.MjMyMQ.MzY5Ng
File: mss.94.G56.001.pdf
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Camp near Harrisons Landing Va August 9th 1862
Dear Father
I received your your letter about two weeks ago and was glad to hear that you was well. I joined the army on the 23rd of November last and was made sergeant at once by Maj HB Clitz commanding so that I have never done a private soldiers duty and of course escaped much hard work we stopped at Fort Hamilton till the 5th of March we then went to Washington and encamped East of the city stopped there till the tenth the crossed into Virginia and marched to within about two miles of Fairfax Court House from here we marched to within a short distance of Alexandria stopped here nearly two weeks and took steamer to Fortress Monroe encamped near Hampton for a week from there marched to Big Bethel stayed there one night directly in front of the earthworks the next day went on to a city of log barracks stopped here a week and then marched to camp Winfield Scott here we built roads & earthworks in front of the enemy after the evacuation we stopped nearly a week and then started for Richmond our company was with the baggage the roads were dreadful and between Yorktown and WmsBurgh we left about two wagon loads to lighten the trains and I was left with 10 men and a corporeal to take care of it this was
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Saturday on Monday got transportation on a train going to West Point we missed the regiment and went to the point stayed here two days and then got on board of a canal boat and was towed to Cumberland the Pamunkey river is as crooked as the maps make it to be at Cumberland rejoined the regiment after a week absence I had this advantage I had rode the whol distance that the rest had walked the next day marched to White House stayed here over Sunday and then went to Tunstalls Station stopped there till Wednesday then marched about noon this was the hardest days march that I have ever experienced it was extremely hot and had no rest on the road the next day marched to Cold Harbor reaching there about 9 AM in afternoon went on picket about 4 miles North of camp and stopped there till the next night on Monday forenoon marched to camp Lovell near New Bridge and stopped here till the battle of Gaines Mills nearly five weeks here we built some roads went out to the battle of Hanover court House but was not engaged in it went on picket at the bridges over the Chickahominy here for the first time saw the rebels under arms one day the pickets fired at us and we returned it none of our men were hurt there
river above the
there was seven bridge built above the ^ RR Bridge but 4 of them were never used but destroyed with all the pontoon train on the 25th of June our brigade (the 1st of Gen Sykes division commanded by Lieut Col Buchanan 4th Infantry) marched to within 7 miles of Hanover Court House stayed all night the next morning returned to camp
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drew 3 days rations struck our tents (which are made of painted cloth 6 feet long and 4 wide two being put together a soldier carries one of them and the two sleep together) packed our knapsacks placed them in a pile and marched about 1½ miles towards Mechicsville a sharp engagement was going on and we supposed that the advance on Richmond was about to take place the next morning returned to camp early the Commissary of the division destroyed all the stores on hand and there was an immense quantity sutlers tents and all other property that could be of use to the enemy was destroyed we marched about two miles to the East and took up our position in a corn field near the road leading to White House here we made coffee and had breakfast about 11 AM the enemys artillery opened fire we were commanded to lay down the shell shot and grape
in our
passed over us for two hours our batteries being ^ rear a short distance about 12 the rebel Infantry advanced through the woods on the 5th & 10 NYV on our left after a few rounds our men charged and drove them back this was repeated shortly after the 10th capturing a rebel flag the enemy now brought a battery to bear so that the 5th had to change their position leaving their knapachs on the field but their skirmishing kept the enemy in the woods they now advance along the whole front and we made a general charge on them but they fell back being covered by the woods which extended along our whole front it was now about 4 PM [?] division arrived from over the river and relieved the regiments on our left the new arrivals kept up a random fire for about two hours but as the enemy again
