Near Falmouth Va. Thursday May 15th, 1862
Dear Father
On the 10th
Inst. I sent a letter to George, and on the 12th one to Martha,
which letters, by this time, may have been received at home. The latter letter
was sent out a short time before we set out on our march to Fredericksburgh,
by the 105th N.Y. Reg’t. mail.
That regiment, a part of Duryea’s brigade, relieved us at Warrenton
Junction, before we set out to join the advance of Gen’l. McDowell. Our mail
was closed Monday not to be opened again until last night. We left our splendid camp at Warrenton
Junction, with its excellent water facilities, and magnificent prospect at 12
M. Monday. The 12th
inst. The roads dried a weeks sun were
in excellent condition, ruts excepted.
No mud whatever yet every where evidences of the almost impassable state
of the roads when McCall’s Div. joined McDowell at Falmouth.
We marched but six or seven miles before pitching tents for the night. I
preferred to bivouack having selected a nice spot before the tents were pitched,
and did not regret my choice. The next
day we wee up betimes (?) and started on our march at 6 A.m. I
was not burdened by my grey blanket which I had succeeded in getting stowed
away. The day was terribly hot, and we
had not advanced far when the men began to tumble out to get water. The dirt
road was so terribly cut up, and the ranks so open on that account, that every
chance was offered for so doing. Onward
we plodded, every now and then an overcoat or a blanket being taken from a
knapsack and left by the wayside, especially by members of the N.Y. 9th. Their dark overcoats, with red facings were
easy to be distinguished. We marched
nine hours to within seven miles of Falmouth,
where shortly after 3 AM. We pitched our tents, having traveled 17 miles. I consider the march perhaps the toughest we
have yet seen, as it was in the heat of the day, over a road of ruts, and the
day such a day, although I was able to be one of the dozen in my Company who
came into line at the end of the march.
The men did very well as a general thing, the greater part of them
coming to within half a a mile of the halting place. The country we passed through seemed rich and
was covered up with vegetation. Nice grass lots and clover fields. Cherry trees along the route with cherries on
them as large as cherry stones. Apple
trees in full bloom, the buds falling.
Woods thick with foliage, the leaves not yet having attained their full
size. There was one tree or very large
bush in the woods on the route in full bloom, the white blossom of the size of
a half dollar. But on such a march as
that one has little thought of the landscape.
His eyes are much more Keenly alive to the beauty of a well, with is old
oaken bucket, or better still a spring by the way side.
At last as I
said we halted. A mug of chocolate
disposed of, the tent pitched, a bathe all over, and supper ate, I was ready to
make a short call at the New York
9th camp. I found my friends
there much elated at the manner their regiment came in, which has a great
reputation as a “fall out” regiment. I of course had not much to say, but wondered
at the vacant room in the tent. My mess
were all in at supper time, which was an hour before. The absence of the Knapsacks was satisfactorily
accounted for, when not so much to my surprise after all in came six stragglers
and threw down their Knapsacks. The laugh was then with one.
At 7”10
yesterday morning we again started and marched through Falmouth to our present camp, which is
opposite Fredericksburgh, a distance of ten miles in a drenching rain storm. We shall soon cross the Rappahannock and
advance upon Richmond.
These are probably 50,000 troups now in McDowell’s command here or across
the river McClellan has had eight days
of splendid weather for his march upon Richmond. I hope he is now safely there, and that he
has invested the place. Yesterday and to
day’s rain has doubtless made the roads well nigh impassable. We arrived here just in time. If I
am any judge the wagons could hardly have come through, over the roads
we have passed, in their present condition. When the roads have again become
good, the weather clearing up, the Division will doubtless set out on its
march. What our position shall be we have yet no means of knowing. While going
out after boards for my place in the tent yesterday I heard the name Myrick
pronounced while I was passing through the Maine cavalry camp. On returning I thought I saw Myrick of my
class standing by the fire. I enquired
of them was a Lieut. Myrick in the Regt., and was informed that there was in
Co. K, in whose street I then was. I
shall pay my respects to him the first fair day. We were a month at Warrenton Junction with
the cavalry and it was a piece of luck that I ascertained he was in the
Regiment.
Fredericksburgh,
over the river appears to be quite a large place. There were many large brick
mills along the bank of the river. There
are three or four bridges in ruins. The
towns of Falmouth
and Fredericksburgh are now connected by a pontoon bridge. It is said that one
bridge was saved by our sharp shooters but little damaged. There are likely to be great battles in Va. Within the next
fortnight. If Johnson is caged in Richmond
what road is open to him for escape ?
Wherefore can he draw supplies ? Whether
I shall be in at the finish is only Known to the God of battles, in whose hand
victory lies.
The sun and
rain to [????] I experienced in my last march, but am still alive and
hearty. With love to all, I am as ever
Your
Aff. Son
John
B. Noyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment