**.>* 7 . «^ ^ .>. eV ■>* .,. * 0^ ''V' ' Aj,^ o^ -" ^0 '^^ ' c^*'' \^'x f^^sT r \,'^>^>'^ '^<.''^^*y' ^'^^^> 1*^ '"-^A (.'< '<'; iP-^a ^• v^ <;• \ ' -^z -^ r.-' /"K '■■■■ • ..^•"^ '^t/ir--" ,/X --s^^r^ ■ ^'^'''"^ ^» /^T 'V. «»H/,>- ,. - V "^^ - -*/-v^* HISTORY ...OF... DuRELL's Battery ...IN THE.... CIVIL WAR (INDEPLNUENl BATTERY D. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY.) Ov 'tl A Narralive of the Campaigns and Baltics o( Berks and Bucks Counties' Artillerists in the War ot the Rebellion, from the Battery's Organization. September 24. 1861. to its Muster Out of Service. June 13. 1865. ^ SEP 10 1904 D.ofD, TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF DURELL'S INDEPENDENT BATTERY D, Pennsylvania Volunteer Aimillikv. Whose devotion to their Country in the time of her peril is their enduring honor, this bool< is offered as a sincere tribute. Appro\ al of Durell's Batter\ Association. Heladvuarters Durell's Battery Ass«_>ciation. Reading, Pa., October 31. 1903. At the Annual Reunion of Durell's Batten- Association, held at Reading, Pa., on September 26, 1903, it was unanimously resolved that the material collected by the Historical Committee of the Battery Association be approved, and that Lieut. Charles A. Cuffel. the battery historian, be authorized to publish the same in book form. HORACE D. BOONE. Sec re tan. PREFACE. Soon after the organization of Dureli's Batter)- Association, which was effected in 1880. a committee was appointed for the collection of historical matter, with the object of preserving the services of the batter}' from obli\ion. The committee has had a long and difficult task to perform : but the work has nevertheless, been a pleasant one, recalling those stirring days of the past in which the command played its part in the great War of the Rebellion. Little note of the services of Durell's Battery has been taken by the historians of the Civil War. Nothing more has been attempted here than a faithful account of its experience in the marches, campaigns and battles through which it passed, and in which it rendered such loyal and eftective service. (lenerous aid has been rendered by surviving comrades, who have kindly assist- ed in supplying incidents and dates from journals kept at that time. The historian is conscious of imperfections in the text, but he has endeavored to be accurate. The committee was fortunate in securing the excellent illustrations drawn by Mr. WiUiam T. Trego, the well-known painter of military subjects, and portraits and re- productions of war-time photographs through the coxirtesy of the War Department. CHARLES A. CUFFEL. Battery Historian. Dovlestown, Pa., October 31, 1003. CONTENTS. CIIAl'JKR I. OkCANIZATION. I'A(jK. The First Camp — Recruits from Reading — Roster of Company — Lesson on Discipline — Picnic Marches — Off to the Front — Fare- well of the Citizens — The March Through Philadelphia — Recep- tion at Baltimore — Camp at Washington — Detached from the 104th Regiment — Assigned to Artillery Camp .' 17 C11APT1;R II. At 1 iiK From. Advance into X'irginia — IJailey's Cross Roads — Attached to McDowell's Division — Christmas Dinner— -Ruin of the Country — Construct Quarters— Drills and Inspections — Funeral of Gen. Lander — Gifts from Rcadinir's Aid Societv . . 21; CHAPTER III. AnvANCK UroN Manassks. Leave Camp Du Pont — Fail fax Court Mouse — Camp on Confederate Ground — 'Ihe Fnemy Aliandons Manasses — March in a Storm — Return to Camp Du Pont — Await Orders to Ship for the Peninsula — Grand Review 30 CI I APT FR IV. Cai'TIRE 01 Frkhkricksiuuc;. Attached to the Iron Brigade — March to Bristoe Station — Snow Bound — Small-po.\ in Camp — Foraging for Subsistance — Lost on the March — Engagement at Falmouth — The Enemy Flees from I'"rederickshurg — Reviewed by the President 34 CHAPTER \ . PiiKSiUNc; " SroNKWAi.i. " Jackson. A Hasty March to Thoroughfare Gap — Looking for Guerillas — Return March Via Ilaymarket and Warrenton — First Ration of Whisky and Quinine — Lieut, l.eoser— Return to I'rederickshurg — The New York Recruits 42 CHAPTER VI. ~ Camp Like at Frederickskurc. r.w.E. Celebrating July Fourth — Red Tape — Death of Bluch — In a Southern Church — Swapping Horses — Health of the Battery — The Team- sters — The Refugees — Foraging — Reconnoitering 47 CHAPTER VII. Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. Joined to the Ninth Corps — March to Culpepper — Pope's Army — Cedar Mountain — Retreat by Night — Battle of Kelly's Ford — Support Buford's Cavalry — A Lively Fight — A Narrow Escape — A Successful Reconnoisance— General Reno — March Up the Rappahannock — A Detail for the Cavalry - Shelled Out of Camp — Fight for a Bridge — Defend a River Ford — Struck by Light- ning — Fayetteville — Scarcity of Rations — Warrenton Junction — Arrival of McClellan's Troops — Move with Hooker — Enemy Cuts the Railroad— Battle of Bristoe — The Enemy Repulsed — A Beef- steak Supper 52 CHAPTER VIII. Bull Run and Chantilly. Destruction of Manassas — Bury a Dead Confederate — On the Bull Run Field — A Charge and Repulse — Night on the Battlefield — A Federal Defeat — Rescue of the Gun — The Retreat — Make a Stand at Centreville — An Unexpected Meeting — Battle of Chan- tilly — Death of Kearney and Stevens — Fighting in a Thunder Storm — Retire to Washington 63 CHAPTER IX. Maryland Campaign — South Mountain. Relit at Washington — March into Maryland — Battle of South Moun- tain — Midnight on the Picket Line — Incidents of the Fight — Horrors of the Battlefield 71 CHAPTER X. ALvryland Campaign — Antietam. Opening of the Battle — Shelled Out of Camp — Artillery Duel — Explode an Enemy's Caisson — Storming the Bridge — Reconnoitre the Enemy — Hard Fighting — Charge of Hawkins' Zouaves — Casualties— Ammunition Exhausted — Enemy Retires Across the Potomac 77 CHAPTER XL Camping in Maryland. On the Potomac — An Historic Spot — Reviewed by Lincoln — Pleasant Valley — A Choice Mess — Apple Dumplings and Paw Paws — General Ferrero — Passes and Furloughs — Patrols and Stragglers 85 CHAPTER XII. Pursuing the Enemy. vxgk. Death in Camp — Cross to Virginia — Marine Fever — Stages of the March— A Snow Storm— On Picket Duty — Amissville — Pleasan- ton's Cavalry — The Enemy in Sight— Short Rations 90 CHAPTER XIII. Duel at White Sulphur Springs. Assault ujion the Baggage Wagons — A Hot Artillery Fight — Death of Lieutenant Mcllvain — The Enemy Repulsed — Camp at Fayette- ville — A Race with the Enemy 95 CHAPTER XIV. Burnside's Fredericksburg. In Position Opposite the City — Rough Weather — Friendly Pickets — Movements of the Enemy — Lieutenant Leoser— Build Winter Quarters —Battle of Fredericksburg — Posted on Falmouth Heights— A Cold Night — Terrible Bombardment — A Forlorn Hope — A Bloody Battle — The Army Withdrawn — Finish Winter (Quarters — Mess Changes — Build Stables — New Year's Day, 1863 — Spoliation of the Lacey Property— The Mud Campaign — Spirit of the Army — Burnside Relieved lOO CHAPTER XV. From Fredericksburg to Fortress Monroe. A March in Mid-Winter — Floundering in the Mud — Shipped on Canal Boats — An Oyster Feast — V'^oyage Down the Bay — Camp in the Ruins of Hampton — March to Newport News —First Sight of Cunboats 114 CHAPTER XVI. The Kentucky Campaign. Embark for Baltimore — By Rail to Kentucky —Reception at Pittsburg — Lose a Caisson — Cincinnati's Hospitality — Arrive at Paris — March to Mount Sterling — Peculiarities of the Country — The Guerillas — The Town of Boone — The Lost Caisson Found — Paint Lick — Dick River — A Settlement of Differences 123 CHAPTER XVII. From Kentucky to Vicksburg. The Blue Crass Region — From Lexington to Louisville by Rail — l-'.nibark for X'icksburg — Scenes on the Ohio — Down the Missis- sippi — Features of Memphis - On the Alert for Cuerillas — Meet Western Troops — Ruins Along the Shores — First View of \'icks- burg — March to Carthage — Return to Sherman's Landing — Up the \'azi)o — Land at Snyder's j'.luff 132 CHAPTER XVIII. The Mississippi Campaign. pace. Intrench to Meet Johnston — Out-post Duty — Fight Mosquitoes and Fleas — Surrender of Vicksburg— March Against Johnston — Lose Caisson and Horses - Scarcity of Water — Incidents of the March — Shell Mississippi's Capital — Eastern and Western Pluck — The Insane Asylum— Evacuation of Jackson— Sacking the City — A Hard March— Return to Mill Dale —Await Transportation . . . 138 CHAPTER XIX. Return to Kentucky. Much Sickness — Leave Vicksburg — The Hospitals — Disembark at Cairo— The Hospital Boat — Burial of the Dead — Treatment of the Sick — A Boat Collision — Camp at Covington — Unable to Follow the Corps — The Ohio Election 155 CHAPTER XX. A Trip to Lake Erie. An Urgent Call — Plot to Release Confederate Prisoners — -The Journey Through Ohio — Johnson's Island — Awaiting the Conspirators — Drill Oreen Troops — The Prisoners — Return to Covington . . CHAPTER XXI. Covington Barracks. Winter Ouarters — Hospital Life — A Guidon from the Ladies of Bucks — The Second Best Battery — First Re-enlistments — Turn In the Horses — Christmas Day — Bounty Jumpers 164 CHAPTER XXII. Veteranizing. Cold Beginning of 1864 — A Female Soldier — Deserter Reprieved — Re- enlist for Three Years More -Return of Ninth Corps Troops from Tennessee — Home on Veteran Furlough — The Battery Moves to Annapolis 168 CHAPTER XXIII. Recruited, Reeitted am> Reokiianized. Veterans Return from P\irlough — Drilling Recruits — General Grant Inspects the Ninth Corps — Move to Washington — Receive a New Outfit — Cross to Virginia — March to Wanenton Junction . . . 175 CHAPTER XXIV. From TiiK. Rai'IUAn to thk Jamks. pace. Assigned to the Colored Division — Guard the Supply Trains — Chancel- lorsville Battlefield — Flank Movements by Night — Battles of The Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor — Cross the Chicka- hominy and James Rivers — Shelled out of Camp — Arrive at Peters- burg l8o CHAPTER XXV. Assault the Peterskurc Lines. In the Trenches — Harassed by Sharj^shooters — Engage the Enemies' Batteries— The Awful Morter Shells— The Batteries' Wounded — Move to the Left — Fort Durell — Return to the Front Line — Oc- cupy Fort Morton CHAPTER XXVI. The Burnside Mine. Lying in Concealment — Spring the Mine — A Terrific Bombardment — Delay of the Assault — Charge and Repulse of the Colored Troops — The Crater a Slaughter- Pen — The Enemy Capture the Crater — A Truce — Investigation of the Affair — Recover the Dead and Wounded 195 CHAPTER XXVII. Siege of Petersburg. Taylor Battery — Under Constant Fire — A Confederate Mine — Strength- ening the Lines— Suffering in the Trenches — Testing a Bomb- Proof — A Destructive Rain — Terrific Bombardment by the Enemy — A Terrible Crash of Shot and Shell — Relieved from the Trenches CHAPTER XXVIII. Wkldon Railroad and Ream's Station. Suppoii Warren at the Weldon Railroad — Return to a Former Camp — Hurried to the Support of Hancock — Battle of Ream's Station — Ciarrison Forts on the Rear Line — Building Fortifications — The Military Railroad — Shotted Salutes for the Enemy 206 CHAPTER XXIX. Muster Out ov Three Yf;ARS' Men. Starting for Home — Sad Leave-Taking of Captain Durell — Roll of those Mustered Out — Lieutenant Rhoads Takes Command — Pro- motions in Reorganizing CHAPTER XXX. Peebles' Farm and Poplar Grove Church. page. Battle of Peebles' Farm — A Sharp Fight and a Union Victory - Advance to Poplar Grove Church — The Enemy Assaults and is Repulsed — Rhoads Receives a Captain's Commission — Other Promotions . . 215 CHAPTER XXXT. Hatcher's Run. Forts Gregg and Welsh — Peace and Trade Relations on the Picket Line — -Ninth Corps Moves on Hatcher's Run — Repulse of the Enemy — Return to the Intrenchments — Movements of the Caissons— The Presidential Election — Build Winter (Quarters — Thanksgiving Day CHAPTER XXXH. Supporting the Cavalry. On the Rear Line of Intrenchments — The Battery Mans Three Forts — Build Winter Quarters — Raid on the Enemy's Communications — Shooting Deserters 224 CHAPTER XXXHL Again at the Front. Posted in Forts Meikle, Rice and Sedgwick — Again Build Winter (Quarters — Close Proximity of the Lines — Fraternity on the Picket Line — Enemy Shell Fort Meikle — The Whitworths and the "Seven Sisters" — Confederates Desert — Caisson Park Shelled — Stormy Close of the Year 227 CHAPTER XXXIV. The Siege in Winter. New Year, 1865 — Granting Furloughs — A Flag of Truce — Pickets Swamped Out of the Pits — Increase of Enemy's Deserters — Con- federate Peace Commission — -Prepare for the Spring Campaign — Celebration of Washington's Birthday— Shotted Salutes for the Enemy — Forts Meikle and Morton Bombarded — Enemy Capture a Herd of Beef 231 CHAPTER XXXV. Battle of Fort Steadman. The Enemy Capture Fort Steadman — Charge of Hartranft's Pennsyl- vanians — Large Capture of the Enemy — -Storming the Confederate Picket Line— Sheridan's Cavalry Arrives 238 CHAPTER XXXVI. pack. Capture ok Pktp:rsburg. The Final Bombardment— The Enemy Replies Vigorously — The Infantry Assault — Willcox Breaks the Line — Potter and Hartranft Equally Successful — Capture of Fort Mahone — Fierce Fighting to Hold the Points —Frantic Efforts of the Enemy — vSailor's Men Serve Captured Guns — The Battery Actively Engaged — Victory in Sight — Evacuation of Petersburg 241 CHAPTER XXXVII. Pursuit and Surrender of Lee. Ninth Corps Enters Petersburg — The Battery Reduced to Four Guns — March Along the South Side Railroad — Lee's Surrender — Assassination of Lincoln 247 CHAPTER XXXVIII. Return to Washington. March to City Point — Petersburg After the Evacuation — Embark for Alexandria — The Voyage Down the James and Up the Bay — Encamp at Fairfax Seminary — The Men Impatient to Go Home 250 CHAPTER XXXIX. The Grand Review and Musier-Out. Camps of the Great Army — The Two-Days' Review — The Army of the Potomac — Sherman's Army— Muster Out Orders — Parting With the Horses and Guns — The Journey to Philadelphia — Spring Mill Barracks — The Muster-Out 253 Itinerary of the Battery 257 Roster of the Battery 258 DURELL'S BATTERY. BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS. Capture of Fredericksburg, Va., April i8th, 1862 Kelly's Ford, Va., August 21st, 1862 Bristoe Station, Va., August 27th, 1862 Bull Run, Va., . . August 29th and 30th, 1862 Chantilly, Va., September ist, 1862 South Mountain, Md., September J4th, 1862 Antietam, Md., September 17th, 1862 White Sulphur Springs, Va., November 15th, 1862 Fredericksburg, Va., December 12th to i6th, 1862 Vicksburg, Miss., June 17th to July 4th, 1863 Jackson, Miss., July loth to 17th, 1863 The Wilderness, Va., . May 5th and 6th, 1864 Todd's Tavern, Va., May 8th, 1864 Po River, Va., May lOth, 1864 Spottsylvania, Va., May 12th, 1864 North Anna River, Va., May 23rd, 1864 Pamunkey River, Va., May 28th, 1864 Cold Harbor, Va., June 3rd, 1864 Assaults on Petersburg, Va., June l6th to i8th, 1864 Siege of Petersburg, Va., June 19th, 1864 to April 2nd, 1865 The Burnside Mine, Va., July 30th, 1864 Weldon Railroad, Va., August 19th, 1864 Ream's Station, Va., . August 25th, 1864 Peebles' Farm, Va., September 30th, 1864 Poplar Grove Church, Va. October 1st, 1864 Hatcher's Run, Va., October 27th, 1864 Fort Steadman, Va., March 25th, 1865 Final Assault on Petersburg, Va., April 2nd, 1865 Appomattox, Va., April 9th, 1865 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE, Battery in Action, 5 Captain George W, Durell, 23 Lieutenant Lemuel Gries, 27 Lieutenant George W. Silvis, 33 Lieutenant Howard McIlvain, 37 Lieutenant Christopher Leoser, 37 Abraham Lincoln, 41 Battery on Drill, 49 McIlvain Going to the Support of Buford's Cavalry, ... 55 Pope's Retreat — Destroying the Railroad, 6i Rescue of the Gun, 65 Major-General Jesse L. Reno, 75 Map of Antietam Battlefield, 77 Infantry Giving a Helping Hand, 79 Awaiting Orders to Cross the Burnside Bridge, 81 Supporting the Charge of Hawkins' Zouaves, 83 General Edward Ferrero, 87 Major-General A. E. Burnside, 93 Battle of Fredericksburg, 105 On Picket in Winter, 109 The Mud March, 113 Major-General Joseph Hooker, 117 Private Horace D. Boone — Of the Lineage of the Kentucky Pioneer, 127 General Ulysses S. Grant, .... 141 The First Guidon, 16^ The Wilderness, 181 In the Wilderness — Thirty Years' After, 183 Spottsylvania — One Year After the Battle 185 Map OF Petersburg, 193 Poplar Grove Church, 217 Officers of Rhoads' Battery 219 Winter Quarters Near Petersburg Lines, 223 The "Seven Sisters," 229 Fort Sedgwick, 235 Major-General John F. Hartranft, 239 Scene of the Assault on Petersburg Lines, 243 Obstructions in Front of Fijrt Mahone 245 CHAPTER I. Organization of the Battery. THE war for the Union was fairly under way ; the first l)attle of Bull Run had been fought and lost to the National cause, and the three-months troops had returned to their homes, when enlistments were begun for Durell's Ringgold Battery by Captain George W. Durell, of Reading, Pa. Its organization was started in connection with that of the 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel W. W. H. Davis, of Doyles- town, Pa., who had received authority from the War Department to recruit a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery under President Lincoln's first call for 300,000 volunteers for three years' service. Captain Durell, fresh from his service as orderly sergeant of the Ringgold Artillery of Reading, which was among the First De- fenders to arrive in Washington at the outbreak of hostilities, was well qualified to organize and command a battery. He arrived at Camp Lacey, located on the Doylestown fairgrounds, where Colonel Davis had already gathered half a dozen companies of infantry, on September 13th, 1861, accompanied by thirty or forty recruits, principally from Berks County. This squad was in a few weeks increased by the enlistment of a number of men from Bucks, Mont- gomery, Chester, Philadelphia, and other points to almost the maximum number required to man a six-gun battery of light artil- lery. Three lieutenants were appointed and commissioned — Lemuel Cries, Howard Mcllvain and George W. Silvis, all of Reading. A few weeks before the departure from Camp Lacey the appointments of the non-commissioned officers were made, after which the company was marched to Doylestown and mustered into the United States service by Colonel Davis, in front of his printing office, for the term of three years or during the war, to date from September 24, 1861, when the company roster was as follows : 17 t8 Durell's Battery. Captain. — George W. Durell, Reading. P'iRST Lieutenant. — 1-emuel Gries, Reading. First Lieutenant. — Howard Mcllvain, Reading. Second Lieutenant. — George W. Silvis, Reading. Orderly Serceant. — William P. Andrews, Doylestown. Quartermaster Serceant. — Azariali L. Ratz, Berks. Duty Sergeants. Harrison G. Bouse, Reading. James Q. Irwin, Waynesburg. Henry Sailor, Reading. B. Frank Bender, Waynesburg. William Dunlap, Reading. Robert Conard, Buckingliam. Jolin O. Burden, Pottstown. Mahlon B. Buckman, Newtown. L Carey Carver, Buckingham. Benjamin Albright, Hilltown. Daniel D. Althouse, Berks. William D. Althouse, " Amos Antrim, " George Barton, Bucks. Jacob Bauer, Waynesburg. Jacob L. Beam, " Stephen B. Bechert, Berks. Amos Bechtel, Reading. Charles C. Berg, " Valentine Bissey, Buckingham. James Bissey, " George Bluch, Berks. Valentine Bloomer, Bucks. Thomas L. Breese, " Henry L. Buck, Berks. Samuel O. Burden, Reading. Mark M. Caftrey, Bucks. (j. Ross Carver, Buckingham. Wellington F. Clouser, Reading. William Clouser, Reading. Henry C. Clymer, Bucks. Elias K. Cooper, " Nichola.s Cramer, Reading. George A. Everhart, Doylestown. Samuel K. Whitner, Reading. Samuel H. Rhoads, Amity. Corporals. James L. Mast, Reading. Oliver D. Giffins, Lehigh. Abraham D. Blundin, Hulmeville. William G. Mack, Berks. William J. Wealthy, Philadelphia. Frederick W. Berg, Reading. Privates. Robert W. Creighton, Philadelphia. Charles A. Cufifel, Doylestown. Joseph M. Cuffel, " John Coney, Newtown. William K. Cleaver, Berks. Cyrus Davidheiser, " George Douglass, Hulmeville. Joseph Derflinger, Bucks. Uriah H. Engle, Berks. John L. Everett, Kutztown. Christian Eyler, Reading. Charles A. Fageley, Bucks. Gotlieb Fageley, " Jacobs. Foster, ," Jesse D. P'oulke, Quakertown. William H. Frankin, Philadelphia. Jacob C. PVanks, Bucks. Michael F'ry, Adams. Richard S. Garber, Berks. Isaac R. Good, " Henry Graul, Reading. Hiram Grove, Berks. George W. Hagerman, Bucks. Henry Hargrave, Doylestown. Organization. 19 Privates — Continued. Reuben G. Herbine, Reading. George Hart, " Henry B. Hearing, Hilltown. Mahlon Y. Hill, Reading. William E. Hill, John Hinnershotz, " Joseph L. Hughes, Waynesburg. Monroe Jenkins, Hilltown. Charles Jones, Doylestown. Samuel Johnston, Reading. Amos Knabb, " George L. Knopp, " Isaac S. Knowles, Bucks. Adley B. Lawrence, Waynesburg. Oliver C. Leidy, Montgomery. Joseph Lear, Solebury. John L. Lewis, Montgomery. .S. Richard Lewis, Reading. George F. Ludwig, Berks. Henry Leidig, Reading. Henry Lenhart, Bucks. Charles H. MacCorkle, Hulmeville. Ezra McKinstry, Plumstead. William S. McNair, Doylestown. Stewart McAlees, Bucks. Aaron Martin, Reading. Frederick K. Miller, Reading. Henry Miller, " John W. Morris, " George W. Moyer, Reading. Daniel W. Noll, Reading. Joseph Ney, Waynesburg. J. Beatty Price, Buckingham. William H. Quaintance, Waynesburg. Henry Y. Rauh, Germany. James -S. Rich, Buckingham. John M. Rich, " Charles Reigling, Lehigh. John Rightmyer, Berks. Harrison K. Rhoads, Berks. John R. Rice, Doylestown. Albert H. Reider, Reading. John C. Sherwood, Bucks, Isaac C. Sterner, Berks. Patrick Scanlon, Doylestown. Andrew J. Schweimler, Reading. Henry M. Seagrist, Bucks. Jacob H. Schaffer, Reading. Henry Schlichter, " Henry C. Stabler, Lehigh. John C. Schmidt, " Isaiah J. Sellers, Hilltown. Martin H. Smith, Doylestown. John L. .Smith, Hulmeville. John H. Thompson, Bucks. Levi Thomas, Hilltown. Edward H. White, Solebury. Emanuel Wolf, Doylestown. Charles P. Weissig, " Bertolet Y. Yoder, Berks. The company was daily trained at foot drill, and soon attained such proficiency that its manceuvres attracted the admiration of the spectators at the evening dress parades of the regiment. Among the noteworthy incidents which occurred while in this camp was the shooting of an infantryman by I. Carey Carver. The latter was on guard duty at one end of the camp near the fair ground on a very dark and cloudy night, when some person attempted to cross his beat and scale the fence. The sentinel called upon the intruder to halt, and, the challenge being unheeded, fired with a pistol, the ball taking effect in the calf of the latter' s leg. The report of the pistol created a great commotion, both in the infantry and artillery camps, which were separated by about five hundred yards distance. The identity of the disobedient soldier was soon ascertained. His intention was to cUmb the fence and take ' ' French leave ' ' for 20 Durell's Battery. town or for his home. The bullet, passing only through flesh, the wound did not prove serious, so that the wounded man soon re- covered, and Carey Carver received a corporal's chevrons for first blood drawn by the battery. While at Camp Lacey the regiment and battery made two short marches out into the country — the first to attend a Union mass meeting held in a grove near Danborough, five miles from camp, on the 5th of October. The next morning, Sunday, after Divine service, the entire command was marched to Neshaminy creek, in the neighborhood of the Castle Valley bridge, where the men stripped for a bath and disported themselves in that quiet and peaceful stream much to the amusement of the spectators. The second march was made on the 17th of October, to Hartsville, to attend a Union festival, held partly in honor of the regiment, where the citizens gave the soldiers a warm reception, the ladies setting out a bountiful collation. His excellency. Gover- nor Andrew G. Curtin, accompanied by his staff, visited Camp Lacey on October 21st, for the purpose of presenting the State colors to the regiment. The occasion drew a very large number of people from the surrounding country. The next important event was the order to "pack up" and move to Washington. The orders for the journey were read at dress parade on the evening of Tuesday, November 5th. Reveille was sounded about 4 o'clock in the morning, and long before daylight everything was in readiness for the march. Though the orders were announced but the evening before, there were several hun- dred civilians, upon the camp-ground to see the boys off. The skies were dark and threatened rain, and many faces both of soldiers and civilians, bore a sad appearance, as if in sympathy with the weather. Some time after daylight the men fell into ranks and marched up State street to Main and down Main to the Doyles- town depot, where they boarded the cars in waiting for them. By this time nearly every citizen of the town, and many from the sur- rounding country, had gathered at the station to see the soldiers off to the front. The last farewell was given — alas, it was the last one forever to many of them — and the train moved away from the depot amid the shouts and tears and waving handkerchiefs and hats of civilians and soldiers. The troops were greeted at every station along the road by large crowds of people who had received word that the regiment was to pass through on its way to Washington. No stops were Organization. 21 made at the way stations, so that the people at those points had to content themselves with waving a last adieu as the train rushed by. Arrived at Philadelphia the regiment disembarked at Master street and marched down Fourth to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, which was located in the vicinity of the old navy yard. A drizzHng rain had set in and the air wae very sultry. Overcoats were ordered to be worn on leaving the cars, which, with the heavy knapsacks carried by the green soldiers, fatigued many of the men so that they had no appetite to eat the excellent dinner spread before them, for which the refreshment saloon became so famous among the troops who were fed there on their way to the front. After a rest of about an hour, the march was again resumed (now without overcoats), to the Baltimore depot via Washington avenue. The entire march through the city was an ovation, the whole population along the route apparently turned out to cheer the troops and wish them God-speed. Women, men, boys and girls, came loaded with eatables and gave to the soldiers. Cars were boarded near the Baltimore depot, the train leaving at about 4. 