Sunday, May 24, 1863. Summer schedule. Inspection; drill; parade; review.

"24th. Hot and muggy.".  ~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment

"Union Mills, Virginia, May 24, 1863

"Dear Parents, Another uneventful week....two months ago today we came here, hardly expecting to remain nearly so long, but now all is quiet and we have made up our minds that we have got to stay where we are for the present or until we get ready to start for Vermont, and we are not certain how soon that will be. 

"The colonel was rather cross this morning on inspection. The Regt. did not march to suit him. We have never been drilled on slow time at all, and come to put us to marching slow time we made bad work of it. But try us on quick or double quick time and the 16th can't be beat! I presume we will be reviewed by the General and staff before long.

"The weather is now decidedly hot here, and has been so for some time. 

"We get up at 5:00, do police duty immediately after, eat breakfast at 5:30, and go on company drill at 6:00, come in again at 7:30. Guard mounting comes at 8:00, after which there is nothing until 5:00 p.m. when Battalion drill comes. This lasts until 6:30. Dress parade comes at 7:00, and supper as soon as we can eat it afterward. Tattoo at 8:30 and taps 9:30, after which everything is supposed to be quiet." ~ Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of May 24, 1863

"Sunday 24th. On guard, but detailed as Colonel's orderly. Easy, pleasant time Very warm & sultry. Had two glasses of lemonade "with a stick in it", during the day. Church Service as usual."  ~ Diary of Horace Barlow(UVM), 121, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"Camp Near Bristol Station, May 24th 1863

"Dear Parents, I now seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that we are yet alive & well & I hope these few lines will find you all the same.

"It is quite pleasant to day, there being air enough so that we can take a little comfort. Stephen & Harler are out on picket. are at the bridge across kettle run, which is about two miles below here.

"It is about eleven Oclock A.M. & if I was in Vt I presume that I should be at church. But if I was not there I should be somewhere else.  Ira was well this morning at eight Oclock for I have seen a man who saw him at that time.

"We had an inspection this morning at nine Oclock by Lieut Waite, Capt. Savage being Officer of the day. Watson is Orderly for him to day perhaps you will wish to know what his business is well he had for one thing scoured up the Capts. Sword & now he has gone to carry a letter to the Chaplains & all such Business. He is as tough as a bear. 

"I will now give you a history of our days work:


     Reville              5 1/4 A.M.
     Breakfast call    6 A.M.
     Police call         6 "
     Surgeons call     6 1/2 "
     Company drill     6 1/2 to 8 1/2 "
     Picket mount      8 "
     Guard Mount      8 "
     Dinner             12 N.
     Company drill    5 to 7 P.M.
     Supper               7 "
     Tattoo             8 1/2 "
     Taps                 9 "

"So you see we have to keep busy most of the time, come to take in the extras. When I undertake to call them out to drill, the first that you hear is my time is out. But they get out after a while & then we sweat & drill around for two hours. It makes the boys feel rather ugly but they cant get out of it.

"There is thirty nine privates to do duty & take from thirteen to fifteen men for guard & picket every day. So you see that they have a little picket duty to do as well as to drill.

"The Capt. went down to the Shoals the other day to see J.W. Taylor he says that he was pretty slim.   But better than he was. There has not been any men to report at the hospital for the last fortnight & the boys all feel tiptop, but rather ugly & want their own way & if you say any thing it is none of your D...d business, my time is out I reckon." ~ Jabez H. Hammond, West Windsor, age 20, Sgt. Co. A, 12th Regt Letter No. 41, May 24, 1863

Saturday, May 23, 1863. A grand review.

