Chapter15 - Life On Bolivar Heights

CHAPTER XV

LIFE ON BOLIVAR HEIGHTS

The second day after our arrival, we spent much of our time in looking about us, everything was so changed from what we had been accustomed to see them at Harrisburg, and we soon found that we had much to learn before we could claim to be veterans.

It will be remembered that Bolivar Heights was the scene of Miles’ disgrace­ful and cowardly surrender, by which act it was turned over to the Rebels, and had been retaken but a short time before our arrival by a portion of the troops of our Division, under command of Gen. John W. Geary, and as may well be imagined, we anxiously searched for the traces of the battle, the marks were rare however, owing to the fact that it had only been a little skirmish.

We were interested in the novel way the men carried water for culinary purposes.  It consisted of a piece or wood about five feet long, with a place cut out to fit the carriers shoulders, it had both ends provided with hooks, straps or rope, to which the buckets were fastened, and thus one man could easily carry two buckets at a time.  The arrangement was similar to those used by the Spanish or French peasants in carrying grape or other fruits.

The first shell we heard explode was thrown from Napp’s battery, from the fort in which it was placed.  The shell was thrown at an unoccupied house outside of the lines.  A number of our boys went up to see the firing when they ascertained the fact that the Rebel cavalry frequently made their appearance in that locality and that Major Napp was experimenting with a view of obtaining the proper range.  Several shells exploded immediately over the house. This was something new to us, and whilst it was fine fun to see the practice as long as the shells were fired towards the enemy, we imagined that it would not be so funny when the shells once would be thrown towards us.  As we turned towards our quarters, Abel Seesholtz remarked that it would be a long time before any of the members of Company G, would be hit with a shell.  0n being asked why?  He replied in his good-natured way:

“Because if the Johnnies were to throw any shells at us, we’d “shake” so that it would be impossible to hit us.”  Poor Abel he lost his life by a shell.

In the afternoon Will McFall and several more of us, went over to the old farm house between the picket lines and the fortifications, and whilst there we saw a guard shoot a member of the 111^th P. V. I.  The guard was placed at an old board fence, with instructions not to allow any one to tear down the fence or to carry off the boards.  We had attempted to get one ourselves but when commanded by the guard, to “drop that board,” we at once dropped it.  We walked around the house, and soon after heard the report of a gun, and upon going to where the guard was stationed, we found that he had shot a man who disobeyed his order.  The ball had entered the right leg above the knee, shattering the bone and making amputation necessary.

A soldier was sent to the Division Hospital for a stretcher. Upon its arrival he was taken to the hospital where the leg was amputated, and it was afterwards reported that the man had died.  This incident served to impress upon the writer’s mind the necessity of promptly obeying the command given by a guard or picket.

We arrived at the company just in time to receive several letters from home in the mail.   Those who had the pleasure of receiving those precious letters whilst in the army, know full well how welcome were the messengers of love, from those who were near and dear to us.

The same train that brought us the mail also brought Lt. Schroyer to the company, he having remained at Harrisburg to attend to some business connected with the company.  The boys were all glad to see him.

After supper, an order was sent to the company for a detail of thirty men for fatigue duty, the men to take their dinners along, and to report at regimental head-quarter’s by eight o’clock, a.m., next morning.  We did not happen to be among the detail, but some of the detailed men were extremely anxious to know what FATIGUE duty was.  John P. Haas went up to the officers’ quarters and soon returned with the intelligence that those who had been detailed would have to work upon the forts which Geary was erecting for the purpose of making the defenses on the height more formidable.  Upon the receipt of this news the boys were not so anxious to go.

The detail started out at the proper time, and after reporting at regimental head-quarters; the regimental detail was placed in charge of Lt. Byers, who reported at Division head-quarters, and with the rest of the detail were marched to the south-east side of the hill, where a large earth fort was in the course of construction, and here the first fatigue detail sent out by Company G, worked.

In the evening when the boys returned to the company, they reported that the Captain in charge had credited the 147^th detail, which by the way was composed mainly of our company, with having done more work than all the remainder of the Division, and the blisters on the hands of the boys who had been on the detail certainly vouched for the Captain’s assignation.  They had been too green, and had worked harder that day, than they ever did again under similar circumstances.

