Theodore Reichardt

“ In fact, a great nuisance in the army, is the illegal using of soldiers for manual service for the benefit of commissioned officers, which is altogether contrary to army regulations. It is revolting to the mind, to see men, who perhaps never have been anything at home, make slaves of their equals, just because they happen to be in command of them, and this, they give the wrong name of discipline.
Friday, December 27.—Arrival of Battery B, Pennsylvania artillery, coming from McCall’s division, after having participated in the battle of Drainesville. ”

“ Our line of battle fell back to the rifle-pits we occupied last night. The enemy holds the plank-road and tavern. The battle is raging again since six o’clock A. M. About ten o’clock A. M., Lieutenant Kirby ordered his and our battery to the front again, on his own responsibility. We marched back, but very unwillingly. On the way, a division of the Third corps met us, marching back to the river, with a rebel colonel and half of his regiment, as prisoners, and carrying four rebel battle-flags as trophies. ”

“ Harrison Landing is only six miles from Malvern Hill. The whole army was crowded in a complete mud-hole. The spirit of the men is very low. Our wounded, left in Malvern Hill hospital, had to foot their way to Harrison Landing in the best manner they could. In spite of the mud, we all enjoyed the first good night’s rest for some weeks past.
Thursday, July 3.—Harrison Landing. The enemy brought artillery to bear upon our camps this morning; but their guns were taken by the Fourteenth Indiana, of General Shields’ division. At one time, all of our troops were drawn up in line of battle. ”

“ The Second corps was in motion at three o’clock in the morning. Large fires were burning all along the roadside. Near daybreak, one of our caissons and one of Battery B’s, were upset in crossing a stream. Reports of carbines greeted our ears, astonishing everybody, as no attack from the enemy was expected. Great excitement prevailed at first. Several men of the [Pg 110] First division were killed and wounded, the rebels opening furiously on a hill where the infantry were busy cooking coffee. The rebel force consisted of cavalry and horse-artillery. ”

“ The enemy opened on our left with artillery, but was vigorously replied to by the Tenth Massachusetts battery. Heavy cannonading was going on on the extreme right. One gun of Rickett’s Pennsylvania battery bursted. A general attack from the rebels was expected in the evening; but all remained, quiet during the night. We stayed within our fortifications all night, laying alongside of our guns.
Saturday, May 7.—Battle in the Wilderness. We were fortifying our position stronger yet. Little fighting was done in our front to-day. The woods are on fire, exposing the wounded to a horrible death. ”

“ Skirmishing kept up all day. In the evening our battery received orders to embark and cross the river,—Capt. Tompkins, having come back from Harper’s Ferry, with the right section, the evening before,—three guns were already loaded on a canal boat, together with Company C, First Maryland Regiment, and started; but the current of the stream being too strong, and losing half of the oars, they had to [Pg 26] return again. Orders awaited us already to disembark immediately, and return to camp. All the troops withdrew from the Virginia shore before daylight,—eight thousand men in all. ”

“ We marched through the town to Cedar Mountain, General Pope’s battle ground, and occupied the hill during the evening and night, in line of battle. We could see the rebel artillery fire on our cavalry at Raccoon Ford. Marched eight miles to-day. A very cold night.
Thursday, September 17.—Cedar Mountain. Left at ten o’clock, A. M., marching only three miles. Heavy skirmishing was going on during the afternoon at Robinson’s Creek. The rebels are in strong force on the Rapidan. Our battery went to camp near the woods in the evening. A heavy fall of rain all night. ”

“ It is a shame to the country that the remains of those men, who fell in the two battles, are not better taken care of, as the ground lies within our lines. Arriving at Gainesville, the First and Third divisions, and our battery went to camp. The Second division marched to Thoroughfare Gap in the night.
Sunday, June 21.—At Gainesville. A battle is going on between Pleasanton’s and Stuart’s cavalry near Ashby Gap. Our cavalry pickets near Gainesville, were driven in this afternoon. Three companies of infantry, and the right section, got ready for support. ”

“ Two trains arrived from Alexandria, bringing supplies, and the news that the telegraph line had been broken and several cars burned, between this place and Fairfax Station, by guerillas. We left Gainesville at noon, crossed the Bull Run, marched on the Winchester and Leesburg turnpike, passed Sudley’s church, taking the same route we did under McDowell, going to and coming from the first Bull Run battle, until we turned off to Gum Spring, halting for the night. Marched eighteen miles in all. Battery B, lost a caisson and two men taken prisoners, coming from Thoroughfare Gap. ”

“ The cannoniers, coming by railroad, made a raid on a number of express boxes, after which, eatables and all sorts of liquors being plenty, all night, the happiness of the men reached such a degree, as to make it impossible to [Pg 34] post a guard,—Novel and Drape being the happiest men in the sixth detachment, while Jim Lewes hallooed for Billy Knight all the time. The night was extremely windy and cold.
Friday, February 28.—The battery crossed the Potomac to Harper’s Ferry on a pontoon bridge. We occupy one of the government buildings on the hill. ”

“ The Second and Fifth corps marched by daybreak. Before marching, it was announced to the troops, that the western army, at Chattanooga, achieved a great victory over Bragg’s forces. Arriving at Germania Ford, most of the artillery, our battery amongst it, was brought in position, while the cavalry charged across the Rapidan. Approaching the enemy’s [Pg 115] works, they were found deserted. A pontoon bridge was immediately laid for the infantry. The artillery had to ford the river. We marched on the plank-road, leading to the Wilderness, until seven o’clock P. M., going in position by eight. ”

“ This morning we placed our guns in position behind breastworks, occupied by a German battery from New York, before we came. We are close to the railroad bridge. The Second division is camping around us again. Stonewall Jackson, having accidentally been wounded by some of his own men, died to-day. The Thirty-fourth New York regiment changed camp this afternoon.
Sunday, May 10.—The weather is pleasant. The ringing of bells, and the singing in the churches of Fredericksburg, can be heard plainly on this side of the river. People are walking in the streets [Pg 87] just as usual. ”

“ The enemy’s sharpshooters kept up a deadly fire on our lines all day. Captain Arnold called on General Hancock to have our battery relieved, our time being out. Major Hassard appeared shortly afterwards, bringing orders that we were to be relieved by Captain Ames’ New York battery. Just as we were getting ready to go to the rear, the enemy opened with artillery, and the old battery replied once more, keeping up fire until nine o’clock in the night, fighting three hours beyond our time of service. ”

“ The [Pg 117] second signal of a bugle should be for the infantry to storm the works. But we waited in vain for any signal, General Warren stating the works could not be taken without immense loss of life; the main works being built of solid logs, two feet thick, the breastworks eleven feet high and six feet thick, mounted with eighteen guns. Our battery opened several times on the enemy, who was endeavoring to carry artillery by our front. Sergeant Olney made a splendid shot during the morning. Heavy cannonading was kept up on the right the whole forenoon ”

“ The lot of a soldier is hard enough, without irritating him unreasonably. But, honor to the lamented hero, General Sedgwick, who, riding by our battery, at Charlestown, peremptorily ordered Captain Tompkins to have no more knapsacks carried by any of his men. An engagement was anticipated. Rebels were seen beyond Ripton. By one and a-half o’clock, our left section unlimbered, [Pg 35] and fired two shells towards Berryville. Van Allen’s, and the Eighth Michigan cavalry, drove the rebel cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, out of the town. ”

“ The rebels occupied Carlisle, in Pennsylvania.
Monday, June 29.—Marched at eight o’clock. Crossed the Monocacy river. After passing through Frederick, we turned off to the Baltimore road, crossing the Stone Bridge. We went through Mount Pleasant, Liberty, Union Bridge and Uniontown. Cherries are plenty on the road. The people in general are very patriotic, doing anything for the soldiers. This day’s march, thirty-five miles, is the longest ever made by the battery, excepting that after the first Bull Run battle. ”

