Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  Well we come on & on and a scarcity of water. At last long about 10 oclock we come to some camps which we had been told was only a mile ahead ever so many times by the officers and more expically by the Doct who told the stragglers so, so as to make them get along &c. Well at least we came to a dead halt for the road was blocked up and we stoped for near an hour. Oh great was the throngs. I never seen the like. Well we got started, come to the third Wis Regt who were camped by the roadside. They were verry glad to see us and we to see them. They said we were the only Wisconsin boys they had seen in the service. A great many found friends. They had been in the battle and had been out burying their dead that day. They had 180 killed and a great many wounded. They say as many wounded as killed. They have lost half of the Regt in one way and another the two days of the battle.72

  Well at last we camped having come 10 miles, it being now about midnight. We camped as the night before. There is a great deal of talk about the battle &c and all expect to have to go to battle in the morning. We were soon asleep.

  August 12, 1862

  And fine morning. Evryody got up when he pleased. We had roll call after while and all of our Co was there all right. Got breakfast which consisted of coffee & crackers but we soon got some stinking ham which we ate with good relish. We had nothing but crackers & coffee on the march and what the boys foraged. I did not get any of that for I never felt like taking any extra steps. Well we soon got some fresh beef and we lazed around camp all day. And a good deal of complaint about sore feet &c. 6 A.M. come but the rebels have and are retreating. We had inspection of arms by the Captain just to see if they were all clear so as we should not get fooled in time of need. There is a scarcity of water. Ten came and no fighting. Our troops fired a few shot from a battery near the lines to see if the rebels wanted fight but we received no answer so we gave up the thoughts of getting to see the rebels. Not a drum was tapped today or any other music on account of the rebels might hear them thereby telling how many Regts there is here. No guard except wagon guard.

  A great many visitors from the 3rd [Wisconsin] Regt to see their friends. They tell hard stories but true ones though. They have seen several fights but none so hard as the one of the 9th & 10th inst. They were in Banks command with all the fights in the Shenandoah Valley which will always live in history and to such I shall leave it to be recorded.

  August 13, 1862

  And fine day. Lazed in Camp till 3 P.M. when we had dress parade and moved our camp a few rods as also did the other Regt for we were camped verry close togather. Have plenty crackers, coffee & fresh beef. We have a nice camp now. Jackson still retreating so the rumor goes but we cannot tell. We or this division is to be reviewed by General Pope & staff and other Gens in this part of the army. Gen Pope wants to see the western troops so it is said.

  August 14, 1862

  And fine morning. Cleaned up. 9 A.M. came and with it came the order to fall in for to go on inspection.

  August 15, 1862

  And fine day. Got orders to be ready to march at 9 A.M. today but 9 came and the order was countermanded. We laid in camp [all] day. Had dress parade at 6 P.M. and the order was read to be ready to march at 9 A.M. on the morrow. Gen Gibbons being present, he spoke verry highly of the Regt. Also said that Gen Pope said that Our Brigade was the best in the service, the largest & best looking men.

  August 16, 1862

  And fine day. Got ready to march at 9 A.M. as ordered yesterday but we didnt start from our parade ground till about 11 A.M. as we had to wait for the rest of the Division to pass. When we started onward (as we call it) we came southward coming through the recent battlefield which stretched along each side of the road for 1 ½ miles. Oh how bad it smelled. The stench of dead horses of which there was many was intolerable. Seen a great many graves, mostly of our men. We came to within ½ mile of Slaughters Mountain and there camped in line of battle. That is this Brigade and the other Brigades also but in different shapes. Jackson has retreated to the other side of the Rappidan River. We have plenty of water but scarcity of wood if we should stay long for we use up the fences first.

  Camped in a large clover field. Probably will move tomorrow. I ought to write a letter home. We have not had any mail since we left Falmouth. John and I have not put up our hammocks as we are not likely to stay long.

  August 17, 1862

  And fine day. This being Sunday, we had inspection, laid around camp all day. Done nothing but cook and eat such as new corn, apples and berries &c. No mail yet.

  August 18, 1862

  And fine day. Nothing done through the day but the general muster and Army of America is mustered today by order of Lincoln. We were mustered at 9 A.M., then in the evening we got orders to march. But the Regt didnt march till 9 A.M. next morning by a mistake in the Orderly.

  I was detailed to go as the wagon guard. There about 40 from the Regt to guard our own train. Well guard formed, come to wagons on road. Found them all headed to the rear. Here I heard that we were going to retreat which I seen right off. It now being about 6 P.M. evrything is astir. The road full of wagons & now I kind thought that it would be a fight and if so I wouldnt get to see it. But cant help it. Must obey orders. Well we got started, came verry slow all night. The road was clogged full all the [way] and when there was a chance at the roadside, the trains would be six or seaven deep. Move a rod or two then stop and kept on so. We were just coming through Culpepper at daylight being only 7 miles from where we started, being 12 hours coming 7 miles. And in Culpepper, the town was crowded full of trains. Here we found out that the whole army was falling back. And it is said that Jackson is coming against us with 250,000 men that two to our one.