30 in the evening. The night ride to Baltimore was an uneventful one, though there was a heavy fall of rain part of the time. At daylight the next morning the train entered Baltimore, the scene of the riot with the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment a few months before, which event seemed to be uppermost in the minds of the men as they disembarked from the cars. The regiment had not proceeded far upon the march through the streets of that city before it was noticed that there was a sad lack of enthusiasm for the Union soldier, com- pared with that exhibited in Philadelphia the day before. The colored people appeared to be almost the only class to cheer the regiment and the Union cause, while crowds of whites stood sullenly at the street corners, and some of the small boys cheered for Jeff Davis. The march to the Washington depot was unmolested, however, and the men were again packed into cars. The skies had cleared and the men were in good spirits. The railroad to Washington was guarded by soldiers, as it was still considered in danger of being torn up by the Confederates. Washington was reached on the afternoon of the 7th, when the regiment was marched into a large building near the railroad depot, called the "Soldier's Rest," and given a good meal of soldier's fare consisting of coffee, beef and bread, from cups and plates of tin. The regiment was then marched by the Capitol and 22 Durell's Battery. through the city to Kalorama Heights, where it bivouacked after dark. The night was clear and frosty. The men built fires and spread their blankets upon the ground and laid down to rest around the fires. In the morning everything was covered with a white frost, but for the most part all slept comfortably. The next morning tents were pitched and the men made as comfortable as they had been at Camp Lacey. Upon every hand was to be seen signs of army hfe— snow-white encampments, long trains of army wagons, regiments arriving and regiments at drill. Captain Durell at once resumed the daily foot drills of his company, in which it had now become quite proficient, and the men were anxious to receive their horses and guns. It was com- mon camp report that the company was to be equipped with rifles and retained with the regiment as a skirmish battalion, to which there was no small amount of demurring. They had enlisted for the artillery service, and wanted horses and guns. But their minds were soon set at rest upon this question by the issue of an order from the War Department providing for the consolidation of the artillery, and sending all companies organized for that branch of the service to a camp of artillery instruction. In compliance with this order Captain Durell marched his company to Camp Duncan, located on East Capitol Hill, just one week after the arrival at Kalo- rama Heights. The company was sorry to leave the regiment, yet glad at the prospect of receiving the equipment they wanted. It was at the time supposed that the separation would be but tem- porary, and that it would be returned to the regiment after receiv ing the proper ecpiipment and instruction. But the battery never rejoined the regiment. The artillery company left Kalorama on the afternoon of November 14th, in a light rain, and marched through the city to its new camping place which it reached just before dark. The wagons carrying the camp ecpiipage came up promptly, so that the tents were soon pitched and shelter obtained for the men, but there was no wood at hand for fires with which to boil the coffee. A battery of (iermans from New York, beside whose camp the Ringgolds had pitched their tents, kindly made and brought over to the newcomers several kettles of this important beverage of the soldier. It was served to the company, but it proved to possess such a villainously saline taste that no one could drink it. The (jermaus were very much mortified when they discovered that they had used salt with which to sweeten the coffee, and immedi- Organization. 23 ately proceeded to make a fresh supply, which was soon brought over and served with profuse apologies for the mistake. Thus was the bond of comradeship between the New York Germans and the Pennsylvania ' ' Dutch ' ' formed and sealed at once. The splendid autumn weather of the days that followed while in this camp were improved in driUing, and, when passes could be obtained, in visiting the city, the men usually going out in squads of from two to six in number. They visited the Capitol where Congress was then sitting ; the Smithsonian Institution, the various department buildings, the arsenal and other points of interest. Occasionally one would pass a night in the guard house, having been overtaken by the provost guard and arrested for overstaying the time allotted by his pass, or for having indulged too freely in the stimulating beverage of John Barleycorn. There were, how- ever, a number of religious young men in the company, who attended services at a nearby Methodist church as often as they could obtain passes to leave camp, both on the Sabbath and dur- ing the week. It was an unfailing source of amusement for the company to witness the manoiuvers of the New York Germans every morning when they started out of camp for field drill. Many of these men were unskilled in the art of handhng or riding horses, and the horses were green in the service and some of them vicious. Many of the latter balked, kicked or plunged about, while the men whipped and murdered the king's "Dutch," occasionally one of the drivers being unhorsed and measuring his length upon the ground. The comic scenes displayed upon these occasions remained a source of amusing reminiscence around the camp fires of the battery during the entire period of its service. On November 17th, the company received its first visit from the army paymaster, when each private was paid ;^i6.o3, that being the amount due from September 24th to November ist. Everyone in camp appeared to be "short," so that this visit, as all subsequent visits from the paymaster proved to be, was a very agreeable and welcome one. On November 28th the company received its quota of horses. Quite a number of the men were eager to have horses, while others desired to serve as cannoneers. Captain Durell wisely called the men into line, and requested all who wished to serve as drivers to step two paces to the front. Fortunately the required number of drivers stepped forward, so that the matter of choosing 24 Durell's Battery. drivers and cannoneers was settled without clash or disappoint- ment. Half a dozen posts were planted in the ground, to which a heavy picket-rope was attached, stretched from post to post, and the horses tied thereto. Here they remained night and day, in rain or sunshine, without any shelter whatever, the monotony being broken but twice a day when they were taken to the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River, near the arsenal, for water. About ten days later the harness was received and fitted to the horses, and on the 12th of December the company received four rifled Parrott and two smooth bore brass guns, six caissons, a battery wagon, a forge, and three baggage wagons with their com- plement of animals and harness. The A-tents were turned in about the same time and Sibley tents provided, eighteen men being assigned to each tent. From this date the command was a full-fledged "battery." But it had not yet undergone a single field- drill when orders were received to march forward into Vir- ginia. Sabres were issued to the non-commissioned officers and drivers the evening before the march Two deaths occurred while at Camp Duncan, both from typhoid fever, and there were several men in the hospital suffer- ing from chills and fever. The first death was that of Jacob H. Schaeffer, which occurred on December 8th, the other was Christian Eyler, on December nth. The remains of the first man were sent to his late home in Reading, each member of the battery contributing a dollar for this purpose. Two men returned from the hospital and reported for duty a few days before the departure for Virginia. At the Front. 25 R CHAPTER II. At the Front. ^^ f) OOTS-AND-SADDLES " was sounded on the morning of December i8th, when the battery moved out of its "camp of instruction," without having received any training with horses and cannon whatever, and marched directly toward the enemy. But the horses and men worked together remarkably well for the first attempt, so that the march through the streets of Washington, at least, did not bring disgrace upon the command. When the Long Bridge was reached, it was found to be out of repair. This made necessary a circuitous route to the Chain Bridge, over which the Potomac River was crossed into Virginia. The distance to the new camp was but nine miles, but so many halts were made that it was 10 o'clock in the evening when the battery parked at Camp DuPont, which was located about half a mile from Bailey's Cross Roads, alongside the camp of three bat- teries of General McDowell's artillery. The fortifications of Munson's Hill were but a few hundred yards distant. They were built by the Confederates but were now occupied by the troops of McDowell, to whose command the battery was now assigned. Tents were pitched, coffee boiled, supper eaten, and the men rolled into their blankets to sleep the sweet sleep of a march weary sol- dier. The next day the quarters were rearranged, and on the day following, details of men were sent to the pine woods near by to cut and carry into camp, poles and pine brush for the construction of sheds for the shelter of the horses, which were completed in a few days. The four batteries of McDowell's Division, consisting of Bat- tery B, Fourth Regulars, Monroe's Rhode Island, the First New Hampshire and Durell's Batteries, were under command of Cap- tain John Ciibbon, of the regular battery, chief of artillery of the division. Durell's Battery was at once introduced into the myste- ries of gun drill and soon acquired a superficial knowledge of hand- ling and manceuvering the cannon by hand. Joseph M. Cuftel and James S. Rich were appointed buglers, and William S. McNair to 26 Durell's Battery. carry the guidon. The latter was also detailed as battery mail car- rier, whose duty it was to take the mail every morning to Wash- ington and return with mail for the battery in the evening. The weather at this time was very pleasant, there having been no rain for about a month previous to Christmas eve. That night there was a pretty heavy rain fall, which gave the battery an ex- perience with "Virginia mud." Christmas dinner, the next day, consisted of a plate of boiled rice and sugar for each man, though some who had money purchased mince pie, hawked through the camps by Washington pedlers. A few boxes were also received from home containing turkey, pies, and other dehcacies This region of country having been alternately in the posses- sion of the Confederate and Union armies had been stripped of fences and crops, and in many cases the buildings had been de- stroyed. It was little better than a desert Every particle of fence for miles around the encampment had been cleared by the soldiers and used by them for fire wood ; and fruit and ornamental trees had been felled for fuel. It was the enemy's country, and the Union soldiers did not feel much like sparing what little improve- ments they found. The men were now quartered in Sibley tents provided with a sheet- iron stove in the centre. Cedar boughs were found to make the best bed, upon which the rubber blanket was spread. This made tolerably comfortable quarters. But there was much wet weather during the winter which made soldiering anything but pleasant. The roads were at times almost impassable from frequent freezing and thawing of the ground. At intervals it would rain, hail or snow for days in succession. Twelve horses were some- times required to haul one of the guns through the mud. Before the middle of January the animals stood in nearly a foot of mud in the cedar stables, and many were terribly afflicted with scratches. They were taken out and tied in the woods and the men set to work in placing a corduroy floor in the stables. On the 3rd of January the troops were treated to a view of a sham battle, given by ten regiments of infantry, three batteries of artillery and one regiment of cavalry. It took ])lace about half a mile from camp, between Bailey's Cross Roads and Munson's Hill. ( )n the 19th the battery received a new lot of sabres. The belts were taken from the old ones and attached to the new. The next day the men were given their first sabre drill under command LIEUTENANT LEMUEL GRIES At the Front. 27 of Lieut. Mcllvain. The battery was about this time put through a series of inspections, of horses, guns, drill, camp, clothing, etc. , which appeared to come every few days, rain or shine. Upon one occasion the command was kept in line in a cold rain that froze as it fell, the men returning to their quarters with icicles hanging from their hair and clothing. On the 25th of January the paymaster made his second call upon the battery, and gave the men two month's pay — $26 to each private soldier. On the 27th the battery went out on its first section drill. The horses and men did admirably, much to the surprise and gratification of all. The drill ground showed very mournfully the desolation of war. Within its bounds could be seen the ruins of four large mansions — merely a few bricks or a half-burnt piece of timber, showing the ruthless hand of the destroyer. The ground that was once a garden was cut up with the heavy wheels and horse hoofs of the artillery, the dried cabbage stalks still standing in their places like so many grim sentinels guarding the deserted abode of the other vegetables, once their companions. Not a fence rail remained, and the only resemblance to an enclosure were two ^ heavy gate posts, left in their positions from the fact that they were too unweildy to be removed. A circular excavation, with a half choked-up stream running from it, marked a fish pond. Fire and the axe had obliterated all else. Scarcely a house in that section, belonging at that time to a man of Union sentiments, was left standing. The Union soldiery retahated and destroyed the property of the Confederates. An old pie woman from Washington visited the camp regu- larly every day, and the battery boys gave her a very liberal patronage, so much so, that failure on her part to put in an appearance as usual was deemed quite a calamity. The winter at Camp DuPont was an e.xceedingly rainy and disagreeable one. From the first of the year to the 6th of Feb- ruary there were twenty-six days of stormy weather, with either rain or snow. Up to this time there were only two cases of sickness in the camp, and those were slight cases of diarrhcea. There was no regular doctor for the battery and the sick had to go up to the surgeon of Battery B, Fourth Regulars. There was no chaplain in the camp, which consisted merely of four batteries unat- tached to any regiment or brigade. The Sunday work was never over until noon. There were no drills on that day, but the regular Sunday morning inspection was equivalent to drill. 28 Durell's Battery. Camp life grew very monotonous, though it was somewhat relieved by target practice. The battery on one occasion beat the regulars shooting, all the balls nearing the target and two passing through it, while all of their' s fell short. News of General Grant's victories at Forts Henry and Don- aldson were received in the camps with much rejoicing. The bat- tery's camp was located within a mile of Upton's Hill. From its breastworks could be seen the camps of some thirty regiments of McDowell's Corps. On February 9th, the left and centre sections of the battery were taken out for drill, to accustom the horses that had not yet undergone a fire, to the report of the guns. Two rounds of blank cartridges were fired and nearly all of the horses took it very quietly. Those in the teams behaved better than the officer's horses. There were frequent gun and field drills as the weather permitted. The difference between these drills was as follows : A battery of light artillery was divided into six gun detachments, consisting of fifteen men in each ; nine cannoneers and six drivers ; each under the command of a sergeant, who was called the chief of piece. He had two corporals, of whom one was the gunner and the other the chief of caisson, in charge of the ammunition belonging to his piece. The sergeant was not only responsible for the condition of his men and the care of his twelve horses, harness, etc. , but also for the proficiency of the men in the service of the piece. Two detach- ments formed a section, each section being under command of a lieutenant. There were three sections, denominated the right, centre and left sections. The first and second detachments com- posed the right section ; the fifth and sixth, the centre, and the third and fourth, the left. The first heutenants had command of the right and left sections, the senior second lieutenant the centre, and the junior second lieutenant had charge of the line of caissons and ammunition. In field drills the drivers were trained as well as the cannoneers, as the teams were all harassed and must move from the parks to more extensive grounds for monteuvering. When all the sections man(euvered together as a battery, they were under the charge of the captain. Section or field drills prepared the men for manoeuvering, and gun drills for service at the piece. February 14th was celebrated as St. Valentine's Day. It marked a new era in the personal comfort of some of the men. Cupid had certainly visited them in an unexpected manner. They found that they were in possession of something they never felt At the Front. 29 before, and that the strange visitor stuck to them closer than a brother. The new-comer was christened " grayback," and his presence continued to be a source of annoyance, on sundry occas- ions, throughout the term of service. The guns of the battery had, up to this time, consisted of two smooth-bore brass pieces and four ten-pound rifle Parrott guns. On tlie 20th of February, the brass pieces were turned in at the arsenal at Washington, and two Parrott guns were received in their place. Washington's Birthday was celebrated by a salute of thirty- four guns from the battery. A detachment of Durell's Battery had the honor of being de- tailed to carry the remains of General Lander to their last resting place. His body had been brought to Washington from a Western battle-field where he fell. The ammunition chests were removed from one of the caissons, upon which the coffin was placed for con- veyance to the burying ground. On the 28th of February, the battery received two boxes of clothing sent by the Aid Society of Reading. Their contents con- sisted of woolen gloves and stockings, knit of home-spun yarn, very heavy, the latter with double heels and toes. The men were pleased with the present and cheered the Berks County girls to the echo. The camp was now full of rumors as to the proposed forward movement of the Army of the Potomac. An advance upon the Confederates at Manassas was houi-^y expected. This, it was said, would crush the rebellion in Virginia, as General (Jrant had crushed it in Tennessee, and the war would be of short duration. In fact, some of the men expected to return to their homes before the 4th of July, and were speculating upon the fine time they would then have. These speculations were a source of consider- able amusement when recalled around the camp-fires many a day afterward. s 3© Durell's Battery. CHAPTER III. Advance Upon Manassas. THE battery left Camp DuPont on the morning of March loth, with the leading column in the advance upon Man- asses. The route to Fairfax was a faithful picture of van- dalism. For a distance of six or seven miles not a whole house was to be seen. Where the buildings had not been burned down, the cavalry pickets had torn off the weatherboards for firewood, and used the structures as horse stables. The column crossed one railroad, or at least what had been one, nothing being left of it save the embankment. The culverts had been torn down, the rails, carried away, and the ties piled in heaps and burned. At the crossing were the remains of a large steam mill. Three enormous boilers had been rolled out from their positions and the machinery was lying around in every direction. On the out- skirts of Fairfax were a few rifle-pits. The town was a small one, comprising about twelve houses. Before the war it no doubt had been a very pleasant little place of residence. The buildings were mostly frame. Some were of plain brick, and compared very favorably with Northern houses, others had been cemented over and presented a very neat appearance. It contained a court house and jail and three churches which were entirely despoiled of any pretensions to pulpit or pews. The fences around the public buildings were all gone, and in many instances, around the private residences. But three or four houses were tenanted by their original owners, and there were few families yet remaining in the place. When the battery passed through, the houses were all occu- pied l)y Union troops, who had arrived the day before. The battery encamped for the night on the same ground where McDowell had placed his army before the opening of the Bull Run battle. Rain fell during the greater part of the day, but at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, as the battery parked in a field on the edge of a wood, the rain and clouds disappeared and the sun shone brightly. The men were hungry and ate their hard tack and drank their patent coffee with satisfaction. This patent coffee professed to be coffee with sugar and milk combined. It was Advance Upon Manassas. 31 furnished in gallon cans, each can to make one thousand rations of coffee. A very thick pine woods on the opposite side of the for- est from the park was chosen to picket the horses in. The men took the tarpauHns from off the guns and made tents to sleep under, the tents having been left standing in Camp DuPont. The command was moving the next morning by 7 o'clock, but made a short march of it. The battery encamped on the same spot where the Alabama regiments were encamped the pre- vious fall, judging from the relics bearing marks of the Fifteenth Alabama Regiment found scattered about, and very near the scene of the battle of Chantilly which occurred nearly six months later. From the specimens of the letters found it was judged that those composing these regiments were of the '-poor white" class of the South. The northwest portion of the ground was bounded by a semi-circular woods in which were encamped five regiments of New ^'ork troops. The battery's next neighbor was the Fourteenth Brooklyn Regiment which lost so many men at Bull Run. Between the battery and Centreville General Wadsworth's brigade was encamped. Next beyond them all the cavalry was posted. The battery remained in camp all day with the horses harnessed and saddled ready to move at any moment. Towards noon word came that the enemy had evacuated Manassas. This was a disappoint- ment. The advance was at an end. General Wadsworth imme- diately named the place Camp Disappointment. On the 12th most of the cavalry and some infantry passed the camp on the reiurn march to Washington, among them the Eighth Pennsylva- nia Cavalry. Nothing of any moment transpired during the week after this until the 15th, when the battery took the line of march to Alexandria, to join the expedition then forming for Yorktown. It begain to rain soon after starting, and fell in torrents during the remainder of the day. The cannoneers marched through streams over boot top deep. When within eight miles of Alexandria, a creek was reached which the battery was unable to cross. The captain countermarched and went to Camp DuPont, where the tents were still standing. These were reached near midnight and the men turned in cold and wet On the i6th the command marched 10 Alexandria, expecting to embark, but it was sent back, as the steamers could not take them, nothing being ready. About this time McClellan's army was divided into four corps : General McDowell commanding the First corps, consisting of the divisions of Porter, Smith, Frankhn and King, Durell's Battery being assigned to the latter division. 32 Durell's Battery. The battery remained in Camp DuPont during the 17th and a portion of the following day. The guns, caissons and harness had been washed in the morning, so that the command presented a respectable appearance after the mud splashing it received in the rain on the i6th. Orders came to march at 3 o'clock in the after- noon. The battery moved across the old drill ground to the turn- pike. Just below Bailey's Cross Roads it was halted for nearly two hours. It then moved on. and at dark halted about three miles west of Alexandria, and encamped on a large flat piece of ground, which had been used during the winter for artillery drills. It was upon the Confederate General Lee's farm. On the oppo- site side of the turnpike from the camp stood his residence, with a large grove of trees around it. It had been a beautiful place ; but the fences and many trees had been taken for fuel. The house was used as the headquarters of the colonel of a New York regiment which had been garrisoning the forts during the winter. Fairfax Seminary was located about a quarter of a mile south of the camp. It was on a very pretty site, commanding a full view of the river and of Washington and Alexandria. The buildings were nine or ten in number, of fine red pressed brick, and presented a very beautiful appearance. It was the ' ' crack ' ' institution of the South. At the time the rebellion broke out, its catalogue showed over two hundred and fifty young lady pupils. Just west of General Lee's residence was Fort Warren, built on his property. In it were mounted thirty guns, of the calibre of 10 and 20-pounder rifled field guns, and twenty 32 and 42-pounder heavy guns. This fort was built to drive the Confederates from Munson's Hill, but they evacuated before the guns were mounted. A short distance from the camp, toward Washington, was Fort Blenker, also well mounted. In the direction of Alexandria were Forts Ellsworth and Ward. At the lower end of the drill ground were encamped the 95th Pennsylvania, Col. Gosline's Philadelphia Zouaves. The men of the battery were presented with a lot of oil-cloth ponchos, which were to be worn by the drivers on a rainy day when marching, and at night made into tents. Three of them formed a tent large enough for three men to slee]^ in very comfort- ably, provided it did not rain too hard ; when it did, they leaked more or less. The cannoneers made tents of the tarpaulins. It rained during the remainder of the week, and the weather was cold and chilly. The camp ground was muddy and slippery, the most unpleasant so far experienced. Finally the weather cleared LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. SILVIS 34 Durell's Battery. CHAPTER IV. Capture of Fredericksburg. ON April 4th the battery moved with McDowell's Corps towards Fredericksburg, marching up the turnpike to Bailey's Cross Roads, in sight of the winter quarters. Here a halt of nearly an hour was made. The old camp looked desolate. But one tent was standing and most of the brush stables had been torn down. When the battery moved from the camp, orders were issued to leave the tents. The infantry came along afterward and took them. While the column was at a halt, a num- ber of carriages containing ladies came from Washington to see a review of troops, which had been ordered to take place that after- noon as a bhnd to veil the purpose of the movement of the corps. The column moved out the Fairfax road, along the route of its former march, and encamped for the night about a mile beyond Avondale. About this time the battery was assigned to a brigade composed of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin and the Nineteenth Indiana Regiments, afterward known as General Gib- bon's Iron Brigade. The next day it marched through Fairfax and passed through Centreville. On examining the forts and the wooden guns left by the Confederates at Centreville, the smoke stack of a locomotive was discovered peeping out from the embra- sures. Here the march was taken to the left over a wretched cor- duroy road towards Manassas. The command encamped near the ground where the skirmish took place before the Bull Run battle. On Sunday the 6th the march was continued on the cordu- roy road, passing through Manassas, which looked the picture of desolation, fording Broad Creek at Millford and encampng near Bristoe. Here the corps remained for about a week on account of a continued rain and snow which made the roads impassable. ^\'hile here the batterymen took their first lesson in foraging. They roamed the country about and brought pigs, sheep, forage, etc. , into camp. Very near to the camp was an old house used as a brigade hospital, in which was a case of small pox ; but, not- withstanding the presence of this dread disease, the men went into the building to get warm. Fortunately, however, none of Capture of Fredericksburg. 