War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Headquarters Porter’s Division, 3d Army Corps,

Camp Winfield Scott, April 25.

Dear Father, — Last night about ten o’clock we received a dispatch from the headquarters of the corps, telling us to change the countersign, and the position of our guards and pickets, as a high officer had deserted to the enemy. The changes were made, and every preparation made for meeting an attack from the rebels, but none occurred. The officer, I hear, was Colonel _______, and it is not known whether he was captured or whether he deserted.

I had a letter from you last night in which you asked me what I did every day. My duties for the last week or two have been very light, consisting in getting out the countersign, which, together with day and night signals, is written on pieces of paper, sealed, and sent out to the different commanders in the division. I have also been to ride with the general to the different batteries, and also have gone every other day to General Heintzelman’s for any dispatches which might be there. General H.’s head-quarters are about a mile from here near the saw-mill. Grant Johnson from Boston is on General H.’s staff. This saw-mill is on the Yorktown road, about a mile and three quarters from their batteries, and was left uninjured by the rebels when they retreated. They had used it for sawing wood to make barracks, and timber to mount their cannon on. I can’t imagine why they left it whole, unless it was that we came upon them unawares. Indeed, one of their men said that they did not expect us for a week, and when we advanced thought that we only meant to make a reconnoissance, as we did once before when we advanced to Big Bethel from Hampton.

I have to take messages to the different brigade or regimental commanders when an attack is anticipated or when the message is too important to be trusted to an orderly. Then when any order has to be got out in a hurry I have to help write it. When General Porter goes out nowadays he usually goes with McClellan, and as he has to pass an exposed place he never takes more than one aide, and then the senior one, Monteith. I went with him and General McClellan the other day to the batteries. I get up in the morning at 6.30 and have my breakfast at 7.30. We all mess together, and my seat is on the general’s right. He is always kind and pleasant to me and I like him very much. At 4 o’clock we dine, thus having only two meals a day, and that is plenty. We live better than any one yet that I have seen in camp, and at a cheaper rate. We have oysters in plenty, and cooked in every style. They are very good-sized ones, but hardly have the flavor of a New York or Boston oyster. They are transplanted from here in great quantities to New York and Philadelphia.

I have plenty of spare time on my hands, which I spend in reading, when I can get hold of anything to read. Books are rather scarce out here now. Whenever you get an opportunity to send me any books, they will be very welcome. I go to bed by nine o’clock, and always get a good night’s sleep. Whenever the fight begins, there will be plenty of work to be done, and no time to read. My opinion is that we shall not open fire on them until they open on us. We shall dig our trenches, and make the parallels until we are troubled by them, and then our batteries will open on them. The nearer we get to them the better it is for us, and so it would be folly to provoke their fire by opening on them, when by keeping still our men can get nearer to their works. I think our men began to work on the trenches last night. The whole affair will be conducted on scientific principles applied by skilful engineers, and with a man at the head whose forte is in this kind of warfare, namely General McClellan. My idea is that he will take the place with the least possible sacrifice of life, and in order to do this, he must have sufficient time to carry out all his plans thoroughly, and employ the men in trenches, etc., until we get within a reasonable distance to storm their works, if such a course be necessary to drive them out. The enemy have made a fatal mistake in not cutting down the woods to a greater distance from their works. They have just left a belt of woods, which forms a splendid line for us to build batteries and form a base for our operations, and which also affords a shelter to our encampments. The last few days have been unusually quiet, very few skirmishes taking place. We have one battery on our extreme right, on a promontory in the York River, close to a Colonel Flarinlecoult’s house, which mounts 6 guns, 5 100-pounder Parrott guns, and one 200-pound gun. This Colonel F. is in the rebel army.

I have just heard that Frank Bartlett[1] of the Massachusetts loth, acting lieutenant colonel, has had his leg amputated. He was shot through the knee by a musket ball while on picket.

