fresh air fun

Posted on June 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

As the summer got hotter, Richmond’s population was getting bigger, and there were fewer recreational opportunities. What to do? Take a train ride to The Center of the Universe. Failing that, folks could head to the outskirts of town to enjoy a little martial entertainment.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 25, 1864:

A great public Want Supplied.

–We invite special attention to the advertisement in another column of excursion tickets over the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. Precluded, as our greatly increased population is this summer, from opportunities of visiting public watering places, or other more private resorts in the country, and destitute as they are of their usual means of riding and driving out of the city, few accommodations more acceptable and useful could be offered them than those announced in this advertisement. The hours at which the trains are run between this city and the South Anna River, are precisely those which are best suited to afford the greatest possible convenience, comfort, and healthful recreation. They enable our people, suffering from the heat, dust, and impure air of the city, to enjoy, for three hours, either the freshness and fragrance of the woods and fields in the dewy hours of morning, or their welcome shade and breezes after the exhausting heat of a day’s labor in the city, without any encroachment on the usual hours of business; and by the liberal reduction of fare on these tickets to one-half, this comfort is afforded at a cost of less than a fourth what any other conveyance would require. Persons desiring to spend a day in the country, or at the beautiful village of Ashland, can avail themselves of these tickets. Those who cannot spare three hours for a ride on the passenger train, the establishment of a regular schedule of frequent trips, at certain hours, for the street and steam coach between the depot in this city and Camp Lee affords a very pleasant ride, at a very small cost, with an opportunity in the afternoon of attending the dress parades, and listening to the music of the fine band at Camp Lee. To ladies and children these excursions are peculiarly welcome and valuable.

richmond-map (Harper's Weekly, 8-9-1862

THE CITY OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.—DRAWN BY A REFUGEE JUST ESCAPED FROM SECESSIA (Camp Lee to the northwest)

The map of Richmond was published in the August 9, 1862 issue of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South.

I don’t know when Ashland was nicknamed “the center of the Universe”. If you click on Mr.Sneden’s map at the Encyclopedia Virginia you can see Ashland on the railroad a bit south of the South Anna.

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missing Stonewall

Posted on June 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

A couple correspondents from the New York 1st Veteran cavalry maintained that the Union occupation of Staunton, Virginia in early June 1864 was quite well-received by the citizens. SENECA said everything was passing off quite smoothly as the Union demolished the city’s railroads. Charley Wisewell stated that most of the people of Staunton were happy to see the Yanks, even as they destroyed the railroads and “Government manufactories”. 150 years ago today a letter was published in Richmond that balanced the story. The Yankees damaged private property and stole food. The Union band apparently accompanied much of the mayhem.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 24, 1864:

The enemy in Staunton.

A letter from Staunton contains some interesting particulars of the Yankee occupation of that place. We give the following:

Saturday,June 4th, 1864.

There were reports that the Yankee army was only ten miles from town. Sunday morning many persons were busy sending away their goods and chattels, but the town was comparatively quiet. In the afternoon, as people returned from church, they heard the sorrowful news of the defeat at New Hope and the Yankees advancing on Staunton. It was thought that perhaps they might enter the town that night, but they did not. Monday morning all continued quiet; few but women and children waiting to see what would come next. They had not to wait long. The Yankee cavalry came dashing down the old stage road from Richmond. These were followed by their infantry, and artillery–thirty pieces. The number of Yankees in Staunton, including Crook’s men, who did not enter the town till Wednesday, was fifteen thousand.

Gens. Hunter, Averill, Crook, Sullivan, and Stahl, were in command. When Crook’s men arrived, all the houses were searched for provisions. In one case, on Monday, a man ascended the stairs of a dwelling and demanded food. A young lady told him there was none up there and he must go to the kitchen. He drew his pistol upon her, but she stood firm, and succeeded at last in making him go to the kitchen. Guards were placed at various points, and good order in general preserved. Tuesday morning, several Confederate scouts dashed down the Richmond road and fired, and a little skirmish ensued. A great panic followed. A part of the Yankee cavalry raced up the road after our men, but did not catch them, and the whole Yankee army skedaddled out of town, thinking our army was coming. After a while they came back. They broke open the stores and distributed the contents to the negroes and some white people who had given them information. They burned the depot and the steam mill, and broke up the machinery of the shoe factory. They intended to have burned this, and it was only saved by the earnest and long-continued entreaties of the citizens, who feared that it would involve half the town in flames. On Thursday they blew up one of the elegant stone bridges of the Central Railroad, at each explosion their band playing exultantly. The stone bridge nearest Richmond would have been blown up on Friday, but they left on that day. Thursday night the woolen factory was burnt, the band playing all the time. In Crook’s search of the houses on Wednesday he get five hundred barrels of flour from Staunton alone, the same number that was captured from them on the day of the New Hope fight. The persons engaged in searching the houses behaved, in some instances, outrageously.

