Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, August 14, 1861
Civil War Letter from George F. Meigs
Camp Walker, Washington, D.C.
I am in the 24th Regt. N.Y.S.V. now encamped two miles northwest of the Capitol of Washington. Am well and enjoying myself as well as circumstances will admit. We came into Washington July 3d, having been in barracks at Elmia since May 5th, and have changed camp since here. Our next change will be to move into Virginia, as Regiments are leaving for the lines and beyond every day.
July 21st: We have received orders to march at 3 o'clock P.M. and have packed knapsacks, &c., and am now in readiness to march. Our Regt. is under sealed orders, and we shall not know our destination until we are out of the District of Columbia. Our impression is that we go by rail to Baltimore and thence to Harper's Ferry but cannot tell. Since in Washington, I have visited the Capitol, Smithsonian Institute and White House; have seen "Old Abe." Am sadly disappointed in Washington with the exception of the Public Buildings and a few private residences. There remains but little else than negroes, dogs and poor whites, the buildings bring of a doubtful style of architecture and generally whitewashed.
Arlington Mills, July 24th: We left Camp Walker in Washington July 22d, and marched to Bailey's Corners which is seven miles from Washington, five from Alexandria and about nine from Fairfax, where we lay on our arms, quartered in outbuildings, until the morning of the 24th, when we were ordered back to our present location, which is six miles from Washington.
On Sunday night our Regt. marched to the Arsenal and exchanged muskets for Enfield Rifles, with which they are greatly pleased, and which they highly prize.
On our march to Bailey's, we met full 5000 troops on the retreat from Bull's Run and you cannot imagine a tough looking set as they were; scarred and weather beaten, hatless, shoeless, coatless, without muskets and with them some encouraging us, but more discouraging, yet it mattered little to us as we were bound to go the full extent of our marching orders.
The "Enfield Rifle," is a pretty thing, being sighted from point blank to 900 yds, and sure pop. The ball in motion makes much the same noise as a hummingbird. So much so, that we have commenced calling them by that name.
Arlington Mills, 7 miles beyond Washington, D.C.: We yet remain in Fort (of our own building) Oswego, being situate on the northwest side of the Louden and Hampshire Railroad and still continue the advance guard of our troops on Manassas and Bull Run. Our pickets extend from two to three miles towards and almost each day have collision with pickets of Rebel camps.
As we are now on active service, I think we shall be relieved on 5th inst. and allowed to fall back to Camp Walker, Washington, to recruit our wasted strength, as for about fifteen days we have not had our clothes and hardly our accoutrements off from us, and have been ready to fall back or advance at a moment's warning, night or day. The picket duty has been quite severe, taking as it does fifteen from each company every day. Said pickets' duty being the stations of men in squads of about two every half mile, on all the main highways and byways on the ground between us and the enemy's line, each squad to hold its position for 24 hours, unless driven or called in, having their provision and everything with them and are subject to be court martialed and shot by our own Regt., if found deserting or asleep on post, and are liable to be shot by the enemy. So, between the two fires you will see that in watchfulness only is safety.
I am well and enjoying a soldier's life as well as could be expected. Yet those who come thinking it but a holiday will ere the end be sadly disappointed.
Our rations are either salt pork, junk, or smoked bacon, crackers or bread, coffee, rice and desiccated vegetables, which we cook ourselves. We have only brush shanties and the open air to sleep under, since here (our tents being at Camp Walker) and have been thoroughly soaked through several times, yet are much more free from colds than you would imagine.
In camp we think but little now of being turned out by alarm in the middle of the night, to fall in behind our breast works in readiness for an attack, which we have not as yet had the pleasure of receiving, although our pickets have been fired into as also our skirmishing parties have had several little skirmishes which resulted in the loss of two men in our Regt. and as near as we could learn of several of the Rebels. Yet I think it improbable that we shall at present be attacked, as we are supported by a battery of artillery and in rear by one or two Regts. of infantry between us and Fort Albany, which is distant three miles.
Sunday, Aug. 4th: It seems very little like the Sabbath day. The boys are lying around under their brush shanties; some cooking, some reading, and others writing while not a few are playing cards, all endeavoring to enjoy themselves as best they may, while over us the sun from a clear blue Southern sky is pouring down its heat to the tune of about 120 degrees, with scarcely a breeze to make it endurable. I am lying flat on my rubber blanket, endeavoring to write you a few lines on a desk made upon the end of one of our lint cracker boxes.
In place of going back to "Camp Walker," we shall not fall back more than two or three miles to Arlington House, where we will probably remain until we are wanted in one grand movement, such will, we trust, end this civil war and its consequent evils. Another Regt. will hold our ground, and I think no further advances will be made in this section at present. We are now in Gen'l McClellan's Division, and it is reported that we shall be in a brigade composed of one other two-year Regiment and the balance of United States Regulars. A rumor today says that the two-year men cannot be held only three months by the United States, which would be the result of discharging from service several regiments during the coming month (ours on the 16th) as New York State could have no use for us. Yet I have no objection to serving my country until the present "Muss" is settled, and no wish to be discharged until next spring, and hope they will keep us moving until then, and it is my impression that by that time I shall have got enough of soldiering. Still feel disposed to see the thing through yet may leave my bones on a southern soil.
George F. Meigs
_________________________
Adjutant General Reports
Twenty-Fourth Infantry: Meigs, George F.: Aged, 27 years. Enlisted, May 4, 1861 at Fulton, to serve two years; mustered in as private, Co. E, May 17, 1961; promoted corporal, September 1, 1861; captured, August 30,1862, at Bull Run, Va.; paroled at Columbus, Ohio; mustered out with company May 29, 1863, at Elmira, N.Y., subsequent service in Twenty-fourth Cavalry.
Twenty-Fourth Cavalry: Meigs, George F.: Aged, 30 years. Enlisted, January 4, 1864, to serve three years; appointed sergeant to date January 29, 1864; mustered out as supernumerary, June 26, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va.; prior service in Co. E, twenty-fourth New York Volunteers. Commissioned second lieutenant, June 17, 1865, with rank from April 22, 1865, vice McGraw, promoted; not mustered.
No comments:
Post a Comment