Sunday, January 4, 1863. A compliment

"Sunday, Jan. 4th.--We are in Centerville yet, and are experiencing very pleasant weather. We are to stay 8 days. Two companies are on picket at a time, and stay 24 hours;--the other companies drill twice a day, as usual. On battalion drill, the other day the Col. complimented us by saying we had never drilled so well before. I am sure we all did our best. We have great confidence in Col. Vesey and Capt. Arms, and in our officers generally." ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of January 2, 1863     Brattleborohistory.com


"Centerville, Virginia, January 4th, 1863

"Dear Parents,

"When I last wrote you I said that we expected if nothing happened, to go to Centerville on picket about the middle of the week, and here we are. ... From that time [Stuart's raid] until we came here we had any quantity of scare stories about the Rebs, that they were coming in this direction of that, and since we came here even the story in our old camp has been that the 16th were all driven in to the Forts and rifle pits by the enemy. To be sure some of our company are camped in the old forts, but we have not been driven a single inch and as for capturing us, it would trouble all the cavalry in Jeff Davis' dominions to capture us as long as hard tack and cartridges lasted, although artillery would drive us out unless we could have some ourselves.

"We have got to stay here in Centerville seven days instead of four, as we did the first time we were here, and then we will go back to camp again. Centerville is a nasty stinking desolate hole, half of it has already been burned, and it would do the other half good to burn also. There have been so many troops camped about here, both Sesesh and Union, that the country roundabout is a perfect desert covered with the rude stone chimneys constructed by the Rebel army to warm their winter quarters, and by the ruins of houses that once covered the inhabitants of this war desolated land. 

"The Rebel huts have mostly been carried off for fuel, leaving only their great unsightly chimneys to mar the landscape, though near the post where Alfred and I stood on picket yesterday and last night, there were the remains of some which we found made first rate firewood.

"I am writing with pencil out here because my knapsack is in camp and we have no ink out here, though we could buy it if we wished, and it is about the only thing you can buy, unless it be a little might of milk,- nothing in the line of eatables can be had for love or money. Even our officers got short and were unable to buy anything for themselves, and have been on a great deal shorter rations than have we."   ~  Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of January 4, 1863

Friday, January 2, 1863. A picture of Centreville

"I intended to have written yesterday so as to wish you a Happy New Years on that day. But business is increasing in the office and then the command of the Regiment on my hands during a week has closely occupied my time. There is nothing worthy of note occurred within a few days. Col. Veazey has improved and is now out with the regiment on picket. Major Rounds is also out." ~ Lt. Col. Charles Cummings, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter No. 14, January 2, 1863. VHS.

"Centerville, Va., Jan. 2d, 1863.
"Dear Sisters: When I wrote the other day, we were in a hubbub; said hubbub has now subsided, the rebels having, apparently, done the same. All the damage I have heard of doing, was an attempt to burn a railroad bridge, the cutting of the telegraph wire, and the supposed extraction of messages at Burke's station.

"We relieved the 15th at this place, yesterday. The first time we came out on picket, we went beyond here, but the line has been drawn in. The 15th was obliged to fall back, and occupy the earth-works at this place, during the "raid," but were not attacked.

"I wish you could paint a picture of Centerville. Imagine how the village of Brattleboro would look after having been lifted 5000 feet into the air by a whirlwind, and suddenly dropped "ker-smash"! There are a few houses standing, perhaps a dozen in all, and a few inhabitants; but the ruins of a church, mill, &c., show that it is not what it once was, and it is not easy to see how it ever will be.

"... Here, on picket, we make our own coffee, and fry our hard bread in pork fat. Uncle Sam's stock of old wormy crackers, which had, apparently, been kept over from the war of 1812, are about exhausted, and we now have fresh ones, whose only bad effect is, that they make a man hungry. ..."  ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of January 2, 1863     Brattleborohistory.com

Wednesday, December 17, 1862. Back to Fairfax Court House.

"[T]o-day, having been relieved by the 12th regiment, we expect to go back to Fairfax Court House. More than 50,000, perhaps 100,000 troops have passed through Fairfax, since we came; and all sorts of rumors about Burnside's defeat or victory at Fredericksburg, are afloat in camp."  ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of December 15 1862     Brattleborohistory.com


"The 12th came down to Centerville & releived our Regt ..., there are 3 other Regts to take thier turns before we go again. It is about 10 miles there. George is still with the 12th. I saw him a few moments, before we left Centerville....Geo. does not like being with the 12th, dont think the Regt half as smart as the 16th." ~ Joseph Spafford, 1st Lieutenant, Company E, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter, December 18 1862, UVM


[Mandrin H. Ames, Halifax, VT, age 22,  Co. F, 16th VT INF, died of disease 12/17/62.]

