Blog in Real Time - May 28, 1862

     
     In the Shenandoah Valley, Union General Banks' small force of 9000 men was divided at 3 outposts.  Stonewall Jackson attacked and defeated one of these at Front Royal on May 23rd.  The next day President Lincoln ordered General McDowell to send 20,000 troops to the valley in hopes of catching Jackson. This change in plans greatly distressed General McDowell.  He protested that much would be lost and little gained.

Manassas Junction Va, May 28^th 1862

Dear Father

To day finds me at the place I left on the 2d of last month. I wrote you a letter on the 26^th inst. Describing the march to Acquia Creek, and the sail down the river from there to Alexandria.  That letter I entrusted to an Alexandrian, who had been at work on one of our rail roads, to put into the Post Office, as I marched to the RR. Which leads to Manassas Junction. As I said in my letter I had a very pleasant trip to Alexandria, at which place the St. boat “John Brooks” arrived before dark.  After cooking a cup of coffee at the steamer’s furnace I turned in.  At ½ past 12 o’clock I was aroused by the beating of the “assembly,” as orders had been received to report at Manassas. The drum beat was premature, and after packing my Knapsack I again fell asleep on my Knapsack to be armed at 3 ½ Am. to leave the boat.  The Regiment marched to the Alexandria depot but did not start till after 5 Am. On the way to the depot we passed the Jackson House made famous by the death of the heroic Ellsworth.  Manassas Junction is just 28 miles from Alexandria.  The regiment was packed in baggage cars.  We are thankful to ride on anything now.  I well remember the disgust of our men at riding on the Camden and Amboy R.R. on second class cars on our way to Hagerstown, and the damage that was done to several of the cars. We were not then used to the army style. I was fortunate enough to sit in the doorway of the car on my Knapsack, so that I had a view of the country through which we were traveling.  The whole landscape spoke of war. Through the whole 28 miles there seemed to be an uninterrupted series of desserted camp ground, no two being a mile separated.  Many fields had long been deserted by soldiers, and grass had grown where once tents stood.  Still to the practiced eye a camp ground stood detected.  Stumps of trees, cross stacks for camp kettles, where every other evidence of a camp was obliterated told the tale. But generally a hut or two, remnants of fences, and picket fires long since extinguished were the evidences of army occupation. Scarcely a fence was left  standing along the route.  The winter was indeed a cold one.  Occasionally tents of the 7^th Me. Reg’t were to be seen, companies from that regiment guarding the road.  

We had quite a lively time on the train, especially when the cars stopped at the different telegraph stations which seemed to be very frequent.  No one new where the enemy was.  It as reported that Duryea had been driven from Catlett’s Station, and the bridge burned; that three companies of the 1^st Me. Cavalry had been captured, and that the enemy were in force near Manassas. It seemed to us that we had to communicate with operators at both ends of the road, and to feel every inch of the road.  The men had had no breakfast & many were the attempts to make coffee.  At the halts fires were kindled, and Eager men ere bent over the mug of water just commencing to boil, when the shrill whistle of the engine summoned them to the cars. The boiling water was spilled, in some cases even coffee and Sugar a total loss.  After two unsuccessful trials I succeeded in making myself our excellent cup, and getting it aboard the car at the moment the signal was given to get aboard the train. More cups were lost by false alarms than in any other way.  But by the time I made my coffee such tricks had become effectually played out, and nothing but the train moving could have induced me to give up my expected treat. 

At last we reached the plains of Manassas, and well I recollected the spot, although its external aspect had undergone a marvelous change. The field and ruined rebel relics had been cleared away, and grass flourished frequently on the floors of ruined barracks. Thick grass was upon ground then covered with ruts of rebel cart wheels as far as the eye could reach.  The mud was dried up & the place did not have the desolate and ruined look of old.  Troups abounded.  Shields’ cavalry were here, Geary’s regiment, Ricket’s brigade, which came to Alexandria with us, and shield’s infantry, including the 39^th Illinois.  With Geary were the relics of the 1^st Md.   Thence we learned that the Md. Roughs had redeemed her proud fame, tarnished by the affair of the 19^th April, 1861, how the soldiers after exhausting their ammunition, charged bayonets, clubbed their muskets, and even took to the rocks, their old love in Baltimore.  Maryland rebels it is said were among those opposed to them, and they would die rather than surrender. The afternoon papers brought us news of the safe arrival at Williamsport of Gen’s Banks, after a masterly retreat.  Military men here are unbounded in their admiration at the brilliant manner in which Banks effected his retreat.  What ever may have been thought of him in the past, and certainly Winchester and the advance to New Market were not to his discredit however Stanton may have thought him fit to command but three or four thousand men, he has now shown himself so illustrious for his military as civil abilities.  We read with unmingled admiration of the great and unexpected aprisal at the North and the call upon the state militia of the several states.

It is now late and I have to start out some time before day break for Thoroughfare Gap, but I take this opportunity to state that I deam this whole work of the past week a gigantic military scare, which may be productive in the end of a great deal of good.  We have now nearly 30,000 men here, and Harper’s Ferry is doubtless by this time strongly reinforced without the withdrawal of many of McLellan’s troups.  Shields holds Manassas Gap; we shall hold Thoroughfare Gap.  Warrenton Junction is doubtless safe.  The enemy will not dare to attempt a passage into Maryland from Winchester, as in that case our forces here could easily get into their rear and entrap them.  However unfortunate it doubtless is, and may be, to allow a portion of Va which had been redeemed from Southern tyranny to be again over run, we are doubtless gainers by the rebel raids, the seeming evil still educing good.  Maryland now stands loyal, and bleeding sends out men to avenge the death of her noble sons at Front Royal. The militia of the country can be advantageously used in holding the places we take during the next two or three months, and as a reserve at Washington, the worst thing about them being the expense they will entail upon the country, and the states.  But best of all are the encouraging signs that the war is still popular in the North, and that it will take nothing but the unconditional submission of the South.  The South may now lay aside forever the idea that we of the North grudge either men or money when the stake is the union of the inseparable nation. 

Taps has long since sounded, but as the night is one of preparation for the morrow’s march, I have not been troubled by a preemptory order to extinguish my candle.  With a heavy haversack filled with rations for the next three days, and with body fit for sleep, I close this letter in the anticipation of being called up tomorrow before daylight.  I may be obliged to carry this letter with me, but shall endeavor to rid myself of its weight before starting tomorrow.  With love to all

                   Your Aff. Son

                        John B. Noyes