In regard to my drinking, which you seem to feel some anxiety about, I wish to say that I have not touched a drop of anything but water and coffee since leaving home. I only want the brandy for a medicine in case I should need it. In regard to giving my friends liquor, I have not a friend here whom I care enough about to give him liquor, and have not bought any since I have been here. All my friends are in regiments away from this division. I have formed no intimate friendships out here, although I am on very friendly terms with all my brother officers. They, however, have no interests in common with me, except, of course, the ordinary civilities of everyday life. There is one fellow whom I may except. He is a signal officer named Johnson, a graduate of Yale in ’60, and is a first-rate fellow. He was on our staff, but has recently been promoted to General Heintzelman’s staff. I don’t care about forming any intimate friendships with any one I meet, and I have enough now. Of course I am careful to be polite to every one, and on good terms with my companions. Tom Sherwin I see quite often, and wish, of course, to except him from the general class of officers I meet with. Griswold, too, I like very much. He is lieutenant colonel of the 22d Mass. Then I know the lieutenant colonel of the 83d Penn., Strong Vincent, a graduate of Harvard in ’59, and a very nice fellow. I am in the same tent with McQuade, one of the aides, and a very pleasant person, and one easy to get along with. I don’t wish you to think from what I have been writing that I am squeamish, and overnice in my friendships.

I try to be friendly with every one, but reserve my intimate acquaintance for those whom I know well and especially esteem. Of course it won’t do to set one’s self up as being particularly good or too refined to associate with every one, in this world. We have to take people as we find them, and adapt ourselves to the circumstances in which we are placed. This I do, as far as is in my power. I get on very well, and am very happy, and like my life very much.

Our gunboats fire at long range, and so far with little success, as their fuses have not been long enough. When the fight begins they will approach much nearer and will then do some damage. I imagine that one of our iron gunboats will run by the water batteries here at the proper time, and will give them a good dressing in their rear.

I am astonished to find the season so backward here. I imagined that it was some six weeks ahead of our season, but find that I am mistaken. We have had two or three hot days, but most of the time we have been here a fire has been almost a necessity. The leaves have just burst through their buds. I imagine the change is more sudden up North from winter to spring, while here it is more gradual. For instance, we have had no snow since the first of March, while you have had plenty of it, yet I don’t think we are more than a week, or possibly two weeks ahead of you as regards the season. . . .

I heard from pretty good authority that the Secretary of War handed in his resignation to the President because the President ordered Franklin’s division to reinforce McClellan, contrary to Stanton’s wish. I only hope that it will be accepted and that these men who are trying to advance McDowell by the ruin of McClellan will be made to answer for it.

My horse is in good condition and spirits. He likes to jump around some, when he has not been used much, but I soon take that out of him. If I ever get him home safely, he will make a fine carriage horse. He is turning bay color now as he sheds his old coat. . . .

I hope if you come as far as Washington you will please try to come on here, or I hope to Richmond.

[1] William Francis Bartlett, Harvard 1862, afterwards major general.

Headquarters Porter’s Division, 3d Army Corps,
Camp Winfield Scott, April 21, 1862.

DEAR FATHER, — By orders from headquarters the name of this camp has changed to Camp Winfield Scott. Ever since we landed at Fort Monroe our camps have been called by number in regular order. Our first camp at Hampton was No. 1, etc. This camp, properly No. 5, has been called as above, and McClellan means to honor the camp and the general whose name we have adopted for it, by winning a splendid victory.

Guns are being taken by the camp this evening to be mounted on our earthworks. It will still take some few days to get everything in readiness. The roads are in a terrible state from the rain, and hence additional labor is entailed on the men and horses, and necessitates still further delay. New sites for batteries are constantly being selected by General Porter, and when we do get ready, the rebels will have to “keep their eyes peeled.” We can see them mounting additional guns every day, and strengthening their works. In the end I suppose it will result in giving us a few more cannon to add to the list of prizes taken.

Last night, for the first time I believe since we have been here, I was not waked up by any firing. The enemy kept themselves quietly within their works.

The men in this division have a great deal of fatigue duty to perform, such as mounting guns, making roads through the woods and digging earthworks. It is really fatigue duty, especially in this storm. They seem to stand it very well, however.

There is nothing especially new going on. . . .

Some of our men crept up so close to the rebel pickets last night that their relief guard passed within ten feet of them. They also heard some of their conversation. One man crept along the bank of the river until he heard the sound of oars. He waited until the boat touched the shore, when an officer jumped out and was met by another officer who came out of the bushes, and spoke to the first one, about crossing by the mill with some horses. The wind blew so that he could hear no more of their conversation. I don’t know what the conversation referred to.

General Porter is General McClellan’s favorite general, and McClellan often calls for him to go out and reconnoitre, etc., with him. The night I carried those dispatches to McClellan, he said, “My God ! if I can’t depend on Fitz John’s division, I don’t know what I can depend on.” He showed very plainly how highly he thought of General Porter and his division by his conversation. He was very pleasant to me indeed. I saw Captain Mason 1 on his staff the other day. He is from Boston, you know. . . .

