c "/give ikeft Books far the^faim&ng of a. CoUege in i^f CeloAf d BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE PERKINS FUND 1905. Music on the March, 1862-6^, WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 1 14TH Regt. p. v., Collis' Zouaves. By frank RAUSCHER. PHILADELPHIA: PRESS OF WM. F. FELL & CO., 1220-24 SANSOM STREET. 1892. Copyright, 1892, by Frank Rauscher. Cci'J- 3'^0 PREFACE. Having been repeatedly asked by my comrades of the 1 14th Regiment, Penna. Vols., to present the notes and recollections from my diary in a compiled form, which also embraces much bf their own experience with the Army of the Potomac, from 1862 to 1865, I have reluctantly consented, in the preparation of the Tvithin pages. In recalling the events, briefly narrated, personal observation is supplemented and corroborated as far as possible by historical data and reliable statis tics. While no pretence is made to write war history, yet no engagement is omitted in which our regiment participated. The record of these events is made in as few words as their importance permits, and yet all the marches and campaigns are scrupulously recalled. As leader of the band of the regiment, I am mindful of the services it faithfully rendered on the march and in camp, and also its hardships on the field and in prison pens. To the survivors of the regiment, I may here say that they can in this book again follow the band in every march the Zouaves made during those three eventful years — this time, however, with none of the deprivations and discomforts attending the days iii IV PREFACE. that tried men's souls. In appreciation of the kindly relations ever existing between the regiment and its band, this volume is unpretentiously dedicated to my comrades. Frank Rauscher, Band Master. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTORY 9 CHAPTER I. Organization of the 1 14th Regiment, P. V., Collis's Zouaves — Camp Banks and Enlistment of the Band — Off to the Front — Assigned to 1st Division, 3d Corps 11-20 CHAPTER II. On the March — Poolesville — With the Army cf the Potomac — Zouaves Receive their Baptism of Fire at Fredericks burg — Capture of the Band, 21-40 CHAPTER III. Libby Prison — Camp Parole — Libby and Fort McHenry Pris ons Compared, 41-58 CHAPTER IV. Chancellorsville — Sad News from the Front — Rejoining the Regiment — Army Calls, , 59-72 CHAPTER V. March to Gettysburg — Meade Relieves Hooker — Battle of Gettysburg — Narrow Escape of the Band — Third Corps Field Hospital— After the Battle 73-103 CHAPTER VI. Williamsport — Harper's Ferry-rSulphur Springs, 104-117 CHAPTER VII. Culpeper — First Serenade at Army Headquarters-^Retreat from Culpeper 117-129 V VI CONTENTS. PAOB CHAPTER VIII. Centreville— General Sickles Visits his old Command— Follow ing Lee— Action at Kelley's Ford— Mine Run i3o->38 CHAPTER IX. Brandy Station— Attached to Army Headquarters— Duties of the Band and Regiment "39-15° CHAPTER X. Reorganization of the Army — Coming of General Grant — Crossing the Rapidan— Battle of the Wilderness — Dis comfiture of a Newspaper Correspondent, ...... I 51-162 CHAPTER XI. Spottsylvania — Death of General Sedgwick — Reinforcements for the Army — A Drummer Boy's Sad Fate — The Bloody Angle — Liuiicrous Incidents at Hospital — Guiney's Sta tion, 163-175 CHAPTER XII. Movement on North Ann — Grant Baffled — Narrow Escape of Grant and Meade^Movements of the Cavalry — Cold Harbor — Crossing the James River, 176-185 CHAPTER XIII. Petersburg — Military Executions — Weldon Railroad — Suffer ings ofthe Army — Departure ofthe 6th Corps — The Mine Explosion, 186-199 CHAPTER XIV. Fighting on the Right and Left — Ream's Station — More Executions — Southside Railroad — Promotion of General Meade — Departure of General Hancock, 200-214 CHAPTER XV. Final Military Operations — Hatcher's Run— Dinwiddie — Five Forks — Warren's Bravery "and Subsequent Release of Command — City Point, 215-226 CONTENTS. VII PAGE CHAPTER XVI. The Band's Novel Duty— The Capture of Petersburg— The Zouaves' Heavy Loss — Fall of Richmond — The Second Visit at Libby Prisori — Surrender of Lee's Army, . . . 227-243 CHAPTER XVII. March to BurksviUe — Along the Line of Lee's Retreat — Attached to the Sth Corps — Departure of the 68lh P. V., Scott Legion — The Homeward March, 244-255 CHAPTER XVIII. Arlington Heights — Last Review of the Army of the Potomac — Preparations for Discharge, 256-263 CON'CLUSION, 264 Survivors of the i 14TH Regiment, P. V., 269 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. INTRODUCTORY. One of the fundamental truths which history teaches is, that the progress made by man and governments alike, in all ages of the world, has only been achieved through suffering and sacrifices. The closest ties of kin, and of Church and State, have again and again yielded to the greater demands of the popular will and patriotic duty; thus showing that when the voice of public conscience speaks, the love of life and fear of death have ceased to remain as hindrances to heroic action in human affairs. These truths of history were emphatically repeated in the events of the late war — in that evil hour which betrayed the misguided South into armed hostility against the unity of the States, and in the general conflict and bloodshed which ensued for the establish ment of a Confederacy and the perpetuity ofthe Union. To those who passed through those dreary days of tumult and trial, whether in the field of deadly conflict or remaining as needful protectors of their firesides, a recital of some of the sacrifices and deprivations necessary to the life of the nation are here, recalled, from personal observation and frequent participation, in the hope that the same may not be without interest 9 10 INTRODUCTORY. to the reader while perusing the annexed unpretentious record of associations with the Army ofthe Potomac. Th'e causes of that memorable conflict are not here called into question; enough to know that peace rather than war was the earnest desire of the whole people. It was the one fervent prayer of the clergy, who implored in unison that fratricidal strife might be averted ; the eloquence of the forum was patriot ically spent in an appeal to the better judgment of impassioned men, but all to no purpose, and finally the mighty and irrepressible forces at work were resolved to test the omnipotence of physical arbitra ment in the resort to arms. Argument and states manship were at an end, treason had done its worst; our arsenals began to glisten with bayonets, the forts were looking angry with heavy guns and stronger garrisons, war-ships were preparing to speak in thun der tones of the national authority, and everywhere the best blood of the people was freely offered as a loyal sacrifice upon the altar of its country. GENERAL CHARLES H. T. COLLIS. (1865.) CHAPTER I. Organization of the 114TH Regiment, P. V., Collis's Zouaves — Camp Banks and Enlistment of the Band — Off to the Front — Assigned to ist Division, 30 Corps. It was in 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln made the first call for three hundred thousand volun teers for three years' service, in response to which Charles H. T. Collis, then a young man and enthusi astic in the cause for the Union, promptly raised a company of splendid material for the full term. The uniform adopted for the dashing members was that of the French Zouave d'Afrique, and besides pleasing their fancy very much, it attracted a number of men to join the company who had seen actual service in the French army, several of whom were French Alsatians. After having been thoroughly drilled the company, in full uniform, gave an exhibition of its proficiency in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, and were soon after sent to the front, under General Banks, in the valley of Virginia, who at once selected the Zouaves for his body-guard, his headquarters being at that time in Strasburg. When Banks was compelled to retreat, having been confronted by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, the Zouaves were ordered to cover the rear and destroy the bridges behind them, so as to delay or prevent the rebels from following. General Banks retreated up the valley and through Winchester, in order to protect his trains. II 12 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Captain Collis, however, was soon convinced that the destruction of the bridges, as ordered, would pre vent our own men from joining the main force, and therefore he relinquished that part of the task assigned- him. He then pushed on to Middletown and took part in the battle at that place ; but being cut off" from the main force, Winchester was reached by another road. Here they were again compelled to fall back, and unable to join the main ai^my, it was determined to make the Potomac at Blooming Gap. Captain Collis having ascertained that the road ahead of him was occupied by the enemy, he turned to the right, and finally reached Hancofck, on the Potomac, after a long and fatiguing march, bringing with him about forty wagons laden with valuable stores, all of which would have been lost but for the wide-awake company of Zouaves. It was for this valuable service that Captain. Collis was ordered to raise a full regiment of Zouaves d' Afrique. He immediately returned to Philadelphia, and in a short time organized the 1 14th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. By this time President Lincoln, after the failure of General McClellan on the Peninsula, called for the second instalment of 300,000 volunteers for three years, and under this call the regi ment was enlisted. A camp was established in the lower part of Germantown, called Camp Banks, in honor of General Banks. The uniform adopted for the regiment was precisely like that of the original company— red pants, Zouave jacket, white leggings, blue sash around the waist, and white turban, which pricked up the pride of the new recruits, and gave the regiment an imposing and warlike appearance. CAPTAIN F. A. ELLIOTT. 1 3 The material for these uniforms was all imported from France, and special arrangements were made to secure a sufficient supply ofthe same to replenish the uniforms during the whole term of service. This regiment, therefore, the 114th, was enabled to pre serve its identity as a Zouave ofganization until the close of the war. There were other Zouave regi ments in the army, but as soon as their uniforms became badly worn, they were required to don the regulation blue. The officers of the 1 14th were men of pride and culture, as well as courage, and therefore determined to have a full brass band to accompany them, besides a drum corps and a vivandiere, the latter being an accessory of all French Zouave d' Afrique regiments. The officers and privates were as fine looking and as military in bearing as any set of men found in the army, and no regiment made a more imposing or better appearance. Concerning the band it may be here stated, that about one year before the war broke out, a number of young men formed a cornet band in Germantown. As instrumental musicians, they were amateurs and beginners, but with a fair knowl edge of music as vocalists, by close application they made rapid progress ; little suspecting, however, that so soon after they would be called upon to lead their friends and neighbors and others to the tented field ; to make music on the march, in camp, and at Army Headquarters. It was through the influence of Captain F. A. Elliott, of Germantown, who took a deep interest in the Zouaves from the beginning, and who had at this time himself raised a company for the regiment, that 14 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. the band enlisted with it for three years of service. Captain Elliott was prosperously engaged in the wool business in the city, and was in very comfort able circumstances. When the band was started he became a helpful friend of the project, subscribing liberally toward procuring the instruments, and after ward assisted in supplying the members with uniforms. It was mainly from this kindly and valued association ' with the band that it resolved to follow the fortunes bf the regiment. For men who had never seen mili tary service, it was a bold step ; but the times and the honor proffered demanded promptness, leaving only the lack of confidence on the part of the mem^ bers as to the degree of credit it would be to such a splendid regiment. Subsequent events, however, conclusively proved it to have been good policy on the part of the ofiicers to secure a band, and that it became a prime factor and one of the most efficient aids in maintaining discipline. At the beginning of the war every regiment mus tered into service for three months, and afterwards the three-year regiments, all had full brass bands, some of them numbering as high as fifty pieces. When it is considered that in every brigade there were from four to five regiments, three brigades in one division and three divisions in each corps, an aggregate of from thirty-six to forty bands is shown for every corps. When a division was encamped in a small space, which was frequently the case when on the march, and the band of each regiment performing at the same time at Regimental Headquarters, the effbct of the confusion of sounds produced can hardly be imagined. Whilst this was an unnecessary arrangement and very expen- A POOR POLICY. 15 sive to the Government, it kept a host of non-com batants in the rear of the army. Congress, however, at an early day passed an act abolishing all regimental bands in the volunteer service, with the provision that each brigade should be entitled to a^band at the head quarters. It so happened that when the order of disbandment reached the army, the bands had seen considerable and hard service dn the Peninsula, under General McClellan, and therefore the men gladly accepted their discharges and almost to a man went home. As a consequence the army was left with scarcely any music. The Government at this time was regarded as becoming very parsimonipus in this respect, and - experience proved it to be a poor policy of economy. There are many, of course, that doubted the utility or necessity of band, music in the army during the Rebellion, but when the vast amount of money spent in every large city on concerts, balls, and parades is considered, how much more necessary is its soothing and inspiring influence upon those who sacrificed all home comforts and social amusements to battle for their country ? In the case of the Zouave Band, with only fifteen pieces, it was difficult at times to keep up its efficiency for duty during the whole period of three years with its hardships and many deprivations, one-third of the members often being on the sick list at one time. In all wars statistics show that the camp and exposure incident to an active campaign kill off" more than do the battles, yet, the band, without any reinforcing, that headed the march of the Zouaves on leaving Phila delphia, after three years of constant and severe service. 1 6 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. were at' the head'of the regiment, intact, on returning to the city. The band enlisted in a body, August I ith, 1862, and immediately entered upon camp duties, when it was initiated in the routine of tactics, such as dress parade, guard mounting, etc., but the members were allowed to sleep at their homes. It was expected that the regiment would remain at the Germantown camp for some time, for instruction, but important military events transpiring in Virginia — the disastrous second battle of Bull Run and the proximity of the rebels to Washington — it was made imperative foj the new regiment to report at once at the Capital. Messengers called at our homes at midnight with orders to prepare and march at daylight the next morning. Early on the 29th of August we therefore bade an aff"ectionate farewell to our families, broke camp, and at the head of the regiment marched to the city, paraded through several streets and were breakfasted at the Cooper. Shop Refreshment Saloon. We afterwards learned that this grand place was gratefully remembered by the troops from diff'erent States, who, in transit through Philadelphia, were royally entertained there. After, having the inner man so well provided for our regi ment took up the line of march for Broad and Prime streets, where we took the cars for Washington. On the way we lost one man, who was knocked off" the train and run over and killed. This sad occurrence cast a gloom over the whole regiment, and by many it was thought to be an ill omen. We arrived in Baltimore towards evening, and there being no transportation to Washington, the regiment experienced its first discomforts of soldiering. The men THE soldiers' RETREAT. 1/ had to make the best of the situation during the night, having no beds save the flagstones in the depot, and on the coming day many ofthe men had severe colds. However, we finally were provided with cars, but the train was ten hours in reaching the Capital. On arriving there, the men, being very hungry, were taken to the Soldiers' Retreat, the Government saloon; but there was a wide difference between it and the Cooper Shop at Philadelphia. They gave us a colored liquid, called "coffee," which was served us in horse buckets, besides hard bread and salt pork. The impression left upon us, bodily and mentally, at the Retreat, was not of a very complimentary char acter. That we were not expecting too much, how ever, for soldiers just fresh from their homes, the complaints of all other regiments halting there con clusively proved. After partaking of the sumptuous fare referred to, the regiment was marched out to the northern de fences of Washington and encamped at Fort Slocum, where the men were put under strict military disci pline and drill ; but this abruptly terminate,d, for on Sep tember 6th we received orders to march, going to the Baltimore pike, where, for the first time, we witnessed the grand sight presented by our army in motion. They were the veterans of the Peninsula, under General McClellan, marching forward to meet the foe on more northern soil. To our men who had but recently come from their homes, these battle-worn men were a horrible and repulsive panorama to gaze upon. It was a picture, of neglect and suff"ering. The hands and faces of most of the men were brown as tan, almost black. They were almost shoeless, and carried 1 8 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. only their guns, blankets, haversacks and canteens. It was a sad scene, and the line of men appeared to be almost endless ; a brigade of infantry, then one of cavalry, followed by artillery and wagon trains. In this way they alternated. Here, in this great array, for the first time we saw the most prominent generals of the Union Army, and occasionally we' recognized some old acquaintance in the ranks. We were surprised to find that the men observed no precision of step, as "we did who were under drill, and as yet had only learned to move like machinery and keep in line ; but it was not long after that we discovered the secret, and were glad to do the same. McOlellan's army was on the march to meet the rebels under General Lee, who was then in Mary land, and which culminated in the battle of Antietam. Our regiment was ordered to fall in line with this army on its march, and when we broke camp to do so there was a deal of dissatisfaction expressed among the men, on account of not having received the fifty dollars as bounty which the city had promised and the men were expecting before leaving their homes. However, the regiment, obedient to orders, followed the army of McClellan, and when it reached Rock- ville was suddenly halted by reason of a dispatch.from Washington, with orders to return to camp at Fort Slocum. Our regiment being composed of new recruits, hardly two weeks in service and knowing but little of the manual of arms, to have put them in an engagement at this embryo period, would have been recklessly injudicious and have done more of harm than good to the general service. Under these circumstances it A GOOD DAYS TRAMP. 1 9 was held that the War Department did a wise act in recalling the regiment from active participation in the battle of Antietam. We, therefore, retraced our steps, encountering great difficulty, however, by encountering other troops and army trains which were moving in a contrary direction. Late at night we arrived at camp, after having marched about twenty-two miles, which was thought to have been a good day's tramp for new men not accustomed to such work. In this camp the regiment remained until the latter part of September, when we packed up to go on the other side of the Potomac, marching through Wash ington and over the historical Long Bridge. We were followed by Secretary of State Seward, who was on horseback, and when the regiment halted on the Virginia side he complimented our officers on the good music from their band. It is unnecessary to say that the encouraging words coming from such a high source, was accepted as a cheering sign of the band's coming popularity, by all the members. Soon after reaching camp the regiment was brigaded, the brigade consisting of the 105th, 68th and 1 14th Pennsylva- ,nia Volunteers and the 20th Indiana. It was the First Brigade, First Division, of the Third Corps. General Birney was at this time the Division Com mander, but it was formerly in command of General Kearney. The division and corps had been known as a very active and fighting body, and the prospects were all for that kind of service, and our band being the only one in the whole division, the members at once were found to be a useful and very desirable appendage. The band was wanted everywhere; for 20 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. brigade guard mount, review, military funerals and serenades at night; its whole time was occupied in these and similar duties. The regiment, too, made good use bf its spare time in being drilled for more impor tant duties than the members had yet been called on to perform. Our camp was not far from Arlington, where General Heinzelman had his headquarters, at the former residence of General Robert E. Lee, who was at the head of the rebel army. Here on his beautiful lawn, overlooking the Potomac, a clear view of Washington was had, and here our band would perform during the evenings ; not for the amusement of the aristocracy of Virginia, but for the pleasure and entertainment of Union soldiers. Great changes since then have taken place, and on that very spot, in the " sacred soil " of the South, now sleep thousands of our heroic dead, the government having established thei-eon one of the most beautiful of soldiers' ceme teries in the country. None but soldiers are buried there and no finer site for the purpose could else where have been selected. CHAPTER II. On the March — Poolesville — With the Army of the Poto mac — Zouaves Receive Their Baptism of Fire at Fred ericksburg — Capture of the Band. October i. — We had review, and by reason of the new order in regard to military bands, as heretofore particularized, our band was the only one in the line, and it was assigned at the head of the division. The old soldiers predicted an early move, holding, as they did, that a review was an infallible sign of something of the kind. October lo. — Received orders to make ready for march. Started the next day and tramped twenty miles, halting near Rockville ; raining all day ; en camped in the Fair Grounds and slept on the dance floor. October ii. — Broke camp at three o'clock in the morning and experienced the hardest day's march we had yet been subjected to, and during which the men had first learned how to lighten their burden, by stopping occasionally and unbuckling their knapsacks, and throwing out every article not indispensably necessary. The whole road was strewn with all sorts of things thus cast away, and a team following in the rear could have gathered a small fortune. This march brought us to Poolesville during the evening, with only about 250 men, the distance being twenty- five miles, and, as soon as we had made and 21 22 MUSIC ON THE MARCH, partaken of some warm coffee, the march was resumed toward the Potomac. The object of this hurry, it afterwards appeared, was to intercept a rebel raid of cavalry, but they succeeded in recrossing the river before our men reached the point aimed at. On this' forced march we learned a great deal that was of value to us afterward. Up to this time the wagons carried our knapsacks, also the Sibley tent which accommodated all the members of the band. But on a march like this, and when making camp in the evening, is the very time these things are most needed. On making inquiry you are informed that the wagon train is miles away, and with no certainty when it would arrive; the best that can be done. under the circumstances becomes the inevitable, and your ingenuity is put to the test. Nor were the officers any better off than ourselves, as they were in the same dilemma ; but the privates, who carried their houses and household goods on their backs, had the benefit of the fatiguing task at night, when camp was made. This discomfiture also taught the members of the band that, although musicians, in other respects they were boiia fide soldiers and subject to all hardships, when on the march and in camp, such as are incident to every campaign. We likewise experienced, as did others in the service, that the small tents, commonly known as " dog tents," were, by far, the most conven ient arrangement for men on the ^march, as they could be carried during the day and then quickly unfolded for use at night. In this venture^ because of the inclemency of the weather and the absence of our tent, we were very uncomfortable, indeed. The regiment having gone to the Potomac, the idea FORDING THE POTOMAC. 23 occurred to us of using some of their tents, but this was doomed to defeat, for, about midnight, the emer gency being over, the men returned to camp and we had to vacate the comfortable shelter, and were compelled to spread ourselves on rubber blankets, on the saturated ground, with naught save the clouded sky for a covering. There was some sleep, ofcour.se, from sheer fatigue, and in the morning we found our selves lying in pools of water. We remained here in camp two weeks. The season before this same ground had been occupied by Colonel Baker's ill- fated California Regiment, whose improvised ovens still remained, and which were utilized by our men, making pot-pies, roasting beef, etc., whilst doing picket duty along the Potomac. The Army of the Potomac, the battle of Antietam having been fought, was now marching southward again, under General McClellan. October 2y. — We received orders to cross the Po tomac, and again our thoughts were taken back to the previous year, when the Californians, in command of the brave and lamented Colonel Baker, crossed the river and were almost annihilated in the disaster at Ball's Bluff. We reached the Potomac on the last day of October, but found no pontoons nor even boats, and had to ford the river. We were told that the water would not be knee-deep, so we rolled up our pants, and the whole regiment, with a will, were at once wading the stream. At first the water proved to be shallow, but on approaching the Virginia side the current brought us into much deeper and rougher obstructions. Nearly all the men fell headlong into the channel and stumbled over the large stones, be- 24 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. coming wringing wet. All were in the same predica ment, excepting the staff officers, who wer£ on horse back, and Marie, the vivandiere, who had the fore thought to pick up an old mule, on which she safely crossed the river. There was a deal of merriment while fording the stream, but it was quite diff'erent in the way of amusement after' reaching the shore, for many had to remain in this saturated condition until the clothing dried upon them. We were chilled to the marrow, and, as an indication of the general suf fering, three members of the band were on the sick list next morning. One of them we did not see for six months afterwards, having been totally incapaci tated for duty, and- another was -subsequently dis charged on account of disability. We were now on " sacred soil," in the enemy's domain, and received a very cool reception from the surly inhabitants, and they were in nowise backward in manifesting their animosity by their actions. Our regiment was now a part of the Grand Army of the Potomac and remained with it, taking an active part in its eventful career, participating in its successes and reverses, until it accomplished the gr-eat end for which it was organized and vigorously employed — the submission of the Army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, which was the mainstay of the Rebellion. November i. — Early on the morning of this day we were put in trim and marched through Leesburg. The regiment was in good spirits, made a splendid appearance, and the band played "John Brown," while the proud Zouaves firmly accented in precise step the simple yet suggestive air. The women DISDAINFUL WOMEN. 