35 them contracted the contagion. From the marks and remains of the tents lying around and the boards at the graves of two yards near by, it was inferred that the spot was Camp Jones, where a Mississippi brigade, consisting of the Second, Seventh and Nine teenth Regiments had been encamped. In the two small inclos- ures were counted one hundred and twenty-eight graves, and all had died within a few days of each other, the majority from the 25th to the 28th of August. This led to the conclusion that they had died of wounds received at the battle of Bull Run, though the citizens in the locality said that a fever had raged among the troops. On April i6th the battery moved to Catlett's Station about six miles from Bristoe, where it was halted for a day to await the com- pletion of railroad communication. The day after it moved toward Fredericksburg. On the way the battery was detached from the column by taking the wrong route, and marched some six miles out of their course over muddy and diificult roads, the guns and baggage wagons sticking fast in the mud several times. Finally the right road was found and the proper place in the column resumed. In the meantime a heavy thunder sto m came on. Hie rain fell in torrents, making the roads muddy and drenching the troops to the skin. In this condition the battery parked in a field by the wayside at about 11 o'clock at night in absolute dark- ness. The men bivouacked as best they could. Cornfodder stacked in the adjoining field furnished feed for the horses and bedding for the troops. Rolling themselves in their blankets the men went to sleep supperless, as it was impossible to find fuel and water for cooking coffee in the impenetrable gloom of the night. The next morning was bright and clear, and the warm sun- shine soon dried the men's clothes on their backs, the process causing steam to rise from each person, as though just coming from a warm bath. The Confederate who owned the cornfodder, came over to the camp and demanded $18 per stack for it. He received the quartermaster's note for the amount, allowing him pay at the close of the war. The march was resumed early in the morning and a very fair agricultural country traversed. Very few white people remained at the houses, but the colored people were everywhere along the road out in full force to greet the soldiers, with their broad smiles and comical remarks and gestures. When within a couple of miles from Fredericksburg, the scene ofan engagement that took place the day before was reached. In the 36 Durell's Battery. fight, cavalry, consisting of a detachment of the First Pennsylvania, under command of Colonel G. D Bayard, together with a portion of the Harris (New York) Light Cavalry, was led by a native into an ambuscade, and fired upon by the Confederate cavalry from two sides. The Confederates were, however, driven off with a loss to the Union cavalry of forty in killed and wounded. Lieutenant- Colonel Judson Kilpatrick, of the Harris Cavalry, who afterward became famous as a cavalry leader, had his horse shot from under him. The guide was unceremoniously shot upon the spot. The Confederates were hotly pursued to Fredericksburg, where the bridge was already in flames. This compelled them to ford and swim the river to make their escape. The artillery in advance got up to the river in time to give them a few parting shots, some of which took effect. The Confederate loss was not known as they were enabled to carry off their dead and wounded. The bridges had been made ready for firing some days previous by pouring barrels of tar over them, and placing powder in the piers. Both the wagon and railroad bridges were destroyed at the same time. After the battery came up a large fire was seen in the city, which proved to be a factory used for the manufacture of clothing. Trains of wagons were also seen moving away from the city toward Richmond, conveying government stores. This was an aggravating spectacle as viewed from the other side. The battery went into camp upon a high hill in rear of the Lacey House, nearly a mile from Fredericksburg, on April i8th. Lacey, the owner, was a major in the Confederate army. His dwelling was a very commodious one, built of brick and surrounded by magnificent grounds. The beautiful front lawn contained fine shade trees. Here the guns were unlimbered and put into position to open on the town or command the hills beyond. It was re- ported in camp that two Confederate gunboats came up the river to the city early in the morning, but had shortly after steamed away again. There was a cold rain storm on the 20th and 21st, during which time nothing was done, and the men kept close to the r (juarters and camp fires, for such warmth and comfort as could be obtained. On the 22nd, General McDowell passed through camp with a squad of cavalry and a limber from one of the guns, and went below in search of a fording place, a foolish ])roceeding in the estimation of the men, as the river was running full from bank to bank. The camp fires of the enemy were distinctly seen across Capture of Fredericksburg. 37 the river. At this time the sick of the battery were treated by the 23rd New York's surgeons. About the 23rd of April, squads of Union troops passed over to the city every day. They were kindly treated by the citizens, who were eager to get North- ern gold and silver, but refused to touch "Lincoln's" pajjer money, even refusing the U. S. Treasury notes, preferring their twenty-five cent paper. On the 25th steamers, loaded with provisions, came up the river. They had thirty canal boats in tow, on which it was intended to build false works to lay the railroad track at the bridge. A pon- toon train also came up with them. On the 26th the cavalry cap- tured seven Confederate cavalrymen, among them a colonel. ( )ne of them was recognized as a person who had been through McDowell's camps dressed in citizen's attire. Stores and supplies were hauled by the wagons from Belle Plain. On the 5 th of May the battery was moved down to the bank of the river, near General McDowell's headquarters at the Lacey House, to guard the pontoon bridge that had just been thrown across the river. The camp ground was a very fine one —in one of Major Lacey' s large clover fields. A cavalry regiment was encamped on the hills back of Fredericksburg, and two companies of infantry patroled the city. One newspaper, the Christian Ba?tner, printed by James W. Hunnicutt, on common brown wrapping paper, survived the capture of Fredericksburg. It stated that the Confederate army left the town on the i8th of April, and that in a hurry, leaving the people to endure any fate that might befall them, A number of vessels lying in the river — all private property — were burned by the soldiers before leaving. On May 9th, the Banner contained the following editorial : "Why is it that men will suffer passion and prejudice to dethrone reason? Let us consider for a moment our present deplorable condition. Our generals and army have left us to the mercy of chance ; Congress has broken up in a state of terrified confusion and have gone to seek their safety far from the seat of war, on their cotton, sugar and rice plantations ; the citizens of Richmond have become panic stricken and are leaving ; the authorities are making pre- parations to burn the tobacco and public stores of the army, that cannot and have not been sent away. These are facts, we presume, that are questioned by no one. "Why is it, that at this important crisis, when the lives of our dear sons and so many of our fellow-citizens are trembling on the very brink of eternity, that the very men, the leaders in this woeful tragedy, fly from the advancing enemy? Wliy do they not stand and face the danger? Because, conscience 38 Durell's Battery. has made cowards of them. They feel the guilt, they dread the penalty, and fly to save their own worthless carcasses from being captured ; and yet our dear children, neighbors and friends must stay and fight, and die to protect the per- sons and property of the guilty leaders, who have fired up the Southern heart, and inveigled them into ruin. Are parents willing to see their own dear chil- dren butchered and slaughtered like wild beasts, to gratify the unhallowed ambition of cowards, tyrants and traitors? Can freemen submit to such an outrage? No. 'I'hen, let us demand our children — let us call them home, and let Jeft. Davis and his click go to the devil, where they ought to have been long ago." The Ban/ier was a hundred times stronger for the Union than most of the Breckinridge jnipers of the North. It had experienced some fruits of secession, and denounced its leaders as " traitors, madmen and fools, who ought to be damned !" Upon the subject of the removal of the Confederate capital from Richmond, the Richmond Whig, of April 22, was equally caustic : " For fear of accidents on the railroad the stampeded Congress left yester- day in a number of the strongest and newest canal boats. These boats are drawn by mules of approved sweetness of temper. To protect the stampeders from the snakes and bullfrogs that abound along the line of the canal. General Winder has detailed a regiment of ladies to march in advance of the mules and clear the tovvpath of the pirates. The regiment is armed with popguns of the longest range. The ladies will accompany the stampeders to a secluded cave in the mountains of llepsidam, and leave them there in charge of the children of the vicinage, until McClellan thinks proper to let them come forth. The ladies will return to the defense of their country." The battery remained encamped at Fredericksburg for some weeks, having nothing to do but drill and write letters. Some of them found place in the local papers at home. Among them was a characteristic one from Sergeant Williani P. Andrews to his sister, which was published in the Bucks County Intelligencer, and con- tained the following : "There goes our little banty-legged doctor. He is a woeful rider; he bounces up and down like an Indian rubber ball on the saddle. He would have hi-^ feet clear tliroujjjh the stirrups, if his enormous spurs did not keep lliein to their place. lalaj) and rlui!)arb have been his favorite doses. He has now improved on them by the addition of large c[uantities of castor oil. He is a regular working doctor of the old style. I have had a cold in my head for the last three or four days, I guess, b) Inning llu- windows of the wagon oj^en. He prescribed a dose of his favorite truck. 1 preferred carrying it in mv pocket. I think I have improved by this mode of taking it. The only inconvenience I experience is that my nose is skinless. Whether the medicine or incessant wiping my nose produced it, I have not had time to inquire. " I wish you could see my country residence, that I occujjy during the day. The roof is made of the night-gowns worn by our own horses during the Capture of Fredericksburg. 39 winter. They are not altogether white, but remarkably fragrant ; especially on a damp, warm day, the 'dissent,' as your neighbor phrases it, is stunning. The walls are composed of old oat bags nailed to a wooden frame. Being of a sieve-like texture, they answer the purpose of letting in all the heat, sun and wind that comes along. The front prop runs far above the ridge of the roof, and is decorated with a newspaper flag. The whole concern is so neat, that a peddler stuck his head in the other day and asked if it was a hospital tent. I suppose the hartshorne caused the mistake. Everything shows that we live luxu- riantly. My table is decorated with a paper of sugar, an old broken inkstand, pens, pipes, matches, and last, though by no means least, a piece of old corn cake, baked in John Rice's improved style, with eggs and a little sugar in, just enough to taste. Only think, corn cake and fried beans for dinner ! We draw fresh beef three times a week, but experience great trouble in keeping the animal dead. It will generally get alive in spite of us. We had some of that same kind this morning for breakfast. The animile only died yesterday, and this morning, after a number of hours' boiling, he was almost able to run. The best stand-liy is old 'hog and hominy.' I believe you are fond of mush. I give you a cordial invitation to come down and take supper with us ; we will have a little mush and molasses. "The hills on the side of the river are now alive with men. They look like so many ants running out of their tents. At night the camp fires are beautiful. The hills appear to be covered with balls of fire, ranged in regular order of the company streets. The brigades on the summits of the hills have every appearance of a large city with street lamps all lighted and burning brightly. It is really a very beautiful and grand sight, and presents quite a contrast to the town, where we can scarcely see a light except in the little shelter tents of the guards along the river. Vou would think, if you resided on this side of the Rappahannock, that nobody dwelt in the town, and that it really was a city of the dead. The only sounds we hear from them is the beat of the guard-house drum, and the interminable howling of the dogs. "Were you ever pestered with ticks ? I hope you will never have to make their acquaintance. I have never yet concluded which I prefer, them or fleas. The fleas manage to get away from you, whilst the ticks generally leave a head in your hide, which produces rather sore boils. This is the darkest country in existence when it rains. To-night is intensely dark ; the guards will experi- ence great trouble in catching the loose horses, for the brutes generally choose that sort of a night for their ramblings. The bugs are very troublesome, get- ting into my eyes and running all over my paper. "The quartermaster and I are having a little 'sore-eye' in our horse- scented house. The refreshments consist of lemonade and hard crackers. The lemonade is very refreshing ; the hard-tack not so palatable. 1 should greatly prefer a little sponge cake or some of Hetty's ginger snaps. " As an instance of the bitterness of feeling against the Northern troops in this locality, I will mention the case of a widow lady in the town. She owns a great number of houses and depends on her rent for support. She says that, although the loss would be severe on her, she would rather have seen every house, and man, woman and child in the town burnt to ashes, than to see a Yankee soldier quartered in the place. She is what I call a tough old sinner, and needs a little 'tending to. Though I reckon if a Yankee would ask her to join the Union with him, she might accede ; but no doubt she would scotch up her heels a little before the peace could be ratified." 40 Durell's Battery. The middle of May came in very warm, as though summer had made its appearance with a bound. The soldiers found their canvass tents oppressive, and the river was soon a cornmon resort for bathing in the evenings. Some of the boys swam across to Fredericksburg A force of men was put to work at rebuilding the burned railroad bridge, and on the 19th of May a locomotive passed over it and returned from the city with a train of cars that had been in use by the Confederates but a short time previous. In the evening the bridge was illuminated, and a train of cars' passed over it with a brass band on board. After the completion of the railroad bridge the pontoon bridge that had been spanning the river immediately in front of the battery, was removed to Fal- mouth, and thrown across the stream from that point. General Shields' Division left suddenly for the Shenandoah Valley. General Augur's Brigade of King's Division crossed the river and marched to a point seven miles below Fredericksburg. The First Brigade of McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves also marched through the city and down the river, and Durell's Battery crossed over the river and parked its guns upon an open lot in the city. This was a treat for the boys, many of whom took every opportunity to saunter through the streets. On May 23rd, the President and the Secretary of War, accom- panied by other dignitaries, arrived from Washington to review the troops of McDowell's command. The railroad accommodations were not very good from Aquia Creek, and it was said that " Uncle Abraham " rode in an old freight car. The President was a queer figure on horseback, his long legs reaching well toward the ground. He rode with hat in hand in front of the troops in a boiling sun, and was greeted with cheer after cheer from the soldiers. About this time, Lieutenant Ciries, who had not been in good health for about two months, thought seriously of leaving the bat- tery for home. Christopher Leoser, of Reading, Pa., who had been in the three month's service as a cai)tain in the New York Fire Zouaves, paid a visit to its officers, with whom he was well acquainted. One evening after his arrival, the captain called the men together and stated that, as the battery was short one com- missioned officer, he would like to have the vacancy filled by Christopher Leoser, and put the question to vote. Leoser was chosen by a majority of three or four votes, nearly all of the Berks County men voting for him, while the Bucks Countians, as well as a number from the other counties represented in the battery, voted ABRAHAM LINCOLN CArruRF. ov FREi>KKicRsi;rRi;. 41 against Iiim. The men composing the Bucks County portion of tlie battery were dissatisfied that they were not given representation on the staff of commissioned officers by the election or ap])oint- ment of one of their number, and that a new man had been brought to the ])attery and given the commission. The matter caused ill feeling that did not disappear for many months after- ward. Lieutenant Leoser, however, proved to be a caj^able and fearless officer, finally winning the respect and admiration of almost the entire command. At this time, also, there was a marked improvement in the medical service rendered to the sick of the battery, which had heretofore been very inefficient. A surgeon from one of the regi- ments of the brigade or division to which the battery was attached would occasionally pay a professional visit to the sick, but much more frequently the sick were obliged to seek the surgeon for con- sultation. They were now turned over to the care of Dr. Peters, of the 2ist New.\'ork, who paid the battery professional visits twice a day. The weather was now becoming warmer, and active service was anticipated by the officers. Captain Durell issued an order commanding the men to dispose of all superfluous clothing and blankets, and retain none wiiich the Government had not pre- scribed for them. In conformity with this order the men packed their extra blankets, clothing and such other needless articles which would be cumbersome on the march of an active campaign, into boxes and sent them to their homes by express. A reduction was also made in the number of tents and other camp equipage, and two baggage wagons were added to the number in the service of the battery for the transportation of an extra supply of forage for the horses. At every hand there were indications of an important movement about to be made from this point. 4>B Dukkll's Haiterv. CHAPTER V. Pursuing "Stonewall" Jackson. JUST as McDowell's command was about to move forward to join McClellan's forces on the Peninsula. ''Stonewall" Jackson was found to be rapidly moving up the Shenandoah Valley, driving before him the small bodies of Union troops scat- tered here and there, and causing much anxiety at Washington. McDowell was therefore ordered to postpone the proposed move- ment to the Peninsula, and march a portion of his force rapidly to the Shenandoah \'alley to intercept Jackson before he could return to the ])rotection of the Confederate army. In compliance with this order tlie battery left Fredericksburg with its division on May 29th, marching rapidly toward Thorough- fare Gap. The first night's encampment was made in a wheat field, ^\llen the troops moved out of it the next morning, the wheat looked as though a hurricane had passed through it. The whole of Augur's Brigade had encamped on it, wagons and all. Nothing of any moment transpired along the route until about 10 o'clock, when a heavy rain began to fall, and continued during the day. The day's march was ended by encamping within four miles of Catlett. The next day the battery marched to the station, where the infantry took the cars for Manassas, from whence they were to be transported by rail to White Plains, the artillery march- ing across the country for the same point The artillery and bag- gage-wagon trains accompanied by the Harris Light Cavalry, Colonel Judson Kilpatrick, commanding, did not move until the morning of June ist. The march was over bad roads and through a deserted country for some distance until the woods were reached, where the roads were better. The corduroy road from Centre- ville to Manassas which the battery marched over in April, was in good condition in comparison witli this. Few houses were to be seen and nearly all of those were deserted. About four miles from Catlett, a dwelling set back from the road, was discovered. The fields surrounding it were j)lowed and the corn just sprouting al)Ove the ground. The stables were almost a wreck and the tools scat- tered in every direction around the grounds. The garden was in Pursuing "Stonewall" Jackson. 43 fine condition. A general rush was made for the premises by the cannoneers in search for water. The men soon despoiled the gar- den of all the onions and ripe strawberries it could boast of The house was entirely deserted. From appearances the occupants had fled in great haste. All that was left in the house was an old bed- stead, a piece of carpet and a bag of meal. It was a picture of deso- lation, and the whole place bore unmistakable evidence of the ravages of war. The battery was halted here for a long time, watering the horses, after which it moved on. About noon a halt of over an hour was made, waiting for the baggage train to come up. Some of the boys wandered into a house inhabited by a lot of crippled and old women, who were anxious to sell their cakes, and the men were just as eager to buy. One woman said she had never seen the cars, although she lived within three miles of the railroad. On the route was the splendid property of an Enghshman named Green. His buildings and grounds were magnificent, and he had built a very pretty Episcopal chapel on his estate. All over the premises were posters marked " British Property under Safeguard. " He was a cotton broker of Savannah, and this was his summer and country residence. His sympathies were strongly with the South , his wife being a Southron, and when young, it was said, a very handsome woman. While encamped at Bristoe, only five miles distant, a party of foragers from the battery visited this plantation seeking for corn. The second time they called they were entertained quite handsomely. Along this whole property the road was turnpiked — after a fashion. Enormous stones, rocks they might be called, were set in the road end up There was very Httle earth over them and ipiite a number of holes here and there. It was the most trying piece of road on the carriage stock that the battery had experienced up to that time. On the morning of June 2d, the march was resumed to Thoroughfare Gap. Here the railroad runs through the Bull Run Mountain, which could be plainly seen from the starting point at Haymarket, four miles distant, resembhng the big hills in Rock- hill Township, Bucks County, Pa. Here trouble was anticipated from the guerillas, as the hills abounded in good perches from which they could operate. If there were any in the vicinity they did not make their presence known. Passing through the Gap, the bat- tery parked on the western side of the mountain with orders to unhitch the horses, but to keep the harness on them. It was the same ground upon which the 104th New York had been encamped. 44 Durell's Battery. On Jackson's approach with a superior force, they had been com- pelled to beat a hasty retreat, firing much of their camp equipage rather than abandon it to the enemy. In a house located near this camp lived an old Bucks Countian by the name of Stover, who came from the vicinity of Point Pleasant. In the afternoon the infantry of the division returned from Front Royal. Jackson had succeeded in making his raid down the valley, returning again to a point within communication with the main portion of the Confederate army, thus avoiding the trap set for him. The battery was ordered to countermarch, and that night it encamped at Haymarket, a small village of half a dozen houses and huts, and a large brick church. The men were very hungry and highly enjoyed their supper of coffee, corn-beef and " hard-tack." The battery remained at Haymarket several days, during the continuance of a heavy rain storm. 'Tis an ill wind that blows no good. The good in this instance was reaped by the woman who lived in a house close to the camp, where the men bought cakes. She and two negresses were kept busy baking cakes from morning until night. She would bake up all the flour she had and send for more. She furnished ham and eggs at a very mo lerate price. One fat old negress said that she had worked over the dough-trough so hard that " the sweat had rolled off her." The morning of June 6th was clear when the march was again taken up to Gainesville, and from that point on the Warrenton pike, a very smooth road, through New Market and New Baltimore, to within a mile of Warrenton, where the battery encamped in a beau- tiful field, on the farm of an old Confederate, who had left it and gone farther south. It was pretty well stocked with sheep, hogs, cattle, etc., upon which the soldiers foraged to such an extent that but few remained when the troops left that vicinity. Sunday morn- ing brought with it the usual battery inspection, after which the men, who were fortunate enough to obtain passes, went out to Warren- ton to attend religious services in the only church of the town, and to visit the points of interest The march was again resumed on the 8th, passing through Warrenton, which was a very fair town for that section of Virginia. A number of its women appeared at the front doors and windows to see the troops as they passed, but they wore sour and defiant countenances. For some distance the line of march was made along the rail- road. The cars had not run into Warrenton for many months, Pursuing "Stonewall" Jackson. 45 and every bridge had been destroyed. After leaving the railroad the route led through swampy woods, which was hard work for the horses. Occasionally a gun-carriage or caisson would stick in the mud up to the axles, from which six horses would be unable to pull it out. The cannoneers would be obliged to step into mud, in some cases, knee deep, and literally put " their shoulders to the wheels," to help the poor animals out of the mire with their load. This was as difficult a piece of road as any the battery had hitherto marched. It camped until the next day at Warrenton Junction, but the supply wagons not coming up until late in the night, the boys were obliged to sup without their favorite tin cup of coffee. Early the next morning, a march of about five miles was made to Elk Run, where the battery rested, awaiting orders. General Gibbon's Brigade, with Regular Battery B, passed on to Fredericks- burg. This was a pretty good country for cherries which were then ripCf so the boys had a good treat, gathering and eating them. On the evening of the nth of June the first rations of whiskey and quinine were issued to the battery, which were eagerly received by those who had formed the liquor habit, but refused by a number of others who either never tasted or very seldom partook of spiritu- ous liquors. On this day, also, was issued the first rations of soft bread since leaving Alexandria on the 4th of April. It was a toothsome treat after so long a diet of "hard-tack." One loaf per day was the ration for each man, but some of the boys finished up a loaf at a single meal. On the i6th another move was made, this time to a point about two and a half miles distant, where the battery parked in a pine woods. After considerable labor in clearing away the burned brush, a comfortable and pleasant camp was made among the shady pines for man and beast. Augur's and Gibbon's Brigades, with the Regular and New Hampshire Batteries, had moved for- ward toward Fredericksburg, while the Rhode Island and Durell's Batteries were left here with Patrick's Brigade. On the 21st the brigade left and marched to a point ten miles nearer Fredericks- burg, where the battery joined it the next day. On the 24th the march was again taken up, and continued to Fredericksburg, the camp being established near a former camp-ground at the Lacey House, directly opposite the city. Here the battery received thirteen new horses and five marquees, or wall tents. The men were put to work at cleaning the harness, washing the gun carriages, and bringing cedar boughs from the woods, of which arbors were 46 Durell's Battery. built over the tents to provide shady quarters. Each gun detach- ment also received a large tarpauHn, which, with the small tents already on hand, furnished commodious quarters. On the 27th a squad of eighteen men was received from General C. C. Augur's Brigade and attached to the battery to fill its ranks to the required number. They were as follows : Samuel O. Allen, Jacob J. Amidon, Wilham Beck, Israel O. Beagle, Or- natus D. Bump, William H. Brown, James H. Burnett, Benjamin F. Edwards, Alfred B. Hicks, Henry B. Ives, Samuel C. Knox, Henry C. Leigh, Charles N. Mance, John Chesney and Nathan Thomas, of the 23rd New York ; and John B. Jones and Charles W. McCreary, of the 20th New York ; and James Buchanan of the 35th New York Regiment. The artillery uniform was issued to the new men, and blouses and shoes to all. Lieutenant Campbell of Battery B, 4th Regulars, having been made chief of artillery of the division, in place of Captain John Czibbon, who was promoted to a brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the Iron Brigade, paid especial atten- tion to the training of Durell's Battery, taking it in hand daily for some time when out on field drill, and put it through a lively move- ment of all the evolutions contained in the artillery tactics. The hard and continuous drilling received at this time, stood the bat- tery in good stead in the battles which followed a month or two later. Camp Life at Fredericksburg. 