All the Government shops and stables were burned, and the railroad torn up for six miles. Gen. Hunter, who is described as a horrid old wretch, next to Beast Butler, was so enraged by the skirmish of Tuesday, that he declared he was going to burn the town, insisting that it was the work of citizens. This demoniac purpose was not carried out. As an example of the liquor drinking propensities of the Yankees, a lady whose house was molested by a drunken soldier, went to the Provost Marshal for protection, but found he was drunk also, and could not be seen. Another example of Yankee meanness. When one of the Government shops was burned, several private houses caught on fire. The Yankees had a splendid fire brigade which put these fires out, using the Staunton hose and engine. They then broke two of the latter, and cut up six hundred feet of the hose, leaving the population helpless against any future fire. They had tents pitched in the Episcopal church yard and horses turned in there. At the residence of Hugh W. Shefley, Esq, a short distance from town, they stole a large quantity of provisions and clothing, and trampled down his wheat. The headquarters of Gen. Sullivan, who is described as a very gentlemanly man, were at the residence of the late Wm. King. On Thursday evening intelligence was received of the Confederate victory of the 3d of June, and on Friday the Yankee army left, professing not to know where they were going. If anything was needed to intensity the patriotism of the people of Staunton this visitation would have done it. Nevertheless they say, “If our brave and noble Jackson had been living the Yankees would not have got here.”

Encyclopedia Virginia supports the idea that the damage inflicted by the federals was more than just a sort of neat surgical strike against public property. And besides an economy is integrated. People were working at the wool factory, &c.

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war lesson

Posted on June 23, 2014 by SUMPTER
nyt 6-18-1864jpg

a bit premature at The New-York Times June 18, 1864

Newspapers in Seneca Falls 150 years ago were not big fans of the
Lincoln administration and its war policy, but even the following
editorial finds it hard to believe that Petersburg can hold out
much longer against the Union army. But still, the war has taught
not too hope too much.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in June 1864:

GRANT.

Since Gen. GRANT moved his army to the James river he has been struggling for the possession of Petersburg. On the 16th and 17th inst. desperate assaults were made against the enemy’s works, but they were repulsed with great loss to our forces. – Despatches [sic] placed the number in killed and wounded at 8000 during the two days. – the struggle has been going on since Saturday last, with but very little success on our side. It is hardly possible that Petersburg can much longer hold out against the repeated assaults of Grant’s army, still experience has taught us to put no great faith in a hopeful issue of this most terrible war. If Petersburg, with its inferior fortifications, and garrisoned by only a small portion of Lee’s army, demands so great a sacrifice, what will become of our army before it reaches Richmond? The loss of life since Grant crossed the Rapidan has been unprecedented in the annals of war – and what has been accomplished?

Off duty (by Edwin Forbes, June 23, 1864; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-20715)

“Off Duty” (Library of Congress: at the siege of Petersburg) by Edwin Forbes June 23, 1864

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bushwacker aversion

Posted on June 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

The SENECA correspondent has written many letters about the exploits of New York’s 1st Veteran Cavalry. The following is a different take on the death of Captain Brett, the battle of Piedmont, and the brutal march over the mountains with the Piedmont prisoners.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

FROM THE 1st VETERAN CAVALRY.

The following is a copy of a letter from CHARLES F. WISEWELL to his brother, dated,

MARTINSBURG, June 21st, 1864.

BROTHER FRANK: – Our regiment arrived in Martinsburg, yesterday morning, from Stanton [sic], and I can assure you we have had some pretty tough times since the Battle of New Market. We have come here for the purpose of recruiting our horses, which are pretty well played out; there not being fifty serviceable horses in the Regiment, at present. As I stated in my last letter, which I wrote while at Newton, that we had retreated back to get out of the way of the Rebs, as as soon as we got reinforced, we again started up the valley, to have some more fun with the Johnneys.