Headquarters Porter’s Div., 3d Army Corps,

Camp No. 5, April 18, 1862.

Dear Mother, — The siege of Yorktown has not yet begun, and will not I am afraid for a week to come. We have skirmishes almost every night, some of their forces rushing out and firing a few rounds, and then running back again as fast as they can. Cannonading goes on from one morning to another without ceasing. It does not come from our whole line at once, but is kept up on any of their working parties we see, and by them upon our gunboats and barges. It seems strange to hear the reports of heavy guns, and the whistling of shot all the time, but one soon gets used to it. At times, as last night, the firing becomes pretty rapid, and then we are all routed out, to go to bed again in a few minutes. The enemy made an attack last night upon our pickets, but withdrew as quickly as they came out, but making us all leave our beds to repel them. The place is a perfect Paradise for fleas and wood-ticks. They abound in every place, and are the bane of one’s existence. The country is very level and swampy, the ground near the river being much broken up by deep ravines, which are not visible until one comes within a few feet of them. I am very careful about the dampness, and have boards all over the floor of my tent. The nights are a little chilly, but not nearly as bad and damp as I expected them to be. There is a delightful breeze to-day which cools the air, and makes it feel soft and balmy. It is a pleasant change from the last few days, which have been extremely hot. . . .

I have a request, Mother, to make of you, and one which I depend on you to have carried out. Don’t let any of the girls or female relatives come on to take care of me, in case I am wounded. Nothing would be more unpleasant to me or make me feel so anxious as the idea that Father should allow any such thing. This is no place at all for women, — a thing which many of them cannot realize. I mention this because Hannah has frequently spoken of the Hortons staying at home, as being very strange. They are perfectly right. A woman in a place like this would be a source of trouble and anxiety to a wounded soldier. James will be able to take care of me in case of any such necessity, which I hope will not exist.

We must have over 100,000 men here now, and 295 cannon. One hundred guns compose the siege train, and among them are some of the heaviest guns and mortars used in the service. The remaining 195 guns are light artillery. Our corps under the command of Heintzelman consists of 34,810 men. Of these our division has 13,400. We have 64 guns, and about 2000 cavalry in the corps.

The 1st Massachusetts is in our corps, and also the 11th Massachusetts. I am going over to see Sergeant Brazier, and Rice, in a day or two.

My man was going in bathing in the river yesterday when a round shot flew over him close to his head. It stopped his bathing for the day. General Porter sent him to dig it up, which he did, and on weighing it, it turned out to be a 64-pounder. It was fired from Yorktown at some of our boats in the river. . . .

Headquarters Porter’s Div., 3d Army Corps,

Camp No. 5, April 16, 1862.

Dear Hannah, — The bombardment proper of Yorktown will not begin probably till 5 or 6 days from now, although there are scrimmages taking place every day, either between our gunboats and the rebel batteries or between our artillery and their batteries. To-day we have had both kinds, our artillery in Hamilton’s division having fired continually from early this morning, and being as warmly replied to by the rebels. From a dead or leafless tree behind the general’s tent, a ladder some 75 feet in length has been built, and this we use as a look-out. From this ladder I saw our gunboats and the rebels’ batteries fire at each other, but without any injury to either side. Our fuses were all too short, the shell bursting in the air a mile off from the rebel battery. They fired from a large 105-pound pivot gun, and fired very well, too. The shot, many of them, struck within a few feet of the gunboat.

We came quite a dodge on the rebels a few nights ago. General Porter, who by the way is terribly anxious to get at the rebels, ordered out all our batteries at 2 o’clock A.M., and ordered them to open fire on the encampments of the enemy, which they did with a good will. Just imagine being waked up at that time of night by shot and shell falling into your tent. I only hope they will not open on us from their big pivot gun, for we are just in range of it. Our encampment is quite pretty. We have planted pine trees all around it, and so manage to protect ourselves very well from the heat of the sun which is getting to be quite oppressive. It is the pleasantest and prettiest place of any of the encampments I have seen.

The firing is quite lively now in Hamilton’s division. They are firing at the fort which Martin’s battery attacked on the day of our arrival, and where the 22d Massachusetts Volunteers lost ten men killed and wounded. There are frequently twenty guns fired in a minute, the reports of which we can hear quite plainly as we are only about a mile and a half from them.