Tuesday, December 16, 1862. The Art of Picketing

"Picket Duty"
William Henry Jackton
12th Regt. Co. K

"[A]t 8 o'clock P.M. [Monday night], we went to the "support," and slept behind a rail fence. A sudden dash of rain woke us at the right time, and twelve of us followed our corporal through the rain, mud, and darkness, into the woods that hide the "Run," and were stationed a fourth of a mile from each other, there to watch for eight long hours. I hugged the side of a large tree until morning, and then, the rain holding up, and two of us coming together, we made a fire, and warmed up, made some coffee, picked some grapes, and made ourselves comfortable. We came back to camp at about 2 P.M. ..."  ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of December 15 1862     Brattleborohistory.com

"When I last wrote you we were doing picket duty near Manassas. We went down there last saturday & came back ...Wednesday. While there half the Regt went on picket at a time, so you see we had to go on every other day. We (the Comishioned officers) only had to go on once in 3 days, consequently I was only on once while there. 

"You inquire what I have to do while on picket. I will explain as well as possible. It depends upon the nature of the ground & the nearness of the enemy how pickets are posted. Ours have generally been two on a post & from 5 to 10 rods apart; some other Brigades meets the right & left of our line so they extend in that way sometimes for miles. Our Brigade while at Camp Vermont had a line of 8 miles, at Bull Run a line about half as long. 

"If there are 300 men go out at once they will be divided in 3 reliefs of 100 men each. Now a Lieut will take 50 ofthese men & post them on the right of the line beginning at the center, & another Lieut will post 50 men on the left & releive the men already on duty there. You see (in this case, sometimes they will take more men & sometimes less acording to the length of the line) it would take 6 Lieuts each day, 2 to each releif. 

"After posting the men they go back to the surport or reserve (where the other 2 reliefs are stationed) & stop there. The men remain 8 hours on a post then 2 Lieuts take another 100 men (the 2d relief) & releive the men that were first posted. 

"The Lieuts are supposed to visit that part of the line where thier men are posted at least once after posting them before they are releived, so as to see that they are doing thier duty, not sleeping, &c. From what I have written you can judge as nearly as it is possible for me to make you understand what I have to do while on picket." ~ Joseph Spafford, 1st Lieutenant, Company E, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter, December 18 1862, UVM

See also Benedict, Picket Duty on Cub Run,

Monday, December 15, 1862. On Picket at Bull Run.

Ruins of RR bridge
Blackburn'sFord, Bull Run 1862

"Dear Friends at Home:--Well, here I sit in a cluster of trees, on the classic bank of Bull Run!... Last night we slept on our guns, in an anticipation of an attack, having learned that a party of rebel cavalry was near. This morning I was detailed to go on picket again, and here I am now, writing this letter and waiting for 4 o'clock to-morrow morning, when our "relief" comes on.... 

"The country is as woody as Vermont, and as level as Connecticut. There is very little, if any snow, and the weather is after the style of October. Passing the heights of Centerville, I saw the first stone too large to lift, in Virginia; and on the side of the main terrace of Bull Run, the first ledge shows itself,--red sand stone. The soil is mostly a red clay--red, before ever human blood was mingled with it.

"It is now 5 P.M., and the boys are eating supper. An old canteen, split in two, with a split stick for a handle, makes a good spider to fry pork in, as we have found by sweet experience. Pork, raw, or cooked, with "new" hard crackers, and coffee, which we boiled in our cups, are our rations at present. It is generally necessary to break up the crackers and pick out the bugs and worms, though some "go it blind!" I have eaten them when less than two out of five were free from the "varmints.'" ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of December 15 1862     Brattleborohistory.com

"I returned to Centerville that afternoon and the next morning they put me on picket again.  To the same place, and so on for four days when we returned to Fairfax Court House near where we are now.  The most we had to eat was had bread and raw pork but this tasted good I tell you." ~  E. D. Keyes, 1st Lieutenant, Company H, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of December 23, 1862

Friday, December 12, 1862. The whole Brigade is moving.

"Long before daylight the stars are shining brightly, and the camps are all alive. Things are being packed up; breakfast ate; ... the tents are struck and loaded on the wagons, and we are off. The whole brigade is moving, commanded by Gen. Stoughton. ...We have marched about a mile, when the sun rises above the low, wooded hills of Maryland, its rays flashing on the burnished rifles, and the long line of men rolling steadily over little swells of land, now seen, and now the living chain is broken from your view by the uneven land,...narrowing, till lost far away; so looked this line of brave men, each gathering courage as he sees the host stepping by martial music, and pride, that he, with such, are the defenders of his country. ..." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864)

"About 4OO of the 16th worked on the fort which I hare spoken of before and on our return to camp at night were told by our comrades that orders had come for us to be ready to strike tents and march the next morning. At first we hardly credited it, believing this to be one of the many camp stories that we hear told, but the next morning we were routed out at 3 o'clock, had breakfast at 4, and started between 5 and 6. I would hardly have believed we could start from camp with knapsacks, 50 rounds of cartridges, 2 days rations, etc. and march 18 miles the first day. But such nevertheless was the distance we made by the middle of the first afternoon, landing a little beyond Fairfax Courthouse."  Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of December 18, 1862.  