Some days before this, while our wagon train was passing through Newton, it was fired at by persons in some of the houses. Gen. Hunter then sent back some of the cavalry and had them burn the town. – About a week after that, while Capt. Brett was coming through there with another train, he was surprised by a party of guerrillas, the train captured, and the Capt. killed. the scout who reported it, said, the last he saw of Capt. Brett he had his sabre in one hand, and a revolver in another, in the very midst of them, fighting and cheering on the boys to follow him. Our company are all very sorry at the loss of our Captain, for we all thought a great deal of him here. When we arrived at New Market, where the last battle was fought, we found that the dead bodies of our soldiers had been left unburied, that the Rebs had had stripped them of all their clothes, and then left them. We stayed there two days and then moved on towards Staunton. Through every place that we passed, where they had any Government property, it had to be burned. We destroyed over three millions dollars worth of property. At Port Republic we first met the Rebs. (This was on Sunday morning.) Our Regiment being on the advance was the first to meet them. It would not pay for us to sit on our horses and have them firing at us. We were ordered to dismount and form a skirmish line until the infantry could come up and relieve us. For about an hour we had quite smart firing on both sides, until the main advance came up with artillery which opened on them, and they on us. The firing was quite heavy. We kept driving them all the while, until they fell back on some breastworks which they had constructed out of rails, where lay their whole force, and then we had the battle for three hours. There was a continual roar of musketry and artillery. Gen. Stahl ordered our brigade to dismount, with their combines, and go as a support for the infantry. And a battery on our right, which did some awful work amongst them, and for an hour we had some very hard fighting, when the second brigade of cavalry flanked them and got in their rear. Then the infantry in front charged on them, and drove them on a run, and our cavalry coming up in their rear, they didn’t know which way to go, but to throw down their arms and give themselves up as prisoners. Our brigade was then ordered back to their horses, double-quick, and then we charged on them. We completely routed them, we cut them down on that charge like grass. If it hadn’t been for this artillery, we would have captured their whole army. When we charged on them, the shot and shell from their cannon were bursting and flying around our heads like hail-stones, which was not so pleasant. After the battle was over, I went to the place where the Rebs had their breastworks of rails, and there were some of the worst-mangled men I ever saw.
Some with their heads shot clear off, others cut in two, one part of the body lay in one place and the other a rod or two from it. I saw one man where a shell had struck a rail and the rail had struck him in the head, passing clear through him. General Jones was killed. I saw him. He was shot through the temple. We killed and captured about fifteen hundred, – three colonels, five majors, and about fifty commissioned officers. I cut one of the buttons from Gen. Jones’ coat, and have sent it home to you by mail, which I hope you will get. I have a canteen made out of cedar, which I took off a Rebel officer, and if you want it, I will send it home to you; and tell Romain that I have sent him a fiddle that I captured, and it is a first-rate one. If he wants it, by paying the express charges on it he can have it[.] The next day we entered Staunton. The first Union soldiers that were ever there. And most of the citizens were glad that the Yanks (as they call us,) had come. This was a very important place for the Rebs on account of its being the junction of several railroads. These we destroyed, and burned a great many of their Government manufactories. We stayed there four days, when our Regiment, with several Regiments of infantry, were detailed to guard prisonors [sic] and wagon train across the mountains to the nearest railroad station, which was about one hundred and fifty miles from Staunton. That was the worst march of all. We had no rations for ourselves or horses, and it took us a week to cross, and by the time we got over we were nearly starved. The mules gave out on the wagon-train, and so did our cavalry horses, and before we had crossed over, we had to shoot over three hundred mules, and about two hundred horses, and burned some forty or fifty Government wagons, and two pieces of artillery, so that they couldn’t get hold of them. Above all men to be dreaded, are the Bushwackers in the mountains, which swarm full of them, and every chance they got they would pick off our men. If a man lingered behind the rear guard, he was a goner. While crossing above the Alleghanies, our Company were out of the rear-guard. We were delayed on account of the breaking of a wagon, which brought us about a mile about a mile behind the main advance, when all of a sudden we heard several shots fired in the mountain, wounding Gen. Story in the arm and thumb, killing several horses. We all dismounted and darted after them. The Sergt. told us not to take a single prisoner, but shoot them like dogs. We followed some distance, but took none of them. If we had, they would have been strung up by the neck to the first tree we came to. I hope that I may never have to pass the road again. I would rather be in a dozen battles than run the risk of getting bushwacked. We reached the railroad station, and there shipped the prisoners; then took the cars and came to Martinsburg[.] WE expect to join Gen. Hunter, every day, and by reading his movements, you will no [sic] where we are. This just suits me, if I could only see the folks at home once in a while; but hoping I may see you all again, I must close with love to all. From CHARLIE.

