POOLESVILLE, July 1, 1863.
On Friday night at half past ten, I got orders to report
next day to General Slocum. As I had to get in my patrols from a space of over
thirty miles and had besides to reduce the baggage of the Regiment from eight
wagons to two, I didn't start till 8.30 the next morning, made a comfortable
march of twenty-five miles, reported as ordered, and went quietly into bivouac
for the night, as I supposed. But about 11 came two despatches from General Heintzelman,
one ordering me to remain at Poolesville, or to return if I had left, the other
notifying me that General Halleck sent the same order. I was considerably
disturbed, and telegraphed at once to General Hooker and to General Heintzelman
and notified General Slocum. In the morning, 4 o'clock, I got order from
General Hooker to report to General French, and from French to report
immediately; also orders from Heintzelman to take no orders that did not come
through his, Heintzelman's, Headquarters. This was embarrassing, but I decided
with much reluctance to obey Heintzelman, as he was backed by Halleck, though I
was sorely tempted to stay with Hooker in the Army of the Potomac. So I moved
down the Potomac about fifty-seven miles, and, when I reached the mouth of the
Monocacy, met some of my wagons with the news that the rebels in strong force
had crossed the Potomac at the very ford I was especially to watch; that there
had been no picket there at all, and no notice had gone either to Washington or
to Hooker till nearly twelve hours after the crossing. Of course I was
troubled, expecting that I should be made the scapegoat, although I was only to
blame for having been unmilitary enough to express a wish to General Hooker to
serve in a more active place and to leave the “all quiet along the Potomac” to
some poorer regiment. I had no forage, but fortunately had rations in the
wagons, which I issued, and started in pursuit.1 I made excellent
time and was far ahead on the Washington side, of any other troops. It was in
an interval of pursuit, after two nights without much sleep, that I wrote that
disagreeable pencil note. We did a good deal of hard marching Monday and
Tuesday, but captured a lieutenant and four privates, and managed to keep
Heintzelman pretty well informed of the movements of the Rebels who were in
large force (Stuart with three brigades and Wade Hampton's legion), but I was
still anxious lest I should be placed in arrest for leaving my post without
orders from proper authority, — as not a word had I heard from Heintzelman, —
and was very much relieved yesterday afternoon, when a despatch arrived stating
that the General Commanding was gratified with my activity, and ordering me
back to Poolesville as before. So back I have come, making a march of over
thirty miles after 5 o'clock last evening, and reaching here in just the
condition to enjoy amazingly the six hours of balmy languor which I have
indulged in, — and then at length came the wagons and a general refreshment and
reorganization of toilette. . . .
Wars are bad, but there are many things far worse. I believe
more in “keeping gunpowder dry” than you do, but am quite convinced that we are
likely to suffer a great deal before the end of this.
_______________
1 Colonel Lowell, in a report to headquarters at
Washington during this pursuit, telling that the enemy are apparently out of
reach, unless driven back towards him by Hooker's cavalry, cheerfully ends
thus: “Rations are out to-day,
but I can manage, if you have any information that they are likely to return
this way. Shall wait here for orders from you.”
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 268-70, 428-9
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