Camp near
Front Royal Va, Sunday June 8th
1862.
Dear Father,
I suppose that
my letters of the 26th & 28th ult have already
reached you. Up to this time however I have
received no return letters, although I believe I received a letter from you of the
20th ult while on board the “John Brooks” enclosing Martha’s
photograph. Since the 28th I
have been unable to write home for several reasons which will be detailed in
the sequel of this letter. Instead of
hastening on to intercept Jackson
we remained at Manassas Junction two nights, not certainly because of
deficiency in rations but because of McDowell most probably, who wished to
bring up one or two more of his brigades.
You see McDowell has no confidence in any troups but those he has had
under him for a long time, and those who have long been under him are probably
the least effective in his corps. At last on Thursday we received orders to
proceed to Front Royal. Reveille at 3 ½ Am, breakfast eaten, and Knapsacks
packed we marched to Thoroughfare Gap, a distance of 14 miles, passing through
Gainseville and Haymarket. This gap I
believe is on the Kittoctan
Mountains, although I can
not at present verify that statement. It
is quite a defensible spot, and has been defended by Geary. The place is one of
great natural beauty. Here a spring
bursts forth from the mountain in a stream three or four inches in diameter, at
a spring house by the R.R., used for what special purpose I am unable to say,
unless to supply the R.R. engines. The
rebels had blown up the house when they came to the gap to hunt for Geary.
About four miles of this day’s journey we traveled in the cars, which did not
reach the marching column till it had proceeded eight or nine miles. As it happened the cars did not help us
practically at all; as we gained no time by their assistance, and were not able
to march further than the gap that night.
Had the cars brought us to the gap by twelve o’clock noon,
we might have marched ten or fifteen miles further the same day. Slight damage
had been done to the R.R. above the gap, so that the cars could not carry us
further. We were accordingly up at 3 ½
Am. Friday, on the march by 5 o’clock,
and near Piedmont, by Piedmont Gap, in the Rattlesnake Mountains
late in the afternoon, some 13 miles distant.
On this march we passed through White plains,
a familiar name, and Salem,
both well to do places, and sufficiently secesh, I warrant. I could hardly
contain myself in passing the latter place as I saw on a piazza of a house by
the side of the street four females of ages from 18 to 30, whose sour visages
refused to mildew so many Penelopes weeping for their absent, wandering lovers,
and refusing to be comforted. We pitched our shelter tents where we halted, and
were thus protected in part from the tremendous storm which raged during the
night. By the way one of the fiercest storms I ever witnessed overtook us on
the march, and we halted during its continuance. Every one wrapped himself in his rubber
blanket, some going to sleep. In the
midst of the storm I saw Gen’l Ord ride past, soaking wet, without coat or
blanket, breaking in upon the death like stillness of the scene. Reveille at 3
½. Breakfast. To Piedmont
about a mile or two distant, to draw rations – three days rations of hard
bread, coffee, and sugar. Here we left our Knapsacks, expecting to see them
again at night when we halted. Taking
only our rubber blankets our brigade, as also that of Duryea and Rickett’s set
out for Front Royal, which place we reached late P.M. having marched about
twenty one miles. The road on this day’s
march was terrible for the greater part of the way, and we forded some half a
dozen small runs, at last striking the R.R. which we did not leave till we were
past the famous Manassas Gap. The country
around this Gap is very fine. Perhaps a
fine land is to found here as anywhere in Virginia. The mountains are around you for
miles before you are actually in the Gap.
While marching upon the R.R., our eyes were attracted by a beautifully
laid out flower garden, of nearly an acre in extent all blooming with
flowers. The walks were lined with box (box is a small evergreen shrub-B.F.)
which grew in great luxurience. A second view showed us that weeds were growing
among the flowers and in the paths. The owner has gone to the war I said, and
his garden is neglected. But suddenly the burned dwelling of the proprietor of
this splendid farm of which the garden was but a part and sample came into
view, showing plainly that an uncompromising Union man had found the place too
hot for him to live in. The R.R. about
the Gap is a splendid specimen of R.R. engineering. For miles and miles it is constructed on
raised ground, or carried through rocky hills at immense expense of time and
labor. Yet there is not a tunnel the whole route. In some places the road is fully two hundred
feet above the valley on Either side, and the descent is very steep. In other places the rocky cliff towers above
you to an almost equal height.
