Headquarters Co. B, 2d Mass. Reg't,
Charlestown, Va., March 2, 1862.
I wrote in my last that we had received marching orders and
were liable to be off at any moment. We remained in a state of uncertainty till
Wednesday afternoon, when we had the following order: “Reveille at four
Thursday morning; march at five; take cars from Frederick at seven.”
These orders were complied with on a dark, cloudy, muddy
morning, except that we had to wait till half-past seven on the railroad track
before we started for Sandy Hook. Our whole brigade went on this train. After a
hard ride of about four hours, we arrived at Sandy Hook. We disembarked as soon
as possible, and formed line along the canal. Everything looked as natural as
if we had only left the day before, except the lower part of Harper's Ferry,
which, you know, Colonel Geary destroyed by burning. We marched down to the
ferry, across which there had been a pontoon bridge constructed. We had to
cross this in single file to avoid much jarring. It is a beautiful bridge,
built in this manner: at intervals of every twenty feet are the pontoons, which
look like common flat-bottomed scows, and are connected together by planking
about eight feet wide. The whole arrangement is connected to the shore by a
system of ropes. The bridge must be at least eight hundred and sixty feet long.
After crossing, we marched through Harper's Ferry, which
seemed perfectly full of troops; we went down the Shenandoah road about a mile
and quartered the regiment in some empty houses we found. The weather had
changed since morning, and the night was very cold, with a perfect gale of
wind. Captain Williams, Lieutenant Oakey and myself, found a very good room
which we occupied together. At four o'clock next morning, we were awakened by
the “officer of the day” ordering us to have our men get their breakfasts. As
the regiment was going to move in light marching order at daylight, I got up
and hunted for some coffee. I was lucky enough to find one house pretty well
supplied, and engaged them to make me ten gallons for our company. We were very
fortunate in getting this, as it enabled the men to start off feeling warm and
comfortable, which is a great thing.
At seven, our line was formed, and then we learned that we
were to form part of a reconnoitering force, to consist of four squadrons of
cavalry, four pieces of artillery and two regiments of infantry, the whole
under command of Colonel Gordon. As this was a very good specimen of a
reconnoissance in force, perhaps you would like to know how it was conducted.
First, a few cavalry skirmishers to scour the roads and
fields; then the main body of cavalry; then two pieces of artillery supported
by a company of infantry, followed by two more supported similarly; then on
each side of the road, a platoon of skirmishers covering near a third of a mile
each way; these protect the advance of the main body of infantry; the flanks
are protected by skirmishers deployed as flankers. I had the second platoon of
our company deployed on the left of the road to drive in any pickets that might
be out, or obtain other information; every house we came to, I had a man search
from top to bottom, for arms or anything else that might be hidden in them.
Our cavalry skirmishers met those of the enemy just this
side of Charlestown, and drove them into their main body; our cavalry then came
up at the gallop and sent the enemy flying out of town and a couple of miles
into the countiy, many of them throwing away their arms in their hurry. We
followed along and took quiet possession of the town, probably as thoroughly
secesh a place as any in Virginia. People scowled at us from their windows, but
did not venture much into the streets; those who did seemed almost frightened
to death, every one thinking we were going to burn the town. The guns were put
in position at once, commanding the Winchester roads. The cry was suddenly set
up, “The General is coming!” Ranks were formed and dressed. Presently, Generals
McClellan, Banks, and Hamilton, with their staffs and guards, rode by; we
saluted, and the General took off his cap to us; he is a splendid looking man,
though not much like his pictures. They rode out about two miles and returned.
He was so well satisfied with the movement that he decided to have our force
remain and occupy the town. Most of our regiment are quartered at the Court
House; our company occupies the toll-house of the Charlestown, Berryville and
Winchester turnpike, a short distance from the town, supporting a section of
Hampton's battery; very comfortable quarters.
We were reinforced, Friday night, by two regiments and a
regular battery. That night, our cavalry was several times driven in by the
enemy's cavalry; we lost four horses and three men by these attacks, and
captured one of the enemy. One of the sentinels of our company shot a cavalry
horse through the neck while on picket last night, about a half a mile from our
house; the picket fired three times and drove them back.
The only currency here in town is the Southern shinplaster,
dreadful mean looking stuff; I will send you a five cent bank bill in a day or
two. Coffee costs four dollars a pound here and hard to be had at that. We
shall be off from here in a day or two for Winchester, but I do not believe we
shall have to fire a gun to take it; then for Richmond via Manassas. This is a
little better than sticking in the mud at Frederick. Direct to General Banks'
Division, War Department, Washington.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 36-9
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