"When we see the splendidly armed and equipped Regiments from Michigan, pass through here on their way to the seat of war, and compare their appearance with that of the Regiments that left Camp Cleveland recently, it makes us almost ashamed of Ohio, and inclines us to enquire in the mildest and most collected manner, why it is that Michigan in the same length of time sends Regiments to the field prepared for service, while Ohio, who boasts of her enterprise and patriotism, sends from her camps as Regiments, mere mobs of men, half uniformed, unarmed, and wholly without drill."
The Regiment left Cleveland, via Buffalo to Elmira, New York, where we took supper with 23d New York Regiment in barracks there. We were royally entertained; had a good time; had a good supper. I wish to say here, the first hard tack the writer ever saw was issued to us at Cleveland. They were round, and as large as an elephant's foot, and as tough as a prohibitionist's conscience. I noticed some of the boys, out on platform of cars, trying how far they could sail them. Others had coupling pins, trying to pulverize them. On leaving Elmira, some of the boys who were a little off, pulled the coupling pin, which detached three or four cars. The rest of the train pulled out some distance before it was discovered. The advance section backed up, the rear cars were hitched on, and the boys were induced to all-aboard, and the train passed on to Harrisburg, Pa. The Regiment encamped a few days at that city, and we were drilled in the art of street fighting, expecting a collision at Baltimore. The people of Harrisburg asked: "has Michigan sent another Regiment equipped?" And in fact the troops at Camp Curtin "thought if Pennsylvania would only clothe her men like that, she would not have a single citizen at home."
From Harrisburg, on to Baltimore. The Regiment was disembarked from the cars some distance outside of the city; formed and marched into the depot. We were armed with old buck and ball muskets, and were not allowed but three rounds of cartridges. The Regiment was formed into platoons, and marched through the general thoroughfare to Washington Depot. On its way, while about midway, the crowd was immense on the sidewalks, a demonstration was made by some crank of a Rebel, at a point opposite our colors, pointing a revolver toward the flag-bearer, but was suppressed so quick that it was not seen but by few of the Regiment. The writer was a file-closer and in rear of rear platoon, and saw the movement. Had that pistol been discharged, the result would have been a terrible indiscriminate slaughter. My gun was on a line with the act in less time than it would take to pull a trigger. Somebody would have been hurt. Men hissed and jeered, but the column moved on to Washington Depot, where the Regiment was embarked on cars for Washington. Just before reaching the Relay House, the train was stopped and we were told that Rebels were in our front. We were formed in line of battle. It was a false alarm. We got aboard again, and passed on to Washington. Arrived in that city on the night of July 2d, and soon went into camp on Meridian Hill, near Soldiers' Home. Remained in camp until a short time before first battle of Bull Run. The Regiment was ordered over the Potomac, and to Alexandria, and out to a place called Cloud's Mills. Remained in camp there, and done picket duty until a few days prior to first Bull Run, when it was ordered on to Fairfax Station, in rear of advancing army. The left wing of the Regiment was detained at that place, while the right was marched to Fairfax Court House. The writer was with the part remaining at the station. It was evident that the Rebels had left in a hurry, as the advance of our column appeared; they had tried to burn the station and other property, but were prevented by stress of time. We found plenty of corn meal; also a number of hogs that had been corralled in the rear of the station, but had been let out of the pen; on arrival of our men in pursuit, they were running around loose. The writer fired six shots at an old hump-backed sow, and got nary a swine. One W. W. Carpenter, the liliputian of Company B, killed her with one shot from an old Colt's revolver. We had mush and fresh pork in abundance. We found some cows on an abandoned plantation, near by. Also plenty of honey. We had mush and milk 'till you couldn't rest. One of the boys, while reconnoitering around, developed a colony of bees. He seized a hive and started for a brook near by. He attempted to jump a pole fence. His toe caught and he pitched headlong. The hive flew twenty feet. The bees followed back, and swarmed in his bushy hair, which caused a lively rush for the water. He plunged in and soon divested himself of the vicious little insects. But not daunted he returned, and seized the hive again. This time he succeeded in drowning the bees. He got the honey all the same. That night, after the adventure with the bees, myself and my bunkey tore some of the hives to pieces, and placed the boards on the ground, and spread our blankets on them for our bed. We went to bed tickled with our layout. About twelve o'clock we were aroused with injunction to keep very still, as Rebels were near, and were expected to attack us. My bunkey and I got up, or sat up. About that time I saw bunkey slap his legs, and heard him swear.