47 CHAPTER VI. Camp Life at Fredericksburg. THE battery remained at Fredericksburg througVout the month of July, nothing of any importance transpiring to break the weary monotony of camp-life, except the field drills and an occasional night scout into the country below the city. Orderly Sergeant William P. Andrews, at this time made a daily record of events, some of which were published in the Bucks County Intelligencei: The following is taken from his journal : July 4th. — "All exercises of the day were laid aside except the regular guard and police duties of the camp, and the men permitted to enjoy themselves as best they could, but to keep within the bounds of soldierly decorum. Num- bers of the men went over to the town, others to Falmouth, and a few visited their comrades in the neighboring regiments. General Patrick's Brigade had a reg- ular Fourth of July celebration. 'Aunt Betsy' (Captain Monroe), went up to the bluffs to make a noise for them. Generals King and Patrick feasted the imaginations of the men with spread-eagle addresses. King was vociferously cheered ; General Patrick not quite so much. The Olympic games were resus- citated by the introduction of the popular games of climbing the greased pole, chasing the greased pig, and the symmetrical proportions of the sack race. " At meridian, General Doubleday's Battery, which was quartered on the hill where we first encamped on our previous occupation of the place, fired eighty- six guns. After dinner. General Gibbon's men prepared for a grand mule, horse, and foot race. The performances began at 2 o'clock. The mule race was a most ludicrous affair. There were some twenty mules entered. The band w-ould play an air, when all must go. At the first start, before the riders had gone twenty paces, a dozen men were seen flying through the air, heels foremost. Over some of them the mules would run, and caper about as if tantalizing them. Others would bolt through the centre of the ring, making the horsemen and horsewomen (for there were some of the latter present) skedaddle. Others would keep the course until they reached a point where the road they were accustomed to travel passed through the fields ; all efforts of the riders could not restrain the brutes from bolting up the road, scattering the spectators like chaff. During the last heat, one fellow was thrown, and before he reached the ground the mule kicked him heels over head. Another fellow was making fine headway, when the mule sent him flying to the ground, headforemost, with such impetus that he spun around, coming upon one side and then on the other, with both hands full of dirt andgiass. The race was rich, and no one hurt. The horse-race was confined to the officers. Our adjutant and Lieutenant-Colonel Kilpatrick, of the Harris Light Cavalry, were the competitors for the purse. Our adjutant beat him. One of our teamsters took one of his mules down, Ijut 48 Durell's Battery. nobody would run against him^he could outrun the whole pack, and they were all afraid of him. After the fixed fun was over, there was a general racing of horses — every one going in. This ended by the killing of two horses. "The regulars fired a salute of thirty-four guns at retreat. General Gib- bon's Brigade had their own sport in the morning, everything being done in an inversed order. At the morning dress parade, the officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned, taking their places in the ranks as privates, and the better drilled privates acting in their posts. The field and staff were also chosen from the ranks, the colonel taking a rifle and falling into the ranks. The affair was well managed and passed off with great eclat. The adjutant bawled out his 'attention to orders,' and read an order to the effect that the officers must police the camp. It was very amusing to see the colonels and other big shoulder straps picking up old bones and trash, and removing them to the gen- eral place of deposit, the privates bossing them around. "In the evening. General King arranged matters for our admiration and 'the general manifestation of his glorification,' etc., by an exhibition of fire- works that equalled anything of the kind witnessed in the cities. The heavens were ablaze with rockets throughout the whole evening, their magnificence being embellished with the fiery balls of Roman candles, fire wheels, colored lights, etc. From the manner in which the burning sticks landed in the sacred town of modest females, they must have thought the Yankees had invited old Tophet down to see them, and he had accepted the invitation. General King addressed the motley assemblage, and General Gibbons made his maiden speech, commencing with 'You would scarce expect one of my age,' etc. " But the Fourth was the prelude to hard work the next day, when the battery had the longest and strongest field drill it had as yet received. Captain Durell ran the machine, and he did run it hard. The main incident of the morning was the capture of some guerillas a few miles below Fredericksburg. They were armed with shot guns, making a good resistance before the cavalry captured them. They lost two of their number during the struggle. In the afternoon, the paymaster called and gave the men four months' pay. July 13th. — "What an intolerable nuisance 'red tape' is, although it is a very important feature in the business of soldiering. The war offices are regu- lar 'circumlocution offices,' and their great aim seems to be 'how not to do it.' An instance of this was seen in the disposition of the dead body of one of our men who died on the 9th inst., at the hospital, and was interred before we had any intimation of his decease. On inquiry made at the office, no satisfaction could be obtained, as all matter in reference thereto had been sent to the sur- geon-general's office, and possibly the note to the captain had gone with it. To-day's mail brought the note intended for us from the said surgeon-general. Even to obtain a few blanks, the requisition must pass through half a dozen hands, and even then the issuing officers will stick on some little useless point. Our man was decently buried, but he is buried in a lonely place. His remains were deposited in a large fifty-acre field in the rear of the hospital — another interment had been made sometime before, and these two were the only graves in the field. Henry Hargrave made a head and foot-board, which was planted at the grave to-day. It is marked 'George Bluch, Co. A, Durell's Battery, I*. \'. l)ied July 9th, 1.S62, aged 22 years.' If possible his remains will be sent home for re-interment. Camp Life at Fredericksburg. 49 " There were orders for a review this morning, but they were counter- manded, and the matter ended by the usual company inspection. Having per- mission to go to Fredericksburg, I started for the river and crossed over in the boat. This boat was run by some infantry soldiers, especially for the accommo- dation of the men who were so unfortunate as to have no passes. The matter was known by the generals, but they managed to wink at it. I promenaded through town and finally brought up at the Presbyterian church, just as the parson had read his text. The congregation was rather a mixed affair, the blue breeches being in the ascendancy. There were about two hundred ladies, all nicely dressed and possessed of pretty faces, ornamented with noses that would turn up whenever a soldier would make a move ; about the same number ot soldiers, and only nine male citizens. The soldiers were very orderly during the whole service. The citizens were mostly elderly gentlemen and rather fine looking. The minister was a brother of Major Lacey, at oi^.c time a very vio- lent secessionist ; but after our arrival there, his views were considerably mod- ified. His sermon was very good ; no allusion was made to the existing diffi- culties ; the only approach to them was in his closing prayer, in which he asked that the world might all be one, and peace reign through the same. The sub- ject was the Divinity of Ckfist. The matter was good, and clearly showed the polished scholar. The manner was not appropriate ; his aim seeming to be to produce effect, and by too much mannerism the whole discourse was marred. Their singing was good, the organ being of a very fine tone, the only drawback being the want of male voices. I really felt, during the whole time, out of place. I think I behaved myself. The sermon did me but little good, as my thoughts were wandering around the church ; one minute I would be peeping at a pretty face under some bonnet ; at others counting the old men's heads, and wondering when the preacher would let some secesh slip out. Most all of the ladies were dressed in mourning, probably for some of their families lost in the war, for the regiment raised here was literally cut to pieces in the late battles. " After the services I strolled through the town. It was rather scattered and not very prepossessing, although there were some very fine residences. At the southern portion there were large yards, finely laid out and planted with shrubbery and flowers In my wanderings I came to our old camping ground. Great changes had taken place here ; the whole had been enclosed by a sub- stantial picket fence, plowed and planted in grass and oats. The old cabin had been whitewashed and boasted a front porch, made of an old rebel tent stretched on poles. Work was progressing on a wire bridge to span the Rap- pahannock River. July 14th. — "Great horse hunts on hand this morning. Our men are scouring the country in search of the lieutenant's little black nag, tiiat slipped his halter during the night. Two old rebels are also hunting the camps for a horse they report as having been stolen from them during the night. Their horse, if stolen, can be found at the picket ropes of the cavalry, they are the horse thieves of the division. Batteries are too honest to take horses, unless they leave one in exchange, always being careful to leave a very bad one for change. The company was marched over to headquarters in the evening, the result of the last court martial was read, one man was sentenced to fifteen days imprisonment in the guard-house and to attend to all his daily duties besides. 5© Durell's Battery. Another was dishonorably discharged from the artillery command. The latter man was nothing more than a mere stripling of a boy, not over sixteen years old. In fact Captain Monroe's men were mostly boys ; both the prisoners belonged to him. July i6th. — "An unfortunate occurrence happened this afternoon at Fal- mouth. The horses attached to a government wagon being frightened, ran into the river, and becoming entangled in their harness, three of them were drowned before they could be extricated. A large train of wagons arrived to- day from Washington. They are for general distribution among the different commands now here. Our battery is entitled to one of them. Fredericksburg is now well watched against all incursions of the rebels. Our fighting force on the water is considerably increased by six more gunboats, the whole number at the bridge being eight. A great many men in the command are sick at pres- ent. The battery has the fewest — only one man on the list this morning. Two or three others have been ailing for a week or so, but are able to attend to their duties. The facilities and inducements afforded by the town for every species of vice and dissipation increase the sick list at a rapid rate. The reg- ulars have as many as forty on their lists, the most of them the victims of their own imprudence. The Rhode Islanders have sixteen men in the hospitals, while we have but three. This is a small casualty list for a company of 145 men. Our men have improved very much in their drills since we last came here. The battery is on drill twice everyday; in the morning on the field, and in the evening, after retreat, in the park at the gun. Since leaving Alexandria we have had very little opportunity for field manoeuvres until the last three weeks. The morning drill is generally over by 8 o'clock. The New Hampshire men are generally on the field before breakfast. July 17th. — "Was an excessively hot day, and there was but little run- ning about among the men. We received our new wagon and ambulance. The wagon was good enough ; but what a wreck the old ' body-wagon ' was ! — top knocked in, spokes loose, and everything almost in the same condition ttiat the ' Deacon's one-horse shay' was when it went to pieces. By the joint operations of the blacksmith, wheelwright and saddler, a new one could be made of it. The fiery Rosinante which accompanied it, and acted as the mo- live power, was a perfect curiosity. In days long gone by he might have been a beautiful gray ; the want of sufficient straw and the entire absence of elbow- grease and curry-comb had entirely obliterated that color, and he stood before you a magnificent specimen of a dirty horse. We had a little after-supjier sport this evening. The New Hampshire men got up a foot race between their liltlc darkies, and then wound uji with a standing-on-the-head perform- ance. Tile c'ompiiny was marched over to headquarters this evening to hear tlie results of tlie courts-martial. The poor fellow, with 'Thief on his back, was marched before the battalion. The object was to bring the boy into dis- respect, iiut it failed of its purpose, as a majority of the men believed him innocent. Our doctor is very attentive to the sick and presents a strong con- trast to the drunken ones we have heretofoie had. He came around twice during the day to look after his patients. There was quite a commotion among our teamsters to-day, an order being given to the effect that no soldier should be put on the teams. They were very indignant, and swore that it would be a sorry day for the darkies that they ever took charge of the teams. They Camp Life at FREDERiCKSRURf;. 51 claimed that it was not right that run-away negroes should draw their $2$ per month, while the white soldier, who performed twice the labor, and run the greater risk, only received #13. July i8th — " Had quite an interesting conversation with our doctor this morning. He is new to us, and comparatively new in the science of 'Saw- bonery. ' I didn't ask him his name — the army supposition being that it is none of my business. And as a man has no right even to think, I bothered my head no more about it. Do what you are told to do, and never dare to think on anything but your duty. The definition of soldier is, one who is paid by the Government to stand up and be shot at ; a machine to be twisted by dumb and drunken officers, and to move as he is told ; a man who is cursed when he does right, and cursed when he does wrong. I inquired the name of our doctor ; it is Moser, from Harrisburg. July igth. — "This has been thepleasantest day wehavehadfor a long time. The refugees from the rebel army have entered into merchandising. It is a source of much fun to question them in reference to rebel affairs, they never telling the same story to two persons. The division commenced moving about mid- night, on a reconnoisance toward Gordonsville. July 24th. — " The negroes are coming in in droves, principally from Caroline and Prince George counties. The foraging business is being gone into now with full vim, under General Pope's orders. Ten wagons, with a large number of men started out this morning in search of potatoes and other ' garden sass,^ over the river. 'William S. McNair had his leg bruised or sprained by falling from his horse." Lieutenant Gries left the battery on July 28th under orders to recruit men for the service. He spent the greater portion of his leisure time in the orderly sergeant's tent, and was a favorite of the men. On August 4th the battery moved a distance of about half a mile and estabhshed its camp in a wheat-stubble field. The troops of General Burnsides' command began to arrive from North Carohna and encamp about Fredericksburg. On the evening of the 6th the centre section of the battery crossed the Rappahannock River and took part in a reconnoissance with infantry and cavalry, returning at about 10 o'clock. On the evening of the 8th the left section went out with a similar force on like duty, and returned after reaching a point about six miles below Fredericksburg. 52 Durell's Battery. CHAPTER VII. Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. TV/f AJOR-GENERAL John Pope had been placed in command 7 A. of all troops in Virginia north of the Peninsula, and had made an aggressive movement against Richmond from the north, a portion of his army under General Banks having advanced south as far as Culpepper Court House. On the 9th of August troops began to leave Fredericksburg to join Pope's advance at Culpepper. General Jesse L. Reno's Division of Burnside's Corps, being short of artillery, Durell's Battery was, on the 12th, transferred from McDowell's Corps to Reno's Division. The expeditionary forces of Burnside's command were, on the same day, merged into the Ninth Army Corps. This corps contained some famous regi- ments that had rendered distinguished services in North Car- olina. Among them were the 48th, 50th, 51st and looth Penn- sylvania, the 51st, 79th (Highlanders) and 9th (Hawkins' Zou- avesj New York, the 21st Massachusetts, the 2nd Maryland, the 9th New Hampshire and other regiments of good fighting material, all from the East. There were no Western Regiments in this corps. Durell's Battery was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, composed of the 51st Pennsylvania. 51st New York, 21st Massachusetts and 9th New Hampshire Regiments, commanded by Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis. On the afternoon of the same day a high wind storm burst suddenly upon the camps and blew so fiercely that the men were obliged to hang to the tent poles to keep their cpiarters from being carried away in the gale. Scarcely anything could be seen for the flying dust which arose from the finely ground soil of the wheat field upon which the battery was encamped. In the midst ot the tempest the blare of the bugler's " Assembly" was heard above the roar of the storm, and the men groped their way through the blinding dust into line, wondering what would hai)pcn next. Cap- tain Durell came out of his tent and gave orders to pack up and be in readiness to move at 6 o'clock in the evening, and also informed the men that they were to join General Pope's army in the neigh- borhood of Culpep[)er Court House. Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. 53 About the same time newspapers were received announcing that a battle had been fought at Cedar Mountain, a few miles below Culpepper Court House, between Jackson and Banks, in which Jackson was compelled to retire. Active service seemed to be in sight for the battery, which prospect nearly all the men appeared to welcome. The infantry of the brigade to which the battery had just been assigned had been engaged in battle under Burnside at Newbern and other points in North Carolina, and were not " spoil- ing for fight," as were those who had not yet been under the fire of the enemy. The battery moved promptly at the appointed time, but was halted before proceeding far to wait for the infontry to come up. A large number of the army wagons were provided with green mules, and negro drivers new to the business, which, on the bad roads, cut up by a heavy column that had preceded, resulted in several upsets and slow progress. The column was on the road all night long and halted at sunrise the next morning to feed the horses and permit the men to make a cup of coffee. At 8 o'clock the column was again in motion, making frequent halts, which permitted the men to do some foraging. The country offered fair opportu- nities for this diversion, abounding in green corn, geese, chickens, etc. , which afforded an acceptable change in the army rations. It was a hard march for the infantry. Heretofore they had been transported from point to point principally by rail or water, and there was considerable straggling. The August sun shown hot, and made the knapsack and accoutrements they carried hang like heavy burdens upon their backs. The column was again in motion the following morning at 6 o'clock, and soon reached the railroad at Rappahannock Station, where the infantry were loaded upon cars and carried by rail down through Culpepper to the front. The artillery of the division continued the march and encamped at night about two miles above Culpepper. On the 15th, the march was again resumed, passing through Culpepper Court House, the artillery joined the infantry which had proceeded by rail, and went into camp a mile south of the town. The encampments of the troops were visible as far as the eye could reach. General Pope had concentrated his army at this point, and was hourly receiving reinforcements of McClellan's troops that were brought from the Peninsula via the Potomac River. A large body of the Confederate army was known to have left the Peninsula, moving north, and Pope was preparing to meet 54 Durkll's Battery. them. The battle-field of Slaughter Mountain was in close prox- imity to the camp Some of the wounded of that battle, who had crawled into the woods and could not at first be found, were now being brought in. Nearly every house in Culpepper was a hospital, from which the wounded were sent by rail to Alexandria as fast as possible, a number of them being Confederates. On the i6th, the entire division moved eight miles to the left and distant from the battle-field about three miles. The weather was very hot. The rations were short, and orders were given to the troops to subsist upon the country. This was agreeable to the men, and was easily compHed with, as that section of country had not been foraged by troops of either side of the conflict. The men fared sumptuoi'sly on fresh pork, mutton, green corn, fruit, etc. The next day, a number of the batterymen visited the battle- field, though nothing could be seen but the marks of the contest upon the ground, fences and trees. The wounded had all been removed and the dead buried. On the i8th, there was a muster inspection, after which the battery was drilled upon a very rough field. Marching orders were issued in the afternoon, and the command was held in readiness until midnight, when a backward course was taken instead of for- ward as had been expected. It was the beginning of Pope's re- treat. The troops were ordered to place the remaining fence rails upon the camp fires before starting, so that the fires would be kept up long after the withdrawal of the army, and give the enemy the impression that Pope's troops were still there. The route ot the retreat of the -Second Division of the Ninth Corps led through Stevenslnirg to Kelly's Ford, distant about eight miles below Rap- pahannock Stadon. Stevensburg, a village of the homeliest of houses, without paint or v\hitewash, was passed through at day- break, and before meriiiian, the battery forded the Rappahannock River at Kelly's Ford, and took position for action in an old peach orchard located upon the bluffs, commanding an extended range over the south side of the stream After Captain Durell had made careful disposition ot his command, the men erected their tents and prei)ared their rations for dinner. Durnig the attcrnoon, Ceneral Pope and his staff passed by on a round of inspecting his lines. Toward evening the enemy's cavalry pickets made their appearance in the edge of the woods, distant nearly a mile from the river, and were met by the Union cavalry pickets, when a skirmish took place. Two shots were sent from the battery's guns, upon which the enemy retired into the woods. Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. 55 On the morning of the 21st, numbers of the enemy came into the clearing and exposed themselves to view, indicating that the woods were full of Confederates. In the afternoon Cieneral Bu- ford came down to the ford with his brigade of cavalry and crossed the river to reconnoitre and ascertain the strength of the enemy. Having no artillerv, the left section of Durell's Battery, Lieutenant Howard Mcllvain commanding, was detailed for service with tV e cavalry on this reconnoissance. Mcllvain, riding at the head of his command of two guns, followed the cavalry across the river, and was halted in the road at the edge of the woods to await orders from General Buford. The cavalry advanced through the woods, driving the enemy before them. The woods were about a mile in breadth, and when the cavalry reached the open fields upon the other side, the rattle of the carbines opened in a very hvely manner. Mcllvain now received orders to move quickly over the road through the woods in support of the cavalry. The cannoneers were ordered to mount the ammunition chests, and the horses were urged forward on a brisk gallop. The guns flew through the woods at such a rate of speed as to make riding on the ammunition chests almost as dangerous as exposure to the enemy's bullets. The men were obliged to hold on to the hd and hand'es of the chests with vice-like grasp, as the wheels struck the stones and stumps in the road. Emerging from the woods the scene of the battle, which ex- tended over several fields of level ground, came into full view. The Union cavalry was engaged in a hot skirmish, and Mcllvain was ordered to unlimber his guns and open upon the enemy. The ten-pounder rifled Parrotts were very soon throwing time shells, and the enemy as quickly responded with twenty pound rifled guns, their first shot striking the ground and bursting in very close proximity to Mcllvain' s section. The second struck the flank of a cav- alryman' s horse about fifty yards distant from the section of artillery and killed the animal. Other shots struck the fence rails that had been piled up by the cavalry to serve as barricades. Mcllvain soon got the range and the enemy's guns were silenced He then advanced a few hundred yards to get the view which a corner of a woods to the front and left cut off, and selected for his target a large house around which a considerable body of the Confede- rates had gathered. The second shot passed through the roof and created a hvely scene in that vicinity, mounted men fleeing in different directions, their heads bobbing up and down as they 56 Durell's Battery. galloped away to a place of safety. A few moments afterward the enemy re-opened fire from their battery, while Mcllvain was again advancing his position, but they were speedily silenced. At this juncture, a staff officer came galloping up to Lieutenant Mcllvain and commanded him to retire through the woods. Mc- llvain, who had warmed up to the fight, and was desirous of press- ing his success to a decided issue, demanded, "By whose orders?" The staff officer answered, " By orders of General Buford. " So there was no alternative. Obedience to ihe orders of superiors is the prime duty of a soldier. The guns were limbered up and re- tired through the woods at a rate of speed almost as rapid as they had been advanced. Suddenly the command was brought to a halt in front of a regiment of infantry of the division which had been sent across the river to support the cavalry and which were lined along the opposite side of the road fence, ready to pour a volley into the approaching artillery. Lieutenant Mcllvain took in the perilous situation in an instant and saved his command from disaster by throwing up his arms and shouting, " Your own men I " The infantry, who had mistaken the dust-covered artil- lerists for a column of approaching Confederates, immediately answered Mcllvain' s shout by bringing the butts of their rifles to the ground. It was a narrow escape from one of those unfortu- nate occurrences of troops firing into their own men, which took place on several occasions during the war. Proceeding through the woods into the open space near the river, the left section joined the other four guns of the battery, which had in the meantime been sent to the south side of the river. The left section was in a few minutes again detached from the battery and posted near the edge of the woods. At this point the trees had been cut off", the ground being covered with second growth timber. From this position Mcllvain was ordered to shell the locahty occupied by the enemy which he had encountered on the other side of the woods. This was all chance work, as the effect of the shots upon the enemy could not be seen. This ran- dom shooting was continued for about half an hour, when the sec- tion was ordered to join the main portion of the battery. The men of the left section were now the envy of their comrades. They had been in a fight, and the others had not. But the latter' s opportunity was yet to come, and it was not long in coming. A few moments later Captain Durell received orders to ad- vance through the woods with his entire command. The battery Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. 