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advanced they fell back the enemy now appeared in the woods in our front and at the first fire the 14th on our right ran away we were laying down to allow the artillery to fire grape into the woods over our heads the enemy now being pretty near and the balls whistling lively over our heads we were ordered to rise which we did and fired the Major seeing that we were flanked and likely to be cut off by the others falling back gave the order to fall back which we did to the road here the Maj was wounded and being without a Captain fit to take command the regiment got in confusion and a fresh regiment of rebels having marched in in the rear of our old position opened fire on us we fell back a short distance father by a battery here we reformed but most of the men had stragled away to the rear or been taken prisoners we remained here till after dark several fresh regiments that went out broke and fell back at the first fire leaving us still in front the battery now falling back we went with it we had two men killed in going a short distance by a solid shot the firing now ceased or nearly so there being a ravine in our front the enemy did not think [?] to cross it in all we had fell back about half a mile in 8 hours about 10 wounded to the rear the 69th Meaghers brigade taking our place we crossed the Chickahominy about 2 and slept till morning the next day there was about 250 missing (but [?] 100 of them [joined?] sinc) we were in line of battle all the afternoon and shortly before sundown started for James river near Savages Station we found our knapsacks each one of us took one I did not get mine and lost the one that I did get the next day it rained most of the night we marched [str...?] White Oak swamp sleeping a few minutes by the side of the road in the morning the enemy attacked our pickets in front and here
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we were in line of battle all day in the hot sun and were alarmed 6 or 8 times in the night early in the morning started again for James river stacked arms once in a wheat field McClellan rode by here we soon resumed the march and reached a road leading to Richmond
brigade
our [bg?] & [C?] were detached here for picket till the next regiment[crossed out] came up we stopped here till about 4 PM no relief came in the mean time the enemy had opened with artillery from the woods which this road entered firing f[crossed out] both on the right and left of us a strong body of troops came out again from towards the river and there was a hard fight in White Oak swamp near the place that we had left in the morning being of no further use in our present position we rejoined our regiment about a mile nearer the river near a battery that had been engaged in the artillery duell the gunboats fired for the first time in this fight their shells made a fearful noise in the air and crashing among the trees slept some to night but without any cover. Tuesday July 1st artillery commenced firing about 8 and continued till nearly noon was renewed again about 2 and an infantry attack about a mile from our position about an hour before sun down we were ordered to meet an attempt of the enemy to advance through a hollow on the left of our main body we went through the field of tangled grass and a wheat field partly cut [?] the enemy fell back as we advanced and Gen Sykes placed us in position to [prevent?]
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a renewal of the attempt the main battle raged to the right and about an eighth of a mile to the front our fire was terible nothing could have stood before it about 10 it ceased we slept on the field all night the wounded were moved to the rear and in the morning ours was the only brigade in sight we stopped till about 8 it having rained about 2 hours everything being ready we fell back the bridges were destroyed and trees felled to prevent the cavalry following us here I saw one Napoleon gun abandoned the axle was broke also a cassion but the ammunition was thrown in the water after going 3 or 4 miles the half knee deep we were relieved and went to camp 4 or 5 miles farther made a bed of rails [brushes?] & a painted cloth and slept sound the first for nearly a week the next morning some shells were fired into camp but the guns were captured we then came here and have remained since I do not think that the location is healthy I received a letter from Caroline yesterday she was well and one from Sarah we have had some fireing one night but you will see a good account in the papers I shall try and get a commission if possible but our Major was wounded and paroled so that there is no one here that I will apply to but will write to New York soon. I am acting as Commissary sergeant at present and have no drills Parades or insptections to attend I have now to draw provisions for two days there is nothing more to write about a present so good by Augustus C Goldin
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Thursday July 3 the enemy fired two shells into our camp about 9 AM all the troop were turned out but made no advance in afternoon marched a short distance and encamped all my goods consisted of the clothes I had on and one painted blanket 4ft by 6 the rest was lost but we were soon supplied with clothes on the 4th of July I was appointed acting commissary sergeant and Sept 1st was appointed full commissary sergeant we remained here for six weeks there was several reviews one by the President our division was reviewed about two hours after dark it is said that the President was much pleased with what he saw. There was not much excitement in this camp we were paid four month of the six months pay due and one night the rebels paid us the compliment of sending over a few shells from the south bank of the river our camp being 1½ miles from the landing but few struck around us. In the fore part of August orders were read about baggage the Officers were to have not tents but shelter tents and to carry no trunks or boxes it seemed as if something was in the wind on the 10th an order came to send all knapsacks on board of transports at the landing things now began to look as if the time for action had arrived. Thursday night the 14th we loaded our wagons now reduced to 3 and started about 10 PM it being moonlight we traveled all the night and the next day till 2 PM when after crossing the Chickahominy we camped for the night. The route lay through Charles City Court House at least
it
I was through ^ the records are all destroyed and I should think would make great trouble the bridge over the river was quite a structure it was built with 95 pontoons or scows placed about 25 ft
as
from centres making it about 2400 feet long and it was so[crossed out] straight as an arrow. Saturday morning we started at day light, laying
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in
on one side of the road was the body of a slave that had been shot ^ the night attempting to escape to the rebels. We marched through Wms
in the spring
Burgh (since leaving this place I had not seen a village of over six houses) and encamped among the earthworks which had been partly defended
same
by the rebels in their retreat we were now on the ^ road the we had advanced over three months before a victorious army. Sunday we marched to and past Yorktown camp W Scott and encamped near Big Bethel the roads that in the spring had been almost impassable were now quite good as the old familiar places came in view it seemed as if though
ground and
we were on old ^ some would point out a trench or breast work that they had worked on during the siege the 8th NY [?] were playing soldier here. On Monday we marched to Newport News reaching there shortly after noon here we stayed till Wednesday. Laying but a short distance from the wharf is the wreck of the Cumberland her masts are rigging still standing on Wednesday we embarked on the Steamer [Kers?] the 11th Infantry was also on board imagine 800 men on board of that vessel two days and nights we stopped at Fortress Monroe the first night the next night in the mouth of the Potomac and landed at Aquia creek at noon, here we took the cars to Fredericksburgh, stopped on the North bank of the river, on Saturday we started to join Gen Pope, made about 8 miles, Sunday after going 5 or 6 miles returned 2 and were drawn up in line of battle expecting an attack, the next day made about one mile, Tuesday & Wednesday reached Warrenton Junction Thursday marched to the north side of Broad Run Friday to Manassas Junction here our men took the line of the Manassas Gap R Road toward Bull Run but were not in action till the next day the result of which is well known it is the slowness of our movements that is the cause of Gen Porters being ordered to Washington for trial Gen Pope claiming that if he had followed orders Jackson would have been defeated on Friday and Lee on Saturday. Being in Centerville with our wagon train on Saturday afternoon I started out on horseback to issue rations
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as soon as darkness would stop the battle for a mile or two there was no one on the road but then we would meet the wounded coming in some with arms gone some with sabre cuts after crossing Bull Run at the Stone bridge so called the road became so crowded that it was useless to try to get farther so halted for a spell the crowd of men wagons & artillery going to the rear was immense it being evident that the army was retreating we returned to the train, on the road found Gen Franklins Corps drawn up and their artillery planted and farther back the troops of Sumner, during the night our division marched to Centerville, Sunday morning it seemed as if all was lost, it being the last day of August we were mustered under fire the second time, after issuing rations the wagons were ordered to Alexandria about 25 miles, we started at 10 it rained part of the day half a mile from Centerville Gen McDowell was sitting under a tree and a small guard was stopping straglers we reached A shortly after midnight we remained here till Tuesday night the train then started for Fort Corcoran and Wednesday morning joined the command at [Halls?] Hill at Bull Run we had one Captain killed how many men it never could be told as quite a number skedaddled we remained in this camp till Saturday night then crossed Chain bridge so called marched to Tennely town and on Sunday to Rockville we stopped here till Thursday morning then marched through a fine country till Saturday night brought us to Frederic City quite
14
a very little town Sunday Sep 17[crossed out]th crossed the first range of mountains and came in sight of the battle of South Mountain near enough to hear the artillery but not small arms Monday night crossed South Mountain and Tuesday morning was about ½ mile from Antietam creek here issued rations to the men while doing so the rebels opened fire on our train and it had to be take farther to the rear losing two mules in the movement. There was but little fire on Tuesday
