as I should expect myself to be, for I had a sort of feeling that I should get off. I could have taken to the woods by Hall’s Mill and gone where cavalry could not have followed. I was excited enough though, and the feeling, combined with the feeling I was not going to be caught, was rather pleasant than otherwise. . . .

We shall not advance until we receive reinforcements, and those may not come for some time. McClellan won’t move, in my opinion, until he is certain to whip, and to be certain of doing that we need reinforcements. . . .

Camp near New Bridge, June 5, 1862.

Dear Father, — . . . As an instance of the advanced state of civilization and refinement in these regions, and to show the progress the F. F. V.’s make in the treatment of insane people, let me tell you the following true story. Captain Locke and some others of our staff went off to ride on one of the numerous side roads which abound in this country, the other day, and in the course of their ride stopped at a house by the way. Here they found a crazy man, the son of the man who owned the place, who was confined in a small out-house or den separate from the house. Here he was chained naked, and with no furniture but a small quantity of straw to lie on. His food was conveyed to him on the end of a stick which was thrust through the window. Just imagine a human being chained like a wild beast in a cage, and this in the middle of the nineteenth century. They said his howls and shrieks were terrible, and made them shudder to hear them. A fair sample of most of the poor whites and farmers. Ignorant, and as superstitious as the people of a hundred years ago. No idea in their head, but that of secession, and this slowly dawning on them as a humbug, and meaning ruin to them and advancement to the rich.

I am glad to hear you say that you have confidence in McClellan. You may think him slow, but remember, he is sure. He is hampered by Stanton, whose orders and commands have delayed, worried and retarded McClellan, and lengthened this war. McClellan had the whole campaign arranged in a most perfect manner. He would have had a large force in New Mexico, threatening Texas, and keeping the rebels from carrying on a protracted warfare there, which they threaten to do, if he had been let alone. Richmond also would have been ours some time ago. But hampered by the want of troops, he is compelled to advance cautiously and slowly. General Porter thinks now, however, that the rebels are on their last legs, and that the rebellion will be speedily closed. With the exception of _____’s division, which ran in the most disgraceful manner, our troops behaved splendidly and have given our generals great confidence in the result of the impending battle. I feel sure that we shall whip them, and that thoroughly. Casey lost ten guns in the fight, but we licked them well afterwards, and drove them at the point of the bayonet. The prisoners say that they expected to bag 30,000 of our men, who had no bridges to cross the Chickahominy, but that after the fight they thought we had 200,000 men and plenty of bridges. General Porter is as brave a soldier and as good a general as any in the army. He is modest, but will make his mark in this war. He has made himself many enemies on account of his sticking by McClellan, and this prevented his confirmation by the Senate until near the end of the Yorktown siege.

Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,

Camp near New Bridge, June 4, 1862.

Dear Father, — Here we are still and here we shall probably stay for a few days, until the rain has exhausted itself, and the banks of the Chickahominy have peeped above the surrounding waters. I begin to think we shall have to get an ark built if the rain continues. Every night regularly we have terrible thunder-storms, which last the whole night, and at morning it clears up again. This has happened for four successive nights, and last night it culminated in an easterly storm, which bids fair to last some time. My tent resembles Fortress Monroe in one respect. It has a deep ditch of water all around it, which has lately been pretty full. In one respect this rain is peculiarly unfortunate. It delays our advance to Richmond, where we should have been two days ago, were it not for this dirty little stream of a Chickahominy which the rain swells up so as to make it impassable. The roads to the river are streams of mud and water which no corduroying can remedy, and which dry weather and the sun can alone make passable. In some places the roads to the bridges are covered with water four or five feet deep, with a nice mud bottom. All we can do is to wait patiently. The general says that it seems almost as if Providence connived at the escape of the rebels, for we should have bagged a good lot of them if we could have crossed the other day.

General McClellan has issued an address which I send to you, and which I want to be kept. It has the true ring to it, and was greeted by many and loud cheers from the soldiers, to whom it was read yesterday on dress-parade.

The roads here are in a shocking condition. I went out yesterday in a light wagon, foraging, and rode some twelve miles. In many places the horses were up to their bellies in mud, and at times down we would go in the quicksand or in some deceptive hole, covered with water. I got, however, some fresh butter, chickens, strawberries, cherries, onions, lettuce, and eggs. We manage to get on very well in the eating line.

That Stanton is a bitter old rascal. He suppressed some dispatches of the Associated Press agent containing an account of the battle of Hanover C. House, and only allowed a meagre telegram to appear. It was meant as a hit at General McClellan and General Porter, who have some personal enemies in Washington. I think that General McClellan has shown his greatness in the way he has borne all his ill-treatment. Not a word of complaint has he uttered. Stanton has prolonged the war by his meddling and interference, and has shown himself a bitter and unfair man. He has prevented McClellan from receiving reinforcements, and delayed him in every way possible. . . .

Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,

Camp near New Bridge, June 1, 1862.

Dear Father, — We have been ready all day to start out, and join in the fight which has been going on,[1] but unfortunately the Chickahominy has been overflowed by the recent heavy rains, so that it is a swamp on both sides of the stream, making it impassable for artillery. We shall have to delay our advance,— that is, the advance of our corps, until the water subsides. The day has been hot and sultry, and I therefore hope that by to-morrow we shall be able to cross over the stream at New Bridge. So far we have been successful, Heintzelman having driven them to-day a mile and a quarter at the point of the bayonet. Yesterday afternoon they attacked us, driving back Casey’s division, and then being driven back by Kearny’s division. The fighting lasted till 8 o’clock in the evening, the firing, in the general’s language, being terrific. It sounded so to us certainly, who were about three miles distant, and what must it have been for those who were in the fight. We could hear whole vollies of musketry, but the firing most of the time was by file, the guns keeping up a continual pop pop, for several minutes at a time. Then the artillery firing at times would be very severe. This morning the firing began at 5 o’clock and continued pretty lively till 10 o’clock, since which time it has been pretty quiet. The men in the balloon say that they could see the roads from Richmond full of soldiers, coming out to reinforce their men. We have captured to-day two generals and several field officers. Among the captured yesterday was Lieutenant Washington (I think it must be the one who left College a year ago. John Bushrod Washington is the lieutenant’s name), an aide of General Johnston’s, who came into our lines by mistake. The name of one of the generals taken is Pettigrew. The other one refuses to give his name. . . .