57 moved forward at a lively rate over the same road that had been taken by the left section. The enemy's artillery opened upon the column when it reached the ground from which Mcllvain was retired, dropping shot and shell upon each side of it ; but Captain Durell, cool and collected, seemingly unmindful of the fire, advanced to the crest of a ridge to the left, upon which the guns went into position. In this movement the battery was supported by the 5th New York Cavalry, which covered its exposed flank. The guns soon replied to the enemy's shots, and drove them from their jjosi- tion after expending about forty rounds upon them. Night was coming on when the battery retired with the cavalry to the north bank of the Rappahannock, General Buford i)robably having obtained the information he wanted. At all events, it was learned that Lee's army had left the Peninsula and was near at hand. Thus ended the engagement at Kelly's Ford, the battery's baptism of fire. Though exposed to the cannonading of the enemy for some time before it stopped in the advance to reply, it did not lose a man, and succeeded in silencing the guns opposed to it. From prisoners captured by the cavalry, it was learned that the enemy's battery was badly hammered and several of the cannoneers killed. The men of Durell' s Battery bivouacked that night on the banks of the Rappahannock, with a feeling of gratification that their first encounter with the enemy had resulted in nothing that would cast a shadow upon their record. The battery moved early the next morning (August 2 2d). Rain fell during the night and made the bottom land near the river a very unpleasant place to bivouac. The division commander, Major-General Jesse L. Reno, came along just before the battery pulled out of park and stopped to give Captain Durell instructions. He had a very singular voice — somewhat effeminate and scjueaking — which became the subject of considerable comment and amuse- ment among the men. The general was quite a stranger to the battery and the men saw only his peculiarities. Later, when they became better acquainted with his sterling qualides, they fully appreciated his worth as a soldier. The command moved away from the low land and wound over hilly and slippery roads up the north bank of the Rappahan- nock. The sound of cannon was heard from the direction of the march, and suggested to the men the prospect of another day of fighting. Soon after, a staff officer came galloping down the road with orders for Captain Durell to send a section of his battery to 58 Durell's Battery. join (leneral Buford's cavalry at Fayetteville, some six miles dis- tant. The centre section, Lieutenant Christopher Loser, com- manding, was detailed for the duty. I'he section of guns went forward at full speed, in hght marching order, and was soon out of sight. The remaining two sections moved forward slowly in rear of a long column of infantry. There were many long and vexa- tious halts, the day's march ending about 8 o'clock in the even- ing, when the battery parked about one mile from Rappahannock Station. It moved out of camp at 8 o'clock the next morning and joined the column of infantry, which slowly marched along the road running the course of the river, progress being interrupted by fre- (juent halts. These stages of marching and halting were continued until midnight. The distance covered at the end of the day's march was not much over five miles. Cannonading was heard all day long at different points along the river, General Sigel having met the enemy in a lively engagement in the vicinity of Rappa- hannock Station. On the morning of the 24th, the battery moved at daylight and proceeded about six miles, when it parked for dinner in a grove on an elevated piece of ground near the river, not far from Warrenton Springs. While the men were enjoying an after-dinner rest, they were unceremoniously aroused by the enemy, who opened upon them from the opposite side of the river with a battery. The captain ordered " Boots and Saddles," and the command left its exposed resting place in very short order. The enemy suc- ceeded in dropping four shells uncomfortably near ; but, fortu- nately, neither man nor beast was injured. Heavy fighting was in progress not far distant at the bridge, which the eneniy had built with the intention of crossing the river. The Union batteries had killed some of the horses and driven the cannoneers away from the guns of a Confederate battery. The enemy's sharpshooters were firing upon the men, who were endeavoring to destroy the bridge. The Union guns sent a shell at them whenever they made an ap- pearance. The Union force finally succeeded in setting the bridge on fire, and burned it to the water. The battery again moved, with many delays, until midnight, when it halted, with orders to keep the horses in harness The men were permitted to lie down at their respective posts around the guns. At daylight the command moved from its bivouac, which was near the Sulphur Springs, and marched up to Warrenton, where the Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. 59 centre section returned to the battery from its scouting service with the cavalry. The men of that section had had a rough experience. They had left the battery in haste, many of them without blankets or haversacks, and had obtained but three meals in their four days' absence. ^Vhen they reached the vicinity of Warrenton, they foraged upon the faim houses. The men of the other two sections of the battery were also short of rations. Charles H. MacCorkle, who went out with the centre section, gives the following account of their raid with the cavalry : ' ' Upon reaching Fayetteville, we were marched to a ford of the Rappahannock River, cannoneers mounted, and there joined the cavalry, who were in line of battle. We were assigned to a position in a field by the side of a road, with orders to have a double charge of canister ready at the mouth of each gun, and to repeat the fire rapidly in case of an attack by the enemy. We remained in this position, every man at his post, until evening. No hard-tack or coffee that night. A very heavy thunderstorm came up during the night. Lightning struck into the cavalry and caused the discharge of a pistol which was in a cav- alryman's holster, and sent a ball into his leg. He was carried back to a field hospital. Before the storm, it was expected that the rebels would make an attempt to cross the river and attack, but the rain fell in such torrents as to swell the stream, and prevented any attempt they might have contemplated of fording the river. Even had they been successful in effecting a crossing, they might have found it necessary to recross, which was not a pleasant contingency to arise when confronted by a rapidly swelling stream. The men stood at their posts all night long, wet to the skin, with double charges of canister with which to greet the approaching enemy. "At 10 o'clock on the 23d, we were ordered to march back to Fayetteville. There we halted until 1.30 o'clock, when we received orders to return to the ford, as the rebels were exhibiting an intention to cross the river. We ao-ain placed our guns 'in battery' on the same ground occupied the day previous, but the enemy shortly afterward withdrew. We soon afterward retired from the ford and marched with the cavalry to Warrenton, where we bivouacked. The men had had nothing to eat since leaving the battery, but enjoyed a night of undisturbed rest. "On the morning of the 24th the cavalrymen gave us each a cup of coffee, and we foraged green corn and roasted it in the camp fire, which was regarded as quite a feast. The lieutenant gave his men permission to forage for both men and horses, which was done in the most approved style. Chickens, turkeys, cornmeal and milk were brought in and most of the day was devoted to cooking and eating. We lost two horses while on the reconnoissance and replaced them by impressing into the United States service two from an old rebel farmer. Troops were now passing us in a continuous column, and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we, too, moved on to the other side of Warrenton and bivouacked for the night. Here we drew some rations of ' hard-tack.' " On the morning of the 25th we received word that the battery was coming, so we harnessed our horses and got in readiness to join it, which we were very glad to do when it made its appearance, and moved with it to Warrenton Junc- tion, where the whole battery encamped." 6o Durell's Battery. A depot of supplies for the army had been established at the Junction. Here the battery received rations for the men, and feed for the half-starved horses. The place was in a bustle with engines and cars moving backward and forward, in the work of hiuling the vast amount of supplies necessary to feed Pope's army. Some of the trains came in loaded with troops from McClelland' s army, brought down from Washington to reinforce Pope. The divisions of Generals Hooker and Kearney had all arrived. The artillerists spent the greater portion of the day in cooking rations and doing the "family wash," which was badly needed. The battery moved toward Manassas on the morning of the 27th. Passing by Hooker's troops, it was observed that all of his men were under arms ; som€ in motion, and others ready to take their place as the column moved forward. The battery had pro- ceeded some distance, when the whole column was brought 10 a halt by an aide riding by on a full run towards the front. Soon the column was countermarched back toward the Junction. The battery passed slowly through a woods and over a small creek, but had hardly crossed the creek and gained the level ground, when the orders "Trot, march !" were given. The command moved forward at a gallop, passing everything on the route, and raising such a dust that the drivers could barely see each other's horses. On reaching the Junction the battery joined Hooker's troops, who were drawn up in line. The railroad was crossed, when an aide rode up and ordered a section of the battery to join Reno's troops on the lower side of the railroad, in the direction of Catlett. The left section, Lieuteaant Howard Mcllvain commanding, was detailed for this service. The entire force, consisting of Hooker's and Kearney's Divis- ions (both under command of (General Hooker), and Reno's com- mand, comprising his own and Stephen's Divisions, were started off on quick time. As Catlett was approached, marks of the late Con- federate raid were observed. The enemy had been there that morn- ing. At Catlett, a body of cavalry was found huddled up in the woods. They reported that they had been driven in that forenoon and that the Confederates under Jackson had burned the railroad bridges toward Manassas. About a mile above Catlett, evidence of recent work by the enemy was seen. They had fired some buildings which were still burning. Skirmishers were sent in advance into the woods, and the battery followed slowly. 1' i,^jjv-j^ _(i,K ^. V«-.>f"7>*"VfrR^qp I Pope's Retreat — Kelly's Ford and Bristoe. 6i After proceeding in this manner some three or four miles, word came that the enemy was about an hour's march in advance. The bridges along the route had been burned and were still smok- ing ; the track was torn up in many places ; the sleepers were on fire and the rails laid over the burning ties. Kettle Run was reached and crossed, when the command was brought to a halt. It was supposed by some of the men that the halt was caused by the col- umn taking the wrong road, but they were suddenly assured that they were not on the wrong road for the game they were after, by the report of a gun, followed immediately by the bursting of a case shell above their heads. It was like a stroke of hghtning from a clear sky. The sections of the battery which were separated when the days' march began, had come together on the way, but were now again separated. The left section, under command of Lieu- tenant Mcllvain, was assigned to a brigade of Hooker's infantry, and followed it up a road which turned off" to the left. The other two sections of the battery were ordered to advance along the railroad. The left section ascended a short, steep hill on a brisk trot, which brought it in full view of the enemy. Immediately the lat- ter opened with musketry and artillery, the Union infantry reply- ing, and the left section coming cpiickly "into battery," com- menced firing. A sharp battle was now in progress. The heaviest of the infantry fighting took place in a dense pine thicket, conceal- ing both sides of that arm of the service from view, the main por- tion of the battery being unable, on this account, to find a posi- tion to bring their guns to bear upon the enemy. Cieneral Hooker, mounted on a white horse, remained near the section during the first stage of the battle, directing and encouraging the infantry commands that passed forward into the fight. His men said that to see him on his white horse was a sure indication of a fight. He was accompanied by one orderly. Desiring some in- formation from the front, he sent Lieutenant Mcllvain forward afoot. On returning, the lieutenant had a narrow escape from being shot by one of his own guns, which was discharged at the instant he emerged from the thicket, over which the section was sending time shells at a rapid rate. After a contest of about twenty minutes, the enemy's infantry was driven out of the timber and his artillery forced back. They were followed, now on open ground, by the whole Union line, and the battle renewed about a half a mile distant, where the enemy 62 Dukell's Battery. made a stand. The left section still composed the only artillery on the left wing of the line. Occupying an advanced position, it was taken for the enemy by a Rhode Island battery which was posted off to the right and rear. Several shells were thrown at the section, one of which exploded over the command ; but the Rhode Islanders were informed of their mistake by signal before any cas- ualties occurred. The enemy was again driven back some distance and made another stand. The left section c^uickly followed and wheeled into action at the first shot from the enemy's guns. Here the other two sections came up, when the six guns of the battery opened a hot fire upon the Confederate artillery and soon drove it from the field. The Confederates were now in full retreat, and night coming on the pursuit was discontinued after crossing Bull Run, where the troops bivouacked. Thus ended the battle of Ikistoe Station. The only loss suffered by the battery was one horse killed — being the mount of Sergeant Samuel K. Whitner, chief of the fifth gun. At a house a few hundred yards from the bivouac was found a coui)le of beeves killed and quartered. Upon nearer approach to the house, the nostrils of the men who were on a foraging expe- dition, were greeted with the savory aroma of cooking beef-steak. The hungry artillerists quickly followed the scent into the house, which was without a human occupant, and were gratified to find several frying pans full of steak on a fire of coals made from the plantation fence-rails. The meat was inspected and pronounced done to the taste, when the men sat down and enjoyed a beef- steak supper. The uncooked beef was taken to the bivouac and dealt out to their comrades, who were grateful to the enemy for the preparation of their entertainment. Some of the latter' s soldiers had no doubt been obliged to leave the beef in their haste to get away. After dark, a great light illuminated the sky in the direction of Manassas, which was supposed to be caused by the burning of its buildings. Pope's Retreat — Bull Run and Chantilly. 63 CHAPTER VIII. Pope's Retreat — Bull Run and C'haxtillv. nARLY on the morning of the 2Sth, the command moved toward Manassas, which it reached about noon. The cause of the great hght of the night before was now revealed. The enemy having previously burned the bridge across Bull Run, rendering it impossible for the Federals to move their supplies in the retreat. One hundred and forty-seven car loads, valued at ^1,000,000, had been destro) ed, under orders, by the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry. But the Confederates had come upon the scene in time to secure some of the supplies before they were all consumed. Considerable ammunition fell into their hands, and they fitted out their artillery horses with new harness at the expense of the Federal Government. Durell's Battery got fourteen sets of very nice team harness for its wagons. Stores of every descrip- tion were strewn around — tea boxes burst open, coffee and sugar barrels destroyed Such articles as the Federals did not need they broke and scattered about so as to be of no use. The battery halted at Manassas for an hour or more, when it moved toward Centreville. Proceeding up the road one of the cannoneers discovered the body of a dead Confederate cavalryman lyiug in the bushes that fringed the road side. It was brought out into the road, and examined, and found to bear marks of a bullet wound in the breast near the region of the heart. The story of the cavalryman's death was reported in thiswise : Early that morn- ing General Phil. Kearney rode along the road, unaccompanied by his staff. On either side the highway was bordered with trees and bushes. The cavalryman stepped out from the bushes as the gen- eral came up, saying, " You're my prisoner. " Quick as a flash the general drew his revolver, exclaiming, "Am I?" and shot the Confederate. There happened to be a halt in the march at this point. After some inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the foeman — a sort of military post mortem — the body was buried by the artillerists at the road side. After the column had resumed the march, a great explosion was heard, which was supposed to be a Confederate caisson, but 64 Durell's Battery. it was afterward learned to have been one of Monroe's. It had broken down, and he was compelled to blow it up to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. Cannonading was in progress off to the left, in the direction of the old Bull Run battle-field, which continued throughout the day. The battery bivouacked at about 10 o'clock for the night. On the 29th it was off again at 6 o'clock, moving rapidly, the brigade teams ahead, the others taking the rear. Centreville was reached about 10 o'clock. The cannonading in the direction of Bull Run was growing heavier. The baggage wagons were parked here, and the battery proceeded toward the scene of the battle, advancing across Bull Run over the stone bridge as quickly as pos- sible. Early in the afternoon the battle became general along the whole hne. The battery was ordered up to the front, and went into action half a mile to the right and front of the Stone Hospital, reheving another battery. Hartranft's 5 ist Pennsylvania Regiment was placed in support. Durell opened fire immediately upon the enemy's artillery and the woods in front, which were occupied by their infantry. The position of the battery, which was posted on a hill, commanded an excellent range. The fire of the enem/s artillery grew heavier, and the men were kept busy replying to the guns opposed. The contest was kept up for nearly an hour, when the Confederate fire weakened, and there was a cessation of the cannonading. The 51st New York and the 2 ist Massachusetts regiments, belonging to the brigade to which the battery was attached, were advanced to the edge of the woods, about a quarter of a mile in advance, where they were joined by another brigade of the Second Division. This force entered the woods and charged upon a railroad embankment which ran parallel with the line of battle. The embankment formed an excellent breastwork, behind which the Confederates were await- ing to receive the assault. As the line approached, it encoun- tered a withering fire of musketry and canister. It wavered and soon fell back, being unable to face the terrible ordeal. The broken ranks of troops came out of the woods into the open ground, followed by the enemy. As the Confederates appeared the battery sent into their line a rapid fire of time-shell and schrapnel. The Union infantry had retired almost to the foot of the hill upon which the battery was posted, so that the shots from Durell's guns were carried over their heads into the enemy's ranks. Pope's Retreat — Bull Run and Chantillv. 65 The battle was now raging fiercely and the flying bullets and shells were whistling and shrieking through the air. 'J"he Confed- erates advanced, defiantly waving their l)attle- flags. They had covered about two hundred yards, when the fire which had now been concentrated upon them from every available point, became too hot to be endured, causing iheir line to break and retreat in disorder back to the woods from whence they came. Some of the shots from the battery's guns were terribly effective, — plunging into the line as it approached and making serious gaps in it. The field was thickly dotted with the dead and wounded of both sides, evidencing the terrible carnage of the fight. A lull in the batde followed the repulse of the enemy. Al- though the battery was exposed to a hot fire of shot and shell, but one of its number was struck — Private Charles A. Cuffel, who was serving the third gun at the lanyard. A Belgium musket ball, that had first struck the ground in front of him, glanced and hit him on the breast. He was, however, able to resume his post at the gun an hour later when the battle broke out afresh. The Doylestown guidon also had the honor of receiving bullet holes. The fighting was spasmodic during the remainder of the after- noon. As soon as the enemy resumed the fight the Union troops replied, until the battle again subsided to the fire of the skirmish line. Neither side gained any material advantage. An incessant fire was kept up on the skirmish line throughout the night ; and, about midnight, became so heavy as to threaten a general engage- ment. The troops on the line of battle, who were lying on their arms, trying to catch a few hours' rest, were called up ; but, as the firing soon subsided, and a normal condition of affairs was re- sumed on the skirmish line, the men were permitted to lie down again. The morning of the 30th ushered in hot weather. There was httle fighting in the early part of the day. There seemed to be little disposition on the part of either side to attack. A constant fire was kept up on the picket line, and an occasional shot was fired by the enemy's artillery, to which the battery did not reply. Early in the afternoon, however, the Confederates made an attack in force upon the left of the line. Heavy fighting continued for several hours, the enemy assaulting repeatedly, without success, until late in the afternoon, when they succeeded in breaking in on the left and forcing it back in confusion. During this time Durell's Battery was actively engaged in shelling the enemy's lines which 66 Durell's Battery. appeared in the edge of the woods. Emerging from the timber, they advanced toward the battery until the fire became too hot for them, when they fell back to the cover of the trees. But the Union left had been turned and was in a state of con- fusion. The enemy pushed forward and the battery's flank be- came exposed. The enfilading fire of the enemy's artillery, (some of whose guns threw railroad iron for the want of projectiles), and the shower of musketry, which was increasing in force, made the position of the battery untenable. The axle of the third gun was struck in the middle and damaged, two horses were killed and one man wounded. The enemy advanced from the woods in front with increased force, and were approaching the crest of the hill when the battery was ordered to retire. It descended the hill, the gun with the damaged axle moving carefully over the ground following the remainder of the battery — for the axle still bore the gun — until it encountered a deep ditch, where the carriage broke down. It was now thought to be impossible to save this gun, so Sergeant Henry Sailor, chief of the piece, ordered it to be spiked. This was done by sending the rammer to the bottom of the bore, and driving a rat-tail file into the vent with an axe until the file clinched with the head of the rammer. Thus it was about to be abandoned, when another stand upon the first hill some eight or nine hundred yards in rear of the first position was made by the battery, and fire re-opened upon the advancing enemy. The gun detachment was then ordered to sling the piece under the limber, or front wheels of the gun carriage, with fixed prolong, which duty it proceeded to perform under a galling fire from the enemy. In the work of rescuing the gun from capture the detachment was between the lines. The shells from their own guns were passing over their heads from the rear, and the shells and railroad iron from the enemy's guns were plunging into the ground from the front and flanks. It was an unusual situation and a most trying experience, even for a veteran. But the work of slinging the gun under the limber of the carriage was expeditiously performed, for the battery had been well drilled for such an emergency. No note was taken of the time consumed in doing this work, but it is safe to assert that it had never been executed with such energy and dispatch on any battery drill. The disabled gun having been rescued it was hauled back to the position where the battery .was still engaged in firing. The Pope's Retreat — Bull Run and Chantilly. 