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REMINISCENCES AND LETTERS OF 
 GEORGE ARROWSMITH. 
 
- 
 
3C 
 
 ^8w«^_^ ^4^?^-^ . 
 
REMINISCENCES AND LETTERS 
 
 OF 
 
 George Arrowsmith 
 
 OF NEW JERSEY 
 
 LATE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL OF THE ONE HUNDRED 
 
 AND FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK 
 
 STATE VOLUNTEERS 
 
 JOHN a APPLEGATE 
 
 
 RED BANK', N. J. 
 JOHN H. COOK, PUBLISHER 
 
 1S93 
 

 PRESS OF THE REGISTER, 
 
 RED HANK, N. J. 
 
TO 
 ARROWSMITH POST, 
 
 NO; 6 1, DEPARTMENT OF NEW JERSEY, GRAND 
 
 ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, THIS BOOK IS 
 
 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 
 
NOTE. 
 
 The immediate occasion of the preparation of 
 this work was the acceptance of an invitation to 
 address Arrowsmith Post of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic upon the subject of "George Ar- 
 rowsmith." The task was a pleasant one, as I 
 was only discharging a debt due to the memory 
 of my friend. Owing to the fact that his mili- 
 tary service had been rendered among the troops 
 of other States, the Post knew little of his his- 
 tory, further than that he was a native of this 
 vicinity, a sterling patriot and a gallant soldier. 
 I sought, therefore, to produce a record as com- 
 plete as it was possible to do with sources of in- 
 formation limited by the lapse of time. The 
 
XIV 
 
 work grew insensibly on my hands, beyond the 
 limits of an ordinary discourse, and in a form 
 materially abridged I presented it to the Post 
 at a public meeting held under its auspices on 
 the evening of Decoration Day, 1891. Now, at 
 the request of a number of those who were en- 
 deared to the soldier for his many excellent 
 qualities, and of others, who, though personally 
 unacquainted with him, are interested in his 
 history as members of the organization that 
 bears his name, I have undertaken to publish 
 the matter I have collected, intending it as a 
 simple memorial of a brave and loyal man. 
 
 J. S. A. 
 
 Red Bank, N. /., December ?t/i, 1893. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 l.-U.E. 
 
 Portrait of George Arrowsmith Frontispiece 
 
 Introductory . . . . . i 
 
 Ancestors ...... 3 
 
 Early Life ...... 7 
 
 College Days . . . . . n 
 
 Law Student and Tutor 22 
 
 His Patriotism Kindled ... 28 
 
 Enrollment as a Soldier . . . 32 
 
 En Route for Washington . . 43 
 
 Battle of Bull Run . . . 52 
 
 Camp and Picket . . . . 61 
 
 The Tented Field ..... 66 
 
 Destruction of a Bridge ... 79 
 
 A Description of Alexandria . 87 
 
 Beautiful Camp Mary ... 92 
 
 A Visit to Mount Vernon ... 97 
 
 Skirmish at Pohich Church . . 102 
 A War Camp in Autumn . . .104 
 
 The Chaplain Arrives . . . 114 
 
A Soldier's Thanksgiving 
 Fort Lyon .... 
 Along the Rappahannock 
 Talks With Prisoners 
 Assistant Adjutant-General . 
 A Summer Resort Encampment- 
 New Duties . . . . 
 Cedar Mountain 
 Second Bull Run 
 Tribute from General Tower 
 Lieutenant-Colonel 
 A Pl easing Reception 
 Washington in 1862 
 A Reminiscent Letter 
 Personal Incidents . 
 Visit to the Twenty-ninth 
 Chancel lorsville 
 Honor for the 1571H 
 The Invasion of the North 
 The Battle of Gettysburg 
 Death of Arrowsmith . 
 Funeral Obsequies 
 Tribute from Colonel Place 
 Concli SION 
 Appendix .... 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 . Il6 
 
 123 
 
 . 127 
 
 137 
 
 • 143 
 
 I46 
 
 • 152 
 
 154 
 
 ■ • 156 
 
 l6l 
 
 164 
 
 173 
 
 • 177 
 
 182 
 
 . 186 
 
 . 189 
 
 193 
 
 . I98 
 
 206 
 
 2IO 
 
 214 
 
 227 
 
 229 
 
 . 232 
 
 237 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 " | ^HERE are many heroes in American history 
 who have won national fame. There are 
 many others whose reputations are more cir- 
 cumscribed, but who were just as brave, just as 
 patriotic, just as self-sacrificing. The last may 
 be counted by the hundreds of thousands who, 
 at the call of the President for volunteers, went 
 forth from the counting-house, the farm, the 
 workshop to engage in deadly strife with the 
 enemies of our country. Many were young 
 men of rare promise, talented, cultured and 
 brave, and who might have attained high na- 
 tional distinction in civil or military life, but 
 
2 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 were cut down in battle at the very threshold of 
 their career. As observed by President Lincoln 
 in a compliment to the character and intelligence 
 of regiments arriving in Washington at the be- 
 ginning of the civil war, they contained individ- 
 uals quite competent to discharge the functions 
 of the highest executive office of the nation. 
 
 I propose to speak of one of these gallant 
 heroes, a youth of brilliant promise, cut down in 
 the morning of life ; a soldier of this republic, 
 who entered the field to die, if need be, for the 
 honor of its flag, with no expectation of a return 
 to peaceful pursuits until the object of the war 
 had been accomplished. 
 
ANCESTORS. 
 
 /^EORGE ARROWSMITH was born on the 
 ^-^ eighteenth day of April, 1839, in the part 
 of Middletown township (now Holmdel) near 
 Harmony meeting-house. He was a descendant 
 of a family of Arrowsmiths, settled on Staten 
 Island about the year 1683, who were English- 
 men, occupying a prominent position in society, 
 and had rendered public service, both of a mili- 
 tary and judicial character. His father was 
 Thomas Arrowsmith, a farmer by occupation, 
 who owned a farm on which he resided, and a 
 mill, at what was then known as Arrowsmith's 
 Mills. He was a man of limited educational ad- 
 vantages, but naturally gifted with superior 
 mental endowments. His manner was mild and 
 his disposition social. He had stored his mind 
 with the information of general reading, and 
 
4 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 thus with the advantage of a retentive memory, 
 was an instructive and entertaining conversation- 
 alist, as well as a pleasing public speaker. His 
 simplicity of character was such that even be- 
 yond middle life he found pleasure in the com- 
 pany of boys in their teens, and. there are those 
 living who, when boys, have spent a pleasant 
 hour in his society and profited by his counsel. 
 He was quite an effective public speaker. In 
 my early law practice I crossed swords with him 
 on one occasion before a road tribunal, when he 
 spoke in his own behalf, and I found him by 
 reason of the high respect he commanded as a 
 citizen, supplemented by his persuasive diction 
 and adroit manner of presenting his case, a 
 dangerous adversary In the village debating 
 society — and the village debating society was 
 no small factor in our civilization fifty years ago 
 — his varied information usually enabled him to 
 bear the palm. He enjoyed in a high degree 
 the confidence of his fellow citizens. He was a 
 veteran of the war of 1812 and a major in the 
 State militia. For a number of years he served 
 the Township of Middletown as its assessor of 
 taxes. In 1835 he was elected a member of the 
 legislative counsel of New Jersey, a position cor- 
 responding with that of State Senator under the 
 constitution of 1844. In this capacity he served 
 two years, being succeeded by the late Hon. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 William L. Dayton. In 1843 ne was elected to 
 the responsible position of Treasurer of the 
 State of New Jersey, holding the office until 
 1845. From 1848 until 1850 he was a member 
 of the board of Chosen Freeholders for the 
 township of Raritan, being the first to represent 
 that township on the Board. From February, 
 1852, until February, 1858, he was one of the lay 
 judges of the Court of Errors and Appeals of 
 New Jersey. In all these official positions he 
 discharged his duties creditably and acceptably 
 to the public, and his integrity was never as- 
 sailed. He died December 27th, 1866, at the 
 age of seventy-two years. The loss of his son 
 was a crushing grief, and like Jacob when he 
 refused to be comforted and said " I will go 
 down unto the grave unto my son mourning," 
 his death followed swiftly. The mother of 
 George was Emma VanBrackle, a lady of quiet 
 manner, but whose countenance seemed radiant 
 with maternal tenderness and affection, and 
 whose life was " full of good works and alms 
 deeds which she did." She was a daughter of 
 Hon. Matthias VanBrackle of Monmouth county, 
 a substantial farmer who in 1820 represented his 
 district in the State legislature. She survived 
 the death of her husband a few years. 
 
 There were born to Thomas and Emma Ar- 
 rowsmith nine children. Joseph Edgar Arrow- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 smith, long well known as a leading physician 
 of the county, resident at Keyport ; John V. Ar- 
 rowsmith, a highly respected citizen, also resi- 
 dent at Keyport ; Eleanor, the esteemed wife of 
 Daniel Roberts ; Cordelia, a lovely young lady, 
 who died at the early age of twenty years ; 
 Thomas Arrowsmith, who in the beginning of 
 the civil war enlisted in the Eighth Pennsylvania 
 cavalry, 'and was subsequently promoted to the 
 position of Brigade Quartermaster with the rank 
 of Major, serving until the end of the war, and 
 who afterwards engaged in teaching; Stephen, 
 who died in infancy; Emma, a much beloved 
 sister, who is lately deceased; George, the sub- 
 ject of this sketch; and Stephen V. Arrowsmith, 
 the present principal of the Keyport graded 
 school, where he has successfully served the pub- 
 lic for fifteen years. 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 A T the old Harmony school house in the 
 vicinity of his home George obtained his 
 preliminary educational training. Here he was 
 intimately associated as a fellow pupil with 
 Major Charles B. Parsons, who was destined to 
 become a fellow soldier in the army of the 
 Union, and a commander of the Grand Army 
 Post bearing his playmate's name. I first met 
 George as a schoolmate at the Middletown 
 Academy about the year 185 1. Among others 
 in our class were Thomas Field, now deceased, 
 a young man of much promise ; the Rev. 
 Thomas Hanlon, D. D., President of Pennington 
 Seminary; the Hon. George C. Beekman, late 
 presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
 and State Senator; and Jacob T. Stout, the en- 
 terprising contractor of Atlantic Highlands. At 
 
8 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 this early age George manifested a military taste. 
 Even at a much younger period, as his mother 
 used to say, "he was completely carried away 
 with anything that pertained to soldiers." A 
 pack of schoolboys trooping as wild horses 
 would suggest to his mind a charging squadron 
 of cavalry; and later, upon the college hill, on a 
 quiet Sabbath morn, listening to peals of the 
 church bells in the valley below, he would recall 
 Napoleon's fondness for such an incident. Head- 
 ley's "Washington and his Generals" and "Na- 
 poleon and his Marshals," were favorite books. 
 His admiration for the fighting qualities and 
 dash of Marshals Ney and Murat and Benedict 
 Arnold was unbounded, though bitter in his de- 
 nunciation of Arnold's treason. His first com- 
 position at the Middletown Academy was upon 
 the subject of George Washington. It made a 
 lasting impression on my mind as a bright pro- 
 duction by so young an author. Throughout 
 his academic course all his orations and essays, 
 so far as I can remember, were upon historical 
 subjects or characters. In school he was bright 
 and tractable. Out of school he was a leader in 
 sport and never offensive to his play fellows. 
 Once I saw him angry. An older boy stood be- 
 fore him, vexing him with gibes and raillery. He 
 stood like a statue, silent and sullen, but occa- 
 sionally expressing defiance by throwing a key 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 9 
 
 which hung suspended by a string around his 
 neck towards his tormentor's face. It was not 
 difficult for his assailant to interpret the action, 
 and he wisely suspended his offensive conduct. 
 
 "The charm of his character," said Dr. Lock- 
 wood in an obituary address, "was his filial 
 obedience. It was a volume of eulogy con- 
 densed into one heart utterance, when the aged 
 father said to me in words almost choked by 
 the sense of his bereavement, 'George was a 
 good boy; I never once had occasion to chas- 
 tise him.' " 
 
 After a short attendance at school at Middle- 
 town Point, he entered the grammar school con- 
 nected with Madison University at Hamilton, 
 New York, in May, 1854. I was already a stu- 
 dent there, and being old schoolmates, we took 
 a room together in No. 31, first floor, Western 
 Edifice, at the southwesterly entrance. It was 
 by far the noisiest room on the Hill, and we 
 made it noisier by unmelodious practising upon 
 violins, evoking emphatic protests from our 
 neighbors, who I fear have never entirely for- 
 given us for the many joyless hours we caused 
 them. 
 
 In housekeeping we suffered mo adversity 
 worse than a holiday spent in exasperating ef- 
 forts to put up and connect a line of disjointed 
 stove pipe. I might add for the benefit of the 
 
10 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 curious reader that there were no expressions 
 of a profane nature accompanying the work, 
 though what we said internally — well, that is 
 not legal evidence. 
 
 On another occasion our domestic bliss was 
 marred by bitterness and disappointment. We 
 bought some pretty paper to decorate the walls 
 of our room. To save expense we put it on 
 ourselves. It was not artistically done, but it 
 was better than bare walls. As the paper be- 
 came thoroughly dried, we observed that when- 
 ever a fire was started and the room warmed 
 up a crackling sound would be heard around the 
 borders. Investigation showed it was the paper 
 gradually loosening day by day, greatly disturb- 
 ing the equanimity of our tempers, until finally 
 it was indeed a sorry spectacle, hanging upon 
 the wall in rolls and festoons. But there was 
 a lesson derived from the experience, which is 
 never to paper a whitewashed wall. 
 
COLLEGE DAYS. 
 
 TN October, 1855, George entered the Fresh- 
 man class of Madison University at the age 
 of sixteen. He was allotted to the Ionian 
 Society, one of the two literary societies then 
 existing in the college. Though the youngest 
 student, he took and maintained a high rank 
 both in class and in literary work. He could 
 acquire with little effort and was a sprightly 
 and ready writer. Socially he was highly es- 
 teemed, and was a general favorite with students 
 and townspeople. While his face was not of 
 the handsome type, yet he passed as a hand- 
 some man. Height, five feet, eleven inches, hair 
 black and long, complexion dark, dark hazel 
 eyes, a face serious in repose, form erect and 
 spare, weight one hundred and forty pounds, 
 and a manly bearing, all combined to produce 
 
12 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 a military figure that would be noticed in a 
 crowd. 
 
 He was popular with the ladies and fond of 
 ladies' society, though I never knew of his being 
 especially devoted to any one, beyond what was 
 consistent with a mere friendly partiality. I 
 recall a query propounded by a young lady 
 student at the Hamilton Female Seminary in the 
 reading of her paper at a public meeting of its 
 literary society, " Does Arrowsmith manufacture 
 Cupid's arrows ? " 
 
 He was possessed of superior musical gifts. 
 Throughout his academic course he sang in the 
 college choir and glee club. Having a deep 
 and melodious bass voice, it was rarely indeed 
 that he was not one of a musical party that 
 afforded pleasant entertainment in a serenade 
 or at an evening concert. He also excelled in 
 instrumental music as an amateur performer 
 upon the piano, organ, bass viol and violin. In 
 college sports he was never a laggard, though 
 not an athlete. In his day, athletics were not a 
 college specialty as now, and in the absence of 
 practice there was little opportunity for devel- 
 opment in that line. He was fond of swimming, 
 skating and coasting. I recall an incident when 
 on a Thanksgiving Day a party of which he was 
 one skated down the Chenango canal to Earl- 
 ville and back, a distance of twelve miles. The 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 13 
 
 last one to arrive at Earlville was to pay for the 
 oysters for the party. The last was a Virginian, 
 who enlisted in the war on the Confederate side, 
 and was killed in battle at the explosion of the 
 mine before Petersburg. 
 
 A coasting incident I have not forgotten. 
 Mounting the same sled, we started for break- 
 fast to the boarding hall, quarter of a mile 
 away. With polished runners, a steep descent 
 and smooth ice, we shot down the ravine like 
 an arrow. It was impossible to round that 
 curve without upsetting, so we headed straight 
 down a sloping field. Half way across, with un- 
 slackened speed, we struck a ditch concealed 
 under the snow. There followed an exhibition 
 of stars, infinite in variety, succeeded by a tab- 
 leau, suggestive of the " wreck of matter and 
 the crush of worlds." 
 
 In college pranks George was a good fol- 
 lower, but never a leader. And even as a fol- 
 lower he recognized the limits of self-respect. 
 If a proposed scheme involved an element of 
 dishonor, his ready answer was " No, that will 
 be mean ; " but an innocent affair like "ringing 
 the rust" or a " mock scheme" for a Junior 
 Exhibition or a Young American Celebration of 
 the Fourth of July, he entered into with ardor. 
 
 An incident will illustrate the harmless char- 
 acter of his college jokes. When the first sub- 
 
14 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 marine Atlantic cable was laid and messages of 
 congratulation had passed between the Presi- 
 dent and the Queen, there was a sudden inter- 
 ruption of communication. While the people 
 were eagerly waiting for the next message, 
 which owing to an accident was delayed, George 
 overnight printed some placards (he had learned 
 to set type in the village printing office) and 
 posted them around town, greeting the public 
 eye the next morning with the following an- 
 nouncement: " Latest by submarine cable ! The 
 Duke of Cambridge's cows broke into the 
 Queen's garden last night and destroyed her 
 cabbages." For about two hours those in the 
 secret enjoyed the spectacle of people gathered 
 in knots about the streets, discussing the latest 
 intelligence from Europe, and the great wonders 
 the magnetic telegraph had wrought. 
 
 True to his ancestry, George was a staunch 
 Democrat in politics, and though educated in a 
 rank Republican town, his political faith was un- 
 shaken by his environment. His political activi- 
 ties began at the age of seventeen, when he made 
 himself quite popular with his party in Hamilton 
 as a stump speaker for Buchanan and Brecken- 
 ridge. The success of the Democracy in that 
 campaign was the occasion of a Democratic fes- 
 tival in celebration of the victory, given at the 
 Eagle Hotel at Hamilton, on which occasion 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 15 
 
 Arrowsmith was called out and made a speech 
 which was received with great favor and specially 
 complimented in the next issue of the Democratic 
 Union. About this time a letter written to his 
 brother Stephen indicates his lively interest in 
 the political campaign. " Everything reminds 
 me of the old times in Trenton (he lived in Tren- 
 ton, N. J., while his father was State Treasurer 
 from 1843 to 1845) when I used to get 'licked' 
 so by the Whig boys of Mr. Minses's school. 
 There is a Buchanan club in the village and I 
 frequently go to their room to read the papers ; 
 but I wish you would send me the Washington 
 Union every week. That will be easier than to 
 write a letter and I will take it as a propitious 
 omen that you are all well. It will be quite a 
 curiosity here where abolitionism and black re- 
 publicanism run rampant." In the same year, 
 1856, George was an occasional writer for the 
 newspapers of his own county. In the issue 
 of the New Jersey Standard of May ist, 1856, 
 there appears an article written by him entitled 
 "Cromwell and Bonaparte," and signed " Scrip- 
 tor." It evidences the remarkable maturity of 
 his intellect at the period of his seventeenth 
 birthday. 
 
 In the Ionian Literary Society George took 
 a high rank as a writer and orator, and all its 
 principal honors were bestowed upon him. He 
 
16 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 filled successively the offices of Critic, Vice Pres- 
 ident and President. At its public meeting in 
 his senior year he delivered the valedictory ora- 
 tion. The following complimentary notice of 
 one of his orations before a public meeting of 
 the society appeared in the Hamilton Republican : 
 
 " The next oration, Subject : ' Excess of Polit- 
 ical Freedom,' reflected high honor upon the 
 genius of its composer. In the production of 
 this speech, Mr. Arrowsmith not only honored 
 himself with the reputation of one of the best 
 writers in the University, but manifested ability 
 as an orator that will confidently defy competi- 
 tion. The grace of his style, the easy flow of 
 his expressive diction, the palmy fulness of his 
 periods, combined with the spicy, piquant 
 quaintness of humor that so appropriately and 
 unostensibly insinuated itself in the composition, 
 lent a telling effect to his effort. Mr. Arrow- 
 smith is destined to leave his own mark on the 
 political future of his country." 
 
 It used to be a custom in Hamilton for the 
 youths of the village to celebrate the Fourth of 
 July by a ceremony distinctively Young Ameri- 
 can. After a parade on horseback by a hundred 
 or more young men fantastically dressed and 
 masked, they would draw up in the park 
 around a platform to listen to speeches. Among 
 the pleasant reminiscences of my college life 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 17 
 
 was an occasion in 1857 when George was a 
 participant in a celebration of this character and 
 one of the orators of the day. His personality- 
 disguised, his argument was in keeping with his 
 appearance, very grotesque. Referring to the 
 question of prohibition, he suggested three 
 methods of reform. The first, which he thought 
 would be popular with the reformers, was for 
 they themselves to drink up all the liquor, so 
 that none would be left for the anti-reformers. 
 The second was to petition the legislature to 
 pass a law forbidding the use of intoxicating 
 beverages by every citizen, excepting members 
 of the legislature. Such a bill, he thought 
 would be popular with the members of the 
 legislature and sure to pass. The third was a 
 gradual reduction of the strength of liquors by 
 dilution with water until it came to be adminis- 
 tered in such homoeopathic doses that it could 
 do no mischief. The last was sure to be popular 
 with the whiskey venders. The question of 
 slavery, then the exciting topic of the country, 
 also received his attention. "Are we all," he 
 said, " to be made nigger slaves to the South ? 
 Is that old monster slavery to rear its black and 
 grizzly form over the fair North and vomit up 
 pollution over the verdant hills and people of 
 New York ? No ! Let us rather say in the lan- 
 guage of the immortal Webster in reply to De- 
 
18 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 mosthenes — Liberty and Death — Henry Ward 
 Beecher forever — Sharp's rifles, inevitable and 
 let her burn — I repeat it, sir — let her burn. 
 Fellow citizens, my feelings overcome me when 
 I touch upon such a subject. When I see re- 
 publicanism trodden under foot and scorned — 
 the pathfinder of freedom and salt river defeated 
 in a National election, I am prompted to seize 
 the American Eagle by the tail feathers and 
 twist him round the head of the Government 
 until by the flapping of his wings there is not a 
 quill left large enough to make a pen for a 
 pettifogging lawyer." 
 
 There is more, but this will do to show that 
 as a boy of eighteen, he was not a sleepy one. 
 
 The Mu chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon 
 Fraternity of Madison University was organized 
 in 1856. Arrowsmith was one of its founders. 
 It had existed hardly two years when the faculty 
 determined to uproot it, upon the ground that 
 the existence of a Greek letter society in the 
 college was inimical to its prosperity. About 
 one-half of its members promptly yielded to the 
 pressure of the faculty and withdrew from the 
 society. The remainder by standing firmer 
 succeeded in effecting a compromise and saving 
 the chapter. Arrowsmith was one of the latter. 
 His loyalty to the fraternity was intense. He 
 clung to its memory while he lived and died in 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 19 
 
 baitle wearing its emblem near his heart. It 
 may be of interest to add that the Delta Kappa 
 Epsilon Fraternity is no longer proscribed at 
 Madison (now Colgate), but flourishes with the 
 favor of the college authorities. Tempora mu- 
 tant it r, etc. 
 
 In his Junior year he became a subject of the 
 Divine grace and united with the Hamilton 
 Baptist Church. He had always yielded a 
 reverential attention to religious matters. Be- 
 fore his conversion he would welcome to his 
 room the class prayer meeting, and would open 
 the exercises by reading a chapter from the 
 Bible. u The fact of his conversion," said Dr. 
 Lockwood at his funeral, "he communicated to 
 his parents in a way so joyous and artless as 
 showed that he had become really a child of the 
 Kingdom of God. As near as I can remember 
 his words addressed first to his mother are: 
 'Dear Mother, I am going to bed, but first I 
 must sit down to write you some good news. I 
 trust I have found the Saviour. O, what a 
 change ! Dear Father, I feel now that I have a 
 great Friend above who will help me to carry 
 out your good advice to me.' " Fully three years 
 afterward in a letter addressed to his brother, 
 referring to the conversion of the latter, " Be as- 
 sured," he says, " that the intelligence was very 
 gratifying to me. One thing is certain, you have 
 
20 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 never done a nobler or more important thing in 
 your life than that which you mention, transact- 
 ing business for eternity. Your determination 
 has greatly pleased me as it will all your true 
 friends. Your step, as you say, ought not to 
 deprive you of any real pleasure. Who in the 
 world has more reason to be happy than he who 
 has a friend in the all-powerful and ever-present 
 Being who rules the world ? The Christian is 
 the only person in the world who may be said 
 really to fear nothing." 
 
 In the year 1858, after the destruction by in- 
 cendiaries of the Quarantine Hospital on Staten 
 Island, there was a strong public sentiment 
 manifested by the New York press in favor of 
 reestablishing the hospital on the Jersey shore at 
 Sandy Hook. This stirred up an indignant op- 
 position in New Jersey, and especially in Mon- 
 mouth County, whose rich and fertile lands and 
 prosperous summer resorts would be seriously 
 prejudiced by the location of a pest-house upon 
 its shores. George's pen was active in denuncia- 
 tion of the scheme, furnishing articles which ap- 
 peared in the New York Times and the Trenton 
 True American. These articles were copied and 
 circulated widely throughout the State and were 
 regarded with much favor as a clear and effective 
 presentation of the case from New Jersey's 
 standpoint. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 21 
 
 George was graduated in the class of 1859 at 
 the age of twenty years. The Republican in its 
 account of the Commencement exercises thus 
 commented upon his Commencement oration: 
 
 " Mr. George Arrowsmith was the next speaker 
 and with the deliberation and ease seldom ob- 
 servable on Commencement occasions, proceeded 
 to discuss in eloquent and perspicuous language, 
 the popular subject, ' National Institutions.' 
 For racy and unique style, terse and vigorous 
 thought, and finish of illustration, this oration 
 was a superior production, and Mr. Arrowsrnith's 
 effort was a triumphant one, excelled by none of 
 the day, and won for him many laurels, as well 
 as a shower of bouquets thrown to him on retir- 
 ing from the stage." 
 
 Among his classmates whom I now recall were 
 Hon. Enos Clarke, Henry A. Cordo, D.D., Way- 
 land Hoyt, D.D., Hon. William A. Lewis, Egbert 
 R. Middlebrook, Esq., Daniel E. Pope, Esq., 
 Thomas Edgar Stillman, Esq., and George M. 
 Stone, D.D. 
 
LAW STUDENT AND TUTOR. 
 
 TOURING his college life he was frequently 
 *^ disturbed by the thought that he was en- 
 joying comparatively an easy life, spending the 
 money which his brother and father at home 
 were working hard to earn; and in letters to his 
 brother he referred to it occasionally, expressing 
 a wish that he too could be making a living. 
 He intended at the close of his collegiate course 
 to study law. This he saw would involve further 
 expense to his father. Moved by these con- 
 siderations, he conceived the idea of teaching in 
 Hamilton, in conjunction with the pursuit of his 
 legal studies. Accordingly, on June 19th, 1859, 
 he wrote his father from Hamilton that the 
 position of tutor in the Grammar School had 
 been tendered him by an almost unanimous vote 
 of the faculty, announcing his disposition to 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 23 
 
 accept it and his reasons, and asking his father's 
 views and advice upon the subject. P. P. 
 Brown, Jr., the principal of the Grammar School 
 connected with the University, a warm friend, 
 wrote to his father about the same time stating: 
 " It gives me great pleasure to announce to you 
 that the faculty of the University with great 
 cordiality, unanimously voted to-day to recom- 
 mend your son George to the board of the Uni- 
 versity, to be appointed assistant teacher in the 
 Grammar School, commencing in October with 
 the next academic year. The different members 
 of the faculty expressed themselves as highly 
 pleased with his scholarship and manly deport- 
 ment and had no doubt of his success in his new 
 position." 
 
 George accepted the position tendered him and 
 in October, 1859, entered upon his duties. At 
 the same time he entered the law office of Hon. 
 Charles Mason, a Judge of the Supreme Court, 
 and the leading lawyer of Madison County, 
 under whose direction he pursued his legal 
 studies. Thus is explained how he came to 
 study law and afterwards to be admitted to the 
 bar in New York rather than in New Jersey, 
 the State of his nativity, where his success could 
 have been promoted by the aid of influential 
 relatives and friends. It was a matter of con- 
 venience rather than choice, for he was a Jersey- 
 
24 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 man at heart, though he had formed many strong 
 friendships and pleasant associations in the place 
 of his adopted home. Two years later in a 
 letter addressed to the writer, who was then a 
 law student in Trenton, New Jersey, after ex- 
 pressing regrets that he too could not be study- 
 ing in the same State, he says, " but my divinity 
 that shapes my end has seemed to decree other- 
 wise ; " and again he says in the same letter, " I 
 do wish I could come to Trenton, and if it were 
 not for losing all I have done in this State I 
 should think about it." 
 
 For three or four years before his enlistment 
 he was a frequent contributor to the Union, a 
 Democratic paper of Hamilton, furnishing many 
 spicy and incisive articles of a partisan nature. 
 This led to a personal difficulty in March, i860, 
 with the editor of the opposition paper, who was 
 Thomas L. James, afterwards Postmaster of New 
 York, and later Postmaster-General in the cabi- 
 net of President Garfield. Malevolence, how- 
 ever, could find no place in the heart of either. 
 Forgiveness quickly interceded and amicable re- 
 lations were restored. 
 
 About the year i860 or '61, a road contro- 
 versy occurred between George's father, Major 
 Arrowsmith, and some of his neighbors, in 
 which an altercation arose between George and 
 Henry S. Little, Esq., the lawyer for the appli- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 25 
 
 cants. It has been reported that George on 
 this occasion actually assaulted Mr. Little, 
 which is not true. As the affair excited much 
 interest, and erroneous impressions still prevail 
 as to how far George lost the control of his 
 temper on this occasion, Senator Little at my 
 request furnished me with an account of it as 
 follows : 
 
 " Your request for information in regard to 
 the road case in which George Arrowsmith and 
 I had some altercation is before me. So many 
 incidents had escaped me that I delayed answer- 
 ing you until I could see Senator Hendrickson, 
 who was one of my clients in the matter. Yes- 
 terday I dined with him and refreshed my mem- 
 ory by his. He and the Major were close friends, 
 politically and otherwise. In this case they were 
 wide apart, as were many farmers on the line of 
 the new road. The road ended in the Middle- 
 town and Keyport road, I believe, near the mill, 
 and was the continuation of a road that extended 
 up through the Senator's property, and enabled 
 the farmers in that section to go down to the 
 shore for fish and other purposes, and went shy 
 of the Major's mill. He opposed it with his ac- 
 customed skill and, as you know, was a most 
 formidable adversary. At that time road cases 
 were fought under a black flag, no quarter 
 being given or asked. The Major had many 
 
26 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 roads that converged to his mill — this one did 
 not ; and posted by the Senator and others, I 
 made a hot fight, doubtless said things exasper- 
 ating enough to stir as cool a man as the Major, 
 and more than enough to anger his young and 
 gallant son. We must have had a good case for 
 the surveyors laid the road. This finally mad- 
 dened George and he violently denounced me, 
 and probably but for the interference of his 
 friends would have assaulted me. I never 
 blamed him ; on the contrary, respected him all 
 the more for defending his old father. I have 
 no doubt I was in fault for not using more mod- 
 eration. After there was time for cooling we 
 were just as good friends as before. That was 
 saying not a little, for I was a warm admirer of 
 his. His patriotism had stood as mine had 
 against adverse surrounding influences. You 
 may remember the peace meeting that well nigh 
 led to bloodshed at Middletown. Most of the 
 Democrats of influence had signed a call for a 
 meeting to denounce the administration and 
 declare for peace. I refused to sign it and so 
 far as it could be done was read out of the 
 party. So you see there was a bond of union 
 between us. I do not know after writing so 
 much that I have aided you in the slightest to 
 anything that may be useful." 
 
 Senator Little, holding the affirmative of the 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 27 
 
 case, had the right of reply. As he says, he 
 doubtless said things exasperating enough — a 
 statement no one will controvert who is at all 
 familiar with Mr. Little's sarcasm and the free- 
 dom with which he was wont to use it. When 
 he had finished, George arose to reply. Mr. Lit- 
 tle objected. This application of the " gag law," 
 as George considered it, is probably what stirred 
 his anger more than anything else, and led to 
 the violent denunciation of his opponent. As 
 his most intimate friends know, George was 
 possessed of a tranquil demeanor not easily dis- 
 turbed. The circumstances mentioned only 
 show that he could be aggressively impetuous 
 for cause. It was not a weakness. On the bat- 
 tle field a like impetuosity of temperament won 
 for him the appellation of the "Young Lion." 
 
 Senator Little's reference to the famous or in- 
 famous Middletown peace meeting recalls vivid- 
 ly the distinction between the two kinds of 
 Democrats of those times. One carried the flag 
 and kept step to the music of the Union. The 
 other was quite indifferent to both flag and 
 Union, and loyal only to party. George was of 
 the former class, as subsequent pages will illus- 
 trate. 
 
HIS PATRIOTISM KINDLED. 
 
 T N April, 1861, George passed his legal exam- 
 ination and was duly licensed as a member 
 of the New York bar. About this time occurred 
 the assault on Fort Sumter. Excited crowds 
 of citizens nightly gathered around the village 
 post-office, impatiently awaiting the distribution 
 of the mails with the latest news from Charles- 
 ton Harbor. On one of these occasions a rebel 
 sympathizer, hearing the announcement that the 
 National flag was actually assaulted, suffered 
 his enthusiasm to elope with his judgment by 
 an open avowal of a wish that the South might 
 succeed, adding that he for one was ready to 
 fight with them. George was present, and in- 
 stantly mounting a box, called for the man who 
 had uttered the treasonable sentiment, demand- 
 ng a retraction. A retraction not forthcoming, 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 29 
 
 he denounced him as a vile traitor in terms of 
 bitter wrath and indignation until the man 
 quailed under his fiery invective and slunk out 
 of view. "No man," he said, "could insult the 
 national emblem in his presence without his in- 
 dignant protest." His patriotism kindling as 
 he proceeded, he proclaimed he was willing 
 then and there to enlist as a soldier in the Union 
 cause, and appealing to the crowd he asked, 
 " How many will go with me ? " There were 
 numerous responses. In a few hours fifty men 
 had signed the muster-roll. On Monday, April 
 29th, these assembled at their rendezvous, and 
 organizing under the name of the Union 
 Guards, unanimously selected George Arrow- 
 smith as their Captain. The Republican of Ham- 
 ilton, in a magnanimous spirit, forgetting past 
 differences, commended the selection in the fol- 
 lowing generous terms of approval : "The ex- 
 cellence of the selection is not to be disputed. 
 Captain Arrowsmith is a young man of high 
 character and fine abilities. He will be every 
 inch a soldier, as he is a scholar, and if the op- 
 portunity offers, the Hamilton Volunteers under 
 his lead will attain all the honor and glory to 
 which, we are led to believe, their aspirations 
 reach." 
 