General Story was really Sergeant Story:

Vinton F Story

Vinton F Story

Charles F. Wisewell

” I would rather be in a dozen battles than run the risk of getting bushwacked”

William_Edmondson_Jones

General “Grumble” Jones shot in the head at Piedmont

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when?

Posted on June 20, 2014 by SUMPTER
Lincoln & his secretaries, Nicolay & Hay (by Alexander Gardner, November 8, 1863; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-19421)

the poet standing

In the same issue that featured articles on Cold Harbor and the Georgia campaign and startling images of starved Union prisoners, the June 18, 1864 Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South) published a poem by a member of President Lincoln’s inner circle:

WHEN THE BOYS COME HOME

THERE’S a happy time coming,
When the boys come home.
There’s a glorious day coming,
When the boys come home.
We will end the dreadful story
Of this treason dark and gory
In a sunburst of glory,
When the boys come home.

The day will seem brighter
When the boys come home,
For our hearts will be lighter
When the boys come home.
Wives and sweethearts will press them
In their arms and caress them,
And pray God to bless them,
When the boys come home.

The thinned ranks will be proudest
When the boys come home,
And their cheer will ring the loudest
When the boys come home.
The full ranks will be shattered,
And the bright arms will be battered,
And the battle-standards tattered,
When the boys come home.

Their bayonets may be rusty,
When the boys come home,
And their uniforms dusty,
When the boys come home.
But all shall see the traces
Of battle’s royal graces,
In the brown and bearded faces,
When the boys come home.

Our love shall go to meet them,
When the boys come home,
To bless them and to greet them,
When the boys come home;
And the fame of their endeavor
Time and change shall not dissever
From the nation’s heart forever,
When the boys come home.

JOHN HAY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON.

An editorial on the same page lauds Secretary of War Stanton and Generals Grant and Sherman for the matter-of-fact truthfulness of their reports:

Battle of Spottsylvania [sic ( [Boston] : L. Prang & Co., 1887.)

“thinned ranks will be proudest”

PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

THE good sense of the Secretary of War in issuing daily bulletins of the campaign can not be too highly commended. It is another proof of the fact that we have settled down to war in earnest, and that the country wishes to know only the truth. The good result of the system is seen in the deaf ear which we all turn to the mere rumors of the street and bulletin boards, and in the question universally asked upon every fresh statement, ” Is that official?”

This happy result is greatly enhanced by the public confidence in the perfect truthfulness of the reports of Generals GRANT and SHERMAN. There is no rhetorical clap-trap in them. General GRANT drives the enemy to cover, and he does not instantly telegraph that he is pushing them to the wall; he says only, “it is no decisive advantage,” and the country is calm because the General is. General SHERMAN tells what he has done, not what he is going to do, and the country, looking at the map, is satisfied.

Every body understands that the task before GRANT and SHERMAN is, as the President says, one of magnitude and difficulty. In the case of GRANT it is easy to see that the work would have been easier could he have beaten LEE upon the Rapidan or at Spotsylvania, because then he would have been spared the necessity of besieging Richmond. Yet great and difficult as the task is, there is a public tranquility which springs from profound confidence in him and in the ultimate success of the cause. There are people who occasionally shake their heads and whisper, ” Dear me, if GRANT should fail !” Well, if he should, who could put another army in the field first ? And as for spirit, for resolution, the mind of the country was never so firmly fixed in its purpose of suppressing the rebellion at any cost as it is at this moment.

John Hay, 1838-1905 (by Frances Benjamin Johnston, between 1890 and 1905; LOC: LC-USZ62-83123)

poet as United States Secretary of State (1898-1905)

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sunk in the channel

Posted on June 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

On July 4, 1864 the Richmond Daily Dispatch published an editorial ridiculing the United States Navy:

The United States Navy.

The Navy of the United States has had an inglorious part to play in this war. It was once the pride of the nation. The Army was jealous of its glory, and had reason to be. …