In the evening another detail was made and we found our name called among the rest.  The next morning as on the previous day the regimental detail was marched to Division head-quarters.  Here we first saw General Geary, and were favorably impressed with his commanding appearance, and more especially when he informed us that owing to the fact that day was Sunday, and as it was not a of absolute necessity, we should return to our commands and report for duty on the following morning.

We got back in time to take part in the Sunday inspection.  Here we were a lot SMARTER than the rest of the detail as they were just in time to be too late and did not get into camp until it was over.  As our company had not yet received their arms, we only took out our knapsacks and had our clothing inspected.

This being our first inspection it did not prove much of a success.  We did not know how to pack our clothing and none of us had put on clean clothing that morning, and had placed our dirty clothing in the pockets of our haversacks, with no regard to order or system.  The adjunct came to our company and assisted our officers to inspect us.  When we were ordered to “open knapsacks” we felt considerably mortified.  After the adjutant gave us some instructions in preparation of inspection in the future, we were given in charge of the Orderly who then marched us to our camp.

Inspection over, a number of the company visited the town and made a number of  purchases of the suttlers there, owing to the fact that we had no “stamps” we remained in camp, anxiously awaiting the call to dinner to fall in for our “bean soup.”

At this time Sergeant Whitmer dealt out our cooked rations, and as it is a very natural thing for soldiers to growl, the job was a very unpleasant one.

At this dinner, a little incident occurred which at the time afforded the company not a little sport, Serg’t Whitmer had given Edward Fisher, a tin cup at coffee, and his ration of bean soup, when Fisher said in his particular vernacular:

“I wish. you’d give me a few more of your beans, mine’s all soup”

Whitmer made a reply that Fisher did not like, and throwing his plateful of beans over Whitmer, remarking:

“There, darn you, take your soup.”

Whitmer retaliated by throwing a cup of coffee over him, saying.. “If you don’t want soup take an extra ration of coffee.”

Chapter 30 - In Camp

CHAPTER XXX

IN CAMP

Time passed along smoothly, our time being taken up between camp guard, picket duty and drill, company and  regimental, and the building of winter quarters.

It was here that Lieut. Wm. H. Schroyer met with a serious accident, which came near breaking his leg, he being in command of a detail to bring in wood to build officers quarters, and while assisting in tearing down an old house one of the pieces of timber fell on him and injured him­ severely, causing him to be unable for duty for the greater part of the winter.

Up to the present time, the 12^th of January, the health of the company had been very good, but now a number of the boys, among them Lewis C. Schroyer, Ellis Noll, Corp. VonNeida and several others were removed to the regimental hospital, having been taken with Camp or Typhoid fever of the worst form.

 The boys in the hospital had considerable sport at the expense of poor El­lis Noll, who had the fever settle in his feet and they presented the appearance of a mammoth pair of boxing gloves and were as black as a silk hat.

Noll suffered excruciating pain in his pedal extremities, and would fre­quently give utterance to expressions, near to the following:

“These feet, them feet, those feet gracious what feet, oh, them feet.”

At one time it was feared that mor­tification had set in and that it would be necessary to amputate his feet in order to save his life, but his disease took a turn for the better, and he was, enabled to use “those” feet again.

Lewis C. Schroyer continued to grow worse, until on the morning of the 17^th of January his spirit quit its frail ten­ement and entered into the presence of the great Judge, then and there to give a strict account of the deeds done here below, and to receive the reward or punishment, in accordance to the verdict of the Judge.

The death of Lewis C. Schroyer, it being the first, excepting Rev. Hall (who did not properly belong to our company as he was a candidate for the Chaplaincy of the regiment to which we might become attached) caused considerable feeling among his comrades.  Had he been stricken down in battle it would have not appeared so hard but to have fallen a victim to the malignant fever seemed to his com­panions a severe stroke.

Sergeant Stuck was detailed to ac­company the corpse home, and accord­ingly on the morning of the 18^th of January, 1863, in company with a number of the boys, we had the last fond look at one who had been a companion of our earliest childhood, and whom we had ever esteemed as a true and tried friend.  The lid of the rough box was fastened down and placed in an ambulance was taken to the landing from whence in due time it arrived with its escort, and was interred with all the honors of war, in the 1st Lu­theran Cemetery, within a few paces where he had passed the greater part of his life, and where he is silently enjoying that sleep which shall know no awakening until Gabriel’s trump shall sound the alarm which shall cause the grave to give forth its dead.

