1 Bucks County
Intelligencer, From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment. April 15, 1862 Page
3 Col. 4 1
LETTERS FROM OUR VOUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.
CAMP
RIPLEY, April 9th, 1862.
Messrs. Editors :—I suppose that some your corres-
pondents have made you fully acquainted with the par-
ticulars of our march from Carver Barracks to Fortress
Monroe, where we were landed on last Wednesday morn-
ing. At any rate it would be stale news now, and I will
not trouble you with it. We were marched from the
boat to an open lot in rear of Fortress, and as soon as
knapsacks, were unslung, you might have seen the pens
plied by nimble fingers, putting the finishing strokes to
letters for loved ones at home, commenced on our trip
down. The mail left in half an hour, and there was no
time for delay. About 11 o’clock orders were given to fall
in line—where for was not so certain, but supposed to be
near where we really are. The morning was quite warm,
and as we shouldered our knapsacks for a march of uncer-
tain length, we felt that this was a new leaf in our experi-
ence of soldiering. But the line is got in motion, and we
bid farewell to Fotress Monroe (under the direction of the
Major at a step which if not double-quick, was certainly
not far removed from that renowned gait. Our command-
ing officer, however, is on horseback, and it never seemed
to occur to him that men on foot, carrying knapsack,
gun, and other equipments, could not get along just as
comfortably as if mounted on a comet, for by such a
name is the Major’s Rosinate known. Our rests were
few and far apart, and towards the close, every few rods
you would find a fellow lying down by the roadside to
get a little rest. As we did, not know where we were
going, it seemed but little purpose to inquire the distance.
But finally we struck from the road, and after crossing a
field, were halted very near where we now are, at about 4
o’clock, having marched some seven miles. If there is
any comfort to the boys in seeing the officers laboring
under the same loads as themselves, they had it on this
march. When the column started from the Fortress it
was found that there was no transportation for officers’
carpet-bags, and they were compelled to tote them along
as best they could. The beauty of the matter, however,
was that just before we left the high-road for our camping
grounds, we were passed by a train of empty army wagons
which had been sent after us from the Fortress, to haul up
our camp equipage from Newport News, and which might
just as well have brought officers’ baggage, knapsacks and
all. But that is the way things are done here.
On our way out nearly our whole road was lined with
camps, and immediately surroundings our camping-ground
were the tents and huts of thousands. I thought I had
seen soldiers plenty about Washington, but it wasn’t a
circumstance. We passed the California Regiment on the
road. A number of others containing Bucks Countians
were encamped near us. When we halted it was misting
a little, and we went to work to fix our gum blankets up
for tents, and soon we had a respectable camp laid out.—
It cleared off, however, during the evening, but about 4
o’clock in the morning we were favored with one of the
sharpest thunder showers I ever knew. The first clap I
thought was the report of a cannon, and it took some mo-
ments to collect my thoughts enough to realize that the
Secesh were not after us. But the rain pattering on our
house dispelled the illusion.
We are encamped in as beautiful a peach-orchard as
you ever saw. The trees are in full bloom, and for thrifti-
ness equalled by nothing I ever beheld. This has been
most certainly the residence of a man of wealth and taste,
as is evidenced by the fruit trees, garden, &c., remaining.
The buildings have been destroyed some time back, by
which party I have no knowledge, but the orchards of
peach, apple, and dwarf pears bear ample evidence that
they were the result of Northern energy. The ground is
level and of a sandy loam. Cornstalks still standing bear
testimony to its strength. About 2 ˝ miles, nearly south,
rebellion broke out, it has disappeared. All that can now
be seen are erections since that time. A breastwork,
mounted with some heavy guns, frame and log barracks
for soldiers, frame buildings for commissary and sutler
stores, make Newport News. Close in shore lie the wrecks
of the Congress and Cumberland—sad mementoes of rebel
audacity and Union imbecility; it makes my heart ache
to look at them. On the opposite shore may be seen rebel
camp-fires and a rebel battery. This latter occasionally
treats our vessels passing from Newport News to Fortress
Monroe to a shot. Generally, however, no damage is done.
The road between here and there is as bad as could be
reasonably wished, and every few hundred yards you see
either a wagon stuck in the mud, or the contents of one
that has been unlocked from being stuck. Some of the
soil is as black a loam as could be wished, and the thrifti-
ness of the pines show it to be about the right stripe.
We had a visit on Saturday from the Paymaster, and on
Monday morning the Chaplain started home with the
funds. He will no doubt give you a call and the particu-
lars of what is going on. On Friday morning most of
Keyes’ Corps left here, and on Saturday and Sunday
heavy firing was heard in the direction of Yorktown. The
result we do not know, and will have to wait until we
get a New York or Philadelphia paper. You get to hear
through the papers all that occurs, and a good deal more ;
we don’t get half that does occur.
About half our men are out on picket duty and guard
every day, and you can assure our friends that on such
days as yesterday and to day it as uncomfortable business
as could be desired. We are having a cold northeaster,
and a more miserable night for picket than last night I
never saw.
One regiment of our brigade has advanced, and we ex-
pect to move every day. Before this reaches you we will
have bid farewell to Camp Ripley.