25 looked contemptuously on us from the doors and windows of their houses. The few men we observed were all aged, the young-blood doubtless all being in the army of Lee. We encamped some distance be yond the town, and, after performing at General Bir- ney's headquarters, we took a walk through the place. Some finely attired ladies had just emerged from a house, and on seeing us, as we were on the pavement, they showed their decided contempt for us and the cause we represented by stepping into the street. We politely thanked them for their trouble and assured them that they were even more accommodating than our ladies at home, who rarely ever went to such obliging extremes. Our marches now were mostly along the mountain range ofthe Blue Ridge, passing through some beau tiful and romantic valleys. As a rule we had plenty of good water, having often to cross and recross mountain streams and small rivulets. Here and there along this picturesque ridge I was particularly attracted by scenes that took my mind back to my early home in the blue Alsatian mountains of the old world. General Birney, who always had a taste and a keen eye for fine effects, would often encamp our division on the top of the Blue Ridge, and when the camp-fires were all aglow in the evening and the band ¦performing some stirring selection, there was a peculiar grandeur and impressiveness in the scene that cannot be described, while we could hear, in the intervals of silence, below us, the heavy wagons and artillery trains rumbling and struggling to make their way over the primitive and storm-swept roads. In this locality whenever there was a heavy rainfall the water 26 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. rushed down the mountain sides, leaving the roadway obstructed by masses of stone, and over this perilous path the lumbersome trains had to follow the army. November 7. — We reached Waterloo, and for the first time during the season a heavy snow fell. So far on this march we had used no tents at night, bivou acking on the cold ground and covered only with our blankets. Fortunately, however, just as this cold spell broke upon us the wagon train also reached us, with which was our long-looked for Sibley tent, and we were qiiick to avail ourselves of its opportune, if not providential, arrival. On reaching this place we found the bridge over the Monocacy burned, and were compelled to halt until another structure was provided. The general ex pectation was that there would be some fighting at this point. The division was ordered in the woods, the band sent to the rear, and our batteries opened fire, but they received no reply. If there had been a rebel force in the vicinity, the conclusion was that they left after destroying the bridge. This kind of firing we heard every day some distance ahead of us, and supposed that they, like ourselves, were only feeling for the enemy. On this occasion the doctors informed us that whenever the regiment was engaged in battle they would, expect the members of the band to assist in caring for the wounded, and in doing otherwise whatever was needful to them. This, however, was anticipated by us from the beginning. November 12. — We made camp near Warrenton, where we again heard the whistling of locomotives, something new to us since crossing the Potomac, and the boys were encouraged to look for more and better MAJOR CHANDLER. 27 rations, which of late had been very poor. For the first time, too, since crossing the river, we received the Baltimore papers, from which we were surprised to learn that General McClellan had been superseded by General Burnside, who was then our commander. This unexpected news had not the effect upon us that it developed among older soldiers, for we thought, if McClellan was too slow in getting to Richmond, Burnside might make shorter work and satisfy the cry of the people and purpose of the army, " On to Richmond 1 " In pleasurable contrast to the prepara tions for destruction going on around us, on the previous evening Major Chandler, of our regiment, received news from his Philadelphia home, informing him that a child had been born unto him ; the appre ciative father was in ecstacy over the event, and the band tendered him a complimentary serenade. Poor Chandler ! It was not long after receiving this happy news from a devoted wife that the infant was father less, for the Major was killed at the battle of Chan cellorsville in the following May. The officers of the regiment by this time had become closely attached to the band and in various ways made known their personal good will, which, added to their appreciation of our music, helped in no small degree to mitigate our hardships and make us content. At this time there was what may be called a tobacco famine among the men, no sutler having been with the army since crossing the Potomac. Just then, if any one could have dropped in with a full supply of the " evil weed," he could have' made an easy fortune from the sale of it, and the men would have worshipped him besides. With the 28 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. resumption of railroad communication, however, the want was soon supplied, and the boys once more were afforded the solace of leisure hours they so earnestly prayed for. November 15th. — We reached camp near to Fred ericksburg; it had been raining almost every day, under a chilling temperature. As we approached the city the army began to unfold its interminable length to our view ;_ every day new troops were coming, and on every road they could be seen in motion, all moving to the south. There were wagon trains, miles in length, drawing their serpentine trail over soft clay roads, which were made utterly impass able for the infantry ; consequently the men on foot had to take to the fields, and march on the right and left of the roads. Some of them, we noticed, being almost barefooted, tramping with torture in every step, through the mid-November slush and mud; this, too, with their toes protruding through their shoes. Many of these " fighting men," and not without cause, found great fault with the manner in which they were treated. They also complained bitterly of the restraint placed upon them, and in conversation with a number they expressed themselves in this way : " We are going through the enemy's country ; . the people are intensely secesh, and not at all back ward in expressing their sentiments ; yet the officers put sentinels over their property to prevent our soldiers from taking anything to eat, and they stop us, although we get there sometimes." Said another : "We have many sick in hospital, with not the sHght- est accommodations; they have to lie on the cold ground, while near by are large and empty mansions TOO MUCH RESTRAINT. 29 belonging to rebels, and yet our own guards allow none to enter." A soldier told me of two of our men who went to a haystack to get some feed for their horses, and in spite of the guard they helped the animals to a small quantity ; they needed it so badly ; but the captain of the guard shot one of the men dead, and wounded the other. The comrades of-the men were so enraged, that they swore ven geance against the captain, who fled to the woods ; but he was overtaken and bayoneted to death. In time, however, we learned to prosecute warfare by a diff'erent system. Sheridan's campaign in the valley of Virginia is a sample. He ordered everything to be destroyed that was of any use to the rebels ; thereby materially helping to shorten the war. November 22. — Arrived in front of Fredericksburg, and being encamped opposite the town, on Stafford Heights, we had a beautiful view of the place and its naturally grand surroundings. We wondered what was coming next and commenced putting things in trim for winter quarters. There was a heavy snow the first week in December and the temperature bitter cold ; many were on the sick list and bad colds were prevalent. We were kept in a constant state of specu lation as to what General Burnside really intended to do. Here we were in close proximity to the Rebel army, nothing separating the two powerful bodies but the Rappahannock river. We conversed with the men in gray on the other side and frequently traded our coffee with them for their tobacco. In the rear of the town, from the heights, we could see them extending and strenghtening their earthworks and fortifications. Sometimes, in the morning, earthworks would appear 30 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. that were not there the evening before, thus showing conclusively that they worked on them both day and night. All this was plainly visible to the naked eye, yet, in spite of these menacing facts, our army was looking complacently on. Inexperienced soldiers as we were, we came to the conclusion that General Burnside never intended to attack the enemy there; if he did, why allow all this opportunity to fortify their naturally strong position ? And yet he did just what Lee wanted him to do. He knocked his brains out against the very walls we had seen for several weeks becoming stronger and stronger every day. The excuse at first was that the pontoons had not arrived ; but they did arrive on November 28th, and yet Burnside added danger to delay. The fact was apparent to all that the engineering skill of the Con federacy was exhausted on this position. In the first week of December, General Burnside held a council of war with his corps commanders, when General Hooker proposed to move his corps some ten miles above Fredericksburg and attack the rebel position, in conjunction with the rest of the army through Fredericksburg, but Hookec's proposi tion was rejected by Burnside. Whatever this plan might have accomplished, one thing is certain, the re sult could not have been more disastrous than what did happen. December 10. — Burnside began operations in the- endeavor to lay the pontoons. General Franklin was sent on the extreme left to attack the extreme right of the enemy's line, and break through the same, if possible. A heavy fog favored our army laying the pontoons in front of Fredericksburg, but as soon as LAYING THE PONTOONS. 3 1 the rebels observed our men at the work their sharp shooters picked off" every man thus engaged; their men of deadly aim were concealed in the houses along the river, and the pontoniers were compelled to abandon the work. Another attempt was made and with the same result ; our boats and planks were riddled with bullets and it was found to be impossible to face the unerring aim of the rebel marksmen. Our batteries were then ordered to open a heavy cannonade upon the houses where the sharpshooters were hidden, and in a short time the buildings were demolished. Once more our brave men attempted to put down the pontoons, and then they suffered al most as severely by the deadly fire brought to bear upon them from the rebel- rifle pits. It now became necessary to face the lion in his den, and volunteers were called to row across the river in the pontoon boats, charge on the rifle pits and drive the rebels out. This was a desperate undertaking, but it was splendidly and effectually accomplished by volunteers from the 19th Massachusetts and 7th Michigan regi ments. After this general clearing out, though at' a great sacrifice of life, the pontoons were laid and our army at once began to cross. December J2. — The whole army was on the south side of the Rappahannock ; General Sumner on the extreme right; General Hooker in the centre, and General Franklin on the left, below the city. Now icame the tug of war. Burnside had given orders to Franklin to attack on the left, before making an assault on the centre, but he was only partially successful ; so he attacked the centre, in the rear of Fredericksburg, or St. Mary's Heights, that very position upon which 32 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. we had looked so long while it was hourly being made stronger. Every charge made by our best troops on this stronghold failed. General Sumner first sent French's Division, supported by Hancock's, but as they came from the town through parallel streets to make a charge on the Heights, they had to pass a canal, or wide ditch, which could only be crossed over bridges connecting the streets ; and all this time the men were exposed to an incessant fire pf artillery and musketry from front and both flanks, such as no troops in the world could stand. The line melted away before the works could be reached, and the_ assault failed. This was a severe blow to our army. Hancock lost 2000 men and French not less than 1200. Then a division of the 9th Corps was sent in, and fared no better, losing iioo men. The stone wall supported by artillery and infantry was too much for human endurance, and the rebels would not have cared had Burnside thrust the whole of the Union army against that impregnable position. General Lee, in his report of the battle, said that " six times did the enemy press on, with great determination, to within a hundred yards of the foot of the Hill, but meeting with such deadly resistance from our infantry, the columns were broken and they fled in confusion to the town." Burnside, however, was not satisfied with this fearful repulse, and proposed to take his old corps, the 9th, and charge the position, besides leading the assault ih person. It was, of course, a feeling of desperation on his part, and the corps commanders unanimously opposed him. Our corps, the 3d, was commanded at this time by A SPLENDID CHARGE. 33 General Stoneman and consisted of three divisions : the 1st, by General Birney; 2d, by General Sickles; 3d, by General Whipple. Our corps was assigned to Franklin's Grand Division. General Meade, v/ho had commanded the 3d Division of the ist Corps, hav ing pushed ahead with his Pennsylvania Reserves, succeeded in penetrating the woods, driving the enemy from the railroad and reaching the crest of the Hill, clear in the open ground beyond. The Rebels were now strongly reinforced and Meade found him self attacked in front and on both flanks, and finally was forced to fall back from the position he had so gallantly gained, at a cost of forty per cent, of his brave men. December ij. — It was at this date and pressing time that our division was ordered to cross on the pontoons, to reinforce Meade, and arrest, if possible, the rebel line, which was rapidly advancing. The band kept at the head of the regiment on crossing the pontoons. As soon as we were on the bridge we marched left, oblique ; at the same time we heard peculiar noises above us. Having never been in such a position before, we did not comprehend, or even suspect, what it meant; but just then several shells burst in close proximity to us, which broke the secret and told what kind of music was in the air, with an accompaniment of minnie balls. Colonel Cavada thought we could be of no service there, and ordered the band out of the ranks, at the same time advising us to take care of ourselves. Just then the Zouaves gave three hearty cheers, went bravely in, charged splendidly, received their baptism of fire and fought like old veterans, for which 3 34 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. they were afterwards highly complimented. The mem bers of the band, when they fell out of the ranks; were in front of a large stone mansion, the Bennett House, between which and the Rappahannock was an im mense and beautiful garden. Here, with the surgeons and Marie, the vivandiere, we established the field hospital, and soon after we had quite a number of oul regiment, who were wounded, to assist in taking care of The band members became very useful here, being employed day and night in aiding the doctors and nursing the men who had fallen in battle. December i^. — In the afternoon General Birney sent for the band to perform at headquarters. The lines of the contending armies were so close to each other that we could see their batteries and actually look into the mouths- of their heavy guns. After playing for nearly an hour, including some of the national airs, which the enemy doubtless heard as clearly as did our own men, we were instructed not to go back to the hospital, but remain close to the line of battle. We knew not the why or wherefore for this unexpected change, but implicit obedience to orders being the first duty of a soldier, we went at once where directed. A short distance in rear of the line of battle was a ditch, perhaps an old railroad cut, running parallel wi^h the line. As every moment the conflict was expected to be renewed, we thought that in that depression, or cut, there would be comparatively little danger, as the shells would pass over our heads. During the night the rain fell very heavy, but in spite of the inconvenience we slept soundly, having had very little rest the two previous nights. A STRANGER ON THE BANK. 35 December i6. — I awoke at daybreak, and my first thoughts, as in the case of every soldier, was to look around for material with which to make a fire and boil some coffee. So, with my brother Louis, we started off and strolled along this cut in search of fire wood, and found, to our great surprise, not only kind ling, but other useful articles, such as cooking utensils, knives, forks, etc. Our impression was that some troops had encamped there during the night and were probably suddenly called away for some impera tive duty, as was often the case. That idea satisfied us for the time, but a moment later a mounted officer appeared on the embankment above us, whom we thought was one of our own provost marshals hunt ing up stragglers in the road, and he asked what we were doing there. I informed him that we were encamped there all night, and he told me that we were prisoners. Still thinking him a provost marshal, I made known that I had charge of a band and had my orders ; asking him to attend to his own business and assuring him I would attend to mine. He grimly smiled at my response and requested me to come up on the bank. I did so, and to my conster nation, as he raised his arm I perceived his gray uni form under the rubber overcoat. It was all over, and the reality of our position, as from a flash of lightning broke upon us, that the band was captured. In looking around from that point, where our line was the night before the gray line of the Rebel army was now stretched out ; and toward the Rappahannock I could see a formidable line of the enemy's skirmishers, who had already advanced to the river, and all our pon toons had been removed. The band being made and 36 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. declared prisoners were ordered to pack up, which we were required to do in such haste that we had not the opportunity allowed us to boil that morning's coffee. From some misconception of the band's sad predica ment, it was currently reported that the men were captured, while in a barn, and even our best friend, the lamented Captain Elliott, for a time rested under the delusion. Accompanying our new rebel acquaintances we were marched inside the enemy's lines and made to face General Archer, at his headquarters-. The rebels appeared to be in excellent spirits ; they jibed us about Burnside and asked us how we liked him now ; others wanted us to give them some music, but our inclinations were not in that direction just. then. After being introduced to General Archer he told us to lay down our instruments. This was something new to us; a question, in fact, we had never considered ; therefore I took the liberty to remind General Archer that the in struments did not belong to the government, but were our own personal property, and should not be taken from us. At this he began to swear and said : " You Yankees captured me once and took everything from me,anditwas all private property." I suggested thatthe cases were not identical ; that a general without sword or horse was still a general, while a band without instru ments was no band at all. My simple, and perhaps intrusive, argument failed to convince him, and with heavy hearts and dejected countenances we bade fare well to the instruments which had served us so well, and with which down to that event we had marched with pride at the head of our regiment. We were then ordered to fall in line with about 300 " bluelegs," ON THE WAY TO LIBBY. 37 who had been picked up in that ensnaring ditch, like ourselves, on that dark December morn. Bates's His tory of the Pennsylvania Volunteers contains this reference : — "The loss ofthe 114th Regiment in this battle was twelve killed, twenty-seven wounded, and seventeen captured. Of those captured were members of the band, who had gallantly accompanied the regiment when ordered across the river, and when it became engaged had rendered valuable assistance to the wounded and the surgeons in charge. On the night of the 15th, when the army recrossed the river, they were not made aware of what was passing, and , when they awoke on the morning of the i6th, they found, to their utter amazement, the troops all gone, the pontoons removed, and in the hands of the enemy. Their instruments, which were their own private property, were taken from them, and they were sent to Libby Prison. After their exchange they returned to the regiment, and with a full set of superior instru ments, presented to them by their friends at home, as an acknowledgment of their gallantry and the good service they had rendered." The band remained with the regiment until the close of _the war, and did much to refresh the spirits of the men on many a long and weary march, and be sides -^which they contributed in no small degree towards the preservation of that high tone and mani fest discipline which from the beginning characterized the Zouaves. Not only the regiment, but the whole divisioa sustained a great loss in thus temporarily parting with the only band of music they possessed, although, according to the new regulations, the divi- 38 ~ MUSIC ON THE MARCH. sion was entitled to three such accessories. Our band had supplied the music fpr every occasion in the division, and, practically, at no special expense to the Government. We learned through letters sent home from officers and men of the regiment, of the regret expressed at losing the music of the band ; they were deprived of one prime feature in holding those grand dress parades, which always attracted a large assem blage of spectators ; there was no longer the music to which they had become accustomed to step with mechanical precision ; the soothing and enlivening . strains at night, too, were pleasures of the past. It will- be readily understood — when Burnside was baffled in every attempt to make an impression on the enemy's line — when he had sacrificed over twelve thousand men, as brave men as ever shouldered a gun — when he at last, in a fit of desperation, proposed to take his old corps, the 9th, and sacrifice it in the mad attempt to accomplish an impossibility — all his corps commanders comprehended the situation, and failed to see why Burnside should do any better than their best and bravest had done. This was the first battle they had been in against General Lee. Burnside now concluded that the only alternative left him was to withdraw his army across the river. The fierce wind and rain on the night of the 15th shielded him, and the whole army was skilfully withdrawn with no ma terial loss, excepting a few prisoners, with whom the band was included. The pontoons were covered with whatever was at command to deaden the sound while the.army was recrossing. The men were forbidden to speak or make the slightest noise, and to avoid even the rattle of their canteens. The road they fol- A CLEVER REBEL GUARD. 39 lowed to the river was right and left of the ditch wherein we were encamped, and yet not the slightest noise was heard by us. So cautiously was the night- march effected that the members of the band were not disturbed. The query has frequently been proposed as to why it was that no other band was captured ? There were none on that side of the river save our own, all other bands remaining on the northern side of the Rap pahannock. After having been marched here and there, and being relieved of our instruments, which made us feel doubly sensible of our embarrassing position, we were taken- to the headquarters of General " Stonewall " Jackson, where our parole papers were made out, and which we signed with very nervous hands, our signatures binding us not to take up arms against the Confederacy until properly exchanged. We were given to understand that we could be sent home at once by the Saturday flag-of-truce boat, which put us in better spirits, thinking that we would be spared looking into the hated Libby Prison, but our hopes told only a flattering tale. We were afterwards taken to Guiney's Station, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail road, where a pleasant surprise awaited us. My brother Louis, who, at the breaking out of the war, was living in Richmond, had in that city a very close friend, a German, who remained with the Con federacy, while my brother came North, and here, on this, occasion they met, his friend now as a rebel guard over him, and he also guarded him, and the rest of us, back to Richmond. To his credit his personal friendship remained ; he evinced no rancor 40 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. toward any of us ; on the contrary, by and through him we received many favors. In our misfortune it was a great consolation to us to find such an unlocked for and considerate friend in time of need and extreme distress. The gentlemanly conduct of this rebel guard brought vividly to mind those noble words of Byron : — " The truly brave. When they behold the brave oppress'd with odds. Are touch'd with a desire to shield or save." CHAPTER III. Libby Prison — Camp Parole — Libby and Fort McHenry Prisons Compared. We had to remain at the railroad station several days, as the facilities for transportation were taxed to the fullest measure, the many wounded coming in being entitled to the first opportunity for transit. Finally, on Friday, our turn came, when they put us in cattle cars and we were taken to Richmond. So far we received no insults from the soldiers, and were considerately treated while being in their charge. There was a change on the face of things generally, and in particular, when we arrived at the Confederate Capital. On emerging from the cattle cars, otherwise known in those days as "portable ventilators," we were put in line and marched through that city of pride direct to Libby Prison. Along the route we were repeatedly insulted by the rabble, and upbraided by others who profanely prefixed the word " Yankees " as we approached them ; and had it not been for some of our guards, who had the decency of gentlemen as well as the grit of the true soldier to command respect, this hooting rebel rabble would have other wise contemned and perhaps abused us. At the close of this exhibition in our brilliant Zouave full dress, we reached a large building, near the James River, on the corner of which was a sign, and inscribed thereon were the significant words, " Libby Prison." 41 42 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. This told of our fate, and that our journey was at an end for a time. Here we were enrolled as boarders and afterwards searched to ascertain if we had any dangerous wea pons in our pockets or on our persons. Having satis fied themselves that we were not intent on taking Richmond ourselves, we were escorted to the second story of the renowned Libby. Not the slightest piece of furniture was there ; not even the commonest wooden bench ; absolutely nothing save the bare floor to rest upon. In one corner was a wooden water trough, with the privilege of partially washing our hands and faces, but the floor was more than filthy, the room was overcrowded, and at night we were compelled to lie down as though we were boxed herring. Now came the torturing test that " In struggling with misfortune lies the proof Of virtue." During our life in the field we could, with constant care, keep our persons cleanly and clear of vermin, but here, in this Libby pest-house, we were soon liter ally alive with the unmentionable and noxious animals. Added to this awful condition our rations consisted only of a mite of black bean" soup twice a day, every third meal a piece of meat about one inch square, and a loaf of bread which the average hand could clench out of sight. Unfortunately, on coming fresh from the camp and marches we had first-class appetites, and the bill of fare at the Libby boarding- house proved sadly inadequate to our physical needs. Fortunately, however, most of us had a little money. When we came into their lines they offered, what ROSS, THE RUFFIAN. 