Chapter 51 (A Spy hanging in a tree)

CHAPTER LI

Here we heard of the fall of Vicksburg which had capitulated on the 4^th of July to the Western Army un­der General Grant.  So fatigued were the troops, that this news, cheering as it was, did not raise a single cheer, the troops marched along in sullen silence.  We moved into camp a short distance south of the city, where rations were distributed to us.

After partaking of a hasty dinner, we again set out on the march.  A short distance from where we had been encamped, we passed a tree from which dangled the inanimate form of a spy, who had been detected in the act of leading the enemy’s cavalry to where our wagon train was parked, he fell into the hands of Kilpatrick’s Cavalry and he was executed on the spot.  It was afterwards ascertained that this spy had been engaged in selling news papers, which gave him an excellent opportunity to follow his calling.

We were marched immediately un­der the tree upon which he was hanging and had a full view of the man.  He was divested of every particle of his clothing and presented a sickening sight.  His eyes were wide open and almost forced out of their sockets, his veins on various parts of his body were enlarged whilst his skin at several places was blistered as though it had been burned, whilst his long hair hung down over his shoulders.  He was to remain hanging three days as a warning to the rebel sympathizers in the neighborhood, to deter them from acting the part of the spy and to prevent them from giving the enemy information concerning the movements of our Army.

We continued our march until nearly dark, when we went into camp a short distance from Rohersville, having made a severe and trying march.

In the morning, on the 9^th inst, we were on the move by day-light, march­ing through Rohersville and Berketsville.  The country through which we marched during the day reminded us of old Pennsylvania, the fields in grain and growing corn evidencing its thrift and fertility.  We marched until 4 o’clock, p. m., when we moved into a field and encamped for the night.

On the 10^th, we marched through Ketzville and went into camp early in the afternoon near Bakersville.  Here we found raspberries in abundance and we passed several hours in a high­ly satisfactory manner, gathering the same.  We soon made the discovery that bits of crackers boiled in a coffee cup with the berries, made a very palatable dish, it was not altogether raspberry pie, but to us it seemed the very next thing to it.  A number of the boys stowed so much of this food away that peppermint would have been in great demand if the boys could have gotten it, but as it was the gourmandizers were compelled to suffer until nature brought them relief.

On Saturday, July 11, we marched to Fair Play.  Here we soon discover­ed that we had come up with the enemy and we moved into a small grove on the left side of the road, where we were drawn up in a line of battle, to await the result of a reconnaissance that was being made to ascertain whether the enemy were in force or not.

We had scarcely unslung Knapsacks and sought the cooling shelter of the friendly trees by which we were surrounded, ere Major Elliot came riding up and ordered the 147^th to be sent out on a reconnaissance.  The Colonel or­dered the regiment to fall in, and we were moved forward in the direction of the enemy.

The Colonel moved the regiment forward briskly and we soon began to feel that we were getting into close-quarters, and expected to meet the enemy almost any moment.  Here several members of the company loaded their rifles, which act caused a number of the boys to make fun of them, and a lively mouth-battle en­sued and which was suddenly termina­ted by the Colonel, who ordered the Regiment to halt, followed by the command of “load at will.”

The command was soon executed and the regiment moved forward again.  To the left of the road a small house stood, the lady of which was busily en­gaged in removing pies from a bake-oven, which she had baked for the rebel cavalrymen who had occupied a line a little north of the house but which were now falling in the hands of the Union boys.  Several of Company G’s boys broke ranks and made for the bake-oven.  About this time the Colonel made the discovery that he had advanced too far to the left and order­ing the regiment to counter-march, he rode back and meeting some of the boys coming towards the regiment with their guns slung across their shoulders and both hands full of pies, and the enemy being in our immediate front their conduct incensed the Colonel to such an extent as to cause him to ply his horsewhip over their shoulders pret­ty lively, when he came back to where they were.

The regiment was moved back to a little ravine, here we were halted and part of the regiment was sent forward as skirmishers.  The men took up a line along a fence enclosing a grain field in the middle of which the rebels had their line.   Here we remained all day, the skirmishers or pickets lying stretched out at full length, whilst the mid-summer sun sent his scorching rays down full upon them, the men not being able to secure as much as a fresh drink of water, being compelled to slake their thirst from the sun-heated water in their canteens.  This was really one of the most trying days that we had as yet been called upon to pass in the service.

We remained in this position all night and next morning, Sunday, July 12^th, our company was sent out to relieve Company B.  During the day the enemy’s cavalry attacked the skirmishers of the 11^th Corps, on our right, giving us a splendid view of the engagement, which after it was kept up for an hour more, resulted in the repulse of the enemy.