I had a fine view of Yorktown and Gloucester Point yesterday. I crossed over a bridge over Creek, which bridge we have just built, and then went out to a point which projects into the river. I was about three quarters of a mile from Yorktown, and could see the rebels at work very plainly; they have two strong water batteries, and above these still stronger ones. The banks are very steep and precipitous here, and afford a fine opportunity to place works. At Gloucester Point on the opposite side, they also have strong batteries, and we could see their men all run when they saw the smoke from one of our gunboats. The shells burst near them, and made them skedaddle some.

General Porter is in very good spirits, although annoyed at the slowness of the engineers. He gets all the ox-hides, ropes, etc., which he can pick up, using them for coverings to the fascines. The general is confident of success, and I think he is right in being so. Our division is in the front and will distinguish itself, I have no doubt. The exact number of our guns is 295, 100 of which are siege guns and mortars, and the rest light artillery. . . .

Headquarters Porter’s Division, April 6, 1862.

Dear Father, – We are now encamped about 2 miles from their batteries at Yorktown. I stood under my first fire yesterday, and don’t think it is the pleasantest feeling in the world. Day before yesterday we advanced from New Market Bridge and went some 15 miles to Howard’s Creek which is 4 miles from Big Bethel. About one mile from H.’s Creek we discovered some earthworks, and some rebel horsemen there, and two guns of Wilson’s Battery. Our skirmishers opened on them, and were responded to by 4 shots from their guns, which did not reach far enough. Allen’s Battery soon put them to flight and we crossed over the creek about an hour after they had gone. Yesterday we marched on towards Yorktown, and when within about two miles or one and a half miles from the place, we discovered the presence of their batteries by a shell screeching over our heads, followed by another one, on our side, about 20 feet off, and by another about 30 feet in front and above us, which last one burst there. It was an unpleasant feeling. I am well, and to-morrow probably the batteries will be taken.

Camp near New Market Bridge, March 29, 1862.

Dear Father, — I suppose you have not heard anything about our moving here from the newspapers. All of them are forbidden to publish any news whatever of our movements. Day before yesterday a reconnoissance was made towards Big Bethel. I wrote Hannah a day or two ago that we were all going to advance. It turned out that it was to be a reconnoissance only. They saw a few of the enemy and killed one. We advanced beyond Big Bethel to within 6 miles of Yorktown. I had to stay here in camp to see that things went straight. I did not lose much, however. The rebels had been working on the fortifications at B. Bethel the very morning our troops advanced, but when they reached there, the rebels had run off with their cannon. They had captured two of our men, outside of our picket lines, where they were expressly forbidden to go, in the morning, and so had notice of our advance. Our pickets have orders to shoot any man they see outside the lines, whether on our side or not. This will have a good effect on stragglers.

I wish I could send you home some of the holly trees I have seen down here. They grow in great abundance and of all sizes from a small bush up to a large-sized tree. They look very prettily with their dark green leaves and red berries. I have decorated my tent with a branch. The apricots down here are in full blossom, and the weather is warm and delightful, everything showing that spring is here.

We shall probably advance in a day or two, very likely to-morrow. General McClellan will be here to-morrow, and his coming will be the signal for our advance. I heard General Porter tell one of the commodores at Fortress Monroe that we should have 130,000 men and 300 pieces of artillery with us on our advance. The commodore said that the rebels were making great preparations to meet us, and would give us a severe battle between West Point and Richmond. W. P. is on the York River, I think. I do not know why we did not land at the Pocosin [Poquoson ?] River. I think it was the plan to do so. I have received no letters from home for a week, but expect them now daily.

I enclose a hyacinth root dug up right behind the place we are now encamped. Please give it to Hannah. I broke off the leaves so as to keep the life in the bulb. . . .

There are 24 correspondents of newspapers at Fort Monroe. They will be kept in the rear, as far as is possible, and will not learn much about movements planned, but not yet executed. If there is any battle government will let it be known instantly, so you need not be afraid of any fight being concealed. . . .

Camp at New Market Bridge, March 26, 1862.