I am wholly well now, my cough having left me, and my strength having returned. I feel fully prepared for a summer’s campaign and think that with care I shall get along very well. . . .

[1] Battle of Fair Oaks.

Headquarters 5th Prov. Army Corps,

Camp ½ mile from New Bridge [about June 1, 1862]

Dear Father, — We moved this morning from Cold Harbor to this point, from a half to a quarter of a mile from New Bridge. The distance was short, being only two miles. To-morrow, if what I can gather be correct, we shall advance upon Richmond, and then I think we shall have one of the bloodiest battles of the war. We shall probably have a tough time of it, as the rebels are massing their troops right in front of us, they knowing that Porter’s corps is here, and being in dread of it, I hope with good reason. I know that all our generals expect a severe fight, and that General Porter said we should have a bloody battle. I should not write you all this if I did not think that the result of the battle would be known before this reaches you. I have great confidence in General Porter and McClellan, and have no doubt but that we shall soon be in Richmond.

We hear rumors to-day that Banks has been defeated. I am afraid that is true, but hope not.[1] . . .

I started for camp the day after you left, and found that I had rather overestimated my strength, for the next day I was very weak, and feared a relapse. I luckily got over it safely, and am now as well as ever. We are encamped in a field next to Dr. Gaines’s house, which General Smith occupied as his headquarters. It is a beautiful place with some splendid oaks in front of the house which it would do you good to see. They are perfect in shape, and with their new and fresh foliage on, look really splendid. There is an air of neatness about the place which resembles New England more than any place I have seen. Guinea fowl abound, and James wants me to send you a pair. I had a plate of strawberries this morning which tasted very pleasantly. They were a present to General Porter.

The chief annoyances of our camp life here arc had water and insects. General Butterfield had nine ticks on him the other day. Decidedly disagreeable. The water troubles me more than anything. I don’t like tea or coffee, and I do like to drink water.

There are rumors, and merely rumors, that General Porter will be made governor of Richmond in case of our taking it. Counting one’s chickens, etc. Some even go so far as to say that he will be governor of Virginia. This of course would not be, as some politician would have that place. Please don’t mention these rumors, as I think they all take their rise from the staff, who would like some such arrangement.

In case of a fight you need not expect to hear from me for some four days, as I can’t get at the telegraph, and letters take a long while to go now. . . .

[1] He had been defeated by Jackson at Front Royal, on May 26.

Headquarters 5th Provisional Corps,

Camp 5 miles from White House, May 20, 1862.

Dear Father, — General Porter has been placed in command of a corps which consists of his old division now commanded by General Morell, and Sykes’s brigade of Regulars. It is called a provisional corps, I imagine, because it is of McClellan’s making, and is not firmly established. It will, however, be a permanent thing, I suppose. We moved yesterday from our camp at White House to this place, called from the name of the railroad station, Tunstall. The White House farm belongs to a man named “Rooney” Lee,’ who was in ’58, and was in College with me about two years. He left some six months before his class graduated, to enter the army, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion he left our army and joined the rebels. While in College he was a “fast man,” like most Southerners, and was quite popular with his classmates. He little thought then that his wheat fields would be trodden down by a hostile army from the North, many of whom were his classmates.

I started for the camp the day after you went, and reached there safely the same day. I am quite well now, and shall be able to stand the march to Richmond.

We shall start again to-morrow and move on. I don’t know how far we shall go.

The country around here is quite pretty. The trees clothed in their new leaves look fresh and beautiful, and the aspect of the country itself, varied by thickly wooded hills, and fertile plains, presents a very agreeable view to the eye. The bridges over all the small streams and brooks are all burned, so that fast marching is difficult, as we have to wait for the bridges to be repaired before our wagon trains can move.

I meet John Hayden quite often now, he being attached to Sykes’s brigade. It is quite a pleasure to me to see any of my classmates out here, and especially Hayden, who is one of my best friends. He is attached to Captain Edwards’s battery.

The water here is very disagreeable to me, for it is strongly impregnated with sulphur, which I do not like at all. It comes especially hard to me, who do not like tea and coffee, and who am obliged to make water my sole beverage.

I hear that Colonel Lee is very anxious to be made military governor of Richmond. I wish they would gratify him, and place him in that position. How mad it would make some of the Richmond people, and what a triumph it would be for him.

How did you and Mother spend your time after you left me, and did you enjoy the end of your journey as much as the beginning? . . .

Opinions vary as to whether we shall have a fight or not before reaching Richmond. My opinion is that we shall have a fight, although our corps may be held in the reserve. . . .

Camp Winfield Scott, May 5.

Dear Hannah, – Yorktown was deserted yesterday by the enemy and our troops took possession. We are fighting them at Williamsburg now. None of our men were killed except a few wounded by torpedoes. I have no time to write any more at present.

Don’t be alarmed if my letters are long coming. The mails are very irregular. I am all serene.

Our division is still here held in reserve, and will probably not be called upon.