 They prepared at once for their departure to 
 Utica to join Colonel Christian's regiment, then 
 
30 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 forming. It was a solemn day for Hamilton. 
 Business was entirely suspended. The weather 
 was delightful, and the village was thronged 
 with people. There were many aching hearts 
 and tearful eyes. Fifty of the noblest, bravest 
 and best young men of Hamilton leaving their 
 homes and kindred to confront the dangers of 
 war ! At eleven o'clock the procession formed 
 under the direction of three leading citizens of 
 the town, acting as Marshals. These were 
 Lieutenant Colonel H. G. Beardsley, Senator 
 John J. Foote and James Putman. The order 
 was as follows : First, Band ; second, Volun- 
 teers, under command of Captain George Arrow- 
 smith ; third, Clergy and Professors of Madison 
 University; fourth, Ladies ; fifth, Citizens. 
 After parading the principal streets, they assem- 
 bled in front of the hotel, where a fervent and 
 affecting prayer was offered by the Rev. W. A. 
 Brooks, after which, on behalf of the ladies of 
 Hamilton, David J. Mitchell, Esq , an eminent 
 lawyer then of Syracuse, but formerly of Ham- 
 ilton, who had done great service by his war 
 speeches in arousing the public enthusiasm, pre- 
 sented the company with a beautiful silk banner 
 in a stirring and eloquent speech, which was re- 
 sponded to by Captain Arrowsmith with due 
 acknowledgments for himself and company. 
 After a presentation to Captain Arrowsmith of 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 31 
 
 an elegant revolver and a like presentation to 
 two other officers, by different citizens, the vol- 
 unteers entered vehicles, and "amidst a perfect 
 tempest of cheers and waving of handkerchiefs," 
 started for Utica. The report of the occasion 
 says there were uttered many a " God speed 
 you," and many a tear trickled down the cheeks 
 of those who had loved ones among the patriots, 
 as thev moved away. 
 
ENROLLMENT AS A SOLDIER. 
 
 'THE journey of twenty-nine miles was a 
 series of ovations. Arriving at Utica they 
 were quartered in the City Hall, where they 
 partook of a supper provided for them. The 
 next morning they were sworn in, and being 
 now enrolled, they proceeded to the election of 
 officers, George Arrowsmith being chosen Cap- 
 tain as at the informal election of the day be- 
 fore. The company was soon filled up to the 
 requisite number of men and joined the Twenty 
 sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, recruited 
 in the vicinity of Utica, and received the desig- 
 nation of Company D. The regiment proceeded 
 to the military post at Elmira, where it remained 
 two months in barracks, and improved its time 
 in drilling and parading. 
 
 Shortly after the arrival of the regiment at 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 33 
 
 Elmira, Captain Arrowsmith addressed the 
 ladies of Hamilton the following letter, acknowl- 
 edging in grateful terms the receipt of their 
 gifts, consisting of four barrels of numerous 
 luxuries in the form of eatables and clothing : 
 
 Elmira, N. Y., May 17th, 1861. 
 
 To the Ladies of Hamilton : 
 
 Your gift was received yesterday, and received 
 with a good round of cheers, I assure you. Just 
 previous to their arrival, we received the kind 
 letter which you sent us, and I read it to the 
 company assembled around the stove in the 
 rough barracks, eager to hear anything from 
 those at home whose sympathy they are con- 
 fident of participating in. 
 
 In three or four instances since we left Hamil- 
 ton, have we found it necessary to throw to the 
 breeze the beautiful banner which you presented 
 us, to keep the company together. Your letter, 
 followed so closely by four barrels full of solid 
 "sympathy," will do more to keep the peace 
 and preserve order for three or four days, than 
 so many barrels of "army regulations " would. 
 The butter and shirts were acceptable especially. 
 " The rations " do not include butter, and the 
 latter on account of the delay of the military 
 departments in getting our uniforms, were ab- 
 
34 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 solutely indispensable. The cakes are con- 
 sidered to be luxuries which are not to be lightly 
 spoken of by anybody. But we value the moral 
 influence of your gift still more highly than its 
 tangible effects. 
 
 Immediately after your letter was read and 
 duly " cheered and tigered " (by the way, the 
 cakes have since been " tigered," though they 
 were cheered on their arrival) I was deputized 
 to write a letter thanking the ladies of Hamilton, 
 on the part of the company. By this imperfect 
 note I have endeavored to comply with their re- 
 quest, at the same time feeling as I write, ex- 
 ceedingly thankful, for a certain large cake 
 which has been received, and solemnly disposed 
 of by the captain of the aforesaid company. 
 
 Ladies of Hamilton, accept our thanks. You 
 will not be forgotten by us, and we hope still in 
 the future to occupy a niche in your memory. 
 George Arrowsmith, 
 
 /;/ behalf of Company D. 
 
 Afterwards the Hamilton ladies formed them- 
 selves into an organization for the purpose of 
 providing comforts for the volunteers enlisted 
 from their village and the vicinity.* 
 
 Before leaving for the war, Dr. Eaton, the 
 
 * Appendix, Note B. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 35 
 
 President of Madison University, wrote and 
 gave to George the following letter of com- 
 mendation which he no doubt thought might 
 serve him usefully in the South, where the 
 doctor had many acquaintances, in the event 
 of his capture by the enemy. It was like Dr. 
 Eaton, whose heart was always full of kind 
 promptings, to be thus thoughtful : 
 
 Madison University, April 24, 1861. 
 
 The bearer, Mr. George Arrowsmith, graduated 
 from Madison University in the class of '59, and 
 discharged the office of tutor during the follow- 
 ing year, as an assistant to Professor Brown, 
 Principal of the Grammar School of the Uni- 
 versity. 
 
 Mr. Arrowsmith held a high rank in his class 
 as a young gentleman of marked ability, fine 
 scholarship and correct deportment. He dis- 
 charged the duties of tutor in a manner highly 
 satisfactory to the faculty and to the students 
 who enjoyed his instructions. It is therefore, 
 but simple justice to Mr. Arrowsmith to com- 
 mend him, as I do, most cordially to the respect 
 and confidence of the wise and good everywhere 
 and to the public generally. 
 
 George W. Eaton, 
 
 President of Madison University. 
 
36 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Captain Arrowsmith found his duties as com- 
 mandant too engrossing to afford time to corre- 
 spond with all his friends individually, and to 
 make one letter answer for many he sent a com- 
 munication to the Utica Herald irom time to time 
 over the signature of Aliquis. These letters are 
 interesting as a part of the history of his regi- 
 ment and of his army life. Under date of June 
 9th, 1861, he writes from the Elmira Barracks 
 as follows : 
 
 Elmira, Barracks No. 3, June 9, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 Since my last letter the regiment has been 
 unusually busy in drilling and parading, and 
 also unusually zealous in view of so m being or- 
 dered off. On Thursday afternoon we received 
 intelligence that a party of Uticans, with the 
 colors, were on their way to Elmira. This was 
 very welcome news, I assure you. On Friday 
 morning squads of men from the companies 
 scattered in all directions to bring in evergreens 
 and bouquets to decorate the barracks, in which 
 work there was quite a spirit of emulation. In 
 an hour or two the appearance of the camp was 
 wonderfully changed. Rows of cedar trees sud- 
 denly appeared before the barracks, the flag- 
 staffs O'namented with wreaths and bouquets, 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 37 
 
 and all sorts of mottoes and decorations were 
 fixed on the neighboring buildings — some of the 
 men solemnly declared " it was a regular Fourth 
 of July." At eleven o'clock the regiment was 
 drawn into line for the presentation of colors, 
 which were soon exposed to view amid a mur- 
 mur of admiration. Judge Smith, of Oneida 
 County, made the presentation speech, which 
 was characterized by his usual ability and vi- 
 vacity. It was heard in silence by the immense 
 crowd of spectators who on foot and in carriages 
 were pressing around the lines. Colonel Chris- 
 tian received the colors before the regiment, and 
 replied with military brevity — the few words 
 with which he intrusted to them that flag will 
 not soon be forgotten by the regiment. A very 
 large crowd of citizens, townsmen and towns- 
 women, as 1 before said, witnessed the presenta- 
 tion of the flag, and the troops were gratified to 
 notice that the Female College for the first time 
 had come in procession upon its grounds to wit- 
 ness the parade. 
 
 The colors were presented by Mr. William H. 
 Lewis of your city, whose arrival in town was 
 a source of great joy among his numerous 
 friends in the regiment. Mr. Lewis and Judge 
 Smith have been " lionized " among the men 
 ever since the ceremony. Aftrr the presenta- 
 tion the whole regiment marched to the resi- 
 
38 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 dence of Mrs. Maxwell, at whose commodious 
 mansion the Colonel has his rooms, and the 
 colors were there left while the procession 
 returned. I cannot, by the way, mention the 
 name of Mrs. Maxwell without also mention- 
 ing that she has proved herself, ever since 
 we have been here, a true friend to the regi- 
 ment, and never has the private or officer 
 been turned from her door when she could fur- 
 nish anything to supply his wants or suit his 
 convenience. 
 
 On Friday afternoon also we received our ac- 
 coutrements, canteens, knapsacks, haversacks, 
 belts, ammunition boxes, tents, camp kettles, 
 which gave the camp an appearance still more 
 military — but still no caps or underclothes ! 
 What culpable delay ! The day closed with a 
 parade down through the town accompanied by 
 our Utica friends. 
 
 There never has been a better feeling in the 
 regiment since its stay at Elmira than there is 
 at present. There is a crowd of spectators 
 every afternoon to witness our battalion drills — 
 this afternoon several hundred. Our Utica 
 friends, ladies and all, have been on the grounds 
 a great part of the time since they arrived, 
 and yesterday Mr. Long got them up a din- 
 ner for all in the officers' mess room. I took 
 a little pains to notice the kind of fare which 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 39 
 
 he provided, and found it as follows : Beef 
 soup, roast beef, boiled beef, mashed potatoes, 
 pickled tongue, rice pudding, French "co- 
 quettes," with tea and the usual fixings. Mr. 
 Long did not at all give them an opportunity to 
 test " the hardships of camp life." 
 
 To-morrow morning we suppose most of our 
 guests will start for Utica. 
 
 Still waiting for orders ! Aliquis. 
 
 Before the Twenty-sixth Regiment had left 
 Elmira, Arrowsmith acquired an enviable repu- 
 tation as an officer. A visitor to the camp 
 writes under date of June nth, 1861, that he 
 found Captain Arrowsmith and his Company 
 pleasantly situated. "The Captain," he states, 
 " is highly spoken of by his fellow-officers, and is 
 an especial favorite of those in superior com- 
 mand. His company is looking as well and is 
 under as good drill as any in the regiment. 
 Colonel Christian says there is no better officer 
 in the regiment." 
 
 The day before leaving Elmira for Washing- 
 ton George writes as follows : 
 
 Elmira, Barracks No. 3, June 19, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 I trust I am now writing my last letter from 
 Elmira. It is stale news to you, probably, th a 
 
40 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 last Friday it was announced by the Colonel 
 that we were to march to Washington yester- 
 day. Those who were sick at heart from "hope 
 long deferred," suddenly brightened up, but 
 those who had the measles and mumps, and 
 such unromantic and unwarlike diseases, did 
 not recover so easily. So for this reason, and 
 because we would have to go in freight cars on 
 Tuesday, we deferred our departure until next 
 Friday. 
 
 When the above announcement was made to 
 the regiment in line, there followed the wildest 
 and most picturesque scene that I ever wit- 
 nessed. As if in accordance with a premeditat- 
 ed plan, the men immediately hung their caps 
 on their bayonets and broke into companies, 
 which marched around the grounds in all direc- 
 tions, amid the wildest screaming and huzzas. 
 This intelligence has also had the effect to sepa- 
 rate the chaff from the wheat, and there have 
 been some, but very few, desertions. Many 
 have absented themselves from duty, but have 
 returned after seeing their friends, or transact- 
 ing such important business as visiting wives, 
 etc. Last Sunday night the men were unusually 
 uneas} 7 , and just before dark fourteen of them, 
 with their side arms, ran the guard at once, and 
 were pursued by several of the picket guard. 
 After dark the report came to the camp that 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 41 
 
 they were pursued by the guard in a large wood, 
 but refused to be taken. The Colonel immedi- 
 ately despatched a captain and twenty men to 
 bring them in, who duly tore their clothes, tum- 
 bled over rocks, and fell in the mud in the 
 search, with military promptness, but in vain. 
 When the captain wished to collect them to re- 
 turn home, several shots were fired as signals, 
 which had the effect to bring out the surgeons 
 toward the forest with the grim prospect of hav- 
 ing some fine subjects. Such are some of the in- 
 cidents of the camp. The fourteen delinquents, 
 however, have all been taken or have returned. 
 
 For the last week the regiment has used as a 
 drilling ground a large field above the barracks, 
 where there is ample space for all battalion 
 movements, and I assure you drilling has been 
 carried on as much as the physical powers of 
 soldiers could sanction. The men take an 
 especial interest in street firing, with a view to 
 Baltimore, I expect, for it is now well settled 
 that we are to start on Friday morning, with 
 three days' provisions and fifteen thousand 
 rounds of cartridges. Our caps and shoes are 
 now all provided, and the former make a great 
 improvement in the appearance of the regiment. 
 To-night they made a second parade down the 
 town and were lustily applauded by the other 
 regiments as they passed their barracks. One 
 
42 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 of the evening papers in town contains the fol- 
 lowing paragraph : 
 
 " This afternoon Colonel Christian, of the 
 Twenty-sixth Regiment, was unexpectedly pre- 
 sented with a splendid charger by Mr, W. H. 
 Lewis, on the part of the citizens of Utica. The 
 presentation was made suddenly and with but 
 little ceremony, but the soldiers gave three hearty 
 cheers as the Colonel mounted the horse and rode 
 along the lines. A good present well bestowed." 
 
 Both officers and men in this regiment feel 
 very grateful to the ladies of Utica and vicinity 
 for the interest they have taken in our welfare, 
 displayed as it has been, in the liberal donations 
 which we have received. You cannot imagine 
 the moral effect, aside from the substantial bene- 
 fit, of the boxes of clothing which your Utica 
 ladies have from time to time sent to us. Im- 
 posed upon by clothing contractors, and really 
 neglected by the Stare government, our pay 
 delayed on account of Albany technicalities, 
 these donations have often revived the droop- 
 ing spirits of the men — the mere idea that some 
 one was interested in them. The ladies of Utica 
 will long be remembered with pleasure by the 
 Twenty-sixth Regiment. 
 
 To-morrow we are ordered to pack up and 
 have everything in readiness to move. 
 
 Aliouis. 
 
EN ROUTE FOR WASHINGTON, 
 
 /^N Thursday, June 20th, the regiment start- 
 ^^ ed for Washington. The following letter 
 is descriptive of the trip : 
 
 Meridian Heights, Washington, ) 
 June 27th, 1861. j 
 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 Excuse my tardiness in writing, but the con- 
 fusion consequent upon our moving from El- 
 mira and the inconveniences of camp life have 
 hitherto discouraged me. However, I have now 
 reconciled myself to circumstances, and am sit- 
 ting on the ground, writing on a box of car- 
 tridges with a dull lead pencil. 
 
 Our trip from Elmira was very pleasant in 
 the main, though as we got more and more 
 toward the South we began to find some pretty 
 
44 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 warm weather. We started with nineteen cars 
 and two locomotives, and did not change trains 
 until we arrived at Baltimore. At Williamsport 
 the regiment received a fine ovation, were pa- 
 raded through the streets, entertained by the 
 ladies in the finest picnic style — that reminded us 
 all of the old Sabbath-school celebrations ere 
 our country had let slip the dogs of war — every 
 man received a cigar after the collation, and 
 amid loud cheering the heavy train bearing the 
 regiment slowly moved from the town. It ap- 
 peared as though every inhabitant in the town 
 was down at the depot to see us off, and thus all 
 along the road did the best of feeling seem to 
 be manifested towards the volunteers. We rode 
 all night, made no stop at Harrisburg, and in 
 the gray of the morning passed a guide board 
 with " The State Line " upon it. Then did your 
 correspondent cautiously protrude his head 
 from the car window, realizing that he was now 
 " down South " — saw no vile secessionist aiming 
 at it — became very bold and cried "hurrah !" — 
 saw no man that looked like Jefferson Davis's 
 portrait, so I did not fire my musket ; pickets 
 all along the road to Baltimore, encamped 
 along beautiful streams, guarding the bridges 
 and whiling away the long summer days in 
 shooting at a target. 
 
 The scenery along the road from Harrisburg 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 45 
 
 to Baltimore is very picturesque, and the trip 
 was thus rendered quite pleasant and interest- 
 ing. No secession flags were seen, but we were 
 greeted with Union demonstrations as we passed 
 along. Finally we arrive at Baltimore, after 
 loading at the last station. There are crowds 
 of people along the streets, but with the excep- 
 tion of a few dubious remarks and hisses, there 
 are no symptoms of disturbance. The troops 
 march through in grim silence, replying to no 
 question, and not allowed to receive refresh- 
 ments or water from the crowd, though in the 
 broiling sun. Two or three that drank water 
 proffered by men in the crowd were afterwards 
 very sick and afflicted with sore mouths, and 
 it is thought their abstaining from Baltimore 
 water was very fortunate. The inhabitants that 
 followed us to the depot, however, seemed to be 
 all true to the Union. Our stay in Baltimore 
 was very short, for the Washington train started 
 as soon as the regiment got on board. We ar- 
 rived in Washington, having passed on our way 
 several camps and the celebrated Relay House. 
 By the time we arrived at the station near the 
 Capitol, we were considerably worn out, having 
 had little or no sleep in the cars the night be- 
 fore, and having exhausted most of the two 
 days' provisions which we took from Elmi-a. 
 The men now saw their error in packing so 
 
46 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 many articles in their knapsacks, for I assure 
 you every pound counted in the oppressive heat 
 and the broiling sun of Washington. On alight- 
 ing from the train we found we had to march to 
 Meridian Heights, a hill about three miles from 
 the city. Some of the men fainted and fell out 
 on the march up, overcome with heat and fa- 
 tigue, but the men from the camps which we 
 passed on the way up encouraged the boys, 
 helped them carry their muskets and baggage, 
 and in various ways expressed the sympathy of 
 brother soldiers. The men have recovered from 
 this fatigue, and are healthier on the whole than 
 they were in Elmira. The night we arrived our 
 tents had to be erected, and as it was getting 
 late, many slept in the open air — but we were 
 sufficiently fatigued to sleep almost anywhere. 
 
 Our ground, called Camp VanValkenburgh, is 
 finely suited for parading purposes, but is badly 
 supplied with water. All the wells around here 
 which we use are constantly guarded, as some 
 have been poisoned by the Virginians. 
 
 We are now drawing our rations, but in the 
 confusion attendant upon getting this military 
 machinery fairly at work we frequently take 
 some long fasts, just long enough to make us 
 relish the pork, bread and coffee when we get 
 it. We are, however, getting along better and 
 better every day. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 4. 
 
 In our tents we of course sleep generally on 
 the "ground floor," with knapsacks, valises or 
 stumps for pillows, and happy are they who 
 have waterproof blankets to lie upon. Our 
 tents are rather scarce and rather small, and not 
 infrequently we see feet and legs protruding 
 from under the canvas, which, in case of a 
 shower are vigorously hauled in. In lack of the 
 usual conveniences, bayonets serve for forks and 
 candlesticks, brush houses for kitchens, have- 
 locks for handkerchiefs, ammunition boxes for 
 seats and tables ; while at times there are vague 
 rumors that shoes and boots will have to be 
 used to make soup and jerked beef of. It is a 
 novel life, but we have every confidence that our 
 Quartermaster will make it as agreeable as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 Our captains are to-day engaged in making 
 out our new pay rolls, and we understand that 
 they will be immediately responded to. We are 
 also encouraged to hear that we are sure to be 
 newly uniformed and armed in a few days. 
 
 We have been alarmed and under arms twice 
 already. Last Friday night a sentinel of the 
 Thirty-eighth, New York Volunteers, fired his 
 piece, and ten of our regiments were instantly 
 drawn in line of battle. A company of flying 
 artillery also started from the city. Last night, 
 also, some cannonading along the river orca- 
 
48 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 sioned a "long roll" in all quarters, and all the 
 regiments in the vicinity were under arms. In 
 neither case was there any occasion for the 
 alarm, but scouting parties of the federal regi- 
 ments frequently run into the pickets of their 
 own friends and occasion a general alarm, but 
 nevertheless we are obliged to hold ourselves in 
 readiness for action. Right on our flank lies 
 the Thirty-eighth ; in a field about two hun- 
 dred yards from us lies the Eighteenth, and just 
 beyond them in a large grove is the Fourteenth, 
 and a number of other New York regiments 
 scattered all around in the vicinity. 
 
 I cannot, like a regular Washington corre- 
 spondent, tell all about the strange sights, for 
 I've had no chance to see anything but the out- 
 side of the Capitol as yet — at present I'd like to 
 see a good, comfortable hotel. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 Occasionally Captain Arrowsmith found op- 
 portunity to run up to the city of Washington. 
 The capital was a new place to him and he saw 
 much to interest him, especially in the way of 
 politicians and other celebrities. " Here," says 
 Eli Perkins, " he made my room his head- 
 quarters where on my return I frequently found 
 him installed with a bevy of officers. You know 
 George did love a good story with a fine point. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 49 
 
 How he used to read Artemus Ward to me !" 
 On his return from Washington he writes his 
 brother under date of July 8th, 1861: 
 
 " In the reading rooms of Willard's Hotel I find 
 a great deal to interest me. I saw there last 
 night J. C. Breckenridge, N. P. Willis, Secretary 
 Cameron, Thurlow Weed, Colonel Bartlett, 
 Donnelly, of Wise-Donnelly letter notciety, 
 and in fact army and naval officers, politicians 
 and congressmen by the hundred. * * * * 
 We are sworn in the United States service only 
 till the twenty-first of August, when I suppose 
 we will return home. I have learned consider- 
 able of military service, and if I ever go into it 
 again, I shall strike for a field office. I suppose 
 I might get a lieutenancy in the regular army, 
 which I would like first rate. I am going to look 
 around a little with a view to that while I am 
 here." 
 
 He writes of a want of tent accommodations,, 
 there being but one tent for five persons, and 
 proceeds: "We sleep on the ground with water- 
 proof blankets under us to keep off the damp- 
 ness. These were given to our company by the 
 Hamilton ladies, who have an organized society 
 to attend to our wants. Our victuals consist of 
 pork, bacon, beef, coffee, beans, rice and bread, 
 which are weighed out, so much to each man. 
 This is cooked and eaten in the open air. The 
 
50 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 men cook their own food in little frames, with 
 seven iron kettles and stew pans. We get plenty 
 to eat, 'such as it is, and it is good enough what 
 there is of it.' Once when I first arrived I went 
 twenty-four hours without eating anything, but 
 it was more to keep the men from complaining 
 than because I could not get if, for the officers 
 can generally get along pretty well. There is 
 always more or less confusion when we move 
 from one place to another, and sometimes lack of 
 provisions, but usually there is plenty. I stand 
 it very well now, never was hardier, and have 
 learned to eat pork and drink raw coffee. The 
 men do their washing in a beautiful stream near 
 the camp, in which they go in squads. My 
 waiter does mine, of course, the whole object 
 being merely to get them clean, starching and 
 ironing being out of the question. We have two 
 battalion drills every day, one in the morning 
 and the other in the evening. Sometimes the 
 whole regiment fires ball cartridges at once in 
 the side of a hill by way of exercise. The 
 muskets carry ounce balls about the size of a 
 common marble, which trim the limbs from the 
 trees in front of us finely, I assure you. Some 
 of the farmers around are Union men, and some 
 secessionists, but the latter are compelled to 
 keep very quiet. We are very careful as to the 
 politics of the pedlars of whom we buy eatables. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 51 
 
 One of my company was poisoned coming 
 through Baltimore,. and hasn't been well since. 
 The country looks just like Jersey in nearly 
 every respect, and the days are not much warmer 
 than a good hot Jersey day." 
 
BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 
 
 r\N SUNDAY, July 21st, the Twenty-sixth 
 ^- > ^ Regiment left Washington about noon 
 and marched to Alexandria, where it arrived 
 about two o'clock. Here it waited until night 
 for a train to transport it to Bull Run, where 
 the battle was going on. July 23d Aliquis 
 writes from Shooter's Hill, near Alexandria, 
 Virginia, as follows : 
 
 Shooter's Hill, Va., July 23, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 Still another step towards a battle and still a 
 more lively realization of real soldiering. We 
 left Washington on Sunday about noon, leaving 
 the sick to guard our camp, and arrived at 
 Alexandria about two o'clock, where we had to 
 wait a great while to get a train which could 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 53 
 
 transport us to the scene of action whither we 
 were marching. Alexandria is indeed a desolate 
 town. Grass grows in the streets, business ap- 
 pears suspended, men look dismal and unhappy, 
 and everything reminds of war. The Marshal 
 House is continually crowded with soldiers tear- 
 ing up staircases, floors, etc., to get pieces of 
 wood with Ellsworth's blood on, which, by the 
 way, must have flowed in great abundance in 
 the young man's veins, if I may judge from the 
 numerous specimens I have seen. While wait- 
 ing at Alexandria, we continually heard heavy 
 cannonading from the south, but night came on, 
 and we finally lay down to sleep in a field near 
 the depot, in the open air. Soon, however, we 
 were called up and put on a train, the tops and 
 platforms crowded wherever a man could stick 
 on, and we started towards Fairfax. Aliquis 
 lay on top of a car, next to the locomotive, 
 gravely winking occasionally, as the cinders flew 
 in his eyes, and now and then "dreaming the 
 happy hours away," when the train suddenly 
 stopped at a station just this side of Fairfax, 
 called Springfield. There a picket was thrown 
 out ahead, and we were stopped a while, during 
 which we received the astounding intelligence 
 that our forces were signally defeated, and we 
 were ordered to fall back immediately to Alex- 
 andria. When we got back we found Colonel 
 
54 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Kerrigan's regiment in the field which we had 
 occupied, so we took an adjoining one and slept 
 till morning, notwithstanding it had now begun 
 to rain. When we awoke, trains crowded with 
 retreating troops were coming hurriedly in, and 
 the roads were crowded with stragglers from all 
 sorts of regiments, in a weary and disorderly 
 retreat. Our regiment now commenced its 
 march up towards Fort Ellsworth, to cover their 
 retreat so that they might rally behind us. And 
 here a grotesque but most disheartening scene 
 met our eyes — men from New Jersey, New York, 
 Pennsylvania, Maine, all mixed up together, foot- 
 sore and ragged, in no order, and apparently 
 under no officers. All parts of the North were 
 represented in the rout — Zouaves, with their 
 gay uniforms torn, dirty and blood-soiled, 
 soldiers without shoes, some without guns or 
 knapsacks ; others, more determined, carrying 
 away three or four of each ; some without eyes, 
 some without ears and others with various flesh 
 wounds, riding, limping or running — such was 
 the picturesque procession which went along 
 the road all yesterday forenoon. As they met 
 us, they told us of the deadly fire of the batteries, 
 told us to turn around immediately, and of the 
 manner in which the rebels bayoneted all our 
 wounded on the field, and such not very encour- 
 - ging details. Others cheered us, and hoped 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 55 
 
 " we'd give 'em Jesse," etc. We finally went to 
 Fort Ellsworth and entered it, where we thought 
 the cannon, the abatis, the ditch and the ram- 
 parts looked very welcome after the accounts 
 given us. Well, as the Dutchman said, we did 
 not stop there, but went over beyond and 
 bivouacked in a grove, where in a cold rain, 
 without tents, we made sort of a cold breakfast. 
 We expected an attack all day yesterday, and it 
 was all we could do to keep the muskets dry. 
 About noon the companies began lo go off in 
 search of better quarters. Aliquis and his com- 
 pany got into a deserted dwelling house, where 
 with good fire-places and fences we managed to 
 get comfortably dry. We put on extra pickets 
 in the night, as ^t was reported that an immense 
 force was approaching, and there is some danger 
 of being pushed off into the Potomac. I really 
 think the rebel General is very foolish if he does 
 not attack us to-day. Most of our regiments 
 are completely demoralized, and are crossing 
 the river in crowds. The New York Twenty- 
 sixth, Seventeenth, and some others, I think, are 
 entitled to great credit for their present stand, 
 as the majority are completely panic stricken. 
 A Pennsylvania regiment near us is to-day hur- 
 riedly packing up to return home, their time 
 having expired, which is not extremely encour- 
 aging either. The storm has now ceased, and 
 
56 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 the morning is beautiful. Our ideas of the 
 enemy are all conjectural, and we know not 
 what to-day will bring forth. I hope, however, 
 when I write again to give you better news. 
 
 Among the consoling features of our soldier- 
 ing is the good feeling among our troops. The 
 Captain of Company D was lately presented 
 with an elegant sword, a portable camp bed, a 
 camp stool, and other articles, by the members 
 of his company. Aliquis. 
 
 The discouraging effect of the battle of Bull 
 Run upon our troops and their want of con- 
 ^dence in the ability of their commanders is re- 
 flected in the following letter : 
 
 Shooter's Hill, Va.. July 23, noon, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 In my last I gave you our impressions of our 
 present state, as we had them this morning. 
 Now our situation seems no better, and our 
 regiment must shift for themselves. General 
 McDowell we know nothing of ; some say he yet 
 has a force with him to the south of us, others 
 that he is now at Arlington House completely 
 helpless ; others that he is in Washington. One 
 thing is certain : the few troops this side of the 
 river have no head that amounts to anything, 
 and rely solely on our Colonel Christian. There 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 57 
 
 are only about 4,000 men that can be relied on 
 this side of the Potomac. We are on the outposts, 
 along the Leesburg and Fairfax turnpikes, about 
 eight miles from the " Long Bridge " to Wash- 
 ington. We are hourly expecting an attack, in 
 which we shall hold out as long as we can, and 
 if compelled to retreat will fall back to the Long 
 Bridge. If unable to cross that, we will there 
 make a desperate stand on the banks of the river. 
 I have no confidence in any General or Colonel 
 near here but Christian. He yesterday recom- 
 mended the occupying of certain hills near here, 
 which has been done. As it is now, we have to 
 rely upon ourselves, and we only hope our 
 Colonel may be made a Brigadier-General, as 
 is much talked of, and then we might indeed 
 be more secure. Regiments are continually 
 crossing to Washington, instead of crossing 
 from there here as it should be. I can count 
 from my present position three or four camps 
 entirely deserted. We have a Captain detailed 
 every day to command the pickets, which are 
 scouring the woods two or three miles towards 
 Fairfax. 
 
 The New York Herald's account of the battle 
 is a most egregious burlesque. If his reporter 
 had seen the disorderly rout that I have, he 
 would not have made so glaring a heading to 
 his column. Part of the regiments that he men- 
 
58 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 tions were not at all in the action any more than 
 we were. As for us, we were ordered there and 
 then ordered back after the rout had begun. 
 There is nothing to hinder 15,000 rebels from 
 encamping right opposite Washington this morn- 
 ing, and we understand they have 170,000 be- 
 tween here and Richmond. As I said before, 
 there are only five or six regiments here that are 
 reliable — the others are breaking up and scatter- 
 ing, some to their homes, and some to Washing- 
 ton. I hope General Scott will soon restore 
 order, for in him we have all confidence, and 
 also in our Colonel ; beyond that deponent saith 
 nothing. We are to-day occupying some of the 
 camps that have been, as I should think, basely 
 deserted; but their tents are very acceptable. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 July 24, 1861. — Still there is no further ad- 
 vance of either army. There was no disturbance 
 last night, though we were called out once into 
 line by a "long roll" in some of the regiments 
 on our left. Yesterday afternoon scouts were sent 
 out around to ascertain our true state. Our regi- 
 ment daily sends about fifty men some distance 
 up the Fairfax road as a picket, and yesterday 
 afternoon the Thirty-second New York Regi- 
 ment came up and encamped just in the rear of 
 them. Near a Theological Seminary, on our 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 59 
 
 right, is the Fifteenth, under McLeod Murphy. 
 In Fort Ellsworth, which is about a quarter of a 
 mile from us, is Colonel Lansing with his Seven- 
 teenth, and also with a Massachusetts regiment 
 near him. Some others are also down on the 
 flats, but a great many of the camps there are 
 deserted. Last evening in the moonlight, the 
 woods in which we at first stopped, were entirely 
 cut down by our regiment, so as to expose the 
 Leesburg road to the guns of Fort Ellsworth. 
 Colonel Lansing also tore down a cemetery wall 
 near the fort, so as to use his guns to the best 
 advantage. Major Jennings, who had been sent 
 off by the Colonel on extra duty, returned 
 yesterday afternoon. We find, by the way, that 
 they have not forgotten us over in Washington. 
 About four o'clock yesterday afternoon we saw 
 a body of cavalry come up the road escorting a 
 carriage containing four persons — President 
 Lincoln, William H. Seward, General McDowell, 
 and our Adjutant, David Smith. The latter es- 
 corted them to Colonel Christian's headquarters, 
 where they remained for some time. 
 
 Colonel Christian occupies a large brick house 
 owned by a Major Smoot, now a Confederate 
 Major. Company B also is quartered in a por- 
 tion of it. Company A is in a house near our 
 bivouac ground ; Company D in a large frame 
 house off on the right ; Company G in a house 
 
60 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 on the left, used for a hospital ; the other com- 
 panies occupy tents which were deserted by a 
 Pennsylvania regiment. It is on a beautiful 
 bluff where we are encamped, with a fine view 
 of the Potomac, while Washington with its large 
 buildings presents a splendid appearance in the 
 distance. 
 
 The defeat of McDowell is now known to be 
 much less than was at first supposed. Stragglers 
 are coming in even yet, and I suppose the regi- 
 ments are speedily re-organizing over the river. 
 I can see this morning the glitter of bayonets 
 down along this side of the Potomac, as if a 
 regiment was moving from the Long Bridge to 
 Alexandria. I suppose a large army will soon 
 be gathered here again. 
 
 No more at present. I am now about to start 
 with a picket guard up the Fairfax road to 
 Clouds Mills. The officers and men are all out 
 watching a balloon, which has just gone up 
 from Washington. Aliquis. 
 
CAMP AND PICKET. 
 
 T TNDER date of July 26th, 1861, Captain Ar- 
 rowsmith writes his brother from Shoot- 
 er's Hill, Va., a letter which indicates a better 
 feeling and a return of confidence among the 
 troops : 
 
 Dear Brother: 
 
 I have with my regiment crossed over into 
 Virginia. As you said in a letter (which I re- 
 ceived last night) that you received the Utica 
 Herald regularly, there's no need of writing such 
 minute details in my letters home. We are still 
 quartered on Shooter's Hill, mostly in tents, but 
 I marched my company into an unoccupied 
 dwelling house, owned by a man now in the 
 rebel army. It is a fine, large house, and its 
 fireplaces and cupboards come very handily for 
 our use. We sleep around on the floors in all 
 
62 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 sorts of positions. Half the houses around here 
 have been thus deserted. 
 