67 enemy was sweeping everything before them. General Pope, ac- companied by General Sigel and several members of his staff, lode up to the battery's position, took a survey of the field, and held a consultation with his officers. Everything was confusion. In- fantry, artillery and wagon trains were moving in chaos, wiih the one purpose of getting away from the advancing eneaiy ; officers searching for their men, and privates inquiring for the whereabouts of their commands ; teams rushing back, with here and there a baggage wagon overturned in the deep ditch along the roadside, from which the driver had cut the traces and ridden away upon his horses or mules to the rear. It must have been with a degree of painful disappointment and humiliation that the commanding gen- eral witnessed this scene. It was a disorderly retreat, but did not approach to the degree of a panic, as in the case of the first battle of Bull Run. Not all the troops, however, were thus routed and confused. General Sigel' s and other commands gave the enemy a stubborn retiring fight, affording the broken troops ample time to withdraw, thus saving a large number of scattered men from capture. In about twenty minutes from the time of taking the second position, the battery was again ordered to retire, and crossing the stone bridge it moved up the Centreville road. The march was slow, marked by numerous halts made necessary by the heavy col- umn of disorganized troops, baggage wagons and artillery trains which blocked the road. It continued until after midnight, when the battery turned into a field not far from Centreville, and bivou- acked until morning. The next day it took a position in one of the old Confederate earthworks at Centreville. It soon received orders to move to Alexandria, but later the order was countermanded, and the men and horses were permitted to take much needed rest during the greater part of the day. Long trains of ambulances passed up the turnpike, loaded with the wounded, who were hur- ried off to the Washington hospitals. Some rain fell on the morning of September i, and the men were cold and hungry. No means for supplying rations were at hand. The baggage wagons of the battery had left in the rush of the day previous, as had nearly all of the wagon trains of the army. The troops were fatigued and somewhat dispirited. The whole army seemed to smart under the realization that it had received another Bull Run defeat. The position of the battery was changed several times, and late in the afternoon it moved up the turnpike toward Alexandria. 68 Durell's Battery. " It was soon discovered that the rebels were in motion to strike the Union column by a movement upon its right to cut off its retreat. Reno's Corps was immediately sent to meet this movement, with the cavalry in advance, and was soon joined by Stevens and Kearney. The two armies were moving on diver- gent roads and the lines struck at Chantilly. It was nightfall, and a terrible thunderstorm prevailed ; but Kearney and Stevens and Reno, three impetuous leaders, immediately forming, moved upon the foe and fought in the darkness. They knew nothing of his strength and little of the ground, and contended with great disadvantage." — Bates' History of Penti^a Vols. The History of the 51st Pennsylvania Regiment gives the fol- lowing account of the opening of this battle : "The 2lst Massachusetts, being on the advance, encountered the enemy first, under very peculiar circumstances. A brigade of rebel infantry was filing out of a woods into the Fairfax road, just as Colonel Clark, at the head of his regiment, was passing the point into which the enemy were filing. The two colonels saluted each other, as each officer thought they were both of the same army ; and, as the men of the 21st Massachusetts wore overcoats of a color near those worn by the rebels, the delusion was complete. The two colonels rode along together for a few yards when the rebel asked, ' What's your regi- ment, Colonel ?' The answer was, ' It's the 21st Massachusetts.' ' My regi- ment is the Mississippi, and we are enemies,' replied the rebel colonel, and with his men made a fierce onslaught on the 21st Massachusetts, capturing Colonel Clark and a number of his men. The 51st Pennsylvania and the 51st New York were about half a mile in the rear, accompanied by Durell's Battery. The battle opened as if by magic. The battery got a position in a field close to the road, and the 51st was ordered to its support." Durell's Battery was hurried forward and entered the battle with the horses on a full gallop, coming into battery at the edge of a cornfield. It was the only battery, save one, engaged on this field. All the troops in the vicinity were soon engaged. Kearney and Stevens' commands had attacked the enemy on the latter' s own choice of ground. A hard fight took place for the possession of the cornfield, but Kearney succeeded in driving the Confed- erates from their position. As Kearney's men were following up their success, their gallant commander fell pierced by a bullet and died without a struggle. General Stevens was also killed, his life- less body being carried through the battery's line to the rear. As the battle waxed hot the rain fell in sheets which threatened to wet every grain of powder ; but it did not seem to dampen the fury of the fight in the least. It raged into the darkness of the night, unhindered by the storm, and ceased only when Jackson's lines were driven back. The battery had almost expended its last shot. The cannon- eers drew upon the ammunition still remaining in the caisson be- Pope's Retreat — Bui.i, Ritn and Chantillv. 69 longing to the gun which had been disabled at Bull Run, and which followed the battery in all its subsequent movements to Washington, "rhc rain continued long after the fighting ceased, and the soldiers lay down upon the ground, weary, wet and hun- gry, many of them frilling asleep in the pouring rain, unmindful of the pitiless storm. A field hospital had been established in a house and barn near the position of the battery, from which came the sound of the groans of the wounded and dying, adding horror to the discomfort and gloom of the situation. The battery had suffered no loss in this battle. Sometime after midnight, it was ordered to move to the Alexandria turnpike, and proceeding up that high- way a distance of half a mile, it turned into a field and bivou- acked until daylight. The weather on the morning of September 2d, was clear and very cool. The troops built fires around which they gathered in shivering circles to dry their rain-soaked clothes by the warm glow. As soon as the artillerists got the bearing of the country, it was discovered that they were near the scene of their camp while on the advance with McClellan in the early spring. Soon after day- light the march toward Washington was resumed. Along the road there were numerous evidences of the hasty retreat, which had been made by the wagon trains. Here and there was a baggage wagon which had been foundered along the roadside, or telescoped in a ditch, and army stores of every description were strewn along the highway. The march was continued, with few halts, to Fair- fax Court House, where the battery parked for a few hours, after which it proceeded to Fairfax Seminary, within two miles of Alex- andria, where it encamped late in the afternoon. September 3d, was a very bright and cool day, and as the command did not move, the jaded and famished men and horses were enabled to secure some much needed rest. The men im- proved the opportunity to wash their clothing and to wTite letters. The baggage wagons came in during the day and the command once more was supplied with food and fodder. The teams had traveled all night of the ist, by a different road, and had struck the Potomac River nine miles below Alexandria, reaching that town toward evening on the 2d. Thence they found their way finally to the battery. At 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 4th, the battery was ordered to march to the Washington Arsenal, to refit and replenish the ammunition chests. Passing through Alexandria it took the 70 Durei.l's Battrry. road to the Long Bridge, which was so blocked with wagon trains as to compel a halt of two hours before it could effect a crossing. It did not reach the arsenal grounds until lo o'clock that night. The next morning the men found that they were in a beautiful green and shaded park. It was a pleasant change from the expo- sure to the hot sun, and the dusty and bleak resting places of the Virginia hills and vales, and was greatly enjoyed by the war-worn soldiers, after the strain of the hard campaign just closed. Some of the men took the opportunity to stroll into the city, but the greater number preferred to remain in camp and rest. Various rumors had reached the homes of the men concerning the welfare of the battery in the late battles. At Reading it was reported that it had been terribly cut up, and again that Durell and his entire command had been captured. About seventy citi- zens of Reading went to Washington to look after the sick and wounded, and search for friends belonging to the different com- mands that went out from that place. Several of them visited the battery on the night of its arrival in the arsenal grounds, among others, the father of Lieutenant Mcllvain. The lieutenant had shown such heroism in the recent battles, as to find himself idol- ized by the men. He was the most conspicuously cool, clear- headed and courageous officer of the command. He deserved the confidence and fealty of his men, who were quick to render him what was due. The Maryland Campaign — South Mountain. 71 CHAPTER IX. The Maryland Campaign — South Mountain, AT his own request General Pope was now relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac and General McClellan was restored. On the morning of the 7th the battery was taken into the arsenal buildings, where the gun that had been dismounted at Bull Run by a Confederate shot, was turned in and a new one drawn by the third detachment, all the ammunition chests filled with pro- jectiles and other needs of the battery supplied. In the afternoon orders were given to move, and the battery marched through the city and beyond into Maryland, encamping near Leesburg at 10 o'clock that night. The country presented a different appearance from that which had just been left in Virginia, which had been stripped by the ruthless hand of war. Here the fences were all up, the buildings in good repair and there was an abundance of fruit. It was evident to the soldiers that it had not been in the hne of an army's march. And it is equally certain that it did not present an entirely unmolested appearance after the Union army had passed by, for soldiers would forage upon fruit and vegetables and use fence rails to build their camp fires. The next morning the battery was moved about half a mile, where orders were given to fix up a camp, as though it was expected that some time would be spent at that place. Here the men for- aged freely upon the surrounding country and brought into the camp a good supply of fruit, potatoes, corn, etc. But the march was again taken up the next morning, passing through Mechanicsville and Brookville, the battery parking its guns a short distance beyond the latter place early in the afternoon. The citizens of Brookville welcomed the marching column with waving flags and handkerchiefs. The troops here learned that they were being moved northward to head off the Confederates, who had crossed into Maryland. The battery reveille sounded early on the morning of the loth, but no marching orders following, the men were soon engaged in cooking green corn and new potatoes, and foraging upon the peach 72 Duret-l's Battery. orchards. Heavy columns of troops passed by and pressed on nearly all day long. On the iith, a march of about twelve miles was made, en- camping for the night near Damascus. It. was resumed the next morning passing through several small towns, the citizens of which hailed the troops with joy. Squads of the Confederate cavalry had been seen scouting through this section the day previous, and upon reaching New Market the artillerists heard the sound of cannon- ading in the distance. They were now hurried forward to the out- skirts of Frederick, where the infantry in advance had that after- noon driven the enemy from that city. The morning of the 13th opened with the sound of continu- ous cannonading at the front, strong indication of an impending battle. Word came back to the troops that (leneral Frankhn's Division was engaging the Confederates at vSugar Loaf Mountain, a spur of the South Mountain range. They were dislodged late in the afternoon, when the battery was ordered forward and passed through Frederick City. The march through this town was a per- fect ovation. The citizens were greatly rejoiced at the repulse of Jackson's troops and their relief from the domination of the Con- federate soldiery. It was a scene, on a much smaller scale, similar to that witnessed on the march through Philadelphia It appeared more like a holiday parade than the sober work of marching on to battle. Hundreds of ladies waved flags and handkerchiefs from windows and doors as the troops marched by, and buckets of water were brought to the column to cpiench the thirst of the soldiers — for the clay was hot. Nearly every other house bore a flag, and it was hard to conceive how Jackson recruited 1700 men for his ranks in such a loyal place, as he was reported to have done. The fact is, that only from 200 to 300 went with the Confederates, although recruiting offices were opened and all manner of inducement was offered for enlistments. The Confederate loss by desertion about equalled tlie number of recruits. The march was continued over Sugar Loaf Mountain, the scene of the battle of that day, to Middletown, where the battery bivouacked about 8 o'clock in the evening. Sunday morning, the 14th, opened with heavy cannonading in front. The Confederates were contesting with the Union advance for the passage through the South Mountain. Ceneral Cox's Western Division came u\) and was added to Burnside's Ninth .Army Corps, which contained excellent fighting material. The Maryland Campaign — South Mountain. 73 and a number of men who, after the war, became prominent in civil Hfe and national affairs ; two of whom have been exalted to the highest place within the gift of the people — namely, Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes and Private William McKinley, Jr., both of the 23rd Ohio Volunteers. The troops of General McClellan's Peninsular Army were marching in heavy columns on parallel roads toward the mountain, their bright bayonets flashing in the sunlight, presenting a brilliant spectacle. The magnificent scene was more suggestive of a grand military review than of a march to battle. The fighting by the advance body of troops had begun early in the morning, the sound of the conflict being distinctly heard at Middletown, several miles distant. It was about noon when the battery was ordered forward. Marching through the town. Burn- side's command left the Sharpsburg turnpike by a mountain road which forks off to the left, and which was at that time rough with stones and ruts, and narrow as a farm lane. It w-as a long, steep hill, and tried the wind of horses and men. Approaching the sum- mit and drawing within range of the enemy's fire, which was grow- ing very heavy, the battery was hurried forward on a galloj) and plunged into the battle. Taking the position of Cook's Massachusetts Battery, the guns of which were posted in the edge of a woods to the right of the road, and from which its men had been driven l)y a terrific cross- fire but a few minutes before, Durell's artillerists speedily got their guns "in battery " between the deserted guns, and opened a vig- orous fire upon the enemy. They were successful, twice silencing and driving back a Confederate battery, and harrassing the enemy's infantry as it advanced on the Union Hne on the right of their position. The reply of the enemy's artillery was for a time very hea)vy, during which two limbs of the trees under which the bat- tery was posted were cut off — one (]uite a heavy one, which came down upon Ca])tain Durell. It knocked him to the ground; but, besides a bruise or two, did not seriously injure him. Cook's batterymen, who were hugging the ground closely on the slope of the mountain some distance in rear of their guns, came up soon after Durell had commenced firing and ran their pieces off by hand to the rear. A masked battery had opened a fire of can- ister upon them after they had unlimbered their pieces, and killed and wounded a number of men before they could fire a shot. 74 Durell's Battery. At the first lull in the battle Durell's men climbed the fence in front of their position into a sweet potato patch, and burrowed them out with their hands. While thus engaged, the enemy made another attack with artillery and an advancing column of infantry, when all hands sprang to their posts and renewed the fight. Sev- eral of the battery's shells burst in the ranks of the enemy and made wide gaps in the lines at which he turned and fled to the woods in his rear. Several such attempts to drive the Union line back were made, but each with the same unsuccessful result. It was now near sunset and all the fighting had ceased but that upon the picket lines. The men had an opportunity to look over the field and care for the wounded, who could not be at once taken away to the hospital. The ambulances had made several trips to the foot of the mountain loaded with mangled human freight, but the battle-ground was still strewn with the dead and wounded, at some points the blue and gray lying mingled together. A stone wall, starting at the end of the fence separating the woods from the sweet potato patch, ran up upon one side of the road, the bed of which had been washed down to the depth of several feet by frequent rain to the width of wagon tracks. This sunken road and stone wall had been the position of a Confederate brigade. Early in the battle the 17th Michigan, a new regiment, full of enthusiasm, made a most gallant charge diagonally across the road from left to right, in the face of a terrible fire, which swept the ranks at every step ; but the Confederates were driven from their strong position and soon disappeared in the woods beyond. Here the dead and wounded of both sides almost covered the roadway, and at some points were lying over each other. Just across the road from the battery's position stood a moun- tain cabin, which was found to be occupied by an elderly woman and her daughter, who had taken refuge in the cellar when the battle opened. Several cannon balls had penetrated the roof of the house, and the exposed sides of the building were thickly dotted with the marks of the heavy musketry. Some of the Union soldiers discovered the women in the course of their investigations of the cabin, still under cover of the cellar wall, and almost distracted with fear. The soldiers assured them that the danger was past, when they timidly came forth from the cellar. Firing along the picket line was still kept up, which occasion- ally swelled to almost the importance of an engagement and then again subsided, (ieneral Jesse L. Reno, commanding the Second MAJOR-GENERAL JESSE L. RENO The Maryland Campaign — South Mountain. 75 Division of the Ninth Corps, had gone far in advance to make a personal reconnoissance, when he was shot, and carried back through the line of his troops about dusk in an ambulance, mortally wounded. He died that night. He was a Pennsylvanian, fearless, able and beloved by his men. The command of the division fell to Ceneral Sturgis. Soon after the darkness of night had set in, the Confederates made another assault upon Cox's Division, which held the left of the Union line, and a fierce battle raged for half an hour, when it ended by the repulse of the enemy. The battery was, in this action, exposed to a heavy musketry fire, and participated in the engage- ment by opening upon the woods in front and left with time shell. It expended about two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition in this battle. Soon after the termination of the night assault, all the guns of the battery were ordered to retire down the mountain except the two pieces of the left section, under command of Lieutenant Mcllvain, who was instructed to hold the position. About midnight orders came to advance one piece to the picket line. The Lieutenant detailed Sergeant Sailor to follow him with his detachment of men and a gun and proceeded by the sunken road, conducted by a staff officer. It was necessary for the cannoneers to proceed in advance of the horses and pick up the dead bodies lying in the sunken road, and place them on either bank of the roadside, to prevent the bodies from being mangled by the tramp of the horses and crushed by the wheels of the gun-carriage. This duty of clearing the road of the slain was performed to a distance of about three hundred yards, when a turn to the left was made from the road into a field, dotted with the forms of the dead. Orders were given that there should be no speaking above a whisper and that the movements of the horses and gun-carriage be made as slowly and noiselessly as possible. LIpon reaching the assigned post the piece was unlimbered and a double charge of canister held in readiness at the mouth of the cannon to be instantly rammed home and discharged at the first indication of the presence of the enemy. It was a trying state of sus- pense to the men, and above all, distressing to hear the groans and cries of the wounded lying beyond the lines, calling for help to come where no one dare approach to their aid or rescue. The detachment was held in this position, possibly fifteen or twenty minutes, though it seemed an hour, when it was ordered to retire to its former posi- tion with the other detachment of its section, which command was 76 Durrll's Battery. gladly received and as carefully and noiselessly obeyed as the order to advance had been. After the return from the midnight reconnoitre the men sought a place to sleep. But six men of the twenty-five comprising the two gun detachments had overcoats and blankets with them, the knap-acks of the other men having been taken with the caissons, to which they were fastened, down to the foot of the mountain. The night upon this elevated position was quite cold, and no fire was permitted, as that might expose the command to the fire of the enemy. So the tarpaulins were taken from the tops of the ammu- nition chests, spread upon the ground between the two pieces, and the officers and men laid down upon the ground together under the cover of the tarpaulins and the protection of two senti- nels The weary soldiers soon fell asleep, but had not been long under the influence of " Nature's sweet restorer," when one of their number, lying at the end of the covering was awakened by the s-udden rise of the tarpaulin, which exposed his body to the cold night air. The sleepy soldier, upon a second glance, recognized the disturber of his rest to be General .Sturgis. The general was no better prepared for a night's lodging than his men and wanted to lie down then and there. The soldier arose, prepared as good a bed for the division commander as his limited resources could supply, bade the general to He down, covered him over with the tarpauhn, and shivered through the remainder of the night as best he could. It was expected that the battle would be renewed at the break of day ; but all was cpiiet in front, not even the sound of an occasional shot upon the picket line being heard. The Con- federates had retired from the field during the night. 'I'he two sections which had been sent to the rear the evening before returned in the morning, accompanied by the baggage wagons. From them a good supply of black coffee, pork and hard bread was served to the men who had performed night duty, and were soon ready to join their comrades in roaming over the battlefield and extending a helping hand to the wounded who were still plen- tifully scattered over the field. About midday (Jenerals McClellan and Burnside came up the mountain road together, and were lustily cheered by the troops as they rode through the lines to the front. At i o'clock the battery advanced toward Shar])sburg and bivouacked in a corn-stubble field for the night. VIRGINIA MAP OF ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD The Maryland C."ampaic;n — x\ntietam 77 CHAPTER X. The Maryland Campaign — Antietam. THE enemies' shell bursting near the battery sounded the reveille on the morning of the i6th. The Confederates had opened their batteries on the Union line of battle, which at this point was posted upon the hills overlooking Antietam Creek, many of their shells over-reaching the mark and bursting among the troops lying in reserve. One shell burst in a line of infantry stationed in close proximity to the battery and killed and wounded a number of men. The battery was ordered to the front in the afternoon and took a position on the right of the Ninth Corps' line in the edge of the woods, on a road leading to Stone Bridge, No, 3, and distant about half a mile from the Barn Hos- pital. But it was not called upon to open its guns that day, as the fighting had subsided on this portion of the line and been directed on the Union right where (".eneral Hooker was engaging the enemy in force. At dusk the battery withdrew from its position and marched back for the night, parking its guns near the corps hos- pital. Here the men and horses enjoyed a night of good rest upon a sod field, a great improvement over the ridges of corn-stubble upon which they had lain the night previous. Soon after daylight on the 17th, the enemy opened the battle with a vigorous fire of artillery, filling the air with flying and burst- ing missiles, a number of which exploded in and near the bivouac, but no one was hurt. The men were engaged in the preparation of breakfast, which was seized from the fire and partaken of with the utmost despatch. Captain Durell at once shouted "Boots and Saddles," not waiting for the buglers to sound the call. All was bustle and excitement in the camp ; the men packing up, harness- ing and hitching the horses to the gun-carriages and eating break- fast, all at the same time. The battery immediately moved to the top of the hill in front, overlooking Antietam Creek and Sharpsburg, upon which the line of batteries comprising the artillery of Syke's Division of Regulars was posted. Taking position upon their left Durell's Battery opened upon the enemy's belching guns. The cannonading was very heavy, each side appearing to employ all the 78 Durell's Battery. guns at their command, and to use them with the utmost vigor. The air seemed to be filled with shrieking missiles, and there was ocular evidence on every hand that somebody was getting hurt. The Confederate artillery, which, as a whole, was inferior to that of the Union army, was silenced in an hour. During the heaviest part of the battle of the '' big guns," General Hunt, chief of artil- lery of the Army of the Potomac, rode along the line and gave orders to the commanders of batteries to fire slowly and deliberately ; stating that rapid firing did little execution and was a waste of ammunition. He was a small grizzly man with an effeminate voice, but he was an experienced and able artillerist. It is needless to say that the officers and men of the battery heeded his advice and accompHshed better results. Durell's Battery engaged a Confederate battery in its imme- diate front and silenced it, driving the men from their guns. Durell then slackened the fire of his guns, upon which the men of the opposing battery were seen to return by ones and twos and renewed the fight. Again were their guns silenced and their cannoneers driven away. These efforts of the opposing battery to renew the fight were repeated several times, when finally a shot struck one of their caissons and blew it up, creating such havoc and demoralization among the Confederates that all of their number that could move fled from the field. It has been a much mooted question among the survivors of Durell's Battery, as to whom of the two gunners of the left section belongs the honor of firing the destructive shot, as the two guns were discharged about the same instant. The gunners were Corporal Robert Conard, of Bucks County, serving the third gun, and Corporal John O. Burdan, of Berks County, serving the fourth gun — both skillful marksmen. The evidence of the comrades, however, preponderates in support of the claim that Corporal Conard blew u\) the enemy's caisson. After the Confederate artillery had been silenced, the battery's fire was directed upon the broken and retiring ranks of the enemy, who were being driven back on the right by Hooker's vigorous attack. The battery's elevated position on the Antietam Hills afforded a view of the greater part of the battle-field, from which it was clearly seen that the enemy's lines were badly broken. They were falling back over a certain large, newly plowed field in great numbers. Into this mass of demoralized troops the battery hurled its ten-pound Parrott projectiles with telling effect. The distance was about 2640 yards or ly^ miles. While thus engaged the gun- The Maryland Campaign — Antietam. 