Gen.Stannard
(VHS)

"Camp Near Bristol Station

"[This] morning the Bush whackers attacked our cavalry patrol on the road about thee miles below here. They killed one man from the first Vermont, without any loss to them. Our men said that two of the men had been in their camp several times. But I reckon that they had not better be seen there again. if they be they will face Slim."  ~ Jabez H. Hammond, West Windsor, age 20, Sgt. Co. A, 12th Regt Letter No. 41, May 24, 1863

"Saturday 23rd.  Last Monday 18th I enlisted & to-day is the completion of 9 months since the election of our Co. officers. Six weeks more will finish this job. In camp & taking it easy to-day". ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 121, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"May 23. A grand review of the troops in this vicinity to-day, by Gen. Stannard, and a very warm day for such business." ~ John C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp 121 (1864)

"23rd. Very hot and dry. Exciting news from Grant. Report that he has taken eighty pieces of field artillery." ~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment

Friday, May 22, 1863. Coping with heat and death.

"Friday 22nd. Taking it easy again to-day. Hot & nothing going on. Playing cards more or less". ~ Diary of Horace Barlow(UVM), 121, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"Camp Carusi May 22th 1863 

"There are some few sick in our company. Only one dangerously. That is Aladuren Stowell of Morretown. Last week two of our boys died. Cyrus Thayer of Waitsfield and Charlie Billings of Fayston. Charley had always been tough as a knot but after he had the Measles, since then he has not been so tough and all the sick in our hospital are Boys that had the measles....

"Think by the appearance of things, we are going to move from here soon. We have stayed long enough in one place. It will be two months the 2th of next month since we came here to this camp and that is plenty long enough to stay in one place. The weather here is rather warm for comfort in the middle of the day. What it will be by the 10th of July is more than I can tell but one thing is certain, the Col. will not make us do more than is absolutely necessary. We have not had a drill for most two weeks.

"We probably shall be at home the first days of July, perhaps not till the 10th. Some think before but I do not but there is one thing that bothers me. Some of the men were drafted. Men drafted the 10th of September, how they can keep them till July, puzzles me some. If we take the places of drafted men, why should not our time commence when theirs would if they had been drafted on the 10th of July as they would have been if we had not enlisted when we did." ~ James Willson, 13th Regt., pvt, Co. B. , Letter #44, May 22, 1863 (VHS)

"22nd. Has been very warm to-day. Dug a cellar for ale. There has been a temperance lecture this evening." ~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment

May 21, 1863. Reveille 5 a.m. Botanizing and swimming every day.

"Camp Near Union Mills, VA May 21st, 1863 

"My Dear Wife ... It is about as hot during mid-day as it is at home in July. In consequence of this warm weather our program was last night altered so that today and henceforth it is - Reveille 5 a.m., Breakfast 5:30, Drill 6 to 8; Guard Mounting 8; Dinner 12 m, Drill 5 to 6:30 p.m., dress parade 7, Supper 7:15. Tattoo 8:30 Taps 9:30. I am up at Reveille and often before want my breakfast before 6 o’clock and shall leave the mess unless the colonel and major “come to time” eat hearty, three times a day; go to bed at tattoo and sleep soundly. 

"But a new division order is now in force compelling the Field Officer of the Day to camp out in some central portion of the line to visit the line both night and day. As the line is of miles long over the most intolerable ravines to do all this in the rain and dark is a job that will pretty much use up the twenty four hours, and on two days in succession will add to the task. I had rather be in front along with Hooker, but as you seem to be so much better satisfied I will not complain.

"Lilacs, snowballs, etc, etc, and so on are in full blossom. I found a handful of Ladies slipper a week some and one Jack in the pulpit - Asarum Canadense. The flora of this country is peculiarly rich, richer, than any I know of in New England. ...

"I did not think much of the picture I sent you. It was taken at noon day and was poor. The picture of the horse is good. The same day Houghton took a negative of my tent with me sitting there, from which he proposes to print some pictures.

"There has been daily discussion as to when the time of the nine months men expired, but a general order was read on parade a few days since settling the question that the period was not out until the 23d of July. A conundrum has been circulating in camp “Why is the 2nd brigade like an unborn baby?, which is answered “Because it is in for nine month unless sooner discharged!” 

