I've been doing research on the military units that fought at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, for the volunteer organization, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield. This is separate from my research on the 13th MA Volunteers. But there are occasions where the research intersects. Lately, I have been transcribing a huge cache of newspaper articles about the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteers. They served side by side with 13th MA early in the war, when both regiments were part of General N. P. Banks Dept. of the Shenandoah. For example, men from the 3rd WI suffered the most severe casualties at the "Battle of Bolivar Heights" in October, 1861, when they fought along side Company C of the 13th MA. (Companies I & K, were present, and shelled, but did not participate in the front-line charges). The two regiments reunited during General Banks' advance into Winchester, March 12, 1862.
I posted on my website in 2009, an entertaining article by Clarence Bell, Company D, 13th MA, titled, "A Hot Time In Winchester." Bell describes the advance of Gen. Banks army into Winchester on March 12, 1862. The following article covers the 3rd WI on that march, and mentions the 13th MA as well. The regiments advanced together on opposite sides of the Valley Turnpike. I think it is of interest because it provides more detail about the maneuver than Clarence Bell, or other sources in my collection.
I am uncertain which particular newspapers the following clips come from.
CAMP CORRESPONDENCE
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Correspondence of the Times.–––––––––
March 12, ’62.
In my last letter I promised to write you again, and although a long time has elapsed, yet here I am fulfilling my promise. And where do you suppose I am? In the home of the notorious James M. Mason, the confederate of Slidell, sitting by a good fire and writing upon an old desk I found in the cellar. The floor of the room is covered with blanket, knapsacks, holsters, swords, pistols, overcoats and all the etcetera of military trappings. Now, as to how I got here. I will not trouble you with a history of the winter’s campaign, as of course, you have kept track of the whereabouts of our regiment by the papers. I will write only of today’s proceedings. Last night, while encamped at Bunker Hill, we received orders to make a reconnoissance at 4 o’clock this morning. At half past three the reveille was sounded, and we were ordered to take our coffee before starting. ––Aroused by the rub-a-dub of the reveille, I rubbed my eyes. It was as dark as Egypt; the stars twinkled down at us as if they thought we had made a mistake the camp-fires blazed up merrily on all sides. A reconnaissance under such circumstances, seemed absurd; we were ordered to get ready and wait till dawn. During the interval we extemporized quite a respectable meal, and sat around our huge fire cracking jokes and enjoying ourselves. Two hours passed before a faint streak of light appeared; then a bustling among the men, and soon the band was playing Dixie, and the companies rapidly falling into line. Just as we were ready to “forward march,” the General and Staff rode up and announced that the reconnoisance had been given up and that the whole column would advance towards Winchester.
Three regiments were selected to deploy and lead the march. Ours in the centre, on the right of the road the 12th Indiana, and on the left the 13th Massachusetts. The regiments being drawn up in line of battle, each regiment sent forward three men from each company as videttes, then two companies as skirmishers. Three companies went forward at gun-shot distances and then deployed out: i.e. spread apart as skirmishers, making a beautiful dotted line, the men five paces apart. Beyond them, about the same distance ahead, went the videttes, skulking along behind trees, crawling up the hills on hands and knees, looking cautiously over, approaching every house with gun cocked ready to fire at a moment’s warning. Behind these two advance guards followed our three regiments, led by the mounted officers, watching eagerly every movement of the skirmishers, and listening intently for the firing of the videttes. Each regiment was followed by a gloomy train of ambulances with the surgeons, and the band to carry litters and assist the surgeons when the fight began. Thus we went on across lots, through woods, taking down bars and pulling down stone-walls. It was most fascinating, everything so well planned and so complete. Thus we proceeded until we are within slight of the intrenchments, when we halted and waited for the report of our skirmishers. It was soon deserted, and then we were ordered froward and with bands playing and colors flying we marched into Winchester. –– The streets are lined with people, the greatest part being the negro form diving in every conceivable variety. One or two wave their handkerchiefs, an one hangs out a United States flag. They look at us as they would at a traveling menagerie or circus. We march in and out a few streets, and then marching to the outskirts of the town, select a camping place.
Our regiment pitched upon a hill-side orchard, and the Colonel ordered me to go and ascertain if a house which stood near by was occupied. I went up to it; it was a large, white stuccoed house, on a hill-side, the lawn filled with trees, and a winding road leading to the door. It was deserted. I went in. Piles of public documents, old letters and papers addressed: Hon. James M. Mason. Winchester, Va., lay scattered over the bare floors. The furniture had been carried off, the curtains torn up, the carpet destroyed and the house abandoned. I established a guard, and sent the servant to clean it up. Now we are here quite comfortable. We sleep upon the floor hang our clothes int eh closets, have established our office in the library, and hung our large garrison flag over the portico.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
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Winchester, Va.
March 15, 1862.
Here at last ! Here where “Stone Wall Jackson” has long reigned supreme and persecuted the faithful; here, where Patterson ought to have come last July; here, where the revel tracks are fresh and their camp-fires yet smoldering; here, in the stronghold of the enemy’s left flank are we at last, snugly quartered.
We came in on the 12th inst., but the duties of the camp and field have prevented my telling of it before.
The Column that first enter the town was commanded by Gen. Hamilton, and consisted of some ten thousand men.–– Hamilton’s Brigade moved out from Charlestown on the 7th, to Smithfield, and thence south to Bunker Hill. Thence, on the 11th, we moved out upon the Martinsbug ‘Pike’, within four miles of Winchester, and camped for the night. Our company had joined the regiment, to be in at the fun. During the latter part of the day our advance guard, the 46th Pennsylvania was skirmishing with the enemy, and a continued fire of musketry and occasional cannonading kept us in a state of excitement, until darkness closed in.