“How are the mighty fallen.” How has the glory departed! What has become of the ancient prestige and renown of the American sea kings? Departed forever!–Gone with the Confederates; gone with Semmes, Moffitt, and others, who are the only representatives of its ancient supremacy. The broad ocean is no longer the theatre of the United States Navy. It is rarely seen a dozen miles from shore. It prow[l]s about muddy rivers and narrow bayous; it bombards country villages and defenceless farm houses; it steals sheep, negroes, and chickens. Whereas it used to turn up its nose in supreme contempt at the army, it is now the army’s body servant; it follows its master like his shadow, and fetches and carries, fights and runs, as he directs. It is at the back and call of militia Generals, and plays second fiddle to pot-house politicians, dressed up in uniform and strutting about in the grandeur of a little brief authority. Nor does it seem to deserve any better fate. Augmented to a number of ships which would fit it to cope with any European power, and provided with engines of war such as the world had never before seen, it has never performed one achievement during the whole of this contest which has added a single laurel to the clustering glories of the old service. The seventy ships of the old Navy were respected throughout the world. The four hundred ships of the new have not been able to drive the Alabama and Florida from the ocean. They have had to beg their old English enemy not to build any more ships for the rebels, for two against four hundred were more than they could manage. They have even tried to have ships built in England to catch the Alabama and the Florida. What a confession of weakness! What object humiliation. It is enough to make the hones of the great Commodores of 1812 rise from their graves. Verily, England has had her revenge, and may well chuckle over their tribulations.

A week later the Dispatch published news from Europe that the much vaunted CSS Alabama had been sunk by the USS Kearsarge 150 years ago today. Part of the report was said to be a log from the British ship that observed the fight and picked up the Alabama’s survivors. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 11, 1864:

rescuing survivors

Later from Europe.

the Alabama sunk by the Kearsage — escape of Capt. Semmes–Full accounts of the fight …

Account of the fight between the Alabama and Kearsage.

To the Editor of the London Times:

Herewith I send you a copy of my log respecting the engagement between the Confederate shipsteamer Alabama and the Federal shipsteamer Kearsage:

Sunday, June 19,9 A. M.–Got up steam and proceeded out of Cherbourg harbor 10.30–observed the Alabama steaming out of the harbor towards the Federal shipsteamer Kearsage. 11.30–the Alabama commenced firing with her starboard battery, the distance between the contending vessels being about one mile. The Kearsage immediately replied with her starboard guns; a very sharp, spirited firing was then kept up, shot sometimes being varied by shells. In the manÅuvring both vessels made seven complete circles at a distance of from a quarter to half a mile.

At twelve a slight intermission was observed in the Alabama’s firing, the Alabama making head sail, and shaping her course for the land distant about nine miles. At half-past 12 observed the Alabama to be disabled and in a sinking state. We immediately made towards her, and on passing the Kearsage were requested to assist in saving the Alabama’s crew. At ten minutes to one, when within a distance of two hundred yards, the Alabama sunk. We then lowered our two boats, and, with the assistance of the Alabama’s whale boat and dingy, succeeded in saving about forty men, including Captain Semmes and thirteen officers.–At 1 P. M., we steered for Southampton.

I may state that, before leaving, the Kearsage was apparently much disabled. The Alabama’s loss, so far as at present ascertained, in killed and wounded, &c., was as follows, viz: One officer and one man drowned, six men killed, and one officer and sixteen men wounded. Capt Semmes received a slight wound in the right hand. The Kearsage’s boats were, after some delay, lowered, and, with the assistance of a French pilot-boat, succeeded in picking up the remaining survivors.

John Lancaster.

shipSteam Yacht Deerhound, off Cowes, June 19. …

The Alabama’s flamboyant commander wrote at length about the battle in his memoirs. He was aware of a large crowd gathering on shore to watch the bout and remembered his pre-battle words to his men. From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States (1869) (pages 755-756) by Raphael Semmes:

The day being Sunday, and the weather fine, a large concourse of people—many having come all the way from Paris—collected on the heights above the town, in the upper stories of such of the houses as commanded a view of the sea, and on the walls and fortifications of the harbor. Several French luggers employed as pilot-boats went out, and also an English steam-yacht, called the Deerhound. …

As we were approaching the enemy’s ship, I caused the crew to be sent aft, within convenient reach of my voice, and mounting a gun-carriage, delivered them the following brief address. I had not spoken to them in this formal way since I had addressed them on the memorable occasion of commissioning the ship.

“Officers and Seamen of the Alabama!—You have, at length, another opportunity of meeting the enemy—the first that has been presented to you, since you sank the Hatteras! In the meantime, you have been all over the world, and it is not too much to say, that you have destroyed, and driven for protection under neutral flags, one half of the enemy’s commerce, which, at the beginning of the war, covered every sea. This is an achievement of which you may well be proud; and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it. The name of your ship has become a household word wherever civilization extends. Shall that name be tarnished by defeat? The thing is impossible! Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of all Europe are at this moment, upon you. The flag that floats over you is that of a young Republic, who bids defiance to her enemies, whenever, and wherever found. Show the world that you know how to uphold it! Go to your quarters.”