43 seemed to us, fabulous prices for our blankets and other articles. I sold a rubber blanket that cost me at home ;^3.oo for ;^25.oo of Confederate money, and a pair of half-worn shoes sold for ^6.00, which seemed conclusive that even in the early days of the war there must have been a scarcity of many articles of necessity. Every morning hucksters came to the windows of the Libby with rough-and-ready pies, which were about two feet long by one foot across the top. The mammoth pie they would divide into many small portions and sell them at twenty-five cents apiece. These morsels helped us along nicely in the way of a dessert to our other rations. Keeper Ross, who was one of those impudent braggarts and too cowardly to go to the front, came every morning to call the roll, usually to the living, but often to the dead. He always carried a revolver, sometimes two, besides bowie knives, which he uni formly allowed to be displayed from his pockets. He was a sort of a portable arsenal, and his demonstrative tactics were thought to terrify the starving boarders, although he was always accompanied by two guards, who carried loaded muskets. One day on his coming in to call the roll, one of our comrades, who was very ill, did not rise to respond. Ross, on perceiving the sick man not on his feet, bawled out : " Get up, you d — — d Yankee ! " I told him the man was too sick to arise, but this was no excuse to the brute, and he turned and gave the prostrate prisoner several hard kicks on the back with the heavy cavalry boots he always wore. Of course, we dared not show our indignation and resentment in a way to suit us, for he appeared to be chafing for an excuse to do the " Yankees " bodily 44 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. harm. He deserved the same end that came to his partner in brutality, Wirz, ofthe Andersonville Prison, whose inhumanity, after the war, brought him to the scaffold. The fate of Keeper Ross, too, was sealed in the unfathomable future; his doom was written, the decree was passed ; for not long after the close of the rebellion he was burned alive at a hotel fire in the City of Richmond. While our bodily miseries were almost unendur able at Libby Prison, still we suffered much more in mind than from other causes, and to aggravate the pitiable situation, smallpox and black measles broke out among the men in that crowded den of disease and death. Under us was what was known as the " dead house," and in the floor of our apartment the openings between the boards were wide enough to plainly see what was going on below. Every morning the sight was enough to make our very flesh quiver; there lay from six to ten lifeless bodies, stripped entirely of clothing. With such horrible scenes each morning dawned, and who knew but what some of us would be the next to supply the morgue ; for many that viewed these shocking scenes at the dawn of one day were among the unhonored dead by night. These unwelcome surroundings, of course, made our condition the harder to bear up with, and the more anxiously every day did we look for the flag-of-truce boat to come to our deliverance. We expected it the first week of our incarceration ; the second passed in disappointment, ahd likewise the third week, and the Richmond newspapers wondered why " Old Abe did not send for his hirelings." The Dispatch was very bitter, saying, " Old Abe don't mind us fattening his CHRISTMAS DINNERS. , 45 hirelings, so that when they take the field again they will be ,the better able to kill our noble sons, who so nobly stand shoulder to shoulder for our homes and firesides." In the midst of all our dire distress, we could not help laughing over that rich specimen of rebel war literature, and particularly at the "fattening" portion of that graphic paragraph. Christmas came, and all the pleasures from home we had but a short time before in anticipation for the festal day, passed with it, for we were still in Libby. We knew that the good folks at home had prepared and sent boxes of luxuries for us, to the field. We also felt sure that the good things arrived — but not for us — not at Keeper Ross's big boarding- house. It was not long, however, before we had the satisfaction of knowing that the Christmas dinners came safely to hand at the regimental camp, where we were expected and shoiild have been to partake of them ; still it is an ill wind that blows no good, and in this- case it was a pleasure to know that the roast turkeys and the fixings proved a rare treat to many of our comrades. About this time another subject somewhat dis- qiiieted our minds, and it was discussed every day in the Richmond journals ; there was trouble respecting the operation ofthe cartel of exchange. Our Govern ment had begun to organize colored regiments, enlist ing the men on precisely the same terms as white troops and, of course, assuring them like protection. The Confederate dynasty refused to recognize the colored soldiers as being on an equality with their white troops and objected to exchange them man for 46 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. man. It was repulsive to their chivalrous notions of personal dignity, and also detrimental to the prestige of their cause. For a time the adjustment of the difference threatened a suspension of the existing cartel of exchange, and therefore our stay at Libby Prison was threatened to be for an indefinite period.. And yet, if this fact of our Government protecting its soldiers, regardless of color, in the rights belonging to them — if this was the cause for retaining us longer than expected, we felt that there was full and sufficient excuse for the delay. While the rebels did not pro pose to hold our enlisted men for the above reasons, they refused to liberate the commissioned ofiicers, and sent them farther south, to other prisons, and some of them remained prisoners long after we had been released. The new year, 1863, came in and still we were pent up in that prison-pen. News ca'me, however, to cheer us once more, that the flag-of-truce boat had arrived at City Point, and we were all on tiptoe at the prospect, but werfe again disappointed, as the sick and wounded only were taken. The next day another boat came and our disappointment was repeated; but with the third load of prisoners our turn was reported, and it would be difficult for the reader to imagine the extreme delight that possessed us. We really wept with joy on being removed from that horrible place of filth, starvation, disease, and pestilence. To us it was a transition as from death to life, and when we reached the deck of the boat, with the Stars and Stripes floating from the masthead, we felt as if we were in another world. Once more, and more keenly than ever before in our lives, did we realize that ARRIVAL AT CAMP PAROLE. 47 "Unbidden guests Are welcomest when they are gone." > Our first thought aboard the boat was to procure something for the inner man — something of which we had been daily deprived. The carrying of liquors aboard these boats was strictly prohibited, but an opportunity was afforded us to purchase some bottled peaches, preserved in brandy. This new luxury sold like hot cakes, even faster, and in a very short time the specialty was completely disposed of; but with what was secured of them, and the difference in both quantity and quality of our rations, as compared with Libby, we were not long in being restored to our normal condition. On reaching Annapolis we were ,much improved and in better spirits, the peaches doubtless having had much to do with our betterment. About one mile outside of Annapolis was Camp Parole, which was established by our government to receive Union soldiers coming from rebel prisons, and to hold them until such time as they were ex changed for a like number of rebel prisoners. Here we arrived January 1 3th, and found the camp all that men could reasonably desire. The location was high and dry, excellent quarters, an abundance of good rations and practically nothing to do, as the govern ment would not put the men to any service whatever, on account of their parole requiring them not to serve the United States until duly exchanged. During this interval of inactivity we thought to procure furloughs and visit our homes, but it was soon discovered that such favors were among the very rare exceptions, in fact, impossible to get hold of just then. In the earlier days of the war, on their arrival in camp the 48 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. government adopted a general rule to furlough all prisoners desiring to make a trip to their homes, where they could remain until exchanged; but ex perience proved ere long that when the furloughed men were wanted at the front a great many of them failed to report promptly for duty, while the rebel prisoners returned in exchange for them would surely be under arms again. The government therefore adopted a rule to furlough no paroled prisoners, and imperative orders were given to that effect. Colonel Sangster was in command of Camp Parole, and I deter mined to see him and make known our peculiar con dition as a band ; that we would have to go home, before we could rejoin our regiment, in order to pro cure a new set of instruments. He replied that he was powerless in the matter, as the imperative order referred to made no exceptions, but he remarked by way of a kindly hint : " If you don't know how to get home, it is not my business to tell you." This proved an incentive, and then we determined to find our way homeward by one way or another. At Camp Parole the total or average number of paroled prisoners was about ten thousand, and when the paymaster was expected but few were the absentees ; but after the men had been paid off, in the course of a few days at most, the population would dwindle down to probably one thousand, or even less. The paymaster was now the daily expect ation, though the current rumor of his coming did not always bring him. We, who had not yet seen such an interesting individual, like the rest of the men in camp, concluded to patiently wait for his pres ence, before deciding upon the best method of pro- A HAZARDOUS TRIP. 49 cedure in the effort to visit our homes. In due time the paymaster came and the men got their money. Then, of course, there was a general exodus of the men; some went off" in one direction, some in another; some had on citizens' suits, and took the cars ; others crossed the Bay, and many tramped to Baltimore and from that point took the cars for their homes. There was a sting, however, in the sweets of the paymaster's purse, to many of the men. The 'fact of such a' large number of paroled men being paid off put the provost guards everywhere on the watch, and ft was, therefore, the most hazardous time to venture what was then called, in army par lance, a " skedaddle." From the Colonel in com mand of Camp Parole we had nothing serious to fear, because of the tacit hint thrown out. After due consideration five of us decided to try the homeward trip by way of Baltimore. We started on the march in the evenfng and calcujated to make that city early the next morning, and there take the first train to Philadelphia. Our first obstacle appeared after tramping several miles from camp, on coming to the Severn river ; the water being deep, and the current very swift, it could only be crossed in a boat. In the vicinity was a colored man's hut, and on inquiry it was learned that for a consideration he ferried people across the Severn, but he could not be coaxed to take us over that night. As it was dark, the wind strong and the water rapid, he declined to accommo date us, and said we would have to wait until morn ing, to which we were compelled to assent. This was a dangerous delay, and proved disastrous to our well-laid plans and the success of the venturesoihe 50 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. expedition. Our colored friend turned his shanty into a hotel for the night, and hospitably accommo dated the party with lodgings and luncheon. His wife made us hot cakes, and with some coffee and salt pork, we had a very fair supper ; we had often partaken of much worse. We looked around, and began, to wonder where we could lie down for the night, but after having enjoyed our repast, the business-like woman brought in a quantity of straw, or litter. The improvised hotel, which we christened "The Severn ", contained two rooms, one down, and the other in the second story. We were assigned to the first floor, the family occupying the other, and as soon as the latter showed a desire to retire, our party took to the straw, and soon all were lost in sleep until the coming dawn. At an early hour, without any breakfast, we were ready for our colored boatman, who ferried us over the river, and we resumed our march for Baltimore. About 8 o'clock a. m. we halted at an inn a mile out- sidethe city, where, with sharp appetites, we partook of breakfast. Again we were doomed to trouble, our host having informed us that it would be impossible to reach Baltimore, as the provost guards were in strong force on every road, looking for and arresting " skedaddlers " from Camp Parole; that no man in uniform could enter the city unless he had a pass or a furlough, and we had neither. In military form, we held a " council of war " on the threatening situation. We were all in uniform ; it was impossible to proceed, and out of the question to return to camp. My brother Louis proposed that a suit of citizen's clothes be procured ; that he make the venture to get into THE BAND SURROUNDED. 51 Baltimore, and from thence go home to Philadelphia, and return with suits for the others, who were to remain where they were until his return with the needful articles. This appeared as practicable, and was unanimously approved as the most likely means out of a serious predicament. Of our kindly disposed host Louis procured an old pair of pants, a coat to suit, and a well-worn slouch hat. He was soon inside of the odd outfit, and with a handsaw under his arm and a pipe in his mouth, he boldly marched to the guard-house, asked for fire in his pipe, and, after having a chat in Gernian with the soldier, who was of the same nationality, he pursued his way direct to the railroad depot, and the first train at command took the apparently rough workman from Baltimore to Philadelphia. His comrades, who were left at that hospitable inn, however, had in store for them a much rougher experience. We were about finishing our breakfast when, to our great dismay, we were informed that the guards were on the way to arrest us. Sure enough, they soon appeared and surrounded the house, which was to have been our fortress It may be well to state here, that these guards were made up of what were known as home-guards and heavy artillerists, doing duty around the forts and such other " soft snap " ser vice as they were then engaged in. They had never known such a thing as service in the field, and took supreme pride in arresting old soldiers anywhere. As they all hoped to hold their easy and dangerless positions down to the close of the war, the duties, as above referred to, was the only evidence they could furnish as to any apology for their existence. On this 52 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. occasion they acted as if they had the most desperate work to encounter and dangerous characters to deal with. Anticipating our arrest on the information given us I hastily arose from the breakfast table, and on com ing from the kitchen of the inn, with no weapon of defence save the piece of bread and molasses I had not finished at the table, I encountered one of these gallant soldiers, who was rushing toAvard me on full bayonet charge, the hammer of his gun raised and a cap on itstube. He was laboring under great excite ment ; his face was white with rage ; in this condition he approached to within a few inches of my body, exclaiming, " Surrender ! " Had I made the slightest resistance, I felt sure that he would have killed me on the spot. At the same time I continued eating my bread as calmly as possible and advising him to keep cool, as he was in no danger whatever. While this was going on my comrades were having a similar experience with the other guards, who also acted as if they were in dread of personal harm. There was only one course left us ; we fell in line as prisoners and were taken to the guard-house in Baltimore, where they had about one hundred other "skedad- lers " from Camp Parole. Here these cowardly and uncivil guards, under orders from like superiors, acted the part of brigands and boldly robbed the men of all the money they could find on their persons, not even taking the names of the prisoners thus outraged. They were deliberate scoundrels and the men were without redress. The men having been just paid off, many of them had large sums, most of which was intended for the maintenance of their wives and chil- WORSE THAN LIBBY. 53 dren, and which was more than earned on the field and at the front of battle. These fellows, not soldiers, accumulated thousands of dollars by stealing in this way, and not a single cent was ever restored. It was robbery ofthe meanest kind possible ; a crime against men who were powerless to resist, and whose misfor tune was to have been captured at the front. General Schenck was military commander at that time of the department embracing Baltimore, and it was thought he should have prevented or punished such crimes, else have been held responsible for them. Fortunately, we had but little money with us, having mailed it home before entering on our venturesome journey. Our misery was only reflected in the conduct ofthe guards; the worst was to come. From the guard house at Baltimore the whole squad was taken to Fort McHenry, where we were confined in quarters, in comparison with which Libby Prison was a parlor. It was a despicable hole 1 Here one hundred soldiers were huddled together in an apartment that had not the slightest accommodations for the natural necessi ties of life ; the floor was completely covered with pools and streams of filth; not a spot free from it; no 'place to sit or even lie down. The stench was un bearable ; a disgrace to the government or its authori ties allowing it. Many of the men swore that they would never again take up arms to defend a govern ment that permitted such treatment of its soldiers. Fortunately for all '"mprisoned in that place of peril to health and life, we were held there only twenty- four hours, when they sent us back to Camp Parole. 54 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. On arriving at camp we returned to our old quar ters just as usual, no one showing the least curiosity as to our absence, and everything passed off as smoothly as though we had not been away. But the idea of getting home was not dispelled by the defeat and disappointment we had suffered, although it was still impossible to get a furlough for that purpose, and arrangements for another effort were made. At once we sent home for citizens' suits to be forwarded direct to us, and before a week had passed we received them. No time was lost in fixing up for a more certain venture, and taking the cars at Annapolis we passed snugly through without molestation of guards or further trouble, and were soon at our homes. In a short time the whole band,- with but little exertion, were supplied with new instruments. Even here we were put to some trouble by the provost guard marshals, who demanded to see our passes or furloughs, but when a proper explanation was made they were convinced that we were not deserters. They, however, gave us to understand that we had no right to be at home without the proper credentials, and warned us to be very careful, as we were liable to arrest at any moment. So, after making sure of our instruments and attending to our domestic affairs, we procured a new uniform for each man at the regi mental depot, and prepared for duty by reporting in a body to the Provost Marshal in Philadelphia, There was policy in these tactics, in order to procure transportation to Camp Parole ; and, instead of putting us under arrest, they escorted us through various parts of the city, serenading their favorites and having SAFE RETURN TO CAMP. 55 a good time all round, not getting back to the provost quarters until the next morning. After a few hours' rest, we were sent off in charge of an officer, all wishing us good luck and a safe return, and in good spirits we boarded the train for Annapolis. Now that we again had instruments, we began to feel that we were ourselves once more. Having reached our destination, we marched boldly into camp, playing "John Brown" with unusual spirit, and marching along with firm step, with no apparent concern, directly in front of Colonel Sangster's headquarters. The Colonel was there, and his lady was standing by his side. Mrs. Sangster was the authoress of " Marching Along," and it so happened that we were unconsciously complimenting her in performing the popular music adapted to her stirring war song. Colonel Sangster immediately gave orders to have special barracks erected for the band, adjoining his own, and also issued a carte blanche on the commissary for anything we might desire. The return of the band to Camp Parole was a great event, as there was absolutely nothing within the circle of tents to attract or pleasantly occupy the heavy leisure of the thousands of men, for they had. not the slightest duty to perform. They now antici pated something to keep their spirits up, in the music our band frequently furnished them. At that time there was no band in the Capital city of Maryland ; the Naval School was closed and the buildings were used as a hospital, and consequently the fine band previously stationed there was disbanded. So even the residents of Annapolis were delighted on 56 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. our arrival, and whenever we played they came out en masse to hear us. On the first night we were at camp Colonel Sangster invited us to his residence on a serenade, where we had a splendid reception and were grandly treated. The second night we serenaded Governor Bradford, which attracted nearly the whole population, and His Excellency made one ofthe most patriotic speeches we had ever heard. Afterwards the band was invited to his mansion, where he had an elegant supper prepared, such as would feast the sight of a king. The following night it was the Mayor's turn, whom we serenaded, and at whose house we were also delightfully enter tained. Every evening our services in this pleasant manner were sought for, while during the daytime we were constantly-summoned to the wharf, at Annapolis, to receive new arrivals from Southern prisons, and escort them out to Camp Parole. Sometimes there would be several thousand of them at a time, ragged and emaciated, but in spite of their dispirited condition they fell promptly in fine, and as soon as the band struck up they would march in good order until camp was reached. On the contrary, before our arrival, we learned that they would straggle and scatter every where through the town. Colonel Sangster declared that with the band on the lead he had no trouble in bringing the men out to camp, and the citizens also expressed themselves as pleased with the good results of music upon the men. All this helped to raise the band very high in popular estimation. By this time the difference between a band with instruments and a band without them will be readily ESCORTING EXCHANGED PRISONERS. 57 understood, and at the same time bring to mind the response to General Archer, when I suggested that " a band without instruments was no band at all." In this condition, on our first arrival at Camp Parole, we received no more attention than did full privates ; but the same men with their implements of peace rather than war, were at once wanted everywhere and hos pitably treated.. Colonel Sangster, who was brother-in-law to that iron-handed man. Secretary of War Stanton, with Governor Bradford and the Mayor of AnnapoHs, coun seled together for the purpose of using their united influence towards having our band detailed perma nently at Camp Parole. The Colonel felt confident it could be done, and he would urge the fact upon the Secretary that the band could not be spared from camp, nor from Annapolis, because of its usefulness in escorting exchanged prisoners from the camp and bringing others in from the -wharf It was soon learned that the request so urgently made would be granted, and in proof of this we read the following paragraph in the Baltimore Clipper of May 2d, 1863 : — " Ex-Governor Hicks was serenaded last evening, at Walton's City Hotel, Annapolis, by the excellent band now permanently attached to Camp Parole. After discoursing several tunes in their usually mas terly style, Colonel George Sangster introduced the Governor to a large concourse of citizens, strangers and military. The Governor came forward and in his happy and felicitous manner enchained the attention of his friends for nearly an hour." We were now anxiously expecting news from the 58 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. army, where the band belonged, and every day had been looking for marching orders to join it. The merry month of May had brought with it the bursting of buds, the fresh foliage of the woodland adorned the beautiful landscape on every side, and we were anxious to take the field where sterner duty would soon be required of us. CAPTAIN F. A. ELLIOTT. (Killed May 3, 1863.) CHAPTER IV. Chancellorsville— Sad News from the Front — Rejoining the Regiment— Army Calls. General Hooker had superseded Burnside, the army was enthusiastic over its new commander, and great events were prophesied. All the news from the front was that Hooker was so much liked by the boys that they had given him, as an earnest of their faith in him, the sobriquet of " Fighting Joe." It was on the first day of May when we heard that the army was on the move and that General Hooker had inaugurated his initial campaign, resulting in the battle of Chancellors ville, and which was very disastrous to our regiment, losing heavily in both officers and men. A member of our band, who was with us at the time of our capture, but was now with the regiment, wrote the following letter in reference to that battle : — "Camp of 114TH Reg., Pa. Vols. "Near Aquia Creek, May i2th, 1863. " Dear Comrade : — When will our band come back? Will it ever? These are questions I hear every day. I hope it will not be long before you are with us, but you will miss a great many who will never march behind the band again. You have heard about the Chancellorsville battle, in which we lost so many men, officers and privates. " When the campaign began the army was in the 59 60 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. highest spirits, and had great confidence in General Hooker, and, judging from the preliminary move ment, it was clear he did not mean to repeat Burn- side's blunder. So he manoeuvred our army in a way that the rebels were impressed with the idea that he would cross the Rappahannock below Fredericks burg, where our corps crossed last December. By this means the bulk of the army was transferred to Kelly's Ford, leaving only the 6th Corps, while our corps moved down below Fredericksburg, expecting to take part in the engagement there; but on April 30th we received orders to report to Hooker, who was then at Chancellorsville House. Hooker had com pletely fooled General Lee in his manceuvre, and if he had pushed ahead with all his energies, as he did in the preliminary movement, Lee at that time having his army scattered, the result, doubtless, would have been a success. Hooker was in the best of spirits, and issued an order congratulating our. army, saying, fhe enemy must now come out and fight him on his chosen ground. We all thought so, too, but the greatest part of the field of operations, where our, army was at this time, was covered with a thick undergrowth, and sometimes impregnable thickets. Of course, in such a country the rebels had the advantage, as they were better acquainted with the surroundings than ourselves. "May 1st, about 11 a.m., our army niov^d forward to attack General Lee. Our corps was in reserve behind the Chancellorsville House. Soon there was heavy fighting in the front. The rebels fought with great determination ; they drove us and were driven in return. Our army had some good positions in the A GLANCE AT THE FIELD. 