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SOMEWAR MEMORANDA-JOTTED DOWN AT THE TIME. I find this incident in my notes (I suppose from "chinning" soldier who knew of it) : in hospital with some sick or wounded and his forces were cut off at Brandy Station When Kilpatrick and the bands struck up (last of September, " '63, or thereabouts), " there were not cannon enough in the Southern Yankee Doodle It was when Meade to keep him and them "in." Confederacy and fell back. K. had his cavalry division (perhaps 5,000 men), the rebs, in superior force, had surrounded them. Things looked K. had two fine bands, and ordered them exceedingly desperate. " " Yankee Doodle with ; they joined and played up immediately a will. It went through the men like lightning?but to inspire, not to unnerve. Every man seemed a giant. They charged like a cyclone, and cut their way out. Their loss was but 20. It was about two in the afternoon. WASHINGTON
STREET
SCENES.
Down Pennsylvania Avenue. 7, 1864.?Walking forenoon after the storm of the past few days. I see, passing up, in the broad space between the curbs, a big squad of a couple of hundred conscripts, surrounded by a strong cordon of armed guards, and others interspersed between the ranks. The has learned caution from its are there government ; experiences as am and I many hundreds of "bounty told, jumpers," already, eighty thousand deserters ! Next (also passing up the avenue), a cavalry company, young, but evidently well drilled and service hardened men. Mark the upright posture in their saddles, the bronzed and bearded young faces, the easy swaying to the motions of the horses, and the carbines by their right knees ; handsome and reckless, some eighty of them, riding with rapid gait, clatter Then the of passing bells cars, the many ing along. tinkling
April ?Warmish
THE NORTH AMERICAN
56
REVIEW.
some with swords, straps shops (some with large show-windows, for the shoulders of different ranks, hat-cords with acorns, or other patrol marching along, with the orderly or insignia), the military second-lieutenant stopping different ones to examine passes?the forms, the faces, all sorts crowded together, the worn and pale, the pleased, some on their way to the railroad depot going home, the cripples, the darkeys, the long trains of government wagons, or the sad strings of ambulances many conveying wounded?the officers' horses tied in front of the drinking or oyster saloons, or held by black men or boys, or orderlies. THE 195TH PENNSYLVANIA. 3 o'clock this afternoon (sun Tuesday, Aug. 1, 1865.?About street, by the Treasury building, a large broiling hot) in Fifteenth were marching and handsome 195th Pennsylvania, regiment, to it halt and break orders here received by?as just happened, so I thought I that rest themselves awhile. ranks, they might never looks,
saw
a finer
all
weather-beaten,
set
of men?so and
candid,
hardy, warm
with
American
bright
clothes.
Every
man
was home-born. My heart was much drawn toward them. They It is a one seemed very tired, red, and streaming with sweat. Pa. Lancaster from ; have been year regiment, mostly County, their knap in Shenandoah Valley. On halting, the men unhitched on the flat Some rest to themselves. and sat down lay sacks, of the or fine The trees. under appearance physical pavement whole body was remarkable. Great, very great, must be the State where
such
young
farmers
and
mechanics
are
the
practical
talked
with I went around for half an hour and age. them, sometimes squatting down with the groups. LEFT-HAND
WKITING
BY
aver
several
of
SOLDIEKS.
is a single significant fact, from which April 30, 1866.?Here soldiers in this just one may judge of the character of the American in New York City, a while concluded war :A gentleman since, from soldiers took it into his head to collect specimens of writing who had lost their right hands in battle, and afterwards learned to use the left. He gave public notice of his desire, and offered soon they began Pretty prizes for the best of these specimens. to come in, and by the time specified for awarding the prizes three soldiers hundred by maimed samples of such left-hand writing had
arrived.
I have
just been
looking
over some of this writing.
A great
SOME WAR MEMORANDA. many are
of the
good.
specimens
The
writing
in a beautiful
are written in nearly
57
all
cases
slants
manner.
backward
of forward. from. a soldier who One piece of writing, both arms, was made by holding the pen in his mouth. CENTRAL
VIRGINIA
IN
All instead
had lost
'64.
