Chapter 13 - In Baltimore

Adah Isaacs Menken was born near New Orleans about 1835.  Facts concerning her family name and early life are obscure.  She was left in poverty at an early age, and appeared on the stage in New Orleans and in other US cities.  In 1856 she married Alexander Isaacs Menken, and thereafter bore his name through various matrimonial ventures, including marriage to heavyweight fighter “Benicia Boy.”  While on the stage in San Francisco, Adah knew many local writers, including Bret Harte, Mark Twain, and Joaquin Miller.  In 1864 she appeared in Astley’s Theatre, London as Mazeppa.  In this role she appeared almost nude, strapped to a running horse.  In England and France Adah became intimate with many literary men – Algernon Swinburne, Charles Reade, and Charles Dickens, to whom she dedicated a volume of verse, Infelicia.  Adah Isaacs Menken played other Dickensian roles, including Pip in Great Expectations.  Nicholas Nickleby was performed for her benefit in New York City in 1862.

CHAPTER XIII

IN BALTIMORE

The train stopped at the upper Depot, the company marched through the city to the other depot.  Here our officers learned that we would in all human probabili­ty be compelled to remain in the city over night, marched us to the So1d1ers Rest.  Here under the auspices of a number of patriotic ladles, a repast was soon set before us, and we partook of a hearty meal, consisting of bread, coffee, meat, cold tongue, pickled cabbages, pickles, &c., &c.  After we had partaken of the good things placed before us, “we fell in” and marched to a Market shed unoccupied near by where we unslung knapsacks, and prepared for a stroll thro’ the Monumental city.  It will not be out of place to mention that the “three Regulars,” as we were called were each plac­ed under a corporal, and under his charge we were kindly permitted to do the city.  It fell to our lot to be placed under the, prevalence of Corporal Freddy Ulrich and together we saw the sights. We visited the Monuments for which the city is noted, stood in awe under the shadow of the shot tower; feasted our eyes upon the sight of the guns that frowned upon the city and to sea-ward from Fort McHenry, watched the soldiers drilling on Federal Hill, visited the Franklin House kept by our old and respected former townsman Gideon Leisenring, sauntered along the dock and examined the construction and equipment of the various description, and crafts from the fishing smack to the three masted king of the sea, riding upon the majestic breast of the Chesapeake; we partook of a number of stews of oyster at “only 10 cents a bowl,” as well as several glasses of something stronger, to invigorate the inner man and to prevent “change of water doing us any harm,” as Freddy put it..

After taking in all the sights we turned our steps towards the place where the company, or at least our traps were stored.  After several mishaps, and at length by the aid of several policemen, we finally turned up at the place we had started from in the morning.

Soon alter our arrival the boys took up a collection and with the proceeds, some 90 cents, purchased two bushels of fine shell oysters, which by the aid of pepper, salt and vinegar did not go so bad.  Thus the day was spent, and in the evening we were again treated to a number one supper at the home, after which we were taken into a large brick house, near the corner of Howard and Franklin streets, and which bad been previously used as a Fur­niture Warehouse, but during the war was used for quartering troops that remained in the city over night, so that the condition in which we found it, will be readily appreciated by those who are posted in the way such places are generally kept.

Here we were told that we must remain for the night.  A number of the boys obtained permission to go to the theater.  Among those who were granted passes, we now remember  Lewis C. Schroyer, U. P. Hafley, Will Keller, Freddy Ulrich, Elias Millhoff, Will Fausnacht, Dan W. Gross, Jake Riegel, J. P. Ulrich and ourself.  We visited the two Theaters, Holiday and Front Sts., and examined the bulletin boards to see which one offered the greatest attractions.  At the Holiday Street theater they were running “Mazeppa,” or the Wild Horse of Mantary, with Adah Issac Menkin in the role.  This play we concluded would be the best, and when comparing notes with those who attended the other play, we found that it was.