6 1 vicinity, with here and there a clearing for artillery. From all appearances, it did not look as if Lee intended to retreat and give up the Wilderness, where he had the advantage of a thorough knowledge of the ground ; besides, in retreating southward he would have come across Sedgwick, with the 6th Corps. Then Hooker could have followed and, between the two sections of our army, Lee's host could have been crushed. Lee, however, was not going to give Hooker that chance ; so he determined to fight here and hold his ground at all hazards. Hancock had a good position for artillery firing, and he should have held it by all means, and Warren, who was on Hooker's staff, thought so; but, after very hard fighting, Hooker sent an order to him to retire from the line. Soon after Hooker thought differently and countermanded the order, but it came too late, for the rebels were already in possession. " When the critical time for action came Hooker was undecided. The army, instead of an offensive, took up a defensive position, which put a damper on the , men, who were electrified by his order of the previous day. Our position at that important moment was considered pretty strong, as it had been well fortified. No doubt. General Hooker thought, if Lee attacked him, he would defeat him ; in fact, his calculations were that he would be compelled to do so, or retreat, as our position covered all the roads centering around Chancellorsville. The next morning two brigades of our division were moved to the right, between Slocum and Howard, where the thickets were impassable and the two lines separated by ditches, while Howard's front had no obstacle but the thickets and underwood. 62 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. and it wa.s, therefore, the weakest part of the line. Our brigade was sent to strengthen it, but Howard accepted it as an insult. Being over-confident, he contended that if he was good for anything he would attack him there. Our brigade was, therefore, with drawn. Throughout this day the enemy vigorously attacked diff'erent parts of our position, as they had good positions for their artillery east of Chancellors ville, and they annoyed Hancock with marked effect. " On the morning of May 2d we could see the rebels moving over a road to our right. Birney soon per ceived it to be an important move of some kind, and so reported to Hooker, who thought it a retreat of the enemy toward Gordonsville, still it might mean an attack on our right. Sickles was sent out to inter cept them, if possible, and soon found that it was Jackson's Corps, with some" 26,000 muskets. While this was transpiring, Lee, in order to cover Jackson's movement, made strong feints on our centre and left with artillery and infantry. Hooker sent an urgent order to Howard to fortify his line, and take every precaution against a surprise by sending pickets out to a safe distance, so as to give timely notice of an attack, if any occurred. "As we now see it, here was a grand chance for General Hooker, as Jackson was separated from Lee with one-half of his army. Could not Hooker have brought all his force to bear on Lee's weak line and- crush him, while Jackson was on the march toward our right? Hooker cannot be censured for what happened afterwards on the right of the line, but, I think, Howard is responsible for what occurred, as he had plenty of time and due notice to prepare ; he was A TERRIFIC SCENE. 63 in a country where, in a short time, he could have felled trees and formed obstructions to prevent any surprise; he had notice at lO A. m., and the attack came at 6 ?. m. Even if he could not have stopped him, he could have delayed him until he was rein forced ; but when Jackson's men came on, most of our men were cooking their rations, playing cards, and no precaution whatever appears to have been taken against the surprise, of which he had such timely notice from his chief The pickets came in the same time as did Jackson's men ; the i ith Corps came running down the road like sheep, tramping over everything in their way and endangering the whole line. Ever since the battle our men blame the Ger mans for the whole misfortune, in not standing up to the work instead of running; but it is doubtful if any corps in the army would or could have acted other wise under the circumstances. The blame rests on their commanders, principally the corps commander, for, had he taken due precaution, the corps would would have had time to form a strong line, besides having reinforcements. " I sincerely hope you may never look on such a scene. The flying crowd came on like a hurricane as it passed Chancellorsville House; nothing could arrest it, Staff" officers, with the help of cavalrymen," drew^ their swords, but to no purpose. Jackson's men were now near the Chancellorsville House, leaving a gap where Sickles was. Things looked dark indeed, and Jackson had to be stopped. Pleasanton collected all the guns he could in the hurry, and succeeded in putting thirty of them in position. Berry's Division, of our corps, was close at hand, in support, but the 64 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. time was precious ; before the battery of guns could be charged the rebels would be on us. , He then ordered Major Keenan, of the Sth Pennsylvania Cav alry, to charge with his 400 men against the io,oco victorious rebels, which was gallantly done, the Major losing his life, and likewise the most of his brave men, but the sacrifice accomplished the purpose; it gave a few minutes' time to load our cannon with double charges of grape and canister. The enemy rushed on, yelling, receiving the first fire, which mowed them down in whole ranks. Soon a second round was ready, and this fire not only wiped out the men, but it disabled the rebel artillery, and also effected a halt in their mad charge. It was now. dark, and General Jackson, who had been a terror to some of our troops, going outside of his line to reconnoitre, lost his life in the endeavor to get back. While all this was going on through Jackson breaking our right, it left our corps isolated, but, at the dead of night, General Sickles determined to cut his way through, and he accomplished the great feat, though dearly, but was rewarded in regaining a portion ofthe line the i ith Corps had lost, and also recaptured some batteries, besides an ammunition train. With this the day's fighting ceased, both sides resting in expecta- ti6n of renewing the contest at daylight. " The third day brought with it the largest loss of life to our regiment. General Hooker had formed a new line at daybreak, and our division was ordered to fall back on the same. As soon as the rebels ob served this they pitched into us and took our position, a hazel grove, and a good one for artillery. They soon crowded this point with their guns, and at the THE zouaves' HEAVY LOSS. 65 same time attacked Sickles' line on the left, but Mott's Division drove them back. Our corps fought with the greatest determination, but being assaulted by infantry and artillery on both flanks, they gradually fell back to the second line of defence, soon after to the third, which was .strongly fortified. This repeated falling back, under a heavy fire, was where our regi ment lost so many men, but this last line was per manently held by us to the end of the battle. A great deal I write you is from personal observation, but much more have I learned from the wounded men in hospital, besides hearing the staff officers tell of the hard-fought battle. "From all accounts, I have reason to believe our corps suffered the heaviest of any corps engaged, losing 4000 men. The loss to our regiment was also very severe : of 27 officers, 24 are among the killed and wounded ; those numbered with the killed being Major Joseph S. Chandler, Captain Frank Elliott, of Company F, and Lieutenant George M. Cullen. The total loss to our regiment was 175 killed and wounded. We recrossed the Rappahannock and are- now en camped at Aquia Creek. S. D." Soon after receiving this news from our regiment. Camp Parole had a large addition to its population in the prisoners captured at this last battle ; some 25 being men of our own regiment, an irresistible impulse seized us to be with our comrades on the field, and we were greatly rejoiced when Colonel Sangster in formed us pf the adverse decision by the Secretary of War, in reference to the band being permanently attached to Camp Parole, Secretary Stanton was 5 66 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. aware that all who were captured at the battle of Fredericksburg were exchanged, and he had received urgent requests from the front that the band was badly needed, both by corps and division commanders. As we belonged to the army, he informed the Colonel, it was impossible for him to keep the band at the camp, but said we could take our own time in going. I replied that the sooner we went the better, and we were soon on the way, in charge of an officer. On arriving in Washington — a new mayor having just been elected — we were requested to remain in the city over night,, in order to serenade that official. Next morning we took a boat for the front, and on passing Mount Vernon, which has been made sacred by the repose of Washington, the band struck up an appropriate air. It was a pleasant trip down the Po tomac, and early in the evening we arrived at Aquia Creek. On landing, we were more than surprised to see four Zouaves, comrades of our regiment, carrying somebody on a stretcher. On inquiry and closer scrutiny, we saw to our sorrow that the prostrate form was that of our esteemed Colonel, Charles H. T. Collis, who was stricken with fever and had leave of absence to return home. It seemed very strange to us, that just as we had returned to the army, he was leaving us. Our camp here was located at Potomac Creek, and when we reached it the place was almost deserted, only a few men -being around. Now that Colonel Collis was absent. Lieutenant Colonel Cavada was in command of the regiment and had charge of the camp. He earnestly expressed his pleasure on see ing the band back again, after their repeated misfor- A PLEASING SURPRISE. 6"] tunes, and as a becoming compliment he received our first serenade. We were informed that what was left of the regiment was every moment expected in camp, and probably then approaching. They had been out on picket duty, but were relieved. So we thought to give the boys a surprise by marching from camp a mile or two to meet them. Seeing their approach, we hid on the side of the road until the head of the line was opposite, when we took the lead as in days before, striking up a spirited piece, which was received with welcoming cheers by the battleworn men. The tune was a new one to them; they had never heard it before ; and one of the drummers was so enthused over it that he gave it the title of " Hell on the Rappahannock." Odd as it may seem, that particu lar piece of music was thereafter known by that sug gestive title as long as our band was in the service, and throughout the army " Hell on the Rappahan nock " became very popular. Frequently soldiers would come a considerable distance to hear us per form it, nor was it inappropriately named, for there was a deal of dash among the brass instruments, and antics of the drumsticks in its performance. The return to our regiment was only a few miles from where we left it during the preceding December, but a great change had come over the face of things in those eventful six months. Many of our close friends were missing, and the familiar faces of others were not there, nor were their names heard at roll call; but those remaining seemed to give us even a heartier greeting than ever before. There was a peculiar sadness in our loss^ 'Twas blow for blow, disputing inch by inch, For one would not retreat, nor t'other flinch. 68 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. We were pleased to find that quite a number of the valiant comrades of our regiment had received medals for meritorious conduct in battle, and particu larly in the last desperate contest ; but they did not seem to appreciate this special recognition, many rega.rding it as casting a reflection upon the men who stood shoulder to shoulder with them, and worthy the same mark of heroism. It was the feeling of the true soldier that prompted them to ignore the excep tional favors, saying, as they did, that they did not con sider themselves entitled to any more of distinction than those who received no medals. For this reason very few of the medals were worn. Even Marie, the vivandiere, received one, but she would not wear it, remarking that General Birney could keep it, as she did not want the present. Had it been made of gold, instead of copper, Marie would have set a higher value upon the souvenir. She was a courageous woman, and often got within range of the enemy's fire whilst parting with the contents of her canteen among our wounded men. Her skirts were riddled by bullets during the battle of Chancellorsville. After that admonition she kept well out of danger. Our originally splendid regiment was reduced to about half its former strength in less than one year from its organization, yet the boys that were left were the same boys they always were ; just as lively as before their ranks were thinned by the leaden hail, and from their sense of good humor it would not have been thought that the brittle thread on which their lives were suspended gave them the least concern. The first morning in camp, on being awakened by the buglers blowing the reveille, we were forcibly ARMY CALLS EXPLAINED. 69 reminded of being again with the army. You hear it first, perhaps, from the corps bugler, some distance away. It is soon -answered by the division bugler, and afterward by the brigade bugler. Then, if there is a regimental bugler, he will respond. The drum and fife corps soon follow, and in a short time the sleeping camp, where but a few moments before perfect stillness reigned, and no one stirring save a solitary sentry pacing up and down his lonely beat, is at once transformed into a busy scene ; every man is doing something ; some are washing, others are airing their blankets and making fires to prepare their break fasts — everybody is in a hurry, for other bugle calls are soon expected, and for other duties. These calls, in Jact, are just so many words of command ; and by strict and well defined military regulations they are adapted to special and important movements among the men. Some of them are pretty, suggestive of what they are -intended to indicate, and even musical, like the following, while others are quite the reverse. It may be of interest and in keeping with these narrations to give a few of the most prominent of these calls here. The first is the Reveille. ^s^^;=^^5i=r^i=r g^sEG ^^ ^^^^. 70 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. One of the first after the above is the Doctor's Call, or, as the boys named it, the " Quinine Call." AU who are ailing, or indisposed^ are expected to answer this by reporting promptly to the doctor for treat ment. If the complaint incapacitates the. patient for duty, the doctor may lay him off, if he sees fit ; other wise, he gives medicine and holds him to his task. Following the " Doctor's ", there is Guard-mount and Drill Call, in fact, calls for every line of duty. The former only is here given. the doctor's call. The Tattoo is a pleasing call. Like the Reveille, it is played at a regularly appointed time by all the /7\ n\ /T\ g^piPH^^^s^s -4 — * W ^^^^m tattoo. buglers,. and is the order to retire, or go to bed. It means that the soldiers' duty for the day is over; THE UNWELCOME PACK UP. 7 1 that they are now engaged in preparing their beds for the night. After awhile there is another call, positively the last of the day. It is known as Retreat, or "lights out", is short, and means rest. There is a sadness about it ; it often falls mournfully upon the ear, and by reason of its pathetic charac ter it has frequently been used at military funerals, to indicate the final resting-place of the deceased. , Andante. The monotonous Pack Up is the most unmusical and the least melodious of them all, and yet it is the most important ; is fraught with the greatest conse quences; comes unexpected and is in order at all times, day or night, Sunday and weekdays, and like the cry of fire ! it permits no delay or postponement. We have known the army to have been snugly en camped in winter huts to protect the men against the rigors of Boreas, when, without warning, this un welcome call, Pack up ! would be sounded atthe dawn of day, or even at midnight, and in a few minutes after ward camp would be broken and the men on the march; not knowing why or wherefore; imphcit obedience to orders being a soldier's first duty, this call is^'imperative. To illustrate, I may recall an inci dent in point. Our band was once playing a medley selection in which the army calls, including the Pack up, were introduced. The moment the latter sounded on the air the whole camp, including the officers. 72 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. were aroused and ran excitedly from their tents, wondering what was up; but when they perceived their band paying no attention to the Pack up, and unconcernedly continuing to play, the whole camp q^uieted down and returned to their tents. Annexed is the musical construction ofthis important call. ^^^^^^^^^ PACK UP. GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. CHAPTER V. March to Gettysburg — Meade Relieves Hooker— Battle of Gettysburg — Narrow Escape of the Band — Third Corps Field Hospital— After the Battle. Scarcely a week were we in camp when a long and -tiresome campaign opened, and which culminated in the memorable battle of Gettysburg. This army always fought well, had endured great hardships and privations, sacrificed many lives, yet so far it had failed to achieve the triumph it deserved. Probably it would have secured victory, instead of suffering defeat, had it been commanded as well as it fought. What was there to encourage and cheer the brave men in the coming campaign ? a campaign fraught with the most important results and serious conse quences. Had this army been made up of different and less enduring material than it was, it would never have- accomplished what it finally did. It had its share of skulkers and cowards, in common with every great mass of men, but the men generally were loyal to the jpore, as true as steel and as patriotic as the best. We arrived in camp on June 2, 1863, and the fol lowing day Longstreet's Corps disappeared from our front on the Rappahannock. The next day Ewell's Corps followed Longstreet. General Hooker soon saw that a change of movement was necessary in his front. Hill's Corps being the only one left behind, in 73 74 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. front of Lee, who was congregating his entire army at Culpeper. June ^. — Had division inspection. General Birney, who had already made efficient use of the band, sent for me at his headquarters, and asked if we had trans portation for our baggage. I told him we had not, and he said he would give orders to the Quarter master to take charge of it on the march, at the same time remarking that he would like the band to play at the head of the division on going through the towns, while on the march. So he doubtless' antici pated just what happened — a march northward. Gen eral Birney knew enough to kindly realize that a mu sician carrying a' heavy knapsack on a rough march could not have much wind left to expend on a brass instrument. And here was a campaign to be made during the hottest days of the year, and it surely proved to be the hardest by far that we had yet par ticipated in ; for it was made our duty, whenever prac ticable, to play on passing through the towns and villages ; no matter how much fatigued and completely worn out -when we made camp at night, after' getting an apology for a supper, consisting of coffee, salt pork, and hardtack — sometimes receiving fresh beef that had followed us all day, just been killed, and the meat yet fairly quivering with life when thrown in the frying pan — after this sumptuous repast, an order or request would come for music at the headquarters of corps, division, or brigade. This kind of work often kept us on the go until midnight, and sometimes well into the next day, after having frequently to march several miles to and from these headquarters. And it often happened that we were again on the march at NIGHT EXCURSIONS. 75 four o'clock in the morning and for another full day's - tramp. This kind of work would continue for weeks, allowing but few opportunities for needed rest. In this respect the band was worse off" than the men in the ranks, who, when they made camp, were undis turbed. Nor were these night excursions free from danger. Dn one occasion, after playing at corps head quarters — which were several miles away, and led us over a difficult road through the woods — the rear man of our party, who happened to be the bass drum mer, had extreme difficulty in making his way through the thick bushes. He was suddenly halted by our pickets, when an explanation followed, and he was told to run and catch up to the others as quickly as possible, and make no noise, for we were between the two picket lines. Our danger of capture was nearer than we knew of, and again we might have been sent to Libby Prison. There is no intent whatever in this recital on our part to complain, for, as a band, we were always ready to cheerfully perform our duty on every occasion and under all circumstances ; and in return we were well treated and properly appreciated. I cannot recall a single instance when our friends failed to cheer the inner man by helping us to the best they could command for meat and drink. June y. — Hooker sent his cavalry, under Pleasanton, to make a reconnoissance in force, and through the assistance of spies he discovered that the enemy was engaged in an important move. June II. — " Pack up 1" was sounded and the first day's march of the 3d Corps was to the fords opposite Culpeper, the object being to prevent the rebels from crossing over. We were encamped near 76 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Kelly's Ford. Here the country presented quite a contrast to that just left behind us, opposite Frede- ri'cksburg, where scarcely a tree was left standing, whilst here we were in the midst of cultivated fields and sheltering groves. In spite of General Birney's provision for having our luggage carried for us on this march, we continued to be strapped to our knap sacks, with haversacks filled with six days' rations, besides the cumbersome blankets around our necks and the thermometer up in the nineties. There was no use, as there would have been no reason, in requiring us to blow our instruments. June IJ. — We resumed our march. Our boys soon perceived General Robinson, their former brigade commander. They gave him a trio of hearty cheers, and the band tendered a salute by playing one of his favorite airs. As we proceeded water became very scarce, which was extremely annoying, as the heat was intense. When we reached Bealton Station, on the old Orange and Alexandria Railroad, orders were received to put all extra baggage on thenars, to be taken to Washington. Afterwards continued our mdrch until 7 p. m., when we made Catlett's Station and encamped there for the night. June 15. — The army started early and marched all day along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The sun was scorching hot, no air stirring to relieve the men as they wearily tramped .along, and a great many on this day of hardships fell by the way, and quite a large number were sun-struck. After a very exhausting march we made camp at Bristow Station. June 16. — At 7 A. M. we started again and marched as far as Bull Run. After supper we took advantage ENCAMPED AT BULL RUN. "JJ of the rare opportunity of enjoying a refreshing wash in the stream indicated by the foregoing historic name. The temperature continued very high ; even the tents, under which we looked for some comfort, seemed to intensify the heat. June IJ. — There was a sensational camp rumor, that General McClellan was again in command of the army, and that General Hooker was very ill. While waiting for orders to march we serenaded General Graham, at Brigade Headquarters. After taking needed recuperation we resumed our march, crossed Bull Run Creek and encamped a few miles beyond. June i8. — Remained there, and during the after noon the whole army was greatly relieved by a re freshing rain, the showers continuing all night. We were now encamped on a portion of the battle-field of Bull Run, where evidence was abundant, in the relics found/ of that disastrous defeat to the Union Army. June ig. — Continue in camp, our movements being governed by those of other counterparts of the army. It looked as though the intention was to remain here for a time, as inspection had been ordered for the morning and drill in the afternoon ; but it turned out to be a march at 3 o'clock, and the hardest we had experienced. The rain poured down in torrents throughout f:he day, and though the temperature had been so very high it changed to be very unpleasant and chilly. We were all wet to the skin, but kept on marching till after midnight, when we reached Gum Springs. To make this point it was necessary to force our way through a dense wilderness, and having to feel 78 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. our way rather than see it ; for it was pitch-dark, and the army actually floundered in the mud, stumbled over stumps and fallen trees, and waded through swollen streams. Tumbling here and there, regi ments were lost among themselves, all formation was at an end, comrades parted from each other and every one had to " go it blind." Sometimes, with all our best efforts, we scarcely advanced the distance of a mile in an hour. We thought there must be some very urgent reasons for the imposition of such a task, else why not wait until morning ? But the orders were to report at Gum Springs that night. It was about midnight, on this fearful march, when perceiving a large oak, with a reclining trunk, that here my brother and I found a trifling shelter by sitting under it until daylight, when we were informed that our regiment was encamped a mile farther on. On reaching camp, we made a roaring fire and ere long the saturated clothes were dried on our backs. Having made a good cup of strong coffee, and par taken of a soldier's breakfast, we began to feel ourselves again. But here, it may be remarked, that should any one have told us that men could endure such marching, from 3 o'clock until after midnight, drip ping wet under a chilling rain, and in that condition remain under the trunk of a tree all night, shivering and shaking till daylight, and then feel fit for duty the next day, we could not. have believed it. None save those who by degrees had become accustomed to such exposure and loss of rest could have endured the torture, for isuch it was. June 20. — Soon after breakfasting at Gum Springs, General Birney sent for the band and we serenaded COVERING THE CAPITAL. 79 him, and we were in no small degree consoled in being treated to a quantum sufficit of his purely medicinal fourth-proof spirits. Shortly" after this the regiment received new rations and with them some whisky, and if ever spirits did them any good, it was on that morning. In the afternoon we serenaded General Humphrey, commander of the 2d division of our corps, and after supper General Graham, our brigade commander, was tendered a serenade. The policy and paramount duty of General Hooker was, in moving the army, to always keep it between the enemy and Washington. At this time the I2th Corps was at Leesburg, the i ith Corps between Lees burg and Aldie, the 5th Corps near Aldie, the 2d Corps at the pass below, and our corps, the 3d, at Gum Springs, thus forming a complete screen all round for the security of the Capital. This accounts for our night march to reach this point at the time the orders indicated. These movements of our army compelled Lee to move west of the Blue Mountain ridge, and make the valley his line of communication. Hooker being now satisfied that Washington was safe from a coup de main, he gave orders for the army to pack up and resume its march. June 25. — Broke camp at 6 A. m., but this time we were provided transportation for our knapsacks, and it was fortunate for us, as we were often called on for music. Our march led us along large plantations, populated by negroes, and when the band struck up they became wild with excitement and love of the music ; and for miles they would keep along with us, dancing, jumping and yelling with delight. It seemed impossible for many of them to leave us. 8o MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Probably it was the first time these dusky people had ever enjoyed the pleasure of hearing the music of a brass band, and the capers of those jubilant and mirthful colored followers were greatly enjoyed by the men of our regiment. June 26. — On this day we reached the Point of Rocks, and the most important discovery made was that the people were baking horrid pies, and cakes that were even worse. Our boys, however, eagerly snapped them up at high prices, as they ^ere glad to make any kind of a change from hardtack. They also bought a plenty of onions, which were also sold on the gold premium principle. June 2^. — We broke camp at 6 A. m. and left Point of Rocks, passing through Jeffersonville. Now Birney, on entering a town, would halt his division until the band could take a position on the corners of two prominent streets. He then would direct us to continue playing until the whole division had passed. By this means the men kept precise step, and besides making an imposing appearance before the inhabitants, it prevented the men from straggling, as they became imbued with the pride of making a soldierly display. After the men had passed, of course, the band had to make haste and get to its place in the line of march. This day's march brought us near Middletown, where we encamped. June 28. — We made an early start, breaking camp at 5 A. M., passing through Middletown, leading the division through the city, and kept on marching, on pretty good roads, and in reasonably good time reached Frederick city. All along the route it was now manifest that we were leaving the " sacred soil " LOYAL GIRLS AND WOMEN. 