Almost in the
very gap the rebels had striven to destroy the rail-road, but with very poor
success. They had ripped up the track sleepers all in one piece some 150 feet
long, and cast it over the side of the track expecting it to fall to the bottom
of the declivity. The piece however had
stopped in its careen after a few somersaults. Our advanced guard upset two or
three platform baggage cars down the declivity so that they might not impede
the march of the regiments behind. My
company on the march was a part of the advanced guard as it was to go on grand
guard at the end of the march. But as we
marched to a position within Gen’l Shield’s line of pickets we were not called
upon to do service that night. It was about 10 P.M. before we found this out, the rain falling heavily
all the time. The rain continued all night over our devoted heads, blanketless,
overcoatless, tentless. The next day
Sunday we changed the position of our camp, the rails in the vicinity having
been exhausted of course it rained heavily, but in an intermission of glorious
sunshine, the red flag of Gen’l Shields was seen coming near to us on the
Strassburgh road. We rushed to the fence
in order to give the hero of Winchester,
his arm yet in a sling, such a reception as is seldom accorded to a military
man. His face glowed with proud joy as
he doffed his hat, and waved it with his remaining hand to the soldiers who shouted
at his coming. About half an hour after
Maj. Gen’l McDowell passed down the road, but I did not hear a cheer, though
many curses. It was said that Shields
would have cut off Jackson
by crossing the Shenandoah at a place some ways from Front Royal, but was compelled to abandon the
design by order of McDowell, who wished to have the honor himself of whipping
the famous rebel general. How McDoodle,
as he is called, succeeded, you will know.
The next day
we crossed the Shenandoah and marched about seven miles, to within five miles
of Strassburgh. The morning was intensely hot, succeeded by a storm of intense
fury, which subsided into a steady rain. I cannot say why we did not go to
Strassburgh, but I believe it was because a bridge had been swept away by the
storm. Two more nights of rain and exposure and short rations till Wednesday
when we marched back to Front Royal. Co. B. had a little variation in its usual
fare Wednesday night. It was rain and
picket duty; and yet one might as well stand up in the rain sheltered by his
rubber blanket as lie down cold and wet to get what sleep one can have under
such circumstances. Thursday morning we
regained our Knapsacks, having passed five rainy nights without shelter or
covering of any kind.
Perhaps this
was necessary, perhaps it was conducive to the morale of the command for a
Division of troups to be kept for five nights, and six days, living on hard
bread and coffee, soaking in rain, without overcoats, blankets, or tents. Perhaps it was. Perhaps the reheumatism, chills, &
diseases to which the soldier is heir to will not decimate the division. Perhaps
the insensate lollygagging of somebody who kept us on the R.R. from Alexandria to Manassas six
hours longer than was necessary, that wasted a whole day at Manassas,
a second between that place and Thoroughfare Gap by delaying the cars did not
occasion the escape of Jackson. Why in spite of all this delay we were not
twelve hours late. It took us just seven days to proceed from Falmouth to Front Royal. The men could have
performed the journey better in much less time.
Let us see. We left Falmouth Sunday
afternoon. The brigade should have been
in Alexandria at 10 Am Monday, at Manassas
at two o’clock, at
Thoroughfare Gap at 3 o’clock
of the same day, that is to say at Thoroughfare Gap in 24 hours. This would
have been allowing a large margin for the delay in transporting large bodies of
men. It takes but six hours to sail from
Alexandria to Acquia Creek, and an hour or so to ride from thence to Manassas,
and another hour to ride to Thoroughfare Gap which is but four miles from
Alexandria. We should have then had two days rations in our haversacks. Instead of being there on Monday, we did not
arrive till Thursday, about five
o’clock. The rebels did not
destroy the water building I believe till Thursday A.M., or Wednesday, P.M. when
Shields who started from Falmouth
on Saturday overland was at the heels of the rebels. Tuesday & Wednesday would have brought us
to Front Royal, not without having captured small parties of sesesh. We then would have been some 48 hours ahead
of Jackson, and
placed him between us and Freemont and crushed him. As it was we were a half or a whole day late,
perhaps I ought to say twelve hours.