John Ancrum Winslow commanded the Kearsarge during the battle. And there is much information about the battle and lots of images at these United States Navy and Wikipedia sites.

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heavens almost “hung in black”

Posted on June 18, 2014 by SUMPTER
Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commis[sion] ( [Philadelphia] : P.S. Duval & Co. ; 1864; LOC: LC-DIG-ds-00296)

“Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commis[sion”

150 years ago this week President Lincoln with Mary and Todd visited the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, one of many sanitary fairs held throughout the North. The president acknowledged that war is terrible, but he wasn’t wavering from his mission to restore the Union.

From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Seven:

ADDRESS AT A SANITARY FAIR IN PHILADELPHIA,
JUNE 16, 1864.

I suppose that this toast is intended to open the way for me to say something. War at the best is terrible, and this of ours in its magnitude and duration is one of the most terrible the world has ever known. It has deranged business totally in many places, and perhaps in all. It has destroyed property, destroyed life, and ruined homes. It has produced a national debt and a degree of taxation unprecedented in the history of this country. It has caused mourning among us until the heavens may almost be said to be hung in black. And yet it continues. It has had accompaniments not before known in the history of the world. I mean the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, with their labors for the relief of the soldiers, and the Volunteer Refreshment Saloons, understood better by those who hear me than by myself, and these fairs, first begun at Chicago and next held in Boston, Cincinnati, and other cities. The motive and object that lie at the bottom of them are worthy of the most that we can do for the soldier who goes to fight the battles of his country. From the fair and tender hand of women is much, very much, done for the soldier, continually reminding him of the care and thought for him at home. The knowledge that he is not forgotten is grateful to his heart. Another view of these institutions is worthy of thought. They are voluntary contributions, giving proof that the national resources are not at all exhausted, and that the national patriotism will sustain us through all. It is a pertinent question, When is this war to end? I do not wish to name the day when it will end, lest the end should not come at the given time. We accepted this war, and did not begin it. We accepted it for an object, and when that object is accomplished the war will end, and I hope to God that it will never end until that object is accomplished. We are going through with our task, so far as I am concerned, if it takes us three years longer. I have not been in the habit of making predictions, but I am almost tempted now to hazard one. I will. It is, that Grant is this evening in a position, with Meade and Hancock, of Pennsylvania, whence he can never be dislodged by the enemy until Richmond is taken. If I shall discover that General Grant may be greatly facilitated in the capture of Richmond by rapidly pouring to him a large number of armed men at the briefest notice, will you go? Will you march on with him? [Cries of “Yes, yes.”] Then I shall call upon you when it is necessary.

[Great Central Sanitary fair buildings, Logan Square, Philadelphia]

“[Great Central Sanitary fair buildings, Logan Square, Philadelphia]”

The great sanitary fair, Philadelphia, 1864 - dining saloon ( Philadelphia : Cremer & Co., 18 South Eighth St., [1864]; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-07622)

Philadelphia Freemen (Library of Congress: “an interior view of a large banquet hall with African American men standing and sitting at the tables, during the Sanitary Commission(?) Fair of 1864 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”

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“was left behind”

Posted on June 17, 2014 by SUMPTER
Map of the Siege of Petersburg of the American Civil War, assaults on June 15-16

Martindale’s Division, including the 148th, attacked on June 15

As part of General William F. Smith’s 18th corps, New York’s 148th Infantry took part of the first assault on Petersburg on June 15, 1864. The rebels captured a squad from the regiment acting as sharp-shooters.

Here’s the second extract from Chaplain Ferris Scott’s correspondence published in a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

NEAR PETERSBURG, Va.,
Friday, P.M., June 17th, 1864:

My Dear Brother: – We have been in this vicinity nearly three days. We left our position at Cole [sic] Harbor, near Gaines’ Mills, last Sunday. Marched to White-House landing, laid there waiting for transportation till Monday night, then shipped on transports, took the back track down the Pamunkey, York, and up the James, to our old place, Bermuda Hundred. We landed there Tuesday night, and marched by moonlight to the banks of the Appomattox, near Point of Rocks. Slept in an open field till Wednesday morning. Then crossed on a pontoon bridge, and pushed out for Petersburg. We met the enemy in position for battle about ten A.M. We at once pitched in and drove them over two miles and to within sight of the city. Darkness came on, and closed the fight, the gain being all on one side. The loss in our Regiment was four killed and some sixteen wounded, most of them slightly.