Never showed movies , which came much later than the Holiday Street Theatre, but after we found a old pic of the theatre, we had to share it.  - http://www.kilduffs.org/featuredtheatre/

We distinctly remember that Lewis C. Schroyer who had never before been in a theater, was wishing that he could see a play with thunder and lightning in it, and it so happened that his wish was gratified to its fullest extent, as all can testify who have had the pleasure of seeing this excellent play. We passed a very pleasant evening, and had it not been for getting lost, we would have returned to out quarters at a seasonable hour, but as it was we did not reach the warehouse until nearly two o’clock.  Here we related to our less fortunate comrades who were awakened by our coming in, what we had seen, and it was almost morning before we were successful in closing our eyes in sleep, and had scarcely succeeded ere we were awakened by reveille, done up in Dasher’s (Antes Ulrich) best style.  We were however fully awakened by some one caging one of Levi J. Romig’s No. 9 government shoes across the room hitting him “ker chuck” on the cranium.  Jumping up with anything but a Christian feeling he attempted to discover who was the guilty party, but no one knew who had threw it, and we pitched it to its owner.

After performing a hasty morning toilet, and answering roll call, we marched to the Rest, anxious to get breakfast, and glad to escape from the illy ventilated room of the almost intolerable stench that pervaded the building, and which had been strengthened by the doings of several of the roosters belonging to the company.

The breakfast prepared for us was similar to the other meals with which we had been regaled on the day previous and as could well be surmised we did ample just­ice to it.  The ”little one” and several of the boys were detailed to assist in waiting on table and the way that they served cold tongue was a caution to the commissariat of the Rest.

It has been decreed by fate that there is an end for all things, and that there must surely be an end to our pleasures as well as our sorrows, so the time for our departure for the front at length arrived, and we rather reluctantly bade adieu to the city of Baltimore.

We were marched to the depot and soon were seated in the cars.  A few sharp toots from the whistle, the throttle-valve was opened, with a hiss the imprisoned steam hastened to perform its function, slowly the ponderous iron wheels of the locomotive began to revolve, only to gain increased velocity with revolution until we were being carried towards our destination with all the rapidity possible.

Our company was entrusted with the Regimental Colors, and we carried  them with us to the regiment.  Little did we think as we gazed upon its silken folds for. the first time, with its beautiful Penn­sylvania coat of arms and its significant motto, “Virtue, Liberty and Independence,” upon its blue field, made radiant with the brightness of the stars, artistical­ly grouped around the same, of the many thrilling adventures that we should be called upon to undergo, while rallying be­neath its beautiful folds, and how many of those who at the time were anxious and willing to risk their lives in its defense, should be called upon to seal their devo­tion to the dear old flag, insignia of the noble free, with their heart’s best blood.

Yes, Company G carried the colors to the regiment, and upon every field upon which it was afterwards unfurled, it was heroically defended by the members of the company, whilst a number of them fell whilst gallantly following it on to victory, while those who were spared saw it float in battle for the first time upon the ill-fated field of Chancellorsville, as well as when in triumph for the last time it was unfurled in triumph in the fore-front of Sherman’s Army, near Durham Station, on the 30th of April 1866, when the Army of Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to the Army of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, and the war was over.  How nobly Company G defended the colors entrusted to her care by the Governor of the State, it shall be our purpose to tell ere we finish the task we have undertaken to perform.

After the train had gotten fairly started the boys were somewhat surprised as well as pleased to discover Col. Simpson upon the train bound for Annapolis. The Col. in his characteristic manner shook hands  with the boys, and we all felt as though we had met a true friend.

As the train neared the Relay House the traces of the “unpleasantness” were becoming discernible.  Here and there we could see where the railroad had been torn up, and deserted picket fires were becoming numerous.  All these marks or signs of army life, whether made by foe or friend, were eagerly looked for by us.  At the Relay House, Col.. Simpson left our train, he taking the Washington train whilst we continued on our journey towards rebeldom.

