in Bivouac At Bunker Hill, July 16, 1861.
We paused last evening, on our march toward Winchester, and
lay down on the side of a hill in a pine grove. Late Sunday evening, at
Martinsburg, the order came to be in readiness to march at five o'clock the
next morning. No intimation whither. We had reveillé at three o'clock, packed wagons, breakfasted,
formed the battalion, and then came our marching orders. The whole command of
General Patterson commenced its movement at five. The march was without
incident. We found our place in column at about eight o'clock, and moved on
till three, when we reached Bunker Hill. There was firing by our advanced
guard, who drove fifteen hundred of the enemy's cavalry before them. We came
upon their deserted camp. The movement was steady but slow. From the high
ground, and in turnings of the road, the sight was a fine one. Our regiment
excited universal admiration. It is already considered the regiment of
the whole command. My horse works beautifully, and keeps perfectly well. I have
great comfort in him. When one is twelve hours in saddle, it makes a difference
what the saddle is on. The camp-ground assigned us was the one we now occupy.
It is very much exposed, and in advance of the main body. On taking possession
of it, we found every indication of recent occupation, and find that the Rebels
occupied it night before last. The men lay right down to rest. I continued upon
duty, under direction of the Colonel, till five o'clock in the afternoon. Then,
a man who lived near by invited us to tea with him. Our wagons were back in the
interminable train, and we had given up all hope of them till late. The man
spoke strongly of Union, &c. We accepted his offer, and went down to his
farm-house and ate our bacon and eggs in the midst of his pickaninnies and
slaves. The poor man could not speak of the American flag without choking. He
said the other army had pressed their horses and food, &c., and given them
nothing in return but receipts of the Southern Confederacy, and “there ain't
any Southern Confederacy,” said he. Still the prevailing tone here is
secession. We lay down at night under the trees. I posted a picket-guard
outside the lines, and, after attending to other duties, was right glad to go
to sleep.
Our men are toughening to it slowly, but their knapsacks still
pull heavily at them.
To-day we have been resting the men, and having
skirmish-drill in the wheat-fields. One of our companies is off on picket duty,
three miles down the road towards Winchester. We had a call this morning from
Major Doubleday. His battery is the terror of the enemy. He got out his map,
and we studied the localities. He talked very agreeably about Sumter, &c.
We have just received (four P. M., Tuesday) our orders for the advance upon
Winchester. A very good place is assigned us. The impression is that the
advance forms part of a grand concerted movement, and that to-morrow will be a
decisive day in the history of the campaign. I hope for a big, worthy battle,
one that means something and decides something. And I hope to have strength,
courage, and wisdom to do my duty in it. I never felt happier or more earnest
than for the last few days, and I never realized more fully the best
significance of life. I have always had a dream and theory about the virtues
that are called out by war. I have nothing to say of the supply which I
can furnish, but I am vividly impressed with the demand. The calling
needs a whole man; and it exacts very much from him. Self gets thrown into the
background. It straggles out of the column, and is picked up, if at all, very
late, by the rear-guard. I am writing this letter upon an empty case of
cartridges, which were distributed this morning, sitting under an oak-tree back
of the lines by the side of the Colonel, who has just returned from a
conference with Colonel Abercrombie, and who is full of the duties of
to-morrow. Good by, and God bless you. Love to all.
If anything should happen to me, remember that I meant to do
my duty.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and
Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 49-50
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