The struggle of Petersburg. The lines of rebel intrenchments carried by our troops. [June 15-17,1864]. (LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/99448482/)

Martindale on Baldy’s right

But the saddest part of the tale for Seneca Falls remains yet to be told. Lieut. Cort. Van Rensselaer, as brave and fine an officer as we have in the Regiment, had the misfortune of being captured by the Rebs, together with some 25 or 30 of his Company. He and those captured with him were on the extreme right of the Regiment and had taken possession of a house as a shelter from which to act as sharp-shooters. While in the house the Regiment was ordered to fall back He did not get the order, and was left behind; and before he was aware of it, the Rebs surrounded the house and took the whole squad prisoners. I haven’t been able to obtain an accurate list of those taken yet, but will in a day or two, and will send [it] on.

Sergt. Hoster, John Hudson, and in fact the majority of good fighting men in the Co., are gone to Richmond. The only ones who escaped were those who had been sent to rear for ammunition, water, &c., &c., and who were not in the fight at the time. We took during the day, between 700 and 800 Rebs, 13 cannon, two forts, and small arms to match. We have not lost many since Wednesday – one or two slight wounds have been all. To-day has been quiet, so far, but I am expecting the fight to begin at any moment. I write in great haste, as I want to go and see the Regiment before sunset.

Yours, truly, FERRIS.

Outer line of Confederate fortifications, in front of Petersburg, Va. captured by 18th Army Corps, June 15, 1864 (1864 June [printed between 1880 and 1889]; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32439)

Mathew Brady posed here (“Outer line of Confederate fortifications, in front of Petersburg, Va. captured by 18th Army Corps, June 15, 1864”)

Hal Jespersen’s map of Petersburg June 15-18 is licensed by Creative Commons

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Brothers at Cold Harbor

Posted on June 16, 2014 by SUMPTER
Map of the Battle of Cold Harbor of the American Civil War, drawn in Adobe Illustrator CS5 by Hal Jespersen. Graphic source file is available at http://www.posix.com/CWmaps/

148th fought with Stedman’s Brigade

If I’m reading this right, a soldier mortally wounded at Cold Harbor had his remains back home and buried a week later. It probably helped that his brother could identify him and take charge of his embalmed body.

From the Seneca County Courier June 16, 1864:

The remains of THEODORE F. VAN RENSSELAER, who fell in battle on the 3d inst., were received here on Friday last, and after the observance of funeral ceremonies were on that day consigned to their final resting place in Restvale Cemetery. By the following it will be seen that his brother William was with him when he breathed his last, and that the body was embalmed:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT 50th N.Y. ENG.
Hospital Dep’t, June 5th, 1864.

To the Adjutant 148th N.Y.V.

SIR: – I have to inform you that private Theodore F. Van Rensselaer, of Company A, of your Regiment, died in the Hospital of this command on the fourth (4th) of June, 1864, from the effect of gunshot wound in the chest and abdomen received on the third (3d) inst. – Lieut. Wm. van Rensselaer of this Regiment, his brother, was with him till his death and took charge of his effects. I embalmed his body and his brother takes it to White House to-day,

Very respectfully, your ob’t ser’vt

CHAS. N. HEWITT,
Surgeon 50th N.Y. Engineers

Theodore F. Van Rennsselaer

Theodore F. Van Rennsselaer

Petersburg, Virginia. Surg. Charles N. Hewitt, 50th New York Engineers (1864 Nov.; OC: LC-DIG-cwpb-03806)

“Petersburg, Virginia. Surg. Charles N. Hewitt, 50th New York Engineers” (November 1864)

The map of June 1st at Cold Harbor is licensed by Creative Commons: Attribution: Map by Hal Jespersen, www.posix.com/CW

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mountain march

Posted on June 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA was pleased as Punch that he could write home about the Union success at Piedmont, but there was a problem even in victory – what to do with the all those captured rebels. Come to find out, the New York 1st Veteran Cavalry and the 28th Ohio Infantry were ordered to transport the prisoners over the mountains to the nearest railroad junction in West Virginia. It was a tough march.

Staunton to Beverly (1862; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/99448502/)

marching through the mountains from Staunton to Beverly

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

From the Veteran Cavalry.

BEVERLY COURT HOUSE,
W.VA., June 15, 1864.

FRIEND STOWELL: – If you will look upon a map of Western Virginia you will find snugly ensconced away up among the mountains of the Old Dominion, the quiet little town of Beverly, the County Seat of Randolph. There the Veterans are encamped, resting after one of the most fatiguing marches often [sic] made.