At night the Adjutants and Aids were around communicating orders––ammunition was distributed to the men in double quantities, and the general expectation was for a battle on the morrow.
At three in the morning the cooks were roused up to prepare breakfast. The men jumped up with alacrity and gathered around the camp fires, elate with the prospect of a brush.
At day break we formed lines of battle, our regiment on the left of the turnpike, the 12th Indiana and 13th Massachusetts on the right, and our our left he 16th Indiana. The flank companies of each regiment were thrown out, and deployed as skirmishers. Our Regiment was assigned by Gen. Hamilton to the front of the enemy’s heaviest fortifications. We pushed on through fields and groves, tearing down stone walls, and capsizing rail fences. All eyes bent forward, watching eagerly and hungrily fo the enemy that yd come so far and had wanted so long to see. It was a splendid sight to see that line of burnished arms glistening in the morning sun of the brightest day of the season.–– And then, the line of skirmishers, moving so regularly, every man five paces from his comrade; the line extending from a ridge to the right of the “pike”, far down through the fields, completely covering the line of battle, and some four hundred yards in advance of it. Immediately behind the line of battle were the batteries, drawn upon the “pike,”, and behind them the 1st Michigan Cavalry, moved in column, the clatter of their thousands of hoofs blending with the crunching of collapsed stone walls, the crashing of underbrush and the clarion words of commands of the Colonels. If Jackson had been there to see it, I dare say the sight of that sturdy line would have affected him somewhat as its advance did the other stone walls.
At length, emerging from the the grove, the frowning ridge on the right, covered with camp huts and battery plats and earth works, was in sight. In front of us was a fortification of earth and barrels filled with stone –– a lunette fort, as it is called, commanding the pike and the rail road. The advance began to be interesting. Altho’ we supposed the enemy had evacuated, still we were not sure, and felt our way with as much care and vigilance as though we expected the battlements to cover a formidable foe. Finding the fort and earth works evacuated, our skirmishers assembled and Companies A and B of our regiment marched boldly into town. The boys grumbled that no enemy had been seen, their rear guard having scattered out of town just as we came in, but found consolation in the reflection that we could not furnish spunk for ourselves and the enemy too.
No sooner had our company reached the center of the town, halted in front of the Court house, than the mayor and a committee of respectable citizens gathered around us, while the Mayor formerly tried the town over to Capt. Bertram for protection. There seemed on the countenances of all an aspect of relief, when assured that we had come to protect and not to destroy. The more ignorant, and the little folks expressed their surprise at not finding us hobgoblins, griffins and monsters. ––They stared at our good clothes. They marveled at our good manners and declared that, for all the world, the Yankees were very much like other folks after all.
Hastening back to our regiment, and reporting the town clear, our column then marched in, colors flying, and the banks doing “Hail Columbia” with a vigor that electrified us all.
A healthy Union sentiment gazed out of numberless windows ––sparkling in glad eyes ––fluttered here and there in handkerchiefs waved timidly Here and there a maid or mother might be seen in tears. –– Perhaps her dearest friend was in the rebel army, but the boldest Unionists of the town were taken captive to Richmond, by Jackson in his retreat, and their families were left in mourning, and this might be the cause of the grief we observed.
Winchester is a respectable town of five thousand inhabitants or so with indications of wealth and thrift, lately obliterated. –– A sprinkling of Quakers, the cut of the municipal jib &c., remind you of the Pennsylvania people. The bilious “Secesh” have all gone with Jackson.
My company is still on provost duty, and we are quarter in the guard house of the Georgia 1st Regiment, where many a poor fellow, suspected of a little leaven of loyalty, has been incarcerated. On the walls are penciled names and records of victims confined for weeks, with no charge brought against them.
On the whole our advent into the valley of Virginia has been hailed by the majority with gladness. The fortifications that made Winchester so formidable to Patterson’s command, don’t, in reality, amount to much, the heavy batteries he had –– Doubledays ––would have disposed of their forts, and the ridge running westward of the town, on which their commanding batteries were placed, cold have been carried by a charge covered by a brisk cannonade.
The valley of Virginia ought to have been held by our forces. It would have turned the enemy out of their richest forage and plunder districts. Its people protected by our arms would have still clung to the old Government, and not have been forced into acts of enmity.
Jackson has fallen back upon Strausburgh. His rear guard, consisting of a force of infantry, cavalry and a battery or two, is some eight miles distant south of us at Newtown. Part of our regiment went down yesterday and tried to draw the into ambush. Failing to do this we reconnoitered, and had much excitement skirmishing along for some two or three miles. A hey fog settling down made our dance in an unknown country quite risky, and we returend. To day another regiment, and a battery went out an dhad quite a little efight, driving the rebels from the town.
As soon as depots can be established and communications opened from our base of operations to the several corps de armies an advance will again be made.
Gen. Hamilton has left us. He is promoted to Acting Major General of Heintzelman’s Division. His efficiency, and soldierly qualities are fully appreciated by McClellan. He will do honor to Wisconsin. With the deepest regret we part with him. E. E. B.
A couple of weeks after the advance, the 13th MA separated from General Banks' Army and was attached to General Irvin McDowell's command, then at Manassas. Banks & McDowell's Divisions would soon become part of Maj.-Gen. John Pope's newly minted Army of Virginia.
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