Dear Hannah, — We shall probably start to-morrow morning for Big Bethel, which we shall occupy and I think without a battle. A reconnoissance was made today, but very few of the enemy were seen. We arrived here yesterday, and are encamped about 6 miles from Fortress Monroe, and 3 miles from Newport News. The country is very level and sandy, pines growing in great abundance. We selected a very pleasant place before a burnt house, on a grass plot, and pitched our tents there. Our pickets were thrown forward about quarter of a mile along the banks of a stream, which branches out from Back River. I wish you could see some of the scenes of camp life. There are so many of them queer, and at the same time beautiful, that I know you would be pleased with them. To-night I was struck by one in particular. We have a large fire kept burning outside our tents all the time, around which we all of us frequently gather. Tonight about 7 o’clock we were all around the fire in various attitudes, some sitting, others standing, etc., generals, colonels, etc., in fact all grades down to privates were represented. A guard brought in two negroes from Yorktown, they having made their way up to our lines. As soon as they had been questioned by the general, some one gave them some crackers, and down they dumped themselves on a pile of wood close by the blazing fire. It was a scene worth witnessing. The officers and servants, some mounted and some not, scattered around in every way imaginable, and these two contrabands, the picture of perfect contentment, notwithstanding the sufferings they had just gone through. Footsore, famished, and their clothes in tatters, they had escaped from Yorktown where they had been working on fortifications, with a band of seven others. Two were shot by the rebels and one wounded. Two are now wandering in the woods, and two have arrived here.

If the Merrimac comes out again she will never return. We have a plan to capture her, which I believe is as follows: Five large steamers are selected, to run her down all at once, and sink her. They say she cannot possibly stand the shock, and will be stove in. I hope so at any rate. It will be an expensive operation, but those who ought to be well informed about her, do not seem to be at all alarmed about her.

We have quite warm weather here, although it is damp in our tents, because we have no fires. I am careful, however, and get on first rate. I have had no letters from home for some days, and shall not have any for some time to come, I imagine. You had better direct all letters to Fortress Monroe, Gen. F. J. Porter’s headquarters. I shall get them much sooner that way. . . .

Steamer Daniel Webster, March 21, 1862.

Dear Hannah, — We are at anchor off Alexandria, having embarked on this fast steamer this afternoon.

We shall go to the dock to-morrow morning to take General Porter and horse on board, and I intend taking that opportunity to send this letter. I am forced to use red ink, as my inkstand is packed up. I feel pretty well used up, as I have been walking around carrying dispatches, my horse being on board ship. My foot has troubled me to-day, the first time for a long while. You know my toes have an unfortunate habit of getting out of joint and paining me excessively. I had it down at Port Royal. The next pair of boots I have made I shall have fixed in some peculiar way so as to remedy this if I can.

We shall probably start to-morrow morning, and reach our destination in 24 hours.

I am very tired and cannot write you a long letter. I am very sorry indeed to hear that Bill Horton is probably mortally wounded. How dreadfully his family must feel.

Please write the same as before and let me hear from you often. I don’t know how soon you will hear from me again. It may be some time before I have a chance to send you another letter. . . .

Cloud’s Mills, March 20, 1862.

Dear Father, — I received your two letters containing the two photographs one of which I gave to General Porter, he asking for it first. I liked the full face better than the other, which General Porter took.

I saw Professor Low the aeronaut the other day. He is a very good-looking man and still enthusiastic about the balloon’s crossing the ocean.

Our staff gave General Porter quite a handsome sword last evening. Curiously enough it was the anniversary of his wedding, which together with this sword presentation were, he said, the two pleasantest occasions of his life.

I attended a review of General Franklin’s division with General Porter yesterday. The troops made a fine show, being well drilled and disciplined. Porter’s (Mass.) Battery is in this division. General McClellan was there and rode, of course, at the head of the reviewing column, which consisted of any amount of generals and their staffs. Generals Franklin, Porter, McDowell, Slocum, Heintzelman, who commands our corps d’ armee, Kearny, Barry and numerous others were there. The soldiers cheered McClellan heartily as he rode up and down the lines, followed by about fifty officers.

I think I was mistaken in what I wrote you about McClellan. It came from one of his enemies and I am confident was wrong. If you notice what Burnside says in his report of the battle at Newberne you will see what he says about following out the minute orders given him by McClellan. That will rather knock the N. Y. Tribune, which has been abusing McClellan abominably. I hope you never take the paper.

The whole force of the Army under McClellan is 257,000 men, including Burnside and Sherman, I suppose.

I hear that Sherman is to be superseded by General Hunter. The administration are not satisfied with him, and with good reason.

We are waiting here for our transports, which have already taken some troops, and landed them, and are on the way back for more. I don’t see how we can start before Monday. We shall probably go to the place I wrote you about, in a short note. Don’t speak of it until you hear we are there. . . .