 The first day or so after the battle this regi- 
 ment was in a " ticklish " situation. The time 
 of many regiments had expired and they hur- 
 riedly crossed the river, while others, panic 
 stricken, followed them in a disorderly manner, 
 leaving their tents still standing. It was gener- 
 ally believed that a large force of rebels were 
 approaching. At one time there were only 
 about four thousand left here. Now, however, 
 they are returning — a large force is collecting — 
 batteries are being erected — groves and forests 
 are cut down to give free scope to the cannon, 
 and desolation as usual betokens the presence 
 of a large army. Last Wednesday the Colonel 
 sent me off with a company of thirty-two picked 
 men as a picket guard about five miles towards 
 Fairfax, for the purpose of first giving the alarm 
 in case of a night attack. The place was called 
 Clouds Mills and it was the place where Ells- 
 worth's Zouaves carried on the flour business — 
 perhaps you saw a sketch of it in a pictorial 
 paper. There we had a barricade of barrels 
 filled with sand and piled up in the road, with a 
 mill on our right and a high hill on the left. 
 We took three rebel dragoons — fine-looking fel- 
 lows — and gave them over to the General in 
 command. They had a flag of truce, which was 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 63 
 
 considered a mere subterfuge, and they are yet 
 detained as spies. In the afternoon a boy came 
 down to the barricade and said a party of rebel 
 cavalry had carried off his father, who was a 
 Union man. I rather suspected the boy, but 
 nevertheless took ten men and proceeded with 
 great caution about two and a half miles in 
 the country. Finding by inquiry of negroes 
 that I was getting within the rebel lines, and 
 hearing that no such man as was claimed resid- 
 ed there, I turned back, and guess pretty luck- 
 ily, for that night some rebel cavalry came with- 
 in a mile of our barricade. I remained at the 
 mill till Thursday noon, living on the neighbors, 
 who were all secessionists, but very accommoda- 
 ting. I boarded with a farmer who had two sons 
 in the Southern army, and who had had a 
 brother killed in the last battle. His wife, how- 
 ever, put no arsenic in the hoe-cakes, and we 
 used to smoke pipes together in the grove by 
 his house. This is a queer state of things, after 
 all. 
 
 I don't know that I ever told you of the fine 
 present the boys of my company gave me — a 
 gilt-mounted sword worth twenty-five dollars, 
 a camp bed that will fold up in a carpet bag, 
 worth six dollars ; a camp stool, one dollar ; and 
 two pairs of white military gloves, three dollars. 
 I got a stray horse the other day off at the mill 
 
64 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 and he is around in camp now. A great many 
 of the soldiers go around here and there on 
 stray horses which they have picked up. 
 Where we are now encamped we are within the 
 range of Fort Ellsworth ; so to-morrow we are 
 to move farther up in the country, in another 
 range of hills. Where we are now is a beatiful 
 place. From my window I can see the Potomac 
 and the Capitol of Washington away off in the 
 distance — also Alexandria, which now is liter- 
 ally being deserted. I don't believe there'll be 
 a general engagement again very soon, for I 
 learn that the Southern army after all is cut up 
 much worse than ours. Lincoln, Seward and 
 General McDowell came up to our camp the day 
 before yesterday, escorted by a troop of cavalry, 
 and called upon the Colonel. I have seen him 
 now several times — attended two receptions 
 when in Washington and got introduced to 
 "Abe" and "Mrs. Abe," the latter of whom is 
 far the best looking. 
 
 I understand that General McClellan is here 
 now to command the Army of the Potomac. I 
 have much more confidence in him than in Mc- 
 Dowell, for we are all of the impression that we 
 can beat the rebels two to one, on a fair field 
 and with prudent officers. George. 
 
 George, from the time of his enlistment, ap- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 65 
 
 plied himself diligently to the work of master- 
 ing military tactics and had become quite pro- 
 ficient in the art. He was also a very popular 
 officer, both with his subordinates and his asso- 
 ciates in arms. An officer of his Company in a 
 letter to a friend thus wrote : 
 
 " Captain Arrowsmith is the idol of his sol- 
 diers. The influence he wields as an officer is 
 remarkable. There is not a man of them but 
 would cheerfully follow him into the very jaws 
 of death. He seldom has occasion to adminis- 
 ter a rebuke. An order of his when once under- 
 stood he is never compelled to repeat, but has 
 the pleasure of seeing it executed with the ut- 
 most alacrity." 
 
THE TENTED FIELD. 
 
 A N ordinary history of the late war is replete 
 with information concerning the move- 
 ments and operations of armies, as supplied by 
 corps, division and brigade commanders; but 
 how little is written from the standpoint of the 
 subordinate officer, or the private ! George's 
 letters are valuable and instructive in this par- 
 ticular, as a relation not only of the daily occur- 
 rences and the minutice of camp life which en- 
 gross the attention of the humble soldier, but 
 also as presenting views of the military situation 
 as he sees it. 
 
 In the following interesting communications 
 are presented further pen pictures of life on the 
 tented field : 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 67 
 
 Camp Maxwell, V a., August 4th, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 My letters, you will observe, like everything 
 else pertaining to camp, are very irregular. 
 Food in camp is irregular with a moving regi- 
 ment, both as regards quantity and quality. 
 Sometimes, when shifting our position, we have 
 long fasts, which are not particularly conducive 
 to a prayerful mood ; at other times, potatoes, 
 peaches, chickens, onions, beets, etc., mysteri- 
 ously appear and disappear around the camp 
 fires. k 'A moment seen, then gone forever." 
 We do not, as a regiment, generally make a 
 practice of foraging ; but then, if we did not do 
 it a little, Kerrigan's regiment, which is near us, 
 would get more than their "rations." Cattle 
 are very rarely disturbed, though, it is true, 
 horses are occasionally impressed into the ser- 
 vice of their country, while a misanthropic mule 
 may sometimes be seen sedately carrying two 
 or three volunteers around on his back. Sleep- 
 ing is also irregular, and in all sorts of places, 
 from the finest of bedrooms down to the open 
 air, in a rain, with the boots of a neighbor for a 
 pillow. Tents are fine apartments though, ex- 
 cept during a heavy rain, when the ground floor 
 is apt to be quite damp, especially if on a low, 
 marshy spot. 
 
68 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Since I wrote last we have been newly uni- 
 formed, and have laid aside the old colorless 
 clothes which the men have so long worn under 
 protest. Of course this gave an entirely new 
 appearance to the regiment, which looked as if 
 it had just been "shedding." One fellow, much 
 fatigued after a long march, awoke from a long 
 sleep that afternoon and saw what seemed a lot 
 of strangers about. Loquitur, rubbing his eyes, 
 " Wh-what regiment's this ? Where's the Twen- 
 ty-sixth ? Did you see which way they went?" 
 We were inspected by a regular officer last Fri- 
 day, who is going through all the regiments 
 along the river. 
 
 The greatest confidence is felt in all quarters 
 in the ability and tact of General McClellan;and 
 his untiring activity imparts a vigor to every 
 department of the army. The forests are still 
 being levelled, entrenchments thrown up and 
 batteries erected. The Northern "mud sills" 
 are making havoc in the " sacred soil " generally, 
 enough, at least, to embitter the feelings of even 
 that part of " the chivalry " who were the best 
 inclined towards the North. I think the ideas 
 of the Northern press with reference to South- 
 ern sentiment are very erroneous. Around here 
 the inhabitants seem to be all secessionists, but of 
 course they are not forward in ventilating their 
 politics, especially when they are certain that 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 69 
 
 it will tell upon their hen-roosts and orchards. 
 A young farmer boy can scarcely be found any- 
 where around here ; all, as I suppose, being off 
 with the army. The rebel army is made of good 
 material. The Black Horse Cavalry, especially, 
 were made up almost wholly of men of culture 
 and fortune, and I've heard the greatest mortifi- 
 cation expressed by Virginians that they should 
 have been cut to pieces by the New York Fire- 
 men — the aristocracy by the sans culottes. These 
 Zouaves, by the way, are the " lions " among the 
 troops about here. Their officers are all either 
 dead or good for nothing, and they warm all 
 over recounting their adventures and showing 
 their trophies from the Bull Run battle. The 
 Zouaves, Kerrigan's, the Mozart, McCunn's, Mc- 
 Leod Murphy's and Lansing's are the regiments 
 whose camps are nearest our own. 
 
 Mr. Owen J. Lewis of your city was visiting 
 through our camp yesterday, surrounded, as 
 you may well imagine, by crowds of old ac- 
 quaintances asking for news from Utica. A 
 man in civilian's dress is quite a curiosity now, 
 and we stare at him with as much interest as 
 we used to have in a military company, when we 
 delighted to follow them barefooted through 
 the streets for miles, to the great disgust of all 
 school teachers. Mr. Lewis started this morn- 
 ing on a trip to Fortress Monroe. 
 
70 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Colonel Kerrigan was heard to pay Colonel 
 Christian and our regiment quite a compliment 
 the other day. He remarked that it was the 
 best-drilled volunteer regiment he had yet seen. 
 
 It is now Sunday night ; warm, oh, how warm, 
 but beautiful ! Grim-looking war ships are 
 lying silently in the river between here and 
 Washington. The Chaplain is holding religious 
 services at one end of the camp, with the band 
 putting in " Old Hundred " and " Coronation " 
 occasionally. From another part may be heard 
 soldiers chanting " Dixie," celebrating the virtues 
 of the " Female Smuggler," or bewailing the un- 
 timely death of " Gentle Annie." It is half-past 
 nine, and time that these noises stopped — also it's 
 time my light was put out. Aliquis. 
 
 There was what was called the " three months 
 trouble " about this time. Men who had enlist- 
 ed for three months and their time expiring, 
 insisted upon going home and refused to do 
 duty, for which cause there were several arrests. 
 They were assured that as recruiting progressed 
 those anxious to go home might do so, but the 
 necessity for their services was imperative for 
 the time being, and they were required by the 
 Government to report for duty to the Adjutant- 
 General of the United States Army at the ex- 
 piration of their term of service. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 71 
 
 A little later the Colonel of the Twenty-sixth 
 New York Regiment called about him his officers 
 and stated that he desired none to remain ex- 
 cept such as were prepared to serve the full two 
 years. Upon this fourteen officers tendered 
 their resignations, which were at once accepted 
 and their successors from among those who 
 were " in for the war " selected. 
 
 The next letter is from Camp Maxwell, 
 Virginia, under date of August 7th, 1861: 
 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning He raid : 
 
 We were aroused again last night by two 
 couriers from General McClellan, who ordered 
 us to assemble, with the rest of the brigade, im- 
 mediately along the Leesburg road. This was 
 a little after midnight, and we lay out until 
 morning, but got into no engagement. We 
 could hear the rumbling of their artillery 
 wagons, however, and it is known that some part 
 of the rebel army is not far distant. These in- 
 fantry regiments in an alarm in the night turn 
 out very quietly, and, as they have no lights, a 
 person might be not more than fifty yards from 
 the camp and not know that a man was astir. 
 If we are attacked here a battery will be sent 
 across to Washington, in apprehension, I sup- 
 pose, of feigned attacks. This lying out in case 
 
72 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 of alarm is what the boys call "going out to 
 pasture," and it isn't very pleasing when they 
 are obliged to sleep in the wet grass all night, 
 and then return to camp in the morning without 
 any engagement. 
 
 The following order was read on parade, last 
 evening, by the Colonel : 
 
 His Excellency, the President of the United States, de- 
 siring the further service of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, 
 New York State Volunteers, and having made requisi- 
 tion upon the Governor of this State, therefore, Colonel 
 Christian is hereby directed, on the expiration of the 
 term for which such regiment was mustered into the 
 service of the United States, (August 21st, 1861), to 
 report with his command to the Adjutant-General of 
 the United States Army, for duty under the order of 
 the United States Government for the remainder of the 
 term of enlistment of the regiment into the service of the 
 State of New York. 
 
 By order of the Commander-in-Chief, 
 
 D. CAMPBELL, 
 Assistant Adjutant-General. 
 
 This occasions a great deal of disappointment 
 among the men, many of whom had made 
 arrangements to go to their homes after the 
 twenty-first of August. The Colonel, however, 
 says that as recruiting progresses those very 
 anxious to go home may gradually all get a dis- 
 charge, as he will use his exertions for that ob- 
 ject at the War Department. He believes that 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 73 
 
 the war at most will not last a year, and is 
 determined himself at all events to see its close 
 in the service. 
 
 The following changes have occurred in the 
 officer roll of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, and 
 we much regret that those resigned now are 
 leaving us. The appointments, which have been 
 made from among the most trustworthy and re- 
 liable men in the regiment, have been confirmed 
 by Governor Morgan, and the new officers will 
 enter upon the discharge of their duties imme- 
 diately. The resignations were assented to by 
 General McDowell, and the officers resigning dis- 
 charged from the service of the United States : 
 
 William K. Bacon, Adjutant, vice David 
 Smith, Jr., resigned. 
 
 Ensign Gilbert A. Hay, Lieutenant of Com- 
 pany A, vice William A. Mercer, resigned. 
 
 Sergeant-Major John T. Kingsbury, Ensign of 
 Company A, vice Hay, promoted. 
 
 Lieutenant Norman W. Palmer, Captain of 
 Company E, vice Antoine Brendle, resigned. 
 
 Ensign H. D. Barnett, Lieutenant of Company 
 B, vice Norman W. Palmer, promoted. 
 
 Sergeant William J. Harlow, Ensign of Com- 
 pany B, vice Barnett, promoted. 
 
 Sergeant William C. Gardner, Lieutenant of 
 Company D, vice William P. West, promoted. 
 
 Lieutenant E. R. P. Shurly, of Company G, 
 
74 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Captain of Company C, vice John H. Fairbanks, 
 resigned. 
 
 Sergeant Hugh Leonard, Ensign of Company 
 
 D, vice Richard Hall, resigned. 
 
 Sergeant Charles B. Coventry, Lieutenant of 
 Company E, vice Oliver W. Sheldon, resigned. 
 Corporal Charles Smith, Ensign of Company 
 
 E, vice James VanVleck, resigned. 
 
 Corporal William Cone, Lieutenant of Com- 
 pany F, vice Rufus D. Patten, resigned. 
 
 Private John Williams, Ensign of Company F, 
 vice John Bevine, resigned. 
 
 Ensign Frank L. Binder, Lieutenant of Com- 
 pany G, vice E. R. P. Shurly, promoted. 
 
 Frank Lee, Ensign of Company G, vice 
 Binder, promoted. 
 
 Lieutenant William P. West, Captain of Com- 
 pany I, vice John H. Palmer, resigned. 
 
 Corporal Alonzo Thompson, Lieutenant of 
 Company I, vice Henry J. Flint, resigned. 
 
 Charles S. Johnson, Ensign of Company I, 
 vice John W. Kinney, resigned. 
 
 Ensign Emmet Harder, Lieutenant of Com- 
 pany K, vice Charles F. Baragar, resigned. 
 
 Sergeant Albert D. Lynch, Ensign of Com- 
 pany K, vice Harder, promoted. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 (The officers as above appointed have been 
 duly commissioned by Governor Morgan.) 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. *5 
 
 August 18th, 1861, we find the Twenty-sixth 
 at Alexandria again, and Aliquis writes as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Alexandria, August 18th, 1861. 
 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 We have again moved our camp, in order to 
 join the brigade to which we have been annexed 
 — General Heintzelman's. We have thus lost 
 the beautiful grounds and the splendid scenery 
 of our former location ; but we are glad to find 
 ourselves in a brigade where affairs will be con- 
 ducted with more system. This moving a regi- 
 ment after it gets well settled down, is a great 
 nuisance, and makes much confusion for a short 
 time. If we only had some women to scold the 
 teamsters, it would be as good as an ordinary 
 May Day. The army drivers use only one line 
 to their four horses, and this occasions the use 
 of quite a variety of terms to their horses, which 
 increases to a most hideous jargon whenever 
 about a dozen teamsters get tangled up in a 
 stumpy field. All the camp articles are thrown 
 into these large wagons in beautiful confusion. 
 Through the opening in the rear of the wagons 
 may be seen a musket, a man's leg, a knapsack 
 and a camp pail. Two men march with each 
 wagon to guard it, and away they go, the regi- 
 ment just ahead of them. Well, when we get 
 
76 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 to the new ground, the wagons are unloaded in 
 the rain, (for it is always as sure to rain when 
 we "' move " as it is when a Sabbath-school gets 
 up a picnic) — then the companies go to work 
 putting up their tents, and after the usual 
 amount of shouting and quarrelling, things 
 finally settle down into the old order. Enter- 
 prising men then make a variety of fire-places 
 in the ground, into which some very luxurious 
 individual may place a joint of stove pipe. Per- 
 haps the same pampered person that revels amid 
 these conveniences may get some boards off 
 from a fence and put a floor in his tent to sleep 
 upon ; but most of us live like plain volunteers. 
 I suppose it is very novel and pleasant around 
 in York state for your military companies to 
 "camp out" about a week in nice weather, with 
 buffalo robes and champagne, and stand guard, 
 watching in great suspicion for the approach 
 of an enemy from a neighboring corn field. 
 But "camping out" loses its novelty after a 
 few months, and standing guard becomes a 
 stern reality when it is known that Jackson's 
 brothers can't be broken of their very impolite 
 habit of shooting our pickets. Every one of 
 these volunteers whom the Northern citizens 
 encouraged to go to. war for their country, and 
 whom you cheered and told to shoot Jeff Davis, 
 and whom you gave five dollars and advised 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 77 
 
 not to get killed, ole feller — though they never 
 get into a pitched battle, are nevertheless enti- 
 tled to great credit for the instances of self- 
 denial in their lives as soldiers. The volunteers 
 are now the only force the country can rely 
 upon. The regular army is now only a fossil 
 relic of something that once was of some im- 
 portance. Now it is only of use as a police 
 force, for which it is usually employed. Colonel 
 Christian had occasion the other day to ex- 
 press nearly these same opinions to a regular 
 captain, and he "owned the corn," expressing 
 his preference for the volunteers. Strange to 
 say, political favoritism is exhibited as much 
 as ever in the army appointments. Young sons 
 of rich politicians, who bid fair to be good 
 for nothing else, can usually be lieutenants in 
 the army. In the style of righting which this 
 war brings out, men will have to act as indi- 
 viduals very often with the lines broken, and 
 the personal identity of the men ought not to 
 be swallowed up in the regiment, as is too much 
 the result of the intellect-deadening drill in the 
 regular army. Hurrah for the volunteer ! 
 
 Our brigade is composed of four regiments, 
 the Sixteenth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh 
 New York, and the Fifth Maine. General 
 Heintzleman is quite unwell, and is at Washing- 
 ton, while Colonel Davis is at present in com- 
 
78 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 mand. Colonel Christian is the second in rank. 
 Our situation is to the extreme south of the 
 Army of the Potomac, and our pickets extend 
 nearly down to Mount Vernon. The regiments 
 in the brigade take turns sending out pickets, 
 and the companies in the regiment take turns 
 going. Three of our companies have gone out 
 to-day with two field pieces. Before we left our 
 old camp our pickets out by Bailey's Cross 
 Roads had a sort of skirmish with some rebel 
 horsemen. We lost no men, but as near as we 
 could learn from the inhabitants around there, 
 and what our men themselves saw, six of the 
 enemy were unhorsed. I met an old school- 
 mate at the Provost Marshal's, the other day, 
 under arrest as a spy. He was very glad to see 
 me, and in talking over old times we forgot 
 that it was our duy to cut each other's throats. 
 His name is John Bradley ; he lives in Alex- 
 andria, and is a secessionist. " Sich is life." 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
DESTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE. 
 
 /^APTAIN ARROWSMITH and his company 
 ^-^ acting under orders take an active part in 
 the destruction of the bridge over Hunting Run 
 to prevent its use by the enemy and the capture 
 of Alexandria. A description of this affair is 
 contained in a communication to the Utica Herald 
 from Alexandria under date of August 18th, 1861, 
 but not from the pen of Aliquis, as follows : 
 
 Headquarters 26th N. Y. Volunteers, ) 
 Alexandria, Va., August 18th. ) 
 
 To the Editor of the Utiea Morning Herald: 
 
 A brief description of two nights' duty and the 
 destruction of the bridge over Hunting Run 
 will no doubt be interesting to you. 
 
 OUR SITUATION. 
 
 A mile or two below Alexandria a great bay 
 
80 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 sets back from the Potomac into the western 
 shore ; on the north it bends around a promon- 
 tory until it edges upon the suburbs of the city, 
 while upon the south are high and wooded lands, 
 threaded by a score of roads leading to the 
 enemy's camp only a few miles distant. The 
 Mount Vernon road which crosses this important 
 bridge intersects all these roads. 
 
 The bridge was nearly half a mile in length, 
 consisting of a causeway from either shore sev- 
 eral rods in length, connected by a substantial 
 oaken structure, and crossed the Run about one 
 mile from the Potomac. 
 
 A sluggish stream winds through the meadows 
 at the base of the hills, emptying into the Run 
 about two miles from the river. This stream 
 and the Run are known as " Hunting Run." 
 They form the dividing line of the two great 
 armies on the south of our position. 
 
 The camps of the Sixteenth, Twenty-sixth and 
 Twenty-seventh New York Volunteers and Fifth 
 Maine, are located in the meadow, just upon the 
 northern edge of these waters. 
 
 ONE NIGHT'S DUTY. 
 
 Last Sunday the Colonel sent three companies 
 across the bridge, conducted by Captains Jen- 
 nings, West and Blackwell ; these companies 
 separated on the opposite side, each taking 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 81 
 
 different roads, and proceeding from four to six 
 miles toward the enemy, threw out their pickets 
 and remained till next morning. 
 
 About two o'clock in the morning they faintly 
 heard voices apparently giving commands in 
 the distance. Captain Jennings cautiously ap- 
 proached a mile beyond, and plainly heard the 
 deadened tramp of a large column of infantry. 
 
 It was late in the day of Monday when the 
 companies came back to camp. The Colonel, 
 upon hearing their report, immediately mounted 
 his horse and, accompanied by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Richardson and Major Jennings, went 
 to the bridge, and to their surprise found it 
 guarded by only nine men of the Twenty-seventh 
 New York Regiment. Proceeding to the head- 
 quarters of General Franklin, Colonel Christian 
 reported the case, and asked permission to be- 
 come responsible for the security of the road 
 against any approach of the enemy ; for this 
 duty it was determined to send a company. 
 
 A NIGHT IN THE RAIN. 
 
 Captain Arrowsmith, upon his request, was 
 assigned this duty. Adjutant Bacon also ac- 
 companied them as a volunteer. The night was 
 one of the most dismal I ever saw ; the rain fell 
 in torrents. The men were obliged to stand 
 along the bridge, exposed to the full vigor of 
 
82 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 the storm — while the fearless Captain and our 
 promising young Adjutant occasionally crossed 
 toward the hills and listened for an expected 
 approach. Red and yellow rockets were re- 
 peatedly thrown from the camps of the enemy, 
 which marked a chain of regiments from the 
 river for several miles towards Manassas. In 
 the morning the company returned to camp, 
 and, notwithstanding their sleepless night, as 
 usual went through the duties of the day. 
 
 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE. 
 
 In the edge of last evening, by invitation of 
 Colonel Christian, I accompanied him for the 
 first time to the bridge. We then called on 
 Colonel Davies (at present commanding this 
 Brigade), to whom the Colonel plainly stated 
 the negligence in allowing the bridge to remain 
 — how easily with a howitzer the enemy could 
 sweep our infantry from it — and remarked that 
 we were carrying on the war as though we 
 would not inconvenience the enemy, injure his 
 property, or hurt any of them, and proposed 
 that we take the responsibility of destroying the 
 bridge. The Colonel's assent being given, two 
 companies, one of the Twenty-sixth and the 
 other of the Twenty-seventh, proceeded to the 
 work, and this morning saw but a few forlorn 
 timbers where yesterday stood a noble structure. 
 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 06 
 
 Thus war compels the destruction in a day of 
 many works which have cost months of labor ; 
 but in destroying this bridge we cut off one of 
 the most feasible approaches of the enemy upon 
 Alexandria. 
 
 Adjutant William Kirkland Bacon referred to 
 in the above letter was a warm friend of Captain 
 Arrowsmith. He was only nineteen years of 
 age, and had left Hamilton College to enroll 
 himself as a private in defence of his country. 
 He is described as the soul of honor and pos- 
 sessed of an unsullied personal purity. He dis- 
 tinguished himself by his bravery upon a num- 
 ber of battle-fields, receiving a grievous wound 
 at Manassas, and falling mortally wounded at 
 the battle of Fredericksburgh. 
 
 In a private letter to his parents, Adjutant 
 Bacon writes concerning the guarding of the 
 bridge over Hunting Run where he served with 
 Captain Arrowsmith as follows : 
 
 " Four or five days ago I accompanied Captain 
 Arrowsmith, with part of his men and a number 
 from Company C, in charge of Ensign Neill, to 
 guard a bridge which crosses Hunting Run and 
 connects Alexandria with the Mount Vernon 
 road. The night was dark and stormy, and the 
 rain fell in torrents. Before morning I was 
 
84 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 drenched to the skin, and my comrades fared no 
 better. My revolver and sword became wet, 
 and the next day were so rusty that it took 
 several hours to clean them. I do not think the 
 Captain and myself, who are quite intimate 
 friends, thought very much at the time of the 
 importance of the mission on which we were 
 sent. We sat together, and talked about all the 
 old times at home, and contrasted our condition 
 at the time with the pleasant, cheerful firesides 
 there, where we could easily enjoy the greatest 
 comfort and luxury in the world. How foolish, 
 we thought, would we be considered if we should 
 even run out for a few moments in the rain at 
 home. Here, however, we were doing what was 
 rendering our country some little service. If 
 the secessionists had obtained possession of the 
 bridge, they could have taken Alexandria with- 
 out a blow, and, it might be, have caused another 
 such disastrous rout as that at Bull's Run. We 
 had really the distinguished honor of volunteer- 
 ing to protect (with our lives if need be) one of 
 the most important outposts of the Federal 
 army. When one sees how much the country 
 needs his services at this crisis, can he, with 
 any degree of self-satisfaction, consent to return 
 home, however much he would love to see once 
 more those whom he has left behind ? For my 
 own part, sooner than leave the service of my 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 85 
 
 country, to which I am indebted for the bless- 
 ings of freedom and almost unbounded liberty, 
 I would consent to die the worst of deaths. Our 
 country is now passing through a most terribly 
 trying ordeal, but I hope she will come out puri- 
 fied by the test. God is on our side, and with 
 His help we will forever crush out the hydra- 
 headed monster of secession; and, I hope, settle, 
 once and for all, the question — so often agitated 
 — of slavery. 
 
 "We will probably remain here for about a 
 month longer, and then advance towards Manas- 
 sas. The great army, thousands of which are 
 now pouring into Washington daily, will soon 
 be ready to take the places of the regiments 
 now stationed here and all along this side of the 
 Potomac. It may be that the rebels, anticipat- 
 ing our advance, will make a counter movement, 
 and attempt to force our lines back upon Wash- 
 ington, or further if possible. This, however, I 
 do not think will be done, for, if accounts are 
 true, the rebel army is in a far worse state 
 of demoralization than ours. The payment of 
 troops in scrip and corporation currency — such 
 as we used to call ' shinplasters ' — must be suf- 
 ficient of itself to cause complaint and dissatis- 
 faction. It is said, too, that as the Confederate 
 election must soon take place, Davis, Lee and 
 Beauregard are at ' sword's points.' This would 
 
86 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 not be very unnatural, for three men as am- 
 bitious as they are never pull well together." 
 
 The following extract is from a letter of 
 George to his father, dated September ist, 1861, 
 from Alexandria, Camp Vernon, expressing his 
 desire not to miss any work : 
 
 "This brigade is the extreme left of the army 
 here. I'm picketing and scouting and have been 
 down on the Washington estates and in view of 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 "It seems to me that summer has passed very 
 quickly; to-day is the first of autumn. What 
 fighting there is to be done will have to be done 
 up before January I suppose. If we go into 
 winter quarters then I'll come home on furlough 
 right away, but at present I'm afraid that I'd 
 just miss all the work if I should leave now. 
 We are daily expecting an engagement and we 
 are confident as to the result. We see balloons, 
 rockets and fires in the rebel camp nearly every 
 night. I went the other night so near them 
 with some pickets that we beat up a * long roll ' 
 in their camp which we could hear distinctly. 
 
 "I'm now 'color captain,' that is, occupy the 
 position in line just to the right of the centre. 
 I am well and hard at work." 
 
 
A DESCRIPTION OF ALEXANDRIA. 
 
 'T'HE following bright letter contains among 
 other things a flash-light picture of Alex- 
 andria : 
 
 Alexandria, Va., September 3d, 1S61. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Hera la 7 : 
 
 Alexandria is an old-looking town to a North- 
 erner. An old-looking place it is, and in this 
 the Virginians take great pride, and they speak 
 of the reputation it had as a shipping port in 
 the Revolution. There is the old engine house 
 of the Friendship Company, to which one 
 George Washington, of Mount Vernon, once be- 
 longed. Here is the road along which Braddock 
 proceeded on his ill-fated expedition. But one 
 needs some such recollections to divert his at- 
 tention, for it abounds in unpleasant odors of 
 
88 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 all descriptions. Every corner we turn there 
 appears to be a new smell, and even the drug 
 stores present their unfavorable side to the pas- 
 senger. There is only one thing worse in Alex- 
 andria than its odor, and that is its pavements. 
 If a new geographer should come on its streets, 
 and not know it was intentionally paved, he 
 would term it a " very rough and rocky region, 
 and only visited by travelers with great risks." 
 But Afexandria was really paved, a part of it 
 during the Revolutionary War, and there have 
 been no essential repairs since. It is, however, 
 called by the natives " a right smart chance of a 
 town." It abounds in negroes, drug stores, 
 confectioneries, mosquitoes, and at present, sol- 
 diers. The military police seem as omnipresent, 
 I suppose, as those of Paris — ferreting out spies, 
 searching buildings for concealed arms, arrest- 
 ing disorderly soldiers, and confining gentlemen 
 who venture around too much without a pass, 
 sending them to the Provost Marshal's, very 
 red and indignant, between two muskets. The 
 " slave pen," once the scene of the liveliest trade 
 in Alexandria, is now used as a military prison. 
 Courts Martial are now a fixed institution in the 
 town, and it is very interesting to attend them 
 and witness the examination of suspected citi- 
 zens, spies, and deserters. The Seventeenth 
 New York Regiment is now occupying and 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 89 
 
 guarding the town; Fort Ellsworth, which they 
 formerly held, being now manned by a strong 
 body of sailors. 
 
 Out by Bailey's Cross Roads, both armies are 
 at work night and day, throwing up intrench- 
 ments right in sight of each other. Over a 
 thousand men on each side are continually 
 wielding the pickaxe and spade, preparing, I 
 suppose, for a battle near Washington, which is 
 inevitably to decide the contest. There is occa- 
 sionally a shot exchanged just by way of recog- 
 nition to officers who visit the works on horse- 
 back. Colonel Christian, accompanied by other 
 officers, frequently rides out to view the progress 
 of the intrenchments. 
 
 Big time among the boys yesterday. Found 
 three "feminine" ambrotypes in the bottom of 
 a box of clothing that had never before been 
 overhauled ; startling effect upon the personal 
 appearance of the troops from these ambrotypes ; 
 thanks to the fair unknown who have furnished 
 these "three episodes," as Ward would call 
 them. 
 
 Our regiment now have the black army hats 
 of the style of the seventeenth century, with 
 plumes and ornaments. If the men were only 
 waist deep in the water, they would pass very 
 well for the " Landing of the Pilgrims." The 
 volunteer force is gradually becoming uniform 
 
90 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 in its dress, a thing which the Bull Run experi- 
 ence shows to be most desirable. 
 
 I have been much disappointed with the cli- 
 mate of Virginia. For the last three weeks there 
 has been but little warm weather, and the nights 
 are indeed quite cold. Those who came South 
 illy provided with clothing have made a great 
 mistake, and it is probably these deluded per- 
 sons that we hear practising "double quick " up 
 and down the company streets towards morning. 
 
 The two years' excitement has all subsided, 
 and the daily expectation of a battle absorbs 
 everything else. " Give us something to do," 
 the men say, " and we will stay cheerfully as 
 long as necessary." There is every probability 
 that the old regiments will have something to 
 do in the autumn campaign, for it will doubtless 
 be the policy of the General to leave the lately 
 formed regiments to protect Washington. You 
 may rest assured that this regiment is none the 
 less eager for service, and no less patriotic on 
 account of the crisis through which this, in com- 
 mon with many others, has passed. Leave a 
 wide margin for exaggeration in estimating the 
 reliability of news from Washington, for it is 
 verily a city of sensations. We are really 
 obliged to look in the New York papers to get 
 the news from the army, and in fact, they get up 
 incidents so much better, and tell of feats so 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 91 
 
 much more gallant and escapes so much more 
 miraculous than we hear of here, that it is very 
 pleasant to get information through that channel. 
 I heard it rumored last night that General Mc- 
 Dowell was arrested for treason. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 A reason for the inactivity complained of in 
 the last letter was the fact that the Twenty-sixth 
 Regiment was too well disciplined to be spared 
 from the force reserved for the protection of 
 Washington, though the Colonel and other 
 officers had made strenuous efforts to be allowed 
 to join the advancing army. They were not 
 idle, however. They built and occupied Fort 
 Lyon, then one of the strongest fortifications of 
 the kind in Virginia. 
 
BEAUTIFUL CAMP MARY. 
 
 " I ^HE regiment's camp is now moved to a 
 more comfortable place, near the bank of 
 the Potomac, where Aliquis discusses various 
 regimental matters. 
 
 Camp Mary, September 12th, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 Again we have moved, and this time to a 
 beautiful piece of ground to which Colonel 
 Christian has given the name that heads this 
 letter. It is over Hunting Run, where we have 
 moved, which carries us still more to the left 
 of the Grand Army of the Potomac — the left 
 regiment in the left Brigade. We are now 
 under the command of General Slocum, an offi- 
 cer of whom we all have the highest ideas. Let- 
 ters to the regiment, however, still occasionally 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 93 
 
 come directed to Colonel McCunn or General 
 Heintzleman's Brigade, an error which corre- 
 spondents should take care to correct. Our 
 Brigade is to be posted behind a line of intrench- 
 ments, and nearly our whole force is working 
 on them every day; we already have a fine rifle 
 pit in our front. Our regiment came up yester- 
 day afternoon, and last night was the only one 
 on this side of the river. In the evening some 
 picket firing off in front of us kept us on the 
 alert for a while ; nothing serious, however, oc- 
 curred, though it is reported to-day that some 
 of the Maine boys were captured. To-day the 
 rest of the Brigade have been moving up, to- 
 gether with a company of dragoons, and Cap- 
 tain Thompson's battery, so that affairs now 
 look a little more sociable. We now really are 
 finely situated, and we have taken great care to 
 make the camp comfortable. An unoccupied 
 house near by was taken down to make floors to 
 the tents, the fences in the neighborhood being 
 rather defective. Captain Palmer has charge 
 of a squad of men daily employed in making a 
 log building for the convenience of the guard, 
 facetiously called " Fort Palmer." Yesterday 
 afternoon we heard the skirmish up at the other 
 end of the line, of which you have of course 
 heard, but reported fighting is now so common 
 a topic that it creates but little interest. 
 
