CHAPTER XXIII.Hagerstown.—Martinsburg.—A New Campaign.—Return of Colonel Taylor.—Crossing the river at Berlin.—Appearance of the Country.—Loyal Quakers.—Removal of General McClellan.—His Farewell Address.—Causes of his Popularity.
Hagerstown.—Martinsburg.—A New Campaign.—Return of Colonel Taylor.—Crossing the river at Berlin.—Appearance of the Country.—Loyal Quakers.—Removal of General McClellan.—His Farewell Address.—Causes of his Popularity.
Saturday, October 11th, the Thirty-third left the vicinity of Bakersville and encamped near Hagerstown, which is a thriving village of some four thousand inhabitants. It is the county-seat of Washington County, Maryland, which has sent 1,600 men to the war. TheHerald and Torch, a staunch Union paper, is published here, and the people, with but few exceptions, are thoroughly loyal. During the first year of the rebellion a secession sheet was issued, but the people becoming exasperated, compelled the editor to remove to Dixie. When General Lee occupied the place a few weeks since, he returned and coolly taking possession of the Torch Office, resurrected his paper. He was, of course, obliged to retire with the rebel army.
One of the most noticeable features of the place was the numerous bevies of fair maidens, who, in accordance with the southern habit, sallied out, after tea, without shawls or bonnets, on moonlightwalks. These rambles gave rise to many pleasant acquaintances, at least on the part of the soldiers.
There is a daily stage running from Hagerstown to Williamsport and Martinsburg, two other thoroughly loyal places. Martinsburg is situated on the Virginia side, thirteen miles back from the Potomac. When the vote on the ordinance of secession was taken, it gave an overwhelming Union majority, though rebel bayonets were bristling at the polls. Through all the vicissitudes of this unhappy struggle, the people have remained true to their first faith.
On the same day that the Regiment reached its new encampment, General Stuart started on his famous detour round our lines, and Lieutenant-Colonel Corning was despatched with the Thirty-third and Seventy-seventh New York, and two pieces of artillery, to the Cavetown Turnpike bridge. His instructions were to watch vigilantly for the rebel cavalry, and intercept any of them who might return that way from Chambersburg, where they had gone. But, instead of taking the backward track, Stuart kept on round our army, and passing by Frederick, crossed back into Virginia near Edward’s Ferry. This was considered a wonderful feat at the time, but has since been cast into the shade by the operations of General Stoneman.
Saturday, October 18th, the Third Brigade passed through Hagerstown, and arrived at Clear Spring on the following morning. The Thirty-third was immediately stationed along the Potomac to guardNolan’s Ferry, Dam No. 5, the “Fiddle-String,” and various other points on the river and canal. The weather now began to grow cold, and a northeast wind blew much of the time, which occasioned some discomfort to those who were not provided with tents.
On the 27th, the Regiment again proceeded on picket for three days, during which time a company of Maryland cavalry forded the river, and, surprising the rebel pickets, captured several of them.
Six weeks had how elapsed since the battle of Antietam, during which time our army had been posted along the Potomac for the distance of twenty miles or more, guarding the various fords and recuperating their energies for another campaign. The rebels, in the meantime, having harvested all the rich cereals of the Shenandoah Valley, and destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, began to fall back to the interior of the State. This retrograde movement commenced during the third week of October. General McClellan immediately detected it, and prepared for an advance. Instead of following directly after the enemy, he decided upon marching down the Loudon Valley, lying parallel with the Shenandoah, and separated from it by the Blue Ridge; the army to proceed in two columns, one, consisting of the troops around Harper’s Ferry, to march along the southern base of the Blue Ridge; the other, comprising those about Williamsport, Sharpsburg, and in Pleasant Valley, to cross the river at Berlin, and pursuing the various turnpikes,unite with the first in the vicinity of Warrenton, about forty miles from the Potomac.
Friday, October 24th, a detachment of the Fiftieth New York, Engineers, under Major Spaulding, was sent to Berlin, six miles below Harper’s Ferry, and constructed a bridge 1,500 feet long, consisting of sixty pontoons. On the following Tuesday, October 28th, General Franklin’s Corps received marching orders. The next day the Third Brigade took up the line of march, and was joined at Shafer’s farm, on Thursday, by the Thirty-third, which had returned from picket duty. Proceeding through Boonsboro and Turner’s Gap, the Regiment reached Berlin on Saturday, where it was joined by Colonel Taylor and Lieutenant Corning, returned from recruiting service. Colonel Taylor had been very successful in his labors, having secured more than two hundred new men, who were sent on at Hagerstown.
