http://www.18thmass.com/blog/ Blogging the Civil War en-us Nucleus CMS v3.61 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.18thmass.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.18thmass.com/blog/ http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1269 Note: the 18th continued in camp at White House Landing


A heavy fog and dew enveloped the landscape at first light, but burned off by mid-morning on what turned out to be a warm and pleasant day. With Company inspection scheduled for 4 p.m. and dress parade penciled in an hour later most had a chance to survey the estate Martha Custis Washington had lived on prior to her marriage to the Father of our Country. “It is a splendid plantation and a good landing place for quite large vessels.”

Sutler S.S. Mann was very much in evidence and ready to deal his wares to those from the Regiment willing to pony up their hard earned pay. By 2011 standards Navy Tobacco and molasses were going for the equivalent of $18.40 a pound and gallon respectively, while butter fetched $11.50 per pound. Ginger and sugar were a relative bargain at $4.60 a pound. English herring could be had for an 1862 nickel, or ninety-two cents by current standards, and pig’s feet at 12 cents each would have set us all back $2.21. Everyone's favorite, pie, though not quite like Mother used to lay out on the windowsill to cool, like ginger and sugar, set each man back an 1862 quarter, or equal to $4.60 in today's supermarket bakery section.
]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1269 Thu, 17 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1268 Note: the 18th marches to White House Landing


The day began at four a.m., with a march scheduled to begin at six, but as with previous days there was no movement until hours later. The culprits were the roads which were traffic jammed by wagons and artillery pieces mired to their hubs in the infamous Virginia mud. “No one who is not here can have any idea of the difficulties the Army has to encounter on the march to Richmond.”

The 18th certainly had an idea of the difficulties. In what was called the “worst short march” since leaving Alexandria in March, the Regiment finally halted at White House Landing, after a two mile advance, smack dab in the middle of a large field covered in clover that stood nearly two feet tall. That is before feet trampled “Marse Robert”’s fine, fine clover. And make no mistake this was, in fact, Marse Robert’s clover, and Marse Robert’s plantation, and those 100 slaves standing about shyly gawking were Marse Robert’s; the very same Marse Robert who had forsaken the Union to defend his native Virginia. “Lees house is the only one in sight except a long row of negrow houses on the bank of the river.” It was the second time Robert E. Lee, Sr. had played unwitting host to the Regiment, the first being when they were encamped briefly on his Arlington estate in September 1861.
]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1268 Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1267 Note: the 18th leaves Cumberland Landing, VA


There is a truism in the Army: “Hurry up and wait.” That was certainly the case with the 18th Massachusetts on this date when they were assembled with the First Brigade at 7 a.m. ready to route step their way toward White House Landing. Seven hours later, after being drenched by a soaking rain, they finally got underway. To say progress was slow would have been an understatement. After nearly seven hours, and after having progressed only two miles from their previous camp at Cumberland Landing, troops were mercifully ordered to bivouac for night. There was no rest for twenty of the weary, however. Those twenty were sent back to assist with extracting wagons and teams stuck in the mud over the same two mile stretch of road.

Civilian volunteer Oliver C. Gibbs was anxious to leave West Wareham and return to Virginia, where he felt his assistance was most needed. Although granted no civil authority by Governor Andrew, Gibbs was now armed with a letter of endorsement from Andrew dated May 14th requesting cooperation from George Brinton McClellan and General John E. Wool at Fortress Monroe which would enable Gibbs to fulfill his self-anointed mission.
]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1267 Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1266 Note: the 18th Mass was encamped at Cumberland Landing, VA


The 18th, as it turned out, was now encamped on “bottom land” reportedly owned by Col. Robert E. Lee, Jr., the son of you know who. Officers, who had slept under the stars the night before, but were none the worse for the experience, finally saw the arrival of their tents in wagons hauling baggage and provisions. The tents were raised in the nick of time when a thunderstorm struck the area about two o’clock in the afternoon. No one was complaining as the air temperature lowered to a more tolerable level.

Although the Regiment was under marching orders there was seemingly no rush to push forward toward Richmond, an estimated 25 miles away. Perhaps George Brinton McClellan was content for the peaches, apples, and blackberries, which were in pre-mature abundance everywhere, to ripen to full maturity. No doubt that fruit, when harvested, would have been able to sustain an army for a period of time. It’s unknown if McClellan or Secretary of State William Seward had their eye on those blackberries, but, at the least, they did have their eyes on Fitz-John Porter’s Division whom they reviewed at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

At Boston, civilian volunteer Oliver C. Gibbs filed a report with Governor John Andrew regarding his experiences and observations at Yorktown. Gibbs was pleased to report that most of the infirmed from the Bay State were quartered in buildings converted for hospital use, but also shared his concern that as the weather heated and troops were exposed to the unhealthy climes of Virginia’s swamps the number of sick were certain to increase. Impressed by the fact that some northern States had contracted for hospital ships to convey and provide for their sick and wounded, Gibbs had caught the ear of the Sanitary Commission, who he hoped, in turn, would recommend to Andrew that Massachusetts follow suit. Singling out his visit to the 18th Mass’s camp, where he had “found plenty to do,” Gibbs urged the Governor to send more civilian volunteers, but cautioned the type needed were those “who will not wait at the Fort and Newport News but that will follow our Mass. Regts in the advance… if need be to relieve the sufferings of those who are in arms to put down this rebellion.”
]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1266 Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1263 Note: the 18th breaks camp and moves closer to Richmond