On the afternoon of the 22^nd a snow having fallen to the depth of four or five inches, the right of our regiment was attacked by the 28^th P. V. I., which was attached to our Brigade and occupied a position to our right and front, and they were making it very lively for our regiment, using snow balls, having driven the right back as far as Company E., here they were struggling to get possession of the company flag, bearing the letter “P” which was their letter in the old regiment whilst in the 147^th they were “E.”

Our company, about 80 strong were anxious to have a hand in the fracas but owing to the fact that the company persisted in claiming to belong to the 28^th we held aloof and it was not until Lieutenant Tourison called upon Captain Davis to bring G Company to the relief of Company “E.”  This was all that the company wanted, the Captain sprang forward, and with a shout we threw ourselves into the breach and the flag was saved.  In vain the boys of the gallant old 28^th attempted to drive us back.  Never, we believe, did a mimic fight partake more of the nature of a genuine engagement than did the snow-ball battle at Dumfries.  And as James Kilmartin furled up the company flag, which had caused the battle, he proposed three cheers for Company “G,’ which were given with a will.

After the cheers had subsided, Serg’t. Baker proposed three cheers for Company E and the 147^th P. V. I.

The cheers were given with a will and from this time forward much of the ill-will which existed between the old and the new companies was forgotten and the best of feeling soon prevailed in the command.

About this time a number of the boys who were in the hospitals at Baltimore, came up to the company, from among them we remember Joseph S. Ulsh, who made his appearance decked out with a paper collar and necktie at the sight of which the boys greeted him with hearty cheers.  Joe informed the boys that the train in which they came up to the regiment had met with an accident whereby his baggage was destroyed, or he would have been able to supply the company with collars, as it was the only thing which he had left was the collar he wore and a pint bottle of “speerits” which Serg’t. Townsend drank as he-gulped about the half of it down, greatly to the disappointment of about half-dozen of the DRYEST of the men.  He pronounced it worth more down a parched throat than all the paper collars in the great United States, an opinion which a number of those present emphatically endorsed.

On the morning of the 25^th of January the hearts of the boys were buoyed with the announcement that those who desired it could now have packages sent from home.

The boys hastened to their tents and soon were busy sending the glad tidings to friends at home, informing them of the news and requesting the forwarding of home luxuries.

We have before us a letter which was saved by the person to whom it was addressed, which we here publish, just as it was written, showing how the tastes of the writer run:

Dumfries, Va., Jan. 26, 1863

Captain Davis having told us that we can now have parcels sent us from home, if you can, I ask that you would send me a small request.  Boil 2 doz. eggs, hard; a can of apple butter; a cake of chocolate; 1 pint of brown sugar; tell the boys to crack and pit me about a pint of walnut g??????; a few sweet cakes; a little bag of flour to make gravy to my beef; send me the directions how to make sour dip; send ground pepper; get me a quart tin like Schroyer’s to boil my coffee in; make me three little bags to carry my salt, coffee and sugar in, make them large enough to hold a little more than a lb. with a string to draw them shut; send me a piece of ham; bake some fat cakes, a loaf or two of bread, several apple mince pies, right strong; put in several fish hooks and a line; if you can think of anything else that I am in need of send it along.  Send the box as soon as you can.  Send me the recipe in the next letter you write after you send me the box.

S.—Send a roast chicken, a piece of dried beef and some pickled cabbage.

No more at this time.

      From

                              Yours affectionately,

The above letter we consider about an average one of those written home with a view of hurrying along the good things, and in all cases, when it was possible, the wishes of the writers were pleasingly gratified.

The time passed away slowly enough whilst we were expecting the good things from home, and anxiously did we await the arrival of the first information that the boxes had been shipped, and that they were on their way, intended to cheer the hearts as well as fill the stomachs of the lucky receivers of the boxes containing the innumerable good things, prepared by the fond and willing hands of the near and dear ones at home.

John P. Haas was the fortunate individual who received the first box, and never we will forget his “damt ??? it” when upon opening the box found the greater part of its contents was spoiled.