94 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Picketing is a favorite duty with the men and 
 officers of the regiment. There is a most solemn 
 stillness along the roads that lead from Alex- 
 andria down into the country, and you may 
 travel miles and see scarcely a living being, and 
 hear only the chirping of insects or the singing 
 of birds. I lay out all night not long since, on 
 a hill at the outposts of the Federal lines. I 
 never saw a more beautiful landscape. As the 
 moon rose up slowly and made the still Potomac 
 appear as a flare of light, the stillness had a 
 drowsy effect upon us all. I lay, thinking of the 
 prospect of a fight, when five horsemen, armed 
 to the teeth, suddenly rode up to my comrade 
 and myself, and ordered us to surrender. Know- 
 ing the danger of grasping my musket, I did 
 not make the attempt, but rising suddenly, I 
 seized the leader by the throat — " Look here, 
 you thunderin' fool, if you don't sleep a little 
 more quiet, you'll get punched in the eye ! " I'll 
 never forgive Jim for spoiling that heroic dream. 
 
 Mortimer Thompson, " Doesticks," has been 
 rusticating in our regiment for two or three 
 weeks, and is an "honorary member" of the 
 Colonel's staff. He is continually scouring over 
 the country, going out with the pickets, etc., and 
 seems to be in love with soldiering. 
 
 The three months' question has now "gone 
 glimmering in the dream of things that were," 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 95 
 
 and the regiment is running like clockwork. I 
 am obliged to inform you that no men were shot 
 for insubordination, at the risk, however, of 
 spoiling the effect of some fine newspaper para- 
 graphs. Our Adjutant proves himself a very 
 active and able officer, and has become very 
 popular in the regiment. The Colonel and the 
 company officers are continually in receipt of 
 letters from mothers, wives and fathers of 
 soldiers soliciting discharges and furloughs for 
 them. They seem to have a sort of vague idea 
 that the officers can just summarily send the 
 men home in a " Depart, go in peace " style. At 
 most, all the Colonel can do is to make applica- 
 tion for the discharges, which he knows very 
 well would never be granted, unless in cases of 
 marked physical debility. To give every letter 
 received due attention, would require the in- 
 dividual efforts of every officer in the regiment, 
 for a discharge has to be " lobbied " through 
 like a bill in the Legislature. Besides these ap- 
 plications, there are innumerable applications 
 for officers' positions. Young John Smith or 
 some one has just got his education ; his father 
 Mr. Smith or some one, a man of high respect- 
 ability, wishes him to fight for the honor of his 
 country's flag, but at the same time does not 
 wholly undervalue the "loaves and fishes." 
 Young John is described as not being altogether 
 
96 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 inexperienced in military, having been fourth 
 corporal in the Tenth Wide Awakes, and has 
 witnessed several encampments of the Smithville 
 Blues, therefore an application is made that 
 Smith may have an office, that eventually he 
 may become General McSmith perhaps. Our 
 regiment has in its non-commissioned officers 
 and privates ample material for good officers, 
 and it is really unjust to them that strangers' 
 claims should be preferred to the claims of those 
 whose previous stations and course of duty 
 render them eligible to the positions. This is 
 the principle which the Colonel evidently aims 
 to observe in the selection of his officers. 
 
 Our regiment now numbers eight hundred and 
 thirty men, and some recruits we learn are now 
 on their way here. We have had comparatively 
 little sickness amongst us, and no deaths by dis- 
 ease that I am aware of. Our band from Roch- 
 ester has been discharged, and that seems to 
 leave a vacant place in the regiment. But really 
 a brass band, like an elephant, is a cumbersome 
 sort of luxury to keep. They are not expected 
 to fight, and yet a base drum for instance is not 
 a handy thing to move with when cavalry are in 
 pursuit. We have occasionally to suffer some 
 loss from disability and a committee sits every 
 Monday in Alexandria to receive applications for 
 discharges. Aliquis. 
 
A VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 " I 'HE next contribution from the pen of Ali- 
 quis contains a charming description of 
 his visit to Mount Vernon. 
 
 Camp Mary, September 19th, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 Since my last letter, I have visited Mount 
 Vernon, and have "done" all the sights and 
 wonders of that place. This place is not now 
 occupied by re*bels, but is occasionally visited 
 by scouting parties of both sides. We enter the 
 Mount Vernon farm long before we get to the 
 mansion itself, which is surrounded by quite 
 large forests. The farm, as originally held by 
 the General, consisted of 7,600 acres now owned 
 by a large number of persons, mostly of North- 
 ern birth— from New York and New Jersey. 
 
98 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 The residence of Washington was indeed most 
 beautiful. Nature here is profuse in her gifts, 
 and the finest taste was exhibited in the plan 
 and the decorations of the place — everything 
 ample and spacious, and no doubt these mag- 
 nificent surroundings have had their influence 
 in preserving in Washington that noble love of 
 nature and humanity for which he was so noted. 
 Well, my friend and I come up to the mansion 
 and are escorted by a lady of the Association, 
 who informs us that we are requested to leave 
 our muskets at the house while we go about the 
 grounds. We take a suspicious look about us, 
 and with a ghastly smile consent to let the lady 
 keep our guns ; not, however, without some 
 reluctance. We then, after taking another 
 cautious look around us, proceed to weep duly 
 over the tomb of Washington, taking the pre- 
 caution, however, to assure ourselves that it is 
 not the ice house, which much resembles it, and 
 which we understand is sometimes ''lingered 
 over" with much sadness by foreign tourists. 
 The tomb is really in a sad condition, and rank 
 weeds are intruding themselves through the iron 
 grate that forms the door. There are near the 
 tomb monuments of other members of the family, 
 among them that of Judge Bushrod Washington. 
 The out-houses around the grounds are about 
 twenty-five in number, and not one but that had 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSHITH. 99 
 
 the appearance of being constructed with a view 
 to ornament as well as utility. After parading 
 around the grounds very grandly, and imagining 
 ourselves General Washington taking a walk 
 before breakfast, we proceed to view the main 
 house, which is much larger than I supposed. 
 The first thing that strikes us is the key of the 
 Bastile, hanging in a case on the wall. After 
 informing another visitor that the Bastile was 
 not a smoke house and that this was not the key 
 of the smoke house, we pass through the ample 
 rooms and see the old pictures, the holsters, the 
 saddles, the surveyor's tripod, and finally the 
 harpsichord made in Cheapside, London, which 
 we essay to play upon, to the great amusement 
 of " Mount Vernon's Association." We then ex- 
 press a wish to go up stairs, but are forbidden 
 by the attendant, who informs us that the upper 
 story is occupied by the ladies, so we are denied 
 the pleasure of seeing the antique specimens 
 there congregated. 
 
 I returned from Mount Vernon, hardly able 
 to realize that I had been there — hardly able to 
 realize that one was obliged to visit the tomb of 
 our country's founder and Father, armed against 
 a treason participated in by descendants of his 
 own family —hardly able to realize that Wash- 
 ington's remains lie in the neutral ground be- 
 tween two mighty armies, each claiming to as- 
 
100 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 semble in defense of the principles for which he 
 labored. 
 
 The enemy now seem to be most near us in 
 the direction of Fairfax. The Colonel, the Ad- 
 jutant and Captain Palmer, with four dragoons, 
 rode out yesterday until they saw an encamp- 
 ment of them and some artillery, over beyond 
 Bush Hill. While the party were there, General 
 McClellan, at Fort Taylor, ordered some shells 
 to be thrown at the enemy, which exploded not 
 far from them. The enemy, the Colonel says, 
 responded in defiance with a field piece. 
 
 General McClellan comes around visiting the 
 camps occasionally, and seems to be particularly 
 interested in strengthening the left flank of the 
 army. He was in our camp last Tuesday, and 
 he, in company with Colonels Christian and 
 Bartlett, visited the pickets and outposts of our 
 brigade. Those acquainted with him report 
 him to be a sociable, modest man, much addicted 
 to joking and smoking, but of fine sensibilities. 
 
 We are daily expecting to have our muskets 
 exchanged for the Springfield rifles. Probably 
 in a general engagement, a musket would be 
 preferable to a rifle, as they become clogged less 
 easily, and may be fired with greater rapidity ; 
 but for scouting or skirmishing, rifles are far 
 superior. Since I last wrote, one of our men has 
 been very badly wounded, having been shot 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 101 
 
 while wandering beyond our pickets on the 
 Richmond road. Two men rose from behind a 
 log, and coolly firing at him ran away them- 
 selves, not daring to approach him after he was 
 lying on the ground. This barbarous custom of 
 shooting outposts does not seem to abate much, 
 and they hunt each other like Indians. At one 
 point the rebel pickets are on one side of a peach 
 orchard and ours on the other ; so that between 
 the two, the fruit does not get much stolen. At 
 another point, the federal troops occupy a church 
 in the day time, and the rebels at night ; and 
 they both keep their hours with remarkable 
 precision. 
 
 The fort upon which we are at work every 
 day will be by far the largest on this side of the 
 river, and will cover several acres of ground. It 
 is on a fine hill, commanding a view of Fort 
 Ellsworth, Fort Taylor, and a rebel post on 
 Mason's Hill. About two thousand men are at 
 work with the picks and spades every day. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 
SKIRMISH AT POHICH CHURCH. 
 
 T AM indebted to Mr. Stephen V. Arrowsmith 
 for the following account of a skirmish, in 
 which two companies commanded by Captain 
 Arrowsmith were engaged at a place called 
 Pohich Church, where after a rough march of 
 eight miles before daylight he surprises the 
 enemy at daybreak and captures what was most 
 desirable at that immediate juncture — an invit- 
 ing breakfast. 
 
 "At the skirmish of Pohich Church, he was 
 the officer in command, and conducted two 
 companies of his regiment over a new coun- 
 try for a distance of seven or eight miles to sur- 
 prise, and if possible, capture a company of 
 rebel cavalry who were quartered in the church 
 and who were robbing and plundering the Union 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 103 
 
 farmers in the vicinity. On approaching the 
 church, they found one of the rebel pickets, 
 who was posted at some distance from the 
 church, in order to guard against surprise. As 
 soon as he could see by the imperfect light (for 
 it was just at daybreak in the morning), that 
 the approaching body were Unionists, he im- 
 mediately rode in and gave the alarm to his 
 companions, who were just in the act of sitting 
 down to enjoy their warm breakfast of the best 
 and most substantial fare that the neighbor- 
 ing rich farms could produce. The surprise 
 was complete. The alarm was given — the bugle 
 sounded 'To Horse!' and they immediately 
 mounted their horses and stood in readiness to 
 resist an attack. 
 
 " George drew his men up in line and gave 
 the command ' Fire ! ' when several of the rebels 
 were seen to roll from their horses, and the rest 
 retreated across a field and dismounted behind 
 a fence, where they fired several ineffectual 
 volleys and fled. George, in the meantime, 
 marched his men into the church, where they 
 took possession of the still untouched and invit- 
 ing breakfast and refreshed themselves after 
 their long and tiresome march." 
 
A WAR CAMP IN AUTUMN. 
 
 'T^HE season is now well advanced. The 
 nights are getting cold, and fires are blaz- 
 ing in the evening, amid the festivities of camp 
 life. The bracing air revives the spirits of the 
 soldiers and they are eager for a great army 
 movement. The following letters are descrip- 
 tive of an autumn war camp : 
 
 Camp Franklin, Va., October 15th, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 The organization of divisions has again com- 
 pelled us to move, so that I now almost regard 
 myself a second Wandering Jew. We now seem 
 to be situated right in the center of the army, 
 near the Fairfax Seminary — have but little 
 picketing to do, and no picking on intrench- 
 ments, and the latter, I assure you, is regarded 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 105 
 
 as no privation. Another brigade is now at 
 work finishing Fort Lyon, and ours has again 
 resumed drilling. 
 
 The nights are now getting very cold, and 
 every stitch of clothing available is put into use. 
 You may realize what I mean by taking a single 
 blanket and sleeping out on the piazza some 
 night — any one who wishes to try it. Yet a 
 great many soldiers in the army now are unable 
 to get that single blanket even, though the 
 department at Washington is evidently making 
 great efforts to supply them. Overcoats are 
 also very scarce in some of the regiments ; but I 
 understand there is soon to be an abundant sup- 
 ply of them. Comfortable camp fires are now 
 made in the evening, and the bracing air seems 
 to put the men around them in the best of spirits. 
 In one direction I hear there is a lively quadrille, 
 and a fiddler, with a vivid imagination, calling 
 out, " Ladies change ! " and " Ladies to the 
 right ! " with the utmost gravity. A great many 
 in the regiment have fixed fire places in their 
 tents, in the following manner : A trench is 
 dug, four or five feet long, one end within and 
 the other outside the tent. This is covered with 
 stones or bricks, and a piece of pipe or a barrel 
 connects with the opening outside, to carry off 
 the smoke. At the inner opening a fire is made, 
 which heats up a tent very well, and very rarely 
 
106 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 turns any smoke on the inside — unless, of course, 
 an old hat or a board is found to be placed over 
 the pipe outside. This is fine weather now for a 
 great movement of some kind, and we suppose 
 one is soon to be made. Last Saturday every 
 one expected a battle ; the rebels had made a 
 sudden advance, but they made as sudden a 
 withdrawal immediately afterward. 
 
 Most of the officers of this regiment on last 
 fast day made a resolution to abstain from the 
 use of all intoxicating liquors, which is at least 
 one "forward movement" made. While at work 
 on the fort, a gill of whiskey was dealt out to 
 each man every day, which sometimes proved 
 ruinous to all discipline and order. However, 
 that is now all stopped. As a general thing 
 there is but very little drunkenness to be seen 
 through the army, considering the circum- 
 stances. 
 
 In obedience to orders recently issued, many 
 horses and other valuable property which had 
 been taken from the " Secesh " by our officers 
 and men have been given up to headquarters, 
 and some have thereby returned to their owners. 
 Much of this sort of property, however, has been 
 sold to the government in Washington, or ship- 
 ped north. It seems to me to be the very worst 
 feature of war — the deleterious influence it must 
 have on the morals of a people, for the- distinc 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 107 
 
 tion between military pillaging and stealing is 
 often very fine and subtle. Those families just 
 between the two armies have really a dangerous 
 and harassed life. They endeavor, of course, to 
 take a neutral course, which only subjects them 
 to occasional marauds from both parties, and 
 sometimes skirmishes around their dwellings. 
 Many wealthy families have been driven to very 
 coarse living, owing to the stoppage of com- 
 munication with the towns, and begin to realize 
 the folly of Virginia in making her soil the bat- 
 tle ground. There is many an aristocratic family 
 here who are secessionists, I believe, just for the 
 sake of keeping their reputation as F. F. V.'s. 
 Many of these, by the way, own dilapidated, 
 worn out old farms, and manage* to keep up 
 a sort of Turveydrop gentility only by selling 
 negroes. However scarce the cash or shabby 
 the servants, there must be a fine dwelling-house 
 with a spacious door-yard and very showy en- 
 trance. Here these hospitable Virginians sit and 
 muse on the antiquity and respectability of their 
 families, and show their visitors their household 
 relics. I have seen at least a dozen pianos, each 
 of which was the first ever brought into Virginia, 
 and numerous clocks which had once belonged 
 to George Washington. I think the old General 
 must have had a way of giving furniture to all 
 of his acquaintances, instead of locks of hair, 
 
108 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 when he was getting old, by the souvenirs I find. 
 The Virginia gentleman is very hospitable, and 
 if you'll only praise his horses, and not tamper 
 with his negroes, he'll treat you finely, without 
 asking your politics. At present his situation 
 makes him very politic, and he treats officers of 
 both armies out of the same bottle, and often 
 the same day. So much for our " Secesh " ac- 
 quaintances in Virginia. A broken-winded bu- 
 gler is now making night hideous, by way of 
 informing us that it is time the lights were out 
 — so here goes ! Aliquis. 
 
 Four days later he writes to his brother from 
 the same place : " It is now nearly midnight 
 and it is raining very hard, but I have now got 
 fixed so that the weather does not bother me. 
 I have a 'contraband' whom I got out beyond 
 the pickets — a very faithful fellow, who has 
 made a rude floor to my tent, and a kind of bed 
 for me under which he sleeps contentedly. Be- 
 sides the 'contraband' and the bed, the furni- 
 ture of my tent consists of a trunk, a large box 
 for company clothing, a stand, a fine armed chair 
 which I got from the officer's quarters out at 
 Pohich church in a foray which we made against 
 the rebels — a box of tobacco, and sundry small 
 articles. We have moved again since I last 
 wrote and are no longer on the left flank, but 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 109 
 
 near the centre of the army — a situation requir- 
 ing not so much vigilance as the other. We are 
 in Slocum's brigade and General Franklin's divis- 
 ion, which you may as well notice in directing 
 your letters. Kearney's New T Jersey brigade is 
 not far from us and they have an excellent repu- 
 tation. I saw Captain Mount, of Freehold, the 
 other day in Alexandria where his company is 
 performing guard duty. Our brigade has now 
 of course got through working on Fort Lyon 
 and has gone to drilling again. This afternoon I 
 w r atched a balloon reconnoissance by some aero- 
 naut, who came down just before dark near our 
 camp." 
 
 Camp Franklin, Va., Nov. ioth, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 Camp life is now dull, most excruciatingly 
 dull. Where we are now situated we feel about 
 as secure as we did at Elmira, and have almost 
 forgotten what we came here for — the chief ob- 
 ject of the campaign being, in appearance, to 
 keep warm. All who have any good pretext are 
 endeavoring to get leaves of absence, and some 
 successfully. As for me, my wife and children 
 are so provokingly healthy, and my appetite so 
 wofully good, that I am obliged to remain here, 
 disgusted with the general inactivity, and won- 
 dering what will turn up next. 
 
110 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 I notice that the ladies of the North are al- 
 ready responding to the numerous calls for 
 blankets with a renewed liberality. The little 
 town of Taberg, for instance, with not over five 
 hundred voters, has sent Company E two im- 
 mense boxes of useful clothing, consisting chiefly 
 of blankets and socks. The former were parti- 
 cularly acceptable, but not more so than a large 
 number of bottles containing "hospital stores," 
 known in times of peace as elderberry wine and 
 brandy. The above large donation was, I learn, 
 made by the ladies of Taberg and vicinity, 
 under the auspices of a Mrs. Ingersoll of the 
 above place. I was enthusiastically informed 
 of this by Lieutenant Coventry, Charles Beach 
 and Frank Ingersoll of Company E, whose 
 happy faces were only equalled by my own, 
 when I, being in the hospital, had inspected the 
 aforesaid " stores." But there was also " a epi- 
 sode," as Ward says, at my tent, followed by 
 several more " episodes." I refer to blankets, 
 bedticks, etc., which some unknown lady friends 
 have sent me. I havn't heard a reveille since. 
 The box from Mrs. Rockwell and her friends, I 
 understand, is now in the express office. The 
 patriotism of these ladies is only equalled by 
 that of those who, remembering us that are sick, 
 sent on the " hospital stores." 
 
 Colonel Christian arrived in camp yesterday, 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. Ill 
 
 having just returned from a two days' leave of 
 absence ■ in New York city. It is strongly 
 suspected that he has been perpetrating mar- 
 riage, but no court-martial has yet been con- 
 vened on the subject. It is earnestly hoped that 
 no such deleterious example should be held up 
 before our volunteers, nevertheless rumor says 
 that he has really taken the " oath of allegiance 
 10 the Union," and been duly "sworn into the 
 service." 
 
 Seven companies of our regiment have to-day 
 just returned from the outposts, where they have 
 been picketing for the last four days, some of 
 them at Annandale. Some of the Twenty-third 
 regiment were cut off while they were out, but 
 ours were not seriously disturbed. 
 
 Since I last wrote, we have changed the situa- 
 tion of our camp merely to get out of the mud, 
 into which we were fast sinking in our old place. 
 The weather is still rather cool and rainy, and 
 sometimes very heavy frosts are found in the 
 morning. Many of the men now have little 
 stoves in the tents, which are much better than 
 our fancy fire-places, which have contracted a 
 habit of smoking. 
 
 Last Wednesday we were again paid off. 
 This of course drew near the camp a long line 
 of passing wagons, which appeared like a 
 Hebrew funeral, old women with baskets and 
 
112 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 boys with pails, all sorts of sharks selling to the 
 soldiers very poor specimens of everything at 
 very high prices. Some, however, send nearly 
 all their wages home. Aliquis. 
 
 November 13th, 1861, another letter from 
 Camp Franklin to his brother is as follows : 
 
 " We are doing nothing much but drill and 
 have no unusual excitement. Our commissions 
 have just come and I am sorry to find that I'm 
 not entitled to the place of Color-Captain, which 
 I have been holding, and must go into the left 
 wing. I find my commission dates fifth in order 
 instead of third, as I had supposed. But it 
 don't make much difference. Tom [his brother] 
 and Captain Charley [a cousin] were over to 
 see me about a week ago, and I since have made 
 them a visit near Fort Corcoran. Tom is Com- 
 missary Sergeant — the same as ever, a favorite 
 with all and with the privilege of going every- 
 where he pleases — says he is sure of a commis- 
 sion, etc., and is well and hearty — rides a 
 splendid horse and gets up in style. Charley 
 has the prospect of being a Major before long, 
 he tells me. On my way over there I saw Jim 
 Story, who is a Corporal and was sick in the 
 hospital, and George Bowne, who seems to have 
 grown a great deal. Tom lent me a cavalry 
 horse to come back with." 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 113 
 
 Of course these extracts from private letters 
 were never intended for publication, but after 
 an elapse of thirty years I am sure they will be 
 read with interest and gratification by his old 
 friends and comrades. 
 
THE CHAPLAIN ARRIVES, 
 
 POURING the summer the regiment was with- 
 ^^^ out any adequate religious aid or in- 
 struction, and it was not until the month of 
 October, 1861, that their excellent chaplain, Rev. 
 Dr. D. W. Bristol, received his appointment 
 and went on to the regiment. His influence, it 
 is stated, was most happy and beneficial. The 
 following extract is from a letter of Dr. Bris- 
 tol, dated November 22d, 1861 : 
 
 " Notwithstanding our difficulties, we have 
 formed regimental church of some fifteen mem- 
 bers. We lay aside our denominational pecul- 
 iarities for the time being, and covenant to keep 
 each other in the religious life. Several wan- 
 derers have returned to the great Master, and 
 one, we trust, has been converted. We have also 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 115 
 
 organized a temperance society, which numbers, 
 I judge, somewhere about eighty members. Our 
 beginning, we think, taking into account all the 
 circumstances, is a good one and encouraging." 
 
a soldier's thanksgiving. 
 
 T N the following, Aliquis indicates why Gen- 
 erals Smith and Jones can enjoy a military 
 review so much more than the men in the ranks, 
 and then proceeds to draw upon his poetic im- 
 agination for a Thanksgiving dinner. 
 
 Camp Franklin, Va., November 24th, 1861. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 Since I last wrote, I have been out on picket. 
 This in cold weather is not so uncomfortable a 
 duty as might at first be imagined, as nearly all 
 the pickets are cantoned in deserted houses. 
 Ours are nearly all stationed out at Annandale, 
 where they are not much disturbed, except in 
 their imaginations, perhaps, by some rebel artil- 
 lery practising occasionally. On the day of the 
 great review, last Wednesday, they kept up a 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 117 
 
 constant cannonading; with what object I know 
 not, perhaps by way of defiance. Our regiment 
 was sent out on picket duty then, because we 
 had "no new clothes to go to the show in ; " for 
 Generals, you must know, like to see nice 
 parades, to revive, I suppose, the recollections 
 of boyish Fourths and " trainin's "; so I cannot 
 tell you much about the great review, but I shall 
 have to content myself with imagining. There 
 were innumerable white gloves, epaulettes and 
 brass buttons — the Generals were very dignified 
 and paternal — the mounted officers very serene 
 and fearless on their horses, spurring them for- 
 ward on the ranks and then curbing them back- 
 ward on the brass bands — the line officers very 
 responsible and alarmingly straight in the back 
 — the men in the ranks tired and sullen, and the 
 brass bands very enduring to the end. The im- 
 mense procession marched around the field, and 
 then Generals Smith and Jones saluted each 
 other and rode home, wondering, I suppose, 
 why the men never seem to enjoy these reviews. 
 The Twenty-sixth, I suppose, will be allowed to 
 go to the next great parage, as we have just got 
 a splendid new suit of clothes, overcoats and 
 pants of dark blue cloth, and very neat forage 
 caps. You are already aware that we have 
 Sauer's brass band back again, which, with the 
 drum-corps, facetiously called "boiler-makers," 
 
118 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 furnish us with an abundance of music. Every 
 regiment in our brigade now has its brass band, 
 so that one may be heard playing nearly any 
 hour in the day. 
 
 Dr. Bristol, our Chaplain, is laboring assidu- 
 ously for the welfare of the men, and he has 
 formed a temperance organization, which is 
 gradually gaining in strength. It has been in- 
 correctly stated that Colonel Christian was the 
 President of this society. This was indeed 
 proffered him, but he declined accepting it, as 
 his military duties, he believed, would not al- 
 low him to take the leadership in any collat- 
 eral organization, though, of course, willing, as 
 much as possible, to promote the cause of tem- 
 perance. 
 
 Well, the day is nigh at hand when the sov- 
 erign people of New York are to return thanks 
 to Divine Providence for the good digestive 
 organs with which they are gifted, and test 
 them accordingly. As this day approaches, I 
 am thereat much affected ; for in the poultry 
 line, I am conscious that they'll " miss me at 
 home, yes, they'll miss me." I assure you many 
 a Northern soldier thinks of his home in these 
 times ; of the old family gatherings ; the great 
 gastronomical exhibitions, concluding with a 
 grand display of molasses candy in the evening. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 119 
 
 Oft in the stilly night, 
 
 Ere slumber's chain hath bound me, 
 The thoughts of poultry bring the light 
 
 Of other days around me — 
 Thanksgiving feasts of childhood's years, 
 
 The words of cheer then spoken — 
 And then to think I'm penned up here, 
 
 And all the hen-roosts played out long ago, 
 And my hopes of getting a furlough completely 
 broken. 
 
 When I remember all 
 
 The turkeys nocked together, 
 I've seen around me in the Fall, 
 
 Up North, in just this weather, 
 I feel like one who treads alone 
 
 Some dining-room deserted, 
 Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, 
 
 And seein' he's got there too late, 
 Every darned joint of poultry has long since 
 departed. 
 
 The Fifth Maine Regiment, whose camp ad- 
 joins ours, have just received twenty cases of 
 turkeys from their native State, with which to 
 do the honors of Thanksgiving day. I wouldn't 
 like to be invited over there ! Oh, no, not a bit 
 of it. It ain't my style ! (As Ward says, the 
 above should be understood as irony.) 
 
 Many blankets have been received here lately 
 from private sources, which have greatly in- 
 creased the comfort of the men, and many a 
 
120 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 grateful expression have I heard used when were 
 received the liberal contribution from the ladies 
 of Utica and Hamilton; quite a variety of cloth- 
 ing has been sent through me to men in this 
 regiment, for which thanks to all, the known 
 and the unknown. 
 
 More vigorous measures for the apprehension 
 of deserters are, I understand, to be now taken 
 by the government. Many are instigated to 
 desert by secessionists in Alexandria, some of 
 whom are now already ferreted out and arrested, 
 as I learn to-day. Some have decamped from 
 the Twenty-sixth since pay-day, and they will 
 be retaken, I suppose, if possible. 
 
 Money is very plentiful around Alexandria 
 and Washington, and peddling of all kinds is 
 very profitable. After a pay-day, when about 
 twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars is distrib- 
 uted through a regiment, it is astonishing to 
 see with what reckless freedom money is ex- 
 pended. Alexandria is now thronged with Jews 
 and Yankees vying with the native citizens as to 
 who shall carry off the greatest amount of army 
 gold. Fancy stores and saloons are continually 
 crowded, and finely dressed, polite gentlemen 
 are keeping lucrative " club-rooms," more accu- 
 rately, "gambling hells." Rabid secessionists 
 are fast getting wealthy off of the Union army, 
 and pocketing the new, hard gold with " 1861 " 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 121 
 
 stamped on it. Still, I suppose, it can't be 
 helped, while we remain here. It is the uni- 
 versal wish that we may very soon go further 
 south. Aliquis. 
 
 A letter to his brother Stephen on January nth, 
 1862, is addressed from Acquia Creek, Virginia. 
 He writes: " I went out on another raid night 
 before last and came back last night — about ten 
 miles out. Nothing important resulted from it, 
 but the march back was the worst one I ever 
 was on. A cold rain was falling. The road was 
 mostly through the woods, and the soil of clay. 
 The mud was knee-deep nearly all the way, 
 and so dark no one man could see the other. 
 I've just enough of the ' raid business ' for the 
 present. We had a very dull holiday week. 
 Your skating frolic would have been all I could 
 ask for. I, too, have had a letter from Tom. 
 Soon as the Colonel gets back I shall make an 
 effort to visit him. He lies about ten miles 
 from here. Still in our comfortable quarters, 
 with rumors of a move towards Warrenton, but 
 nothing definite. Sigel has returned, and we 
 are all ready. Where is the Twenty-ninth New 
 Jersey? I'd like to know where to find them." 
 
 A week later, from the same place, he again 
 addresses his brother: 
 
 " No letter from home this week. The Colonel 
 
122 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 has returned, and I am relieved from much of 
 my responsibilty. About a third of our line 
 officers have been compelled to resign from dis- 
 ability, either mental or physical, so we're having 
 a little revolution among us. To-night we're 
 making an attempt to catch a * secesh ' that's 
 aiding our men to desert. We have had about 
 six desertions within a week. We've got a stool 
 pigeon out to-night for him to practise on. We 
 have been expecting to move daily for about a 
 week, and we now expect to be ordered off to- 
 morrow. In what direction no one knows. The 
 weather is fine yet, and the nights beautiful. I 
 occasionally pass my evenings with a family 
 near here — a son, a major in secessia, but very 
 pleasant. My love to all. George." 
 
FORT LYON. 
 
 MN February 5th, 1862, he is again back at 
 ^-^^ Fort Lyon. He writes: " I was employed 
 for twelve days as judge advocate on a general 
 court martial, which, by the way, is a very labor- 
 ious position. I, however, got $1.25 extra a day 
 while I was thus at work, and was relieved from 
 all other duty, which was the bright side of the 
 picture. We have had the 'allotment rules' in 
 circulation through the camp — I suppose you 
 have heard of them — and I have directed twenty- 
 five dollars a month of my pay hereafter to be 
 sent to father, and I hope generally to make 
 some additions by letter to this. I have not seen 
 George Bowne since I was home ; his company, 
 I learn, has gone over the river, and is — I do not 
 know where." 
 
 March 4th, 1862, he writes to Stephen from 
 
124 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Fort Lyon. He states: "We have had some ter- 
 rible hurricanes and a great deal of rain, which 
 has made tent life rather disagreeable, but I 
 have weathered it all and kept my health. One 
 of our company died about two weeks ago, the 
 first since we have been in the service. I had 
 the body embalmed and sent home to Utica last 
 week. I haven't seen Tom in about a month, 
 and he was well and happy then, and Charley 
 was a major. I don't think now there is much 
 chance of being sent away, but everything seems 
 to indicate a movement of some kind here. Mc- 
 Clellan's command now seems to be the only 
 corps that is inactive, and I suppose its turn 
 must soon come now. We are now attached to 
 Heintzelman's division. We occasionally have 
 some fine weather here now, but as a general 
 thing high winds prevail. These hurricanes, if 
 they don't blow down our tents and leave us 
 suddenly out-doors, always twist the stove-pipes 
 around so, that fire is a nuisance, and cooking 
 out of the question. On such occasions we're 
 obliged to eat 'what's left.' About two weeks 
 ago we had a gale which tore trees and over- 
 turned houses, and even baggage wagons, but I 
 suppose we shall soon have some fine weather. 
 Well, Stevey, write and tell me the news and 
 don't wait for me. If anything happens to me, 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 125 
 
 or we make any movement, I shall write as soon 
 as feasible." 
 
 Thus, beset by " hurricanes " and the lesser 
 annoyances of " twisted stove-pipes," he con- 
 soles himself with the hope of finer weather in 
 the future. One of Captain Arrowsmith's vir- 
 tues was his happy disposition and cheerful con- 
 tentment with his surroundings, let them be 
 what they would. He was never finding fault 
 with anybody or anything. If he had reason to 
 believe that his company would be made the 
 color company, or the first in rank, he still ac- 
 cepts it for the best when he finds it is other- 
 wise ; though in politics of a party that is op- 
 posed to the war, no word escapes him disparag- 
 ing to the government or its policy. Whatever 
 may have been the shortcomings of a superior 
 officer, and sometimes they were certainly con- 
 spicuous, he never refers to them. Though 
 longing for an advance and the stirring events 
 of an aggressive campaign, he is not impatient 
 of inactivity. He is a true soldier, and accepts 
 with philosophical equanimity every condition 
 by which he is confronted. 
 
 On March 28th, 1862, he writes to his brother 
 from Fort Lyon, Virginia : 
 
 " I suppose you have been anxious lately to 
 know whether or not we have gone off on the 
 
126 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 expedition which embarked from Alexandria 
 lately. You see by this, however, that I am in 
 the same place, and may have to remain here 
 yet some time. We are having splendid weather 
 such as you have in May when you are planting, 
 etc. To-day I took a long tramp over the coun- 
 try, but did not see much, though, but desolation. 
 The New Jersey cavalry is yet near us, having 
 been left to do scouting duty around the left 
 flank of the army. I saw George Bowne last 
 Sunday and he was looking very well and hearty. 
 I am not able to ascertain whether Tom's regi- 
 ment went off with the expedition or not, and 
 havn't seen him in some time. I send enclosed 
 a portrait of our Surgeon, a good friend of mine 
 in the regiment. I am still well and hearty. 
 "Your affectionate brother, George." 
 
ALONG THE RAPPAHANNOCK, 
 
 A FTER a break of several months, he re- 
 sumes his letters to the Utica Herald. 
 
 Camp Ricketts, May 12th, 1862. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 " Once more unto the breach, dear friends." 
 The only way I can justify the above quotation, 
 which I feel really conscientious about, is by re- 
 minding you of the great breach there has been 
 of late in the correspondence of your humble 
 servant, the undersigned. Our camp above- 
 mentioned is named after our present Brigadier- 
 General, and is not suggestive of any particular 
 disease prevailing in camp, as might at first ap- 
 pear. 
 
 After lying in a torpid state near Fort Lyon 
 all winter, we finally moved out of our haunts 
 
128 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 about two weeks ago, and at present we infest 
 the forests along the Rappahannock. The mov- 
 ing of the regiment infused new life into all ; 
 even the subscriber girded up his loins, paid 
 some of his debts, disguised himself in a collar, 
 and commenced the present letter. 
 
 The Twenty-sixth is at present in a brigade 
 commanded by General James B. Ricketts, form- 
 erly captain of a regular battery which was cap- 
 tured at Bull Run, when its commander, above 
 referred to, was wounded and taken prisoner. 
 He is said to be a genuine fighting man. As we 
 are the senior regiment of the brigade we occupy 
 the right in line of battle. The regiments bri- 
 gaded with us are the Ninety-fourth New York, 
 the Eighty-eighth and Ninetieth Pennsylvania. 
 
