Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  Most of the Regt has signed & the major made us a speech, a verry Patriotic one. I think when we come to start there will be many more go along. They cant stand the Pressure. I can’t anyway. This going home & getting a furlough and getting the Big Bounty and more than all this, we will belong to the Veteran Corps and have the Badge of Honor to wear. And the honor of belonging to the Veteran Corps is something. Taking it all togather I must go and the more effect it will have on the war will be as good as a hard Battle and perhaps many Battles. Just think the old troops going in again after having such hard times, it shows our hearts are in the work. The thought will make the Rebels tremble.

  October 7, 1863

  And rather stormy. Just at night set in & rained verry hard. The excitement continues unabated about the reenlisting. There are a few that try to put a damper on the thing. But I guess they will fail. The Boys generally want to go. Some of the Boys have been back to Camp. They say the 6th [Wisconsin] and 2nd [Wisconsin] don’t go into it so strong as we do. They are between a Hawk and a Buzzard about it. I want to go the more I think about it. Going in under the same officers is what just suits me. Our Co officers are good and well liked in the Co. There are some to be sure that don’t like them. But evrybody has their enemies. This carrying 8 days rations has played out. Our ration wagon come out today. We were glad to see it for we wanted some Pork verry bad.

  October 9, 1863

  And fine day. We were relieved today by 19th Ind [Indiana] and come back to camp. We carried a lot of boards back and fixed up our tent good, raised it about 18 inches which makes it verry nice.

  October 10, 1863

  And fine day. We had to get up last night to draw rations, 5 days which makes 8 days so we have to act commisary now. We got orders and marched at 8 A.M. Went out to where we were on duty supporting the Pickets. There we layed down. Now we think we are going across the River shortly. But it didnt come. We lay around till 2 P.M. when we went into camp, got dinner, drew Beef, got supper, expecting to march every minute. But the impression now is that we are going to retreat. John & I boils our beef, Jake being detailed to go on Picket when we went into camp.

  8 P.M. we are ordered to pack up & the few teams that are here are going to the rear. We now think it’s a retreat. We lay around till 9 P.M. when we are ordered up, start to the rear. We hear our Brigade is to go in the rear which proved to be so. We traveled along slowly to near Stephensburg when we camped. It being after midnight we lay down till 3 when we were ordered up and started on our march. Ordered back after a few taking a few steps. So we sit around & get breakfast.

  Come daylight & still don’t start. We get early dinner, 12N & start. March along good jog when we see away off to the right about a mile our cavelry forming to fight the Rebel cavelry. Boom goes the cannon of both. Then we see a great smoke & a few shots. Now they are fighting hard. We can’t see them they being just over the hill. But the quantity of smoke tells us old veterans that they are fighting hard. As we rise on higher ground going through the town we see our cavelry coming back and forming. This is all done while we was going ½ mile. We come through the town, find another Battery posted to the right on the hill. We travel on Briskly. The constant cannonading doing a great deal to keep many from straggling.

  We leave the main road to the right, taking the road to Kellys Ford. We come briskly till the head of the column reached Mountain Run where we stacked arms and waited for about a division to cross, they having a sort of a Bridge made & run across 1,2 & 3 at a time. But when our Brigade come to it, we plunged right in and in 15 minutes the whole Brigrade was across where it took long for a Regt of those Yankees to cross. We come briskly to Rappahannock, cross on Pontoon Bridge just below the fort. We being the last of the corps, it is said that only our corps is on this road.118

  It appears to me that the whole army is falling back to the Defences of the Rappahannock. We find cannon in the forts to defend the Bridge. We come out about half mile & camped. Tis dark, we get supper, go to bed without pitching tents. Last night the same, laying on our tents. There has been constant firing of cannon all the time and just as we cross, it appears to be just up the River near Railroad Bridge. Tis said here that our forces burned the Bridge. The Boys are verry tired, some having rued that they joined the Veteran Corps. But I don’t for I looked for this & even worse if it could be worse. It isnt the distance we marched, but the laying around for 2 days and 1 night. Tis more tiresome that marching 20 miles each day and having good nights sleep. I look for worse times than this. Glad twas no worse.

  The Boys was glad when they got across the River for we were in a bad fix if attacked while on the other side & I must admit that I lay down to sleep feeling more safe and as though I might sleep all night. Many of the Boys expressed themselves in this way. I am glad I have got into America again and begun to whistle &c.

  October 12, 1863

  And fine day. We lay around all day nothing of importance transpired. About 2 P.M. most of us pitched tents to get a shade & if all well to stay to sleep in them which we did till about 12 oclock that night.

  October 13, 1863

  And fine day. We marched at 1 oclock this morning. We marched till we reached Warrenton Junction. We got here about 10 A.M. & got breakfast and layed till about 2 P.M. when we marched and came to Bristol. Reached here about 10 P.M., we camped. There is lots of troops on the road and the roads and fields are full of wagons, cattle and Batteries, all on the retreat. But is all goes on orderly. No confusion. There is some truble in crossing the creek. We got over them dry. But the wagons and Batteries got across slowly. But I guess all right. I think the Rebs won’t get much although they follow close. But our cavelry keeps them at bay. We hear all day at intervals some canonading. Evrybody appears to think we will be enough for them when we get as far as we want to go. We will turn around and fight them. From appearances we will fall back as far as Centerville.