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but Wednesday morning a fire of artillery was opened that fairly shook the earth and continued most of the day Porters Corps was stationed in the centre but made no advance their fire being entirely from artillery our regiment lost one killed and a few wounded after dark the Brigade QMaster sent out a wagon with a load of pork for our brigade and I was with it on the roads we met long rows of ambulances bringing in the wounded the road was rough & stoney and their groans were enough to make any one sick of war Thursday nothing was done on our side we could see the enemys skirmishers but under a flag of truce our men were kept back the next morning the enemy was across the river. On Friday I walked over a mile or two of the battle field our dead were chiefly burried here and there you could see a man dressed in blue the rebels lay in heaps there was a lane that was sunk about two feet below the level of the field this was almost filled with dead and they lay in every direction they were swolen to twice their natural size and were black in the face an presented a disgusting sight I see that some writters make a distinction between our men and the rebels in regard to their [turning?] but I could see no difference, there was one grave marked with the name of Capt Craig Matly 10th [?] regt under this it said 42 dead rebels in this hole arms lay around by the thousand. On Saturday the 20th our division encamped opposite the ford each regiment was on picket once in six days till we left. President Lincoln reviewed us here the men were furnished with clothes and on the 31st of October we marched again through Cramptons Gap and to Harpers Ferry then to Snickers Gap our division held that point 3 days then marched to White Planes from there here reaching here on last Sunday the next day Gen McClellan left and Wednesday Gen Porter. In my next will give you more particulars this is rather longer
Remember me to all enquiring friends
than I expected to write Yours Truely Augustus C Goldin
1st Batt 12th Inf USA
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[Marginalia at top]
A [R? or B?] Cohaskey Nov. 28.
Head Quarters 1st Batt 12th Infantry camp near Warrenton Va November 15th 1862
Friend Sturgess
Having promised when last in Fairfield, to write to you will do so now, although it has been long delayed and I will commence with our departure from Fort Hamilton. On the fifth of March, our battalion marched from the barracks and went on board of the steamer John Potter which conveyed us to Amboy, there we took the cars and reached Camden about dark, crossed the river, were entertained in the old cooper shop, and left about 9 O clock for Baltimore, which place was reached the next morning about 11 AM, here we marched about two miles through the streets to the Washington cars and reached that place at 4 PM, here we stayed in a building known as the soldiers rest. To give you a good idea of it image a building large enough for 800 men to lay down on the floor and you have it I stayed in it but one night being a guard the next about 3 miles away with wagons well on the 8th (Saturday) we encamped 2 miles East of the Capital Monday morning we were called at 4 O clock and ordered to be ready to march leaving our tents one blanket, and all extra clothing which would be sent to us (and that was the last that we saw of it) we marched at noon at dark they gave us painted blankets in Washington and then we crossed long bridge it being the first time I had put my feet on the sacred soil the next day we marched to within 2 miles of Fairfax Court House and here commenced living in shelter tents on Saturday started before daylight to march back to Alexandria through a hard rain stopped at camp California here hardship commenced, some did not pitch their tents till night and then had to stay
day
out till morning we remained here till the 26th of March on that ^ marched to Alexandria and went on board of the steamer Georgia, to go to Fortress Monroe. I should have said that our regiment was in Gen Sykes brigade While at camp California I saw a review of Gen McDowels Corps [?] at Fairfax Seminary. We arrived at Fortress Monroe on 28th and then encamped near Hampton, and but a short distance from the James river, here we stopped till the 4th of April, we were quite busy drilling principaly double quick, could get no postage stamps here and was out of money. We marched on the 4th to Big Bethel, and encamped direcly in front of the earthworks, that Gen Pierce attempted to capture nearly a year before. I might give some description but the best one is that it looks ugly to approach with determined men behind the breastworks aided by a few good cannons. The next morning we marched but made but little headway as is rained and there was thousands of others on the road at dark we reached a camp called I believe by the Rebels, camp Marion, at all events there was quite a city of Pine houses shingled with staves and chimneys built of wood lined with clay the wagons did not arrive till the next day Sunday, and then had to go to Ship Point for provisions and did not return till we were nearly starved out. Here the utmost vigalence was taken so to be prepared for any emergency, arms and ammunition being inspected daily and five roll calls per day. There was snow fell on the 10th. Heard in this camp of the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Saturday April 12th marched to camp Winfield Scott here strict orders were given that no noise should be made, nor a bugle or drum sounded, so that we had silenced for the space of 3 weeks, our camp was on a fine plain East of Wormley creek near Gen McClellans Head Quarters, alongside of the road to Ship Point our principal occupation here was to drill build roads and dig ditches sometimes quite near the enemys works, on these expeditions started after dark and worked with loaded muskets laying near, one night a picket wounded a dog near us. On the 30th of April we were mustered by Maj Clitz there was now 4 months pay due us the paymaster had been in camp and payed regiments on both sides of us, and we felt quite slighted but there was no remedy, greenbacks, were sour grapes. Two days before the evacuation