81 of the enemy and getting once more with our friends. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and little red, white, and blue emblems were boldly displayed as greeting to our coming ; in fact, there appeared many Barbara Fritchies among the women, who with true courage and love for the Union thus made known their form.erly suppressed sentiments. Besides this cheering evidence of their fidelity, all along the route these noble women and lovely girls brought us cooling spring water, in buckets, thus making our hard march less wearisome, and when the band struck up " John Brown " they chimed in and sang the melody with great feeling. At one point, the women threw us bouquets of flowers, and cheered us on. A kind- hearted old man brought us a quantity of tobacco ; another, thinking we needed something to keep us in good spirits, brought us a flask of whisky, saying, " You boys must want something like this to keep the wind up." We assured this stranger-friend that the potion came at a very opportune time, as we were pretty well "played out." When General Lee resolved to invade the North, he calculated to make large accessions to his army from the Marylanders, who, he thought, were disaf fected and only waiting for a fair opportunity to join the Confederate Army. So he issued a stirring ad dress to the people of that State, proposing to liberate them from the " Yankee yoke ", and especially ap pealing to the young men to rally under his standard. If there were many who had been undecided as to which side they should be on, doubtless their minds were made up after seeing Lee's army of ragged and dirty butternut warriors. From the kindly welcome 6 82 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. we received, we were more strongly convinced than ever before that there was a firm Union feeling alive among these people, and even stronger and evidently more loyal than had been found in some ofthe border towns of Pennsylvania. Our men now began to feel that they were on the march to defend their own homes, and this fact gave them a fre.sh inspiration and also helped them to forget their great hardships. The beautiful city of Frederick, and the signs of loyalty there demonstrated in various ways, made us feel the presence of true patriotic ardor as well as friendship, and with stronger impulses than ever before our men stepped firmly on the march to meet the invading army of Lee, and face the consequent dangers. On coming from Frederick City, on a by-road, looking upward we saw a man hanging from the limb of a tree. Word ran along the line "that it was the body of a spy — only a spy — and there it was left dangling by the neck as a warning to others who might be tempted to act as such. We halted outside the city to take dinner, after which we resumed the march until 6 p. m., when we bivouacked in a field near Walkerville, where the farmer supplied us with cordwood and thereby saved his fences. After supper we serenaded General Birney, he having resumed command of the division. He had temporarily com manded the corps during the absence of General Sickles, who had now returned and taken charge of his former corps. During this day we received im portant news. General Hooker having had a disagree ment with General Halleck respecting the troops stationed at Harper's Ferry, which the former wished GENERAL MEADE ASSUMES COMMAND. 83 to add to his army. General Halleck refused the request as to the use of the troops at that place by Gen eral Hooker. On this rebuff, Hooker resigned, and General George G. Meade was appointed to his place. On assuming command. General Meade issued the following to the army : — " General Orders, No. 66. " Headquarters Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1862. " By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Poto mac. As a soldier, in obeying this order — an order totally unexpected and unsolicited — I have no prom ises or pledges to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacri fices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the direction ofthe contest. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in command of this army an eminent and accom plished soldier, whose name must ever appear con spicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the im portant trust which has been confided to me. " George G. Meade, " Major-General, Commanding. " S. S. Bristow, " Assis'i Adj't General." By this unlocked for order a Pennsylvanian and a man possessing §ill the attributes of a soldier was called upon to free the soil of his native State, and likewise the country, of an enemy that was placing 84 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. the very life of the nation in peril, and it would be difficult to even imagine the anxiety weighing upon the sensitive mind of that loyal man on accepting the tremendous responsibility. Of one thing we were assured at the start ; that the government could not have trusted a more conscientious soldier for the uncertain task. Strange as it was, almost the first, act he did was to withdraw the 10,000 idle troops from Harper's Ferry; just what caused the resignation of his predecessor, Halleck having refused Hooker's proposition to the same end. These 10,000 soldiers were removed from Harper's Ferry by Meade and stationed at Frederick City, under command of Gen eral French, and this command, after the battle of Gettysburg, came very near proving fatal to the retreat of Lee as he crossed the Potomac. By this time Lee's army was far north of our own — Early was at Wrightsville, to seize the bridge over the Susquehanna ; Ewell was at Carlisle, Hill at Fayette- ville, and Lee and Longstreet were at Chambersburg. Lee's error was in taking it for granted that our army was still south of the Potomac, and it was only on this day that he learned of its exact position, and finding our army south of him and in easy striking position for his line of communication, he was com pelled to recall his advance corps, and gave them orders to concentrate at Gettysburg. The left flank of our army, as it moved northward, was under Gen eral Reynolds, another Pennsylvanian, and was made up of three corps: the ist, in command of General Doubleday; the nth, under General Howard; the 3d being commanded by General Sickles. June 2g. — We broke camp at 6 A. m. and resumed NEARING GETTYSBURG. 85 our march, going through Woodborough, a neat little town, and at 9 A. m. we passed a village named Ladysborough. As an assurance that the town had not been misnamed, three pretty young ladies stood on a porch and sang " John Brown " while our col umn was passing. Our men repeatedly cheered the loyal young girls for the welcome thus tendered. On passing through Taneytown the people received us as though we were their deliverers. We encamped about a mile outside this town for the night, well nigh exhausted by the severe march. June JO. — ^This morning we remained in camp and were visited by many ladies, who came in clusters from the town and adjacent farms. There was a deal of encouragement in their presence and kindly words, such as we never experienced south of the Potomac. At 2 p. M. tents were struck and our march directed toward Emmetsburg, encamping a mile from that town. By this time the band, as far as the music was to be considered, was in a demoralized condition ; both heads of the bass drum were broken, the snare drum was ruptured and other instruments were out of order. However, we made shift as best we could, until opportunities for repairs might be presented. July I. — Remained in camp until i p. m., when news came that a heavy battle was in progress, and we were soon convinced of the fact on hearing the thundering of artillery to the north of us. During a pelting rain, on orders, we broke camp, and forcing our way through pasty mud towards Gettysburg, soon crossed the State line, and the fact of fighting the enemy on the soil of our own State,, impressed our army with a feeling it had never before expe- 86 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. rienced; the men appeared to be at once inspired with renewed energy and greater confidence. The clothes of the fatigued men were sticking close to their bodies from the heavy rain and excessive perspi ration, and yet they were frequently compelled to press forward on the double-quick. On the Emmetsburg road, as we approached Gettysburg, we met a long train of country teams, , containing women and children and old men, mixed up with an indiscriminate gathering of household furniture and utensils — all fleeing from their homes or driven away by the invaders. The faces of our men grew pale with shame and indignation at the idea of our own people being driven from their fire sides; they saw that the tables were being turned upon them, and many were heard to swear that "A man not willing to fight his best now, will never fight 1" This was the feeling of wrath and subhme courage that now possessed the heart of every man in our army ; this was the determination with which the host under Meade pressed forward to the fray. It was almost dark when we approached Gettysburg. On the right of the road was pointed out to us the Rose farm, owned by George W. Rose, of Germantown, and where many of us had a refreshing drink of cold water from the pump to quench our burning thirst. Soon after we came to the Peach Orchard, when we filed right and marthed through the same, and where on the following day our own corps met with such horrible slaughter. On the left of the Emmetsburg road, within a hundred yards of us, the rebels had their camp-fires blazing, as they were busily engaged in preparing and BUFORD AND HILL OPEN THE BATTLE. 87 taking supper. They seemed not to pay any atten tion to us, and it looked as if they were our friends, instead of being deadly foes, but, by the time the 2d division of our corps came up, the rebel line had already crossed the Emmetsburg road, when they were compelled to turn off and come up later over another road. We then marched direct to the ridge and encamped on the right of the Round Top. This ridge, however, which is called Seminary Ridge, when it approaches the Round Top actually ceases to be a ridge. Our line ran out from the Round Top, on the left, while the right joined the 2d Corps. Here we encamped for the night, sadly in need of some rest, but happily unconscious of what was in store for our corps the coming day ; still, from the tone and temper of the troops, we knew that the fighting to be engaged in would be of the most desperate character. The first day's battle was over and the Confederates were exultant over the result. (In a brief description of this battle, one thing should be borne in mind by the reader when speaking of our own corps, in comparison with a rebel corps. Numerically, there was a wide difference. The whole rebel army consisted of only three corps, while our army had seven. In other words, a rebel corps represented one-third of Lee's combined force ; a corps of the army of the Potomac represented one- seventh of Meade's force.) The battle of the first day was brought on by Gen eral Buford's cavalry division, who posted his men on the ridge running west of the town, known as Seminary Ridge. There he planted his batteries, dismounted his men and threw out his pickets, but 88 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. they were soon "attacked by Hill's Corps, who pushed the cavalry pickets on their line. The bat teries then opened and the cavalry kept the rebel infantry in check until General Reynolds came up with the 1st Corps to relieve Buford. When the rebels arrived here they found some raw militia, which they soon brushed on one side, by way of amuse ment ; but when they perceived the ist Corps' work, they knew their old foemen of the Army of the Potomac, and that they had to face men worthy of their steel. General Reynolds, who was engaged in posting his corps, being in a grove on the east bank of Wil loughby Run, which was thick with rebel sharp shooters, as he rode forward and dismounted, was shot in the neck, his death being almost instantane ous. The command then devolved on General Doubleday. This little corps of only about Sooo. men, by this time was hotly engaged with some 20,000 rebels, and for full two hours the latter were gallantly held in check. Here General Archer, who endeavored to outflank our line, was caught in the trap, and he and his whole brigade were captured. General Reynolds, as soon as he-came on the ground, seeing at a glance the strength of the enemy, sent for the nth Corps to hurry up to the'help ofthe ist Corps. Howard responded with alacrity, and posting one division under Steinwehr, at Cemetery Hill, he pushed the two other divisions, under Barlow and Schurz, to the aid of the ist Corps, and posted them on the right of that corps, resting on the Mummas- burg road.- For an hour the battle raged with great fury, when Early's Division, coming up over the York WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER IN THE STREETS. 89 road, with over 40,900 men, our force numbering only 20,000, the rebel host could now outflank our line, which they soon did, compelling the ist Corps to fall back, and eventually the whole line had to give way, the nth Corps retreating mostly through the town, crowding the streets and pursued by the exultant rebels. Here, on Washington and Baltimore streets, between 2000 and 3000 of our men were captured, while the ist Corps, which mostly retreated through the western section of the town, kept in good order until they arrived on Cemetery Hill, where Steinwehr had_ planted his batteries, which, with the infantry supports, were too much for the pursuers. The rak ing fire from the guns was a grand defence from that strong position in the moment of trial, and the invaders were halted. This was about 4.30 P. M. The 1st Corps had suffered dreadfully, having for several hours held vastly superior numbers in check, but they punished the rebels in like manner. Soon after. General Hancock arrived on the ground and, by direction of General Meade, took command and decided to hold this position for battle, and so re ported to General Meade. The enemy were boastful and jubilant over this day's fighting; the results were so encouraging to them that they expected to annihilate our army the coming day. The people of Gettysburg were dis tressed ; they witnessed the wholesale slaughter of our men in their streets ; they were within the enemy's hues and surrounded by the plundering horde, who hoped to finish us on the morrow. Considerable criticism was freely ventured because General Sickles was not at hand on this fearful day; having had posi- 90 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. tive orders to remain at Emmetsburg until he had a countermanding order to move, as previously stated. Our march proved that it was hastened as much as possible; nor could he move before receiving an order to that effect from General Reynolds. It was 10.30 A. M. when he sent an orderly for the 3d Corps, who had to ride from 12 to 14 miles at rapid pace to reach Sickles, which he did by 1.30 p. m. In spite of and under a pelting rain, which made marching very tiresome, the corps arrived at Gettysburg before dark, while the 1 2th Corps, which was only six miles away, did not move in answer to the heavy cannonade, which Sickles heard plainly at his much greater dis tance. Such is simply a specimen of military " red tape." Had the 12th Corps responded to the re sounding call of the artillery, its presence would probably have prevented the enemy from flanking our line, July 2. — The whole army was at hand, with the exception of the 6th Corps, which had to march from Manchester, some 30 miles, but it arrived about 2 p.m. Early on this morning. General Sickles took a close observation of the position he had, and also the one in front of him ; his position on the right of the Round Top being low ground, while that at the Peach Orchard being in- the possession of the rebels, he could not hold his own. So he concluded to take that position himself and therefore ordered his corps forward, a mile or less. It was a grand sight to witness this little corps of two divisions gallantly move on, the advance being made by the 63d Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Colonel Danks, as skirmishers. The move we thought meant a brisk DESPERATE FIGHTING. 9 1 fight, and, subsequently, it was generally considered to have been a very proper one, although the force was too small for the importance of the event, as our corps only numbered about 8000 men. The 2d Division, under General Humphrey, forined along the Emmetsburg road, while our division, the ist, under General Birney, swung around the Peach Orchard, forming a complete angle there and extending to the Round Top. The line was thereby too much attenuated to make a successful resistance against the powerful force which soon came. When the line advanced. Colonel Cavada, who was in command of our regiment, told me to take good care of the band ; probably recollecting the mishap at Fredericksburg. We therefore immediately reported to our surgeons, who were at the foot of the Round Top and Taneytown road. The ruins of an old barn still remain where we established our hospital. It would be impossible to go into the particulars of the battle on this day, or recount one-half the occurrences coming to our sight on this, the memorable day of July 2. It was about three o'clock when the rebels com menced the attack by using their heavy artillery in a raking fire on the angle at the Peach Orchard. Longstreet had 30,000 of his veterans on this part of the line, and they made repeated charges ; diff'erent portions of our hne were taken and recovered. The fighting defies description ; it was simply of the most desperate character, but our little corps, being reinforced by two divisions of the 5th Corps and one division of the 2d Corps, was not easily driven from its position. 92 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Our brigade occupied the exposed position of the angle at the Peach Orchard, our regiment being just to the right, at the Sherfy House, where, during the progress ofthe battle, a number of our wounded men crept into a barn as best they could, the building afterwards taking fire and all within it were consumed by the flames, thus meeting a horrible death after being disabled on the field of carnage. From this part of the line all the way to the Round Top, the battle furiously raged, and it was clearly demonstrated thatwe could not hold our position. Captain Bigelow was directed, however, to hold fast until new batteries could be established on a ridge, in the rear, which he nobly did at a great sacrifice, giving the rebels grape and canister as they advanced. Still they came on with yells, climbing on the limbers of his artillery and actually shooting his horses. Although himself wounded, in obedience to orders he held his posi tion until nearly all his men were killed or wounded. When he heard the new line of batteries open fire, he brought away, by hand, two of his guns and five limbers. This battery was from Massachusetts, had enlisted for nine months, and this was the first time the brave men had been under fire. They were noble fellows. It was strange, arid yet a fact, that down to this time the Round Top was still in the air; or, in other words, it had not been taken possession of by our men ; only occupied as a signal station. General Warren, who was on General Meade's staff, happened to go up there for observation, when he was struck with the great importance of the position, and which ultimately proved to be the key to the success of our A TIMELY ARRIVAL. 93 army. Noticing the enemy pushing a strong force to get possession of the Round Top, and seeing Barnes's Division, of the 5th Corps, going in to reinforce Sickles, on his own responsibility General Warren detached Vincent's Brigade to at once embrace the opportunity and occupy the signal station. By this time the enemy were ascending the south side of the coveted position, and there the contestants for the prize had it hard and heavy, but Vincent finally established himself securely, though soon after giving his life for the gallant achievement, a rebel sharpshooter in Devil's Den having picked him off". General Hood, who was on the extreme right of Longstreet's Corps, in order to out-flank Vincent's line, sent a brigade to our extreme left, and this move brought them to the rear of the Round Top and Taneytown road, on the same spot where our hos pital was located. They came on, yelling as only rebels could ; they were right on top of us, and once more, we thought, were we in for capture, and there seemed no Way out of- it; but just then, fortunately, a brigade of the 5 th Corps came on the double-quick to intercept the rebel movement. For a time we were between the two fires, of friends and foes, but luckily, the enemy was compelled to yield, and we, the doctors and all, were saved by this opportune arrival of the Sth Corps, who made a grand and successful bayonet charge. It was discovered that the hospital was too close to the line of battle, and at this time there was an abundance of work for the operating surgeons and their corps of assistants. The doctors selected an- 94 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. other hospital site, along Rock creek, as a proper place on account of safety and the good supply of water. What we here experienced will never be effaced from our memories. Along this creek was a meadow of several acres. Here they brought all the wounded on this part of the line, and where nearly all the fighting this day occurred. And when it is consid ered that during the three days' fighting at Gettysburg, full 60 per cent, of the casualties occurred on this day, no other proof of the terrible fighting is needed. The 2d of July was a day of horror. To and from our hospital the ambulances heaped with the wounded were running all day ; some of the men were dead when delivered to the surgeons, and others were more dead than alive ; the most of them, how ever, were not dangerously stung by the balls and bayonet thrusts of the enemy. The dead were lying on the field. The surgeons soon had their rude tables erected for amputating purposes. At the front, men were doing their worst to kill and maim each other ; here nothing was left undone to save those who had sacrificed their all, save life itself The wounded could soon be counted by thousands, and what could these few doctors and their assistants do when there were so many to do for? The wisdom, however, in selecting Rock creek fqr a hospital, was soon demonstrated, as the wounded were constantly crying for water. All day, and even during the night, these busy surgeons were amputating limbs in the hope of saving the lives of the unfortunate. Fre quently the severed arms and legs reached level with the tables, in ghastly heaps, when a detail of men would dig long trenches and bury them. And so it THE SURGEONS BUSY. 95 was kept up, this horrid work, on the second, third, and even on the fourth days of July. What a Fourth of July that was! As we assisted the doctors in administering chloro form and holding the mutilated men, we were enabled to learn of the value of this simple and convenient drug, besides seeing what a blessed thing it was to those thus unconsciously subjected to the knife and saw. Without its application the very hills would have resounded with the groans of those operated upon, and which would have stricken terror to the very souls of those soon to take their places on the amputating tables. All this, too, taking place under the intense heat of a July sun ! The second day around these tables, the peculiar stench became unbearable. At night we had some opportunity for lying down, in the hope of having rest, but sleep was impossible, for the pleading cry for water came from the wounded in every direction. When daylight broke upon the scene, the very foliage of the beauti ful hillsides and the verdure of the valley seemed to add a sombre tinge to the mournful picture. Even the dawn was draped in misery. The dead were strewn all over the turf We had given them water, and their prayers had gone to the loved ones at home, but through the darkness of the night their Hves had gone out with the blood that crimsoned the sod beneath their motionless bodies. * * * The fighting on this day was continued with the greatest tenacity until darkness blended with the con flict, when a division of the 6th Corps was pushed in. When Longstreet observed this new and intact line of troops^ which had not yet been engaged, he con- 96 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. eluded to give up by withdrawing to his own line, and the fighting ceased. They had failed to break our left, although we were driven from the Peach Orchard,' but the line was just as General Meade had intended. On this day there was the most desperate fighting on our right. General Ewell commanded the extreme left of the enemy's line, and he endeav ored to capture our strong position on Cemetery Hill. Here the Louisiana Tigers charged up this incline, receiving the terrific fire of our batteries and infantry, but the batteries on the hill not 'being able to sufficiently depress their guns, a portion of the assail ing party reached our position. In this extremity our cannoniers fought with whatever they could lay hands on; ramrods and even stones were used as weapons of defence and destruction; at the same time the batteries on Gulp's Hill and Wolf's Hill threw grape and canister into the rebel ranks, until they were virtually annihilated. Out of 1500 of the Tigers not 300 survived. Ewell then attacked our extreme right, where only a single brigade, Green's, of the 12th Corps, was left, the rest being on our left to assist Sickles, but Green's little brigade did as good fighting as was reported . from any other portion of the field. In front of his position the rebel dead laid in heaps. They, however, succeeded in penetrating our line near Spangler's Spring, and when General Geary returned from the left he found the enemy in his breastworks, but with the assistance of Lockwood's Maryland, brigade and Shaler's brigade, of the 6th Corps, after some very hard fighting they were driven out. On the memorable 3d of July, feeling the need of PICKETT'S BOLD CHARGE. 