Relay House Occupied by Union Soldiers in 1861

The B&O Railroad was the only railroad into Washington DC until after the Civil War, thus it was an essential supply train route for the Union during that time. To prevent Confederate attack or sabotage of the Thomas Viaduct and Washington junction, the Sixth and Eighth Massachusetts regiments, as well as Cook's Boston Artillery Battery, took control of the railroad junction,  Relay House train station, and the Thomas Viaduct on May 5th, 1861. The Relay House itself became the occupying Union Army headquarters.  Read More here:

http://thomas-viaduct-relay-maryland.blogspot.com/2014/06/civil-war-history-of-thomas-viaduct_4967.html

The time was pleasantly passed by us in various ways whilst making the run towards Harper’s Ferry.  Several of the boys had succeeded whilst in Baltimore to secure several canteens of “oh be joyful” which served as a stimulus to encourage all  manner of didoes, which our officers no doubt thinking that we would soon be called upon to play soldier in good earnest, did not prevent but enjoyed with as much gusto as the men.  A very pleasant surprise for us, was the fact that the “little one” had filled his haversack with pickled tongue whilst acting as one of the waiters at Baltimore, and which he brought forward and generously dealt out amongst us, and for a time we just more than “tongued” it.

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From Wikipedia - Adah Isaacs Menken (June 15, 1835 – August 10, 1868), was an American actress, painter and poet, the highest earning actress of her time.[1] She was best known for her performance in the melodrama Mazeppa, with a climax that featured her apparently nude and riding a horse on stage. 

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 Fredrick Bergstresser Ulrich, "Corporal Freddy Ulrich", is 3rd from the left.  His name, and James  name, is misspelled as Werich in the caption - it should be Ulrich.

Chapter 23 - On The March

CHAPTER XXIII

ON THE MARCH

We were soon ordered to be ready to move.  Knapsacks were hastily packed and all the minor details preparatory to a  day’s march were gone through within which time the cook had the coffee “going” and we refreshed ourselves with the soldier’s solace, a steaming cup of coffee black as the imp of darkness and strong enough to bear a pontoon train.

From the number of orderlies who were galloping hither and yon, aided by the booming of the far-off gun, the sound of which reached us at regular intervals caused us to think that something was to be did.

We fell in promptly at the word of the command, glad to escape from the intolerable smoke and the abominable pine thicket.

During the night W. S. Keller had met with an accident, having slept too close to the fire, he had the one side of the tail of his “long-tailed blue” badly damaged and in order to retrieve the misfortune Freddy Knight had cut it out bias, giving the wearer the appearance of a rooster with his wing cut off.

When the boys beheld his comical appearance they made the welkin ring with shouts, which Keller good naturedly played along with.

During the day’s march, we were impressed with the apparent poverty of the people.  The houses in most cases consisted of little log huts, while the outbuildings were in strict accordance with the main buildings, the only feature of any prominence about them, were the large old fashioned stone chimneys, which covered up the entire gable end of the house, the spacious hearth and fire-place, having a corresponding space upon the inside.

The citizens had the appearance of abject want stamped upon every liniment of their faces, the men, as a general thing, their hair long and unkempt, while beards looked as though they had never felt the keen edge of a razor and their garments in many cases betokened the scarcity of soap and water.

The ladies we saw, but we presume that the better class either fled or concealed themselves upon the advance of the Yankees­, were indeed a sorry excuse for the former noble women of the old Dominion, they were tall, raw-boned and saffron colored, their lips were tinted with the color of tobacco instead of the hue of the rose, whilst their dilated nostrils proclaim­ed the victims of snuff.

Another characteristic was the fact that they prided themselves upon being simon­-pure Virginians, boasting that they never had done any work until the “Yanks had gone and commenced a war, jist to steal their slaves, but they reckoned that the Yanks would be glad to toat thar propety back agin when the whar was over and the Confederacy was all right.”

The women in most case, were the most defiant rebels, and it afforded them the greatest satisfaction to tell how many of their sons and brothers, husbands, fathers and friends had gone to war, to fight for their country and the “bonnie blue flag.’

