1 Bucks County
Intelligencer, From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment. April 8, 1862 Page 3 Col. 3 1
LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.
Extracts from a Soldier’s
Letter.
STEAMER
CONSTITUTION, POTOMAC RIVER,
Sunday
Evening, March 30, 1862.
We received our marching orders at Carver’s Barracks
at 12 o’clock on Friday, the 2?th, and were to be in line
by 2 p.m. We were to have had a flag presentation in
the afternoon, but it took place without us. You can
judge of the bustle created among us by the announce-
ment of our marching orders. We had faith that this
time we were destined to go, and we made our arrange-
ments accordingly—packed up such things as we thought
we could carry, and the balance of our stock in trade we
disposed of as best as we could. The harpies were about,
and by the time the regiment was ready to move almost
everything portable had been carried off.
The time fixed for our departure was 2 o’clock, but
hour after hour passed and the call for us to “ fall in “
did not beat, and we began to think that perhaps we were
again doomed to disappointment. About 4 o’clock, how-
ever, General Casey and staff rode into our plaza, and
shortly afterward the long roll sounded and our line was
formed, in very quick time I assure you. It was longer
than it had ever appeared before, except when mustered
for payment. A number, however, were left behind in
hospital, as none were taken but those supposed to be fit
for active duty. The band strikes up “ Dixie,” and we
are off on our march. We moved in platoons and kept
step to the music the whole way form the barracks to the
Long Bridge. As we were rising the hill between the
canal and the river, I looked back, and as far as I could
see the street was full of soldiers. The whole of Casey’s
division was in motion, and the appearance was certainly
military. At the first halt, the way our boys got rid of
their knapsacks was a caution. They were quite tired,
but after a short rest they shouldered them again and we
were off on our tramp. It was very nearly sunset when
we set foot on the “ sacred soil.” From that time until
we reached the camp ground, as their loads were very heavy,
quite a number of the men, fell out of the ranks and laid
down to rest. Some of them came straggling in during
the night, and more next morning, but a few have not as
yet arrived.
We reached our camping ground about 10 o’clock, drew
up in line and stacked our arms. It was quite dark; but
in a few minutes lights were burning all over the camp.
The blankets were spread, and it was not long before all
was quiet. Some few straggled off and laid siege to some
fence rails and kindled fires. It was quite cold, and as
the ground was very wet I concluded that discretion was
the better part of valor; and ? would display mine by
hunting up lodgings somewhere else. I went to a house
near by, where they were selling cakes and coffee, and
bargained with the owner for permission to sit by the fire
during the night. This was doing very well under the
circumstances. We go along quite comfortably. In the
morning we were all ready enough to eat our dry bread
and meat. About seven o’clock we received orders and
were moved about three-fourths of a mile nearer Alexan-
dria, where we encamped on a flat piece of ground. As
soon as our guns were stacked, the boys were off in quest
of wood to make fire to cook their coffee. There had
originally been a fence across the field, but the rails had
some time since taken their departure. The posts still
remained, and the way they were dragged up by main
force was astonishing. When we encamped, there were
numerous fences in sight, but in an hour afterwards you
could have seen men by hundreds lugging on posts, rails,
and everything else they could lay their hands on. Some
went to barns and pulled off boards. I don’t think there
can be fencing enough left in Fairfax county to swear by.
If ever I want fencing converted into ashes suddenly, I
will send for a regiment of New Yorkers; if they can’t do
it I will give up.
It had been cloudy all morning and looked like rain
but by eleven o’clock it commenced snowing and it came
down as fast as was comfortable. It melted as it fell, and
I can assure you the ground was anything but pleasant.
All the men were supplied with gum blankets, so we fas-
tened two of them together by the tops and stretched them
? pole set on two forked sticks driven in the ground
—thus making a tent just high enough to let us crawl in
head foremost. We went half a mile to a row of cedar
trees, cut one down and dragged it into camp, cut off the
branches, and with them made a floor for our tent. Thus
we roughed it through the day and following night amid the
mud and snow. If some of our friends who have grieved
so much at our comfortably quarters at Carver’s Barracks
had experienced it, they would have though it rough
enough. We will no doubt get used to it, but for green
hands our experience was pretty heavy.
Orders had been received the night before for us to em-
bark at Alexandria at six o’clock this (Sunday) morning,
and you may believe our men were not loth to obey them.
At seven our line was formed, and we commenced our
tramp through the mud and rain. It was not far, and we
consoled ourselves with the idea that we would soon be
on board. But grievously were we disappointed. When
we arrived within a few hundred yards of the wharf we
were halted and informed that we should remain there
until all the baggage of the brigade was loaded. There
was bitter storm raging, and we were compelled to
stand in the mud and drenching rain from eight o’clock
until twelve. All things terrestrial must have an end,
and our waiting was at last terminated by an order to
march. It was just noon when we stepped on board. The
whole brigade was put on board this ship, our regiment
occupying the upper deck. The Constitution is a new
vessel, and has been chartered by the Government as a
transport at the rate of three thousand dollars a day. She
is nicely fitted up, and you may judge of her size when I
tell you that after our regiment was on her upper deck
there was room left for another of the same size. She is
second in size, I believe, only to the Great Eastern. You
can imagine our condition when we got on board. The
boys spread their blankets on deck and made themselves
comfortable. The officers all have state-rooms. Most of
the baggage is aboard, and the rest is coming. Whilst
putting some boxes aboard, the plank slipped and threw
Captain Swartzlander and one of his men into the river.