97 a change of scene, I took a stroll along the Taney town road and was nearing General Meade's head quarters, when suddenly a cannonade opened from both sides, the terrific thunder of which was such as I had not before listened to. The very earth appeared to quake, and I soon experienced that, although sauntering on the Taneytown road, I might as well be on the front line, as many of the shells flew over the line of battle and fell a few hundred yards in the rear. The rebel artillerists had over-estimated the distance, else our line would have suffered much more than it did. As it was General Meade's headquarters were repeatedly struck and a number of his staff" horses were killed. He then moved his quarters to General Slocum's, or Gulp's Hill. Having no business there and no cause to unnecessarily expose myself to such danger, I lost no time in getting back to the hospital. The purpose of this demonstration by the artillery by the rebels was to demoralize, if possible, our line, as a prehminary to the charge of Pickett's Division, which was made when our batteries ceased to respond to their random fire. Our silence they accepted as a sign of weakness, but General Hunt, Chief of Artillery, had given orders to that effect so as to* cool the guns for the moment, knowing what was soon to- come. The charge was made, and its failure is simply a historic fact. Instead of our artillery being disabled, it was in splendid condition for service when Pickett's Division approached our line. Our disabled guns had been replaced by reserve artillery, and the closer the enemy came the surer they advanced into the jaws of death. The remnant of those brave men came not only up to our line, but forced their way 98 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. inside, where the Philadelphia Brigade, of the 2d Corps, was, and there they were shot down or taken prison ers. Their failure was a foregone conclusion. Had they been as strong when they reached us as when they started on the desperate charge, something might have been accomplished ; but even then they would have had to fight the 3d Corps, which was closing in on them, while the ist Corps was in the rear. The battle of Gettysburg was actually decided on July 2d ; the final result was then in the balance. The rebels fought heroically to break our left, and did their best to break our right. In speaking to prisoners belonging to Pickett's Division, they said we played them a Yankee trick. They explained by retorting: "You left us come within your line, and then, as soon as we were there, you closed it behind us and we were your prisoners." In some respects it did so happen, but the " trick " was really in defend ing our line in a good cause, and finally in preventing a victory on the part of our enemy in a very unjustifi able one. With the charge of Pickett's Division the fighting at Gettysburg closed, but neither the army nor General Meade were sure of a cessation of hostili ties on this field of blood and slaughter, though Lee began his retreat that evening, and all the next day his shattered and beaten army were well protected from observation by the dense foliage of the woods along Seminary Ridge. The band just at this time was very short of rations, having drawn none since breaking camp below Emmetsburg; the regiment, was served there, but the Quartermaster neglected to see that we were sup- GENEROSITY OF COMRADES. 99 plied. On the 14th of July, General Birney, who was now in command of the corps — General Sickles having lost a leg near the Peach Orchard — sent for the band to come up to the Hne of battle, to play in honor of the National Anniversary. We performed the national airs, including the Star Spangled Banner. At that moment the rebels sent a shell over our line. It flew above our heads, however, and did no damage. This was one of the last shots they fired on this field, probably to have us believe they were still there for a fight. On returning to the hospital, we passed on the way the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers, in command of Major George W. Jones, of Germantown. They had been drawing rations, and received them in quantity according to their roll-call before the battle, although now reduced to about half their former number. Therefore, having more than they knew what to do with, we were invited to help ourselves, which we gladly accepted, as we were really sufiTering from hunger. There, too, we had even a richer treat, . in seeing the rebel General Archer in their bull-ring. Whether or not the trite phrase is correct, just then revenge was sweet, as the band was more than pleased to see the tables thus turned on him. Before reaching hospital it rained very hard, and it was evident that Rock Creek was overflowing. All our wounded were lying in the meadow, and soon its surface was covered with water. Every one at com mand was put into service at helping the prostrate men to higher ground, which was nicely accomplished without any serious consequences to them. July J. — We received orders to report to the regi- lOb MUSIC ON THE MARCH. ment, thus leaving our hospital and all the sickening scenes associated therewith, knowing that ere long the wounded would be in better hands,as the Sanitary Com mission, with all possible appliances and assistance for the amelioration of the sick and disabled were begin ning to arrive when we resumed our marching back to Virginia. There was enough to sink our spirits very low on reporting to our regiment, for this formerly strong and splendid body of men could only show about sixty muskets. It was com manded by Major Bowen, Colonel Cavada having been made a prisoner. The 141st Pennsylvania, however, was even smaller in number. The regiment came to us in front of Fredericksburg, full one thousand strong, where they claim to have sustained a heavier loss than any other regiment in the army. When the line at the Peach Orchard had to fall back, this regiment was ordered to charge on the advancing rebels. It was somewhat like the charge of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry at Chancellorsville. The 141st was obedient to duty, but at a fearful cost of hfe; still, the sacrifice accomplished its purpose, as it gave our broken line sufficient time to form anew. We resumed our place at the head of the line, but it seemed more like heading a funeral procession, and marched directly over the hotly contested field, on which there remained abundant evidences of the carnage; dead horses were scattered over the vast expanse, and here and there were the bodies of men, some in fragments, the stench adding sickness to the repulsive scene. We marched over the blood-chris tened Peach Orchard, or what was such on the even ing of July I. It was then an orchard of beautiful AFTER THE BATTLE. 1 01 trees, fresh in foliage ; but now not a single tree was left on the whole tract of land ; all were cut down by the iron and leaden hail belched forth from artillery and musketry; only a field of stumps from twelve to eighteen inches high remained. If any locality on the battle-field deserves the name of " bloody angle," this is the spot. Those who now visit this portion of the field of Gettysburg will see that orchard restored to all its pristine beauty. A beautiful growth of- peach trees again there bloom in season, to efface the evidences of devastation and death. As to the results of this battle, it was certainly a great and grand triumph for the Army of the Potomac. It proved that the high-water mark of the Rebellion had been reached. From that time and event the Confederacy was losing ground, and, in retreating. General Lee acknowledged a disastrous defeat to both his army and his cause. By defeating the Army of the Potomac he had hoped to dictate a compromise with the. Government on his own terms. In this vanquishing victory, however, the South was baffled and the North securely freed from another attempted invasion. As we marched along it was painful to mark the diminished ranks of our brigade ; it scarcely made the show off a full regiment. Our brigade com mander, General Graham, was not with us, having been wounded and captured ; General Sickles was hors du combat by losing a leg ; Colonel Cavada, of our own regiment, was a prisoner; and yet, in spite of all the hard usage and decimation of its ranks, the men marched cheerfully along — in fact, just as if nothing very serious had occurred. The booming of cannon in the distance still reminded us that the battle of I02 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Gettysburg was not the last one on the programme; that we were not yet done with the enemy. As soon as General Meade was satisfied that Lee had retreated, he sent the 6th Corps, under Sedgwick, in pursuit of the fleeing rebels. This was the strong est corps in the army and but little engaged at Gettysburg. With the cavalry he rapidly pushed after Lee's army and found him in a very strong -position at Fairfield Pass. On reconnoitering and cannonading the pass, he determined that it was too strong to successfully attack, and the rebel army made sure in reaching the Potomac river, where pontoons were ready to cross over; but General French had sent an expedition from Frederick City and destroyed the pontoons at Falling Waters. Lee was therefore compelled to select a stronger position, at Williamsport, which he had well fortified. His line ran from the latter to the former place, and the rebels worked day and night to make it impregnable, and thus giving them time to rebuild their bridges across the Potomac. Our army, being unable to pursue them through Fairfield Pass, was compelled to take a longer route to reach the Potomac, which was greatly in favor of General Lee. July 7. — Again marched through Emmetsburg, and encamped near Mechanicsville. The weather was horrible, the roads completely turned up by our wagon and artillery trains, forcing the infantry to march in the fields on either side the road. July 8. — We marched through Frederick City, where we found the New York militia on duty, and the men gave our regiment three rousing cheers. On this march was witnessed the meanness of some FINANCIERS AMONG THE FARMERS. IO3 ofthe " loyal " farmers of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Being somewhat indisposed, I was compelled to fall in the rear, and was, therefore, separated from our regiment for several days, and, with others, depended on farmers for something to eat. They charged us fifty cents for a canteen of milk, and one dollar for a loaf of bread. One of these hay-seeders boasted of having made fifty dollars on a single barrel of flour, which was worked into bread and sold to the soldiers. We gave these sharkish yeomen to understand that it served them right if they were sometimes robbed by our men. July p.- — Reached Middletown, where we halted to receive new supplies, many ofthe men being actually shoeless. The wagon trains occupied all the roads, cutting them up in a fearful conditiqp, and making our march a painful task. July 10. — Broke camp early in the morning, marched steadily until 12 o'clock, halted for dinner and rest, and at 4 p. m. started off again and kept on foot until midnight, when all were pretty well used up. This day we passed over a large portion of the battle field of Antietam, and found many mementoes of that well-fought contest. CHAPTER VI. Williamsport — Harper's Ferry — Sulphur Springs. July 12. — Once more we are confronting the rebel army. After reconnoitering the position. General Meade, finding the enemy strongly intrenched, called a council of war of his corps commanders, who were almost unanimously against making an attack. Nothwithstanding this adverse feeling, he was desirous to assault the menacing rebels, and finally decided to do so on the morning of the 14th. By almost super human efforts the Confederates succeeded in recon structing the bridges, and during the night of the 13th they accomplished the task of transferring their army, with their heavy trains and artillery, to the southern side of the Potomac. Our army soon fol lowed and inarched over the same ground they had occupied. This gave our men an opportunity to see the strength of the rebel position, and they were unanimously of the opinion that we could not have taken - it ; and they knew what they were talking about quite as well, and sometimes better, than their generals, as to what a strong position was. When morning came, however, the bird had flown, and the people, while perfectly satisfied in being freed from the invasion, at the same time expressed disap pointment, as they expected the whole rebel army would be bagged. The Administration, too, found 104 WISDOM OF GENERAL MEADE. IO5 fault with Meade, whereupon he promptly offered his resignation, claiming that he did his duty to the best of his ability, and, if some one else could do better, he was ready and willing to get out ofthe way. The Government would not accept his resignation, at the same time disclaiming any intent to censure him, only meaning its censorship as an incentive to renewed energy. Such a watchful commander as Lee could not be easily bagged. He undoubtedly had arranged his line of retreat before the battle of Gettysburg begun, just as did Meade, in case the field had been finally turned against him. And then, too, our army was in no condition to attack a strongly intrenched line, such as Lee had at Williamsport; the men were really fought out, used up, and we had but a single corps, the 6th, in good fighting trim. In fact, it was compulsory for Meade to halt a day or two at Mid dletown in order to receive new supplies, for many of the men were actually without shoes and other indispensable articles. It required some time to have these necessaries distributed among our men, and this favored Lee with the opportunity to select and strengthen his very favorable position. It was after ward ascertained that the thoroughly fortified rebels wished for nothing better than to have been attacked at Williamsport; then and there Lee expected to atone for the Gettysburg defeat. They were heard to say : " Now we have Meade where we want him ; let him come on; but the Old Fox is too cunning." The defeat to our army there would no doubt have rendered fruitless the great victory at Gettysburg, and at the same time have infused into the Rebellion a new lease of life. I06 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. A portion of the rebel army, consisting of Ewell's corps and a part of Longstreet's, waded the river at Fall ing Waters, j ust below Williamsport, where they were overtaken by our troops, and a sharp action was engaged in. Among the killed was the rebel General Pettigrew, and we captured about two thousand prisoners. General Lee then retreated southward, taking the south side ofthe Potomac, while our army continued in pursuit on the other side of the river. July IJ. — General French now assumed command of our corps, and on this day we marched through Sharpsburg, encamping a few miles beyond. We soon discovered that the new commander was extremely fond of the music of the band, and on this same day we tendered him our first serenade ; he was almost captivated, if not captured, as he so expressed him self, by the stirring programme unfolded for him. Although at this time there was another band in our division, which we had thought would relieve us of some" of our duties as musicians, it did not so happen, for the Zouave Band, on going through the towns,, was uniformly directed to lead the line of march and play at headquarters in the evening. July i6. — Had reveille at 3.30 A. m., packed up in a hurry, and was soon on the march again, passing through Greenville, where we saw one thousand half- clad rebel prisoners, who were taken by our cavalry in the recent movements since the battle of Gettys burg. The march this day led mkinly through shady groves, where we were also blessed with an abundance of good water and plenty of berries ; in all of this march the one treat to the hardtack soldiers most keenly enj oyed and not soon forgotten. As soon as the JOHN brown's FORT. IO7 men made camp they rushed out with their tin cups to the inviting luxury, and so thick was the fruit on the bushes that each man soon returned with his cup full of ripe blackberries. With the help of a little sugar, which was always received as a part of the rations, every man was provided with a rich dessert to his monotonous bill of daily fare. July 77. — Under a relentless rain storm again we broke camp and went on foot, the water falling in pelting torrents as we continued the march, and our clothes being soaked to the wringing point. In this condition we reached the Potomac late in the evening, at Harper's Ferry, where we crossed the river on pontoons. Apparently in this town there was a stronger Union feeling among the inhabitants, in pro portion to the population, than was found elsewhere in Virginia. This was owing, probably, to the fact that the adult residents were principally made up of Northern mechanics and their families, the most of whom were attracted there by the employment given them in the Government workshops, which were then in ruins. The impression among our men, who represented every branch of industry, was that Har per's Ferry, with its magnificent water power, ought to be a prominent manufacturing locality, and that such it would surely be if in a Northern section of the country. As we marched through that now historic place, and passed what was known as " Old John Brown's Fort," our band with more spirit than ever before struck up the popular air, " John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave." Following a serpen tine mountain path, which had to be made in single file, we finally reached the summit of Loudon Heights, I08 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. where an uninterrupted view of the surrounding country and charming landscape was had. Not many places in this country coming under our own observation present a grander scene than opens to the sight from the top of Loudon Heights, the endless panorama being of a most interesting character.^ The Virginians have christened this spot the " Switzerland of America," and its picturesque beauty renders it worthy of the comparison. Here the Shenandoah reaches a junction with the Potomac, and the com bined waters of these rivers flow through a gap at the mountain ridge. Looking down from Loudon Heights, sleeping in the hollow is seen Harper's Ferry, and opposite the Maryland Heights rise to majestic proportions. From this point is also enjoyed a view of the beautiful Valley of Virginia. The waters of the Shenandoah, which appear to be very clear, may be distinctly traced in winding their way toward the dark and sluggish Potomac. Jidy ig- — This is Sunday, but we break camp early, at 4 A. M., and go on the march until ii o'clock, when we halt for dinner. Here we took the oppor tunity to serenade General Ward, who commanded the division during the temporary absence of General Birney. After dinner the band was directed to play for divine service, when the chaplain of Berdan's Sharpshooters officiated, and he preached an elegant and appropriate sermon. July 20. — Our march was resumed due south until we reached Ashby Gap, which was held by a force of rebels. Here we halted and made camp about 5 p. M., at Upperville. All along our march at this time we experienced a vast difference in the feeling and A CROOKED STREAM. IO9 deportment of the people. The women fail to cheer us with a welcome in their smiles, as they did further toward the North ; no waving of little flags as the army passes through towns and villages ; instead of these signs of friendship, they look daggers at us, else make themselves invisible. There is no vege table a soldier relishes more, to sandwich his salt pork with, than a fresh onion. While marching along I chanced to spy an onion bed in a patch of garden near by a house. The temptation was irresistible, and I ventured to jump the fence and help myself to a few of the luscious bulbs, when at that moment an elderly woman suddenly sprang to the door, crying as though her heart would break, and declared that the onions were all the edibles she had to eat. It was a touching story of distress, and, under the cir cumstances, dropping the luxuries at the feet of the woman, I hastened after my command. July 22. — Remained in camp until 2 p. m., then packed up and went on the march again, passing through Upperville, the road we were on leading over Goose Creek. This significantly named stream we crossed and recrossed at least a dozen times during the day, fording the mud and water sometimes up to our knees; still, we persistently kept on marching into midnight, when with a sort of aristocratic feeling we encamped on a large and beautiful plantation. As a rule, our generals, when such opportunities were afforded, took possession of and put up at the plan tation houses, where, during the evening, the band played for the entertainment of the ladies, who often appeared to enjoy the music quite as much as the officers. Toward the close of our serenade, how- no MUSIC ON THE MARCH. ever, when " John Brown " or " Yankee Doodle " came in as an expected number on the programme, the sensitive fair ones would retire to the mansion, as if disgusted with that part of the performance. As these popular and patriotic selections seemed to annoy these Secesh ladies, we rarely failed to play our pranks, as it appeared to be particularly agreeable to the officers, who always enjoyed such innocent diver- tisement. July 2j. — Reveille was sounded this morning at' three o'clock, and immediately all were up and soon on the march to Manassas Gap, which we found occupied by a force of the enemy. At this same* point on the day previous our cavalry were driven back. Our regiment was promptly advanced on picket, and in a very short time we had the rebels fully engaged at Wapping Heights, where the rattle of musketry was very lively. The heights are on the right side of the gap, from which we obtained a clear view of the engagement from the left ofthe mountain. Here we found an abundance of sheep and swine running wild, and we were not slow in pressing them into the service, as we felt the need of a change to fresh meat. The trouble was that we had no salt to season the luxury; so, having had no graduates iri fancy cookery with us, and no time to send home for a copy of Mrs. Rorer's Culinary Art, we improvised our own dietetic science by frying the fresh pork and mutton with our salt pork, which in a measure supplied the seasoning deficiency. Our division, however, drove the enemy out of the gap, and we encamped there for the night, on the mountain side. July 2^. — Broke camp in the morning and started FOOTSORE AND WEARY. Ill on the march through the mountain gap, having an extremely hard day's tramp over a rough road, and frequently through the creek that here and there flooded its surface. We kept on until night came, then halted and encamped near Warrenton, the men being completely "played out;" so near, in fact, had we reached the end of the tether that when Division Headquarters called for music, for the first time in its experience had the band to be excused from performing on account of the wearied condition of the members. After a good night's rest, however, we were again ready for duty. ' July 26. — This was Sunday, according to the calen dar, but we prepared for the march at 5 a. m., and at the request of General Ward the band took the head of the division and played on going through Warren ton. We halted several miles beyond the town and there encamped. Our regiment was ordered out on picket, the band escorting the men some distance out, but afterward we returned to camp. At this time we received news of the drafting going on at home, and our boys indulged in a deal of humor on reading the names of the lucky ones who were chosen to defend - their country, as the lists recalled to their memory a great many patriots who were not inclined to enlist when they did. The idea of being compelled to enter the- service against their will, the boys thought, would not be so honorable as enlisting as a volunteer ; this gave them considerable comfort and satisfaction, and they also thought it right in the Government to make the draft. July 28. — ^A detail was sent home to bring in the drafted men to fill up the old regiments. At this 112 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. time. General Birney returned to us as commander of our division, and our deUght on seeing him was heartily reciprocated. On the first evening after his arrival we gave him a stirring serenade, when he ex pressed his pleasure at hearing the music of the band again. I took the liberty to acquaint him with the difficulties the band was laboring under, and of the hard campaign we had made ; that the marching over difficult roads and often through woods and bushes at night had put a number of our instruments out of order. He promptly told me to make out a list of -whatever was needed and he would see that we were attended to. Of course, the band was delighted to ' have in him such a friend ; and he also ordered that we should have a furlough, or pass, for ten days, to go home and obtain what yvas wanted. At that time no furlough was good unless countersigned by the com mander of the army. General Meade ; but he pro posed using his personal influence, and sent a staff officer with the request to explain. The necessary paper was at once made out, and it was started for approval at regimental headquarters, where it was approved ; then it passed to brigade, division, and corps headquarters and was approved; but when - forwarded to Army Headquarters it was disapproved^ with the explanation that at that time no one could leave the army under any consideration whatever. I therefore forwarded the order for instruments given me by mail. July ji. — In the morning there was an inspection, after which we marched about five miles and arrived at Sulphur Springs. Here the army went into sum mer quarters and remained comfortably fixed for A SPLENDID ENCAMPMENT. II3 about six weeks. It was a great relief to all, giving opportunity for needed rest after the severe and con stant marching. From all appearances, Sulphur Springs must have been a splendid place for the Southern aristocracy. Along the road had been a large hotel, called Bach elors' Hall, but then in ruins. There was a beautiful park, adorned with pretty shade trees, and on each side was a number of cottages for boarders. The spring, which was under a pavilion, is about one hundred yards from the hotel. Grouped with these were also a billiard hall and ten-pin alley. In fact, there were indications that Sulphur Springs-had been a popular and first-class resort for the chivalry of the South. Close to the springs is a fine stream of clear water, called the North Branch of the Rappahannock. It was there General Birney established his headquar ters and detailed the band for duty. By permission we took possession of two of the best cottages and at once went to housekeeping ; and we who until then had only the cold and damp ground for a bed, and sometimes a stone for a pillow, therein were provided with comfortable bedsteads. We improvised tables and chairs, and ere long had our " at home " cards among the camp society. As it did not seem alto gether right, to us, in General Birney making this exclusive use of the band, by detailing us away from our regiment, he subsequently detailed the regiment to duty also at his headquarters, and their camp was estabhshed inside the grounds. Our time there was pretty well occupied, as we had orders to perform three times every day at head quarters, and, besides, we played for guard-mount in the 8 I 14 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. morning and dress-parade in the evening. The place now began to attract officers from all parts ofthe army, who were often accompanied by lady visitors. Everybody had free access to the Sulphur Springs, the water of which was as clear as crystal. Our doc tors told the men to indulge as freely as they wished in drinking the water, for if it did them no good it would do no harm. They followed the advice, and before they had been there two weeks boils appeared on the bodies of many of them. On making the affliction of Job known to the doctors, they jokingly said it was all right, as the medicated water was driving the salt pork out of their systems. The North Branch of the Rappahannock afforded the men excellent bathing, and a plenty of fine black berries could be gathered along its banks. Being in easy communication with our supplies, we now re ceived fresh bread, potatoes, onions, and beans. So we fared very well at this place, for, after the oppres sively hot weather and continuous marching necessi tated by the Gettysburg campaign, every man was greatly in need of rest and milder treatment, and it is unnecessary to say that this season of relief was duly appreciated throughout the camp. Notwithstanding this respite from hostilities, our regiment at this par ticular time, I think, was in a worse condition than it had ever been before or was afterward. The corps was reviewed the first week in September, but our regiment did not participate, as it would have made a sorry show. Very few ofthe men were in full uniform ; some had blue pants and Zouave jackets ; others wore red pants and regulation coats, and their caps were as THE soldiers' BANKER. 