About three miles from Fairfax we passed one of these Southron Mansions with the owner sitting on a bench on the porch, when the following colloquy, illustrative of similar events transpiring daily, took voice.

Soldier—“How far to the next town, old man?”

Old Man—“A right smart chance of a walk.”

Soldier—“Never mind the walk, old man, can’t you tell us how many miles it is?”

Old Man—“I reckon its nigh unto 12 miles.”

Soldier—“I guess they are Virginia miles.”

Old Man— “Yaas, its 12 right smart miles.”

The foregoing is about all that could be gotten out of any of them, and we were frequently informed that it was ten or twelve miles to a certain point when a few minutes afterwards we would meet another native who would give quite different figures, sometimes much nearer and at other times much farther off.  Thus, we were at all time surrounded by uncertainties.

Our march during the day lay through a section of country in which large numbers of persimmon trees grew, and as we were the first troops that had passed them since they were fit to eat, we made a terrible onslaught upon them and whenever we halted near them, in a few seconds the trees would be covered with “blue coats” and in a very short time they would be as completely scutched as the potato-bugs of late years have cleaned the Murphy stalks.

It was upon this march that an original idea worked its way into Kevic Ulrich’s cranium.  We were marching along quietly when the Corporal astonished the whole Company with. the following:

“Hu, Hu, I have often wondered why they say still, ‘Cinnamon seed and sandy bottom,’” referring to the song of Dixie then very popular in both armies “and now I know it,” he continued, “for just see the cinnamons.”

The latter part called forth a hearty cheer and Lieutenant Byers capped the climax by remarking:

“Just listen to that darned fool, who every heard of the like?”

When Freddy remembered that the fruit was “per-cinnamons” the couplet in the song remained just as much of a mystery to him as it had before he made the discovery.

During he entire day we could plainly hear the booming of cannons, and heard a battle was in progress, but as to where, or the magnitude of it, we were profoundly ignorant.

Our rations were almost exhausted and had it not been for the beef we captured at Gum Springs, together with the persimmons we got along the road, we would indeed have fared badly.

It was mid-winter, and in a section of country where the climate is but a few degrees less severe than in central Pennsylvania, whilst many of the boys, owing to the severity of the previous day’s march, had slung blankets or overcoats away, and we who were not fully initiated into the hardships of a soldier’s life, found the situation a very unpleasant one, but the boys took it like veterans, and when several of them began to find fault, they were speedily stopped by the “little one” who started up one of the old Harrisburg Gaiety songs entitled, “Oh Why did I go for a Soldier?”

The marching was very irksome, it being one of those slow kind composed mainly of “starts”  and “halts.”  By the time the men would get seated to rest, the command to “forward” would again be given..

We made camp at sundown, having marched from Fairfax to Occoquan, a distance of about 14 miles.

The campfires soon burnt brightly and after we swallowed a cup of coffee and dispatched a cracker or two, we soon forg­ot the mishaps of the day, and felt perfectly resigned to our fate.

Before we closed our eyes in sleep, stretched out upon old mother earth, with the canopy of heaven, thickly studded with the myriads of twinkling stars, for our covering, listening to the booming of a number of heavy guns in the distant front—how far we knew not, we mused upon the uncertainties of  “glorious (?) war,” vainly endeavoring to rend the veil of futurity and to catch a glimpse of the future life beyond the narrow confines of the known.  As we gazed upon the heavenly wonders in silence and awe, we were impressed with one thought, that never deserted us in the years we spent in service ­and was this, that the Hand that shaped the heavenly bodies, and called the laws which govern them into existence, also is able to extend the same protecting care over us poor mortals, who in our blindness and folly, rush madly and hurriedly into danger, and that those who fall in the contest, like a meteor flashing through the heavens will not be destroyed, but only be transferred to another constellation.

Cogitating thus, we closed our tired eyes in slumber and did not wake up until the morning dawned, and we were aroused by Dasher and the drum corps beating revile.