  October 14, 1863 [Battle of Bristoe Station]

  And fine day. We were awoke at 4 AM this morning. Drew rations, ordered to march. But the Adjutant General thought we might have time to get our breakfast. He thought. But there was no order to that effect. But do as we choose about [it]. They all & I with them put in and got it. Had plenty of time. We drew 4 days rations which makes us 8 days still on hand. About 5 we marched. And marched along pretty lively to Centerville. Coming by Manassas Junction and crossing Bull Run Creek at Blackburns Ford, the same place as last summer. We waded right through, never stoping to pull off shoes. But this morning soon after starting, we crossed Broad Run. This is quite a stream. Here the officers told us to pitch in and get across the best way we could and would form on the other side, which we done verry quickly in half the time we could [have] done any other way. We reached Centerville about 1 P.M. & took position on the left of the Corps which had formed line of Battle on the heights here. We seem to be forming to act on the defensive until all our trains get by. They have been going rapidly. The constant cannonading to be heard some 8 or 10 miles off. But not heavy say overall a shot evry 5 minutes hurries things. Great many reports about things. Both our losses & gains, none of them to be credited. We got dinner about 2 P.M. Heavy canonading begins and going upon the little hill in front, looking away across the valley some 10 miles to a ridge, we see the smoke & hear the noise of a number of guns and from the appearance of the smoke, we conclude there is some infantry engaged. But probably nothing but cavelry.

  3 P.M. The fight now is going on which appears to be more than an ordinary skirmish and is interesting the officers some. It is watched with intense interest. They are seen to shift position but we can’t tell which side it is.

  4 P.M. And still they fight. Evrybody is beginning to think we may be called on.

  5 P.M. & fight is over & said to be in our favor. The excitement, what little there was, has cooled down.

  6 P.M. And a few shots is heard in the direction of the Battlefield. We commence to get supper. The teams still go back and some are being park
ed just over the hill. The Boys begin to pitch tents thinking we will stay here all night. I go after some tent poles, John & Jake getting supper. We draw fresh beef. When I get back I found all ready to move. But twas only ¼ mile to the right & rear to get into some Rebel Brestworks. Those that were cooking supper stayed to finish it. John was amongst them and after we got here, Jake went back to help John bring the supper which soon came and we ate with a good relish.

  Pitched tent, went to bed, it now being about 9 P.M. There has been a few shots since dark. I was verry unfortunate today. I lost all the meat we all had. We had it in a bag and carried it in turns & I forgot to pick it up when starting after resting.119

  October 15, 1863

  Rather stormy but not bad. Light showers. Appearances of a great storm soon. Nothing unusual transpired last night. We lay behind the brestworks till about 4 P.M. when we ordered to get ready and march. Just before we marched, there was some firing twixt the Rebs and our men at long range. We marched about 1 mile to the right and took position behind good Brestworks. Looks like we will have a stormy night. Got supper and pitched tent, went to bed with orders to keep our cartridge boxes where we could get hold of them at a minutes warning in case we should be attacked. We can see 1 line if not 2 lines of battle about 1 mile in front. The fight yesterday turned out to be all in our favor. Took 5 pieces of artillery, 450 prisinors.120

  October 16, 1863

  And stormy day, heavy showers all day at intervals of an hour or so. Just after dark verry hard shower with heavy wind. This evening we drew Beef and John & I bought some so we have plenty of meat, which we need verry bad especially in bad weather. In cold stormy weather we can eat a third more meat. We fixed up our Brestworks some and made some new on our right. We, I guess, are ready for the Rebs. But I think they will never attack us here, for this is an open field for a mile in front our Brigade. We feel quite safe here.

  Gen. [Solomon] Meredith come back today. He was wounded at Gettysburg. Has not been with us since. He made the Boys a speech. They had gathered around his headquarters to see him.

  October 17, 1863

  And fine day. The sun shone out bright. Fine time for those that got their blankets wet to dry them. But we kept ours dry. We drew 5 days rations more today and considerable extra to make up for our losses and waste, which we have from carrying them so many days. No fighting today. From the papers we hear all is right. We lost comparitively nothing in our retreat & worsted the enemy evry time they engaged our forces. General Mead is too much for Lee this time. Lee was 3 or 4 hours too late to get into the rear of Mead. As they say, he was just in time to be to late. Evrybody has great confidence in Mead.

  October 18, 1863

  And fine day. We got orders this morning to be up & ready to march at 5 A.M. We got ready and waited most all day for the order to march. But didn’t come. But about 3 P.M. we got orders to pitch tents which we done. And nothing transpired the rest of the day.