115 varied as their clothing. So, instead of going on review they were sent on picket duty, but the battle- worn regiment was represented by the band being assigned at the head of the line. While in camp at Sulphur Springs, besides furnish ing the instrumental music, as before stated, it also fell to the lot of the band to supply vocal music on -certain occasions. Several members of the band, before organizing as such, belonged to a Germantown glee-club. On discovering this fact General Birney requested our services, when a vocal quartette was formed which he and his company were well pleased with. Soon after getting our yoices in trim General Terry paid us a visit, and, expressing a wish to hear us sing, General Birney sent for us, but unfortunately we could not comply, on account of our leading tenor being sick We, however, serenaded General Terry with the band music. He was greatly pleased and said : " I don't wonder General Birney likes your music." He further said that he knew what good music was, as he played an instrument in a band in his younger days. I told him of our being short several instruments, and he laughingly replied : " You will have to do like myself, under the circumstances — stick the closer to the work." Altogether, we found General Terry a very agreeable man and formed a very high opinion of him. The sutler is also here, with whom the boys usually spend all the money they receive and what they expect the coming payrday. Wherever there is a sutler the soldiers, with rare excep tions, are always in debt to him, and yet he is one of the necessary evils of war times ; they lose a great I l6 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. deal of money, but still they manage to grow rich on the reckless spendings ©f the men. August i6. — On this day Colonel Collis, who, it will be remembered, was compelled to return home on account of illness just as we reached Aquia Creek, came back to the regiment and was tendered a warm reception. The regiment was drawn up in hne, after which the Colonel was presented with a beautiful sword as an appropriate symbol of his soldierly bearing, and in evidence of the esteem in which he was held by the rank and file. All were delighted to see Colonel Collis come back to his command and restored to good health. After the formal ceremony had concluded he came to our quarters, shook hands all around, and complimented us on our comfortable cottages at such an aristocratic resort; at the same time he expressed the opinion that it was rather too nice to last long, and it so proved. September i^. — Some of us had gone to wash our clothes in the creek. We had just succeeded in bring ing the water up to the boiling point in our kettles and dumped the soiled garments therein, when the division bugles sounded " Pack up." We could scarcely credit our ears. There we were with our clothes boiling hot and compelled to go on the march without delay, and in a few minutes we were actually in line, although the march only continued for a few miles. Our sutler, whom it took much longer than ourselves to pack up, was forced to stay behind to finish and follow us. No sooner had the division left than the bushwhackers surprised him, took all the greenbacks he had — about ^1600 — confiscated all his LEFT IN THE LURCH. II7 goods, horses, and wagons, and then made him their prisoner. Fortunately, some of our cavalry surprised them, when they destroyed the goods and escaped, but the sutler was saved. He received very little sympathy from the men of the regiment, as he was regarded as an extortionist. CHAPTER VII. Culpeper — First Serenade at Army Headquarters — Retreat from Culpeper. The second day's march was very hard on us, after our prolonged rest at Sulphur Springs. We made twenty-five miles, and this brought us to the vicinity of Culpeper, where we went into camp and were given to understand that we would remain there for some time. We pitched our tents, and as it was threatening rain, we dug little ditches around the base of them to serve as canals in preventing the water from inundating our habitations. Instead of being fixed for prospective emergencies, however, the next morning found us marching through Culpeper, and we encamped some distance out on the pike, on the right, while the 6th Corps pitched their tents on the left ofthe road. Nearly the whole of our army had been congregated in this locality. The road was soon crowded by our teams bringing supplies to our troops, and the whole surroundings were made quite lively. Comrades of different corps were going here and there hunting-old friends and relatives, but the corps were too widely separated for such anxious interchanges. On the day we left Sulphur Springs our new instru ments, which we were so much in need of, it was learned, had arrived at Bealeton Station, and when we were so suddenly moved for our safety they were taken back to Washington. Being again in railroad Ii8 THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS. 119 communication with Culpeper, on September 20th we were informed that they had safely arrived there. They could not have come to hand at a more accept able time to improve our musical condition, for we were being taxed to a most painful and discouraging desree in the rendition of our scores. The first ser- enade from the new instruments was given General Birney, who was more than pleased with their appear ance and the music coming from them. It would be difficult to find an officer in the whole army who could enjoy good music better than Birney. The next night we were called on to perform for General French at the Corps Headquarters. When we returned to camp, to our surprise, we found General Meade's trio of coaches in waiting for us, the band being wanted at Army Headquarters, several miles away. In going that distance the coaches passed a dozen or more bands, most of them having nearly double the number of our instruments. We could not help wondering why one of these larger bands was not selected for this special occasion instead of our own. At all events, we could not but accept this call from General Meade as a high compliment and an exceptional honor. Our regiment, also, shared the pride of their band, and at the same time thought, just as wc did, that others were deriving more benefit from the band music than them selves. As matters stood, however, we had deter mined to do our best not to disappoint their expecta tions, and at all times endeavored to be a credit to the regiment whose fortunes we had enlisted to follow. Army Headquarters consisted of some thirty com missioned officers, beginning with the Commander-in- Chief, General Meade. Then followed his Chief of I20 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Staff, General Humphreys; Adjutant-General, Seth Williams ; Provost Marshal General, General Patrick ; Chief of Commissary, General Ingalls ; Chief of Artil lery, General Hunt. Each of these officers were entitled to a number of staff officers, which made up a large and distinguished military family, nearly all of them having been what are known as " West Pointers." Such were the educated and cultured men before whom our band was called to perform — a critical audience, to say the least. The Headquarters train itself was an imposing affair, and when on the march it combined to make a long line and carried important baggage, which included documents connected with the army ; the telegraph with all its appliances ; the engineering department and its various accessories, besides the Chief of Commis sary, having in charge the supply of rations for 100,000 men. A company of cavalry and a regiment of in fantry were always present for guard duty in camp and on the march. The spot selected for this camp is usually within a grove or on a nicely located field, and the tents are pitched in the form of a semicircle. The commanders are always in the centre of the circle, the chief of staff on the right, the adjutant on the left, and the remainder of the retinue have positions accord ing to their rank. When the band arrived here for the first time, it was assigned a position in the centre of this circle. It was soon evident that our presence was very accept able, for we were at once surrounded by most of the staff officers, who made themselves very sociable, and especially after we had played for them a few pieces. According to my diary, I find that on this occasion A SAMPLE MUSICALE. 121 we rendered the following programme, the initial number having been selected just to introduce us and give the event a good send-off: — HEADQUARTERS PROGRAMME. I. Hell on the Rappahannock. 2. Potpourri from " Trovatore." (Introducing all the gems of that popular opera.) 3. BiLD DER Rose. 4. Overture to Nebuchadnezzar. 5. Selections from Lucia. 6. Trap-trap Galop. Such a selection as the above had probably never been given at the Headquarters in the field by any of the army bands, and any musician familiar with this class of music for brass instruments will know precisely the difficulties our band of only fourteen pieces had to encounter, and at the same time do the intricate arrangements justice. And then, too, it should be considered that a few candles in the open air afforded all the light we had in reading difficult manuscript. Our debut here, however, was regarded as quite a success, and the officers expressed them selves as highly pleased with the performance and the music, declaring that they had never had the pleasure of having such a musical treat in camp. Even the spectators and our candle-bearers noticed the attention paid us," and informed us of other bands having been there every night ; but they came and went with no marked impression being made upon their hearers by their class of music. General Collis, who was with us on this occasion and in General Meade's tent while our band was playing, was also complimented, and the music was 122 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. praised by the latter. Altogether, our appearance at, the Army Headquarters was a most pleasing event in the record of the Zouave Band. We returned to our camp about 2 A. m., and though having put in a trying night, we cheerfully crept into our dog-tents, and with pleasing memories fell soundly asleep. There were numerous bands in the army, by far better equipped than ours ofthe 114th Regiment ; they had a larger number of instruments and more artistic per formers, but they failed to gain the popularity that we did. The reasons for this may be found in the style of the music, and doubtless much may be attributed to the uniformly good deportment of our members. The members of some of the bands often drank to excess, and thus rendered themselves dis reputable and at the same time incompetent to per form their music in a proper manner. Such things never occurred to bring into disrepute the band ofthe 1 14th Reginient ; its discipline and standard of sobriety was always maintained, notwithstanding the oppor tunities nightly presented for participating in the social glass. It was this regard for decency and moderation that enabled our members to always be fit for duty and do justice to their respective parts. This much for the band, while passing on to matters of more serious importance. Some who have pretended to write history, in making a record of the events of these stirring times, after graphically describing the battle of Gettysburg and the campaign incident thereto, make a sudden leap, and at a single stride start in again at the coming of General Grant. Here we simply ask the reader to march behind the band for the three years, 1862 and THE ENEMYS ADVANTAGES. 123 1865, and we will endeavor to fill in the blank by nar rating in a brief and homely way the intervening events, some of which are of great importance. In the beginning of October, 1863, the contending armies lay opposite each other along the Rapidan River. Our army was stretched out along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, extending from Culpeper to Raccoon Ford. We also had a signal station on Thoroughfare Mountain, which was on the south side of the Rapidan. The high ridge on that side ofthe river screened the movements of the enemy from us, while they had good positions for observation and could clearly see what was transpiring on our side. It was currently reported that General Meade con templated a movement on their line, and whether General Lee from his observation anticipated this or not it was hard to conjecture, but he suddenly made a move by flanking our army. This compelled us to retreat from our position, in order to protect our line of communication. The enemy approached us with great secrecy by keeping up a strong picket line in our front and blazing numerous camp-fires to deceive us, while the main portion of their army was moving northward behind the wooded hills, which effectually screened their purpose. Their movements, however, were observed from our signal station on the 9th of October and reported, which showed that Lee was making his way to the right of our line. Meade at first seemed not to com prehend the meaning of this activity ; whether or not it was only a feint to cover some other important move on his line. He sent the cavalry to reconnoitre on the tenth, and, as a precaution, he ordered the wagon 124 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. train to the rear and across the Rappahannock, and also ordered the 3d Corps, to which we belonged, and the 2d Corps, to protect the train, and prevent, if possible, the rebels from attacking it. This, General Meade thought, was the main object of the enemy's movements. In order to be prepared for any emer gency the whole army was ordered to fall back behind the Rappahannock, and the cavalry, which was bring ing up the rear, was continually engaged with the rebel cavalry under Stuart. General Kilpatrick found the cavalry of the .enemy strongly posted at Brandy Station, or near by, and he was hotly engaged with Stuart at that point. We had an excellent view of the cavalry, as our division was marching on a road to the left, where we could over look the whole field. We could distinctly see our daring horsemen charging the stiibborn rebels with fury, cutting, shooting, and tramping them down. Our troops halted at the thrilling sight and General Birney sent an orderly to ask General Kilpatrick if he wanted assistance, but the dashing cavalryman sent word that all was right and he could take care of himself On the receipt of this encouraging response we moved on until the Rappahannock was crossed, when the cavalry soon followed us as a protection to our rear. The following day, the 12th, appeared to be involved in uncertainty, and General Meade determined to make a reconnoissance back to Brandy Station by the cavalry, when it was found the rebels were in motion, in strong force, west of them. Meade also pushed out a small force of infantry toward Jeffersonton and Little Washington, and they had great difficulty in getting back, having encountered the enemy in superior num- MEADE's STRATEGY AND LEE's PURPOSE. 125 ber. Their return was accomplished by hard fighting and at a heavy loss. So far our men could not understand the meaning of all this marching ; wandering, as it were, for days here and there ; doing nothing, apparently, but being drawn up in line — marching a few miles, halting, forming, and then returning. The officers and men were perplexed ; it looked as if Meade was afraid to fight, and endeavoring to get away from the hounding by Lee. The men were anxious for the fray and were asking with eagerness : " Why don't Meade stand and fight them?" But they were really in ignorance of what General Meade was endeavoring to get at — he was by strategy unfolding the real object of General Lee. At last he became satisfied that it was Lee's purpose to get in his rear with his whole army and concentrate it in an advantageous position between our army and Washington. He made the most determined and energetic efforts to thwart the great and daring Con federate, and therefore the marches made by our army, such, probably, as have scarcely ever been equaled by any other. We marched two days and three nights incessantly, sometimes making a stand in line of battle, then off again. The rebel army had one day's start of us, and the objective point of both armies was as to which- of the two should first reach the strong position at Centreville. This was the outer line of fortifications for the defense of the capital ; it was naturally very strong, and by the science of military engineering had been made almost impreg nable. Both armies actually raced for it, but the Army of the PPtomac, on ascertaining the strategy of Lee, won the prize. 126 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. The trains and artillery moved over the roads, flanked on both sides by the infantry, with muskets charged and ready for immediate use. We were thus prepared to repel any attack on our wagon trains, and should any have been made on either side of the road the enemy would have met a ready line of battle. The band and other non-combatants moved along the roads with the trains and artillery, wearily, indeed, strolling along on the march. On the second night a number of the band tramped along with a battery of thirty-two Parrot guns, immense affairs. It was pitch dark, especially where the primitive road passed through a woodland region. Our only guidance at times was by placing our hands on the heavy guns, and sometimes stepping along more asleep than awake. Suddenly, during this night, one of the wheels under the heavy gun we were following sank deep in a rut, and the weight of the cannon caused it to topple over, our escape from being crushed to death being almost miraculous. Some of the members of the band de clared that it was simply impossible to continue, with out some rest, and they laid themselves by the road side, using their knapsacks for pillows. When the rear of the corps passed, the officers in charge of the rear guard observing them, cried out : " If you can possibly move along, do so, or you will see Libby Prison again ! " He further remarked that there would be " hell in the rear in a few minutes." This admoni tion, it is hardly necessary to say, put new hfe and locomotion into their tired limbs, and they up and at it again, and by persistent effort soon reached us. Sure enough, not long after the officer thus forcibly gave the warning, there was heavy firing in the rear. WARREN PUNISHES HILL. 1 27 The 2d Corps, under General Warren, brought up the rear of our army, and it was constantly skirmish ing with the rebels, who were in command of General Ewell, the latter having his entire corps with him. This was done to impede Warren's progress, while Hill's Corps, which was in light marching order, was pushing on to head off our army at Bristow Station, but all except the 2d Corps, which was the rear guard, had passed that point ; so General Hill posted his corps in a strong position on the left of the rail road, where they were drawn up in line of battle, parallel with the railroad. When Warren arrived he saw at a glance that Hill had blundered in not taking possession of the railroad, the embankment of which would have formed a ready breastwork for his men. General Warren, taking advantage ofthe opportunity, ordered his corps on the double quick and poured a raking fire of musketry into the close ranks of the advancing rebels, which staggered them and they fell back. They re-formed for another advance, but War ren had his batteries charged with grape and canister, with which he plowed terrible furrows through their ranks. Again and again the desperate rebels at tempted to make an impression upon Warren's corps, but their sacrifice of life was in vain, and finally Hill gave up the impossible and retreated back to Catlett's Station, and there he joined Ewell's Corps, while Warren continued his march during the night and came up with the other portions of our army at Cen treville. Hill was badly punished by Warren, losing one of his best batteries, of six guns, besides 500 men in killed and wounded. Our army was now strongly posted at Centreville 128 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Heights, where it waited for and invited an attack, but Lee was too shrewd to venture an assault against us there. The only trouble our corps had with the enemy on this march was when it approached Auburn. General - Birney and his staff were just ahead of us on the march, our brigade leading the division on this day, and our regiment leading the brigade. From the left, without warning, the rebels sent us a shell from a light battery, which came rather close to General Bir ney. He halted the column, and immediately our brigade was thrown out in line of battle, and for a time there was a lively fire of musketry with the enemy, but they were soon driven away. In this contest our regiment had a number of men wounded. We then resumed our march, which they no doubt hoped to delay, but in this they were not very successful, as the whole affair was over inside of half an hour. General Stuart, on this march, was probably in the tightest place with his cavalry during his whole career, having been hemmed in a woods between two roads. Our infantry were marching on, and as it was night, the rebel game was -not perceived by our men. His close proximity, therefore, was unknown to us, and had his fix been discovered he and all his force would have been captured. How to get out of the scrape he was in was a conundrum to him ; but he solved it by selecting six of his troopers, on whom he put Yan kee uniforms and armed them with muskets to cor respond. These spies fell in line with us and at an opportune moment crossed the road and sneaked off, making their way to General Lee, whom they in formed of Stuart's perilous position. His chief soon REBEL SPIES IN DISGUISE. 1 29 determined what to do, in ordering an infantry attack on that part of our line near where Stuart was, and during the excitement the rebel cavalryman and his troopers slipped through and made sure their escape to Lee. CHAPTER VIII. Centreville — General Sickles Visits his old Command — Foi> lowing Lee— Action at Kelly's Ford — Mine Run. We were tired and "played out" on arriving at Centreville, and as soon as we reached our destination simply fell asleep, without bothering about rations, for, hungry as we were, " nature's sweet restorer " was the greater need. Rest was the one thing yearned for ; never more a physical necessity. The next day there was an event that put new life into the whole army. About noon a horseman rode into camp, and it was soon sounded in every ear that Gen eral Daniel E. Sickles, our old commander, was on the grounds. All of the valiant General's former self, of course, was not there, for he had left oneleg on the battle-field of Gettysburg. If ever a brave man re ceived a soldier's hearty reception it was General Sickles, and he is no doubt proud of it down to this day. What General Lee expected -from his flank move ment was hard to understand. It certainly did not pay him, nor did it prolong the life of the cause for which he was fighting. He failed completely in out generaling Meade ; failed in obtaining possession of Centreville Heights, and, if he was endeavoring to capture our trains, he also failed. He remained in the vicinity of Bristow Station until October i8th, in the meantime keeping his army -busy in destroying 130 THE RETREATING REBELS. 13 1 the railroad, which his men, as well as our own, knew how to do effectually when it answered a purpose. They tore up the sleepers and laid the rails across them, then set the former on fire, and when the rails became red hot in the centre the extreme weight of the ends would bend them into bows and thus destroy their usefulness for relaying. As General Lee's army was now retreating south ward again, our army retraced its steps, and the first day's march brought us to Bristow Station, on Octo ber 20th. The following day we made a long round about march to reach Catlett's Station, covering about twenty-five miles and yet advancing only a distance of six miles. As the railroad was destroyed, we halted there. Details from the diff'erent regiments were made up each day to work on and rebuild the railroad, the army being badly in need of supplies. All along our march there were evidences of the enemy's retreat — dead horses worn out on the march, cast-off" rebel clothing scattered by the wayside, broken wagons, etc. As we advanced the railroad was rebuilt, and on November ist we encamped near Bealeton Station. There we laid over for one week and were mustered for pay, but when the list was completed it caused a great deal of dissatisfaction and grumbling among the men, as many of them were brought in debt to the Government. Their allowance of forty-two dollars for clothing they had overdrawn, and it had to be made good out of their pay ; so, instead of receiv ing some hard cash to cheer the sutler, they got nothing, and had to wait until the paymaster came round again. This unexpected deprivation soured the unfortunate ones very much, when they compared 132 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. their lot with the fancy soldiers who were having an easy- and indolent time around the forts of Washing ton and Baltimore. This, they said, is the kind return, " after going on wearisome marches, almost shoeless, and sleeping in our clothes on the cold ground, and to keep up with the line often being compelled to lighten our knapsacks by casting away needful arti cles ; while the men hanging around the forts can take care of their clothing, act the dandy soldier, and receive the same pay." This is simply a reflex ofthe feeling among the fighting men in the army. There were other things to grate harshly upon the minds of battle-worn men. By the army regulation rules the Government allowed each soldier going on the march to have six days' rations in his haversack. If each man had received his full allowance mules would have been required to carry the burden. As the men did not receive in quantity in accordance with the regula tions, what became of the excess was a source of constant anxiety to the men in camp, when they usually had their studying caps on. But when " Pack up " sounded these little matters of ways and means for the time were dispelled. While in camp here, our regiment was largely re inforced from Camp Parole, mainly by those who were captured at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettys burg having been exchanged and returned to us. We also received a number of new recruits, among them being several young Frenchmen, who were pro cured in France by agents, or persons who were engaged to furnish su'bstitutes for patriots here who did their fighting by staying at home. These bright young recruits, who were imitating the zeal of Lafay- YOUNG FRENCH SOLDIERS. 