1 Bucks County
Intelligencer, From the 104th
Regiment. May 13, 1862 page 1
Col. 1 1
From the 104th Regiment.
Correspondence
of the Bucks County Intelligencer.
NEAR YORKTOWN, Va., April 29, 1862.
Messrs. Editors--Excuse me for not writing sooner after
reaching our destination. I did think of writing are this, when
we left our encampment at Newport News; but being interrupted
so frequently while writing to the loved ones at home is the rea-
son I deterred writing to you so long, for I dislike to be inter-
rupted while writing. When I say loved ones, do not think I
mean the loving ladies. No, I mean a fond and loving mother,
who has cherished and guided me from Infancy to my older days
in boyhood,—who has taught me to walk in the just and holy
path,—who has comforted me with all the wants while in this,
our glorious and good cause—the cause of our country, the cause
of freedom, not for slavery,—not for the Seven States alone, but
for the whole thirty-four, and not one less;—not for the rebel
flag that now floats on yon forts at Yorktown, but the flag that
we intend, to plant there. The flag of our Union—our whole
country—and the flag that our honored Washington bequeathed
to us, the flag of the brave and the free! Who would tear down
and trample under foot the flag that Washington gave us, and
raise the one that Jeff. Davis gave instead? Would it be me?
No, not I! Would it be the men that love their country and
love to be free? No It would be men that love not, their coun-
try—that care not for freedom and fee institutions; but rather
care to lay our country in waste for the curse of Slavery, and for
everything else but what is right and good. But I, assure you
before many weeks roll around, we will show them which is
right and what is wrong. We will point out to them that it is
better for them to remain with the Thirty-four, than to secede
and be but Seven. That Washington’s banner is stronger than
Jeff’s;—that the banner of the Union is stronger than the ban-
ner of Secession. That it is better for them to remain and act
as brothers to their country.
To-day we are gifted with another bright and sunny day. The
birds are singing their sweet and lovely melodies, and everything
seems as cheerful and gay as if we were in our dear old native
homes in the county of Bucks. But I do not expect it will
seem quite so pleasant when we are among the balls, as it is here
with the little birds. It is really pleasant here in camp to-day.
It reminds me of a beautiful May day in the far-off homes we
have left behind; everything is still and quiet, except the re-
port of a cannon. I suppose they must use the heavy guns once
in a while to keep the enemy in good spirits. How long it may
be before we are in an engagement I know not ; but every day
is drawing us nearer and nearer to the battle-field. Perhaps be-
fore long you will have to record the valor and bravery if it be
won by the Army of the Potomac. You have heard about our
tiresome march from the Peach Grove to the grove we now in-
habit, and I expect you have heard about the day and night we
experienced in a large tract of woodland near by, drawn up in
line of battle; and, I may say, we were in mud and water a good
depth the whole time we were there, and on returning to our
camp we were thoroughly soaked by a rain storm. It being
nearly dark, we were compelled to retire and take our nap in our
wet garments. We did remarkably well, or I did, for I was so
tired. I never awakened till daylight broke upon us. One day
last week our company was out on outside picket. We had
quite a nice time of it after we reached our destination, but we
had an ugly time in going and returning. While we were there
we had a very pleasant time indeed. Once in a while we could
see the rebel pickets peep out behind a wood pile or a tree, but
they were pretty shy in the daytime. We could see them walk-
ing upon (rest of line unreadable)
and hear their bands, playing what I suppose they call their de-
lightful melodies.
A few days ago we were relieved and inspected b our new
Brigadier. He has the looks of a brave and bold officer, but
whether he will turn out to be such I cannot tell. Perhaps the
future will tell.
April 29 —Interrupted again. What for? Why to move out
of this terrible mud hole to a beautiful encampment in a pretty
pine grove. I think if we ever get fixed here, this will be the
most beautiful of all places that we have yet encamped on, and
I think will deserve to be called Evergreen Grove. The ground
has just been cleared of small pine trees, and there is left stand-
ing a nice row between every company. The ground seems nice
and dry, and everything, appears in its loveliest form for the
104th Regiment.
Yesterday, before we had got half fixed, round came the orders
to jump in line, double quick; now in such a hurry we wondered
what for? Our Colonel says we heard they were evacuating
their fort, near our picket line, and we were going over to see.
When we reached there the skirmish companies were sent out
and the rest drawn up in battle array, and we expected to be in
for it now after a while, but we found out that they had not
evacuated it, and it being nearly dark, we returned to camp,
with two killed, or wounded badly; one, a member of the 11th
Maine, and the other, a member of the 100th New York. The
rebels sent a few shells over to us, but they did no damage; one
exploded near by, but the others passed over us and fell with-
out bursting. Thank God for their kindness in shooting so
high for had they been lower and exploded, it might have
caused the death of many. The 104th returned without a
struggle, but two poor fellows have fallen to rise no more. I
will close and leave the rest for some one else, as we are going
to have general inspection, and I must prepare for it, as our
new General is a little particular, and likes us to look a little
nice and clean. All is well, if we have the material to do it
with but blacking here is rather scarce, and we must do the
best we can. Yours, T.C.