Shields beheld the rear guard of Jackson
retreating some six miles from Front Royal on Sunday A.M. He cam Saturday P.M. but was compelled to
await our coming before he could proceed with his eighteen regiments of
Infantry and 36 cannon. All Sunday A.M.
from day-light to noon we
heard the booming of Fremont’s
guns as he pursued Jackson, capturing one gun and six hundred prisoners. We with Fremont
might have bagged the whole secession brood round about, but no, Mc Dowell
could not act a secondary part to Fremont. Fremont
outranks him. Nay more, Shields might have enclosed the rebels between his
forces and Fremont’s,
but no, then McDowell’s pet brigades would see no fighting, and Shields would
have the praise. In fine (?) McDowell thought
he had time to play his cards & trump Shields and Fremont, or he cared not whether he was in
time or not, so that the game was not bagged by anybody. The disastrous result
of the campaign is then doubtless due to McDowell who indeed is indirectly responsible
for the rebels overrunning the valley at all and the retreat of Banks. I believe McDowell put Ord under arrest at
Front Royal, one reason I think being that he took some of Shields’ rations
when his own men were starving. Shields justified Ord, and an interchange of
high words ensued in which McDowell probably was told one or two very
unpleasant truths. While Ord was under
arrest he was vigorously cheered shortly before Shields showed his face to our
Division. McDowell the Chief saw and noted the respect the troups towards Ord
and Shields. He alone merited and
received no demonstrations of affection and respect from his exasperated
command. So have affairs been conducted in McDowell’s command which has been
made up out of ruins of Bank’s command, not to speak of McClellan’s.
Friday June 10th. We first arrived at this place, as I said
before May 30th, then crossed the river on the 2d June, and again
marched back and camped in the woods about half a mile from town on the 4th
inst. The next day we regained our
Knapsacks. I might as well have lost
mine. Its contents were soaked in sugar
and water. Water enough had passed into the
Knapsack to take even the sticking quality from the mixture. I succeeded in drying its contents in two or
three days, but I am sorry to say that my fine stock of needles was a total
loss, every needle being rusted from point to eye. Scissors in like condition but will do. Portfolio soaked to pieces and contents
destroyed. The portfolio not much of a
loss, as I need none save for convenience, but the paper I liked the style of.
Martha’s photograph damaged and stained, but still preserving the likeness, is
good enough for a soldier. I’ll wait
till I get home before asking for another from the same demoiselle to put in my
yet unprojected album. In my next letter
from home I shall expect to find a good darning needle, and three or four linen
thread needles of the ordinary size, one at least with the eye of double or
treble size like that of a darning needle.
I have pins in plenty. I also want a piece of wash leather good quality,
say a foot square, as I wish to make a little purse and have a piece to
spare. I am in want of, or shall be
pressingly, in a month’s time, of a couple of blue or grey, nice flannel
shirts, and one pair of drawers, common thickness, not too thick, nor too thin,
and two pair of woolen socks. These can not be procured in the army Government
now furnishes nothing but cotton flannel shirts, and drawers, articles I have
no desire to become acquainted with. The sutler has only shirts of a very nice
quality, which are not warm enough. They can scarcely be called flannel. I have no doubt that I can find a way to get
them when you have procured them. If I
could get them here now, I should seize the opportunity at once, but
unfortunately there is no chance here at all. So much for my private trials.
Yesterday our brigade struck camp, and was in line when orders came to return
again to camp. We expected to march
somewhere and be on the route two days, the orders were countermanded, it is
said, because the rebels were in force on the road we expected to take. We are now living on the rations issued
yesterday to us, which are in our haversacks, and are to last till the morning
of day after tomorrow. This letter has
extended itself already to an ungainly length, although I have omitted to say
much that would interest you. Tomorrow if it is pleasant I will write
again. Seated in my poncho tent, just
received from the sutler, impervious to rain, I bid defiance to the tempest
without, and happy with plenty of money in my pocket, having been paid off up
to the 1st of May, this morning, must cook my coffee for supper, as
it is already past retreat. Intending to
send home a saw horse in my next, somewhat recovered from the Exposure and
fatigue of over a fortnight’s marching and countermarching in the rainy season,
I am not yet on the sick list. Love to all.
Do you send papers regularly now ?
I received two or three, two or three days ago. Mails are as scarce here almost, as females.
Your
Affectionate Son
John B. Noyes
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