 The greatest part of McDowell's army still lies 
 on the Falmouth side of the river, one brigade 
 only on the Fredericksburg side, though com- 
 munication is free to and fro now by the pon- 
 toon bridge lately thrown across. The rebels 
 have a force a short distance from the city, and 
 still use the railroad that runs to Richmond. 
 Fredericksburg is a city that presents quite an 
 ancient appearance, as, indeed, it is an old town, 
 having before the war some pretentions to busi- 
 ness activity. The country around is finely 
 adapted to raising corn and wheat, and immense 
 fields of the latter are growing thriftily, unin- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 129 
 
 jured by the army, as waste and marauding are 
 now the subject of very strict martial rules. 
 Except when the land, after being run out, has 
 been given over to scrub-oak and puny growth 
 of pines, the country here presents a beautiful 
 appearance — green plats sloping down towards 
 the Rappahannock, which rolls peacefully along, 
 with only the burned bridges and destroyed 
 shipping to remind us of the war. Over in the 
 city the places of business are mostly closed, and 
 it presents a sombre aspect, with little groups 
 of citizens lazily talking at the corners of the 
 streets, the omnipresent sentinel, and a few 
 ladies for whom you must step out into the 
 street, as chivalry and their crinoline seem to 
 entitle them to all the sidewalk. 
 
 You find one public-house open — the Planter's 
 Hotel — the proprietor of which is a very quiet 
 man, who never seems to meddle with either 
 politics or victuals, and the guest is annoyed 
 very little with either. Here you may get some 
 bacon, bread and butter, and tea, facetiously 
 called a dinner, for fifty cents ; but you must 
 make your own change when you pay for it, or 
 you will receive in return perhaps a corporation 
 shinplaster, or a Confederate States of America 
 postage stamp, with a one-eyed picture of Jeff. 
 Davis on it. I think some visiting cards or rail- 
 road checks might make an excellent circulating 
 
130 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 medium here now, for almost anything in the 
 shape of a bill will pass. Even the F. F. V.'s do 
 not have many of the luxuries of the table at 
 present. Whiskey is almost unknown in Fred- 
 ericksburg, and appears only in saddened recol- 
 lections. Bacon and corn bread are the articles 
 of food mostly in use here, with some tobacco 
 and a little abuse of the Northerners by way of 
 dessert. The political leaders around have told 
 me some pretty tough stories about us " Yan- 
 kees," which I think they did not believe them- 
 selves. Sometime since I was seriously asked 
 by a lady in a rural district if the Yankee soldiers 
 really did make a practice of murdering the 
 children in the South, so as to eventually crush 
 the rebellion in this manner. Upon my inform- 
 ing her of the delight with which we participate 
 in the above refreshing diversion, I think she 
 really believed me, until my " silvery laugh " 
 gave her to understand that it was a "goak." 
 But the farmers here already begin to find that 
 a Northern army is not so bad a master after all. 
 The Southern pickets are stationed not far 
 from the city, and skirmishes with them are 
 of frequent occurrence, though it is generally 
 believed that no very large force lies in front of 
 us. What is proposed to be done with our corps 
 it is impossible to say, but I suppose we shall 
 push on soon. The railroad bridges between 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 131 
 
 here and Acquia Creek, that were burned by the 
 rebels on their retreat, are now nearly recon- 
 structed, and we shall soon have easy communi- 
 cation with Washington; and so we may expect 
 a rush of merchants to this place, bringing with 
 them all the benefits and evils of Northern en- 
 terprise. 
 
 Our regiment endured the winter with but 
 little loss. We have had some tiresome marches 
 since we came out of our quarters, yet our aggre- 
 gate is yet eight hundred and forty men, which 
 is larger, I understand, than that of any other 
 New York regiment with the exception of the 
 Forty-fourth, alias the Ellsworth regiment. The 
 General this morning told the Colonel that we 
 might hold ourselves prepared to act as skir- 
 mishers at the first opportunity, so that alto- 
 gether we are well satisfied with ourselves and 
 in the best of spirits. Were it not that compli- 
 ments paid to regiments were so stereotyped, 
 and belong peculiarly to the " mutual admira- 
 tion society," I would repeat some paid us since 
 our arrival in this corps. We are at present 
 using the little shelter tents, which are trans- 
 ported from place to place on the backs of the 
 men ; but in this mild weather we are taking 
 the fortunes of campaigning quite comfortably. 
 Camp inconveniences have, however, obliged 
 me to violate a rule of press etiquette in the 
 
132 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 form of my manuscript, which I beg you will 
 excuse 
 
 Yours truly, Aliquis. 
 
 Camp Ricketts, May 24th, 1862. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 I fortunately have better conveniences for 
 writing than I had when I sent you my last. 1 
 have mounted a steel pen en barbette on a pine 
 stick, and am writing in a position which com- 
 bines the posture of a Turk with the grace 
 of the " What-is-it." We're having splendid 
 weather now — cool and refreshing in the morn- 
 ing, but quite warm about noon, bringing out 
 snakes of various sizes and hue, to bask along 
 the edge of the roads where we are encamped. 
 These unprincipled reptiles will sometimes even 
 " vex the drowsy ear of night" with their rust- 
 lings among the leaves right around our tents. 
 One of our officers, a few nights ago, was dis- 
 covered in an undress uniform, making some 
 very agile movements by a fire in front of his 
 tent, in such a way that many supposed he was 
 practising the "Indian War Dance." It was 
 soon ascertained, however, that he was merely 
 poking up a snake that had been sharing his 
 hospitality, while he was asleep, by entering his 
 tent and occupying a part of his blanket. Don't 
 understand, for a moment, that we're afraid of 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 133 
 
 snakes. By no means; but then, such proceed- 
 ings are unmilitary, to say the least, towards an 
 officer. Near this place is a stream called "Rat- 
 tlesnake Creek." I don't care (?) but then I wish 
 they'd give places more euphonious names. 
 
 All the country around here, if divided up in 
 smaller farms, and worked by some good North- 
 ern "mud-sills," could be brought under the 
 finest cultivation. As it is, some of it is very 
 productive, and will produce almost anything. 
 Adjoining our camp is a wheat field, containing, 
 I should think, about seventy-five acres. Its 
 rank growth is undisturbed by the soldiery, for 
 no one is allowed to walk through it, which cer- 
 tainly no soldier that had ever been a farmer's 
 boy could have the heart to do. Most of the 
 men who were left behind here, by the Southern 
 army, I think, are the " first families of Vir- 
 ginia" — that is, I think, they were the first men 
 that ever emigrated here, and have been here 
 ever since. Very few young, able-bodied men 
 are to be found, and these all have their stories 
 to relate of their perilous escapes from the 
 Southern cavalry. 
 
 About half a mile from our camp is General 
 Ricketts's headquarters — a fine mansion, with 
 its owner, a rank secessionist, still occupying a 
 part of it. A flag-staff and flag appear in the 
 yard now, to the evident disgust of the rebel 
 
18-t LIEUTENAXT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 host, who lately called it a dishrag, in the hear- 
 ing of a sentry there. It requires all the patience 
 that our men are possessed of to restrain from 
 acts of violence, when some protected traitor 
 thus speaks of the flag and cause for which 
 they are periling their lives. But, I suppose, it 
 is all for the best. 
 
 Mrs. Ricketts is still with her husband ; and 
 as she rides around the brigade with him, she is 
 vociferously cheered by the men, of whom she 
 is the idol. Her romantic journey to Richmond, 
 to join her husband in his painful imprisonment, 
 already belongs to history, and is the theme of 
 abler pens than mine. Her tale of the Rich- 
 mond prisons, bringing to light the character of 
 many of the most prominent Southern generals 
 and Northern patriots, is of the most thrilling 
 interest, and throws far in the shade the narra- 
 tive of the Baroness Reidesel as a matter of his- 
 torical romance. Soldiers of this corps, who 
 were then prisoners of war, are now frequently 
 seen at headquarters, returning thanks for her 
 kindness towards them in those hours of suffer- 
 ing ; and letters, expressive of gratitude, are 
 coming to her almost daily. 
 
 General Ricketts is now in command of a fine 
 brigade, who all hope, some day, to aid him to 
 enter Richmond in triumph. 
 
 General Shield's division arrived here last 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 135 
 
 night, very footsore and weary. Our corps is 
 now complete, and we are expecting orders to 
 march almost hourly, as we are held in constant 
 readiness. Our division was paraded this after- 
 noon before President Lincoln and Secretary 
 Stanton, with the requisite amount of gilt, white 
 gloves, music and cheering. The President was 
 quite a curiosity to our secesh neighbors, who, I 
 suppose, expected to see him in his shirt sleeves 
 with an axe on his shoulders. We regard Lin- 
 coln's visit to this corps as the forerunner of an 
 immediate advance. 
 
 Our division is commanded by General Ord, 
 of Drainesville notoriety, an officer of high re- 
 pute, who, it is said, will take the right of the 
 corps in the advance. He rides a restless bay 
 horse, which, like the famous cork-leg in the 
 song, seems determined never to stop. This 
 animal has a peculiar way of sideling up against 
 fences and switching his tail in the faces of " the 
 staff" and backing into the crowd, and making 
 himself generally "around." Why am I so par- 
 ticular in describing this horse ? Because you 
 know an officer more by his horse than his 
 "general orders," and I know of no better way 
 of giving an impression of the nervous, grim, 
 old Son of Mars who rides him. 
 
 Fredericksburg is beginning to look more 
 lively. Mr. Hunt of New York, alias Farini, 
 
13(5 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 the tight-rope walker, has opened the Shaks- 
 peare House, which, if I was a " penny-a-liner," 
 I should say was so named because it was the 
 birthplace of the great English poet, but as it is, 
 I shall not venture it. Some fine stores are 
 opened, and the necessaries of life, beef, beer, 
 billiards, etc., are available. The railroad bridge 
 across the Rappahannock is guarded with the 
 greatest strictness, and the destruction of it 
 would be the cause of great delay. My next I 
 hope to write in a different camp. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
TALKS WITH PRISONERS. 
 
 A FORCED march from Fredericksburg in 
 
 the hope of surprising Stonewall Jackson, 
 
 brings the brigade to Front Royal, near the 
 
 Shenandoah river, from which place comes the 
 
 next letter. 
 
 Front Royal, Va., June 13th, 1862. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 This morning we received a mail, for the first 
 time in two weeks, and a very large mail it was, 
 being escorted into camp in a baggage wagon. 
 I went to work immediately to read my pile of 
 papers, but have stopped in disgust as I got 
 them mixed up somehow and found myself read- 
 ing regimental autobiographies over three or 
 four times, getting a vague idea that all the 
 Oneida Countv volunteers had been killed, 
 
138 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 wounded or d-eified in McClellan's army. But 
 all honor to the soldiers of Central New York. 
 We received the record of their noble exploits 
 in the late battles with a feeling of pride, and 
 only regret that we could not have shared their 
 fortunes in the grand army of McClellan. 
 
 Since I last wrote we have undergone some 
 severe privations, though we have been guilty 
 of no serious "breach of peace" under our 
 sweet-tempered General McDowell. The pros- 
 pect of entrapping Jackson sustained us on a 
 forced march from Fredericksburg. At Front 
 Royal we were much chagrined to find that we 
 had arrived too late, and were booked for a 
 bivouac in a cold rain storm, without either 
 blankets, overcoats or tents. Worse than all, 
 we in the advance crossed the Shenandoah and 
 were cut off from our supplies by the destruc- 
 tion of both bridges, and the fierceness of the 
 torrent prevented all intercourse; and still the 
 rain kept falling, falling, for three days and 
 nights, and yet scarcely anything to eat. How- 
 ever we not only fasted but preyed — upon the 
 live stock in the vicinity, the excessive use of 
 which has caused some sickness since. Finally 
 the storm ceases, and after various experiments, 
 resulting in the death of two men, a rope ferry 
 is constructed, and we recross the river. It was 
 "sic transit" however with many of us, though 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 139 
 
 a few days' rest since has brought the regiment 
 to its former state of health and buoyancy. 
 
 Our pickets took many of Jackson's stragglers 
 prisoners while over the river, with whom I had 
 a good opportunity to converse, as I had also 
 with those confined in the buildings in the vil- 
 lage. They all pretend to be sanguine in the 
 belief that the confederacy is sure to succeed, 
 and that the Northern army can never entirely 
 conquer Virginia. They do not appear to claim 
 that the Southern soldier is in any way superior 
 to the Northerner, and the " one Confederate to 
 five Federal" idea, of which we heard so much 
 at the opening of the war, is entirely exploded. 
 They rely, however, on the dogged resolution to 
 fight to the last, their knowledge of the country 
 and the mountain roads, and their superior ad- 
 vantages for obtaining and giving information of 
 our movements which a war in their own coun- 
 try affords them. I am informed that the citi- 
 zens boast of violating the oath of allegiance, 
 and regard it as a standing joke. Strange to 
 say, in their devotion to treason the men appear 
 not to " fear God " nor the ladies to " regard 
 man." The other day when I went to see the 
 captives in turn, I found numbers of ladies there 
 distributing food and bouquets among them, 
 and eyeing me askance w T ith a malicious criti- 
 cism that made me feel much as I did years ago, 
 
140 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 when I first went into company with a long-tailed 
 coat. I was tempted to turn my coat wrong 
 side out, take a chew of tobacco, and pass for a 
 " secesh " myself ; but I didn't — the pie was all 
 distributed there, anyway. 
 
 I had quite a little political conversation with 
 one fellow, a complete gentleman, and of much 
 intelligence; yet even he had some odd ideas of 
 the North, and complained that the manufac- 
 tures and railroads and internal improvements 
 of the loyal States were the result of favor shown 
 them by the Federal government to the detri- 
 ment of the South. I tried to undeceive him, 
 but unsatisfactorily to myself. The fact is, the 
 " Union feeling in the South," and the deception 
 of the masses by the secession leaders are hardly 
 worth, I think, the attention that they elicit 
 from Northern politicians. The bayonet is the 
 most successful persuader. You remember when 
 we were school boys we could always perceive 
 much more clearly how naughty it was to play 
 truant after being soundly thrashed for it. 
 
 The wounded from two of Shield's Brigades 
 were brought into Front Royal to-day in a long 
 train of army wagons. They present a pitiful 
 sight, but most of them will recover. Though 
 jolted along over rough roads in these heavy 
 vehicles, hardly a groan ever escapes their lips, 
 and they bear their sufferings with the most 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 141 
 
 heroic fortitude. But do not believe all that you 
 read of rebel barbarities to wounded soldiers. 
 Those of the First Maryland Regiment that we 
 found quartered in houses around here tell no 
 such stories. In the heat of action, when the 
 brain is frenzied with the excitement of battle, 
 these are possibilities, but when the firing is 
 over, the soldier, in contemplating a wounded 
 enemy, is seldom governed by his ideas of State 
 rights or the Missouri compromise. 
 
 I wish we could always have as fine a mail as 
 that of to-day. I say unto you all, write. Any- 
 thing in the form of a note is acceptable, and I 
 would even read a letter from Gerrit Smith or 
 Giddings, if it was addressed to me now. Our 
 friends — and creditors — must not wait for their 
 epistles to be always promptly answered, as 
 camp inconveniences often defeat our best in- 
 tentions. Not unfrequently our only means of 
 getting a letter to the office is through the "un- 
 derground express," superintended by Richards, 
 the active correspondent of the Telegraph. All 
 ye who failed to "knit stockings" for the volun- 
 teers during the winter, redeem yourselves by 
 writing letters to them this summer. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
 June 15th, 1862, writing from Centreville, Vir- 
 ginia, to his brother he says : " I am writing in 
 
142 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 the Quartermaster's office, as we have formed 
 no regular camp, but are out in the field in the 
 sun. We have been on the move for three days, 
 marching about fifteen miles a day. It is very 
 warm, dusty and disagreeable. It seems a good 
 part of the army is coming here, and I expect 
 we shall have another Bull Run. We shall go 
 into it with good spirits at least, and God may 
 grant us a victory the third time, though the 
 enemy has doubtless the largest army again. I 
 am in command and would rather like a battle 
 in some respects under the circumstances. Still 
 it may run along so for weeks yet." 
 
 " The move for three days " above referred to 
 was from Front Royal to Centerville, a distance 
 of about forty-five miles. Captain Arrowsmith's 
 expectation of another battle of Bull Run in this 
 vicinity was very soon to be literally verified. 
 
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL. 
 
 JUNE 25th, 1862, he writes from Manassas 
 Junction, Virginia, to his father announcing 
 an important event in his career, as follows: "I 
 was chosen to-day by our new Brigadier-General 
 Tower, to act as his Assistant Adjutant-General, 
 and have been very busy with him all the even- 
 ing. I have some prospects of being confirmed 
 in the position, which I sincerely hope for, as it 
 would increase my pay considerably, though not 
 my rank, and also make me a mounted officer ; 
 but it's all uncertain yet. I am well and vigor- 
 ous." 
 
 A few weeks afterwards, on August 19th, 1862, 
 he received his commission, signed by Edwin M. 
 Stanton, Secretary of War, with orders to report 
 
144 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 in person for orders to Brigadier-General Z. B. 
 Tower.* 
 
 General Z. B. Tower was assigned to the com- 
 mand of the second brigade, second division, 
 third corps, of the army of Virginia, about the 
 last of June, 1862. General Ricketts, the division 
 commander, recommended to General Tower, 
 Captain Arrowsmith for the position of Assistant 
 Adjutant-General, as an intelligent, educated, 
 soldierly officer of good repute in his regiment, 
 and the best-fitted person of his age in the bri- 
 gade for this important place on the staff. Upon 
 his appointment he became a permanent mem- 
 ber of General Tower's military family, and his 
 chief assistant. Having served since the begin- 
 ning of the war, his experience was very valuable 
 to him. 
 
 June 28th, 1862, installed in his new position, 
 he writes his brother from Manassas Junction, 
 Virginia : 
 
 "I have better conveniences for writing now, 
 since I have been on the General's staff, as I 
 have a large tent with a desk and a bed in it all 
 to myself. As I mess with the General, who is 
 quite an epicure, I live about as well now as I 
 ever did in my life, and this eating with silver 
 knives and forks scarcely seems like soldiering at 
 
 * Appendix, Note C. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 145 
 
 all. However, when we get to marching it will 
 not be so lovely again. I have a horse, etc., fur- 
 nished by the government, and altogether I have 
 a pretty comfortable time of it. I don't know 
 how long I shall act in this capacity, but prob- 
 ably some time. I had a telegraph dispatch 
 this afternoon from Tom, who wished to meet 
 me in Washington this evening. It was impos- 
 sible for me to comply with his request, as the 
 most rigid orders are in force with reference to 
 leaves of absence." * * * * 
 
A SUMMER RESORT ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 A BOUT the middle of July Captain Arrow- 
 smith is with his brigade at Warrenton, 
 near the Warrenton Springs, which we will learn 
 about in the next letter. 
 
 Warrenton, Ya., July 14th, 1862. 
 To tlie Editor of the Utica Morning Herald : 
 
 During the hot weather, and lately, we have 
 been sojourning at the celebrated summer resort 
 of Warrenton, occasionally taking a trip to the 
 Sulphur Springs for the sake of health. War- 
 renton is decidedly one of the finest towns I 
 ever saw, with fine mansions, flanked by lovely 
 gardens, and streets well shaded. This was a 
 favorite resort of Washingtonians in the warm 
 weather, and the register-book of the Warren 
 Green House would be a great treasure in the 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 147 
 
 eyes of an autograph collector. Like all other 
 watering places, Warrenton was remarkable for 
 the sparing manner in which the frequenters 
 thereof used water as a beverage. Here the Con- 
 gressional Representatives of Southern chivalry 
 used to assemble, and probably plot the destruc- 
 tion of the Union over chivalrous drinks of 
 whiskey. From this place did the gay visitors 
 start afternoons to go to the Springs to taste 
 some of the water, feeling, at the same time, with 
 remorse, that the habit of drinking water was 
 growing upon them, and winding its coils around 
 them. The favorite mode of getting to the 
 Springs was in an "extra" stage, driven by 
 one William Smith, who, in time, became better 
 known as "Extra Billy Smith," and drove him- 
 self not only into a fortune, but into a political 
 station. Then, when he got into the nice, big 
 house, with the double iron fence in front that 
 now graces Warrenton, the sobriquet stuck to 
 him still, as if saying to the traveler: "Billy 
 Smiths may be numerous; but here, sir, is some- 
 thing a little extra." Well, Billy is now in Rich- 
 mond, helping to kill the Yankee invaders; but 
 in front of Billy's mansion in Warrenton may be 
 seen a sentry, in blue uniform, protecting Billy's 
 property from the inroads of the "mud-sills." 
 In view of the above service rendered, Billy's 
 wife and daughters tolerate the sentry. 
 
148 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 General Tower has his headquarters at the 
 residence of another Smith (ordinary quality), 
 who is one of the editors of the Richmond 
 Enquirer, and is quite generally known through 
 Virginia. Among some old books and papers in 
 the house, I find some sketches and descriptions 
 of persons and places in the country, made dur- 
 ing the travels of one Mrs. Anne Royall, who, 
 notwithstanding the disregard which she con- 
 stantly shows to religion and English grammar, 
 gives some exceedingly minute descriptions. I 
 am informed this female Willis once conducted 
 a sort of paper in Washington, and treated the 
 public to accurate descriptions of all celebrities. 
 With those who patronized her "all the men 
 were brave, and all the women were beautiful ; " 
 but, alas, for those who refused to yield to the 
 blackmail imposed. Among the families men- 
 tioned in Warrenton by Mrs. Royall is that of 
 the Lee, which being descended neither from 
 Pocahontas nor Washington, is, of course, in the 
 lineal stock of "Light Horse Harry" of the 
 Revolution. The female who now supports the 
 dignity of the Lee family owns a farm which 
 supplies the soldiers with much fruit and forage. 
 Altogether, this is a fine country and provender 
 is abundant ; but I could have forgiven the na- 
 tives for a great deal of their treasonable con- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 149 
 
 duct, if they had only left a little larger supply 
 of ice for us. 
 
 The Warren Green Hotel in the town is now 
 taken for a hospital, for which it is finely adapt- 
 ed, and will afford good accommodations for the 
 sick of the whole army here. This is a step in 
 the right direction, for so far from being of any 
 sanitary use before being taken, there had not 
 been a bar properly kept in it for months. The 
 regiments around here are in good state gener- 
 ally speaking as regards health, the Twenty- 
 sixth New York especially. After a march, or a 
 change of location and water, a great many will 
 always be a little unwell, but no serious epidem- 
 ics are prevailing. Major Jennings has been 
 quite unwell for the last few days, but is steadily 
 recovering. 
 
 Our mails still come in a very irregular man- 
 ner, but I assure you they are eagerly received. 
 There seems but very little system and certainty 
 in the matter, and I would caution all those 
 who are indebted to me to refrain from sending 
 money to me in any very large sum through 
 this medium. A breach of this rigid rule might 
 occasion it to come into the hands of some un- 
 principled robber who would squander it in an 
 unprofitable manner. 
 
 We quite frequently see Richmond papers in 
 town, and it is strongly suspected that a regular 
 
150 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 mail is received and sent here. It is possible it 
 may be so, as there has been no severity shown 
 as yet by the government towards spies, and 
 they run but little risk. This is really the most 
 civil war ever heard of. Out at Front Royal, 
 Bell Boyd boasts and jokes of her participation 
 in Colonel Kennedy's defeat in the very face of 
 the Generals, and laughs pleasantly at the idea 
 of being arrested. To check this system of 
 espionage some one should be hung — some guilty 
 person should be the example if possible ; but 
 one thing is certain, some one should be pendant 
 for the good of the Union. 
 
 I have just received, by the way, the Utica 
 papers, and get much more warlike enthusiasm 
 from reading of the determination of Central 
 New York to send still more troops into the 
 service than in witnessing the ditll routine of 
 this army of occupation. It seems as though the 
 strong and persevering effort made in Utica can 
 not be a failure, with such a man proposed for 
 commander as Captain Pease. 
 
 No man can be without the gratitude of his 
 fellows that volunteers at the present crisis. In 
 the army now in the field doubtless some have 
 enlisted for ambition, for adventure, for money, 
 some perhaps because they didn't get married 
 when they wanted to, and some because they 
 did ; but the great novelty of the war is now 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 151 
 
 over, and no one can doubt, I think, the motives 
 of those who will meet the last earnest call for 
 troops, to fill up the gaps in the army made by 
 disease and by the bullet. 
 
 I know not what will be done with us here, 
 but suppose we shall push on towards Gordons- 
 ville. Generals Banks and Sigel were both in 
 Warrenton a few nights ago. McDowell I have 
 not seen for weeks, and I guess that it is only 
 at " Willard's " that he is visible to the naked 
 eye. Nor has Pope yet made his appearance. 
 General Ricketts and General Tower are, how- 
 ever, constantly with their commands, and hard 
 at work keeping everything in readiness for 
 marching orders. One hundred and forty rounds 
 of cartridges are always kept on hand, and the 
 baggage trains in order, but still we are in statu 
 quo, and I might add ante bellum. 
 
 Aliquis. 
 
NEW DUTIES. 
 
 T7ROM Waterloo, Virginia, August 4th, 1862, 
 in a letter to his brother Stephen, he 
 writes : 
 
 " I believe I must tell you something of the life 
 and duties of an Assistant Adjutant-General (an 
 awkward title, by the way). Well, I have to issue 
 and keep on file all general and special orders 
 and circulars, transact all the business corre- 
 spondence of the General and keep on file all 
 letters received and sent, make out all the week- 
 ly and monthly returns of the brigade, make 
 all details, keep the countersigns and signals in 
 my possession and issue them daily on the field, 
 act as aid-de-camp to the General, transmit or- 
 ders and direct the columns. Three or four 
 hours' work in the day, though, generally does 
 all my business, though it's quite confining. ' I 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 153 
 
 have bought a magnificent horse, for which I've 
 paid what will appear a pretty steep price to 
 you, two hundred dollars. However, I would 
 not sell him for that now. He is a large sorrel 
 horse, rather showy, a good jumper, eight years 
 old and sound. I've now had him about a 
 month. By the way, I have a clerk allowed me, 
 and an orderly to take care of my horse, besides 
 my waiter, whom (the latter) I have to pay my- 
 self, as usual. So I've told you now pretty much 
 all about my present status. I was offered, not 
 long since, a lieutenant-colonelcy in one of the 
 New York regiments, that has not yet scarcely 
 begun to make any show, but I refused it, as I 
 saw they would expect me to work about and 
 spend money for the rest; and then, I reflected, 
 that being green the regiment would always be 
 kept in the background, which I'm tired of. I'm 
 well, have plenty to eat, and generally a good 
 place to sleep, which is saying considerable for 
 a soldier. I wish I could be home awhile in the 
 market season, though. We move in the night, 
 I'm told. Good night ! " 
 
 " P. S. — Marching orders come." 
 
CEDAR MOUNTAIN. 
 
 ^HHE battle of Cedar Mountain was fought on 
 * the ninth of August, 1862. It was Banks 
 against Ewell, each with about eight thousand 
 men. For awhile the fight was in favor of the 
 national troops, but rebel reinforcements coming 
 up, Banks retreated before the enemy. Pope 
 was only a few miles away; he hurried up and 
 checked the pursuit. Arrowsmith was with 
 Ricketts's division of Pope's forces. His brigade 
 saw the main part of the fight, but was engaged 
 only in the last of it. Captain Arrowsmith ac- 
 quitted himself so well as to earn favor from 
 General Tower. He thus speaks of the battle 
 in a letter to his brother from Mitchell Station, 
 dated August 17th, 1862: "Our brigade was 
 not in the main part of the fight at all, though 
 we had a good sight of it. We were on the 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 155 
 
 right of Ricketts's division, which you know 
 came up in time to check the rebels after they 
 had begun to drive Banks. When we came on 
 the ground, Banks's exhausted troops passed to 
 the rear of us and all was quiet for some time. 
 About midnight they came up about two or three 
 hundred yards from us and commenced shelling 
 us. Two of our batteries commenced at them 
 so sharply that in about half an hour they com- 
 pletely silenced them, having killed nearly all 
 their horses and made great havoc generally. 
 This was all of the fight that we were really in. 
 Our division lost one hundred and six, killed and 
 wounded. Since the battle General Tower has 
 nominated me to the Secretary of War for con- 
 firmation in my position, at which I am much 
 delighted. No time to write more. Good-by ! " 
 
SECOND BULL RUN. 
 
 ENGAGEMENTS at Rappahannock, Thor- 
 ^* oughfare Gap and Second Bull Run (or 
 Groveton) quickly followed. The two former 
 were essentially artillery engagements. In the 
 last-named battle Captain Arrowsmith was in the 
 thickest of the fight, and regardless of danger, 
 discharged his duties with great efficiency. His 
 brigade was the first thrown into the action by 
 General Ricketts. General Tower was in com- 
 mand and led the advance. Fairly enveloped 
 by the advancing enemy, the loss of men was 
 very severe, infantry upon three sides of them 
 pouring in its deadly volleys, and artillery firing 
 upon them from a hill close by. Captain Ar- 
 rowsmith's duties covered a large area, trans- 
 mitting orders from one point to another, and 
 directing columns. His slouch hat, straight 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 157 
 
 black hair, swarthy face and erect figure made 
 him a conspicuous object, dashing on horseback 
 in every direction, inspiring by his example the 
 courage of the Union soldiers and a target for 
 the enemy's sharpshooters. General Tower fell 
 wounded seriously while gallantly leading his 
 brigade. " Captain George Arrowsmith," wrote 
 a correspondent of the New York Tribune, " for- 
 merly of the Twenty-sixth New York, but pro- 
 moted by General Tower as Assistant Adjutant- 
 General of his brigade for gallantry, showed 
 great bravery on the field. His praise is in the 
 mouth of every one. At one time he is said to 
 have taken General Schenck for a major, and im- 
 mediately rode up and led two regiments, into 
 the fight, amid a shower of grape and canister." 
 Fessendon, a brother officer on General Tower's 
 staff, was killed. The loss of the brigade was 
 terribly severe. Captain Arrowsmith's escape 
 without a wound was almost miraculous. One 
 bullet passed through his hair, another struck his 
 sword scabbard, and a third had buried itself in 
 the folds of his blanket, which he discovered at 
 the close of the fight. It was here he won for 
 himself the sobriquet of "the young lion." A 
 hastily written letter to his father dated Septem- 
 ber ist, 1862, from Centreville, Virginia, briefly 
 refers to the battle. " Our brigade got into a 
 terrible fight in the battle of the day before yes- 
 
158 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 terday. We found ourselves in a trap where 
 there was infantry on three sides and artillery 
 firing on us from a hill. The brigade has lost be- 
 tween five hundred and one thousand men. I 
 write this to inform you that I'm not hurt. Gen- 
 eral Tower was wounded and was sent to Wash- 
 ington yesterday. Fessendon, of the staff, was 
 shot dead. The closest shave I made was a bul- 
 let through my hair, though one hit my sword 
 scabbard, and when I lay down for the night, a 
 ball dropped out of my blanket, that I had kept 
 folded on the front of my saddle. Will never 
 get in a worse place. Very busy." 
 
 After three weeks of almost incessant fighting 
 with the army of General Pope, marching and 
 countermarching from Cedar Mountain back 
 across the Rappahannock, thence to Thorough- 
 fare Gap, thence to Manassas ; back to Cen- 
 treville, and thence to Chantilly, where the gal- 
 lant Kearney of New Jersey fell, his physical 
 powers were reduced to a degree that he was 
 unable to withstand a shock sustained by a fall 
 of his horse, and upon the recommendation of 
 General Tower, who lay seriously wounded in 
 Washington, he accepted a leave of absence for 
 the purpose of recruiting his weakened frame. 
 
 The following is the letter of General Tower, 
 requesting a furlough for Captain Arrowsmith : 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSM1TH. 159 
 
 Washington, September 15th, 1862. . 
 To General Cullom : 
 
 If you can do so consistently I wish you would 
 give my Adjutant-General a leave to go home. 
 I have no doubt that it will hasten his recovery 
 and return to duty. He is an officer of the true 
 stamp and mettle and will doubtless return the 
 instant he is able to resume his duties. For the 
 past two months he has continued on duty when 
 most officers would have reported sick, and has 
 done active field duty when it was very painful 
 for him to sit upon his horse, so anxious was he 
 to be at his post of duty and danger. Now it is 
 best that he should try to effect his recovery be- 
 fore the injury becomes more difficult to cure. 
 I therefore ask this indulgence for him. 
 
 With respect, your most obedient, 
 
 Z. B. Tower, 
 
 Brig. Gen. Bvt. 
 
 Owing to his wounds, General Tower was 
 compelled to give up the command of the Second 
 Brigade, which ended Captain Arrowsmith's 
 service upon his staff. 
 
 Under date of September 4th, 1862, we find 
 Captain Arrowsmith at Brown's Hotel in Wash- 
 ington, from which place he addresses his brother 
 Stephen, as follows : " I wrote a day or two ago 
 informing you that I was safe, but as I had to 
 
160 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 send it by the 'underground railroad,' to avoid 
 Halleck's order, I feared lest possibly it might 
 be intercepted. I have been in the battles of 
 Rappahannock, Thoroughfare Gap, and Satur- 
 day's battle of Bull Run. In the latter our bri- 
 gade, through a blunder, was badly cut to pieces. 
 General Tower was badly wounded, and is now 
 at Willard's. Fessendon was killed. I escaped 
 unhurt, but was reported to be killed, and my 
 Washington friends are all much surprised to 
 see me. I woke up the morning after the fight 
 and found myself quite a hero on a small scale. 
 Colonel Christian did not go into the fight. 
 Poor Leonard, second lieutenant of my old com- 
 pany, was shot dead. Our brigade is now over 
 the other side of Munsen's hill, about five miles 
 from Washington. I am staying in Washington 
 a day or two by the doctor's advice, to cure up a 
 slight injury I received from my horse falling on 
 me during the battle. Tell me, are you drafted ? 
 Tom is well. I have had no mail for about two 
 weeks, and I have a lot of letters somewhere, I 
 expect. When I came into town this morning, 
 I had not changed my clothes in three weeks, 
 and was as ragged and dirty as a beggar. For- 
 tunately, I had money enough to make a trans- 
 formation. My love to all." 
 
TRIBUTE FROM GENERAL TOWER. 
 
 /^ENERAL TOWER is still living, residing 
 ^-^ at Cohassett, Mass., and in a kindly letter 
 of recent date to Stephen V. Arrowsmith, he 
 thus refers to the service of Captain Arrowsmith 
 upon his staff: "During the two months that 
 the brigade was under my command, whether in 
 camp, on the march or engaged in battle, Cap- 
 tain Arrowsmith, with professional pride and 
 untiring devotion, met all the requirements of 
 his position as Assistant Adjutant-General, to 
 my entire satisfaction. Now, after the lapse of 
 so many years, I am glad to have the oppor- 
 tunity to bear testimony to his marked soldierly 
 qualities, his coolness, self-command and gal- 
 lantry of action, which made him one of the 
 most promising of the young officers of my 
 command. General Pope's campaign involved 
 
162 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 the advance of his army to the Rapidan in the 
 vicinity of which, after the battle of Cedar 
 Mountain, its several corps were concentrated — 
 the subsequent falling back north of the Rappa- 
 hannock before General Lee's advance — holding 
 that river as a line of defence beyond Waterloo 
 bridge for many days, thus delaying the enemy's 
 progress and giving time for a portion of the 
 Peninsula forces to unite with General Pope's 
 army — the affairs of Bristoe Station and Thor- 
 oughfare Gap, the battles of August 29th and 
 30th at Groveton, and the partial engagement 
 of September 1st at Chantilly — the last two 
 weeks of this campaign, with its marches and 
 countermarches by day and night, through rain 
 and over mud roads, or under the intense heat of 
 an August sun, in a malarious district and with 
 frequent conflicts with the enemy, were a severe 
 test of the physical endurance of the command 
 and rapidly diminished its numbers, by exhaus- 
 tion and disease, incident to overwork and ex- 
 posure. Such a campaign might well shake the 
 resolution of soldiers, unaccustomed by long ser- 
 vice to like hardships, so that those who stood 
 bravely to their colors from the beginning to the 
 end of the campaign, deserve and should receive 
 the highest commendation for their fortitude and 
 courage, though they were eventually forced 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARKOWSMITH. 163 
 
 back, overmatched by an enemy elated by recent 
 successes on another field. 
 
 " It is my recollection that Captain Arrow- 
 smith throughout these trying services never 
 yielded to overwork of any kind, and was never 
 absent for a day from his post of duty, but was 
 actively efficient unto the end, and on every bat- 
 tle field he evinced the cool gallantry to which 
 I have already given my testimony. 
 
 " Having been severely wounded in the battle 
 of August 30th, I was compelled to give up the 
 command of the Second Brigade and part with 
 my staff officers, to whom I had become much 
 attached during their short but eventful service 
 and association with me. Not one of those 
 three officers who were so constantly by my side 
 during the campaign, and all sat at the same 
 table with me, survived the war. The brigade 
 sergeant, Abraham Cox, died at Lookout Mount- 
 ain ; Lieutenant Samuel Fessendon, my aid, a 
 gallant youth, fell mortally wounded in the bat- 
 tle of Groveton; and your brother, having served 
 on many battle fields, was killed at Gettysburg. 
 I heard of his death with pain and sorrow, for 
 he was a valued friend, a man of worth and a 
 sterling soldier. I am, very truly yours, 
 
 " Z. B Tower, 
 li £vt. Maj. Gen I, U. S. Army" 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. 
 
 TN JUNE, 1862, Melville D. Landon {Eli Per- 
 kins), a Washington correspondent of the 
 press, wrote to State Senator John J. Foote, a 
 leading Republican of Hamilton, New York, 
 suggesting Captain Arrowsmith for promotion 
 to a field office in a New York regiment then 
 about to be organized. Just prior to the out- 
 break of the rebellion Senator Foote's mind had 
 not been free from prejudice toward Arrow- 
 smith, due perhaps to his youthful partisanship 
 as manifested by racy communications to the 
 local Democratic paper ; but these prejudices, 
 Senator Foote acknowledged in his reply to Mr. 
 Landon, were dispelled by Arrowsmith's manly 
 and patriotic course at the outbreak of the war, 
 when he came out boldly for his country and 
 enlisted in its service, while very many of his 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 165 
 
 party were semi-secessionists. This letter is re- 
 plete with the evidences of kind feeling. It 
 states that Captain Arrowsmith " is a good offi- 
 cer in every respect," "a brave and loyal man." 
 " You may do as you think best in regard to ex- 
 pressing to him my opinion. If I can help him 
 at any time it will afford me great pleasure to 
 do so, for two reasons. The first because I con- 
 sider him worthy, and secondly, because it 
 would afford me an opportunity to demonstrate 
 my regard for him." This letter was forwarded 
 by Mr. Landon to Captain Arrowsmith, with a 
 request that he write to Senator Foote. Cap- 
 tain Arrowsmith did so and there followed cor- 
 respondence between them which shows that 
 notwithstanding past differences, Senator Foote 
 had come to entertain towards Captain Arrow- 
 smith a very kindly feeling and a high regard. 
 The Senator answers him that he is very grate- 
 ful for the opportunity offered for mutual ex- 
 planations, and adds : " If my feeling of dis- 
 like for you had not been dissipated while we 
 were at Mr. Greenley's (a boarding-house at 
 Hamilton), your noble course at the breaking 
 out of the war was such as would have dispelled 
 all such feelings. I take pride in the fact that I 
 was first to suggest you for captain, and I have 
 never seen reason to regret it. You at once 
 rose above party feeling that existed at that time, 
 
1(56 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 and consecrated yourself to the service of your 
 country, and ever since I have been anxious for 
 your promotion." Senator Foote then refers to 
 the fact that a movement has commenced in his 
 senatorial district, comprising the counties of 
 Madison and Cortland, for the organization of 
 a regiment to help make up the new levy, and 
 that he had suggested his name for Colonel or 
 Lieutenant-Colonel ; and he adds : " It takes 
 well, but there is a difficulty to be encountered. 
 Professor Brown, of Madison University, wants 
 a position as a field officer, and it would be im- 
 possible to get a place for both, as both would 
 be regarded as hailing from Hamilton." Pro- 
 fessor Brown was a brilliant scholar, well known 
 in Madison county and had many friends ; he 
 was a man of energetic character, full of patri- 
 otic zeal, and had devoted himself industriously 
 to the work of soliciting recruits for the new 
 regiment, addressing public meetings every 
 night throughout the district. He was princi- 
 pal of the Grammar School connected with the 
 University, and Arrowsmith had been associated 
 with him, first as pupil and then as his assistant. 
 Their personal relations were of the most friend- 
 ly character and there could be no rivalry be- 
 tween them There was mutual correspondence, 
 which resulted in Captain Arrowsmith positive- 
 ly refusing to accept the colonelcy of a regi- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 107 
 
 ment over Brown, his old friend and his senior 
 in years. By the latter part of August, Brown 
 had succeeded in enlisting eight hundred men 
 for his regiment, and his appointment to the 
 Colonelcy was assured. There was much rivalry 
 between the counties comprising the district for 
 the honor of filling the other regimental offices. 
 Senator Foote was one of the State Senatorial 
 Committee for the organization of regiments in 
 his district, which gave him considerable influ- 
 ence both at home and with Governor Morgan, 
 who was the appointing power. He arranged a 
 plan by which the objection to appointing the 
 two highest regimental officers from the same 
 place lost its force. This plan contemplated re- 
 serving the office of Lieutenant-Colonel to be 
 tilled by a man of experience from the army. 
 Then, instead of dividing the other regimental 
 offices equally between Madison and Cortland 
 Counties, he would magnanimously grant to 
 Cortland whatever it asked. With this arrange- 
 ment in view, an invitation was extended to the 
 committee from Cortland County to meet Sena- 
 tor Foote at his office in Hamilton the evening 
 of August 23d, 1862. Judge Mason and Pro- 
 fessor Brown were also present by invitation. 
 The proposition was made by Senator Foote in 
 accordance with the plan stated. It was har- 
 moniously accepted. The office of Lieutenant- 
 
168 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Colonel was to be left vacant and to be filled from 
 the army. This being settled, Senator Foote 
 then presented the name of Captain Arrowsmith 
 as an experienced officer in the army, and a 
 native and resident of New Jersey, although a 
 graduate of Madison University and a law stu- 
 dent with Judge Mason in Hamilton up to the 
 time of his enlistment. Senator Foote wrote, 
 " It took first-rate." He then called on Judge 
 Mason for an expression of his views, which 
 the Judge of course fully gave, accompanied by 
 a reading of recommendations from the army. 
 Colonel Brown was on hand, who heartily sec- 
 onded the proposition. 
 
 Thus, by the direction of Senator Foote, it 
 was fully arranged to organize the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh Regiment, New York State 
 Volunteers, with a vacancy in the office of Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel, and with the understanding that 
 an invitation was then to be given to Captain 
 Arrowsmith to accept the position. There were 
 some underhanded attempts afterwards at Al- 
 bany to get another person appointed, but this 
 was readily defeated by Senator Foote and Judge 
 Mason through Governor Morgan. 
 
 As soon as it was known that Captain Arrow- 
 smith was to be the Lieutenant-Colonel and 
 Professor Brown the Colonel, there was much 
 dissatisfaction expressed in the district because 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 169 
 
 Arrowsmith could not be Colonel. There was 
 the highest respect for both, but Arrowsmith 
 had earned a reputation in the field while Brown 
 was inexperienced. Senator Foote writing to 
 Captain Arrowsmith stated that he " saw Gov- 
 ernor Morgan and he would have given you a 
 commission as Colonel of the regiment if I had 
 said so, but you were not here to consult and so 
 I did not say the word." Judge Mason in a 
 letter written to Captain Arrowsmith's father 
 stated, " He should have been appointed the 
 Colonel, and so Governor Morgan said, after he 
 read the high testimonials from the army, but 
 George was in the field and the regiment was 
 half filled, and they must have a Colonel then."* 
 Senator Foote now, under date of September 
 22d, 1862, wrote to Captain Arrowsmith telling 
 him all that had been done, and urging him to 
 accept the position. Arrowsmith had previously 
 written him referring to the order of the War 
 Department forbidding army officers leaving 
 their positions for the purpose of accepting 
 offices in new regiments. Senator Foote wrote, 
 in reply : " I was aware of this and so was 
 Governor Morgan, and he mentioned it as an 
 objection, but we pressed you over that, believ- 
 ing you would manage some way to get excused 
 
 * Appendix, Note D. 
 
170 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 so as to accept the place. We thought that if 
 they would not allow you to leave the field now, 
 that you would be allowed to do so as soon as 
 this regiment got away and in the army. The 
 fact is, we have not allowed any obstacle to get 
 into your way. Now I hope you will not relin- 
 quish the idea of accepting this post." 
 
 Events show that he did accept it, though he 
 was being urged about the same time for the 
 colonelcy of the Twenty-sixth New York Volun- 
 teers, in place of Colonel Christian, who had re- 
 signed. Adjutant Bacon was one of his earnest 
 advocates for the last-named place ; and Gover- 
 nor Parker of New Jersey, urged by prominent 
 citizens of that State, had given assurances that* 
 he would appoint him to the colonelcy of a New 
 Jersey regiment when a favorable opportunity 
 offered. 
 
 Enough is written to show that the Lieutenant- 
 Colonelcy came to Captain Arrowsmith upon the 
 merit of his reputation as a man and a soldier, 
 without his leaving the field, and without an 
 ^effort in his own behalf. He was commissioned 
 by Governor Morgan of New York, September 
 16th, 1862, with rank from August 23d, 1862. 
 
 On the twenty -fifth of September the One 
 Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment left New 
 York for its encampment at Centreville, Virginia, 
 near Washington. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 171 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of October following, we 
 find Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith at Wash- 
 ington, where he is waiting for the acceptance 
 of his resignation as Assistant Adjutant-General, 
 almost well and quite anxious to get out with the 
 regiment. "Adjutant Bacon," he writes, "has 
 returned from Utica and is here at Brown's 
 Hotel. He says his father is urging my claims 
 with Governor Morgan as Colonel of the Twenty- 
 sixth, though I'm quite indifferent whether he 
 succeeds or not, as the regiment's time will be 
 out next May." 
 
 November 3d, 1862, George writes his brother 
 Stephen from Washington. * * * * " I find 
 my regiment has got up to their ears among the 
 Dutchmen, in Sigel's corps, Carl Schurtz's divi- 
 sion, and Colonel Schimmelfenning's (or some 
 such name) brigade. I don't particularly fancy 
 this arrangement altogether. I havn't seen the 
 Twenty-ninth yet, as it requires quite a long 
 horseback ride to do it." 
 
 The One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regi- 
 ment appears to have been the only " Yankee 
 Regiment," as it was called, in the division, the 
 entire corps being largely made up of Germans 
 and known as the German corps. It was a pe- 
 culiar position. An American regiment serving 
 its country in a German army. If it achieved 
 victory, to the Germans belonged the glory. If 
 
172 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 it suffered defeat there was precious little con- 
 solation in the thought that the shame was the 
 Germans. If George was not particularly 
 pleased with this assignment of his regiment, as 
 several sportive references to the matter in his 
 correspondence would seem to indicate, it was 
 perfectly natural. But he found no fault with 
 it. He accepted the situation as one of the acci- 
 dents of war, and here as elsewhere he knew 
 onlv his duty as a soldier. 
 
A PLEASING RECEPTION. 
 
 T IEUTENANT-COLONEL Arrowsmith had 
 not yet seen the regiment of which he was 
 Lieutenant-Colonel. It had now been in camp 
 nearly two months, and there began to be a good 
 deal of anxiety manifested as to when their 
 Lieutenant-Colonel was coming, and what he 
 was like. They knew him by reputation as a 
 man who had had experience in the army and 
 had been under fire. This was more than could 
 be said of anybody else in the regiment, and of 
 course there was curiosity to meet him and have 
 him with them. About the middle of November 
 he joined the regiment at New Baltimore. 
 
 A writer in the Canastota Herald of the date 
 of July 18th, 1875, thus describes the impression 
 made by the young officer as he approached the 
 regiment for the first time : "What a scanning 
 
174 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 that young, black-eyed, black-haired officer in 
 slouched hat received as he came down the hill 
 at New Baltimore to attend the dress parade. 
 It was early in November, when the pinching 
 frosts and chilling winds of Dixey were telling 
 in dampening effect upon the mirth and romance 
 of camp life. ' Is that our Lieutenant-Colonel ?' 
 says one, after the parade was dismissed. ' He 
 does look like a bully boy,' says another. 'See 
 that long cavalry sword he carries ; that looks 
 as though it had seen service,' remarks another. 
 And so was Colonel Arrowsmith discussed, but 
 always with a decided bias in his favor. For 
 who could see aught but welcome in his pleas- 
 ant face, and deny him the same welcome from 
 a thousand hearts. 
 
 " It was at once apparent to the eyes of his 
 men that Colonel Brown had found in Colonel 
 Arrowsmith a counsellor as well as a companion 
 in arms ; while Colonel Arrowsmith, from his 
 long experience in active service, seemed to re- 
 ciprocate such consideration by becoming mod- 
 esty towards his superior. The men, too, soon 
 found that instead of another ' high dig ' to lift 
 their hats to simply, a man had come who 
 sought only their best interests and advancement 
 in the ways of a soldier, for he seemed to feel 
 that his surest way to honor lay in a proper at- 
 tention to the general welfare of the men of his 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 175 
 
 regiment. On the march, if he held the com- 
 mand, he sought the easiest part of the road, 
 found the best water and the coolest shade pos- 
 sible for them ; when a sharp bend in the route 
 occurred he cut across lots to save distance, 
 and rested just as long and often as allowed by 
 his superiors. Who could not like such a man ? 
 In camp, when on drill under the Lieutenant- 
 Colonel, the men under such guidance moved 
 with vigor and alacrity, and in excellent trim re- 
 turned to their quarters thankful for the experi- 
 ence and skill of such an able officer." 
 
 November 16th, 1862, he writes to his brother 
 Stephen : * * * * " I've rather enjoyed 
 starting campaigning again, so far. General 
 Schurtz seems to be a very fine, affable man, and 
 hardly a foreigner, but our brigade commander 
 is Dutch enough for all practical purposes. 
 Our regiment is under excellent discipline and 
 my associates very pleasant, gentlemanly fel- 
 lows. So I start again in very good spirits for 
 another campaign. * * * * We are ordered 
 to march in the morning, but I don't know in 
 what direction, but I think the movement in- 
 clines towards Fredericksburg. I find it is much 
 easier to be Lieutenant-Colonel than it was on 
 the staff, as then I had nearly everything todo, 
 now almost nothing. We are having beautiful 
 
176 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 autumn weather, with a fine bracing air, just 
 right for military operations. I find myself 
 pretty well acquainted with the country, and en- 
 joy visiting the scenes of my old hardships and 
 battles." 
 
WASHINGTON IN I 862 
 
 T T NDER date of November 24th, 1862, Aliquis 
 addresses the Utica Herald from Centre- 
 ville, Virginia, which is his last letter to that 
 journal, affording us a glimpse of the metropolis 
 in the days of the Rebellion. 
 
 Centreville, Va., November 24th. 
 To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald: 
 
 A few days since I saw in some journal that 
 the Utica Herald, on account of the increased 
 expense of publishing newspapers, had been re- 
 duced in size. I noticed since, however, that 
 your paper has risen, like the Phcenix from its 
 own ashes, and appears as a fine, double sheet. 
 Blessed be newspapers ! No matter if the news 
 items do sometimes draw very heavily upon the 
 imagination. " We pays our money and we takes 
 
178 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 our choice," should be our consolation, when we 
 are at a loss which to consider as miscellany, 
 Sylvanus Cobb's tale, or the telegraphic column. 
 
 I am now in Sigel's Corps, Schurtz's Division, 
 and Schimmelfenning's Brigade. The names, 
 you perceive, are all Italian and " breathe of the 
 sweet South." We have been solemnly informed 
 through the Washington papers several times 
 that we have been cut to pieces and driven back to 
 Alexandria, but in the language of the lamented 
 Webster, "we ain't dead yet," having seen noth- 
 ing calculated to produce death, with the excep- 
 tion of commissary's whiskey, since I have been 
 here. 
 
 We have been marching and countermarching 
 about this part of Virginia for a few days, I 
 suppose for the purpose of covering the recent 
 movement towards Fredericksburg. By a re- 
 cent order, Sigel's Corps is made the reserve 
 of the grand army, whose duty I presume it will 
 be to protect a place called Washington, the 
 guarding of which has caused nearly every 
 movement of our armies to miscarry, and has 
 cost the country much more than it was ever 
 worth. I will give you a description of it. 
 
 The city of Washington, aside from the public 
 buildings, consists of four hotels, Pennsylvania 
 Avenue, Grover's Theater, and Gautier's saloon. 
 The rest of the place is a succession of country 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 179 
 
 villages, with low, illy-planned houses, with 
 small negroes leaning on the piazzas. It is a 
 capital place to spend a fortune, being abun- 
 dantly supplied with extortioners, hackmen, bar- 
 keepers and Jews. The best places to get rid of 
 money are Joe Hall's gambling saloon and Wil- 
 lard's Hotel, though these places have many as- 
 piring rivals. There are no particular social 
 distinctions in Washington, but there is a sort 
 of barber-shop and bar-room sociability in which 
 every one who wears good clothes may partici- 
 pate. You hardly ever meet any one who is an 
 actual resident of Washington. These crowds 
 that you meet are all men away from home, and 
 hence unsettled, anxious, reckless, seeking for 
 positions, for contracts, for a living without 
 working, for the necessary bread without the 
 usual amount of perspiration required in the an- 
 tediluvian sentence. You must not be surprised 
 at meeting any old acquaintance in Washington. 
 Your friend Jones or Smith, who greets you so 
 cordially around home, shakes hands with you 
 as a matter of course in Washington, but he ex- 
 cuses himself and hurries on, as he is expecting 
 to meet some one of more influence at the De- 
 partments. No one is interested in what does 
 not concern himself, and sensations and riots 
 are uncommon. When it w r as expected the city 
 would be taken by the confederates, there was 
 
180 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 no great concern, the billiard balls were clicking 
 all day, and the theatres crowded at night. 
 From nine o'clock in the morning till three 
 o'clock in the afternoon crowds are jostling 
 around the Departments, the offensive party. 
 The defensive is sustained by cool, indifferent 
 clerks and ushers. Business is business with 
 them, and unless the applicant claims relation- 
 ship with some one in the establishment he is 
 conscientiously excluded. 
 
 The rural visitor in the city, if he has not be- 
 fore been accustomed to this mixed society of 
 clerks, gamblers, officers, fortune hunters and 
 Congressmen, seems relieved by a breath of 
 fresh, home air again, when he returns from this 
 city, Washington, the Political Metropolis, and 
 ex-officio the Metropolis of Corruption. 
 
 So much for the city of magnificent distances. 
 But still "I'd have no objections to seeing it a 
 little longer," as the culprit on the scaffold re- 
 plied to the priest when told that " life was all 
 a fleeting show." Centreville is about as deso- 
 late a looking place as can well be imagined, 
 and the country having been crossed and re- 
 crossed by armies on both sides, every available 
 field has before been occupied as a camping 
 ground. The usual traces of an army are visible 
 on all sides ; all sorts of filth and garbage, in 
 which fevers are lurking ; recumbent horses, 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 181 
 
 very fat and plump, but on the whole, looking 
 as though they might be dead or something of 
 that sort. No serious epidemics are as yet pre- 
 vailing, however, yet it is to be hoped that our 
 winter quarters will not be taken at this place. 
 Notwithstanding what is felt and said on the 
 subject of a winter campaign, it is evident to all 
 who have had any military experience in this 
 climate, that if Richmond is not taken within a 
 month, the state of the roads will check all 
 active operations in the field. With Richmond 
 as a new base it might be different, but from our 
 present base it requires a pretty energetic Gen- 
 eral to give an army three meals a day at the 
 best of times and under the most favorable cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 I have not seen the Twenty-sixth in some 
 time. By some of your army correspondence, I 
 notice their chaplain has again joined them. 
 The splendid body of men that languished in 
 otium cum dignitate at Fort Lyon one year ago, 
 speculating on the chances of seeing active serv- 
 ice, has in a series of campaigns been trans- 
 formed into a small band of veterans. As the 
 old organizations dwindle and disappear in the 
 discharge of their duty, new ones are rushing in 
 to fill their places, to have, I suppose, the same 
 experience. Aliquis. 
 
A REMINISCENT LETTER, 
 
 'T^HE Lieutenant-Colonel being now installed 
 in his new position, addresses the writer 
 the following reminiscent letter : 
 
 Centreville, Virginia, Nov. 28th, 1862. 
 Dear Chum : 
 
 In camp, near Centreville, very comfortable 
 tent. Pleasant though cool weather. Regi- 
 ment out firing at a target. I'm lonely and 
 rather blue ; my horse has got the hoof-rot, and 
 cannot be used. I am a little unwell yet and 
 off duty; I am out of reading matter and must 
 write letters. In commencing a letter to you, 
 old times come up before me. What strange 
 things a few years bring to pass ! The Brown 
 that we used to designate as "Long Brown " in 
 distinction from other Browns of no less marked 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 183 
 
 peculiarities, is Colonel of a regiment, and I 
 Lieutenant-Colonel. An old Madison student, 
 Day; the ex-editor of the Republican, Waldron ; 
 and Judd Powers, are privates in the regiment. 
 Sam Wickwire, formerly known as " Gumbo," 
 is a Second Lieutenant. Last summer when on 
 the staff I was visited by a Sergeant, who turned 
 out to be Palmer, who graduated when I did — 
 he that of old first tasted of war in an encounter 
 with George Eaton, one night when the " rust 
 was rung" at Madison. Ford, of your class, 
 was a Commanding Sergeant in my brigade last 
 summer. The other day I met Moses H. Bliss, 
 D. K. E., a private in the Forty-fourth New 
 York Volunteers. Maclntyre, Curtis, and "Mrs. 
 Haskell's sons are dead. Carl Schurtz, the ora- 
 tor, is our General here, and other Dutchmen of 
 whom we probably bought lager beer three 
 years ago, are my compeers in other regiments. 
 War, like misery, makes strange bedfellows; as 
 you remarked in one of your productions of 
 yore, "a bundle of negations and inconsist- 
 encies." Our lines have truly fallen in Dutch 
 places, we being the only Yankee regiment in 
 the Division. " Yankee," I suppose by the way, 
 should have its usual prefix, D — n Yankee. 
 Custom has made it all one word among our 
 secesh opponents, " Damnedyankees." I like 
 General Schurtz very well, though I am not so 
 
184 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 enthusiastic over our Brigadier Schimmelfen- 
 ning, whose name, as Ward would say, is "pyure 
 Spanish." But, per contra, as the Dutch always 
 look out for enough food to eat, and whiskey 
 to drink, we are well taken care of, and "fare 
 sumptuously every day on purple and fine 
 linen," which is a quotation, sir, a quotation ! 
 I find that P. P. makes a first-rate Colonel, and 
 is very pleasant to be associated with. Even 
 war produces some change in him ! He does 
 not swear yet, but occasionally says he wants to, 
 and drinks nothing as yet stronger than wine, 
 but he smokes excessively. The Major is one 
 of the jolliest fellows I ever knew. This regi- 
 ment has seen no fighting yet, and we have been 
 aroused by no midnight attacks except the diar- 
 rhea. I don't think myself we shall see any till 
 spring, as we shall have to go into winter quar- 
 ters, I expect, about New Year's. Then I should 
 like you to give me a visit and I'll try to make 
 it pleasant for you as long as you wish to stay. 
 * * * * I saw Rem. Taylor, L. C, in Wash- 
 ington about a month ago. I hear very favora- 
 bly of your business prospects, and with pleas- 
 ure advise you to "go in boots." Send me a 
 Standard occasionally. 
 
 A letter of November 30th, 1 862, to his brother 
 Stephen from Centreville, Virginia, describes 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 185 
 
 how he fares with his new command. * * * 
 " We have been here at Centreville about two 
 weeks and have our quarters fixed very comfort- 
 ably. Colonel and myself have one walled tent 
 between us; as good on the whole as I had it 
 last winter, though really we are not yet in win- 
 ter quarters. We have plenty of eatables, and 
 on the whole have nothing to complain of. I 
 have had bad luck with my horse, though. He 
 has been having hoof-rot, but is getting nearly 
 well now. My health is capital, and I weigh one 
 hundred and sixty-nine pounds. A perfect mon- 
 ster ! There is no immediate prospect of a fight 
 just here, and in fact the whole game seems to 
 be blocked for some reason." 
 
PERSONAL INCIDENTS. 
 
 T^ROM Acquia Creek, Virginia, he writes 
 A to his brother under date of December 
 30th, 1862, some interesting personal incidents : 
 * * * "We are still in our old camp here 
 and nothing remarkable has occurred. I was 
 sent off with a detachment of two hundred men 
 last Saturday night to Dumfries to reinforce 
 Colonel Kennedy there. The night was so dark 
 I could sometimes hardly see my horse's head, 
 and in the morning entered Dumfries, but about 
 an hour too late to find the rebels. After stay- 
 ing there one night we came home again, having 
 met with no casualties. One good joke: in the 
 morning we stopped to eat breakfast near a 
 farm house. The inmates of the house supposed 
 we were Southerners and fed our horses and us 
 with great liberality, and when we left expressed 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 18? 
 
 a hope that we'd catch some of the deuced Yan- 
 kees soon. They also said that some more of 
 of ' our folks ' (the rebels) had been there about 
 an hour before. We carried out the joke, and I 
 don't know as they've yet found out their mis- 
 take, but I think it's highly probable that they 
 have. 
 
 "I understand that my friend Bacon, adjutant 
 of the Twenty-sixth, has died from wounds re- 
 ceived at Fredericksburg. This makes me feel 
 very sad. Both Fessendon and Bacon were very 
 intimate friends and I feel their loss very keenly. 
 Bacon was only twenty years of age, and had 
 just recovered from a wound received at Bull 
 Run. What a useless slaughter that affair was ! 
 
 •' I couldn't possibly come home for the holi- 
 days, as the Colonel himself wished to be away, 
 but could not get leave. But if I ever see a 
 chance I'll come, you may be sure. I suppose 
 you've had a first rate time, skating, etc. A 
 happy New Year to all ! " 
 
 February ist, 1863, finds him at Hartward 
 Church, Virginia. The next day he receives a 
 furlough and visits Washington and his home in 
 New Jersey. Afterward, his furlough is extended 
 to the 21st, and February 24th he is back to his 
 regiment at Stafford Court House, Virginia. 
 
 March 7th, 1863, still at Stafford Court House, 
 
188 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 he writes to Stephen : " Our fine weather has 
 left us and mud is again upon us. One month 
 more will end it, though, I suppose. We have 
 had some days that really seemed like spring, 
 and I heard some bluebirds singing in the sun- 
 shine. We are in the pine timber now and the 
 smell of the smoke as the March wind blows it 
 in my face reminds me forcibly of burning brush 
 for a new watermelon patch. 
 
 " No, you needn't try to tell me anything about 
 mud. I've seen the roads so that it's almost 
 impossible to get along on horseback. I haven't 
 seen Mr. Pearse yet; nor Tom; nor the Twenty- 
 ninth. You see, I'm unfortunately among these 
 Dutchmen. Tell mother my red flannel shirts 
 are much coveted. They are the warmest things 
 I ever wore." 
 
VISIT TO THE TWENTY-NINTH. 
 
 1\ /TARCH 15th, from the same place, he ad- 
 dresses Stephen, giving an account of his 
 interesting visit to the Twenty-ninth New Jer- 
 sey: ****«! took a trip over to the 
 left of the army last week — a ride and a rough 
 one of about fifteen miles. I called for Tom, 
 but he was off on leave of absence, so I went 
 to the Twenty-ninth New Jersey, where I saw 
 many acquaintances. Rem was sick ; Davison, 
 I thought, was a pretty fine fellow. I guess 
 they'll all be glad enough when their time is 
 out, from what I could observe. Every one 
 seems to have grown fat in the service. They 
 are very comfortably fixed. I then went to the 
 Twenty-sixth New York, now reduced to about 
 two hundred and fifty men, but it was quite sad 
 to miss the old faces in so many instances. I 
 
19(1 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 had a great time recalling old times, etc., and 
 then a tedious trip home. My horse essays to 
 jump a wide ditch. The mud is slippery where 
 he lands, he slips back into it, and I go over his 
 head, and we're both disgusted with each other. 
 When I got back to camp I found the Colonel 
 had gone off on a leave of absence so I'm in 
 command again for ten days." 
 
 March 22d, 1863, writing his brother from 
 Stafford Court House, Virginia, referring to an 
 application made to him through his brother by 
 an acquaintance for an appointment, he states : 
 " For every vacancy that occurs here there are a 
 dozen waiting to step in, and there is always the 
 deuce of a mess whenever it is done. I should 
 feel just so if the Colonel should resign and 
 some other Lieutenant-Colonel should be put 
 over me. What company is he in ? The Ninth 
 is now nowhere near us, but when I once see it 
 again, I'll take occasion to speak a good word 
 for him with his officers. You see, Stevey, that 
 is the best I can do for him without doing in- 
 justice to those with whom I am constantly as- 
 sociated. Are you acquainted with Captain 
 Hendrickson of the Ninth? He lay wounded 
 at Fredericksburg in the same bed with my 
 friend Bacon when he died." 
 
 The following" extract from a letter written bv 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 191 
 
 a prominent and influential citizen in Madison 
 County under date of February 23d, 1863, to 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith, voiced the gen- 
 eral sentiment of the district from which the 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh was recruited : 
 
 " Friend Arrowsmith, you stand well with 
 your regiment. Every man I have seen speaks 
 of you in the highest terms. They think you 
 have some regard for them — that you can sym- 
 pathize with them, and they not only like you 
 but they love you. I hope you will cultivate that 
 feeling and I hope the time is not distant when 
 for some good reason Lieutenant-Colonel Arrow- 
 smith will be the Colonel of the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh and that the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh will then number full one 
 thousand effective men. I do not wish anything 
 bad of any other person in order to give you 
 that place, but if necessary in order for you to 
 get it, I hope others will be promoted or detailed 
 to some other duty equally congenial with their 
 feelings. Your Hamilton friends manifest at 
 least as much interest in your success as in any 
 who have gone from Hamilton. Yes, through- 
 out Madison County there is entire satisfaction 
 in regard to Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith 
 and there has always been a strong feeling that 
 he be made Colonel." 
 
192 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 March 29th, still at Stafford Court House. 
 Virginia, with his regiment. Sunday, April 19th, 
 a letter from camp, One Hundred and Fifty- 
 seventh New York State Volunteers, closes with 
 the remark, " I must go to meeting. We have 
 a first-rate chaplain now." 
 
 April 26th, 1863, from Stafford Court House, 
 Virginia, he again writes his brother * * * * 
 " I'm writing in quite a hurry, as we are ordered 
 to move to-morrow morning early and we have 
 been here so long that we have accumulated a 
 great deal of luggage to be taken care of. You 
 never know, you are aware, how many things 
 we have till we come to move. I don't know 
 which way we are going, but I suppose to open 
 some manoeuvre, though in what direction I 
 know not, so don't expect letters so regularly 
 after this." 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 
 'T^ HE move referred to and which he supposed 
 was only a manoeuvre, was the beginning 
 of the important movement under Hooker to- 
 wards Chancellorsville. The next day, April 
 27th, the Eleventh Corps, to which belonged the 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, un- 
 der General Howard, moved up the left bank of 
 the Rappahannock to Kelly's ford, where it 
 crossed without opposition. Thence it moved 
 toward Chancellorsville, in light marching or- 
 der, encumbered with little artillery or baggage, 
 the ammunition being carried by mules, and be- 
 fore the night of the thirtieth they had reached 
 Chancellorsville. May 1st, Hooker's defensive 
 line of battle was formed in shape of the letter 
 C, fronting south. Howard's Corps was on the 
 right and was not only weakly posted but was 
 
194 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 considered a weak corps, probably on account 
 of the raw material that composed it ; but as 
 the enemy were wholly on the Federal left, its 
 position was unwisely thought to be safe. A 
 cavalry reconnoissance of the enemy disclosed 
 the exposed situation of Howard's Corps and 
 Lee resolved to attack it. Jackson moved at 
 daybreak of May 2d ; by three o'clock in the 
 afternoon he had moved by forest roads around 
 the Union army, a circuit of fifteen miles, to a 
 point within six miles from where he started 
 and two miles to the west of Howard's position. 
 Scouts creeping through the woods discovered 
 the Union intrenchments unguarded. There 
 was no suspicion of an enemy. The arms were 
 stacked, the men preparing their dinner. At 
 five o'clock herds of deer, scared from their 
 bushy retreats, came rushing over the lines. In 
 a few minutes Jackson burst upon them through 
 the woods. The regiments upon whom the 
 shock first fell scattered without firing a shot, 
 and the corps broke in disorder and fled. The 
 pursuit was checked in one quarter by General 
 'Pleasanton with cavalry and artillery ; and in 
 another by General Hooker, who, after vainly 
 trying to check the fugitives, some of whom 
 were shot down by his staff, caused Berry's Di- 
 vision to pass straight through the flying crowd 
 and pour into the woods a fire of artillery which 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROVVSMITH. 195 
 
 brought the pursuers to a stand. It was here 
 that Jackson lost his life by the fire of his own 
 men. 
 
 On Sunday morning, May 3d, HowaVd's Corps 
 was on the extreme left of Hooker's line, where 
 no attack was looked for, and it took no further 
 part in the action. On Tuesday night, the 
 Union army recrosses the Rappahannock. Of 
 the five thousand Union soldiers missing in that 
 action, two thousand were from Howard's Corps. 
 
 The rout of the Eleventh Corps was owing to 
 an overweening confidence in the safety of its 
 position, on the extreme right of the Union 
 army, while the enemy, being wholly on the 
 Federal left, the possibility of an attack was 
 deemed too remote to be entertained, and in 
 consequence no pickets were posted. This was 
 an inexcusable neglect, especially in view of the 
 fact that at one time during the day, Jackson's 
 long column at one point where his line of 
 march led him over a high hill, was seen by the 
 Federal outposts. It was moving southward as 
 though in full retreat towards Richmond. Still 
 the movement might be meant for an attack 
 upon Howard's position, and he was directed to 
 be upon the alert, and also to throw out pickets 
 on his front — a precaution the neglect of which 
 is unexplained. 
 