About the same time, I felt an unusual sensation under my pants, in the region of where I sat down. There were plenty of live bees still, that had staid with the boards. They had crawled inside our clothes, and everlastingly stuck it to us. Well, if you ever saw an Indian war dance, picture to yourself our appearance. We were ordered to keep still; but had a Brigade of Rebels attacked us, we would have fought these bees.
Next day was fought the first Battle Bull Run. We were ordered to join the other wing of the Regiment, at Fairfax Court House, arriving just before the stragglers began to appear from our defeated army. We were formed in the road, in sections, and ordered to stop all stragglers. Talk of stopping a cyclone; it was impossible. The rush of soldiers, congressmen, and other civilians, from Washington, literally forced us from the highway. I saw three officers on one mule, hatless, coatless, and unarmed, and apparently badly frightened; the Johnnies did not follow up with any force. The 4th was soon on the way to Washington. We returned to our old camp, on Meridian Hill. Early in fall of '61, the Regiment built fort Woodbury, on Arlington, and done picket duty. Later on, we were moved out to Minor's Hill, Virginia, and built winter quarters, and remained there during the winter 1861-2. The Regiment, with 14th New York, 9th Massachusetts, and 62nd Pennsylvania, formed 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, commanded by Fitz John Porter, a brave and skilfull officer, who was afterwards much abused; for I believe we had no more loyal officer in the field; to the contrary notwithstanding, his traducers tried to drag him down. Nothing of a startling nature occurred here, during the winter. Our time was occupied in picket, camp, guard, and other routine work. A laughable incident occurred here in camp, which illustrates the desire of the common soldier
FOR FUN AND FROLIC.
We were armed with the old Buck and Ball musket, which we were to exchange for the Enfield rifles. Word was given to the different companies to send details for guns. The Company B detail was dispatched. Soon the boxes were brought, and opened. Behold a mistake had been made, and the boys thought on purpose. Instead of the Enfield, the boxes contained the same kind of guns we already had. The men were indignant, and refused to accept them, but finally concluded to use them awhile, as they were new and bright. The guns were distributed, and boxes ordered back, a procession formed a la funeral. An escort, with reversed guns, and music, and every conceivable thing that any noise could be got out of, followed to Quarter master's depot. A volley was fired over the boxes, and the procession returned to quarters. Soon, a racket was heard in vicinity of Company B. Every other man had a gun sling around his body, and was down on all-fours. The other fellows had a gun thrust between the gun-sling and along the man's spine, firing blank cartridges. As soon as the gun was fired, the man on the ground would assume a sitting posture, with the muzzle up. Then the gunner would ram cartridge, and the gun would immediately assume the horizontal, again to be fired. There were some 40 of the company engaged in this. That night, after the racket, the 14th New York's Sutler lost a barrel of whiskey, rolled out from under his tent early in the evening, while the proprietor was engaged in front with a special delegation sent to occupy him and his assistants, while the feat was being performed. It never was found, but you could buy a canteen-full for $5.00 of one who knew where it was. Details were made to hunt for it, but it was never brought to view, but some of the detail were quite drunk when they returned. I will relate an incident that occurred while encamped on Arlington, as stated before in this narrative: while stationed there, we were daily beset by hucksters and traffickers. They would vend their wares to the boys, and go away, apparently happy, but soon return again, seeming to be dissatisfied with what they received for their goods. One day, a pompous Jew drove over from Georgetown, a big wagon-load of goods drawn by four-in-hand. Sales were small until he struck Company B, the writer's company. Here he cried his wares. Finally a syndicate was formed, and approached the vender of goods, with the proposition to buy his entire stock. They would give so much, provided he had a certain amount of the ardent in his outfit. He seemed to be satisfied with the situation, and answered, he had what they desired. The bargain was closed, and money paid in bills. Our goods were unloaded, and he departed, highly elated. But it was not long. He soon returned, alone, and inquired of the writer for the Colonel's tent. The writer edged around, as near as possible, to hear what was said. The Jew was swinging his arms, and gesticulating fiercely. The Colonel listened until he got through, then I heard him say, in reply, "you ought to be satisfied with small profits on so large a sale." He replied: "Colonel, the monish is not good, it is one Erie and Kalamazoo monish." The Colonel told him the result was as good as the intent, and dismissed him, and we did not see him again. The boys bought him out slick and clean, for 600 dollars, and paid him in new and crisp Michigan Insurance and older bills of Erie and Kalamazoo. I will say, Company B, was made up of one or two doctors, as many lawyers, and one preacher, and the rest were gentlemen. The writer was identified with the latter class.
THE REGIMENT MOVED.