All were roused from sleep by bugles sounding at 3 a.m.. After roll call and breakfast Fitz-John Porter's Division was in full motion by 5, but only made a mile or two when a long halt was called in order to allow another division to pass. By the time the marched resumed the sun was at its zenith and burning hot. To lighten loads overcoats and blankets by the hundreds were simply tossed by the side of the road. Water, too, became an overwhelming concern as there was none to be found with which to replenish canteens. Men dropped by the wayside, felled by the heat and canteens that didn't slosh when shaken side to side.

Bad maps and unfamiliarity with the roads didn't help either. The original estimate that Cumberland Landing lay 12 miles from West Point increased significantly, padded as it was by wrong turns and forced countermarches to correct the errors. Reaching Cumberland after dark, rumor swirled two soldiers in Butterfield's brigade had dropped dead in the middle of the road.
]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1263 Sun, 13 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1262 Note: the 18th remained in camp at West Point, VA


The day passed off with relative quiet in camp. After Company drills in the forenoon most took advantage of the weather by bathing in the river and scrubbing clothes, thereby vastly improving the air quality in the tents.

]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1262 Sat, 12 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1261 Note: the 18th remained in camp at West Point, VA


A fine day weather wise, this Sunday; fine enough for the entire Regiment to undergo a full morning inspection. Shortly after the inspection hurrahs rang out along the line for George Brinton McClellan and staff when they passed in front of the camps before noon.

The hurrahs were not shared by Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson or other Radical Republicans, according to Pvt. Henry B. Paulding of Duxbury. "[They] take [Yorktown] as a defeat instead of a victory, but I think it was a great victory & so does every man in the armey." Paulding also didn't relish the idea of chasing Secesh around the Virginia countryside. "I wish if they are going to show fight they would make a stand some where...It is not very good sport to march [in] this weather with a knapsack on your back."]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1261 Fri, 11 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1260 Note: the Regiment was encamped at West Point, VA


The weather continued warm, warm enough that Private Ray Reynolds of Co. A wrote to his mother not to send him a pair of boots. "The weather is so hot that shoes are the best." Further advise was rendered by Lt. George M. Barnard, Jr. "The Herald (NY) generally has pretty correct accounts and you can rely upon them more than anything else."

George Brinton McClellan's pursuit of the Rebels was becoming slowed. "If the country was only like New England we could move fast enough, but here it is all heavy forest with very narrow roads with big trees felled across and the bridges all torn up to obstruct our advance." Still, as Capt. Joseph Collingwood informed his wife Rebecca, "No obstacle can stop the onward march of the Grand Army of the Potomac."

]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1260 Thu, 10 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1259 Note: the Regiment was encamped at West Point, Virginia


On another dry and pleasant morning four Secesh prisoners were brought into the 18th's camp. "They were rather rough looking" and as they passed they were greeted with shouts of "torpedoes, Yorktown, &c." Fighting men weren't the only thing to fall into Union hands. "Thousands of bushels of corn" raised their handles in surrender as well.

Non-combatants, in the form of runaway slaves, continued to enter Union lines in "two and threes and by the dozen. We don't meddle with them, only to keep them within the lines after they once get in."

The 18th was fairly in the dark surrounding events of the past few days. " We have to read the New York or Philadelphia papers to get the news ourselves." One thing they did know for certain was that in late morning they were ordered to pack up, including the striking of tents. Just before they got underway, those expecting a severe march threw away their overcoats and extra clothing. They could have saved themselves the trouble and the government the expense of replacing the items as camp was moved only a mile and a half further to the front.

]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1259 Wed, 9 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1257 Note: Yorktown disappears into the fleck and foam of the James River


Steamers carrying Fitz-John Porter's Division finally got underway in the morning and traveled 25 to 30 miles upriver dropping troops off at different assigned points, including West Point and White House Landing. The 18th disembarked on the bank of the river opposite to West Point where the day before a brief firefight had erupted between elements of Edwin V. Sumner's advanced Division and backpedaling Confederates. Unsubstantiated rumors circulated as to the cause of death for a number of the Union dead.

For Lieutenant George M. Barnard, Jr. there was no doubt as to their fates. "I am within talking distance of 26 dead soldiers laid out in a barn who were killed yesterday. It was bad enough to see the poor fellows so mangled in the course of fighting but when I saw in addition to the wounds that caused their death, the stabs they received after lying wounded and dead, it was enough to make a Saint mad. Our army is furious."

Volunteers from the 18th were called for to assist in burying the dead and bringing wounded from the battlefield. Private Thomas Mann of Company I recalled, "There was but very few volunteered. I went over and helped them. It was trying to ones nerves to do it..."

]]> Adventures in Research http://www.18thmass.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1257 Tue, 8 May 2012 05:00:00 -0400