  October 19, 1863

  And stormy till about 10 A.M. when it cleared off. The sun come out warm and twas a pleasant afternoon. We got the same orders this morning as yesterday morning. But we fulfilled them this time. A little after daylight we marched taking the Warrenton Pike, come to Haymarket, we come by Gainesville and the old Battlefield. We got here. By the roadside see many graves, one with the head out. We camped near Haymarket. Most of our Regt went out on picket, out on the Warranton Pike. Here we can hear fighting twixt our & the Rebel cavelry. 25 of us were posted as a reserve, I with them. The Picket line was soon formed. Fighting continued all the time, sometimes verry fierce, some artillery firing and lots of small arms.121

  A man comes down the road post haste. Our sentinel that was posted on the road stops him. He wants to know where our corps headquarters are. Sentinel tell him. He orders his orderly to go tell Gen. [John] Newton that our cavelry is hard pushed & one Brigade cut off. So he goes off. We still hear hard fighting, it being only 1 ½ [mile] away. Our cavelry falling back, takes position near us on a hill. Some wounded goes by. Good many riderless horses, their riders, many of them being dismounted as skirmishing. Our cavelry falls back, leaving us outside. The firing nears us. Zip the shell goes over our heads, bang two or three burst right amongst us. Several fall without bursting. Wounded one man.

  We ordered out, leave in a great hurry, evry man for himself. We get into the road going to camp. The major of the Picket line tries to form us as skirmishers but he couldn’t do much. The Boys was too much excited. At last the rebel come to here. Ball whiz all around us. The Major orders double quick and starts himself. He being mounted, of course he outrun us. We soon see the regt which we made to join, which were forming line of Battle. The whole is aroused. We heard the reb charge on our cavelry or our cavelry charge on them. I couldn’t tell which. But I know they [had] us fellows nearly surrounded once. But when they saw our Infantry forming they give back. So I guess most of them got in. All of our Co did. But many the balls that whized by my ears & heels. Our cavelry fell clear back and the Rebs didnt choose to tackle us when formed in line of Battle. After we got rightly formed we lay down till about 2 P.M. when we fell back to the other side of the town and bivuacked, taking a strong position, I suppose as rear guard. I thought we would fall back to Centerville.

  I guess the rebs rather worsted us today. They having Infantry to support cavelry is what done it. And our cavelry has been fighting them all day without any infantry to support them and they were pretty well exausted. Well, we bivuacked one third of the Regt under arms all the time and the others to sleep with their cartridge boxes on and guns by their side.

  October 20, 1863

  And fine day. We were all ordered up at 4 oclock this morning and got breakfast to march at 5. But we didn’t march. Then we got dinner there. Our Co. went out to relieve Cos. A. D. who were on Picket all night. We went out about a mile, found them in a nice place with only one Post. We relieved them, they went back to camp, we stayed there till about 3 ½ P.M. when we were ordered to form with the other pickets up on the line which we did and went up to the town. The corps was marching by going towards Thoroughfare gap. Here we waited till our regts come along when we fell in & come along. We marched verry slow, coming verry slow. At last we get to the gap and through it going verry slow, taking a byroad, the teams going on the main road. Tis about 1/3 mile through the gap. After getting through the gap we turned of to the left, went up onto raise in the ground and bivoucked in the open air, it now being about 12 oclock or midnight. We have come about 7 miles and has been a hard march

  October 21, 1863

  And fine day. We lay here in camp till after dinner when we moved about 1 mile southward & went into camp. We here have a fine situation on high ground, a creek at the foot of the hill and plenty of spring water. We made some improvements in our tent. I cut my piece in two & sewed a piece to the end of each others making them 2 feet longer. And I had picked up a piece on the road and cut it just the size to fasten up one end so we now have plenty of room and can sleep without our feet being outdoors. We haven’t heard any fighting today. I think the campaign is about over and there seems to be a good deal of that feeling. We drew 3 days rations this evening. We now have 7 days rations on hand.

  October 22, 1863

  And fine day. We lay in camp. Some of the Boys are foraging on their own hook which causes the Headquarter guards good deal of truble. They having to watch and arrest such as they see them stealing from the farmers. This country here in the mountains has not been disturbed much as yet. But now the henroosts & pigstys are soon cleaned out. There is a hill near by. And there is a strong guard kept there to keep the Boys from stealing. What they have they sell, such as they have to the Boys at a reasonable price. The Boys are fixing up their tents. The indications are that we may stay here awhile. The cars came into the gap today. The Boys have got to running about so that we have roll call evry 2 hours to keep the Boys in camp.

  Some shoes come today & I drew a pair of No. 8 but they are on
e size too large. I shall try to trade them for a smaller pair. I got a letter from Mother day before yesterday & one from Henry today. They are well. I am verry hard up now. I have no money, no stamps, no envelopes. Truly hard up. But I don’t suffer any so I don’t get far wrong. Good health and plenty to eat.

  October 23, 1863

  And fine day. Till just night when there was quite a shower and continued showery till bedtime.

  We lay around & done nothing today. Some of the Boys done their washing. I have to wait till tomorrow for the kettle so as to boil the clothes or I should have washed today. I understand that our line of Battle is on the Rappahannock River again. The Rebs having fallen back and are sending their troops or a good share of them off to the Southwest to oppose [General Ambrose] Burnside’s who are doing great damage to them by the way of tearing up 4 miles of their main R. Road and still at it.