“ While we were sleeping by our guns, orders came at eleven o’clock in the night, to pack up quietly and get away as quick as possible, which was executed without the least noise, every man being anxious to move away, but not without being loaded with all sorts of provisions. We recrossed the Rappahannock at twelve o’clock in the night. The whole army followed during the night under cover of the batteries. We lay down to rest immediately after arriving on the other side. One gun of the right section was dismounted, one limber and several wheels disabled. ”

“ Meagher’s Irish brigade went to cover his retreat. Troops are marching and counter-marching all night. Great cheering within the rebel lines.
Saturday, June 28.—Fair Oaks. Our centre was attacked again this morning at ten o’clock. The enemy was handsomely repulsed, leaving one hundred and fifty, killed and wounded, inside our lines,—Colonel Lamar, of Georgia, among the latter. Our situation is very critical, our right flank being turned. General Porter lost nine thousand men and twenty-four guns, and is crossing Bottoms’ Bridge. The rebels occupy White House Landing. ”

“ Thousands of dead are covering the field yet. We remained quiet all day.
Saturday, September 20.—Antietam. We exchanged three guns with Pettit’s New York battery. Our battery marched back to Boonsboro, close to McClellan’s headquarters, in the afternoon. Having settled down for the night, we were suddenly aroused and ordered to march immediately to Sharpsburg. An engagement was going on at Shepardstown, close to the Potomac, ending to our disadvantage. We passed through Sharpsburg at two o’clock in the night, and went into park outside of the town. ”

“ The battery received three new guns in the afternoon. Lieut. J. G. Hassard, having joined our battery, at Darnestown, commanded the right section as First Lieutenant. Company cooking was introduced by him. Before that, every detachment done its own cooking. The enterprise itself, of cooking for the whole company, and the selling of a part of the rations, for raising a company fund, [Pg 23] would have been well enough, but the management was extremely poor. Some days we fared well; on other days there would be no dinner, but a detestable bacon soup, hardly fit for hogs. ”

“ Weeden’s Rhode Island battery lost seven men by one of the gunboat shells. [Pg 52] The battle raged until late in the night, ending with the repulse of the rebel army. Every one expected an advance on the enemy the coming morning; but in vain.
Wednesday, July 2.—Malvern Hill. After a few hours rest, orders were given at two o’clock A. M. to get ready,—to our astonishment,—to fall back to Harrison Landing. The rain fell in torrents. The troops were completely demoralized; every man was going on his own hook. A great many threw away their arms without any reason. ”

“ The enemy’s artillery and sharpshooters were firing all day. Our guns were kept out of sight during the afternoon. Generals Howard, Couch and Sully, inspected our lines, and said they would send a brigade of infantry to fortify our position. The men of our battery worked all day, throwing up breastworks behind a fence. ”

“ Tuesday, December 16.—The rain commenced pouring down in streams since four o’clock in the [Pg 77] morning. A deep gloom spread all over the army in consequence of our unsuccessful movement. At six o’clock A. M., our battery returned to the old camp on the hill, which was no small undertaking, the mud being a foot deep. At dark, Captain Arnold, with a squad of men, went to the river to obtain the trail of the dismounted gun.
Wednesday, December 17.—Camp near Falmouth. ”

“ The day passed off smoothly, with the exception of a strange display of authority by a few corporals, laboring under the idea that their dignity was injured by the men not paying enough respect to them. ”

“ Monday, May 4.—General Sedgwick’s corps is fighting ever since daybreak. Little fighting was done near Chancellorsville. The battle is evidently over. We all know that our army, though superior in numbers, has been defeated by the rebels. We remained all day and night at the brick-house, close to the river.
Tuesday, May 5.—Firing is heard on our left since daybreak. Orders came for ours, Pettit’s, and Thomas’ New York batteries, to recross the Rappahannock forthwith. We crossed at United States Ford, going in position on the surrounding heights, which enfilade the other side. ”