"We started at 3 in the morning with very heavy loads on our backs and marched until most night when we turned into the woods for the night and slept on the ground all hands of us.  I endured the march first rate. after our arrival I went to piling up logs and made a big fire as we do when out fishing.  The Capt. could hardly go he was so tired.  He wanted to know what in fury I was made of." ~  E. D. Keyes, 1st Lieutenant, Company H, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of December 23, 1862

"Friday 12th Awakened at 3 A.M. to get ready. All ready & tent struck by 4½. Formed line about 5½ & moved, together with whole brigade at 5.55. We find we are to go to Fairfax C.H. The march, 17 miles long, was pretty hard. The ground in early morning was frozen stiffly & very rough & so very hard for feet. Towards noon some what muddy & so much better. We rested quite often, but got very tired. My feet stood the journey very well & also my shoulders, but they ached when the knapsack was on, considerably. Stopped a mile beyond Fairfax C.H. & encamped in a pine wood on the right of the road. Arrived at 3.30 P.M."  ~  Diary of Horace Barlow, 49=50,  Co. C, 12th Regiment

"At three o'clock the ... (the 12th) the bugles sounded, calling us up to prepare for the march, each man to be supplied with two Days' rations. Our camp was again a busy scene. At half past five the 14th was formed in line, this time the men being in heavy marching order; Lieut. Col. Rose taking the command, we were ordered forward, the 12th, 15th and 16th preceding us, and the 13th bringing up the rear. We marched in this order about four miles, when the regiments ahead halted, the 14th filing past them and taking the lead. The day was pleasant and was a very favorable time for a march. We arrived at Fairfax Court House about four o'clock in the afternoon, and camped half a mile north, where we remained that night... ".~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp, 48-49 1864)

"[W]oke up about two. Had to go and get more breakfast and pack up ready to start by the appointed hour. The Regiment felt pretty bad about their winter quarters. Had just got them done and were having a nice time, when lo, and behold, they had to start. Marched through to the Court House about three in the afternoon, pitched tents and had a good nights rest."  ~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment.

"[Not knowing where we were going; but bade farewell to our fireplaces, bunks, and stockades, that we had worked so hard to make comfortable, and which we had just succeeded in finishing, hoping to enjoy them for a while, at least. Daylight found us on the road between Alexandria and Fairfax Court House; and just before night, we pitched our fly tents a little beyond the latter place, having traveled about fifteen miles, loaded down with fifty rounds of cartridges, two days rations, guns, knapsacks, blankets, and fly tents,... ." ~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt,  Co. B, Letter of December 15 1862     Brattleborohistory.com

Thursday, December 11, 1862. Orders to move out of Camp Vermont

"Thursday 11^th. As Gen Stoughton has altered the picket business so that we only stay out one day, our turn comes to-day. On the old right wing. On first relief & so on, from 9½ till 5½. Had a fire & were warm & nice. Got in & was thinking of the beautiful nights sleep, I should have, when, "O! horrors of war"! a messenger came to tell us to withdraw the picket & return to camp as we were ordered to leave at 5 the next morning for parts unknown." ~  Diary of Horace Barlow, 48-49,  Co. C, 12th Regiment

"[O]n returning from a hard days work on our fort, we were informed that the next morning, at 3 o'clock, we must strike tents, pack up, and leave!" ~ Pvt Daniel B Stedman 16th Regt Co. B, Letter of December 15 1862     Brattleborohistory.com

"Just now one of Gen. Stoughton's aids rides up, and hands the colonel a letter. He reads it; then (as is his custom) begins to bite his mustache, and rub his chin with his forefinger. Immediately it is noised through camp that we are to start on a march at five o'clock the next morning, with two days' rations." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864)

"Four o'clock in the afternoon. We have received orders to be ready to march in the morning at five o'clock. The true soldier is ever willing to sacrifice his comforts for the good of his country. Just as our preparations to make ourselves comfortable through the winter are about completed, we have received marching orders, so that the result of our labors will be left for the benefit of others."  ~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Lifein Camp, 47-48 1864)

[ Charles P. Clark, Halifax, VT, age 19, 4SGT, Co. F, 16th VT INF, died of disease 12/11/62]

["On the 11th , when Burnside moved to the Rappahannock and 

commenced his ill-fated Fredericksburg campaign, Sigel's corps was moved 

forward from Fairfax Court House in order to be within supporting distance, 

and the Second Vermont Brigade was ordered up to the position vacated by 

Sigel." Benedict, 2 Vermont in the Civil War 419 (1888)]