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the rebels treated us with a few shells from a large gun one of them passed over
did
our camp and struck near where I was washing a shirt, but they ^ done no damage and the gun soon exploded and stopped their fun, this was Friday, on Sunday morning, there
the
was a rumor in camp that the rebels had left; it soon changed to a certainty, for, ^ music struck up and that confirmed it. Some part of the army marched the same and
hear
next day on Monday afternoon we could ^ the Artillery near WmBurgh. Friday May 9th we struck our tents and took up the line of march for Richmond Co G was detailed for bagage guard we passed over or through the worst roads that I had ever seen 3 of the wagons had to be unloaded to get them out of bad places we made about 7 miles by 10 O clock PM, and then stopped for the night, the next morning part of the load was taken out of the wagons and left in my charge, with a corporeal and 10 men, we stopped here two days then getting put[struck out] the bagage on board of a passing train was taken to West Point from here up the Pamunkey to Cumberland Landing, and joined the regiment having been absent one week. The day after joining we marched to the White House stopped till Monday, then marched to Tunstalls Station on the Richmond & York River Rail Road. While at this place the 5th Army Corps was formed and our brigade made a division by the addition of the 1st Connecticut Volunteers the 3rd 4th 12th & 14th Regts being the 1st brigade commanded by Lieut Col R C Buchanan, the 2nd 10th 11th & 17th being the second commanded by Maj Chapman (now by Maj Lovell) the third the 5th & 10th NYV & the 1st Conn Vol commanded by Col now Gen Warrin (this brigade is now composed entirely of NY troops) May 21st and 22nd marched to Cold Harbor here went on picket for the first time about four miles from camp but did not see the enemy 26th marched to camp Lovell near New Bridge, our camp was about one mile from Dr Gaines house here we were engaged in the expedition that took Hanover Court House but were not in action at the battle of Fair Oaks our division were under arms and marched out to the river but there was no bridge and they did not cross after this we furnished pickets at the bridges that were built about the Rail Road and working parties to build roads we had quite an excitement about Stuarts raid to Tunstalls and were out once to meet him but he was some were else so things passed along till the 25th of June on that day our brigade started 10 AM and marched to within 7 miles of Hanover Court House had pickets out that night the next day returned reaching camp before noon three days rations were issued and we were ordered to strike our tents which we did. On our first arrival in camp Lovell orders were read informing us that a great and decisive battle was at hand and that each man should have 60 rounds of ammunition and that no wagons would cross the Chickahominy till after the battle was decided this was repeated again shortly after the battle of Fair Oaks and it now seemed as if the great move for which the country had waited so long was about to take place. Having completed our preperations we started shortly before
from camp
sundown on the road to Mechanicsville about 1 mile ^ here[struck out] we were drawn up in like of battle on both sides of the road there was now heavy firing in front and it was kept up long after dark but is approached no nearer us, here we spent the night at early daylight we got up and returned to our camp now deserted by all except a few sutlers here our men appropriated what goods the sutlers had burnt
tents
their ^ and a large stock of commissary stores and then marched 3 miles in a South East direction here we took the position that we occupied in the Battle of Gaines Mill the battle is should have borne in mind was fought principaly by Porters Corps the attack on the right were we were posted commenced at 11 AM with artillery on the part of the enemy and was replied to by ours in about half an hour more their infantry having advanced they opened fire on the 5th & 10th NY Volunteers