Culpeper, where I am stopping, looks like a place of two or Must be one of the pleasantest three thousand inhabitants. towns in Virginia. Even now, dilapidated fences, all broken down, win I am standing on dows out, it has the remains of much beauty. an eminence overlooking the town, though within its limits. To the west the long Blue Mountain range is very plain, looks quite near, from 30 to 50 miles distant, with some gray splashes of though snow yet visible. I see a The show is varied and fascinating. great eagle up there in the air sailing with poised wings, quite low. soldiers are drilling ; I suppose some Squads of red-legged of the new men of the Brooklyn 14th ; they march off presently on their shoulders. with muskets In another place, just below me, are some soldiers squaring off logs to build a shanty?chopping I hear the bel away, and the noise of the axes sounding good. unmusical screech I of the mark mule. the thin blue lowing, smoke rising from camp fires. Just below me is a collection of tents, with a yellow flag elevated on a stick, and moving hospital in the breeze. Two discharged men languidly (I know them One is so weak he can hardly walk ; the both) are just leaving. other
is stronger,
and
carries
his
comrade's
musket.
They
move
The scenery is slowly along the muddy road toward the depot. full of breadth, and spread on the most generous scale (everywhere in Virginia this thought filled me). The sights, the scenes, the groups, have been varied and picturesque here beyond description, and
remain
I heard
so.
the men return in force the other night?heard the and shouting, got up and went out to h,ear what was the matter. scene of so many hundred That night steadily by, tramping the mud through (some big flaring torches of pine knots), I shall never forget. I like to go to the paymaster's tent, and watch the men getting paid off. Some have furloughs, and start at once for There is home, sometimes amid great chaffing and blarneying. every day the sound of the wood-chopping axe, and the plentiful I note large droves and pens sight of negroes, crows, and mud. of cattle. The teamsters have camps of their own, and I go often
THE NORTH AMERICAN
58
REVIEW.
The officers occasionally invite me to dinner or among them. at is The fare supper headquarters. plain, but you get something to and of Meade is absent ; Sedgwick it. Gen. drink, good plenty is
in command. PAYING
THE
1ST
U.
S.
C.
T.
the quiet side One of my war time reminiscences comprises scene of a visit I made to the First Kegiment U. S. colored troops, and on the occasion of their first paying off, at their encampment, there is now no difference of opinion Though July 11, 1863. to enlisting there was a powerful worth mentioning, opposition blacks during the earlier years of the secession war. Even then, " had That their colored the race," however, they champions. " is capable of military said a good authority, training and effi by the testimony of numberless witnesses, ciency, is demonstrated in the raising, organizing, and and by the eagerness displayed a better Few white troops. drilling of African regiments make appearance on parade than the First and Second Louisiana Native The same remark is true of other colored regiments. At Guards. on at at Port Milliken's Morris Bend, Hudson, Island, Vicksburg, and wherever tested, they have exhibited determined bravery, and and thoughtless alike of the thoughtful the plaudits compelled was often Hudson the of Port the During question siege soldiery. ' ' asked those who beheld their resolute charges, how the niggers behaved under fire, and without exception the answer was compli ' ' to them. 0, tip-top V first-rate Y bully V were the mentary to But I did not start out to argue the case?only usual replies." on as at time. the the reminiscence literally, spot jotted give my I write this on Mason's island, under (otherwise Analostan) the fine shade trees of an old white stucco house, with big rooms ; stucco house, originally a fine country seat (tradition the white Slave author of the Fugitive Mason, says the famous Virginia I reached the spot from my Washington Law, was born here). avenue, through George quarters by ambulance up Pennsylvania town, across the Aqueduct bridge, and around through a cut and road, with rocks and many bad gullies not lacking. After winding in the midst of the camp of reaching the Island, we get presently The tents look clean and good ; the 1st Eegiment U. S. C. T. the pleasantest in locality especially, camp I indeed, altogether, have yet seen. The spot is umbrageous, high and dry, with dis tant sounds of the city, and the puffing steamers of the Potomac,
SOME WAR MEMORANDA.
59
and back again. Birds are singing in the trees, up to Georgetown the warmth is endurable here in this moist shade, with the fra across rods A is Georgetown. and hundred freshness. grance is swelled and muddy from the late rains up The river between So quiet here, yet full of vitality, all around in the far country. as I sweep my eye, of hills, verdure-clad, and distance glimpses, with plenteous trees ; right where I sit, locust, sassafras, spice, and many other trees, a few with huge parasitic vines ; just at hand the banks sloping to the river, wild with beautiful, free vegetation, superb weeds, better, in their natural growth and forms, than the best garden. Lots of luxuriant grape vines and trumpet flowers ; the river flowing far down in the distance. The Major (paymaster) with his Now the paying is to begin. clerk seat themselves at a table?the rolls are before them?the are box is money packages of five, ten, twenty-five opened?there cent pieces. Here comes the first Company (B), some 82 men, all we blacks. find cannot fault the with Certes, appearance of this are be. crowd?negroes They manly though they enough, bright in them, look hardy, enough, look as if they had the soldier-stuff The paying, patient, many of them real handsome young fellows. I say, has begun. The men are marched up in close proximity. The clerk calls off name after name, and each walks up, receives his money, and passes along out of the way. It is a real study, both to see them come close, and to see them pass away, stand all of this company get ten dollars counting their cash?(nearly and three cents each). The clerk calls George Washington. That from the ranks, in the personage distinguished steps shape of a very black man, good sized and shaped, and aged " about 30, with a military moustache ten three," ; he takes his and goes off evidently well pleased. are a dozen about (There in the us Let will do honor company. Washingtons hope they to the name.) At the table, how quickly the Major handles the bills, counts without trouble, everything going on smoothly and The regiment numbers quickly. to-day about 1,000 men (in cluding 20 officers, the only whites.) Now another company. These get $5.36 each. The men look well. too, have great names ; besides the Washing They, tons aforesaid, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Calhoun, James Madison, Alfred Tennyson, John Brown, Benj. G. Tucker, Horace Greeley, etc. The men step off aside, count their money
THE NORTH AMERICAN
60
REVIEW.
but not often, look. with a pleased, half-puzzled Occasionally, there are some thoroughly African very black in physiognomies, I have to But etc. low forehead, color, large, protruding lips, one see face. that do not I say utterly revolting Then another company, each man of this getting $10.03 also. The pay proceeds very rapidly (the calculation, etc., roll-signing, Then some trouble. One having been arranged before hand). company, by the rigid rules of official computation, gets only 23 cents each man. and after two The company (K) is indignant, or three are paid, the refusal to take the paltry sum is universal, and
the
marches
company
off
to
quarters
unpaid.
company (I) gets only 70 cents. The sullen, lowering, Half refuse it in this case. look is general. Com disappointed pany G, in full dress, with brass scales on shoulders, looked, per Another
haps,
as
as well
any
of
the
sually alert look. These, then, are the black Well,
no
one
can
see
them,
men
companies?the
troops,?or even
under
had
the beginning these
an
unu
of them.
circumstances?
career in its novitiate?without their military feeling well pleased with them. As we entered the island, we saw scores at a little distance, their clothes, etc. The officers, as far as looks bathing, washing go,
have
a
fine
appearance,
have
good
faces,
and
the
air
mili
it is a significant show, and brings up some tary. Altogether " The scene, the porch of an old Virginia abolition" thoughts. slave-owner's house, the Potomac just rippling near, the Capitol the pleasant blue down three or four miles there, seen through haze of this July day. After a couple of hours I get tired, and go off for a ramble. I write these concluding lines on a rock, under the shade of a tree on the banks of the island. It is solitary here, the birds the waters pouring down f 150mthe sluggish muddy-yellow singing, the green heights on the south late rains of the upper Potomac, The single cannon from a neighboring side of the river before me. I have walked all fort has just been fired, to signal high noon. and around Analostan, its luxuriant wildness, stopped in enjoying this solitary spot. A water snake wriggles down the bank, dis The bank near by is fringed with a dense turbed, into the water. growth of shrubbery, vines, etc. Walt Whitman.