"There seems to be no earthly danger of our moving away from this spot for the present, nor is there the slightest danger of any considerable number of us seeing a rebel. Our record will be a most unsatisfactory record in every respects." ~ Lt. Col. Charles Cummings, Sixteenth Regiment, Letters May 18, 1863. VHS.



"Thursday 21st. Taking it very easy indeed. Go in swimming every day in a Run (Broad or Kettle, by name) & tho' not deep we have considerable sport. On night picket to-night. Had an easy time. ~ Diary of Horace Barlow(UVM), 121, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment 

May 20, 1863

May 20 1863
Blockhouse at Catletts

William Henry Jackson

Scotts Bluff National Monument 

"Wednesday 20th. Grand inspection of everything by Capt Hill at 2 P.M. Guns were splendidly clean & brilliant as a whole. He expressed himself as very well pleased. He said, also, that our Co & our guns were the best he had seen." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 120-21, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment


"May 20. The battery of artillery stationed at this post was inspected yesterday. In consequence of the weather being so extremely warm, we have only two and one-half hours' drill per day, which is mainly in the bayonet exercise. 

"Picketing is getting to be somewhat tedious -- requiring two-thirds of the regiment to perform it, and thereby giving only two days out of seven for rest. Cavalry is sent out every day to patrol the roads in this vicinity, and patrols from the regiment are sent out every night."~ John C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B. 14th Regiment, Life in Camp 122 (1864)


"ORVILLE WHEELER was was a sturdy, well-behaved young man and very anxious to enlist and his father gave consent reluctantly because so young. His age at enrollment was just past 18 years. His constitution was undermined at Wolf Run Shoals camp, where for ten long weary weeks exacting duties and the severity of the weather taxed to the uttermost the physical endurance of the strongest. At this camp he sickened and went into the hospital, recovered and moved with the regiment to Camp Widow Violet; here he had a relapse, was again taken into the hospital where he died of disease May 20, 1863." ~Ralph Orson Sturtevant, Pictorial History of the 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers 645-46 (1910)

May 19, 1863.

"Two or three days since, a strong force of cavalry from Stoneman's corps came up to guard the lower end of the railroad, and yesterday the infantry regiments were withdrawn.

"The Fifteenth came back to Union Mills, and resumes the old duty of picketing along the Occoquan and Bull Run. The Twelfth remains out a few miles, the right wing, which includes Company C, being stations at Bristow's, and the left wing, in two detachments, at Catlett's Station and Manassas Junction.

"General Stannard retains his headquarters at Union Mills, and devotes himself earnestly and effectively to the care of the troops. It is no light care. The Second Vermont brigade is spread over a line of fifty miles, three of the regiments maintaining a picket line for which the entire brigade used to be hardly sufficient, and two guarding thirty miles of railroad...

"The men of the Twelfth have been enjoying to the full their sojourn in the splendid region at the front, and the regiment has been greatly benefited as to health by the change. The number of new cases of sickness has been reduced to a nominal figure, and the convalescents who have returned from the hospitals in Alexandria have rapidly regained full strength.

"In the Thirteenth regiment the same malarial fever which weakened the Twelfth so at the Shoals is prevailing extensively and has proved fatal in four or five cases within a day or two."~ Lieut. G.G. Benedict, Company C, 12th Regiment, Letter to the Free Press of May 19, 1863 in Army Life in Virginia.  


"Tuesday 19th. Was to have had a great inspection to-day by A.A.G. Capt Hill (of Brigade) but put off till to-morrow. Quiet in Camp. Went in swimming in P.M." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 120, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"There is more sickness than usual in the brigade. My company lost two soldiers, -Cyren Thayer and Charles Billings."~Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment, The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864)

"May 19th: The weather here is quite warm, but I do not see anybody planting corn about here, though I presume you are just beginning to plant at home, and here if you can get across Bull Run and a mile or two away from the Railroad, you will find all sorts of farming business in full operation, except when the men are away on some bushwhacking expedition or other."

"We have just heard that Moses P. Baldwin has got an addition to his family in the shape of a little daughter, so that his time has not been lost after all. 