Just as I had written the above, we received orders to
be in readiness to march to-morrow morning at 7 o’clock,
with two days’ rations in our haversacks. Our destina-
tion, I suppose, is Yorktown—and as Gen. McClellan has
not yet taken it, we may be there in time to take part in
the attacks. Yorktown is distant about 15 miles, and as
it has been raining incessantly for two days and a half
and two nights, and is still at it without any prospect of
ceasing, you can imagine how pleasant a march we have
in prospect. We here bid farewell to tents, and from
this out ?ust trust to our ingenuity. Only one wagon is
allowed to each regiment for regimental purposes. It
carries cooking utensil and company articles only. The
brigade headquarters (viz : Col. Davis) has one wagon,
and the field and staff one. But our Quartermaster Ser-
geant is just calling for men to go for provision, and as I
have an interest in having something in my haversack to-
morrow, I must close.
[Private letters written since the date of the above
state that the marching orders of the 104th Regiment had
been countermanded, and that it remained at Camp Rip-
ley—EDS. Intelligencer.]
CAMP
NEAR NEWPORT NEWS, April 4th, 1862.
Messrs. Editors :—I now take my knapsack for a seat
in a low tent, made out of our gum blankets, with the
purpose of writing to you from the land of Dixie. I ex-
pect every moment to see our house carried off by the
wind and be left sitting in the sun. The day that we left
Carver Barracks, which was a week ago to-day. I was de-
tailed for guard, and took my post at 10 o’clock, a. m.,
and before 12 o’clock the cry throughout the encampment
was, Marching orders at 2 o’clock. I did not know, what
to make of it. I could hardly believe it at first, but when
the Relief came to relieve us they came with their knap-
sacks all packed, ready for the march. So I thought
there must be something of it. We then went to our
quarters and packed our knapsacks, and marched back to
the guard house. Our Colonel then told the guard to join
our companies, which we did, and at 4 o’clock we took up
our line of march for Alexandria. About sunset we step-
ped off of the Long Bridge into the Old Dominion. We
marched on till we were within one mile of Alexandria,
when we halted and encamped for the night. It was then
9 o’clock, and the boys were all tired and hungry; after
there march of 6 miles. The next morning we shouldered
our knapsacks and moved onward to a place where the
Colonel had picked out a piece of ground for our encamp-
ment. We remained there in snow and rain till 5 o’clock
on Sunday morning, when we were awakened by the long
roll, and orders were given for us to be ready to march to
Alexandria at 6 o’clock. At 6 o’clock we marched off
through mud and rain. On our arrival in Alexandria we
halted in the mood, and stood there with the loads on our
backs for nearly four hours, in the worst kind of a snow
and rain storm. We then marched down to the wharf
and went on board the steamer Constitution. The 104th
were marched up on the top deck, and such a time as we
had fill the next mornin ; when we were marched off, I
never before saw. At dark; I made a nice bed and laid
down to sleep, and had no more than fallen asleep when
I was awakened by loud peals of thunder and the light-
ning’s flash, when the rain came pouring down in tor-
rents. No sooner had I risen from my bed, when the cry
of the Colonel was heard ; “ Boys, get up and go on the
other side of the vessel, or it will go over.” I remained
on the top deck until one o’clock, when I took my blan-
kets and went down on a lower deck and made a bed,
where I remained until we were marched off the Constitu-
tion. At noon we went on board the steamer State of
Maine, and, in a little while, we glided swiftly down the
Potomac for Fortress Monroe. When the morning of the
2d broke upon us, I found myself at Fortress Monroe, hav-
ing arrived there sometime during the night, while I lay
quietly asleep in my bunk. We came off of the steamer
about 10 o’clock, and at 12 o’clock we took up our line of
march again towards Newport News. We marched about
eight miles, passing through the city of Hampton, which
I suppose was once a beautiful town, but now lies in ashes,
nothing but the walls remaining, to tell us that once it
was the city of Hampton. We are now encamped in a
peach orchard, with the prospect of having a large crop
of peaches, as the trees look very well, and are nearly in
full bloom. We are about eight miles from Fortress Mon-
roe, and 2 from Newport-News. We are not far from the
enemy’s line, they say, and that the Merrimac has thrown
a shell into the orchard where we are encamped. How
true it may be, I know not, but know there has not been
any thrown in the orchard since we have been here. Last
night Company A was out on picket, and they say we are
to go to-night. I have just had the pleasure of signing
the pay-roll ; but how long it will be before the paymaster
comes along with the pay I do not know. We will have to
wait and see ; but a little would not hurt us now, as we
have been dining on hard crackers and coffee since we left
the barracks ; something else a little softer than hard
crackers would not hurt our sore mouths at all. For all
we have endured so may hardships since we have left our
barracks, we all remain in very good health, with the ex-
ception of colds. After so many hardships as we have had
to endure, will other regiments call us the “ Ginger bread
Regiment,” “ Casey’s pets,” &c, that are kept in bar-
racks, to do nothing but black, brush, and oil themselves
like geese, so that water will not touch them ? Not so,
my boys, we are coming into it, and willing to endure all
these things as well as you. Where are Capt. Feaster’s ,
Capt. Kimball’s, and Capt. Shelmire’s Companies now ?
Are they as near to the rebels as we ? No, I think not ;
and I think they had better not count chickens before
they are hatched hereafter. Let them remember that we
have officers as brave as they. Because we had good quar-
ters in the winter, did they think we would stay in them
all summer if needed elsewhere? No.
Where we will be the next time I write I know not, as
we expect to go on farther as soon as we have rations
served out to us, and get them cooked. I hope we will
have more rations on hand the next time we move.
Good bye. T. C.