Chapter 52 (Traveling)

CHAPTER LII

On the morning of the 16^th we broke camp about 9 o’clock, and were on the move by 10 o’clock, and by noon we went into camp at Sandy Hook, in Maryland opposite the town of Har­per‘s Ferry.

Here we halted and prepared our frugal meal of coffee and crackers and which we soon devoured, so as to be ready to move on short notice.  Soon after dinner we observed the officers servants bringing up the Colonel’s tents, and make preparations to put them up.  This was a hint which we soon followed and in a very short time dog tents sufficient to accommodate 6000 men were visible to the eyes of the beholder.

It was while lying here that 0rderly Sergeant B. T. Parks was hit with a spent minnie ball, while seated upon the ridge-pole of a sink.  The ball cut the skin and caused a lump to swell almost instantly and which became black-and-blue of the size of a silver half dollar.

It was afterwards discovered that one of the 5^th Ohio boys had accidentally fired off his rifle, and that the ball had struck a rock from which it glanced and then struck the Orderly.  This was before Parks had an introduction to rebel bullets and he did not relish the feel, and the way he came limping into camp, after the event, was sufficient grounds for us to form an opinion that he certainly did not desire to use his person as a target for minnie balls even if they were spent.

We remained in this camp for three days, including the one in which we arrived there.  On Sunday morning, July 9^th, we re-crossed the Potomac River, and once more stood upon the soil of the old Dominion.  Each man feeling that the Rebel Army again had the advantage and that when next again we would meet them, the struggle for supremacy would be a sever one.  As we marched through Harper’s Ferry our minds recalled the time when first old Company G marched thro’ this ancient old town, less than a year ago, and we could not fail but to be impressed  with the great change which had taken place in our ranks since that eventful day.  We had served a winter in the front and passed through two severe engagements, and now the com­pany scarcely mustered 40 men where as we had crossed some 80 strong.  If this change was to continue for the next year, there was no telling how the thing would end, and by the time that we would come around that way again there was no telling who would be left to march across the Potomac again.

While passing through the town, some of the boys in snooping around smelled pies which were in the process of being baked, at last they discovered where they were, and made a rush for the oven, and several of the boys burn­ed their hands pretty badly, but notwithstanding the burns, they secured the pies.

During the day we marched within a short distance from Hillsborough.  On this march our troops discovered some carbines in a stable which they took out and then fired the buildings.

On the following day we marched to Snickersville via Purcelville.  Whilst on this march we moved over the battlefield on which General Pleasanton whipped the Rebel Cavalry previous to the battle of Gettysburg, and whilst resting here, one of Company C’s boys was seated upon powder which bad been spilled during the engagement, he filled his pipe and after lighting the same he carelessly threw the match on the ground, by which means the powder became ignited and he was seriously burned.  The Surgeon made an application for the burn.  When this lotion was applied to the injured man’s face and hands it gave him the appearance of a smoked Yankee.  He was placed in an ambulance and during the day he was frequently greeted with the cry of “put that nigger out of that ambulance.”

We went into camp near Snickersville where we remained until the morning of the 23^rd.  During our stay in this camp we lived principally on blackberries, which grew in great abundance in the immediate vicinity of our camp.  Several of the boys made a raid upon the farmers sheep and mutton was both plenty and cheap.  It was whilst encamped here that the writer enjoyed(?) his first shave.  Seated upon the stump of a fallen tree, a seat which was not cushioned by any means, and under the by no means gentle hand of Gid Glazer of Company B, we underwent the operation of having the maiden down scraped from our face.  When we were finished we bore a very strong resemblance to a peeled beat, and it certainly was the very last time that we got shaved at Glazer’s barber shop..

On Thursday morning, July 23^rd, we broke camp and moved by way of Paris Gap, passing through Upperville and encamped near Markham, march­ing until midnight and went into camp a short distance from Markham, having traveled fully 25 miles.  Here we should have drawn rations, but owing to the uncertainty of our communications, and the probability of an engagement being brought on, the rations were not issued, and although it was the first rations our company had ever failed to get, the boys were terribly put out about it, and the way that the growlers spit out the Dutch and English was a caution.

It was while lying here, awaiting orders to move, that we had the first good view of General Meade, the hero of the battle of Gettysburg.  He passed our cantonment, on his way to the front.  He was mounted upon a small horse, and attired in the blue undress uniform, wearing a cap and glasses.  He was riding leisurely along with his left hand resting in the right breast of his coat, with his head thrown gently forward, and was evidently deeply en­gaged in thought.  The General was closely followed by several of his staff officers, who in turn were followed by several orderlies.