Troops were converging at this point from all directions, waiting for their turn to cross over into Dixie, and long trains of ammunition and supplies extended back into the country for miles. At sunset, on the evening of the 2d of November, the army commenced crossing. The crescent moon shone brightly over the heights of Loudon, and, seemingly far up in the heavens, a red signal light glimmered on the summit of the neighboring mountain. Scattered along the Maryland hillsides for miles, were camp fires, lighting up the picturesque scenery and shimmering on the clear and sparkling watersof the Potomac. Seated at one of them was the brave General Reynolds, since killed at the battle of Gettysburg, dressed in a turban and loose gown, conversing with his staff. The cries of boatmen, coming up from below with supplies, were mingled with the clatter of horses’ hoofs, whose riders galloped down the tow-path from Pleasant Valley with dispatches for the various Corps Commanders. The occasional booming of a gun could be heard in the west, indicating that our cavalry were in proximity to the enemy.
Crossing at Berlin.
Crossing at Berlin.
All night long a steady stream of men poured over, cheering lustily as they reached the opposite shore. The Thirty-third marched over the bridge about six o’clock in the morning (Monday), and passing through Lovettsville, encamped about ten miles from the river. The route lay through a mostfertile and productive region, which had not been ravaged by either army, and the boys, with Stuart’s raid fresh in their minds,foragedon an unparalleled scale. Unmindful of Gen. McClellan’s order against “jayhawking,” they scoured over the adjoining farms, and from every direction were heard, through the stillness of the night, the piercing wail of expiring pork, the plaintive lowing of stricken bovine, or suppressed cry of unfortunate gallinaceous. No details of guards were made to protect the rebel inhabitants, as was the case on the Peninsula, and the next day found many of the men mounted upon horses and loaded down with booty of every description. Not far from this camp was the scene of Lieutenant-Colonel McVicar’s brilliant exploit, where, a few days before, he had gallantly led a charge upon the enemy. He rode far in advance of the charging party, captured several prisoners, and, in addition to having his horse shot under him, received five bullets through his clothing. One of the captured horses was presented to him by the commander of the expedition, and since his death has been sent home to his widow at Rochester.
Tuesday we resumed the march at daylight, and proceeding fifteen miles, near by a Quaker settlement, encamped beyond Union. With hardly an exception, these Friends have remained staunch Unionists, and, what is more, have not hesitated to proclaim their anti-slavery sentiments when the rebel minions have been all around them.
Mr. Yardly Taylor, the leading man in the society,is widely known among the Quakers of the Northern States. He possessed a magnificent estate, beautified with groves, arbors, gravel walks, and gardens abounding in every variety of exotics. We found him a very genial, affable gentleman, upwards of 60 years of age, and willing to do anything for the Federal soldiers. This Union settlement was like an oasis in the desert of rebellion.
The road from Union to Philamount presented numerous evidences of the severe cavalry fights which had taken place between Gens. Pleasanton and Stuart. There were also several Federal and Rebel wounded scattered among the farm-houses. A few fresh graves were likewise observed. We remained in camp until two o’clock, Wednesday afternoon, and then marched five miles to a point, where the various columns of the army could be seen, extending up and down the valley for many miles, and presenting a fine spectacle. Heavy cannonading was heard all day from the front.
Thursday we marched seven miles more. As we proceeded further into Virginia, the country grew very desolate, exhibiting all the ravages and evils of war. Gens. Geary and Blenker with his German Division, had both been through here in the spring, and the rebel army had since come along and destroyed what they left. It seemed as though the hand of the destroying angel had swept over the land, withering as it went.
Owing, however, to the absence of nearly all the men in the army, the game in this region had notbeen hunted down, and was found in abundance. The fur, fin and feather tribes held almost undisputed sway in the forests and streams.
Friday we marched at 6 A. M., and arriving at White Plains, waited for supplies. A dreary snowstorm prevailed all day, covering the ground to the depth of several inches. Many of the men, who had imprudently thrown away their overcoats or blankets, suffered severely from the cold.