1 33 ette, informed us that they were paid only one hun dred dollars each, while at that period of the war substitutes everywhere in this country were paid from one thousand to twelve hundred dollars. One can hardly imagine the money that was made in this sort of war brokerage, this -barter in human life, during those dark days, when the purses of men as well as their loyalty and courage of convictions were sorely tried. In conversation with these soldierly Frenchmen, I also learned why they came to our regiment. It had been represented to them that it was a French Zouave regiment, and they were surprised after being with us that there were only a few of their new comrades with whom they could hold conversation. They were not particularly pleased with their experience in camp at that time and complained bitterly about the rations, and especially of the hard bread. I en deavored to cheer them in a vein of pleasantry by assuring them that after becoming accustorried to the daily bill of fare they would grow fat on it. November 7. — Broke camp and advanced toward the Rappahannock again, where we found the whole rebel army entrenched in rifle pits and behind strong breastworks, and they appeared to be snugly en camped for the winter, but General Meade did not mean to have things so comfortably and permanently arranged. Before the retreat of Lee our army occupied the line of the Rapidan, and to stop here would indicate that we were unable to proceed. Our corps, with the 2d, ^therefore advanced on Kelly's Ford, and the rebels were taken by surprise. Pre parations were at once made to capture their position and cross the Rappahannock. On our side we had a 134 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. good position for artillery, where a 32-pound calibre battery was planted, and in support of which our regiment was sent. Our battery soon opened a brisk cannonade on the enemy south of the river. During this lively and constant fire the pontoons were laid, our corps rushed over, drove the rebels back, and captured over four hundred prisoners. The move ment was well planned, as its success proved, and the action was an exceptionally brilliant one. The pris oners here taken were better clothed than any we had before seen ; all were provided with overcoats and jackets of much better material than our own. They were of English manufacture, a much darker blue than the United States uniforms, and they furnished conclusive evidence of successful blockade running. While our action at Kelly's Ford was a success, the experience at the right of our army, consisting of the 5 th and 6th Corps, was even more favorable. In advancing they found the enemy well prepared for a contest, in a strong fort, with redoubts and rifle pits, on the northern side of Rappahannock Station. At first General Sedgwick was somewhat baffled, but by his native dash and cautious action he succeeded in finding a good position in the rear of the fort, and with his batteries he bombarded the stronghold all day, and just before dark he stormed the position and carried it, capturing fifteen hundred prisoners, besides a battery and eight battle-flags. After this we crossed the Rappahannock and the whole army advanced toward the Rapidan. Our corps, with the 2d, forming the left of the army, advanced to Brandy Station, where, on November 8th, there was some skirmishing with the rebel cavalry, but they were DISTINGUISHED ENGLISH GUESTS. ¦ 135 easily driven off. The next day we encamped at Brandy Station, where was presented abundant evi dence of the enemy having contemplated going into winter quarters in this vicinity, as they had erected good shanties for the purpose. It looked as if their abandonment of the place had been very sudden, for they attempted to destroy the buildings so that the Yankees could not have the benefit of them, but in this they were only partially successful. The chim neys they toppled over were soon rebuilt, and, as cooler weather was expected, we felt thankful in no small degree for the comfortable quarters thus left for us. While at Bristow Station our former brigade commander. General Graham, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, paid us a brief but pleasant visit, and the men were exceedingly glad to see him, although he could not remain with us, as he had been appointed to a command in North Carolina. He was ¦greatly respected and appreciated bythe whole brigade. November i6th we had a review, and a number of distinguished British officers were present as visitors, for whom. the event had been arranged. After review, the band, of course, was called to Corps Headquar ters, where the lordly guests were entertained. We selected a number of the choicest operatic gems and overtures to please them, but they did not evince any special interest in the programme. However, when ¦ we complimented them by playing their national air, "God save the Queen," that seemed to captivate them, and they cam6 out in acknowledgment of the favor and declared that they had rarely ever before heard it sound so well. Under the circumstances, no doubt, it proved pleasing to them. 136 • MUSIC ON THE MARCH. At this time the rebel army was encamped on the south side of the Rapidan and in a very strong posi tion. General Meade made a careful reconnoissance and pronounced it unassailable, yet there was an interval of six miles between Hill's and Ewell's Corps. Having ascertained, these facts, he determined on a decisive and short campaign, his plans being clearly and skilfully laid out ; and had they been faithfully executed, there can be no doubt that the rebel army then and there would have been disastrously defeated. Meade's intent was to concentrate his army in this gap or interval of six miles, and by a rapid march defeat one-half before the other could make a junction with its counterpart. Our army started with ten days' rations. Each corps had its line of march mapped out, and each had orders to move with celerity and unite at the ridges, west of Mine Run, the point of junction designated being in the vicinity of the Robertson Tavern. General Warren, with the 2d Corps, was prompt and almost in position, but our corps, in command of General French, brought about a miscarriage, and which was the cause of defeat of General Meade's well-designed plans. We crossed the Rapidan, on NovemTser 26th and encamped for the night, which was the first ofthe blunders. Then, on resuming our march, we took a road leading through the -country, instead of following the river road. In doing so, after marching a few miles, we came in contact with Johnson's division of Ewell's Corps, when a hot engagement took place between our corps and John son's division. To us the encounter was a great sur prise. The country there is a perfect wilderness, and CROSSING THE RAPIDAN. 137 we did not become aware of the enemy's presence until we were on them. In this engagement we lost many killed and wounded. The 5th Corps, hearing the firing, came to our assistance. These incidental mi.shaps seriously delayed us and prevented the rapid concen tration of our army, as General Meade had intended. And this was not the worst of our misfortune, for it gave the key of General Meade's plan of campaign to Lee, and afforded him ample opportunity and time to concentrate his army on the very position we were preparing to occupy. In spite of all this discomfiture, however, to General Meade, he did not give up the one purpose in view. At last, with his army at hand, he confronted the rebels at the Mine Run position, which was in their possession. In front of their line the marsh along the run was an obstacle to attack. The position was thoroughly .reconnoitred. On our left - General Warren reported his confidence in the ability of his men to take it, when he was"" strengthened by two divisions of our corps and one division of the 6th Corps. During the night of the 29th General Warren made a more extended examination and found the position much stronger than it was at first reported, and so advised General Meade, which caused him to postpone the attack. In the meantime the weather became dread fully cold and men were frozen on picket It was the coldest spell of weather our army had experienced in Virginia. General Meade concluded, as his original plans had been thwarted, and with the prospect of a still greater loss of hfe without due compensation and substantial results, to withdraw his army across the Rapidan and to its former position. Tbe most unfor- 138 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. tunate event from one to three inches deep. It was useless to lie down for rest or comfort, as badly as sleep was needful after the exhausting march. The only thing to be done was to improvise a trifle of shelter by spreading the fly of a tent across two sticks and. erecting this screen to shield us from the wind, in front of which we managed to build a fire, around which we sat all night, drawing a mite of consolation from the warmth to our feet. The ofiicers, too, were as badly off as the men, and even General Collis availed himself of the band's meagre protection. By daylight, after having been grouped in a sleepless condition around the embers all night, we managed at least to dry our clothing. The following day, May I2th, was the last day's march we made with the Army of the Potomac, hav ing reached Arlington Heights about three o'clock in the afternoon,-and every man appeared to be worn out. The evident fact was stamped upon the features of all that this, the final march, was the hardest of all ; many of the strong men were little more than skin and bone. On no other march were the soldiers so poorly provided for, and those at fault were severely censured by the hard-used and neglected men. They openly and boldly declared that the Government, after getting from them all that could possibly be had, save LAST AND HARDEST TRAMP. 255 their lives, now became indifferent to their common comfort and necessities. No matter where or on whom the responsibility should have been saddled, it was enough to know, and more than enough to realize, that a victorious army of veterans, after having so thoroughly accomplished the work to which it was assigned, was so inconsiderately treated. CHAPTER XVIII. Arlington Heights— Last Review of the Army of the Poto mac — Preparations for Discharge. It is hardly necessary to say that the men were not in a very good humor on their arrival at Arlington Heights, and when they first had the glory and impor tance of a grand review pictured to their mind's eye, they almost unanimously declared that they had seen quite enough of such events, and were not panting for any more of that sort of renown. A few days of rest and better rations, however, produced a considerable change of feeling for the better among them, and complaints became toned down to a fine point while contemplating an early return to the comforts and solace of their homes. The country around Arlington had greatly changed since the days of '6i and '62; then the hills were covered with commanding trees and beautiful foliage ; now a barren waste was there, not a single tree to be seen. We missed the refreshing shade of former days, as the sun poured down upon us an uncomfortable heat where we lay on an exposed slope, with nothing what ever to shelter us. On the second day here a delega tion of firemen, led by David Lyle, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, waited on the Zouave Band for the purpose of engaging it to play in the parade of firemen that was to take place the following October, but they were informed that we could make no engagements 256 DEMAND FOR THE BAND. 257 before being discharged from the service along with our regiment, the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The next day another delegation called on the same errand, and some days after still another. Finally the band engaged with the Schuylkill Hose Company, of Philadelphia, for which it played in the great parade on October ist, 1865. Fabulous prices were at that time paid for the services of a good cornet band, and as this was the last general parade ofthe old Volunteer Fire Department of Philadelphia, our band h&d the historic honor of being associated therewith and the credit of giving the fullest measure of satisfaction to its liberal patrons. On that occasion the band ap peared in its full dress Zouave army uniforms, which attracted a deal of attention. On the third day at Arlington Heights our divi sion commander. General Hays, took us over to Washington in ambulances, to serenade some of his particular friends, adjoining the residence of Secre tary Stanton. As usual on such occasions, the best of our musical budget was set forth in the form of a menu for our distinguished auditors, who seemed de lighted with the selections and also expressed them selves as being especially honored in the presence of a veteran band, one, too, which had seen an unbroken service of three years with the Army of the Potomac. The ladies were especially complimentary in their clever remarks, whom General Hays had doubtless given an outline of the band's record, which included an acknowledgment of its usefulness as coming under his own observation in the memorable march from Burksville to Washington. The men in camp were now becoming dissatisfied ; 17 258 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. they appeared to be as uneasy as though they were on beds of nettles ; the camp duties to which they were subjected had become repugnant, and the exact- ment was regarded as nothing but nonsense and red tape show. In 1 862 such things were necessary and requisite to the ends of military discipline, but the machine work was of no use now, for there were no opportunities to apply its onerous details. " Home -Again "was the one thought absorbing the heart, mind, and s6ul of every ¦ man in camp ; they had seen enough of the glory of war on the field, and they no longer cared a fig for its glitter in camp. Notwith standing the fact that we were preparing for and ex pecting soon to move homeward, our regiment was growing in number, receiving additions every day of detailed men from different localities and various de partments of the service, where they no longer were wanted. Many of them came as strangers, some having had " soft-snap " positions, but now at the end of the war they came to consolidate with veteran regiments — with men who did the fighting and de served all the credit for the great work that was done. During the sojourn at Arlington Heights our men occasionally had an opportunity to visit Washington on passes, and Sherman's Western army being there, the soldiers of the two great armies often met and joined in an interchange of opinions, which, though usually agreeable, often culminated in threatened dif ficulties. The Western men imagined that they had come to help the Army of the Potomac defeat the army of Lee, and not a few of them claimed that without their assistance the defeat of Lee could not have been accomplished. Our men, with a becoming GRAND AND FINAL REVIEW. 259 spirit of soldierly pride, retaliated by assuring the Western men that if it had not been for the Army of the Potomac General Lee would have joined John son and his tenacious rebel host in the West, and probably have exterminated Sherman's army. Such were many of the incidents coming of this frequent intercourse, and the prejudice sometimes was followed by blows in lieu of convincing argument. Had they profited by President Lincoln's generous sentiment, that " there was glory enough to go all around," for the West as well as the East and North, all such un pleasantness would have been obviated. Both armies were now busy in making preparations for the grand and final review, previous to a general . discharge ofthe men ; that of the Army of the Poto mac having been ordered for the 23d of May, and the Western army following on the 24th. The Zouaves ofthe 1 14th Regiment at once began to "shine up " for the important event, as in the past, being determined to make a. most creditable appearance, which they never failed in doing with their flashy uniforms and proverbial personal neatness. Music was scarce in the army just now, but the 1 14th Regiment had its own band, whose strains were familiar to the men and to whose playing they could step with remarkable pre cision. Sherman's army had engaged a number of civihan bands to assist on review day, but the Army of the Potomac had none such and desired no music save that which had accompanied it in its eventful career. The veteran feature, as far as possible, was maintained down to its disbandment. The orders were to move at 4 o'clock A. M. on the 23d, the review to take place at 9 o'clock on Penn- 26o MUSIC ON THE MARCH. sylvania Avenue, where the reviewing grand stand was erected. The whole avenue was beautifully decorated with flags and bunting as far as the sight could reach, and the great and wide thoroughfare was packed with people from all parts of the country, making up a multitude the dimensions of which in numbers was beyond approximation. Precisely at the hour desig nated in the orders, the Army of the Potomac^ with its depleted ranks, moved down Pennsylvania Avenue. Cheer after cheer of the most hearty and boisterous ' character greeted the troops as they moved along with steady step. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and in the dense crowd men and boys held up their hats and shouted. There was no end to the enthu- siasni of the spectators, and the 114th Regiment, the Collis' Zouaves, received a full share of the vociferous applause by reason of their attractive uniforms and soldierly bearing. As the head of the Sth Corps approached the reviewing stand, some of the men observed the form of General Warren, their former commander, when cheers for the brave man were given, as long as they could behold him. It must have done the very soul of this wronged and gallant soldier good to receive in this manner and urider the circumstances the deserved homage of veterans who had fought with him and under whom they had been led repeatedly into battle. Warren was a brave man, but he was spared to prove the fact that falsehood and personal envy are the weapons of moral cowards. Some distance below the reviewing stand our regi ment wheeled off" Pennsylvania Avenue, making a per fect turn as they executed the movement, or, as an old officer of the regular army said : " It looked as Sherman's demonstration. 261 compact as a big barn door moving on its hinges." After the review was over we marched to the Chain Bridge and crossed to our camp on the other side of the Potomac. On that day we made about fourteen miles, and were well satisfied with an opportunity for rest on reaching our tents. The grand review of the Army of the Potomac was over and an event of the past, but never to be forgotten by those who were participants in or witnesses of that greatest of modern spectacles. The next day we returned to Washington to wit ness the review of the Western army, as it was known to us, but there was no manifest difference between it and the men of pur own ; as a military display, it was simply a repetition of the previous day; but in Sher man's demonstration the men carried trophies of their march from Atlanta to the sea. Here and there was a pack mule laden with poultry, sheep, silverware, household articles, etc. I saw some of these soldiers using coffee-pots and tea-pots of pure silver, and black with sacrilegious use over camp-fires'. Well could they sing, as they did, " How the turkeys gobbled with our commissary friend!" Every man, from general appearances, must have been a commissary on tha): march of Sherman. The Army of the Poto mac had no such trophies to thus heartlessly display in the review ; even had they, under the pressure of necessity, the impropriety of carrying the evidences of farm and household plunder in a grave military review would have prevented anything of the kind. These exceptionally great events, however, were soon over, and the one idea of "going home" again became the all-absorbing topic in camp ; but before 262 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. doing^ so our officers had imperative orders from the War Department to prepare the mustering-out rolls, which entailed a great amount of labor. In these final papers the minutest details of the enlisted man were required, in order to avoid future trouble where boun ties, pensions, and other matters might be involved. Every man who had- deserted, and when, if possible, had to be reported ; the clothing account to be accu rately stated ; the wounded and killed, and in what battle, must be designated. In fact, the mihtary ser vice of every enlisted man was required in these papers, including the final pay-roll. Besides all this, the report had to be duplicated several times. This, of course, delayed our going home. At the time of discharging the army the Govern ment advanced every commissioned officer one step, in appreciation of their services and in acknowledg ment of duty faithfully performed — a lieutenant be came a captain, a captain was made a colonel, and so on to the top ofthe ladder. Full privates and mu sicians, of course, returned home just as they came, knowing that "what fate imposes, men must need's abide." They went home, some of them to their long homes, with the consciousness, instead of official recognition, that the country had been tendered the best that could be given by them in its time of need. Even the Emperor Napoleon, who made his marshals from the ranks, forgot the services of an humble drum mer-boy when he was distributing crosses of the Legion of Honor to a battalion of grenadiers who had distinguished themselves in capturing a battery. The whole battalion was honored with these special marks of merit save the drummer-boy, who was in the front HOME AGAIN. 263 rank and the first in the battery. There he stood, his heart almost breaking ; but he was not too modest to make respectful claim to his right. Stepping up to the Emperor, he touched his cap and exclaimed, " Et moi ! " The- Emperor's heart was touched, and, taking the cross from his own breast, he put it on that of the drummer-boy, when the whole battalion en thusiastically accompanied their cheers with "Vive I'Empereur!" The musicians of the army might have gone to Uncle Sam and appealingly said, "And 1 1" when the cogs in the wheel of fortune were being turned forward, but who would have come to a single drummer-boy and satisfied his honest desire for some evidence of reward ? In less than a week after the grand review, our regiment departed for home and was discharged on the 29th day of May, 1865, entering Philadelphia with sadly thinned ranks, at the head of which was our band, just as itwas on leaving the city in 1862. The 1 14th was the only regiment enlisted in Phila delphia having a band that remained intact down to the end of the war. It was this close and constant association between the band and regiment, on the march, in camp and hospital, that made them so firmly wedded to each other in the eventful operations of the Army of the Potomac. CONCLUSION. Throughout the memoranda of the preceding chapters it will be observed thatthe band ofthe 1 14th Regiment plays a conspicuous part, but in no single instance to the detriment of any one, nor is it the desire of the author to elevate the services of the band to an undue importance. In time of war, how ever, as experience has conclusively shown, the music of a band, when judiciously selected and skillfully per formed, is an important aid toward keeping up the discipline and soldierly bearing of the men. Tru.e, they do not go into battle apd charge the enemy's strongholds with a flourish of trumpets and the clash ing of cymbals ; and yet the precision and accentua tion of step, as a preliminary to decisive action and unison of movement, owes much to the inspiriting strains of music in camp and on the march^ Nor does the value of regimental band music end here, for its moral and elevating influence is actually beyond estimation. The sick and wounded in hospital gather in the soothing harmony as a solace in their distress. The men in their tents at night, and on the drill by day, have their despondent spirits awakened to a new life. On the march their steps are lightened by the airs with which they become familiar, and the concord of pleasing sounds proves a feast to their hearts, if not to their souls. The ofiicers, too, are as susceptible as 264 VALUE OF REGIMENTAL BANDS. 265 the men to the kindly influence of music, thus uniting them in the same source of supreme pleasure, and binding them in closer ties of fellowship, that otherwise probably would not obtain. It brings to memory the sacred associations of home, in the melodies of the fireside, as a relief to the burdens and hardships of those whose lives are ever in peril. It needs only the almost unanimous attestation of men under arms to strengthen the claims here made as to the importance of inspiring music when associated with the circumstances narrated. A response from a comrade of the 1 14th Regiment, in anticipation of the publication of the within remi niscent notes, is here given as an earnest of the love of and desire for music in the army during the Rebel lion : — " Don't forget to put in the book how we boys used to yell at the band for music to cheer us up when we were tramping along so tired that we could hardly drag one foot after the other. Since the war I have often thought how cruel we were to do so ; for, if we were tired, wasn't the band members equally so ? and yet we wanted thera to use up what little breath they had left to put spirit in us. But then, you know, that good old tune we called ' Hell on the Rappahannock ' had enough music in it to make a man who was just about dead brace up, throw his chest out, and take the step as if he had received a new lease of hfe. Those were hard days, but even after a long march, if we were only rested a little we could be as happy as the day was long, knowing that we were doing our duty to our country and the flag, emd that was reward enough for tired limbs and blistered feet." 266 MUSIC ON THE MARCH. Happily, an era of profound peace and widespread prosperity has succeeded the fratricidal contest, the cause of the war is obliterated, and throughout the land the bonds of national brotherhood are more strongly cemented than ever before. To overthrow the Rebellion and perpetuate the Union of the States the cost can never be counted. The records of the War Department show that 300,000 lives were sacri ficed, and the Treasury Department exhibits a debt of nearly four billion 1 The amount of property destroyed, however, is beyond the reach of calcula tion. While thousands upon thousands, in whom the seeds of disease were sown as a result of the hard ships endured during the service they rendered their country,^ have answered the final roll-call since the close of the war, nearly all the great commanders of the armies have yielded to the inevitable and passed from the 'stage on which they had been the most prominent players. Grant, Meade, McClellan, Han cock, Sheridan, Sherman, -Warren, Birney, Thomas, Graham, Logan, Hartranft, and a host of others, all are gone, but leaving unfading records upon the pages of their country's history as an example to coming generations. In them resided that loyalty, courage and keen foresight, which " Seizes the prompt occasion, — makes the thoughts Start into instant action, and at once Plans and performs, resolves and executes." Great, indeed, were the achievements of the Army of the Potomac, and unsurpassed in the history of modern warfare was the devotion and heroism of its men. It was not a coercive physical force for the PEACE AND UNITY. 267 acquisition of territory, nor were its sacrifices made to subject the enemy to a condition of abject thraldom. But one principle actuated its offensive and glorious campaign, though frequently bewildered in the gloom of serious reverses, and that embraced the complete unity ofthe States, one flag, and one government for all the people. To this end there was no concession, and nothing short of a surrender ofthe rebellious ele ment demanded, or to be hoped for. This was the objective point, and in all the important events lead ing to the final act in that long and bloody contest, when the swords of the victor and vanquished were sheathed in peace, as participants therein, no small share ofthe people's gratitude is due the gallant men of the 114th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Thus ends this recital of the " Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war." Survivors of the 114th Regiment, P. V. C. H. T. Collis. E. R. Bowen. J. Hartley. A. W. Givin. H. E Rulon. A. Fix. A. H. G. Richardson. R. D. Benson. J. R. Waterhonse. C. Robinson. W. T. Brown. N. Magenny. F. Schaffer. R. C. Kretschmar. W. E. Hoffman. T. M. Hoyle. J. Busby. D. K. Hartley. J. Cooney. W. Grew. J. A. Tricker. B. L. Myers. W Bardsley. T. W. Campbell. J. McGlensey. C. Lemark. C. Sheppard. J M. West. S. Naylor. W. Hotrocks. J. Haw. C. Smith. J. Arnold. G. Gower. W. W. Wear. J. H. Rotenbury. C. Little. S. Maxwell. H. C.^ Kelly. W. T. Williams. G. Lewellan. C. Gentry. G. Wolf. D. Lennen. W. Craven. W. T. Vandever. J. Ayres. S. Edgar. D. Faunce. J. Hall. H. Gentry. W. Cowden. J. V. Egee. J. Perry. C. Randall. W. S. Robinson. G. Davidson. E. Caldwell. W. Magrady. A. Kammerline. J. Baugh. J. Madely. M. Sheridan. W. Forrest. 269 A. Ross. J. Yocum. D. Kelly. J. Ashton. I. Clegg. E. Bonner. J. Wells. H. Smallbrook. C. Taylor. I. Fox. W. Caskey. C. B. Sloan. G. Murray. R. Brown. A. Dorsey. B. Propert. O. Hamilton. A. Denning. W. H. K. Smith. W. Egee. N. Pennell. J. M. Cummings. R. Johnson. ' S. West. A. Helms. R. Matherson. R. McCouch. E. Fisher. W. Blanford. G. Altemus. W. Vickers. G. Wood. 270 SURVIVORS OF THE I I4TH REGIMENT, P. V. E. Bryan. J. Hawkins. P. Roney. J. McGafferty. S. Loeb. G. Frease. G. F. Trout. R. Riley. W. Tyson. P. Harrington. W. T. Clemens. H. S. Strouse. D. Fox. J. Stanford. J. Orr. H. Mackie. G. Baker. J. W. Hilt. C. Borie. W. Moore. H. Duhurst. J. Gregory. A. Toy. G. Kretchman. A. C. Brown. T. Rice. D. Drummond. H. Hall. J. Priest. J. T. Shuster. J. Walker. H. H. Snyder. W. J. Miller. E. E. Williams. C. Stewart. T. Estell. G. Bates. H. H. Haigh. A. M. Lance. W. T. Abrams. G. Brattan. W. Perry. R. Chadwick. J. Waugh. J. W. Dewees. J. Butterworth. C. Dunseith. F. Coleman. M. Cannon. T. Montgomery. J. Neece. J. A. Smith. J. Childs. Wm. H. Platt. R. Schoch. J. Hippie. R. J. Marrin. O. Helmuth. W. Moffet. J. Browu. J. Emly. J. McCool. F. H. Roat. F. Holden. W. H. Care. E. Madison. J. T. Lee. M. Chadwick. M. Bradley. W. Hartzell. S. Nelson. W. F. Rayner. J. G. Fritz. J. Bell. J. Broadhurst. E. W. Campion. F. Rauscher. D. Schively. J. Achuff. T. Gilbert. F. Brous. J. Stowman. G. T. Martin. J. Farraday. J. Hannason. J. Maguire. J. Harrop. T. Conaghy. S. Magill. S. Russell. Rev. T. W. Davidson. E. Harkinson. H. Taylor. W. Kalbach. A. Brown. A. Mitchell. J. Hawk. J. P. Kitchen. R. Lubers. H. T. Baldwin. C. H. Snyder. A. W. McCallum. A.'DalrymplCiJ. Murphy. J. B. Dannaker. T. Egbert. H. Hartman. B.R. DeYoung. A. Mitchell. J. Haslem. C. Wilson. R. W. Ramsden. C. M. Watson. H. W. Simon. T. P. Wilkinson.