"How do you prosper with the Spring work? You mention Father is going up to mend fence on the old pasture. How many sheep has he this summer and are their as good ones as those that he sheared last summer? How many cows have you got this summer? Oh, tell little Charlie that he must learn to play on his new "drum" so that he can play for Clarence the next time he gets his regiment together as it is highly necessary at all military gatherings to have a little music. More anon, H. G. Day" ~ Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of May 19, 1863

Monday, May 18, 1863. At Union Mills. Thin lines; Rebels in the midst.

"Camp at Union Mills, VA 

"Monday morning, May 18th, 1863

"My Dear Wife ... I was Field Officer of the Day Wednesday and Thursday in charge of a fatigue party Saturday and yesterday and today an again Officer of the Day. Our regiment has six miles of picketing to do in a very rough line, without any help; but today the 15th comes back and will relieve us of some of this labor. But the weather in delightful and has been so for ten days so the men endure their labor well. The health of the regiment has at not former time been so good since we crossed the Potomac as now. 

"Then is nothing particularly new or interesting in camp just now. The only item of excitement that I have heard of is the capture of eight other men by the rebels a few days since. It appears that while half a dozen teams belonging to the 13th regiment were drawing supplies for the regiment from Fairfax Station, to near Occoquan village, a party of mounted rebs made their appearance and captured the men and horses and destroyed the wagons. In addition to a driver for each team were four or five men belonging to the regiment that had been off contrary to instructions and were riding back to camp, stragglers we call them here. The rebels, who are well posted as to our movements, made this dash and re-crossed the Occoquan River in safety. 

"We are in the expectation of a raid in here about these days. Then has been no time for a week when Mosby with 150 men could not have come in here and carried off the battery and the general. With 150 men at Bristow’s Station 100 on detached service, 200 on picket, and there is not many left for fight after taking out regimental guards and cooks. Saturday, however, we closed the fords on the river with felled trees, so that a dash cannot be made past our picket line by the mounted rebels. 

"There is nothing new out here of great moment. It is reported that the rebels have an infantry force this side of the Rappahannock and that they contemplate a raid or driving us back within the Defense of Washington. If they do this we may be able to extemporize a smart little fight out here. 

"Our nine months expire on the 23d day of July next, two months longer at the end of which time most of us will be in Brattleboro, where we shall be mustered out of the service of our respected Uncle.

"My love to all, and a kiss for the dear little ones. Your loving husband - Charles. ~ Lt. Col. Charles Cummings, Sixteenth Regiment, Letters May 18, 1863. VHS.

"Union Mills, Virginia, May 18, 1863

"Dear Parents Yours of the 6th came duly to hand and found me at Bristow, but was just as welcome there as anywhere. Co. "E" is down there now with enough men from other companies to make up 100. .... Stannard is much liked by the men under his command. He is not showy and dashing like Stoughton but seems to be a kind fatherly sort of an individual, chuck full of common sense with a good word for everybody.

"You want to know what a vidette is? It is a mounted sentinel posted outside the picket line to observe the movements of the enemy.

"I had the pleasure of taking another trip down the railroad the other day, going down within two miles of the Rappahannock. Went down as guard on one of the trains. I think from all appearances that we will not have to keep up this picket line alone a great while longer as I think the 12th and 15th will be brought back to assist us.

"There are not many troops left in the Dept. in Washington now. Most of them have been sent down on the front to help Hooker. I have heard that Phillip Crosly was killed in one of the late fights on the Rappahannock. If that is true he is the first Plymouth boy to be killed in action." ~ Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of May 18, 1863

Phillip W Crosby of Plymouth, age 17 Pvt, Co. I, 2nd VT, kia, Marye's Heights, 5/3/63



"Monday 18th. Moved camp, by rail, to Bristow station. The two Co's K & G are still at Catlett's & the right wing at Bristow, & the other 3 at Mannassas Junction. Col. Blunt sent for me to help him move, & so I was detailed & had an easy time. On Picket, (not by necessity) to-night." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 120, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment