Chapter III.ON THE MARCH.
And we marched away to join the fray,Where the work of death was done,And soon we stood where the battle cloudsHid the face of the mid-day sun.’Mid the battle’s din our ranks grew thin,And we dug our comrades’ graves,By brook and rill, by vale and hill,And laid away our braves.Benj. Russell Jr.
And we marched away to join the fray,Where the work of death was done,And soon we stood where the battle cloudsHid the face of the mid-day sun.’Mid the battle’s din our ranks grew thin,And we dug our comrades’ graves,By brook and rill, by vale and hill,And laid away our braves.Benj. Russell Jr.
And we marched away to join the fray,Where the work of death was done,And soon we stood where the battle cloudsHid the face of the mid-day sun.
And we marched away to join the fray,
Where the work of death was done,
And soon we stood where the battle clouds
Hid the face of the mid-day sun.
’Mid the battle’s din our ranks grew thin,And we dug our comrades’ graves,By brook and rill, by vale and hill,And laid away our braves.
’Mid the battle’s din our ranks grew thin,
And we dug our comrades’ graves,
By brook and rill, by vale and hill,
And laid away our braves.
Benj. Russell Jr.
Benj. Russell Jr.
Marching orders came on August 10th, and we gladly took up our line of march, passing through Williamsburg, Yorktown and Big Bethel to Newport News, where we boarded steamer Belvidere for Acquia Creek, thence by rail to Stafford Courthouse, near Fredericksburg. We were still kept on the move, and on August 27th we marched out on the Gainesville road, andformed in line of battle; here we had quite a sharp brush with the enemy. We were endeavoring to head him off in his march northward, but were too late, and had to chase him as rapidly as possible.
March 6, 1865.
I shall never forget the long and weary march of the next day, which happened to be my twenty-first birthday. All that hot, dusty day was spent in a forced march, and we suffered greatly for water, of which there was none to be had in that dreary country. Along in the afternoon I came to a puddle of water covered with green slime, in which partly lay a dead mule, who had probably died while trying to slake his thirst. I did not take warning by him, but brushed aside the green scum and took a drink; it was wet and that was all that could be said of it.
I dragged myself along until within an hour of sunset, and then I dropped by the roadside as hundreds had done before me. Our surgeon came along, and kindly urged me to keep on, saying we were to camp in a piece of woods about a mile further on; but I was too far gone to stir then. I rested an hour or so, and then limped into camp; too weary to get anything toeat or drink, I took off my equipments and without even unrolling my blanket, dropped upon the ground, and with my knapsack for a pillow, slept all night the dreamless sleep of a tired soldier.
When the boys reached camp, their first thought was to find water; there was but one well in the vicinity, and that was found under guard reserved for the headquarters mess. The indignant rank and file drove off the guard and helped themselves to the water.
Some of the boys, not knowing of the well, went into the swamp and dipped up the stagnant water there. No wonder there was a large amount of sickness after that time. It did not make me sick, but I felt rather lame when I awoke in the morning.
Next day, August 29th, we arrived on the old battle ground of Bull Run, in time to take part in the second battle of Bull Run. Again we had to fall back, and again we took up the line of march.
The next day we moved at 3 o’clock A. M. and camped at 11 P. M., after a march of twenty eight miles. At Chantilla we met the enemy on September 1st, but after a short engagement again kept on, marching through Georgetown intothe state of Maryland. It was hot weather, and many of the men fell exhausted by the way; but we must not pause, for the enemy was still pressing northward and we must get between him and our own loved homes.
When we reached the South Mountain battle ground, that fierce conflict was over and they were burying the dead. I saw the body of General Reno who was killed in that battle. We had won a victory, but the loss was very heavy, and we had lost the gallant Reno, a serious blow for our cause. The idol of his men, they greatly mourned his loss.
“There was one poor fellow spoke up clear,How he suffered before he died!I am dying boys, but I feel no fear,For I’ve fought by Reno’s side.”
“There was one poor fellow spoke up clear,How he suffered before he died!I am dying boys, but I feel no fear,For I’ve fought by Reno’s side.”
“There was one poor fellow spoke up clear,
How he suffered before he died!
I am dying boys, but I feel no fear,
For I’ve fought by Reno’s side.”