 Notwithstanding the surprise of the attack 
 
196 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 and the great confusion of the flight, the One 
 Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, though 
 in action for the first time, acquitted itself with 
 credit. Its excellent discipline enabled it to 
 form very quickly, and it stood its ground until 
 ordered to retreat, when it retreated in good 
 order, occasionally halting to check the pursuit 
 of the enemy by a well-directed volley. Night 
 was coming on, and seeing that they were pur- 
 sued by only a small detachment, they halted 
 and charged on the enemy, taking some prison- 
 ers. Then it was dark, and they were alone in 
 a great forest. Selecting a road that led towards 
 the firing of the battle, bearing their wounded 
 with them, they finally brought up at Hooker's 
 headquarters, where they found General Schim- 
 melfenning rallying the Germans. Here they 
 were publicly thanked by the commanding Gen- 
 erals. 
 
 Colonel Arrowsmith, from the beginning to 
 the end, was at his post of duty, and by his 
 coolness and intrepidity, inspired his regiment 
 with the valor of veterans. It was reported as 
 the verdict of his officers and men, that by his 
 superior tact and gallant dash, he saved his 
 regiment from annihilation. Its loss was one 
 hundred and seven men. In the report of the 
 action it was highly complimented by the Gen- 
 eral in command for its good conduct. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 197 
 
 Just ten days after leaving Stafford Court 
 House the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh is 
 back there again in its old camp. It has seen 
 stirring times during its short absence, and the 
 first opportunity is now afforded for the Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel to write home announcing his 
 safety and the result of " the raid across the 
 river." It is as follows : 
 
 Stafford Court House, Va., ) 
 May 7th, 1863. j 
 Dear Stevey : 
 
 All safe and sound yet. I take the pains to tell 
 you of it, for so many rumors are afloat about 
 our corps. We were in the raid across the river, 
 and our corps was badly whipped by being sur- 
 prised by a sudden attack on our rear while we 
 were carelessly at supper. I'll tell you more 
 when I'm not so sleepy, for there is a great deal 
 to tell. Your brother, George. 
 
 In accordance with his promise in the last let- 
 ter to tell more, he writes his brother on May 
 nth from the same camp, which is not only a 
 valuable contribution to the history of the part 
 taken by the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh 
 in the battle of Chancellorsville, but a full and 
 complete vindication of its honor, courage and 
 soldierly discipline under the most trying cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
HONOR FOR THE I57TH. 
 
 a T SUPPOSE you have been informed 
 through the public press of our move- 
 ments in the crossing of the Rappahannock — of 
 how 'the Eleventh Corps disgraced itself' and 
 no longer ' fights mit Sigel ' but ' runs mit 
 Howard.' This in short was owing to three 
 causes — First, miserable generalship ; second, 
 miserable fighting ; third, having no newspaper 
 reporters. 
 
 "We left this camp on Monday and marched 
 to Kelly's ford, built a bridge in the nitrht, 
 drove away the enemy's pickets and crossed 
 over. In the morning, marched towards the 
 Rapidan, skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry. 
 Surprised about one hundred rebels building a 
 bridge at the Rapidan and captured them. Our 
 footmen crossed in the night on the timbers. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 199 
 
 our horsemen fording the river and getting 
 pretty wet. A terrible rain in the night. Thence 
 to Chancellorsville where we begin to find the 
 enemy in the woods. We occupy the extreme 
 right in a wooded country. Friday afternoon 
 and evening we have some outpost fighting. 
 Saturday our brigadier is very particular with 
 his pickets and reconnoitres continually, skirmish- 
 ing all the day long. But there is one place in 
 our rear, in another division, where there are no 
 pickets and messengers are sent to report it to 
 General Howard. He says we do not need any 
 there, that the attack will be in front. The skir- 
 mishing continues all day and attracts but little 
 attention. About five o'clock we are carelessly 
 eating supper. The division that had no pickets 
 was suddenly attacked — Devins's Division— com- 
 pletely bewildered as the rebels came from the 
 woods right upon their rear. Then they broke. 
 Their battery, pointed exactly in the wrong 
 direction, was captured. The artillery horses, 
 cut loose, ran frantic through the rear line, in- 
 creasing the confusion. Then some of our Ger- 
 man regiments did break shamefully at finding 
 the rebels in their rear and their own officers 
 killed. We changed front then and resisted the 
 advance. The Germans fell back and left us 
 alone. The General who was yet with us then 
 ordered us to fall back firing, as the enemy had 
 
200 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 then got on both our flanks. Then back we 
 went, occasionally facing about and giving a 
 volley. As we retreated we got into a woods 
 The General left us for another part of the field 
 and no other regiment was around us. Night 
 was now coming on. General Slocum now en- 
 gaged the enemy so that only a small detach- 
 ment pursued us through the forest. As soon 
 as we found this out, we halted and charged on 
 them, driving them back and taking four prison- 
 ers. Then we were left alone and the question 
 was which way to go. It was dark, we had no 
 compass and it was a matter of some importance 
 which army we should come upon. The battle 
 was still going on and we took a wood road and 
 went towards the firing, taking our wounded 
 with us. We had the good luck to come near 
 Hooker's headquarters, where we found Schim- 
 melfenning rallying the Germans. Here the 
 generals publicly thanked the field officers and 
 the regiment generally. So this is the second 
 time I have had the luck to gain credit in a de- 
 feat, but there isn't much consolation in it. Our 
 regiment is much honored in the corps, but 
 we're all in disgrace together and I wish we 
 were clear of the Dutch. The Dutch are blam- 
 ing Howard for his negligence and he blames 
 the Germans for breaking. They are both right. 
 We are out of the quarrel and they both praise 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 201 
 
 us. To make matters worse the newspaper re- 
 porters in the employ of Hooker and Howard 
 have laid the whole blame on the troops, but that 
 will come all right in time. The upshot of the 
 whole was, the Eleventh Corps was shamefully 
 beaten ; the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh 
 has derived credit from it though with the loss 
 of one hundred and seven men. I was not 
 scratched. Colonel Brown was very slightly in- 
 jured on the arm by a spent shot. On Sunday, 
 Monday and Tuesday the battles were successes, 
 but the original plan was foiled and the whole 
 army safely re-crossed the river, and we were 
 out from under fire again. The slaughter among 
 the rebels I've no doubt was terrible. Howard 
 is much blamed for his negligence. Instead of 
 our flank being reinforced, one brigade was sent 
 during the day to strengthen Sickles." 
 
 Captain George L. Warner, of Cortland, New 
 York, is one of the few surviving officers of the 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment. He 
 is now secretary of the regimental association, 
 and he has kindly favored me with a letter con- 
 taining some of his recollections of Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Arrowsmith and the One Hundred and 
 Fifty-seventh at Chancellorsville, from which I 
 make a few extracts that may be of interest. 
 * * * * "I well remember the battle of 
 
202 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 Chancellorsville. I was First Lieutenant in a 
 company at that time, and saw Arrowsmith in 
 the hottest part of the light. I can answer for 
 his coolness under lire, inspiring confidence 
 among the officers and men by his example. 
 On the first day at Chancellorsville we were in 
 column en masse, facing south, when we were 
 struck by Jackson on the right flank. We im- 
 mediately fell in. Our right rested on a thick 
 grove, and we started to face the advancing 
 enemy. The underbrush was so thick that we 
 had to move by the flank, in a wood road, and 
 the brush on either side was so thick that it was 
 impossible to get away from the lane, when we 
 were met first with one or two wounded horses, 
 that jumped right into the ranks. You can im- 
 agine the result. This was followed up by minie 
 bullets. We retreated back to the clearing, 
 where we had been all day, and made a stand, 
 firing several volleys into the advancing column, 
 by which we held them till the main body came 
 up; they having the woods and we the open 
 field and within rifle range, the advantage was 
 all on their side. We again fell back, and when 
 they came out of the woods, we made another 
 stand and gave the enemy some punishment. 
 We here lost several men. Then we fell back 
 to the Chancellorsville house, and the lines were 
 formed. Arrowsmith was always at his post of 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 203 
 
 duty. I do not think that there was ever the 
 slightest misunderstanding between the Colonel, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel and Major. They always 
 pulled together, and throughout the One Hun- 
 dred and Fifty-seventh there were never any 
 dissensions. I attribute this in a great measure 
 to the influence of Lieutenant-Colonel Arrow- 
 smith. If Major Carmichael were living he 
 could tell you a great deal more than I can, for 
 he was with him most of the time, but he died 
 two years ago; also Captain Coffin, who died 
 several years since ; and there are but two of 
 the original captains living, Frank Place of 
 Cortland, and L. F. Briggs of Eaton, Madison 
 County, New York, who was at Gettysburg, and 
 left on the field badly wounded. I was pro- 
 moted to the captaincy in the latter part of 
 1864. As lieutenant I did not have much social 
 intercourse with the field officers, but I was 
 always received by Colonel Arrowsmith with 
 the same cordiality as though I had been an 
 officer of equal rank, which was one of his pe- 
 culiar characteristics. It was equally so with 
 the enlisted men, and I never heard an unkind 
 word from any member of the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh, officer or private, concerning 
 Colonel Arrowsmith." 
 
 May 17th, from camp near Brooks Station, 
 Virginia, the Lieutenant- Colonel writes that 
 
204 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 they have moved their camp for sanitary reasons, 
 about a mile from their former camp, in a splen- 
 did place. " What a beautiful Sunday ! " he 
 writes. " The birds singing and the sun shin- 
 ing." He speaks of a visit to his brother Tom, 
 who had returned from a raid, and who had 
 given him one of his horses to keep for him, 
 which he was glad to do. During the last week, 
 he states, he has been acting as president of a 
 Court Martial. Referring to the rout of the 
 Eleventh Corps, he says: " Nothing new. Time 
 and truth are working a little in favor of the 
 Eleventh Corps, but truth will never help some 
 regiments in it. We have the assurance from 
 the Generals that ours will be most favorably 
 mentioned in the reports, so on that we rest." 
 
 May 24th, writing from the same place, he 
 says : " We have a splendid camp, adorned with 
 evergreens like an ice cream garden. The 
 Colonel is off on a ten-days' leave, and I am in 
 command. The indications are that we shall 
 do nothing for some time, at least. The pickets 
 are reduced and we're taking our ease. Schurtz 
 has his wife here." 
 
 Another letter from the same place, under 
 date of May 31st, 1863, his mind recurs to the 
 defeat of the Eleventh Corps. * * * "You 
 will perceive that there is now a more rational 
 opinion afloat with regard to the Eleventh Corps. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 305 
 
 I must confess the corps didn't do to suit me, 
 for it was the duty of the corps to remain there 
 and die under the circumstances. Still, out of 
 justice to the many that fell there, the eighty- 
 three from my own regiment, a wholesale con- 
 demnation is hardly fair. We had the misfor- 
 tune to occupy the critical position under a 
 corps general, who never before commanded a 
 corps, and a commander-in-chief who never be- 
 fore commanded an army. I think some other 
 corps might have stood there fifteen minutes 
 longer, only that, for Jackson's whole army was 
 upon us. The Germans also would not have 
 acted so under Sigel." * * * 
 
THE INVASION OF THE NORTH 
 
 PHE results of the battles of Fredericksburg 
 and Chancellorsville inspired the most 
 sanguine hopes at Richmond, and it was re- 
 solved to renew the invasion of the North upon 
 a scale that would enable the South to conquer 
 peace and dictate its terms. Early in June Lee's 
 army began its northward march, moving down 
 the valley of the Shenandoah westward of the 
 Blue Ridge Mountains. The Union army fol- 
 lowed in a parallel direction on the opposite side 
 of the Blue Ridge. 
 
 On the twenty-first of June the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh was at Goose Creek, Virginia, 
 about six miles south of Leesburg. Here our 
 Lieutenant-Colonel writes to his brother: "We 
 are in a bivouac along the stream about six 
 miles from Leesburg, but we do not expect to 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 207 
 
 stay here long. I hear some fighting now in 
 the direction of Aldie. Pleasanton's cavalry, I 
 guess. I went on a scout over in Maryland last 
 week, with one cavalryman, swimming our 
 horses over the Potomac. We had a first-rate 
 time, but were arrested by our own cavalry as 
 spies over the river. We got back all safe yes- 
 terday afternoon. I saw the Twenty-ninth just 
 before they started. I think they had better 
 come back again. All well, and right." 
 
 On the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of June 
 the confederate army crossed the Potomac, 
 near the battle field of Antietam, and pressed 
 on towards Chambersburg in Pennsylvania. 
 On the twenty-sixth Hooker crossed the Poto- 
 mac at Edwards Ferry, and moved towards 
 Frederick City. The next day Hooker resigned 
 the command of the army, and General Meade 
 was appointed in his stead. Howard retained 
 the command of the Eleventh Corps. A por- 
 tion of Lee's army had reached Carlisle, Pa., 
 and was preparing to move on Harrisburg, but 
 the news that Meade had crossed the Potomac, 
 and w T as advancing northward, compelled him 
 to change his plans and move towards Gettys- 
 burg. On the twenty-eighth of June a portion 
 of Hooker's corps, including the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh New York, had reached Mid- 
 
208 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 dletown, Maryland. From this point the Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel writes his last letter home. It 
 is addressed as usual to "Dear Stevey " and 
 was written on Sunday, just three days before 
 the battle, but it was not received by his brother 
 until after the melancholy news of his death. 
 In it he writes : 
 
 "Well, we are in Maryland. In as fine a coun- 
 try as I ever saw in my life — like Pleasant Val- 
 ley — quite refreshing — abundance of everything 
 — nearly all Union people — stars and stripes 
 hanging out all over — hotels open — no robbing 
 on the one side, and no bushwhacking on the 
 other; quite a pleasant change for the army, but 
 quite bad for the country generally. Middle- 
 town is a nice place, about like Middletown 
 Point, and the people are nearly all Unionists, 
 so it is very pleasant. I have been a little un- 
 well for a day or two, and have been staying at 
 a private house, but am all right again now, and 
 expect to return to camp to-morrow. Write 
 soon." 
 
 How rejoiced must have been these worn and 
 travel-stained troops, after two years of cam- 
 paigning upon the battle-scarred fields of Vir- 
 ginia, hot and smoking amid the desolations of 
 war, to find themselves surrounded by green 
 pastures and fields of bending grain. Loud 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 209 
 
 and long must have been their cheers and their 
 songs, as the Union-loving citizens of Maryland 
 greeted them with the emblems of loyalty from 
 every housetop and window, and spread before 
 them the richest bounties of their generous hos- 
 pitality. As the Lieutenant-Colonel expresses 
 it, there was no bushwhacking, no robbing, now, 
 for the boys in blue, for the first time, were 
 campaigning among their friends. 
 
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
 
 /^\N the night of June 30th, General Howard's 
 ^^^ Corps was supporting the First, and lay 
 at Emmetsburg, ten miles south of Gettysburg, 
 with orders to march up and keep within sup- 
 porting distance of the First Corps. On the 
 morning of the first of July it left Emmetsburg 
 and marched to Gettysburg. On the way they 
 caught the sound of artillery firing. It was the 
 First Corps engaging the enemy. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Arrowsmith had not fully recovered 
 from his illness at Middletown, but he felt able 
 to ride his horse. Dr. H. C. Hendrick, the 
 regimental surgeon, rode by his side. Hear- 
 ing heavy cannonading Arrowsmith remarked, 
 " There will be warm work to-day, Doctor." 
 The doctor replied : " You must not go into the 
 fight, Colonel; you are not strong enough." As 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 211 
 
 they proceeded, Colonel Arrowsmith talked 
 freely and spoke of the trepidation usually ex- 
 perienced upon going into battle the first time. 
 ''I have gotten over all that," said he. "I have 
 come to feel that the bullet is not moulded 
 which is to kill me."* 
 
 The regiment reached Gettysburg about noon, 
 much fatigued with a rapid march on a mid- 
 summer day. An order is given to double-quick 
 march. They take to the sidewalks. Captain 
 Dilger's First Ohio Battery, which was behind, 
 sweeps by them on a swift gallop, its cannoniers 
 bouncing high in their seats as the wheels re- 
 volve rapidly over obstructions in the roadway. 
 The men of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh 
 swing their hats in the air with loud cheers for 
 the First Ohio Battery. They know each other, 
 for they were together at Chancellorsville. 
 They pass through the town to a point a few 
 hundred yards north of it, where three roads 
 come together. The Mummasburg road branch- 
 ing to the northwest; the Carlisle road to the 
 north, and the Harrisburg road to the northeast. 
 In the double triangle thus formed the Eleventh 
 Corps took its position facing northward, the 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment being 
 posted in a field on the right of the First Corps, 
 
 * Appendix, Note E. 
 
212 I >IEUTEN ANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 with the Mummasburg road on its left and the 
 Carlisle road on its right, while the First Ohio 
 Battery was immediately in its front. The shell 
 from the guns of the enemy flew over the bat- 
 tery and fell in the regiment, doing much in- 
 jury, and on account of the horses becoming 
 restless, Colonel Brown and Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Arrowsmith dismounted and sent their animals 
 to the rear. The first shot from the Ohio Bat- 
 tery flew over the confederate battery. At this 
 the rebels were jubilant and yelled in derision. 
 Captain Dilger now sighted the gun himself and 
 fired it. The shot dismounted a rebel gun and 
 killed the horses. Captain Dilger tried it a sec- 
 ond time, sighting and firing the gun. No ef- 
 fect being visible with the naked eye, Colonel 
 Brown, who was near, asked " What effect, Cap- 
 tain Dilger?" Captain, after looking through 
 his glass, replied, " I have spiked a gun for them, 
 plugging it at the muzzle." In the first move- 
 ment of the regiment on the left of the field two 
 hundred rebels came in and surrendered them- 
 selves as prisoners. Once, under fire, while ex- 
 ecuting a manoeuvre, the regiment fell into con- 
 fusion, from which there seemed to be difficulty 
 in extricating it. Then was heard the stento- 
 rian voice of the Lieutenant-Colonel conveying 
 the right order at the right moment, which im- 
 mediately relieved the embarrassment. A sur- 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 213 
 
 vivor of the regiment relating the incident says, 
 " Oh, how glad we were to hear that voice, for 
 then we knew that our beloved Lieutenant- 
 Colonel, who had been ill, was with us."* 
 
 During the forenoon, the First Corps had 
 more than held its own, driving the enemy and 
 capturing many prisoners. About ten o'clock 
 rebel reinforcements began to arrive. Rodes 
 and Early had come up by a rapid march. 
 Rodes's Division entered the fight about noon. 
 The First Corps, now greatly outnumbered and 
 hard pressed, was about giving way on its right. 
 It was at this juncture the Eleventh Corps ar- 
 rived. By their support the tide of battle was 
 stayed. It was now two o'clock. Early's Divi- 
 sion then advanced, forming in front of Schurtz's 
 Division. 
 
 It was impossible for the First Corps and two 
 divisions of the Eleventh Corps, comprising not 
 more than eighteen thousand men, to stand long 
 before forty thousand of Heath, Pender, Rodes 
 and Early. , General Howard wisely recognizing 
 this fact, before any order of retreat had been 
 given, directed the withdrawal of the heavy ar- 
 tillery to Cemetery Hill, and so disposed of 
 Steinwehr's Division that it could support our 
 retiring men. 
 
 * Appendix, Note F. 
 
DEATH OF ARROWSMITH. 
 
 T^ARLY'S Division now entered the fight. 
 ^ The Federal line was sorely pressed. It 
 took the form of a crescent, its extreme points 
 being drawn in towards the town, while the cen- 
 tre, which was the position of the One Hundred 
 and Fifty-seventh, was in danger of being cut 
 off altogether by the confederate attack upon 
 both flanks. The enemy was seen advancing 
 toward the town by the right flank, driving the 
 Second Brigade. General Schimme],fenning or- 
 dered the regiment to move over to the right to 
 check their advance. It proceeded to execute 
 the order and moved up to within fifty yards of 
 the enemy. The attack was made. Colonel 
 Arrowsmith was on the right of the line. His 
 voice was heard above the din of the battle, en- 
 couraging the men and directing their fire. The 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 215 
 
 regiment was in an exposed place and suffering 
 fearful slaughter by the enemy's fire upon both 
 flanks. After fighting a short time Colonel Ar- 
 rowsmith fell, struck by a rifle ball in the fore- 
 head. A general retreat had been ordered, but 
 the aide bearing the order had his horse shot 
 under him and it did not reach the brigade 
 promptly. It came at last and the regiment re- 
 treated. The following letter from Colonel 
 Brown, written twenty-four days after the battle, 
 but hitherto unpublished, was intended to give 
 to the public the particulars concerning Colonel 
 Arrowsmith's death: 
 
 Washington, D. C, July 27th, 1863. 
 Mr. Editor: 
 
 As several incorrect reports have been made 
 with reference to the death of Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Arrowsmith, I thought it would be grat- 
 ifying to his friends to know all the particulars 
 just as they are. The morning of the day on 
 which the battle occurred, the regiment marched 
 from Emmetsburg, a distance of ten miles, 
 reaching Gettysburg very much worried. The 
 greatly superior numbers against which the First 
 Corps were contending made it necessary for 
 the Eleventh to be thrown promptly forward. 
 Without stopping for rest we were moved 
 through the town upon the double quick and 
 
21o LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 placed in position behind Dilger's Battery, 
 which was soon engaged by three batteries of 
 the enemy. While lying there the numerous 
 shot and shell thrown among us rendered our 
 horses so unmanageable we both dismounted 
 and sent them to the rear. After the rebel bat- 
 teries had been silenced the whole brigade was 
 thrown forward. Soon after reaching the posi- 
 tion assigned us I was ordered by General 
 Schimmelfenning to move over some distance to 
 the right and attack the enemy, who were then 
 driving the Second Brigade of our Division. 
 This order I proceeded at once to execute. In 
 order to get my regiment into position to do ef- 
 fective service, I found it necessary to move up 
 to within fifty yards of the enemy, who by the 
 time I reached my position had placed a whole 
 brigade in line to resist my attack. The attack 
 was made, Colonel Arrowsmith occupying his 
 proper position on the right, encouraging his 
 men and faithfully and gallantly doing his whole 
 duty, while I gave my attention to the centre 
 and left. We had been fighting but a short 
 time, when, upon looking to the right, I discov- 
 ered that the Lieutenant-Colonel was missing. 
 I moved at once to the right and found him 
 lying upon his back, badly wounded in the head, 
 breathing slowly and heavily, and evidently in- 
 sensible. As my presence along the line was 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 217 
 
 more necessary that he had fallen, I could stop 
 but a moment, and returned to my position. 
 The men were falling rapidly and the enemy's 
 line was taking the form of a semi-circle, evi- 
 dently with the design of surrounding us, at the 
 same time concentrating the fire of their whole 
 brigade upon my rapidly diminishing numbers. 
 An enfilading fire from a battery upon our left 
 was also doing fearful execution. I had looked 
 around several times to see if some support 
 would not be sent, or an order for retreat. 
 Neither came. The last time I looked I saw 
 one of General Schimmelfenning's aides about 
 half way across the field, taking the saddle off 
 his horse and running back, and I learned from 
 some of my wounded men who fell before we 
 reached our position, that the same aide came 
 out a short distance and hallooed to me to re- 
 treat. I, however, heard no order. Seeing that 
 we were likely to be all shot down or taken 
 prisoners, I ordered a retreat. From the wound- 
 ed left on the field I learned that the Lieutenant- 
 Colonel died shortly after the retreat. An at- 
 tempt was made to bring him off, but the prox- 
 imity of the enemy and the hot firing prevented. 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith died, as every 
 true soldier would wish to die, at his post, gal- 
 lantly fighting for his country. A brave man, a 
 skillful officer, possessing a keen sense of honor, 
 
218 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 generous to a fault, bound to him by a long per- 
 sonal attachment formed and ripened in the 
 various relations of teachers and pupils, asso- 
 ciate teachers and fellow officers, I mourn his 
 loss as that of a brother, and offer to the family 
 and friends of the lamented hero my warmest 
 and tenderest sympathy. 
 
 I am, sir, with great respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 P. P. Brown, Jr., 
 Col. 157th N. Y. Vols. 
 
 I am indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Frank 
 Place of Cortland, New York, for another ac- 
 count of Colonel Arrowsmith's death and of the 
 part of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh in 
 the first day's battle of Gettysburg. Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Place was the senior captain in the 
 regiment at that time and a warm personal 
 friend of Colonel Arrowsmith. He writes 
 * * * "Our corps (Eleventh) came up from 
 Emmetsburg at about noon, passed through the 
 town and took position on the right of the First 
 Corps, my own regiment deploying into the 
 field east of the Mummasburg road and just op- 
 posite the Pennsylvania College. We were soon 
 moved further east — as far as the Carlisle road, 
 and there supported the battery belonging to 
 our brigade. After an hour or so the battery 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 219 
 
 and my regiment were ordered forward, towards 
 the hill between these two roads, the battery 
 was withdrawn and my regiment continued to 
 advance. Soon it was discovered that the ene- 
 my were advancing towards the town by our 
 right flank. We were ordered by the Colonel 
 to 'change front forward on first company,' all 
 the while under fire apparently on both flanks. 
 It was while this movement was being executed 
 or just after that Lieutenant-Colonel Arrow- 
 smith received the fatal shot. He was near the 
 right of the line. I think that he never stirred 
 after he fell. I was within ten feet of him when 
 he fell. I was the Senior Captain in the regi- 
 ment and was in my place, but having the com- 
 mand of my men, I could render him no assist- 
 ance. My recollection is that orders to retreat 
 very soon reached us and we left the field. 
 
 " My First Lieutenant, J. A. Coffin, was wound- 
 ed and left upon the field. He recovered after 
 a while and found Colonel Arrowsmith's body, 
 and took from his person his D. K. E. badge. 
 Coffin and I were both captured and spent nine 
 months together in Libby Prison. I was then ex- 
 changed and Coffin stayed nearly a year longer. 
 I believe that the Lieutenant-Colonel's badge 
 was sent to his brother. 
 
 " The field officers dismounted before going 
 into this fight. Colonel Brown was in com- 
 
220 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 mand. Colonel Arrowsmith was in his place 
 and in the line of duty when killed. No braver 
 or cooler man ever breathed. ' Why were we in 
 such an exposed position?' We were ordered 
 to advance, and receiving no order to retire, we 
 kept advancing. The General sent an aide with 
 orders for us to retreat, but his horse was shot 
 under him and he was delayed in giving us the 
 order. In the meantime Colonel Brown, seeing 
 the advance of rebel troops along the Carlisle 
 road, ordered us to change front. Then receiv- 
 ing orders to retreat, we did retreat. 
 
 " Now I have given you briefly an account of 
 Colonel Arrowsmith's death, etc. A captain in 
 command of his company has all he can do in 
 that line. He has no time to take in the whole 
 plan of battle, and hence I may not be able to 
 give all that transpired, but I have done this as 
 faithfully as I can. There are many things I 
 might say with regard to Colonel Arrowsmith's 
 character, if my pen were adequate. Let me 
 say that no officer of the One Hundred and 
 Fifty-seventh Regiment enjoyed the confidence 
 and respect of the men in a greater degree than 
 did Lieutenant Colonel George Arrowsmith." 
 
 The field officers of the One Hundred and 
 Fifty-seventh Regiment on the morning of the 
 first of July, 1863, Colonel Place states, were as 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARKOWSMITH. 221 
 
 follows: P. P. Brown, Jr., colonel, command- 
 ing; George Arrowsmith, lieutenant - colonel ; 
 J. C. Carmichael, major on the staff of General 
 Schurtz. After the death of Colonel Arrow- 
 smith, Major Carmichael was promoted to the 
 vacant Lieutenant-Colonelcy and Captain Place 
 was commissioned major early in 1865. Colonel 
 Brown resigned to take a command in General 
 Hancock's veteran corps. Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Carmichael was commissioned colonel and Major 
 Place was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of 
 the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, 
 but neither of the last two were ever mustered 
 into the rank to which they had been commis- 
 sioned. 
 
 "When the regiment reached town," says 
 Colonel Place, " we found the east portion of 
 the village already in possession of the confed- 
 erate troops and pressing close on the west. 
 Many were captured in the town. General 
 Schimmelfenning, commanding the brigade, 
 concealed himself in a woodpile and remained 
 there until the evacuation on the morning of the 
 fourth day." 
 
 That portion of the First and Eleventh Corps 
 which escaped, made a stand on Cemetery Hill. 
 Meade's army got into position that night from 
 Culp's Hill to Round Top, and the next day the 
 
222 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 battle began on more equal terms, with the re- 
 sult that the world knows. 
 
 The One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regi- 
 ment was almost annihilated. Its loss was as 
 follows : Killed — four officers and twenty-three 
 enlisted men ; wounded — eight officers and one 
 hundred and fifty-eight enlisted men ; captured 
 — six officers and one hundred and eight enlisted 
 men. Aggregate of killed, wounded and cap- 
 tured, three hundred and seven, out of about 
 three hundred and fifty with which it entered 
 the battle.* 
 
 Lieutenant Coffin, the wounded officer who 
 went to the assistance of Colonel Arrowsmith 
 after he fell, besides the Delta Kappa Epsilon 
 badge, took possession of some other articles of 
 property found upon his person and which he 
 knew would be cherished as relics of the dying 
 hero. Among these were his revolver, his 
 shoulder straps, and a little book stained with 
 his blood entitled, "A Memorial of Adjutant 
 Bacon," which on a fly-leaf bore the following 
 inscription: "To my esteemed friend, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel George Arrowsmith, a beloved associate 
 and companion in arms of my brave and loyal 
 son, this memorial of him is presented by the 
 author, June, 1863." These he sacredly guarded 
 
 Appendix, Note G. 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 223 
 
 during his captivity, until opportunity was found 
 to forward them to the parents of the deceased. 
 One of the shoulder straps had been cut by a 
 rifle ball in the battle, causing a slight abrasion 
 of the shoulder, evidencing the terrific character 
 of the enemy's fire ; but before Lieutenant 
 Coffin had secured these relics, a wounded pri- 
 vate had taken the ring from Colonel Arrow- 
 smith's finger, and his purse from his pocket, 
 containing about one hundred and sixty dollars. 
 As the field was in the possession of the enemy, 
 he saw no harm in taking this property from the 
 dead officer, as they were sure to be taken and 
 confiscated by the enemy. The harm lay in 
 the criminal appropriation of the property thus 
 secured. The wounded culprit found his way 
 to a Newark military hospital. He gave the 
 empty purse to a fellow soldier, with the remark, 
 " If you knew who it belonged to you would 
 prize it." He also exhibited the ring upon his 
 finger, remarking that "he thought a great deal 
 of it, for it belonged to the best man in his regi- 
 ment." These facts having been reported, earn- 
 est efforts were made to obtain the property. 
 Finally, by the effective exertions of Marcus L. 
 Ward, afterwards Governor of New Jersey, a 
 confession was extorted from the criminal. The 
 money he had spent, with the exception of about 
 seventy-five dollars, which was restored, and the 
 
224 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSM1TH. 
 
 ring, though it had been given away, was re- 
 covered. 
 
 The sword presented to Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Arrovvsmith by his men when he was Captain of 
 Company D, Twenty-sixth New York Regiment, 
 has a history. At his promotion, having no fur- 
 ther personal use for it, he loaned it to his friend , 
 Byron S. Fitch, Second Lieutenant Company 
 C, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York 
 Volunteers, who carried it in the battle of 
 Gettysburg. When he saw the certainty of his 
 capture by the enemy, he buried it in an ash-heap 
 in the street at Gettysburg. He was captured, 
 but succeeded in escaping before the evacuation 
 of the town. After the retreat of the confeder- 
 ates, he returned to the ash-heap and recovered 
 the hidden treasure. 
 
 Upon receiving the sorrowful news of his 
 brother's decease, Dr. Joseph E. Arrowsmith 
 hastened to the scene of the late conflict. Arriv- 
 ing at Baltimore on the Fourth of July, he was 
 subjected to much delay and difficulty in reach- 
 ing Gettysburg, as all lines of travel were sub- 
 ordinated to military authority, and transporta- 
 tion to civilians was denied. He did not reach 
 the battle ground until late the following week, 
 whence he proceeded to the hospital of the 
 Eleventh Army Corps, two miles south of Gettys- 
 burg, to obtain information respecting the place 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. -225 
 
 of burial of his brother. Of this visit the New- 
 York Herald related the following incident in an 
 obituary notice of the deceased : 
 
 " A touching incident which occurred well 
 illustrates the estimation in which the deceased 
 was held by officers and men. It was in the 
 hospital of the Eleventh Army Corps, about two 
 miles south of Gettysburg. The surgeons were 
 working hard with the wounded, many of whom 
 had been four or five days awaiting surgical aid. 
 Of course they were anxiously looking for re- 
 lief. A private of the One Hundred and Fifty- 
 seventh New York, after so long waiting, had 
 now reached his turn, and was just going to 
 be laid on the operator's table. Hearing that 
 friends of his late Lieutenant-Colonel were in- 
 quiring where the body fell and was buried, he 
 at once volunteered to go and show them. Of 
 course the offer of the noble hearted man was 
 not accepted. Instantly Captain Adams, who 
 had just been taken off the operator's table, 
 where he had had a ball extracted, which, after a 
 circuitous route, had lodged under the shoulder 
 blade, tendered his services to point out the 
 place. And in this condition he went." 
 
 The body was exhumed, and decomposition 
 had progressed to an extent that rendered neces- 
 
226 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 sary a metallic coffin. The supply of these in 
 Gettysburg and Baltimore was unequal to the 
 demand. The doctor was compelled to go back 
 to New York for the purpose of procuring one ; 
 and then returning, he caused the remains to be 
 forwarded to Middletown, New Jersey. 
 
FUNERAL OBSEQUIES. 
 
 ^PHE funeral obsequies were held in the Bap- 
 * tist Church of Middletown, on Sunday, 
 July 26th, 1863, at half-past three o'clock. The 
 weather was propitious, and the assembled 
 throng was so great that but a small part could 
 find accommodation wkhin the church edifice. 
 The Brigade Board of Monmouth and Ocean 
 Counties was present in full uniform without 
 side arms. An impressive sermon was delivered 
 by the Rev. David B. Stout,* and an obituary 
 notice, rendering tribute to the exalted character 
 of the deceased, was read by the Rev. Dr. 
 Samuel Lockwood. After the service the re- 
 mains were interred at Fair View cemetery in 
 Middletown township. Quite extended obituary 
 
 * Appendix, Note A. 
 
228 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 notices of a highly eulogistic character appeared 
 in the newspapers of Madison, Cortland and 
 Chemung Counties of New York, and Monmouth 
 County, New Jersey ; also in the daily papers of 
 New York City, Washington and Philadelphia. 
 Resolutions of condolence and respect were 
 adopted by the Brigade Board of Monmouth 
 and Ocean Counties,* and by the Class of '59 of 
 Madison University,! of which the deceased was 
 a member, at the Commencement following his 
 death. In commemoration of his virtues and 
 noble deeds a monument of Ouincy granite was 
 erected over his remains. It bears the following 
 inscription : 
 
 Lt. Col. George Arrowsmith, 
 
 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York 
 Volunteers. 
 
 He bore a distinguished part in several severe engage- 
 ments, and fell at Gettysburg gallantly leading his Regi- 
 ment, July 1st, 1S63, aged 24 years, 2 months, 13 days. 
 