During the day the enemy came down to a field where part of our company was stationed and opened the bars and drove ten or twelve head of cattle out of the field.  We  had positive orders not to fire a shot unless the enemy would advance upon us, but notwithstanding these orders, Lieut. Byers found it a difficult task to prevent the boys from firing upon them.  Jerry Moyer drew up his rifle several times, each time saying:

“Oh, I would like to shoot, they take all the good cattle and leave the poor ones, oh, but I would like to shoot.”  But the orders were too em­phatic, and Jerry had to forego the pleasure of a shot.

It was while lying on this line that Lot Ulrich who had not quite recover­ed from his severe attack of chronic diarrhea but who nobly struggled to keep up with the company, was again taken with a severe return of the old disease.  Antes, a brother of Lot’s, and who was a member of the drum corps, came up from the rear bearing a large pan filled with crackers fried in grease.  When asked where he was going he said:

“Me, oh, I’m only bringing Lot his supper, he’s SICK.”

Those who saw the mess, thought it was sufficient to make several well men sick, and were somewhat surprised to see Antes return with the pan empty a short time afterwards.  When asked whether Lot had eaten the food all, Antes said:

“By Jimminy, you ought just have seen Lot pitch in, why he licked the pan.”  And then we knew that Lot could not “live on wind.”

About 2 o’clock we were relieved by a detail from the Brigade, and moved back to where the Division was formed in line of battle, on a gentle eminence which overlooked the undulating land which gradually sloped toward  the Potomac.

No sooner had we stacked arms than we were ordered to build breast-works and to entrench ourselves as speedily as possible, as the entire Rebel Army was in our immediate neighborhood and that there was no telling how soon they might move upon us.

We were surrounded by a number of grain fields, the grain in which was cut and shocked, besides the fields all were surrounded by stake and rider fences.  No sooner were the orders issued than the boys made an. onslaught on the grain and rails, and never in the annals of husbandry, is there an instance where 20 acres of grain were garnered so quickly.  In less than half an hour from the time that the first sheaf was gathered, there was not a shock left standing on the field, nor a rail with in half a mile.  We made a cribbing of rails about six feet wide, lined it with grain, and then filled it up with ground, and afterwards cover­ed the entire works with earth, and by four o’clock, we had a line of works ten feet thick at the base and from four to six feet thick on top, with head logs and traverses complete.

As soon as the works were completed our regimental colors were unfurl­ed and planted upon our works, an example which was soon followed by the other regiments, and in a short time as far as the eye could penetrate we could see the stars and strips floating proudly in the. breeze..  The sight was an imposing one, and it served to inspire us with unbounded confidence in our ability to hold the line against any number of men that the enemy could possibly bring against us.

A short distance from our line of works was one of the strongest springs we ever beheld, and from whose cooling waters the tired soldiers quenched their thirst, and bathed their weary limbs.

An old fashioned washing machine stood in an out-house near the spring with which the boys washed their clothing, and since only one could wash at a time, there was quite a rush for the board, during the melee which followed the tub was frequently upset, and the boys got many a good wetting for their pains.

We lay in the breastworks all night and in the morning were awakened by the sound of bugles to our right.  Soon afterwards a long line of Blue-coats advanced upon the rebels position.  We watched them as they disappeared in the woods and anxiously awaited the opening of the battle.  Not a sound reaching us we were happy in the thought that the enemy had fled and that there would be no battle for the present at least.

Thus terminated the battle of Fair Play, and notwithstanding the fact that both armies had been in easy range of each other, not a cannon shot was fired, and no engagement save a cavalry dash had taken place.  This was a signifi­cant fact, bearing evidence that both armies were doubtful as to what the result of an engagement might be.  General Lee fearing to attack least he might be repulsed and his men become more discouraged and demoralized, whilst on the other hand General Meade dared not risk an encounter for fear that he might be repulsed and the victory gained at Gettysburg be dimm­ed by a reverse and the joy which so recently filled the breasts of every loyal man be turned into sorrow and evil forebodings.

As to the result had an engagement taken place there can no definite conclusion be reached, save that it wou1d have been a desperate battle in which the prowess of the brave old Army of the Potomac would have been sorely tested, and the victory, should it have won one, would have been purchased at a fearful cost of life and limbs.

By 10 o’clock, a. m., we were on the march in pursuit of the fleeing Johnnies, and during the day passed over the Antietam Battlefield, which yet bore traces of that most sanguinary battle which had been fought by the Army of the Potomac, under the command of its idolized Commander, Gen. George B. McClellan, and passed over South Mountain, encamped a short distance south of the old Antietam Iron works.