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stationed on our left about a ¼ of a mile after a few voleys the Zouaves charged and drove the enemy back but did not follow there being woods in front shortly after this was repeated, this time the NY troops captured the colors of a rebel regiment the enemy having brought a battery to bear on the position of the Zouaves through a ravine that[struck out] had[struck out] in which they were posted they had to change their front the rebel skirmishers now avanced on our front but as we were laying down behind a small hill we were protected from their fire but unfortunately for them the Zouaves picked off every man that advanced from under cover of the woods they being armed partly with Sharps rifles. We now advanced over the hill and after 2 or 3 volleys charged down on the enemy in the edge of a small Pine wood but they fell back we now retired back up the hill in doing so lost some men by a solid shot going through the ranks in the advance we lost quite a number we now took up a position in front of a small piece of wood the battle on the left still raged, and on the right with artillery, about two hours before sundown Gen Slocums division came over the river to reinforce as they relieved the troops on our left one regiment in particular I noticed carried on a heavy fire but fired over the
be
brow of a hill with so much elevation that the balls would ^ spent before they reached the ground things were going on this way an hour then the enemy made an advance in great force everything on our left gave way and the one reg’t on our right fell back to the road still we received no command (we were laying down) Maj Clitz soon ordered us to rise and we fired but seeing that we should soon be cut off from the main body the order was given to fall back to the road, which we did at a double quick in executing this movement our Major one Captain & 3 Lieutenants were wounded and on Lieut killed the enemy were now pressing us hard in front and on both flanks and there was no support so we fell back still farther and supported a battery some fresh regiments now came up but they stood but one fire and then ran leaving us still in front we remained here till dark the battery was then withdrawn and we went with it some of our men were killed in this movement crossing the fire of a rebel battery we were now near a house used for a hospital here for the first time we saw the Irish brigade the firing now ceased as it was so dark that you could not tell Friend from foe. After remaining here about half an hour we were marched down near the river here we made coffee and had scarcely laid down before a fresh order came to cross the river which we did over Woodburys bridge and Stacked arms in Gen McClellans old quarters and got about 3 hours sleep I was up early and got a canteen of water and cooked some breakfast. We soon ascertained that our forces had all crossed the river and that the bridges were being destroyed at noon we were again in line of battle expecting the enemy to attempt a crossing but he did not come one hour before sundown we were withdrawn and marched to Savages Station near which we found our knapsacks that had been taken in wagons from the field before the battle began that is we found some one’s it being dark I lost the one that I took the next day it was now 9 PM and raining we started to march through White Oak swamp having hardly slept for three nights before been in battle nearly all day Friday you may judge of our state well we marched 4 hours then halted no sooner did the men sit down than they were asleep we were alarmed once by some cavalry passing but slept a few hours started again at daylight the men were sufferring for water we shortly reached a brook here we halted for half an hour and eat some crackers and bacon and again resumed the march we had gone but a short distance before we reached a turn in the road and heard a smart fire of musketry we were soon in line of battle and remained so all day at night we attempted to sleep but were alarmed by the pickets fireing and were again in line I slept but little more the wagon train was thundering by all night added to the expectations of an attack kept me awake prepared to meet the enemy but they did not come. In the morning Monday Jun 30 we marched for Malvern Hills
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it was but a few miles but the men suffered much for want of water. I saw one canteen sold for one dollar but I managed to get a drink at a brook, on reaching a road leading to Richmond Company’s C & G were detached for picket duty, to be relieved by the next brigade that came along the main body were posted under a large tree in a field were the battle of Malvern Hills was fought the next day here we remained till 4 PM the enemy had opened a heavy fire from the woods and our artillery was replying, our captain thinking that there was no farther use for us withdrew the pickets and started to find the regiment our road lay throug quite a heavy fire but as cannon balls are more likely to miss than hit you we all escaped and joined the command. This was muster day and the command was mustered under fire we slept some this night after hearing that Heintzleman had driven the enemy back. Tuesday July 1st Clear morning the ball soon opened with artillery from both sides and it was quite warm in our neighborhood part of the time. I wrote a letter to send home this morning but had no chance to send it till after reaching Harrisons Landing. In the afternoon the rebels having evidently exausted their amuniton for large guns advanced their Infantry the reception that they met is a matter of history it was utterly useless to