79 ners' attention was suddenly drawn to the rising of heavy clouds of dust above the top of the woods within the enemy's line in front, which proved to have been caused by the march of Jackson's troops from Harper's Ferry, coming up on a double-quick to reinforce Lee's sorely pressed left. The fire of Durell's guns was now directed to the vicinity of the clouds of dust, and kept up vigor- ously until it disappeared. A white horse, supposed to be mounted by a Confederate officer of high rank, appeared on a ridge in the distance to the right. One of Durell's gun's was aimed at the horse and fired, the shot taking effect. From the following story, related by General James Longstreet, in Leaders and Battles of the Civil War, it appears that General D. H. Hill was the target for this shot : " During the progress of the battle of Sharpslmrg, General Lee and I were riding along my line and I). H. Hill's, when we received a report of move- ments of the enemy and started up the ridge to make a reconnoissance. Gen- eral Lee and I dismounted, hut Hill declined to do so. I said to Hill, ' If you insist on riding up there and drawing the fire, give us a little interval so that we may not be in the line of the fire, when they open upon you.' General Lee and I stood on the tup of tlie crest with our glasses, looking at the movements of the Federals on the rear left. After a moment 1 turncil my glass to the right — the Federal left. As I did so, I noticed a puff of white smoke from the mouth of a cannon. ' There is a shot for you," I said to General Hill. The gunner was a mile away, and the cannon shot came whisking through the air for three or four seconds and took off the front legs of the horse that Hill sat on and let the animal down upon his stumps. The horse's head was so low and his croup so high that Hill was in a most ludicrous jiosition. With one foot in the stirrup he made several efforts to get the other leg over the croup but failed. Fnially we prevailed upon him to try the other end of the horse, and he got down. He had a third horse shot under him before the close of the battle. That shot at Hill was the second best shot I ever saw. The best was at \'orktown. There a Federal officer came out in front of our line, and sitting down to his little platting-table began to make a maji. One of our officers carefully sighted a gun, touched it off, and dropped a shell into the hands of the man at the little table."' Soon after the centre section, under command of Lieutenant George W. Silvis, was ordered to the left to support the infantry of the brigade, which was engaged in a fierce fight for the possession of the bridge. The cannoneers had just completed the work of replenishing the ammunition cliests with projectiles when the order was received. Moving down the slope, the section passed through the orchard adjoining a farm house near the bridge and along the west side of the road to within thirty yards below the end of the south turn of the road, from which point it was assisted up the 8o Durell's Battery. steep rise through a fringe of woods by as many infantrymen from the column in the road as could get hold of horses, harness and carriage. Having gained the crest of the hill, it advanced into an open field a short distance, and went into battery for the purpose of shelling the enemy who occupied stone walls and trees upon the bluffs on the opposite side of the stream. Immediately the section was subjected to a close and rapid fire from an unseen battery on its right flank, distant some 600 or 800 yards. The smoke of the enemy's guns was hidden from view by the woods on the opposite side of the stream. But Hartranft's command had carried the bridge and the rear of the 51st New York, which was in close support of the 51st Penn- sylvania Regiment, was crossing when the section came into posi- tion. Lieutenant Silvis was therefore ordered not to fire, but to hold his command in readiness to follow the infantry across the bridge. " The bridge is a stone structure of several arches. The valley in which the stream runs is quite narrow, the steep slope on the right bank approaching to the water's edge. In this slope the roadway is scarped, running both ways from the bridge and passing to the higher land above by ascending through ravines. On the hillside immediately above the bridge was a strong stone fence running parallel to the stream ; the turns of the roadway were covered with rifle pits and breastworks made of rails and stone, all of which defences, as well as the woods which covered the slope, were filled with the enemy's infantry and sharpshooters. Besides the infantry defences, batteries were placed to enfilade the bridge and all of its approaches." — General Cox''s Official Report. " Against this position, strong by nature, rendered doubly strong by art, tlie Ilth Connecticut and Crook's Brigade, supported by Sturgis' Division, were ordered to the assault. As this force advanced up the open valley, by the road which leads along the river bank to the bridge, it was exposed to so warm a fire from the opposite heights, alive with the enemy, that it was forced to halt and reply. Sturgis' troops reached the head of the bridge, and the 2nd Maryland and the 6lh New Hampshire charged at double-c[uick with fixed bayonets ; but the concentrated fire of the enemy upon ihem forced them to fall back. After repeated efforts these regiments were withdrawn. " Burnside, nettled at the failure of this attempt, and the conseciuent delay of his columns, and knowing full well in w lioni he could trust, ordered forward the 51st. Ccneral Ferrero dashing uj) to the ri'giment, said: 'Ceneral Burn- side orders the 51SI Pennsylvania to storm the bridge.' Colonel Hartranft, avoiding the road by the river bank, led his men in the rear of the heights over- looking the river, until he arrived opposite the bridge, when he moved slowly down the slope for the crossing. The instant his men came into the open ground in the valley they received a withering fire from the enemy's well-posted infantry, and many fell. A fence skirting the road proved a serious impedi- ment, and in crossing it the men were particularly exposed. Here fell Captains Thf, Maryland Campai(;n — Antietam. 8i Bolton and Hart, severely wounded, a serious loss at this juncture. Unheed- ing the enemy's bullets or the obstructions in the way the column pressed for- ward with a determined front and made straight for the bridge. As they entered a storm of missiles swept it ; but no danger could stay the tide of living valor. Hartranft, who led the way, paused in the midst and was hastening on the rear of his column, when he was joined by Colonel Potter, with the gallant 51st New York. With a shout that rang out above the noise of battle, the two columns rushed forward and were soon firmly established on the thither bank. The bridge was carried." — Bates' Ilisfory Pa. I'o/s. A regiment was quickly advanced and took position on the heights commanding the bridge and its approaches, driving out the enemy and rendering the crossing for infantry secure. The remain- ing regiments of the Second Brigade then crossed, followed by the centre section of Durell's Battery which was the first artillery to to cross the bridge. On reaching the south side of the stream, Lieutenant Silvis proceeded with the section up the road toward Sharpsburg. Two courses led from the bridge ; the one turning to the right leading for a short distance along the stream and then running over the hills to the town ; the other, a private road to the left, bending away from the stream a short distance below the bridge and wind- ing through a basin to a farm house a short distance above. The section took the former course and proceeded up the road to the foot of a steep hill, the crest of which was round, hard and smooth, upon which it was impossible to hold a gun without chocks, and from which it would recjil to the bottom if discharged. The section w'as now in advance of all other troops. The road scarped at every point in view, from four to five feet uj^ward, so that it was impossible to get out of it on either side. It was the opinion of the lieutenant and his sergeants that if the enemy advanced over the crest they would be destroyed before a useful shot could be fired from the guns. No doubt Lieutenant Silvis performed a meritorious service at this juncture, when he com- manded the guns to be unlimbered, reversed, limbered up, and marched back. The road was so narrow, that in executing this movement the cannoneers were obHged to run one wheel of each gun-carriage up the sloping bank of the roadside to enable the limbers to pass. As Lieutenant Silvis, riding in his place in advance of his guns_ approached the bridge, he was joined by Captain RavoUe, division chief of artillery, and, without halting, the section passed along the road leading off to the left from the bridge, entered the first 82 Durell's Battery. field to the right and halted below the crest of the ridge. Here the section was again without infantry support. All was quiet ; no enemy was in sight ; but they were supposed to be posted beyond the crest. Captain RavoUe and Lieutenant Silvis crept along a fence near by, to the high ground, part of the way on hands and feet, crouch- ing quite low. Corporals Carver and Buckman also went forward to reconnoitre the enemy's position. Crawhng to the crest of the ridge and taking a view of the front, they returned and reported that the command was in a fair way of being captured, should the enemy advance before infantry support arrived. After the officers had taken a look over the ground in their front, they returned, and Captain Ravolle ordered the guns to be unlimbered ; quietly gave the gunners the elevation and time, remarking, " Their guns are up there. ^Ve will load, run the guns by hand to the front and give them the first shot, anyway." But, on second thought, he concluded that it would not be prudent to open fire at that time, as it would prematurely disclose the position of the section to no good purpose and interfere with the quiet formation of the line of battle along the lower crest in the fields to the left. The infantry was then forming in line of battle along the slope several hundred yards in the rear, and soon advanced. A skirmisher or sharpshooter attempted to reach a log lying in the plowed field beyond the fence, close to the one tree in it. He had not advanced more than twenty yards before the enemy's bullets began to strike about him, disclosing the enemy's pro.ximity and opening another stage of the battle. Late in the forenoon. Captain Durell. with the other four guns of his battery, moved to the bridge and followed the infantry of the division across to the other side. Coming up to the centre section, the whole battery moved forward and took position upon next to the uppermost range of hills above the valley, ahiiost in sight of Sharpsburg, and to the right of a large cornfield, wheeling " into battery " under a heavy fire of the enemy's artillery It was soon hotly engaged with a battery in its front, being at the same time exposed to a shower of bullets from the enemy's infantry under cover of a stone wall in front and the cornfield on the left. The enemy's battery opposing in front was about 900 yards distant, and was soon silenced. Hut there were other Confederate batter- ies that bore down on Durell, to which he replied until the one in front had the temerity to again open, when it would again claim his attention and again be silenced. The Maryland Campaign — Antietam. 83 Soon after taking this position, Captain Clark's Battery E, 4th U. S. Artillery, came to the support and alligned its guns with Durell's. Captain Clark and one of his lieutenants were struck down while getting their guns into position. When Clark's Battery got into action the enemy's fire grew weaker. At about 3 o'clock, Hawkins' Zouaves (9th New York,) marched forward and charged upon the battery in front and captured it in gallant style. The Zouaves were able to hold it but a few minutes, being forced back to the main line of battle in a badly shattered condition. The field was thickly dotted with red trousers, showing the heavy loss of the Zouaves. The regiment was not supported in the charge, which was afterward said to have been made without authority, or through a misunderstanding of orders. The enemy clung to its recaptured battery with the utmost tenacity. Durell plunged percussion and time shells into it, silenc- ing the guns, but it again opened fire. Finally Durell succeeded in putting a shot through the length of a detachment, dismounting a gun and inflicting so much damage that was effectually silenced. Soon after, his battery's projectiles became exhausted and it was ordered back, the general commanding not deeming it advisable to allow the caissons to cross the bridge tobringup a supply of ammu- nition. This was the hardest fought action and was carried on at the shortest range of any in which the battery had been engaged. Its casualties were two men severely wounded, and the loss of eleven horses. Some of the latter were shot and several dropped in the harness from exhaustion and had to be left on the field. I'he wounded men were Isaiah J. Sellers, of Doylestown, who was shot through the body by a ball from a case-shot, which exploded in front of the battery, the ball passing through one of his lungs ; and John C. Sherwood, of Morr'sville, Bucks County, who was struck by a ball from the same explosive which passed through the calf of his leg. They were immediately carried back by ambulance to the Barn Hospital. Sherwood died a few months afterward in a hospital, and Sellers miraculously recovered after long and care- ful treatment, and is, at this time, still living and able to work, though at times he still suffers from the wound. The battery retired over the bridge and rejoined the caissons which had been left in the vicinity of the bivouac of the night pre- vious, where it again parked its guns about sundown. The 18th was spent at this place, no incident of note occurring. This gave 84 Durell's Battery. men and horses much needed rest. All was quiet along the lines now with the exception of slight cannonading in the morning and some skirmishing of the infantry. The reveille was sounded early on the morning of the 19th. It was ascertained that the Confederate army had recrossed the Potomac into Virginia during the preceding night. The battery did not receive orders to move until about 11 o'clock, when it again advanced over the bridge, crossing that portion of the battle- field which was the scene of its part in the action, to the outskirts of Sharpsburg. At the point where the pugnacious Confederate battery had stood, there was plentiful evidence of the punishment it had received scattered over the field. Nine dead horses, broken carriage, wheels, handspikes, artillery harness, etc., testified to the terrible fire it had undergone in its efforts to hold the position, but from which Durell's guns had driven it. The Confederate dead had all been removed or buried before the retreat of the night before, but there still remained unburied a large number of the Union dead. The march was continued for a distance of about four miles, when the left section was detailed to take a position with Clark's Battery near the mouth of Antietam Creek, and the other two sections were posted at a point on the Potomac River one mile distant. Camping in Maryland. 85 CHAPTER XI. Camping in Maryland. ON September 20th, the sound of brisk cannonading came from the direction of Shepherdstown, but the battery was not called out, and the men were left undisturbed in the work of cooking, bathing in the Potomac and washing their clothes. ScYeral balloon ascensions were made to ascertain the the movements of the enemy. The pleasant camp of the left sec- tion, located upon splendid green sward, with large trees to pro- vide a grateful shade from the hot sun, was undisturbed until the 23rd, when it was ordered early in the morning to pack up and prepare to move. No marching orders came, however. The orders had been issued in preparation to meet the movements of a large column of Confederates, which the Signal Corps had reported to be in the vicinity. On the 24th, Orderly Sergeant William P. Andrews left for home on sick leave, which was quite an event, as but few furloughs had been granted to members of the battery. Nearly all the men were desirous of obtaining one. On the following day the left section joined the other guns of the battery, and orders were issued in the afternoon to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice. On the 26th the battery moved across Antietam Creek and encamped near the Isabella Furnace, located at the mouth of the stream. Here, it is said, in the year 1732, a terrible battle was fought between the Catawbas and Delawares, which resulted in the entire extermination of the Delaware Indians. The guns were placed "in battery," and the infantry encamped in line of battle. The camps were ordered to be put in proper trim, and drills, dress parades and inspections were resumed. A number of civil- ian friends and relatives of the men from Berks and Bucks Coun- ties visited the camp at this time, among others being D. Wyn- koop McNair from Bucks, who succeeded in obtaining a thirty- days' furlough for his son William, who had been laid up with sickness since the battle of Antietam, and took him home. 86 Durell's Battery. On October 3rd, the Ninth Army Corps was reviewed by President Lincohi and General McClellan. The battery appeared , through some misunderstanding, on foot, and was sent back to camp for the horses and guns. The troops received the President with cheers along the whole line. On the 6th a supply of new horses was received to fill the gap caused by the losses in the recent campaign. On the following day the corps moved over into Pleasant Valley, the battery taking a rough road through the mountain gap, while the infantry crossed the mountain by a differ- ent road. The valley afforded a beautiful location for a camp. The whole corps was concentrated in it. The men of the battery proceeded to fix up their quarters as though they expected to remain a long time. 'I'hey were constructed to meet rough autumn weather which would soon be due. The heavy tarpaulins which had been used during the previous winter to cover the gun-car- riages and harness, were now employed as roofs. One of these tents with the ends and sides boarded up, made very comfortable (luarters. The dimensions were about twelve feet in length, ten feet wide and eight feet high to the peak of the roof. Twelve comrades occupied the tent. It was the most imposing and elaborately appointed structure in the camp, and was termed by the rtst of the battery as "Bucks County Headquarters," all of its occupants coming from that county. They were a picked scjuad of young men who elected to mess together when the Sibley tents were issued the winter previous, and had kept the mess unbroken. They were : I. Carey Carver, George Ross Carver, William S. McNair, Stewart McAleese, Charles MacCorkle, George Douglass, John Beatty Price, James S. Rich, Mahlon B. Buckman, Robert Conard, Joseph M. Cuffel and Charles A. Cuffel. Drills, inspections and reviews were now of almost daily occurrence, and the time not taken up with these duties, was passed by the men in reading, cooking, etc. Apples were plenti- ful in the surrounding country, and a gnawing appetite for apple dumphngs seemed to have become epidemic in the camp. Flour was obtained from a mill close by, white sugar was purchased from the commissary at eleven cents per pound, on an order from the officers, and condensed milk was procured from the sutler, which, highly diluted with water, were the essentials for making these camp dumplings. So general had become the practice of foraging into the neighboring country, that cavalry patrols were established in every direction, and any poor soldier who was caught by them GENERAL EDWARD FERRERO Camping in Maryland. 87 without a pass, was sent to Harper's Ferry to fell trees and work on the trenches for punishment. Orders were issued on the 12th allowing passes for not more than six men each day to the battery. General Ferrero was now placed in command of the Second Brigade, having been promoted from the colonelcy of the 51st New York. The greater number of the officers and men of the brigade were of the opinion that Colonel Hartranft should have received the promotion, and been placed in command of the brig- ade for conspicuous gallantry in storming and carrying Antietam bridge. But favoritism outweighed merit in this case. Ferrero had been dancing master at West Point, where he had taught General McClellan and other regular officers the art. He secured his pro- motion upon their recommendation over the meritorious Hartranft. On the first Sunday after his elevation, he made a critical inspec- tion of the battery, dressed in a new uniform, the bright silver star of his rank flashing in the light from each shoulder. He compli- mented Captain Durell upon his " men all appearing so stout and hearty," to which the captain replied, " They all came from the country." The 128th Pennsylvania, Colonel Samuel Croasdale's nine-month regiment from Bucks County, were encamped upon Maryland Heights, and were visited by the Bucks County portion of the battery as the men were able to procure passes. Captain Clark's Battery of Regulars, of the First Brigade, was detailed, on the 15th, to make a reconnoissance into Virginia. It returned after an absence of three days. The enemy had been encountered at Charlestown, where the regulars were roughly handled, suffering the loss of one man killed, four wounded and one gun dismounted. On the i6th, Heston cS: Cox, of Doylestown, drove into camp with an express wagon loaded with sutler's goods, and expressed a desire to make their headciuarters with the battery and serve it regularly with sutler's stores ; but departed the next day and never returned. First Sergeant Wm. P. Andrews returned from his furlough on the 17th, accompanied by Jesse Bissey, of Doylestown township, who came to visit his son, Gilbert, a member of the battery. A cold rain-storm had set in and tested the best prepared quarters to keep the men comfortable. The 21st was an esj^eci- ally cold and blustry day, the men being unable to keep warm ; and the horses, tied to the picket rope in the open air, shivered in the chill winds. They were given exercise by riding them on a 88 Durell's Battery. trot, to get their blood into circulation. The cold and dismal weather had passed on the 23rd, and the battery was inspected by General Barry, chief of artillery, who said that it was in better con- dition than any other he had seen, considering the service it had passed through. He promised that new clothes should soon be furnished to the men. Captain Durell, who had been at his home in Reading on leave of absence for a few weeks, returned to his command on the same day. The quarters were now quite comfortable throughout the camp and the men were flattering themselves that General McClellan would permit them to remain there until spring. Speculation and rumors of coming events were rife. There were predictions that a big battle would be fought at Winchester before winter set in, and that the army would advance within forty-eight hours. It was said that Halleck would take command in the West, that Hooker would succeed McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac, and that Burnsidewas fitting out an expedition for some Southern port. 'I"he 24th was a cold and blustry day, which kept the men close to the camp-fires, where they passed the time in cooking and " spin- ning yarns. " Orders were received the next day to prepare to move. The following is quoted from Sergeant Andrew's letter of October 25 th : " Received some new clothing. The battery share was 45 pairs of trous- ers, 49 caps, ij pairs of shoes and 120 shirts; in no instance one-third the quantity required. Everything has been bustle and confusion all day. Ord- nance teams have been on the go since daylight ; old guns are being turned in and new ones issued, f )ur means of transportation have been considerably curtailed, being compelled to turn into the ordnance department three of our wagons. In so doing, we took all the worst horses we had in the battery and harnessed them into the lost wagons, taking the good horses from the teams and placing them at the picket ropes. Received orders to throw away all unneces- sary plunder witli which the knapsacks are filled. The men are continually contriving something in the eating line. Everything that the country affords finds its way into the pan even to the paw-paws, which the men fry and devour. Mush is all the rage now. The meal is obtained by rubbing the ear of corn on a canteen. The canteens are split in half and then punched full of holes. By rubbing the ear on the roughened side, meal is made very fast. The cakes that are made are very palatable. \'ou can hear the mills at work all over the camp. The patrols march all stragglers to General McClellan, who orders them to work on the fortifications at the ferry. We have two men there at work ; their term of service is thirty days. Among the crowd can be seen oft'icers, from a colonel down. ( )ur boys saw a colonel on water committee, carrying water Irom the foot of the mountain." Camping in Maryland. 89 The encampment in Pleasant A^alley was a very pleasant and helpful one to the men of the battery — pleasant because of its delightful and healthful location, and the facilities afforded to pro- cure fruit and other delicacies to furnish a change in the regular army fare, and helpful in affording time for rest and for refitting the troops with needed clothing for the coming colder weather, and the facilities afforded to friends at home to visit the camps. A large number of citizens availed themselves of this oj^portunity, and there were but few days while the battery remained in Pleas- ant Valley that there were not one or more citizens from home sojourning in the camp as the guests of some member of the battery. Furloughs were also granted to several nien to go home. This was a prize eagerly sought by the majorit}' of the command, but was given only to those deemed most worthy by the officers to receive them. lUit those who were fortunate enough to obtain one returned to the battery at the alloted time, apparently pleased to be back at their post of duty, which acted as an ointment to soothe the disappointed spirits of those who were not successful in obtaining a furlough. William Clouser, who enlisted from Berks County, and served in the right section of the battery, died on the 24th in camp. His health began to fail shortly after his enlistment, but he stuck to his duty heroically, declining to relinquish his post until com- pelled to do so from sheer weakness. He had returned from home a few days before, whither he had gone on sick leave, considerably improved in health and strength, but a relapse caused by expos- ure to foul wheather suddenly prostrated him and called him hence. His comrades performed the solemn duty of burying the hero just before breaking camp to cross into Virginia. go Durell's Batierv. CHAPTER Xri. PuRSUixr; the Enemy. ORDERS were issued on the morning of the 25th to be in readiness to move at 5 o'clock the next morning, but a heavy wind and rain storm had set in, which probably caused the general commanding to doubt the advisabilit\- of attempting to cross the river, for ihe order was countermanded in the evening. The weather was still cold and stormy on the morning of the 27th, but the skies cleared toward noon, when the whole corps broke camp and started off on the march. The line of march led over hills and muddy roads to the Potomac. A high, cold wind still prevailed. AVhenever a halt of the column was made, the men gathered a few fence rails and built fires around which they gathered and toasted their bodies until the column moved forward. The camp of the Sth Pennsylvania Cavalry, to which Ca])tain Craven's Bucks County company was attached, was passed, and old acquaintances given a passing greeting. Reaching the river, the column proceeded down to Hanover. Here the infantry followed the tow-path of the canal, and the artillery and baggage trains took a diverging road to P.er- hn, where the river was crossed upon a pontoon bridge. The scenery along that portion of the Potomac is quite picturescpie — the river, the railroad, the canal and the wagon road, all run- ning parallel with the high bluffs and jutting rocks on either side of the stream. The pontoon bridge was about one-fourth of a mile in length, and was laid near the wagon bridge that was destroyed soon after the opening of hostilities. Of the latter nothing now re- mained l)ut the stone piers, projecting above the water. Night drew a gloomy veil over the scene before the battery reached the bridge and crossed once more to the "sacred soil" of Virginia, encamp- ing near Lovettsville, where it remained all of the next day. On the afternoon of the 29th a short march was made passing through Lovettsville and Bolington. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock the next morning. The march was resumed at 7 and proceeded down the turnpike. The mountains, which were in full view, presented a grand spectacle, clothed in their many-colored Pursuing the Enemy. 91 garments of October foliage. About noon the troops went into camp at Wheatland. On the morning of the 31st, the battery was inspected and mustered for pay by Lieutenant Dickinson, of Battery E, U. S. A. Four month's pay was due. The inspector spent but little time in looking over matters, and appeared to be very well pleased with everything. He was especially gratified at the appearance of the horses. To the men in the army they looked very well, but to a Berks or Bucks County farmer, they would have been considered eligible candidates for the nearest tannery. The " Marine fever" that had once before afflicted the command, again broke out among the men, they having learned that they could enter that service. Twenty-one tried to enhst. Fortunately for the com- pany only a fair proportion could be taken from each battery. The Berks and Bucks County men on the list were about equal in num- ber, but no recruits were taken from the command. WiUiam S. McNair returned to camp on the 31st from his furlough, having traveled from Harper's Ferry in the brigade teams. November opened with delightful weather — something like Indian Summer. The command remained in camp all day of the ist, though columns of troops were passing on to the front, among others, King's Division of McDowell's Corps, to which the battery had been attached early in the service. Early on the morning of the 2nd the march was resumed. The sound of cannonading was heard from the front nearly all day. In the evening the com- mand went into camp at Union Mills. The left section was as- signed to duty with Clark's Battery of Regulars. The march was resumed the nex^ afternoon, passing through Bloomfield, and the battery encamped after dark in a woods not far from Ashby'sGap. The march on the 4th took the command to Upperville, about mid-day, where a stop was made. Here Generals McClellan and Rurnside rode by. The ist New Hampshire Battery, of McDow- ell's Corps, old friends, were encamped near, and visits were exchanged by the men. Their captain, who had been taken prisoner, had rejoined his battery. The bugle sounded the reveille before daylight on November 5th, and a march was made over very rough country to Piedmont. The morning was pleasant, but the weather turned cold and blustry in the afternoon. Cannonading was again heard in the distance. The command was called up early the next morning, but did not move until noon. It marched on until late in the 92 Durkll's Battery. night and bivouacked near Orleans. The weather was cold, and the men quickly built fires and laid down around them to sleep. The morning of the 7th was ushered in with a snow storm. The usual marching orders not appearing to be forthcoming, the men pitched tents, and made themselves as comfortable as they could. The snow was accompanied by a high wind, and made the day a very cheerless one. The men were poorly clothed, the shoes of many of them being so worn that the toes were exposed. About 4 o'clock came marching orders, and off the battery plodded through the darkness and snow. The brigade took the wrong road, unfortunately, and marched about two miles out of the right course. Toward morning, when the proper place was reached, the battery turned into a field, and in a few minutes all the fences were torn down and fires made of the material. Many of the men, tired and cold, spread their blankets upon the snow, which was about two inches in depth, and slept, while others dozed in a sitting posture around the camp fires. Soon after daylight the battery proceeded about a mile and encamped upon a high hill in the edge of a woods, near Waterloo. The quarters were made as comfortable as possible, for the weather was cold, and the supplies running short, foraging parties were sent out after food for the men. The battery did not leave this camp until the evening of the 9th, when it crossed the Rappahannock River at Glen Mills and was placed upon the picket line, near Amissville. The follow- ing is a (juotation from Sergeant Andrew's journal : jVoveinbej- loth. — " At Amissville, Left our camp yesterday at 4 o'clock P. M. We moved on a short distance and were compelled to wait for Romer's Battery to come out. They were not harnessed as yet and were to precede us. The men improved the time by scouring the deserted camps of the infantry in search of old shoes. .Some of them were well rewarded for their trouble. Times are pretty hard with us when the men hunt up old clothing to wear. We struck toward the Rappahannock, which we crossed at a village called ' Cilenn's Mills.' The village consists of a large cotton mill, with its necessary outbuild- ings and storehouses, and some three or four other storehouses, occupied by the operatives of the mills. The mills appeared to be in running order, and possibly had been at work that day, judging from the appearance of the inhabitants. Rut two or three men were to be seen, but plenty of women. In one house there were some fifteen or twenty of them. One pretty fair looking damsel was standing in a door combing her hair ; whether hunting for ' cavalry ' or fixing for her beau, I cannot say. The road was very bad on both sides of the river, which is a small affair here. It is called 'Hedgeman (reek ' where we crossed. There are a number of small creeks about here that are called the head waters of the Rappahannock. By crossing the fields we soon came on the turnpike that leads from Alexandria towards little Washington and Sperryville, We fol- MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE Pursuing the Enemy. 93 owed the road and came to a halt about 8 o'clock, near the village of Amiss- ville. Romer's Battery left us a couple of miles back and went to Jeffersonville, which is towards Culpepper. At Amissville we met two regiments of our brigade on the back track. They had been out here on picket duty, supporting Pleasanton's Cavalry, which had been driven in during the morning. The cavalry had driven the rebels from here on Saturday. Our brigade is at Jeffer- son. The First Brigade, with which we traveled yesterday, came out to relieve the others. The men complained very much at being routed out of their quarters at night. The village is stretched out for some distance down the pike. It is a town of twenty-five or thirty houses. Near by is a very neat frame church. Heard some pretty heavy cannonading this morning over towards our left, and orders came to be ready to move immediately, and to leave everything behind. A'oz'e/iiber nth. — "The rebels early yesterday morning made an attack in force on our cavalry, driving them a short distance. Soon after the tiring com- menced, the cavalry teams were seen coming in on double quick. This made considerable stir among our teamsters. The brigade was ordered out and soon returned on quick step. The teams were ordered out by Captain Ravolle, the adjutant general, and we were not given time to load up anything. The baggage was ordered to fall back toward Waterloo. They construed the order literally, and fell back beyond Waterloo. We went with the teams seven miles back. The firing was confined almost exclusively to the cavalry, who had a number of hand-to-hand fights during the day. There was a pretty good show for a regular Bull Run skedaddle when the teams first started off. But matters soon cooled down, and all went off well enough. We now hold our own ground and do not know where the rebels are. The teams were all ordered back last night ; ours came in about 3 o'clock. Our battery is divided — one section being on our old camping ground, the other two being in the village. The latter sections are in no danger of starving, having killed two heifers and one pig this morning. Had a very heavy frost last night, almost equal to a small snow. The people of this village, when they saw the troops coming back yesterday morning, showed their secesh feelings by waving their handkerchiefs and hurrahing. Women and children all seemed rejoiced. The men being scarce, I did not witness any demonstration on their part." The morning of the loth opened with beautiful and mild Novem- ber weather. The men were generally engaged in washing their clothes, when brisk cannonading was heard from the front. The sound came gradually nearer, and soon the battery was placed in readiness for an attack. It was then ordered to advance with the brigade toward the fight, with instructions to leave tents and knap- sacks with the baggage wagons, on the camp ground. Proceeding about half a mile, the baggage wagon's of Pleasanton's Cavalry were met, coming in froiB the front, with the mules on a run. It was soon ascertained that a large force of Confederate cavalry had forced Pleasanton back, and orders were given to retire the brigade to Amissville, where the battery took position for action, while the 94 Durell's Battery. baggage trains went thundering down the turnpike toward Waterloo. There was a prospect, for a short time, of a veritable Waterloo, but Pleasanton succeeded in checking the enemy, until assistance from the infantry arrived when they were in turn driven back. The Union cavalry were distinctly seen fighting the enemy, but the battery was not called upon to take part in the fight. Everything in camp had been ordered to be loaded upon the wagons, but the men in charge of them became excited, and left nearly all the knapsacks and tents behind. They were afterward recovered by the batterymen while awaiting the advance of the enemy. The nth was passed quietly in camp, though occasional reports of cannonading were heard in the distance. The men were principally occupied in cooking their plunder. It was a good country for foraging, and fresh pork, veal and chicken formed part of the menu of the men's fare for several days. Guards were posted upon private property, but squads of foragers would start out on a raid as soon as a halt was made, and carry off their plunder before the guards could be posted. Among other articles highly prized was leaf tobacco, which was dubbed " Rappahannock." Rolled up after a manner into cigars, it furnished a villainously strong smoke. At daylight on the 12th the command returned to Waterloo, encamping about half a mile from a former camp ground at this place. The tents were put up and preparations made for a com- fortable rest, but near nightfall the march was resumed over muddy roads to a point near the spot at White Sulphur Spring, upon which the battery had encamped the summer before, during Pope's retreat. General McClellan was now superseded by General Burnside, who had been commander of the Ninth Corps, the command of which was given to General Wilcox. The battery remained in camp during the next two days. On the evening of the 13th there was some exchange of shots with the enemy's artillery on the opi)Osite bank of the Rappahannock, in which Clark's Battery took part, and one section of Durell's Battery was ordered to be in readiness to join them. The horses were hitched up, and the section stood in camp for some time, but it was finally dismissed. The Confed- erates had made a dash upon the Union picket line and captured the colonel and major of the nth New Hampshire Regiment. The men had been without their regular rations of " hard tack " for two days, but the supply trains arrived on the evening of the 13th, and each man received a ration of ten crackers. Artillery Duel at Sulphur Springs. 95 CHAPTER XIII. Artillery Duel at Sulphur Springs. T~y EVEILLE sounded at 5 o'clock on the 15th, and about 7 X\ the command was on the march again, passing through the village and by the burnt bridge which had spanned the Rappahannock, where a turn was made up the hills from the river. This was the bridge which the Union soldiers had such a hard time setting on fire on Pope's retreat. Ascending the hill the enemy's cavalry appeared upon the opposite side of the river, emerg- ing from the woods in squads. A small body of Union cavalry on duty near the ruined bridge, forded the stream and advancing toward them engaged in a skirmish with them. A few moments later the enemy's artillery opened upon the division wagon train, which was bringing up the rear of the column, and threatened to capture or destroy it. A staff officer rode up to Captain Durell with orders to return a section of his guns to the river hill and engage the enemy's artillery. The left section, Lieutenant Howard Mcllvain commanding was sent on this duty. Posting his guns in a peach orchard on the top of the hill, he opened upon the opposing battery. The Confederate cavalry made a charge down to the river, and were about to ford the stream, when the 35th Massa- chusetts Infantry, which was lying in wait for them, poured a vol- ley into the advancing horsemen, which sent them whirling back. Six empty saddles were counted. The Confederates served their guns unusually well, delivering effective shots among the wagons, which greatly demoralized the teamsters. The wagon-master turned back his wagons that had not reached the exposed part of the road, as soon as the fight began, and ordered them to join the division by another route. The battery paid no attention to the Union guns, so long as the wagons were in view, but after the last had passed out of sight, Mcllvain' s guns received the undivided attention of the Confed- erate gunners. Unfortunately the Union ammunition proved to be defective, many of the shells exploding before reaching the river. Only an occasional shot carried near to the mark. This unequal contest was kept up for more than an hour before support was 96 DuRELi/s Battery. received from the other four guns of the battery, which took posi- tion on the opposite side of the road. Their ammunition was also poor. The enemy's guns still continued to pound the left section, their shells bursting all around. A sohd shot from a twenty-pound gun struck the gallant Mcllvain, taking off his right arm and inflicting a terrible wound in his side. He had just encouraged his men with the words: "Stick to your guns, boys! Watch that smoke." It was the smoke from the gun that sent the fatal shot. He wanted his gunners to aim their pieces at it. He was carried back in rear of the limbers ; but he requested the men to return to their guns and let him lie there. Shortly after a shot struck Henry B. Ives, one of the detatched men from Wads- worth's Brigade, driver of the lead team of the fourth piece, and shattered his right arm. He was immediately cared for. A sur- geon amputated the hmb on the field. The projectiles for the left section being exhausted, it retired to the caissons for a fresh supply, and later returned to the fight. The battery expended in this engagement over 300 rounds of ammunition. In the mean- time Benjamin's Battery of twenty-pound Parrott guns came up and the Confederates were soon silenced. Besides the casualties above mentioned, private Amos Antrim from Berks County, received a contusion of the face from a piece of shell. Lieutenant Mcllvain bore his suffering with marvellous forti- tude until about 8 o'clock in the evening when he passed away into the sleep which knows no waking. He died the death of a hero, bravely fighting for his country, like the soldier that he was. The entire command, officers and men, lamented his death, and regarded it as an irreparable loss. He was beloved by the whole battery, and especially by the men of his own section. The cap- tain keenly felt the loss of his right-hand and trusty lieutenant, the one to whom he always turned when an important duty was to be performed. Whenever a responsible or dangerous task was to be executed, Mcllvain was called to lead. He did not appear to know fear ; but was as cool and collected in the thick of the fight as when calmly sleeping under the white canopy of his tent. He was kind and just to his men, and would have resented an act of in- justice to any one of them, no matter if it was imposed by the general commanding. He was capable of manceuvering and fight- ing a much larger command, and would, no doubt, have been advanced to high rank in the service had his life been spared to the close of the war. Artillery Duel at Sulphur Springs. 97 The following account of the engagement was given by a cor- respondent of the New York Tribune, who was personally in the midst of the fight : ■' The First and Second Brigades of General Sturgis' Division broke camp at about 7 o'clock, A. M., to move from the camp at White Sulphur Springs to the neighorhood of Fayetteville. There was a choice of tv^'o roads, one of which leads back from the Rappahannock, and was therefore safe from the shot and shell of the enemy, while the other -the most direct route and consider- ably more convenient for the transportation of the wagon trains — passed the Spring, and, approaching the river, turned to the left at a sharp angle in plain view of, and but a trifling distance from a large mansion upon a hillside on the other branch of the stream. The road as it approaches the river exposes a column of troops or train of wagons passing over it to a dangerous enfilading fire from a hill, where the house is situated, and after the turn is made, troops and trains moving away to the left, are in range from the hill for some distance, till they are finally protected by the hills rising upon either side of the river, behind which the road winds. "The two brigades had been for some time in motion, and a portion of the train, under charge of Captain Plato, division quartermaster, had passed the dangerous turn in the road, when our cavalry were seen skirmishing with the rebels in the neighborhood of the house on the opposite hill. Finally, our cavalry, seeing the departure of the troops, formed in a solid square and re- turned toward the river at the point where the ruins of the bridge crossing the stream was guarded by the 35th Massachusetts. At the same moment the rebel cavalry emerged from the wood in rear of the house and formed in a hallow square, protecting two pieces of artillery, which were planted by the house. A moment more and a 20-pound rifled shell from a Parrott gun came whizzing along over the line of wagons approaching the river, exploding in un- pleasant proximity to the train. " Captain Durell's Battery immediately took up position and opened as soon as possible. The rebels now got five guns in position, three of them be- ing 20-pound Parrotts, and a hail of shot and shell flew over the heads of the train, the troops having got beyond range. Captain Plato, seeing the danger to which his wagons were exposed, many of them containing ammunition, turned back that portion which had not reached the turn, and they moved to their destination over the more difiicult but less dangerous road. Captain Durell's Battery, occupying an exceedingly exposed position, wil'.istood lot- something like an hour the fire from the heavy 20-pound guns. Karly in the fight, Lieutenant Howard Mcllvain was struck by a shell which carried away his arm, side, thigh and hip, laying open his entrails and causing one of the most fearful wounds ever recorded. The brave and unfortunate young man lay in the most horrible agony, raving from pain a great portion of the time, from the moment of receiving his wound till 8 o'clock in the evening, when he was relieved from his sufferings by death. He said to a friend, as he lay writh- ing in agony, that he was not afraid to die ; he only wished that death might come soon to relieve him of the dreadful pain he suffered. All who have come in contact with Mcllvain, pronounce him a young man of remarkable promise and most excellent qualities, social and otherwise, and one who wo\ild have ;naclv.' 98 Durell's Battery. a noteworthy mark in the world had he been spared. He is universally lamented in his corps, with which he had been connected since the nth of last August, and Captain Durell mourns in him his best and most trustworthy officer, which is saying nothing derogatory to the other brave men in his com- mand. "The cavalry turned back. The next moment the expected shell the first one of the fight — passed over the train, and a short time afterward occurred the very charge anticipated by Captain Plato, which was successfully met and repulsed by our infantry and cavalry at the bridge. The long line of heavy wagons, many of them filled with ammunition — which had passed the turn, now found themselves slowly and toilsomely crossing a iioggy meadow, filled with mud-holes and ditches. Uver their heads — the hill ujjon which our bat- teries were planted partially protecting them— flew the rebel missiles, many of them bursting directly over the train. Some wagons were struck, though gen- erally the enemy fired too high. One driver was hit by a shell, which frac- tured his right leg and disabled two mules. One ammunition wagon had the tail-board knocked out by a shell, which fortunately did not explode. Two wagons laden with oats were disabled, their contents being saved and the wagons burned to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. A horse was left behind, used up and worthless for the time, which I had the ' melan- choUy pleasure ' of shooting for the same purpose. With these exceptions, the entire train was got off in safety, having been extricated from an exceedingly unpleasant predicament. The Second Brigade, General Ferrero, being nearest the train, had meanwhile been ordered back to its protection. General Getty, of the Third Division, followed by General Burns of the First, arrived on the ground about 9.30 o'clock, and l)y 10 o'clock, Benjamin's famous ijattery, E, 2nd United States Artillery, took up a commanding position on the hill, above the ruined hotel, and opened on the enemy with his six 20-poun(l Parrotts, silencing his guns in about half an hour." After the Confederates were driven from the field, Durell's Hattery followed the division and encamped within a mile of Fay- etteville, beside its old comrades of King's Division, to which it was formerly attached. A rough coffin was made by the battery artificers, and the remains of Lieutenant Mcllvain placed therein for shipment to his late home at Reading, which could not be done, however, until Warrenton Junction was reached, on the 17th. The next morning the division moved off promptly at a ([uick pace, which was kept up throughout the day's march. In the evening it encamped along the railroad a mile south of Warrenton junction. The command broke camj) early on the morning of November 17th, taking the Fredericksl)urg road — the same highway upon which the battery had moved three times before. The army marched in three columns — artillery and baggage trains on the road, and a column of infantry on either side of it. All were urged forward at a (piick pace and few halts were made. The rear Artillery Duel at Sulphur Springs. 99 of each division was followed by a strong guard so placed for the pur- pose of preventing straggling, which was certain to result in capture by the enemy. It was a race to reach Fredericksburg before the Con- federates got possession of the town. In the evening the command halted near the old mill on the Catlett Station road. The troops were called up before daylight the next morning and again urged forward. The Pennsylvania Reserves, King's and Rickett's Divisions, were passed bivouacking at the Brick Church, where they had stopped for the night on ground which had, on a previous march, been the camping place of the battery. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock on the 19th. The troops moved at daylight, reaching the Rappahannock River, opposite Fredericksburg, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. It was soon ascer- tained that the enemy was upon the opposite side of the river await ing the arrival of Burnside's army. loo Durell's Battery. CHAPTER XIV. Burnside's Fredericksburg. THE battery was at once placed in position on the bank of the river, near the Lacey House, ready to open its guns upon the city. The enemy's pickets were upon the oppo- site banks of the stream, but offered no resistance to the Union troops' taking position in front of them. On the contrary, the meeting was rather of a friendly nature, the pickets conversing across the stream, and twitting each other over the incidents and misfortunes of the war. "Johnny Reb " would ask his Yankee opponent how he liked Bull Run, and the Yankee would in return inquire for his estimate of Antietam. The next day Benjamin's Battery opened upon a train of cars that was hauling stores out of the city, firing several shots, none of them, however, doing any visible damage. During the night the camp was drenched by a cold rain storm, which made the quarters of the men very uncomforta- ble. In a letter dated November 21st, pubhshed in the Bucks County Intelligencer, Sergeant Andrews describes the condition of the camjj as follows : "Dismal, rainy weather, with liigh winds, driving the rain into the fronts ot" the tarpaulin tents. The straw in front of the beds is trodden into the mud, and presents a most filthy appearance, reminding one of a dirty hog-pen. The large number of men quartered in each tent soon had the earth trampled into liquid mud. The tents are also rendered more unpleasant and untenantable by the mire and tilth which ran into them from the picket ropes. The men were rather unfortunate in the position of their tents, being in real' of the caissons, on the slope of the hill. The battery is in regular position, the limbers some distance in rear of the guns, and the line of caissons a couple of hundred feet in rear of them. The object is to keej) all concealed, so that the enemy can see nothing but the flash of our guns, should we be compelled to use them. Every knoll along the river, both above and Ijelow the town, has a battery in position on it. '{"he guns below the town command the country lor miles tlown the railroad and the liowling (Irt'cn road. Tlie country ojiposite us. as far as the eye can discern, is a level plain, clear i)f woodland as it follows the railroad. We can see the smoke and escaping steam from an approaching engine for nearly four miles. Directly opposite us, within a couple of miles, are hills through which the plank road to Ciordonsville and the telegraph road to Richmond go. ( )n these hills the enemy are in position, but we can see very few of them mov- insi about. The wagon trains of the rebels took these loads. We could see BuRNsiDF.'s Fredertcksrurg. ioi them very plainly as they went out, the country intervening being cleared. The residences below the town are very fine, and present a much handsomer appearance than any of the buildings in the town. The inmates do not appear to lie at all non-plussed by the Yankees, as they move about attending to their work. The infantry in camp on our old drill ground are in a dreadful condi- tion this morning. The ground formed a natural basin, and the poor fellows were flooded out. (leneral Sturgis and staff, likewise in quarters there, shared the same fate. They all stood out in the rain together, this morning, rubbing their noses over sickly fires. Occasionally we hear a rifle going //?