With the advance of the army from Minor's Hill, and to Fairfax, passed beyond that dilapidated and dingy looking town, historical, much speculation indulged in, in regard to what route would be adopted "On to Richmond." It was finally decided to take the route via Alexandria down the Potomac to Fort Monroe. Accordingly, the columns were put in motion, and in due time the army arrived at above named place. Our Division passed out beyond Hampton, and went into camp, for a few days, then marched en route to Yorktown, by way of Big Bethel. On our arrival within cannon shot of Rebel fortifications, we were greeted by a general shower of shot and shell, from Rebel Batteries, which went screeching and screaming over our heads. The 4th had the advance at the right, toward the Rebel Left. As we drew nearer, they got our range. Their shot plunged and shells burst in and all around us with but little damage, but made the situation decidedly unpleasant. Our column filed to the right, following a ravine, which extended to extreme left of Rebel Earthworks. General Charles Griffin commanded our Division, and his old battery was on hand, that he had formerly commanded. He immediately ordered it to the front, out in open space, and commenced shelling the Rebel works. Cannonading was lively for a while, on both sides. The Rebels evidently misunderstood the demonstrations, so audaciously made in their front, and expected an immediate assault all along the line. They apparently reserved their fire for closer work, but were disappointed in that. The army settled down to a siege. We were constantly under fire, from time of arrival in front of their works, until evacuation of same, on picket line, bivouac and skirmishing. No let up night and day. Casualties were quite frequent. If a picket guard showed his head it was a target as soon as seen. Picketing was extremely dangerous business. The guard were posted under darkness of night and was relieved the same. In front of Rebel works was an open plain. The boys would dig holes, under cover of darkness, and through the day would burrow like gophers. Hence gopher holes, had dirt piled up in front with a hole at base, for to shoot through. Was death to the man who got his cranium above the obstruction in front of him. A thrilling incident occurred at this time. General Fitz John Porter, who commanded the 5th corps, went up in a balloon to take observations of rebel works. It was controlled by ropes, held by men on the ground. After getting up the right distance, the guy became detached, through some cause, and the balloon floated at will, first over Rebs, then back on our side, swayed by the wind. All this while, Porter could be seen standing up in the car, with spy glass in hand, scanning the Rebel fortifications; and the Johnnies everlastingly yelling, and trying to elevate their guns to reach him, but failed. The elevation was too steep for their gunnery. Finally he descended to our side, amid shouts of the whole army. It was hard telling at one time into what hands he would fall. The siege went on. A heavy water battery of one hundred pounders was placed on York River, at the extreme left of Rebel works. The 4th was stationed at that point. These guns were worked spasmodically. Rebs could not reply to them. York River, at this point, was full of oysters--some the largest I ever saw. We often went in after a supply. It was dangerous business. The Rebel pickets, on opposite side, were alert and invariably fired on any one who had the hardihood to approach the water for them. The writer ventured in one day for some of the bivalves, and was industriously searching for the precious article. I succeeded in exhuming a monster big one, and was looking for more, when zip, pinge, came the warning to get out. I was in such a hurry I forgot to take along my find, and you could not see my coat tail for the water splashing behind me. I did not want any more oysters on that special occasion. Yorktown was evacuated on the night of May 4th and 5th, 1862; our army had been to vast labor, and the government to tremendous expense and worry. A bloody battle was fought at Williamsburg; the 4th were not engaged at that battle. We were sent via West Point, and followed on to Chickahominy. The time occupied between Yorktown and our arrival at the Chickahominy, was marching, and camping under great hardships; mud and heat had to be contended with. When within a few miles of Chickahominy, the 4th was detached from the column, and in a pouring rain, were hustled on to the river. When within half a mile of it we met a squadron of cavalry, which had been to the point, came back full well. We were ordered, "Battalion into line, double quick;" my company being on the left, did some tall running over bogs, ditches and small brush, to get our place in line. We struck the river at New Bridge, and met a sharp fire from opposite side. We were dressed up under this fire. Our first man was killed here, A. M., D. Piper, of Company B. He was shot dead. He was the largest man in the company. I was first sergeant at the time, and touched elbows with him when he fell. The boys named him Elephant, on account of his immense size. Our Colonel, D. A. Woodbury, seeing our disadvantage, rode his horse down to the river and ordered us to cross. At this time the Johnnies were seen to get to the woods beyond. About 20th of May my company plunged into the water, arm-pits deep. Company A crossed over to the right, in a bend of the river. We found 28 dead rebels in our immediate front. We brought over some wounded rebels, and on our return the water was chin deep to the writer, it having rained all this time heavily. There were four or five of my company wounded. The rebels had taken the plank from the bridge, and ranged two pieces of cannon on the same. We held this point as a picket line until battle of Gains Mills. The crossing of Chickahominy occurred on May 24th, 1862.
