(April 3rd)
On the 25th, we marched to Warrenton Junction, meeting with no resistance, the cavalry alone doing a little skirmishing. Blenker’s division of Germans marched with us, and appeared to be a bad lot of fellows, without order or discipline; they spread all over the country, capturing everything within their reach. They loaded themselves down with pigs, chickens, turkeys, and whatever else suited their taste, deliberately shooting the pigs, sheep, etc., keeping up a regular fusilade. The officers seemed to have no control over their men. We have never seen anything like this before, and it reminds me forcibly of the Spanish and Portuguese troops during Wellington’s campaign in the peninsula. Foreign organizations, exclusively as such, seem to be a mistake in our army especially if they are to be under no better control than this division of Blenker’s. This advance to Warrenton has been a regular romance, brilliant weather, enemy running away, plenty to eat, and as we are now accustomed to sleeping in the open air, we all feel well, and enjoyed it immensely. We remained in and about Warrenton until the 1st of April, having our headquarters at a fine large mansion house, still occupied by the ladies of the family. We spent the evenings in the parlor, with the young women, who entertained us with rebel songs and music. They were very rebellious, but quite delighted with the attention they received from so many of us; besides we stocked their larder, supplied them with coffee, tea, sugar, placed guards over their barns and stock, and in many other important respects, greatly benefited them. Nearly all the inhabitants had fled, those remaining being exclusively women and superannuated men. These Southern men, although heaping most outrageous abuse upon the Northern armies, seem to have no fear for their wives and daughters, whom they leave behind in charge of their property with apparent confidence, which proves that they do not really believe what they say about us. A little politeness on the part of these women invariably brings safety to their fences, horses, and barns, and a full supply of coffee, sugar, and tea, which in the confederacy are already an expensive luxury.
On April 1st, we received instructions to return to our old winter quarters, Camp California, and about noon broke camp and marched to the rear, reaching Manassas the following day. We were just getting ready to march again when a long train of cattle cars arrived, and we put the troops on board forthwith. This was the first time we had traveled by cars since our arrival in Washington, and we took very kindly to this comfortable form of locomotion. We were soon on board and arrived at the camp about five P. M., found everything had been more or less disturbed, but were delighted to get back again to what seemed more like home to us now than any other place.
The campaign just ended, although without results, (which is not the fault of the troops) has been most severe on both officers and men. It lasted just twenty-four days, during which time we were without a change of clothing of any kind, and without camp equipage, sleeping in the open air, except while in Manassas, and exposed to an unusual amount of rainy weather; notwithstanding the exposure, the command, upon the whole, is in better condition physically than when it started out. The first luxury I enjoyed was a bath and general good scrubbing; my old half barrel was quickly filled with water, and with Seth as master of ceremonies, I soon got rid of the twenty-four days’ accumulation. Our underwear had to be thrown away as unfit for further use, and the rest of our clothing hung up for ventilation. Arrayed in clean clothes and clean skin, we speedily resumed our former smart appearance.
The day following we received orders to prepare for active service immediately. Officers’ baggage was limited to a small valise, and the men required to leave everything behind but the regulation kit. Brigade headquarters were limited to one wagon and three wall tents; all the rest of the accumulated baggage and impedimenta were to be boxed and sent in charge of the regimental quartermaster to Alexandria, there to be stored in care of the quartermaster’s department until further orders. Our twenty-four days’ campaign had at least taught the men one important lesson, namely, to limit to the minimum their loads. The regulations required two pairs of socks, drawers, and undershirt, and one pair extra shoes and trousers. The men very cheerfully complied with the order, eliminating all their winter accumulation. In the evening the brigade was inspected by different officers of our staff, and every man’s knapsack carefully investigated. The following morning, April 3d, the brigade formed on the old color line, and immediately afterwards withdrew. As the column countermarched gracefully by the right flank and withdrew to the main road, cheer after cheer rang out from lusty throats, in honor of the dear old spot we never expected to see again.