  August 19, 1862

  And still going on in the same way as last night. Oh how sleepy and tired. This going so slow is verry tiresome. About 7 A.M. we came to a small creek. There we found Gen McDowell superintending getting the teams through the mud which was verry deep on each side of the creek. He seemed to be in great haste which confirmed the belief in me that it was a retreat.

  Well we came on and on all the day without even stopping to water or feed the horses. About 4 P.M. we came to the Rappahannock River. Here the railroad crosses the River. I come across on the Bridge. The trains forded it a little way below. We come on about 2 miles & stopped for the night was the order, expecting to have to go on in the morning. Here the news come that the Regt didnt start till 9 this morning and that they were all following. The whole army is on the backward move. Now we have come 17 miles in 24 hours without stopping to even water. Today our troops took an ajjutant Gen from secesh and brought him by the train. It is supposed there is 40 or 50 miles of train on the move today, if they were all in train shape, one wagon after the other and I don’t doubt it.

  My god, I hardly thought there were so many in the United States altogather. Lots of wagons broke down on the road. Some are burned, some are fixed up, just according to the men that boss the trains to give you some idea of the vast number of teams. Our Brigade has just about 100 teams and I suppose that is an average or thereabouts.

  August 20, 1862

  And fine morning, still where we camped. Got breakfast and shortly the Brigade made its appearance so the teams hitched up to accompany their respective Regt to camps. Here they come into the field. 10 A.M. & camped in line of battle, drawed & cooked our rations. 6 P.M. and got orders to march, packed up our knappsacks & loaded them into wagon. Wagon trains started as they did the night before when we retreated to this place. Night and we are not gone yet. The rebels have advanced on our troops and had a fight. Drove our Cavalry in, they making a charge two to our one. There has been some canonading today but with what effect it is not known to me except that some wounded on our side. The rebels seem determined and show out verry bold. I think there will be no general engagement brought on until we have reinforcements. We can hold our chosen position it is thought. The hills on either side of the [river] affording good situations for either party.

  Augu
st 21, 1862

  And fine morning, still in camp or not much of a camp as we have only a blanket apiece. We got breakfast, stayed around camp till near noon when we were ordered to start. & the rebels batteries & ours commenced to play of to the right. The shells of the rebels coming into a field opposite us to the west of us some 80 rods. So the Brigade got under way. We went right through the field with the shells flying over our heads and bursting when they hit the ground some 40 to 60 rods from us. We were under cover of the hilltop along here but presently we turned parallel with the flying shell, they passing to the left of & some right over our heads. But as it happened there was not a man in the Brigade hurt. But they were not shooting at us but at our battery which was planted on the hilltop near the river about a mile distant from us. Don’t know how the rebel batteries were on the other side of River. We come some 80 rods parallel then filed to the right round the corner of a wood which we went along sufficient to admit the whole Brigade under cover of said wood. So we went in to woods, laid there till sundown. The artillery been at work all the time. But now ours has stopped.

  We & the 19th [Indiana] went out. After filing around a point of timber we came in sight of our skirmishers which were firing as usual in skirmish & the rebel artillery still playing. We coming in full sight they commenced shelling us but all went whistling over heads. Verry soon we turned under cover of woods and they played at a battery that was coming across the field just then. But none of the shells hit them. Then just as we stopped, a shell came over the corner of the woods. Here it come, end over end, whistling & hissing and strikes the ground in about 20 feet of our Co & went on angling up the line, bouncing 3 times & landed in the ranks center of the Regt or where the ranks was for they scattered out of ranks, fearing it would burst. No one was hurt. This caused great merriment throughout the Brigade. But the shell didnt burst so we moved of up to the right farther out of shelling distance and there stacked arms, laid down at the foot of our guns which were stacked. The 6th & 2nd have been out skirmishing but have camped near us. So ended the day.

  August 22, 1862

  And a little showery and we are back to the same place as yesterday. This morning just afore daybreak we were ordered up and marched back here. So soon as it was light our batteries opened on them. They answered verry shortly. Here the shell came right towards us but mostly all fell short as they were not firing at us but at our battery on the hill right in front of us. Here we were allowed to build small fires to make coffee. There was some whistled over our heads. One came over & lit in the woods in the rear near a fire where the boys were at work. It hurt nobody. We stoped in the fields today. We changed position several times through the day. Just as the rebels did their batteries so as to keep from under their shells as much as possible. After two or three hours they gradually ceased firing & it then begun to be pretty lively times. Up to the right there they canonaded all the rest of the day and late in the evening there was a brisk musketry fire but with what success we know not. We hear nothing about whether we are successful or not. And there are verry few rumors. We know less than if we were not in the field as we have neither mail nor papers. We made coffee this evening but had to go back in the woods quite a way. We are verry scanty rations and are likely to be.