On Friday morning the 11th inst., we suddenly received orders to strike tents and proceed to the Baltimore and Ohio R.R. with the 28th Ohio Infantry in charge of the prisoners captured at Mt. Hope or Piedmont, as it is now called. There were nearly twelve hundred of the “greybacks” and as it was rather dangerous to endeavor to force our way down the Shenandoah with so large a charge upon our hands, we were ordered to march across the mountains one hundred and ten miles to Beverly, thence down to the railroad forty or fifty miles further.

igh Knob along en:Shenandoah Mountain, taken from along the en:U.S. Route 33 crossing of the mountain. Dark green tree in foreground is Pinus pungens.

“High Knob on Shenandoah Mountain”

The rising sun saw us “upon our winding way” over the mighty hills and thro’ the narrow passes of the great North Shenandoah mountain. Gen. Stahl, who was wounded at the last battle, accompanied us with his body guard. Part of a Battery, several small squads from different regiments, and all of our wounded who were able to ride or walk, were also with us, so that we made up quite a cavalcade. Besides all these, was an immense number of refugees and contrabands “going north,” which gave the rear of our columns rather a motley appearance.

By Saturday night we had passed through Buffalo Gap, over the great Shenandoah mountain, across Bull Pasture Mt., Cow Pasture Mt., Big and Little Calf Pasture Mt., Jack Mt. and the Devil’s Back Bone, and reached the queer little town of Monterey, the county town of Highland. Thus far nothing serious had occurred. A few guerrillas had paid us their respects as we marched along, but fortunately no damage was done.

View from the observation tower atop of Spruce Knob in Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area in West Virginia.

View from atop Spruce Knob, highest point in the Alleghenies, Pendleton County, West Virginia

On Sunday morning we commenced ascending the principal range of the Allegany mountains with the pleasing information that we must climb nine miles ere we reached the top and then march nine miles down again. However the ascent was at last accomplished, and the sight that burst upon our wondering eyes from the summit of these lofty hills, more than repaid us for all the toil of reaching there. Range after range of mighty hills arose in awful grandeur. Peak upon peak, “Ossa upon Pelion piled,” towered to the skies. We halted here a little while to enjoy the magnificent scene, and gathered a few flowers from the mountain top. Many a one turned his thoughts homeward as we stood here, and I heard one of the rebel officers singing to himself the Hymn commencing “A charge to keep I have.”

On Sunday night we encamped upon the old battle ground at Green River, where Gen. Reynolds, who fell at Gettysburg, defeated Gen. Lee the present commander-in-chief of the rebel army. On Monday Col. Platner with our Cavalry advanced, accompanied by Gen. Stahl, crossed the Green River and Cheat mountains and entered the town of Beverly, having marched thirty-five miles since morning, and made the entire march from Staunton in three days and a half. Here we are resting for a few days, and when our horses are sufficiently recruited, we move on north to the Baltimore and Ohio R.R.

Our command has been exceedingly fortunate during the march, although we have been compelled to abandon and shoot sixty of our horses, we have not had a man killed, and but one wounded, who I am sorry to say is Sergt. Vinton F. Story, of Co. K. He was shot through the left arm and right thumb on Sunday afternoon, by a couple of cowardly bushwackers, who escaped into the mountains, although our boys tried hard to hunt them out.

MARTINSBURG, June 24.

The above was written at Beverly, but before I had finished we received orders to march, so I have been my own mail carrier for a couple of hundred miles.

On Friday night we encamped near Phillippi, on the very hill where the first gun was fired in Virginia, when Gen. Kelly drove the rebels under Garnet back to Laurel Hill, where he defeated them and forced them back to Rich mountains, where McClellan gave them such a drubbing. – We passed all of these localities rendered famous at the very commencement of the war, and on Saturday reached the railroad at Webster. Here we left our prisoners in charge of the infantry and took the cars for Martinsburg, which place we reached this morning. We should probably remain here some time, as we need fresh horses before taking the field again. The regiment is in good health and very fine spirits. The boys from Seneca Falls and Waterloo are all well, and excepting those already noticed are ready for action.

Yours ever,         SENECA.

I think SENECA got the wrong General Reynolds. It was probably Joseph J. Reynolds

According to the Wikipedia link above, the 28th Ohio took the prisoners to Camp Morton in Indiana.

Brian M. Powell’s photo of Shenandoah Mountain is licensed by Creative Commons. Ditto for Aneta Kaluzna’s shot from Spruce Knob.

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