Chapter 45 - In Camp

CHAPTER XLV

IN CAMP

While encamped at Leesburg we were called upon to witness a heart-rending scene, which was nothing more nor less than the shooting of three deserters, who having deserted to the enemy were captured and having been tried by court martia1 and sentenced to be shot.

The day selected for the execution was Sabbath and a lovely day it proved to be  The sun shone bright and clear, the birds warbled their songs and flitted gaily from bough to bough, evidencing the joy and happiness which they felt.  The bells of the town peeled forth their glad sounds reminding us of a Sabbath in our far off Northern home, it being the first time since we left home that we beard the sound of the church bell.

At 10 o’clock the troops were drawn up in a hollow square, the condemned men were brought to the ground in an ambulance, seated upon their coffins which were simply rough boxes.

The firing party consisting of an officer and six files were drawn up in line in front of the men who had their eyes bandaged and placed upon the coffins, the chaplain performed the last sad ceremony.  The officer in charge of the detail, standing to the right and front of the men, raised his handkerchief, instantly the men drew up their rifles to a ready, the handkerchief dropped from the officer’s hand and almost simultaneously with the act, the deadly crack of their trusty rifles rang out, and the spirits of the three unfortunate men winged their way into the presence of the great Judge.

The men were picked up and placed into their coffins, the command was then given by company “right wheel” and we were then marched past the dead deserters.

Never will we forget the sight which met our gaze as we filed past the victims of military discipline.  The bandages had been removed and their eyes stared forth wildly, whilst from various parts of their breasts and other portions of the body, the crimson life current was ebbing forth.  It has been our lot to see many persons who were killed by shot and shell, but never did we behold any features in which the liniments of fear and terror were so frightfully depicted, and it was many a long day before we could erase their images from our imagination, and we earnestly hoped that we might never be called upon to witness another such a scene.

After we returned to our quarters we prepared our dinners and ere we had finished the meal, we were aroused from our fancied security by the rapid discharge of artillery, denoting that a battle was in progress in our immediate front, and there was no telling how soon we might be called to move towards the engagement and be taken into the fight.

Sergeant Parks came around and inspected our ammunition and filled our cartridge boxes to their utmost making all the necessary arrangements to give the enemy a warm reception.

It soon became evident to us that no enemy was being driven, for instead of the sound drawing nearer, as would have been, if we were getting the worst of it the sound was becoming less distinct as well as less frequent, that plainly giving us the much desired information that the enemy were getting the worst of the scrimmage.

It was not very long before we had information from the front to the effect that the engagement had been between our cavalry commanded by General Pleasanton and a Division of the rebel cavalry commanded by Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and that the enemy had met with a decided repulse.

Next morning large details were sent out to cut down timber and in other ways to make all necessary and available means and preparations to meet the enemy should he advance upon our position.  It was evident from the action of our commanding officers that they were at a­ loss to decide which one of the probable lines of action the rebel General commanding was most likely to pursue, and in the mean time it was the purpose of our commander to be prepared to meet the enemy at every available point.

On the morning of the 15^th of June we broke camp and crossed the Potomac River at Edward’s Ferry, crossing the river over a pontoon bridge which had been previously put down.

The command was moved vigorously forward and by 6 o’clock in the afternoon we went into camp at Monocacy Aquiduct, having traveled a distance of about 25 miles.

Here we camped in a large field, after which most of the boys went into the canal for a swim.  The reader may well imagine the high old time, which four or five thousand men would have in the water, the stream was chuck full of yanks.

On the 28^th  the march was resumed the regiment passing through Poolsville, Point of Rocks and went into camp near Petersville.

It was the intention of General Joe Hooker to march our division to Williamsburg in order to destroy the pontoon bridge which the Rebel Army had thrown across the Potomac River and which at the time was defended by Ewell’s Corps of the Rebel Army, fully 20,000 strong, or at least three men to our one. And had a kind Providence not willed it otherwise the brave and gallant old White Star Division would in all human probability have met with a sad disaster.

On the 27^th, whilst moving rapidly in the direction Williamsburg a halt was ordered and the movement countermanded.

We At once proceeded to move in a contrary direction, passing over part of the South Mountain battle-field.  We marched until late at night and went into camp in a field a short distance south of Frederick.  Here we first learned of the removal of General Hooker, and the promotion of General Meade to the command of the Army of the Potomac.

On the 28^th we moved through the city of Frederick.  A short distance north of the city whilst moving into a field to rest, we saw a number of men belonging to a Regular Battery, punished for drunkenness.

One of the men was tied to a wheel in spread eagle style, whilst the blood was running down from his mouth owing to the severity of the gag, but notwithstanding all that they could do, his officers could not conquer him, and although he could not speak loud he muttered curses against them.