  Well 5 P.M., rained a little. We camp here to night. Had three small crackers for todays rations. A little showery all night. As soon as dark the canonading ceased. There has been several persons hurt in the Brigade but not seriously. C Manning [Charles Manning], Co C, 2nd Regt,73 an acquaintance of mine come from same town and the Major of the Indiana [regiment] lost his horse by a shell striking it, killing it instantly. So today passed.

  August 23, 1862

  And as soon as daylight our batterys, expicially the one in front of us commenced a vigerous fire. They firing a number of times before the enemy replied when they opened vigerously also. Their shells flying about us rather livelier than usual. We drew two days rations this morning. Some verry fat pork which pleased most of the boys as we had not had any salt meat for a week or so. And I made a frying pan of my plate by putting a split stick on for a handle and was frying my meat away back in the wood when the order was fall [back] for the rebels was shelling us rather closely. When I emerged from the woods, there was two wounded, Lieut Oakly [F.W. Oakley] of Co K & a private of same Co. The privates leg was badly jamed, the Lieut lost one arm, it is thought would kill him. So we move of a little to the right out of range and shortly moved back to the right again. 10 A.M. got orders to march, not known where, but terminated to Warrenton which we reached at dark. Here we heard and that the rebels had been in the town and through up to Catlets Station where our train was and had burned it and taken the guards prisinor. But this proved untrue. But there was 600 secesh cavelry attacked the train but the boys rallied and had quite a fight, drove them off. They burned 4 of Popes [Union General John Pope] headquarter teams and wounded some of the boys. One from our Co it is said. They wounded some secesh, took three prisinors. This all we know about it. There was some sick boys with the train. They rallied and hurled stone at secesh making them feel them. They fought with great desperation.

  August 24, 1862

  Marched down through the town & camped in field near good water. And orders as usual not to go out of camp on no pretence. Here we laid all day, canonading going on as usual, apperantly without ceasing. There was details were made by the Captain to get water & roasting ears so we had plenty of green corn &c. Nothing unusual transpired today.

  August 25, 1862

  And had good nights rest. John had the cholic verry bad last night so that broke me of my rest some. We laid in camp all day canonading going on as usual. We feel quite free today as we were permitted to pull off our accoutriments last night, we not having them off for so long it seems good. Ever since we first went under fire we have had to keep them on. Alphonso Kidd belonging to the Engineer Corps was up today. He brought the news of their corps destroying the RR bridge across the Rappahannock under fire of the Rebels. Our batteries was there, also some siege guns which made the rebels keep back a little until they destroyed the bridge. This was done to keep the Rebels from using it. Our forces is in possession of the place but evrything is burned at the station. This is called Rappahannock Station. The secesh displayed the greatest bravery. They shelled the boys pretty hard but not one was hurt. Our siege guns just riddled the ranks of rebels until they layed down in the tall grass. Then when a shell would light amongst them, a few of them would jump up and run for the woods. They kept the rebels busy carrying of dead & wounded.

  August 26, 1862

  And got to march this morning. We received the orders last night. Well we marched about sunrise coming to the front. We came about 3 ¼ miles then canonading begun not but a little ways in front and heavy skirmishing also. We stoped and loaded our pieces. Battery B [Battery B, Fourth U.S. Artillery], our battery come by and the Sharpshooters belonging to our Brigade. They went by in haste as skirmishers and we turned into the woods and come into field. 19th [Indiana] & our Regt formed line battle and marched up almost a precipice and come into woods a little way, stoped.

  Just as we did this our battery got position about 100 yards to our right around a point of timber on hilltop, commenced plying pretty quick time. The rebels answering vigerously. Verry soon a shell from them took one mans arm off, crippled another, went on over hill to where the horses was. Hit one in head, kill him, went into another and bursted, killing it and wounded two more. Pretty good for rebels but that was all the damage they done us in all day fighting to my knowledge. The sharpshooters keep up a vigerous fire picking off secesh till 4 P.M. when the Rebels started over to our lines with flag of truce.

  Some of our sharpshooters that was distant from their commander kept up a fire on the enemy for a while. It is said that as soon as the flag come out the rebel skirmishers that lay in the grass not far distant from ours all rose up & beat a retreat. Our sharpshooters couldnt stand that. They let them have the conte
nts of their guns. The rebels wanted a little while to pick up their dead & wounded but I guess all they wanted was to relieve their line of skirmishers from their perilous position as our sharpers would fell evry one that showed above the [grass] until the truce. They laying down and our boys got close as they wanted to.

  Well hostilities have ceased for today except picket firing so it is said. Sundown we move up towards our canon and get out of the stench of a dead horse which we have had all day which is intolerable now. There boom goes the canon again over to our right about half mile. We can see it now as we have formed line in edge of the woods. Not allowed to make fire but just at dark one third of Co was detailed to go a mile into hollow to make coffee for the whole Co so we got plenty, went to bed.