Monday, June 29, 1863. "Gen'l very cross. Says we have no discipline."

Gen'l Stannard
 marches us like "Old Harry"
June 29, 1863

"Strong exertions are required and must be made to prevent straggling." ~ General Order No. 70, June 29, 1863, by command of Major-General Reynolds

"Monday June 29, 1863 ... to Adamsville. My Regt was on rear guard--very hard road passed through Frederick. Gen'l very cross. Says we have no discipline." ~From the Diary of Wheelock G. Veazey, Colonel, 16th Vermont Regiment.(VHS)

"Monday 29th. Left Camp & marched up the valley still farther & encamped about 5 miles beyond Frederick on the Emmetsburgh pike. Reached F. just after noon, & before passing made a half of an hour or two. Marched about 17- miles & were as tired & footsore as one could possibly wish to be. Hoped that we should find our Gen Reynolds & so got a little rest, but were disappointed, as he was said to be a day's march ahead of us. So our tiresome journey must continue. Gen Stannard marches us like the "old Harry" & the pike has been very hard & rather rough." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 136-37, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"General Stannard ... put us to the test of human endurance. In order that nothing should impede his progress he issued an order that none should leave the ranks, while on the march, to procure water. This order under the circumstances seemed cruel, because ofthe weather 90 degrees in the shade and marching from dawn to sunset at our utmost speed stopping only at mid-day for rest and to eat a sandwich of hard tack and boiled pork. We camped for the night, June 29th, about twelve miles north of Frederick City and three or four miles south of Lewiston in a little valley on the west bank of the Monocacy." ~ Ralph Orson Sturtevant, Pictorial History of the 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers 207 (1910)

"June 29. ...To-day noon, after plodding through mud and rain as fast as we can, wind ourselves at Frederick city. Here the brigade leaves ninety soldiers, unable to go farther. Some buy pies and pay fifty cents apiece, and a dollar for smallish loaves of bread. From this place we march northerly, and pitch out tents just at dark in a rich valley covered with grass, waving wheat and corn. ... We have herd that Gen. Meade is in command of the army, not knowing whether to believe it." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment, The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864)



"June 29. The march was resumed at seven o'clock this morning, and it has rained all day. We arrived at Frederick city about noon, ...Halted about three hours at Frederick, when we were again ordered forward. Have gone into camp to-night near Creagerstown. I learn to-night that Hooker has been relieved from the command of the army, and Major Gen. Meade appointed in his place."~ John C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp 136 (1864)


"June 29, 1863. Camp eight miles out of Frederick. Marched all day; Oh how tired I am to-night; one man from our company fell out; we do not know whether he is dead or not. I had a good swig of whiskkey to-day, it does me more good than anything. ~ Diary of Frederick L. Reed, Orderly Sergt., Co.. D, 14th Regt., (Memorial Exercises, Castleton VT 1885, p 57-59)

Sunday, June 14, 1863. The Army of the Potomac passes slowly back through the lines of the Second Vt. Brigade.

"The van of General Hooker's great army arrives on the 14th and crosses the Occoquan on a pontoon bridge laid across at Occoquan Village near our camp. We assist in laying the bridge and then for a number of days sit on the bank and watch the moving army, infantry, cavalry and artillery, a whole army corps cross here ...." ~ Ralph Orson Sturtevant, Pictorial History of the 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers 173 (1910).

"...the whole Army of the Potomac is falling back. 180 pieces of artillery stayed at Wolf Shoals last night [the 14th] and where we are we could see infantry, artillery and cavalry streaming off toward Centerville. Whether they stay there or go somewhere else I do not know. The army is confident of not having another Bull Run defeat in case of a collision here, though I believe Lee means Maryland more than he does Bull Run." ~ Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter from Union Mills, June 15, 1863

"Sunday 14th. Inspection of Guns & Equipments in A.M. Church in P.M. Weather pretty hot." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow (UVM), 127, Horace Barlow, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

April 17, 1863. A new division commander.

Gen. John J. Abercrombie 

and staff of eight

"April 17. We are no longer in the reserve corps for the defense of Washington, but will hereafter form a part of the army in the field. Nothing new to-day; still under marching orders."~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp, 110 (1864).

"Friday 17th. We learn this morning, that Gen. Casey is transferred from his division, elsewhere, & that Gen. Abercrombie now commands this Division. This may effect our moving at all. Up & about as usual to-day & feeling about the same. H.G.C. got a canteen of milk & a Doz. Eggs to-night & so I made quite a supper of 2 eggs, rice &c&c."  ~ Diary of Horace Barlow, 106, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment

"Conditions now permitted two from each company daily, to be given passes to visit Mount Vernon, Occoquan Village,Fairfax Station and the citizens outside our picket lines. The author in company with Fernando C. Wilett of Company G on the 16th made the march to Mount Vernon and returned on the 17th in a rain storm, stopping over night about a mile this side of Mount Vernon at an old mansion then occupied by a Mr. Mason which was kept as a sort of a hotel to accommodate the boys when making visits to and from Mount Vernon." ~Ralph Orson Sturtevant, Pictorial History of the 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers 153 (1910).