by mvanders
Camp 20th Maine Vols., Beverly Ford Va.
Dear Brother N.
Once more upon the Rappahannock! after much marching, considerable fighting and some chasing “Rebels” we have got back to, and are now encamped on the banks of the same river that we were on before we started. […]
Holman Melcher to his brother, Nathaniel Melcher [Holman Melcher Papers]
by mvanders
Still in camp. Orders to have muster at 8 o’clock. Muster roll called by Lt. Col. Jones. Have now on our rolls 98 enlisted men.
by mvanders
Still in camp. Weather warm—the same kind of weather as last year on this date when we marched to Cedar Mountain where we fought & whipped Pope and his hirelings. Nothing new, not even a camp rumor.
by mvanders
Moved camp this morning. Roads very bad. Worried horses a great deal. Moved toward Gordonsville near where Camp Wheat was last year. Think it can not be long before we have another fight. Hope it will be soon for we need horses & harness. Also the boys want to get some clothes. On Col. Magruders farm.
by mvanders
War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington.
General Orders, No. 274. … Officers’ servants are expected to carry rations for their officers and themselves. Those of mounted officers are expected to be mounted, and to be able to carry small forage for their animals. Long forage must be sought for in the country.
By increasing the ordinary meat ration, and levying contributions of flour and meal in the country passed over, the bread and small rations carried as above by the soldier may be made to last from 20 to 25 days. In the proper season, the bread ration may be partially dispensed with by substituting green corn, (which can be foraged in the fields).
Movable columns in the field should be furnished with hand and horse mills for grinding the grain which they procure in the country. […]
Orders [Charles O. Hunt Letters and Personal Recollections]
by mvanders
Scene in the House of Commons [From the Court Journal]
The honorable and learned member for Westminster, Sir De Lacy Evans, who has fought Many brilliant battles in Spain, and who invaded the Crimea without loss of life or limb, measured his full length on the floor of the House of Commons, the other evening, in a very distressing and undignified manner. The honorable and gallant gentleman was passing in front of the Treasury Bench, when his spurs got entangled, some way or other, in the long legs of the Right Honorable F. Peel, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and the result was that he lost his balance and sprawled over the feet of the whole Cabinet! Lord Palmerston most fortunately managed to get his legs out of the way in time, and escaped disaster, but Mr. Milner Gibson and the Chancellor of the Exchequer were sadly spurred although they good-naturedly picked up the member for Westminster and set him upright. Mr. Frederick Peel rubbed his shins, as well he might—an operation which occasioned no small amount of amusement to the occupants of the Treasury Bench opposite. For the future, it is clear that Sir De Lacy must either abandon the use of spurs in the House of Commons, or Mr. Frederick Peel must keep his legs out of the way. The former, we scarcely say, is far more easy of accomplishment than the latter.
Boston Daily Advertiser, August 6, 1863 [Historic Newspaper Collection]
by mvanders
Aug. 6th. Well the mail came in last night & nothing from you, so I will finish this & send it out by the morning mail. We are going to draw soft bread today, which will be a very acceptable change. We have got one of the best company grounds that I ever saw, espetially [sic] the Collor [sic] Guard & Head Quarters; it is right on a little knoll with second growth of hard pine, just thin enough to make it a cool & shady place. It is almost too good a place, & we are in hot water all of the time for fear that we shall hear that old bugle sound the call to strike tents.
There is a detail of 100 men from the regt now doing guard & fatigue duty on the Orange & Alexandria R.R. It is the same with all of the regt in this brigade.
And now, Brother, I wish to make a proposition; hereafter I am going to write to you regularly once a fortnight. I want you to do the same by me. I will not write any more now. You see what a blunder I made on the 2nd page, it is something I never [have] done before; and you must excuse it because it was your Brother E. C.
by mvanders
Camp 20th Me, near Pa
My Dear Brother:
I have waited long enough for a letter from you, I am going to write myself: – we moved from camp near [Warren] day before yesterday and here we are in camp to remain until the first of September to recruit up and wait for “Conscripts;” there has I commissioner officers if men gone from each regt in this corp; and we shall expect that soon.
There is not much going on now of interest; it is very hot weather now, and a thundershower everyday; if you would like cool and shady place, it is almost too good a place and we are in hot water all of the time for fear that we shall hear that old bugle sound the call to “strike tents.” […]
by mvanders
Remained in camp all afternoon. […] Drew 10 days rations.
by mvanders
Rockville
To J.L. Chamberlain, Dear Sir
Your very kind and gentlemanly letter was received to night and on behalf of all our family, friends, we deem it a very great kindness, that you, a total stranger, should send us tidings, of so precious and yet so sad a moment.
We have never heard from my brother, since that terrible batter at G–g. and have long since mourned him as dead, and it will be a kindness the memory of which death only can efface, if you will forward the book to C.H. Towne Esq. Rockville, Ct.
Very Respectfully, M.S.Morse.
M.S. Morse to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain [Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Collection]
