Camp Near Sharpsbitrgh, Md.,
November 2, 1862.
You see at once that our position is changed, although we
are still on the Maryland side of the river. The orders we received at the time
of my last letter were countermanded the next day, and another corps was sent
across the river. Everything remained as usual for several days; Wednesday, I
was sent on picket with my company up the canal to guard a length of three miles
of the river. It was a beautiful October day, and I enjoyed the scenery along
the Potomac very much; the trees on both sides were very brilliant. If it had
not been for the existing animosity between us and our Southern brethren, I
could have had some capital shooting, as the river was full of ducks.
About eight o'clock, P. M., the field officer of the day
paid me a visit and informed me that I was instantly to draw in my men; that
our brigade had received marching orders and probably had already started. This
was interesting, but no time was to be lost. It was after nine when I left my
post, and after ten when I reached the old camp ground. The regiment was gone,
but one of the surgeons who was left with the hospital told me that the brigade
had moved towards Sharpsburgh about two hours before. I was relieved at once by
this information, for I knew I could find them there. After a little
deliberation, I made up my mind that it was best to spend the night where I
was. The men found no difficulty in making themselves tolerably comfortable in
the skeletons of their old houses with the aid of good fires. I borrowed a
blanket of the sutler and lay down on some straw on one of our old tent floors.
Towards three o'clock in the morning, I woke up with awfully cold feet and
amused myself till daylight making a roaring great fire, burning up our old
bedsteads and other furniture.
Soon after daylight, I started with my command; after
between two and three hours' pretty smart marching over a splendid road through
a fine country, I came up with the brigade bivouacking by the side of the road.
Very soon, we marched again to our present camp, where we relieved some regular
regiments of Sykes' brigade which were on picket here. Our camp is in a
beautiful open wood about five hundred yards from the river; we are on a sort
of a perpetual outpost duty. Our regiment guards the principal ford (running
for three-quarters of a mile along the river). This takes a hundred per day for
the actual guard; the remainder of the regiment acts as a reserve. The rebel
cavalry pickets are on the other side within talking distance. They seem to be
peaceably inclined, and I trust the murderous practice of picket firing will
not be begun on either side. It would make the duty dangerous and uncomfortable;
now we can ride along the tow path within pistol shot of the enemy without
feeling any anxiety.
McClellan is probably pushing southward with his army. We
have heard pretty heavy and rapid cannonading to-day in the distance. I wish
now that we were with the army; if the main body of it is going through a
winter campaign, I want to be with it. We shall not stay here if our forces
occupy Winchester and the intermediate points, I feel sure.
Yesterday I had a mighty pleasant call from Major Curtis and
a friend of his from Boston, Mr. Edward Flint; they took dinner with us and we
had a very pleasant time talking over old experiences. I rode back with them to
the place where Major Curtis is on picket with a part of his regiment, six
miles above us. I took tea there and rode home by moonlight. I lost my way
about three miles from here, among an endless number of wagon tracks, paths,
etc., so I threw my rein on my horse's neck and she brought me across the
fields in almost a bee line to our camp.
I don't know whether I mentioned, in any of my last letters,
that we had heard, the day we were at McClellan's headquarters, that Major
Curtis had been mentioned as having distinguished himself on the reconnoissance
towards Martinsburgh, where he had command of the cavalry.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 101-3
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