 Erected by his numerous friends in token of his personal 
 worth, patriotic devotion, and distinguished bravery. 
 
 The devoted regiment and his college asso- 
 ciates made generous contributions towards its 
 expense as a tribute of their love. 
 
 Appendix, Note H. 'Note I. 
 
TRIBUTE FROM COLONEL PLACE, 
 
 a pUNCTILIOUS in all that appertained to 
 military discipline and etiquette in the 
 line of duty, he could meet the humblest private 
 soldier at other times on terms of equality. He 
 was in no sense a*martinet. He was modest 
 without being weak, conscious of his personality 
 and power, without being arrogant and obtru- 
 sive. 
 
 " I soon learned that there were ties which 
 bound me to him other than those of a common 
 humanity or loyalty to the flag we had both 
 sworn to defend ; that we were members of the 
 same college fraternity. To us twain fraternity, 
 charity and loyalty had a twofold meaning. 
 
 " He possessed all the qualities of a thorough 
 disciplinarian, and held the line officers to a 
 strict accountabilitv for their conduct in the 
 
230 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSM1TH. 
 
 presence of their men in all the minor duties of 
 camp, bivouac, or drill. He never publicly re- 
 proved an officer, but sought the retirement of 
 his tent to administer a rebuke for any un- 
 soldierly conduct. The peculiar bond between 
 him and myself above referred to did not in the 
 least exempt me from receiving deserved re- 
 proof. He thoroughly believed in the potent 
 influence of example upon the rank and file set 
 by those in authority over them. This principle 
 he exemplified at all times, and in all places. It 
 is an historical fact that at Chancellorsville our 
 army was surprised. The enemy made their 
 attack from the direction not contemplated, and 
 hence we were in no position to repel. 
 
 " The result was a defeat. This was the first 
 general engagement in whrch my regiment had 
 participated. The attack came suddenly and 
 with overpowering effect, yet I can confidently 
 assert that it was largely through Colonel Arrow- 
 smith's coolness and self-possession that we re- 
 treated from that ill-fated field in so good order 
 and with so little loss of life. Our next general 
 engagement was at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 
 July TSt, 1863. Here Colonel Arrowsmith dis- 
 played the same courageous qualities that dis- 
 tinguished him at Chancellorsville. He died as 
 he would have chosen to die if so willed, with 
 his face towards the foe. Thus he filled the full 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 231 
 
 measure of devotion to his country, by the sac- 
 rifice not only of the hopes and aspirations of the 
 cultured and refined gentleman, but of life it- 
 self." 
 
 Colonel Place addressed the Arrowsmith Post 
 as follows : 
 
 "Comrades of Arrowsmith Post, Department of New 
 Jersey, Grand Army of the Republic : 
 " You acted wisely when you decided upon 
 the name of your Post. The name of George 
 Arrowsmith is enshrined in the hearts of his sur- 
 viving comrades. No words of mine can add 
 lustre to his renown. I can only exhort you to 
 emulate his patriotic devotion to the cause of 
 your country's welfare and prosperity." 
 
CONCLUSION, 
 
 'T^HUS lived and died Lieutenant - Colonel 
 George Arrowsmith at the early age of 
 twenty-four "years. While full maturity of char- 
 acter had not been attained, yet there was ex- 
 hibited a sound and vigorous growth, beautiful 
 in its symmetry, and towering in its aspirations. 
 Though falling in the springtime of life, he did 
 not live in vain. The principle for which he 
 grasped his sword was vindicated. The rebellion 
 was crushed and constitutional liberty was pre- 
 served. It was he in common with other brave 
 hearts and strong arms who accomplished this 
 great result. He lived long enough to share in 
 the glorious work and to render brilliantly con- 
 spicuous the virtues of his noble character. 
 
 He gave his all to his country, cultivated 
 talents, alluring prospects in civil pursuits, a 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 233 
 
 young life ; as a patriot he could have done no 
 more. Of his courage I need not speak. It is 
 attested by heroic deeds on several battle-fields, 
 which are at once his monuments and his eu- 
 logies. 
 
 In manhood he was the soul of honor, with an 
 innate contempt for whatever was mean or in- 
 triguing. He possessed a high sense of duty 
 which characterized his whole life, a steady pur- 
 pose to do what he believed to be right. He 
 honored his father and mother, and in the sacred 
 precincts of his own home he was the light and 
 joy of their hearts. 
 
 There was no gulf between him and others of 
 less favored position. He had no snobbish pride 
 or silly vanity. Here he was the idol of the 
 volunteer soldier. He possessed a dignity in 
 bearing and a gravity in repose, but when ap- 
 proached his genial salutation relieved all un- 
 certainty. He was proud, but it was the honor- 
 able pride born of true nobility of character. 
 He was ambitious, but it was the laudable am- 
 bition to excel in good works and deeds. 
 
 In conversation and social intercourse he was 
 refined and courteous. A coarse or profane ex- 
 pression never fell from his lips. It was a strong 
 point made in one of the testimonials presented 
 to Governor Morgan recommending his pro- 
 
234 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 
 
 motion, that he was an officer who never used 
 profane language. 
 
 His knowledge of history and general English 
 literature was extensive. He had a good mem- 
 ory, keen perceptions and a pleasant vein of 
 humor. To these he united gifts of soul that 
 enabled him to bind to his heart all who knew 
 him with bands of steel. 
 
 His patriotism was not the enthusiasm of the 
 hour to be chilled by the first reverse or defeat. 
 It was a settled determination, a firm conviction, 
 that underlying the contest was a great moral 
 principle. Scenes of peril, of exposure, of ex- 
 ertion, he encountered without a murmur. Nor 
 did he entertain a thought of terminating his 
 military career before the end of the war. To 
 the advice of a friend that he should limit his 
 term of service, his reply was that " as long as 
 the war lasts, I will serve my country." 
 
 His natural qualities were conspicuously mani- 
 fested in his army life. From the patient and 
 painstaking student he became a thorough in- 
 structor and tactician in camp. From a genial 
 companion in society he passed as the type of 
 good fellowship by the camp-fire. His gentle 
 and sympathetic nature endeared him to the 
 victims of pain and suffering. Favored with a 
 strong physical organization, he could endure 
 hardships without exhaustion. Possessed of 
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSMITH. 235 
 
 great moral pride, he was a lion in danger, and 
 his natural impetuosity made him a thunderbolt 
 in battle. 
 
 It is idle to speculate upon what he might have 
 been had his life been spared. We accept him 
 with admiration and gratitude for what he was. 
 Enlisting as a mere boy, without rank, he was 
 at once unanimously chosen by his fellow volun- 
 teers as the commandant of the company. In 
 one year, for merit, he was promoted to the office 
 of Assistant Adjutant-General upon the staff 
 of General Tower, upon the recommendation 
 of the Division Commander, General Ricketts. 
 Without leaving the army, he was elevated to the 
 field office of Lieutenant-Colonel by the Gov- 
 ernor of New York, who was thus prompted by 
 the fame of the soldier, and was only restrained 
 from appointing him Colonel by his generous 
 refusal to accept the position over a friend. On 
 the eve of Gettysburg his comrades urged his 
 higher promotion, with flattering testimonials 
 from persons of distinguished military rank, but 
 here was ended his rising career. It was an 
 honorable death, and his epitaph is briefly writ- 
 ten : a sterling soldier, a true patriot, and a 
 brave man. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 NOTE A. 
 
 A sermon by the Rev. David B. Stout on the occasion 
 of the funeral of the late Lieutenant-Colonel George Ar- 
 rowsmith. Text, II Samuel, chapter xix, verse 2. "And 
 the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all 
 the people." ■ 
 
 It is a fact attested by universal experience, that by 
 sympathy a man may receive into his own affectionate 
 feelings a measure of the distress of his friend, and that 
 his friend does find himself relieved in the same pro- 
 portion as the other has entered into his grief. From 
 the language of the text I would call your attention to 
 the duty of Christian sympathy toward the bereaved. 
 
 There is in the heart of man a generous sympathy for 
 man. By sympathy is meant fellow-feeling — the quality 
 of being affected by feelings similar to those of another. 
 By observing the operations of our own minds, we shall 
 discover the existence of this principle, and become con- 
 vinced that it is a distinct element of human nature. 
 
238 APPENDIX. 
 
 A smile upon the countenance of a friend excites one 
 upon our own. The depiction of sorrow and deep dejec- 
 tion upon the visage of a fellow being, measurably pro- 
 duces to some extent similar feelings in our own hearts. 
 If we are present on occasions of peculiar joy to our 
 friends, we, by the sympathy of our nature, partake of 
 that joy. No one with a full knowledge of the circum- 
 stances could have witnessed the countenance of the 
 venerable patriarch brightening with a beam of joy, as 
 he listened to the narration of his sons, late from Egypt, 
 and lifted up his eyes and saw the wagons sent for his 
 accommodation, and heard him in the exuberance of 
 paternal joy exclaim, " It is enough, Joseph, my son, is 
 yet alive, I will go and see him before I die," without 
 having felt the movings of inward sympathy and a thrill 
 of sadness. Our grief is also excited by witnessing the 
 grief of others. Visit the dwelling of a respected ac- 
 quaintance; enter the apartment where with esteemed 
 friends and a beloved family you have been accustomed 
 to spend the social hour. Beside the farthermost wall of 
 that apartment, fix your eyes upon the concealed form of 
 one whom conjugal and paternal fidelity the day previ- 
 ous had employed in the active duties of life. Approach, 
 withdraw the covering which conceals the well-known 
 features of your friend, still unchanged, and perfect in 
 their form, save that the eye has gathered dimness, and 
 closed itself upon the world forever, and the livid hue has 
 given place to a death-like paleness. With the disclosure 
 of those familiar features, listen to the sobs of the new 
 made widow and orphan children. Witness the deep 
 and irrepressible agony of a bereaved heart, venting it- 
 self in a flood of tears, and the sympathies of your 
 nature will be awakened and you will heave an involun- 
 tary sigh, and drop a spontaneous tear. 
 
APPENDIX. 239 
 
 This element of our nature is an endowment of crea- 
 tive wisdom and goodness; it subserves valuable pur- 
 poses and aids in the performance of essential duties; 
 it is adapted to the social nature of man, and is promo- 
 tive of the social virtues; it awakens in the different 
 members of the human family a reciprocal interest in 
 each other's welfare, chastened by pure religion; it " re- 
 joices with those who rejoice, and weeps with those who 
 weep;" it fosters kindness, generosity and benevolence, 
 but is pained to witness suffering in any form, and un- 
 happy as it listens to the tale of war; it is aroused into 
 vigorous action by unexpected and disastrous events, by 
 which aggravated suffering is produced, and the lives of 
 our fellow beings lost. The text expresses its language 
 on such an occasion. In the fortunes of war David's son 
 had fallen, and though the circumstances of his rebellion 
 and his death were such as would seem to destroy the 
 exercise of sympathy, yet the event has fully proven that 
 the parental relation rises superior to all others; for as 
 the men of Judah marched out of the gate of the city of 
 Mahamin, in companies of hundreds and of thousands, 
 led by their Commander Joab, David stood by the gate 
 and said, "Deal gently with the young man, even with 
 Absalom." And all the people heard when the King gave 
 all the captains charge concerning Absalom. How strong 
 is the bond of parental affection ! David, by the skill 
 and valor of his troops, had gained a complete victory ; 
 nothing could be more seasonable or important. It 
 crushed the wide-spread rebellion and reduced his sub- 
 jects to allegiance. But behold the King ! All suspense, 
 sitting between the two gates waiting for intelligence. 
 Two messengers run to announce the victory. The first 
 said " all is well." Which was saying the victory is ours ! 
 our foes are subdued ! That was very important. But 
 
240 APPENDIX. 
 
 another inquiry lying deep down in his anxious spirit, 
 breaks forth from his lips. " Is the young man Absalom 
 safe ?" This was a question too great for the moral cour- 
 age of the messenger, and he evades it. 
 
 The second messenger has now arrived. "Tidings, 
 my Lord, the King, for the Lord hath avenged thee this 
 day of all them that rose up against thee." But his heart 
 is still bursting with anxiety for a reply to his unanswered 
 question, hence he repeats it. " Is the young man Ab- 
 salom safe?" And Cushi said, "The enemies of my 
 Lord, the King, and all that rise against thee to do thee 
 hurt, be as that young man is." Nothing could have 
 been more wise or delicate than the manner in which the 
 truth was insinuated ! But like a sword, it pierced 
 through David's soul and the King was much moved, 
 and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept; 
 and as he went, thus he said, " O my son Absalom ! My 
 son, my son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee. 
 O Absalom, my son, my son ! " 
 
 David stood in a double relation; he was not only a 
 King, but a father; and though Absalom had been an un- 
 dutiful child, still he was a child; and for a child to be 
 cut off, not only in the midst of his days, but in the midst 
 of his sins, was painful in the extreme. Excuse or con- 
 demn David for his conduct on this occasion, the event 
 is the same; " And the victory that day was turned into 
 mourning unto all the people." 
 
 Secondly — this is true, to a certain extent, of every 
 national victory. When two large armies are drawn up 
 in battle array, with all their improved appliances of death 
 and slaughter, to use the language of Scripture, "The 
 land mourns." Fields are ravaged, fences destroyed, 
 houses demolished, women and children fly. Mournful 
 is the infliction of pain, while thousands are agonizing 
 
APPENDIX. 241 
 
 together upon the gory field, where they often lie for 
 hours or even days, with their wounds undressed and 
 bleeding, exposed to the martial tramp of an infuriated 
 foe. Mournful is the loss of limbs. How we feel when 
 a neighbor by disease or accident, is compelled to submit 
 to a single amputation. How many subjects for amputa- 
 tion are furnished by a single victory ! How many, after 
 enduring the most excruciating sufferings, are maimed 
 and rendered helpless and miserable the remainder of 
 their days. Mournful is the loss of life, for wher: is the 
 human being who is not of importance to some one? 
 How many a poor widow, whose name will never be an- 
 nounced in the public papers, is now weeping over a hus- 
 band she will see no more ! How many an orphan is 
 now crying " My father ! O my father ! " but that father 
 sleeps on the gory field of death, and will never again 
 caress the loved ones he has left behind. O, how many 
 fathers are this day saying, " Would God I had died for 
 thee, O my son ! " 
 
 Mournful, above all, is the loss of souls ! We are far 
 from supposing that all warfare is unlawful, and that a 
 good man cannot be a soldier. Who has not read the 
 life of Colonel Gardiner, slain in battle at Prestonpans ? 
 Was there ever a mind more purely and ardently pious? 
 A man may ascend to heaven from the field of battle, but 
 the moral state of our armies is too well known to be a 
 secret ! At any time the generality of those who com- 
 pose them are not prepared to die. How dreadfully af- 
 fecting then, is it, to think of so many of our fellow 
 creatures being cut off in a moment, and sent with all 
 their sins upon them, to appear before the Judge of all? 
 So many ways is victory turned into mourning. 
 
 Memorable in the annals of history will be the victory 
 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Who can deny that its 
 
242 APPENDIX. 
 
 unexampled suffering has spread a gloom over our whole 
 country, and excited a deep and heartfelt sympathy for 
 the unfortunate victims and their bereaved friends ? 
 By it, the hearts of many parents, brothers, sisters, 
 companions and friends, have been filled with sadness. 
 Religious, literary, and other associations have sustained 
 a severe loss; and neighborhoods, towns, and the country 
 at large, have been bereaved. The scenes of that event 
 have made a thrilling appeal to the sympathies of this 
 community. 
 
 They have shrouded in mourning a respected family 
 in our midst, and to them cast a fearful pall over the joys 
 of earth. They have removed forever from our sight an 
 acquaintance and esteemed friend, whose early years 
 were passed among us; who had often been a worshipper 
 in this sanctuary; whose voice has often mingled with 
 this choir, in the praise of God; one whose excellent 
 qualities had secured for him the confidence and warm 
 attachment of friends and relatives, and the respect of all 
 who knew him. 
 
 Yes, among the thousands who fell upon that field of 
 slaughter and death was Lieutenant-Colonel George Ar- 
 rowsmith. By this afflictive and painful dispensation, 
 not only have relatives been bereaved, but an extensive 
 circle of acquaintances, who valued his friendship, en- 
 joyed his society, respected his worth and entertained 
 high expectations of his future usefulness, have been 
 filled with unaffected sorrow. This affliction addresses it- 
 self to all who have been personal friends of the deceased. 
 Strong are the ties of affection and friendship. From the 
 stroke that sunders those ties, the heart recoils in untold 
 agony. We hear of the death of an acquaintance and are 
 sad. But when we know that a friend whom we loved 
 and esteemed, and whose society and counsels we highly 
 
APPENDIX. 243 
 
 prized, is no more, a tide of sorrow o'erflows our hearts; 
 but most of all, are we affected by being relatives of the 
 deceased. The common parent of mankind has estab- 
 lished the endearing relation of kindred, from which 
 spring the warmest, deepest and purest affections known 
 on earth. Others have their attachments, but not like 
 those who are bound together by the strong ties of con- 
 sanguinity. The distress occasioned to survivors by 
 the stroke of death is proportionate to the strength and 
 ardor of their affections ! We, who are only acquaint- 
 ances of the departed, are filled with sadness at the tid- 
 ings of his melancholy fate, but of the sorrows of his af- 
 flicted and bereaved relatives, parents, brothers and sis- 
 ters, we can have no adequate conception. The depths of 
 their hearts are stirred; the fountains of their sympathies 
 are broken up. 
 
 Among the most endearing relations of human life is 
 that of parent and child; their affections are reciprocal; 
 that of a parent, for wise purposes, is doubtless the 
 stronger. The child weeps at the loss of the parent, but 
 at the loss of the child the parent is filled with irrepressi- 
 ble and oftentimes inconsolable grief. The general in- 
 fanticide in Bethlehem, which occurred under the reign of 
 Herod, is symbolically represented by a paroxysm of ma- 
 ternal anguish; in Rama there was heard a loud lamenta- 
 tion and weeping and great mourning; when the patriarch 
 Jacob felt the sadness of such a bereavement, in vain did 
 his sons rise up to comfort him. He refused to be com- 
 forted and said, " I will go down to the grave to my son 
 in mourning." The poignancy of grief with which King 
 David mourned for an undutiful son, who died in an at- 
 tempt against his father's life, we have already mentioned. 
 I will not mock the feelings of bereaved parents and rel- 
 atives by attempting to give a description of their sor- 
 
244 APPENDIX. 
 
 rows. Should I make the attempt, the most expressive 
 language I could employ, would do injustice to my 
 theme. These sorrows can be known only to the Om- 
 nipresent God, and the hearts that feel them. 
 
 Again the agreeableness of departed friends is another 
 circumstance which heightens the pain of bereavement. 
 One reason of David's distress at the death of his friend 
 Jonathan, is expressed in the words, "Very pleasant 
 hast thou been to me." Valuable and agreeable qualities 
 in our friends, endear them to our hearts and render 
 our separation more painful. Those who were acquainted 
 with the departed know him to have been a kind friend 
 and an agreeable associate ; possessed of more than ordi- 
 nary natural abilities, a highly cultivated mind united 
 with his practical good sense, acute discernment, sound 
 judgment, and Christian morality. These, like a beau- 
 tiful constellation, shed their mild radiance around and 
 won for him the respect and love of a wide circle of 
 friends and acquaintances, who had indulged the hope 
 that his future might be honorable, happy and exten- 
 sively useful to his fellow men. 
 
 No more on the shores of time we shall meet our friend. 
 We have often met him and exchanged our cordial greet- 
 ings, we have loved his society, valued his friendship; 
 but never again shall we enjoy them here. For the last 
 time has he visited his native home! We sympathize 
 with the Elders and Christians at Ephesus, who wept 
 and fell on Paul's neck, sorrowing most of all for the 
 words which he spake unto them ! That they should see 
 his face no more ! 
 
 Lamented friend and brother, thine earthly race is 
 run. Thy mortal course is finished. Thy sun has fallen 
 before it reached its meridian altitude. Thy warfare is 
 accomplished. Thy tears are wiped away. Thou hast 
 
APPENDIX. 345 
 
 entered that world where wars shall never come, and 
 " Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary 
 are at rest." We bid thee farewell ! But thy memory 
 embalmed in the tears and affections of weeping kindred 
 and sorrowing friends shall still live. 
 
 To soothe the sorrows of this mournful event let us re- 
 flect: First— that it occurred under the immediate super- 
 vision of an All Wise Providence. Jehovah sits at the 
 helm of the universe, controlling all its vast affairs in 
 infinite wisdom and benevolence. He is able to bring 
 good out of evil. He causeth the wrath of man to praise 
 Him, and the remainder He restrains. He extends His 
 care and providence to the minutest particulars affecting 
 our interest. " Even the hairs of our head are all num- 
 bered," and " Not a sparrow falleth to the ground with- 
 out His notice." Much less did this event occur without 
 His knowledge and permission. The human agency may 
 have been exceedingly culpable, as in the Saviour's cruci- 
 fixion, yet the Almighty Ruler of the world has ordained 
 it in His beneficence and love. We call this an untimely 
 death. True, it was death in the morning of life, yet it 
 is timely ! The time and mode are of Divine selection. 
 The Great Shepherd of Israel, at the time and in the way 
 He sees fit, calls His sheep away from earthly storms and 
 tempests, to His glorious fold on high. W T hy should we 
 repine? He hath done all things well. 
 
 Second— Although we would neither eulogize the dead, 
 nor anticipate the decisions of the final day, yet may 
 we not cherish and express the humble hope that our 
 friend died a Christian ? A subject of experimental and 
 practical Godliness? If so, his eulogy is written in the 
 word of God. " Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord 
 from hence forth. Yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest 
 
246 APPENDIX. 
 
 from their labor, and their works do follow them." " Say 
 ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him." 
 
 For twenty-six days has his ransomed spirit been an 
 associate of angels, and the "Spirits of the just made 
 perfect," in rendering ascriptions of praise to our incar- 
 nate, yet Crucified Redeemer, in far more exalted strains 
 than mortals ever knew; while the unspeakable glories 
 of the heavenly world have been unfolding to his enrap- 
 tured vision. How the laurels of earth wither to the eyes 
 of such a company! Could we hold intercourse with the 
 eternal world, a whisper from the spirit land would 
 say to us, " Weep not for me." " The Saviour has passed 
 through the portals before me, and the lamp of His love 
 was my guide through the gloom." 
 
 Third — It shows us the supreme value of religion. How 
 plainly are we taught the vanity of all earthly good! 
 How loudly admonished to seek a heavenly treasure! 
 Nay, were the sea one crysolite, the earth one golden 
 ball, and diamonds all the stars of night, religion is 
 worth them all. In loudest accents this Providence 
 warns us to be in constant readiness to meet death. It 
 is a direct appeal to all who are unfurnished and unpre- 
 pared for the coming world. With strong emphasis, it 
 rebukes the spirit of procrastination, by which some 
 would put off the concerns of the soul. To the afflicted 
 family I would say, tender and endearing were the rela- 
 tions you sustained to the deceased. You had given him 
 a large place in the affections of your hearts. He was 
 worth all that you bestowed upon him. By his sudden 
 and appalling death you are filled with grief and mourn- 
 ing. To feel the ties of nature sundered, is painful in the 
 extreme. Your happy circle is broken. Your ranks are 
 invaded, and some of you feel that earth is stripped of 
 its joy. In your present affliction, receive our sympathies. 
 
APPENDIX. 247 
 
 We mingle our tears with yours. The great Physician 
 can heal your broken bones and bind up your bleeding 
 hearts. To Him we commend you. Let faith lift her 
 eye to the resurrection of the just, where you may be en- 
 abled to say to the Master, " Here am I, and the children 
 which Thou hast given me." God grant you resigna- 
 tion to His holy will. 
 
 NOTE B. 
 
 HAMILTON VOLUNTEER AID ASSOCIATION, CORRESPONDENCE 
 OF "THE REPUBLICAN." 
 
 The ladies of Hamilton met on Friday evening, May 
 31st, at the house of Mr. Adon Smith, to form themselves 
 into an organization for the purpose of providing com- 
 forts for the volunteers sent from Hamilton and adjoin- 
 ing towns to fight for the Stars and Stripes. The notice 
 not having been generally extended, the number present 
 was not as large as desirable, but those present were 
 earnest to be at work. Mrs. M. S. Piatt was made chair- 
 man and the society organized under the name of the 
 "Hamilton Volunteer Aid Association." Mrs. Charles 
 Mason was unanimously elected president ; Mrs. A. M. 
 Bee'be, vice-president ; Miss Annette Foote, treasurer ; 
 and Miss D. W. Waters, secretary. It was resolved, 
 after a discussion of the needs of the soldiers, to appro- 
 priate the funds first collected to the procuring of have- 
 locks for Company D. It was further resolved, that the 
 ladies of adjoining towns be invited to join the associa- 
 tion and cooperate with the ladies of Hamilton. The fol- 
 lowing officers were then chosen : As soliciting commit- 
 tee, Mrs. G. W. Eaton, Mrs. Lewis Wickwire ; for have- 
 locks, Mrs. Bancroft, Miss Mary Manchester, Mrs. Wells 
 
24« APPENDIX. 
 
 Russell ; for sponge cases and towels, Mrs. John J. Foote, 
 Mrs. M. Harmon; for sewing kits, Miss M. A. Hastings, 
 Miss V. M. Case; for miscellaneous articles, Mrs. Frank 
 Bonney, Miss C. Hyde. Mrs. Mason then read some pro- 
 ceedings of the Chenango Volunteer Association, and an 
 interesting letter from Captain Arrowsmith, acknowledg- 
 ing the receipt of the provisions and clothing lately sent 
 the volunteers. Mr. Miner kindly offered his parlors as 
 a place of meeting, and the association adjourned to meet 
 at the Wick wire House on Thursday, June 6th, at two 
 o'clock, p. m., for the purpose of working for the volun- 
 teers, and making plans for future operations. 
 
 NOTE C. 
 
 War Department, Washington, August 19th, 1862. 
 Sir: 
 
 You are hereby informed that the President of the 
 United States has appointed you Assistant Adjutant-Gen- 
 eral of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain, in the serv- 
 ice of the United States, to rank as such from the nine- 
 teenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and 
 sixty-two. Should the Senate, at their next session, ad- 
 vise and consent thereto, you will be commissioned ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 Immediately on receipt hereof, please to communicate 
 to this Department, through the Adjutant-General's office, 
 your acceptance or non-acceptance of said appointment ; 
 and, with your letter of acceptance, return to the Adju- 
 tant-General of the Army the oath herewith enclosed, 
 properly rilled up, subscribed and attested, reporting at 
 the same time your age, residence when appointed, and 
 the state in which you were born. 
 
APPENDIX. 249 
 
 Should you accept, you will at once report, in person, 
 for orders, to Brigadier-General Z. B. Tower, U. S. Vol- 
 unteers. 
 
 EDWIN M. STANTON, 
 
 ■ Secretary of War. 
 
 Captain George Arrowsmith, 
 
 Asst. Adjt. Gen/. Vols. 
 
 NOTE D. 
 
 Extract from a letter of Hon. Charles Mason, L. L. D., 
 of the Supreme Court of New York, to Thomas Arrow- 
 smith, Esq., dated December 30th, 1863. 
 
 "You will pardon me in saying that the death of your 
 son George was to me and my family the severest casu- 
 alty of this terrible war. He was possessed of a noble and 
 generous spirit, brave in danger, cool and composed in 
 the midst of battle. He held most unbounded control 
 over his men. This was so whether in camp or field, he 
 always possessed their confidence and esteem. He was 
 a remarkably good judge of human nature for one so 
 young as he was, and would assuredly have acquired 
 distinction in his chosen profession had he not gone into 
 the army. I remonstrated against his going at the time 
 he first enlisted, but he said he was already pledged to 
 lead the company then in process of formation and he 
 could not back down. 
 
 " I was one who went to Albany and presented to Gov- 
 ernor Morgan an application for his appointment as Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel. The high commendation he received 
 from officers of the army with whom he was associated in 
 battle, as to his ability and military capacity to command 
 either a regiment or brigade, induced the Governor to 
 appoint him over other meritorious applicants for the 
 
250 APPENDIX. 
 
 position. He should have been appointed the Colonel, 
 and so Governor Morgan said, but George was in the field 
 and the regiment was half filled, and they must have a 
 Colonel then." 
 
 NOTE E. 
 
 This conversation was told to the writer by Surgeon 
 H. C. Hendrick of McGrawville, New York. 
 
 NOTE F. 
 
 These incidents were related to the writer by Captain 
 G. T. VanHoesen of Cortland, New York, who served in 
 the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, New 
 York State Volunteers, at Gettysburg. 
 
 NOTE G. 
 
 These figures are from official reports, and include a 
 loss sustained by the remnant of the regiment in a fight 
 on Culp's Hill, the evening of the second day's battle at 
 Gettysburg. 
 
 NOTE H. 
 
 MEETING OF THE BRIGADE BOARD. FROM THE "MONMOUTH 
 DEMOCRAT." 
 
 The Brigade Board of the Monmouth and Ocean Bri- 
 gade met at the court-house in Freehold on Monday last 
 at ten o'clock, a. m., and was called to order by General 
 llaight. 
 
 Present, Brigadier-General Haight, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Green, Major Corlies, Major Green, Major Yard, Captain 
 Forman, Captain Conover, Captain Hyer. 
 
 Captain Forman desired to call the attention of the 
 
APPENDIX. 251 
 
 Board to the death of Lieutenant-Colonel George Arrow- 
 smith, of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York 
 Volunteers, a native of this county and a son of Major 
 Thomas Arrowsmith, who was killed while gallantly 
 leading his regiment on the outskirts of the town of Get- 
 tysburg during the recent battle at that place. Captain 
 Forman pronounced a high eulogy on the character of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith. He said there are few 
 who leave a nobler record. While acting as Assistant 
 Adjutant-General at Second Bull Run his name was 
 brought permanently before the country. He deemed it 
 proper for the Board to take some action in the matter 
 expressive of their sentiments and to perpetuate the 
 memory of the gallant dead. 
 
 Major Corlies moved that a committee of three be ap- 
 pointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiment of 
 the board, relative to the death of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Arrowsmith, which was adopted, and General Haight, 
 Major Conover and Captain Forman were appointed said 
 committee. 
 
 The following resolutions in relation to the death of the 
 above-named gallant young officer were reported by the 
 committee and adopted : 
 
 Whereas, The Brigade Board of the Monmouth and 
 Ocean Brigade, New Jersey Militia, have learned with 
 deep regret that Lieutenant-Colonel George Arrow- 
 smith, of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New 
 York Volunteers, was killed while gallantly leading his 
 regiment in the sanguinary conflict at Gettysburg on 
 the third of July, in his efforts to expel the rebel 
 armed force from the soil of Pennsylvania, and in de- 
 fense of constitutional liberty; therefore, 
 Resolved, That we bow with contrite hearts to this dis- 
 
352 APPENDIX. 
 
 position of an overruling Providence, who in this sad af- 
 fliction has again sent a solemn admonition to warn us 
 that in the midst of life we are in death; 
 
 Resolved, That we recognize in the short and brilliant 
 career of Colonel Arrowsmith his patriotic endeavors to 
 restore to its wonted peace and unity our distracted and 
 unhappy country. Second Bull Run testifies to his ac- 
 tivity in movement — his vigilance and reliability in dan- 
 ger ; Chancellorsville furnishes the indisputable evidence 
 of the living purpose that directed his movements, and 
 the unconquerable spirit that enabled him to undergo 
 the hardships and fatigues of battle; while Gettysburg 
 proves unflinching courage and determined bravery, 
 from the active part he took in the drama enacted there. 
 
 Resolved, That in the death we are called upon to 
 mourn, the military arm of the country has lost the serv- 
 ices of a brave and accomplished officer, the cause of 
 constitutional government a bold and determined defend- 
 er, one who was willing to shed his blood in its defense; 
 
 Resolved, That this Board deeply sympathize with the 
 aged and esteemed parents and afflicted family of the de- 
 ceased in their bereavement, and as an evidence of re- 
 spect for the memory of the noble dead, this Board will 
 attend his funeral in the Baptist church in the village of 
 Middletown on Sunday, the nineteenth inst., at three 
 
 P. M. 
 
 Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the 
 family of the deceased and published in the county 
 papers. Signed, 
 
 CHARLES HAIGHT, 
 FRANCIS CORLIES, 
 WILLIAM B. FORMAN, 
 
 Committee. 
 
APPENDIX. 253 
 
 NOTE I. 
 
 THE LATE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARROWSM1TH. 
 
 The class of '59 of Madison University met at Ham- 
 ilton, New York, the day and date hereafter given, and 
 had its first reunion while attending the commencement 
 of its Alma Mater, at which time the following preamble 
 and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 Whereas, our beloved classmate, George Arrowsmith, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty- 
 seventh, New York State Volunteers, fell at Gettysburg 
 July 3d, 1863, while nobly leading his regiment against 
 the enemy; and 
 Whereas, the occasion of our first class reunion affords 
 us the first opportunity of expressing our estimate alike 
 of himself and of his early and noble fate; therefore 
 Resolved, That as a class we feel ourselves to have been 
 peculiarly honored by the voluntary offering upon the 
 nation's altar of a life so precious and valuable. While 
 we miss him to-day, not as we do others, who, though 
 absent, still live and work on earth, but as one we shall 
 see here no more, we yet experience a mournful pleasure 
 in transferring his name from the list of living class- 
 mates to that immortal scroll on which are inscribed the 
 names of those who have laid down their lives for Liber- 
 ty, God and their country; 
 
 Resolved, That in the sacrifice of his life, our class has 
 lost one who united with distinguished originality of 
 mind, a heart generous in its impulses, tenacious in its 
 friendships and courageous in its instincts, all which 
 invested him with the surest promises of success in what- 
 ever profession of life he might have chosen; 
 
 Resolved, That while we embalm his memory in our 
 hearts' most sacred place, deeply conscious of our irre- 
 
254 APPENDIX. 
 
 parable loss, we yet regard his identification with the 
 cause of the nation in its second great struggle for na- 
 tionality, and his subsequent death, as acts performed in 
 our behalf, and we embrace this occasion to reassert our 
 devotion to our country, and bind ourselves more closely 
 upon the altar whereon his fresh young manhood was so 
 heroically sacrificed, assured that he died not in vain, and 
 that all familiar with his career must be stimulated to 
 like noble endeavors; 
 
 Resolved, That in this first sundering of the golden 
 chain of our class relations we are not unmindful of the 
 desolation which has fallen upon his endeared home and 
 parents, and that we hereby avail ourselves of the first 
 opportunity given us as a class to tender the bereaved 
 home circle of our lamented classmate our profound and 
 heartfelt sympathy in this painful and sad bereavement; 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be given to 
 the parents of the deceased, and that the same be pub- 
 lished in the Hamilton Republican, the Utica Morning 
 /derail and the New Jersey Standard. 
 
 GEORGE M. STONE, 
 ENOS CLARKE, 
 Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Hamilton, August rytk, 1S6?. 
 
Errata ♦ 
 
 Page 96, line 6 from "bottom, for "base" 
 read bass. 
 
 Page 121, line 6, for "1862" read 1863. 
 Tliis letter and the letter tkat follows, 
 should come after letter of December 
 30, 1862, on page 187. 
 
 Page 251, line 11, for "permanently" 
 read prominently. 
 
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