The intelligence received on Saturday, that Gen. McClellan had been removed, added still more to the gloom. The order for his removal reached his headquarters at Rectortown, a small village to the right of White Plains, about 11 o’clock on the previous evening. Gen. Gorman and several members of his staff were present at the time. He continued conversing in a cheerful manner, and was apparently the least affected one of the number. Gen. Burnside, to whom the command was turned over, soon made his appearance, and spent the greater portion of the night in consultation with him, after which Gen. McClellan penned the following farewell address to his troops:
Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Rectortown, Va., November 7th, 1862.Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac:An order of the President devolves upon Major General Burnside the command of this army. In parting from you I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear you. As an army, you have grownup under my care. In you I have never found doubt or coldness. The battles you have fought under my command, will probably live in our nation’s history. The glory you have achieved; our marches, perils and fatigues; the graves of our comrades fallen in battle and by disease; the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness have disabled; the strongest associations which exist among men, unite us still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting the Constitution of our country, and the nationality of its people.GEORGE B. McCLELLAN,Major-General United States Army.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Rectortown, Va., November 7th, 1862.
Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac:
An order of the President devolves upon Major General Burnside the command of this army. In parting from you I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear you. As an army, you have grownup under my care. In you I have never found doubt or coldness. The battles you have fought under my command, will probably live in our nation’s history. The glory you have achieved; our marches, perils and fatigues; the graves of our comrades fallen in battle and by disease; the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness have disabled; the strongest associations which exist among men, unite us still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting the Constitution of our country, and the nationality of its people.
GEORGE B. McCLELLAN,Major-General United States Army.
On the Sunday evening following, he gave an informal reception at his tent, where several hours were spent in conversation. Upon one of the guests remarking to him, “General, we shall see you back again in a fortnight,” he replied, “If I never return to the Army of the Potomac, may I live to write its history. It is a task to which I shall devote myself.”
To another he remarked, “I feel as if the Army of the Potomac belonged to me. It is mine. I feel that its officers are my brothers, its soldiers my children. This separation is like a forcible divorce of husband and wife.” Of his successor, he said: “Burnside is the best and honestest of men. He is no Mr. Pope, he will do a great deal better than you expect.” Monday he rode among the troops, accompanied by a large retinue, and took an affectionate adieu of all of them. History fails to present, if we except the parting of Napoleon from his soldiers, soaffecting and imposing a spectacle as was this farewell of Gen. McClellan to the army, whose leader he had been for eighteen months. After visiting the troops at Warrenton and vicinity, he rode out to New Baltimore, where Smith’s Division had arrived. The various Regiments were drawn up in line, with bright uniforms and burnished arms, and as their late Chief passed slowly before them, rent the air with cheers. It was a great ovation, shrouded in the gloom of a funeral occasion.
Gen. McClellan’s connection with the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac was ended, but nothing could sever the bonds of friendship and affection which united him to them. To many the secret of this great popularity has ever been a mystery. It arose from a variety of causes. It is rarely the case that a Regiment does not become attached to its Colonel, a Brigade to its Brigadier, and a Division or Corps to its Major-General. In the same manner the army became attached to its commander. Long connection increases this attachment, and General McClellan had been associated with these soldiers for nearly a year and a half.
Gen. McClellan possessed a physique and address calculated to excite admiration. Indeed, it was proverbial in the army that no one could doff his hat so gracefully as “Little Mac.” In addition to being Napoleonic in his appearance, he was Napoleonic in his speeches and orders, which equally won their hearts. He was likewise free from that boasting spirit which had made Pope so unpopular.
He visited frequently among his troops—an important means of winning popularity. His Generals, appointed and promoted through his influence, thoroughly infused a McClellan element into their commands. An army of Generals bear very much the same relation to their Chief that office-holders do to the head of their party. By maintaining him in his position, they ensure their own, and in promoting his interests, they promote themselves. Especially is this true under a Democratic form of Government, where politics exert such an undue influence in the army.
Gen. McClellan’s troops were, furthermore, of the opinion that his plans had been interfered with by the Washington authorities, and promised reinforcements withheld at the very moment he most needed them. Finally, they believed that he could lead them to victory.
When we speak of this enthusiasm for General McClellan, we do not, however, imply that it was universal. Not only Burnside, but his whole Ninth Army Corps, began to question his military capacity, when he failed to “push the enemy to the wall,” on the day succeeding the battle of Antietam. The troops who had previously been attached to the Department of Virginia proper, as well as the new levies, were to a certain extent indifferent as to who might be their leader.