the
attempt to advance against ^ murderous fire of our forces. Our division had been assigned to protect the batteries and left flank but as the battle progressed it was found that our right did not protect some batteries and that the enemy were advanceing through the ravine, to remedy this the 12th & 14th regulars were ordered to advance through this ravine and drive the enemy back this we did they falling back as fast as we advanced, our course was through a clover field which was as tangled as clover ever was and there was numerous small ditches and some large ones I made up my mind that it would be bad place to retreat better push ahead we soon cleared this and came into a wheat field the enemy having evidently given up his idea in this direction we marched by the right flank till our right lay near the forces engaged in front it was now dark our men and the 14th were ordered to lay down we soon heard in front of us the well known command forward guide centre this move was to capture a battery directly behind us as soon as they approached near enough to be seen (our men being hid by the nature of the ground) we poured into them a deadly fire which they did not return but left and we were not disturbed again the battle was now raging in front it seemed as if the cannon kept up a continual fire and added to this was the fire of thousands of muskets nothing could be seen except by the flashes of the powder by 10 O clock the fire fell of and soon ceased all together and the docters and attendents commenced to gather the wounded and dressed[ed crossed out] their wounds. I being well tired lay down on the ground and slept most of the night we were aroused before daylight to be prepared in case of a suden attack but none was made when it was light enough to see I was surprised to find that our brigade was the only troops left on the field what would we be about (2000) two thousand of us if the enemy advanced in force but there we were and must make the best of our regiment was marched to a field on the right of the road here a company was sent out as skirmishers and we sat down it soon commenced to rain, and took it, for two hours the commenced falling back we soon reached the position that we had occupied the day before and found that all of the artillery troops and wagons were gone leaving us the sole possesors of the field and we soon left going down a hill that must have been steep in good weather and was doubly so now at the foot of this hill we came on the road it was from ankle to half knee deep with mud we soon reached a small creek here there was men standing with axes to cut away the bridge and some had trees half cut off to fall accross the road to delay the enemy in case he followed shortly after crossing we were drawn up and a battery planted but we were relieved and marched for the landing here we stopped in a field with mud to our ankles but making a bed with a few rails and bushes slept well till morning
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Camp near Stafford Court House Va November 29th 1862
Dear Father
I received your letter at Sharpsburg a few days after the battle of Anteitam. You probably know from the papers of the route that wee[last e crossed out] took from Harrisions Landing our division was the first that started after reaching Aquia creek we took the RR to Falmouth thence along the [S written over by N]orth bank of the Rappohanack to Bealton Station on the A & Orange RR thence to Warrenton Junction Mannassas Junction & Centervill Alexandria Washington Rockvill Frederick City leaving the last place on the 14th of Sep the next night crossed South Mountain the road was strewn with the dead of the battle of Sunday Tuesday there was but a little firing but on Wednesday the 17 the roar of Artillery was almost incessent and the continual discharge of musketry resembled the noise of a thousand wagons but night at length closed the scene the roads that night were crowded with ambulances bringing off the wounded the 5th Crops to which we belong was not[crossed out] but slightly engaged on Friday I went over the right of the field for about 2 miles our dead were nearly all buried but on some portions of the field the enemys dead lay in heaps in one lane the ground was completely covered with their dead and all the building around Sharpsburg were filled with the wounded most of the houses in Sharpsburg were riddled with our shot
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and shell we encamped near the ford till the 30th of October then started first to Harper Ferry Snickersvill White Plains on the Manassas Gap RR then to Warrenton here we heard that Gen McClellan was removed from there to the Junction encamping for the night about 1/8 of a mile from the place that we stopped on in August from there continued the march till we reached this place last Sunday we are 1 mile from the RR and about 8 from Aquia Creek Gen Butterfield is now in command of this Corps Gen Porter having been removed and Gen Hooker commanding a grand division We have been expecting an attack on Fredericksburgh for some time but nothing is now doing the cars are running to Falmouth. My health is quite good since leaving the landing my present weight is 180 lbs I have no more to say at present.