There were pulled out without suffering anything more
serious than a good ducking. Our vessel is fast aground,
and cannot get off before high tide. The men are spread
out on deck, and the cabin is filled with officers reading,
writing and talking. It is Sunday evening, but we can
hardly realize tha the day just past has been Sunday.
As it has been a very weary one, I will bid you good
night, and turn in.
STEAMER
STATE OF MAINE, Monday Evening.
Imagine our surprise on waking this morning, on board
the Constitution to hear that “ the 104th must go on
shore.” We soon learned that the ship was too top-
heavy, from want of ballast; and that the regiment on
the upper deck would have to go on shore. The order
was at once given for us to pack our knapsacks and get
ready to move. We marched off the vessel to a dry piece
of ground, stacked arms, unslung knapsacks, and awaited
further orders. In about three-quarters of an hour the
Constitution moved off, taking with her Colonel Davis,
Lieutenant-Colonel Nields, and a number of other officers
who were too slow in getting ashore. Well, here were
the 104th, left on the wharf almost without an owner.
What we were to do was uncertain, but about 9 o’clock
the sun came out and brightened things up immensely.
We spread out our blankets, and concluded to take it
easy. About eleven o’clock we received orders to come
on board this vessel, and by twelve we were safely stowed.
This is a river steamer, and has on board in addition to
ourselves about two hundred members of other regiments,
who have been left behind. This fills here chuck-full. At
one o’clock everything was ready, our hawsers were cast
off, the band struck up Dixie, the wheels commenced to
revolve, and we are off on our mission of love.
It is unnecessary to give any description of our voyage.
The river is all clear, and we can go down safely. Off
Acquia creek we overtook the Constitution aground. Gen.
Casey sent a boat aboard and asked us to try to tow her
off. We geared to her, but soon broke one hawser ; the
other held on and so did the mud—the mud being the
stronger we had to cave. We had orders to lay by her
during the night, and so came to anchor. We saw Col.
Davis and several others on the Constitution as we passed.
Tuesday Evening.—This morning we found two other
boats; with our own tugging at the Constitution. She
unloaded a good number of troops on the smaller craft,
and by eight o’clock she was afloat. We then cast off,
and in a short time left her far behind. This afternoon
she again overhauled and passed us. At nine o’clock we
came to anchor in the neighborhood of our landing place.
Wednesday Morning.—As soon as we got up this mor-
ning we prepared to disembark; got some coffee and then
proceeded ashore. We marched a few hundred yards
back of the fort, where we have stacked arms for the
present. This is a beautiful morning, and so far as the
place is concerned, we could stay here very comfortably
for a few weeks.
PACIFIC
MAIN STEAMSHIP CONSTITUTION,
ALEXANDRIA,
Virginia, March 30, 1862.
My Dear Friend :—We are on board the steamship
Constitution, waiting to start for Dixie. The 104th Reg-
iment left Washington on Friday afternoon, perhaps to
return—perhaps never. We crossed the Long Bridge at
dark, and turned down the Potomac towards Alexandria,
proceeding three or four miles, and then turned into a
field and bivouacked for the night. I carried my knap-
sack, and found the blankets very comfortable, as also
did some of my friends. We got up early and moved off
before breakfast. We marched down the river about half
a mile, then camped and prepared for breakfast, and
awaited, the arrival of our tents ; but owing to the condi-
tion of the roads, this was slow business. About noon it
commenced snowing very rapidly and we made an at-
tempt to improvise tents out of cedar bushes and gum
blankets. Various forms of dwellings were adopted, and
we slept very comfortable indeed, although the snow fell
and melted, and it afterwards turned to raining, and the
weather was anything but agreeable. But the boys en-
joyed it wonderfully. We retired early, but by nine
o’clock we had orders to move early next morning. Sun-
day morning we were up early and ready to march. We
started for Alexandria, but when we were within a short
distance of the town we were stopped or halted, and we
stood in the rain for five hours, waiting for something—no
one knew what,—and it was very disagreeable to us all.
I was wet to the skin on my back, ? ? of my knap-
sack—all the water running down between it and my coat.
After waiting five hours we were taken on board the
steamer, which is a splendid one. We have nearly 4,500
men on board—our whole brigade. They were all on
board by one o’clock in the afternoon. Captain and I
dined on board of a steamer lying near our own vessel.—
We had roast beef, sweet potatoes, boiled cabbage, tur-
nips, white potatoes, &c. Price 50 cents. Now we have
our meals on board our own steamer. We had a handsome
supper. We have a splendid state room on board—five
bunks, with excellent white beds, and expect to have a
good night’s rest. I am writing this on a splendid walnut
table. Persons writing to us should direct their letters
for the present ,to the 104th Regiment, P. V., 1st Brigade,
Casey’s Division, 4th Corps of Armee, Washington, D. C.
J. M. C.