Chapter 57

CHAPTER LVII

We marched along quite briskly and went into camp near to the town of Stevensburg.  In the distance to the right of our position, and in the direction of Cedar Mountain, we could see the white puffs of smoke, and hear the reports of artillery.  This proved to be the result of an engagement of Kilpatrick’s Cavalry with those of the enemy.  In the afternoon of the day following at 2 o’clock, we were ordered to move forward.  Whilst making preparations to move, we were startled by several volleys of musketry, almost in our immediate front.  We were ordered forward at full speed, and everything had the appearance of an engagement being brought on immediately.  While moving forward, Charles Brown, one of the conscripts belonging to our company played off, and managed to get to the rear and that was the last we ever saw of him.

We were moved into a narrow strip of woods to await further development, while laying in this place, the Ohio regiments of our Brigade, which had been at New York came up and were heartily welcomed back to their old command.

Our cavalry supported by severa1 Brigades of infantry had succeeded in driving the enemy’s pickets south of the Rapadan River, and of taking a position on the north bank.  We were ordered to remain quietly in line and under no circumstances to build any fires, so that the rebels could not discover our position.  For a short time the order was obeyed but soon some of the boys had kindled a fire and ere long a number of coffee cups were steaming.  General Green came up past where some our company boys were boiling coffee and kicked the cups over and tramped the fire out.

A little before dusk we were ordered to put up breastworks, which we hastily proceeded to do, and in a few hours we had thrown up a tolerable strong line of works, and behind which we had no doubt we would be able to hold at bay, any ordinary column that the enemy might throw against them.

Night coming on, and after a detail had been sent out to strengthen our picket line, we unpacked our knapsack and spreading our blankets upon old mother earth, we were soon locked in the arms of morpheus and forgetful of the dangers by which  were surrounded, slept as peacefully as if there were no rebels within a radius of a hundred miles.

Morning dawned bright and fair and we expected to be called upon ere the day would pass to make an assault upon the enemy, who was, as we now could plainly see, strongly fortified on the heights on the opposite side of the river.

Not receiving any orders we passed the day in looking about us, and as a large part of the Rebel Army had been encamped in the vicinity in which we were laying, we had ample means of passing the day very satisfactory.  Large number of rebels could be seen walking about on the opposite side of the river, whilst numbers were scatter­ed about in groups apparently discussing the probability of an attack being made upon them by the yanks.

During the night of the 18^th, a member of Company B, of our regiment by the name of George W. Randolph deserted his post and boldly crossed the river and joined the enemy.

The rebel pickets continued to fire upon our pickets, and as we were compelled to relieve our posts in plain view of the enemy’s vidette, the position of our pickets during the day was anything but pleasant.  On the afternoon of the 19^th, Jeremiah Hathaway was kept behind a gate post, 6X4 inches, for as soon as he attempted to move a Johnny from the opposite side of the stream, and who had range upon him, would send a ball into the post, for five hours and then when night drew its sable curtains around the scene, the rebel continued to send in his balls with great accuracy.  During the entire time that Hathaway had been held behind that post, Corporal Wagner had been watching to discover where the rebel marksman was concealed, but he had not been able to do so, but when he fired after dark, the flash betrayed his whereabouts, and Nate drew a bead on him, and the poor reb was sent to his long home.  This act brought cessa­tion of firing on our pickets.

On Saturday, the 19^th, while we were quietly laying in camp, we were suddenly brought to our feet by the sudden discharge of musketry in our rear.  Instantly the whole camp was up in arms, officers went galloping too and fro.  Our Colonel came forward and hastily formed the regiment and prepared to receive them.  Volley after volley fell in rapid succession, we were ordered to strike our tents and make every preparation for the worst.  Soon after we had everything packed up an officer came riding up and ordered the Colonel to have his men break ranks as the alarm was caused by Kilpatrick’s men who had fired off their carbines after re­turning from his reconnaissance.

The news although welcome to us was received amidst consid­erable grumbling, and the tents were soon placed in their old places.  No doubt but the rebels were as much surprised at the suddenness of the firing as we were for our pickets reported that the enemy could be seen moving about in a greatly excited manner, evidencing the fact that they anticipated an attack upon their lines.

Orderly Parks had been over to Division Head-quarters, passing an examination for promotion to the rank of 2^nd Lieuten­ant, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Lieutenant W. H. Schroyer, and gave a ludicrous account of the excitement, which existed at Division Head-quarters when the firing first commenced, his examination suddenly came to an end and he made a bee line for his command, and which he reached in time to take his place in line.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, the enemy having received official reports of the battle of Chicamagua, in which their troops under General Bragg had won a decisive victory over the Union Army commanded by Gen. Rosencranz, celebrated the event with the greatest enthusiasm, bands played, troops cheered and in every other possible way gave vent to their delight.  From our camp we could easily hear their demonstrations and it had anything but a cheerful influence upon us, for well we knew that their joy was purchased at a fearful sacrifice to the cause of the Union.  The news of our terrible defeat at Chicamagua, the particulars which we soon learned, proved that our surmises were correct, and the demonstration which they indulged in was occasioned at the defeat of part of our Army.

On the day following eight days rations were issued to us, causing us to think that our officers contemplated another Chancellorsville campaign.  All appeared anxious to move, the only care that seemed to impress the men was the uncertainty of the result of the project.  All knew that we could not move far without encountering the Army of Northern Virginia, and with the meeting must come a terrible conflict, and how it would result no human agency could foretell.

We anxiously awaited orders for a forward move, but none reached us for the two succeeding days and we began to think that the eight days rations had only been issued for the sake of saving work for the issuing officers, but on the 24^th, at noon, we received marching orders at 12 o’clock, noon, and left at 3 P.M., marching via Stevensburg, crossing Mountain Creek at dark and went into camp for the night.

On the following day we marched to Brandy Station.  We crossed the river at Rappahanock Station, here we passed the grave of James Robinson, a former Selingsgrover, who had belonged to a battery and who was killed during the retreat of Banks.

On Saturday, the 26^th, we broke camp towards noon and marched to Bealton Station.  Here we went into camp in the woods on the left of the railroad.  While stopping at this camp, a negro servant belonging to one of the officers, attempted to drive a carbine cartridge into the tree, when the cartridge exploded, nearly scaring the negro to death.  Immediately after the explosion, John K. Stuck said: “dat’s de whitest nigger I ever saw.”