From Your Son Augusta C Goldin 1st Batt 12th Inf USA
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Camp near Potomac Creek Va June 3d 1863 Friend Sturgess I will take up my story at the same place I left off at Warrenton Nov 12th troops turned out to take leave of Gen Fitz John Porter he having been releived from the command of the 5th Corps he and Lieut Col Buchanan commanding our brigade had a long talk they appeared to be old friends, Gen Hooker was now placed in command of the corps. Sunday Nov 16 orders issued making three grand divisions of the army the 2d & 9th Corps the right grand division commanded by Maj Gen E V Sumner, the 1st & 6th Corps the left grand division commanded by Maj Gen Wm B Franklin the 3d & 5th corps the centre grand division commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker the 11th corps under Gen Seigel being the reserve. Gen Butterfield now took command of the 5th corps Nov 17th .Our grand division
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being the rear guard of the army in its change of base to Fredericksburgh, the wagon train preceeded it on the march reaching Warrenton Junction at sundown we encamped about ¼ of a mile from the camp of the 27th of August the troops arrived shortly after, it now commenced to rain which was unpleasant as it was dark and no wood near to get poles to “pitch tents” with; large quantities of grain & hard bread had been brought out by the cars and lay along the track. Nov 18th marched early in the direction of Fredericks- burgh the roads were bad in many places we made but little headway. Gen Hooker passed in an ambulance not having recovered from the wound received at Anteitam, about dark parked our train in a plowed field, the troops encamped near by, some rain fell during the night, Nov 19th moved early but stopped about noon near Hartwood Church, some
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rain during the day and night. Nov. 20th rainy day remained in camp Nov 21st Pleasant day Nov 22nd Saturday general call sounded struck our tents and started when the wagons had gone about ¼ of a mile were ordered to turn around again and we pitched tents, two hours after the call went again we started and made 5 or 6 miles and encamped for the night. Nov. 23rd Sunday revellie before daylight marched about five miles and found ourselves near the Henry House so called on the South bank of Potomac Creek 1½ miles from the Rail Road and here we encamped and sent our teams to Belle Plain for provisions and forage, nothing of much interest occurred from this time till the 11th of December except some reviews by Gen Hooker whose Head Quarters where at the Henry House it was supposed that we were waiting for pontoons to build bridges if so they took
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time enough to make them. Dec 11th Thursday Revellie at 4 O’clock A.M. wagons loaded and ready to march at daylight, when the troops started in the direction of Falmouth at the same time the artillery opened along the river the fireing soon became heavy, when about one mile from Falmouth we halted our train after waiting some time
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we turned around and parked (our train in a plowed field the mud was quite deep we remained here till nearly dark then received orders to take the wagons to the command had nearly reached there over bad roads, stumps etc when the order was countermanded except for the supply train which proceeded we issued one day’s rations we then returned to the woods near the field spoken of above and slept for the night after we had made some coffee, Dec 12th artillery fire still continued ascertained that the
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bridges were completed and that the town was in our possession troops were crossing and preperations were being made to drive the enemy from the works in the rear of the town Saturday Dec 13th 1862. The artillery fire commenced early and was soon followed by long ceasless roars of Musketry to realize this sound you must hear it no description can do it justice nothing but the excitment and poor aim prevents one regiment from utterly destroying any each other, about 2 P.M. Sykes division received orders to cross the river up to this time they had been lying in rear of Falmouth out of range of the guns of the enemy at this time the sight was grand in rear of Fredericksburgh, our men had made many attempts to carry the works but without success, on the left Gen Franklin appeared to be having a hard fight the clouds of smoke told the vast amount of powder that was being expended
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in the endeavor to drive and get in the rear of their position on the plain near the Lacy House our division was marching to the bridge under the fire of the enemy’s artillery, reaching the bridge they had to halt and remain for some time exposed to this fire and lost some men they crossed however before dark the other brigades 2d & 3d however did not cross till in the night our men were soon moved to the front and releived other troops on pickett their position was close to the enemy’s works they were so close to the enemy that they were obliged to ly down to hide themselves they continued here all day Sunday the 14th ; if a man only raised his head he would get a bullet through it or close by which would be warning enough to keep quiet for a time some of our men getting in a factory picked off the rebel gunners and prevented them from
