Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  October 24, 1863

  And stormy all day. Had reville at 5 A.M. and orders to march at 7 A.M. which we did after getting breakfast. The rumor is that we go to Bristol [Bristoe] Station. We start, come back through the Gap and up to Haymarket on the RR track. Here we rested, having rested once before. Then we start, come by Gainesville and to within 2 miles of Bristol Station when we rested, having come all of 6 miles without resting. And we come nearly doublequick. The Boys say they never marched so before & I guess we wouldn’t have rested then. But we had just waded Broad Run which was so swollen by the rain that it was up to our hips and raining all the time so we stoped to let the stragglers catch up. Then started, come through the Battlefield of the 14th Inst which I have spoken of before. Here we see many graves and dead horses and a goodly quantity of Iron &c which is characteristic of such fields showing that it was a small Battle, rather too much for a skirmish.

  We come by Bristoe Station or the place rather, everything being destroyed. All there is there now has just been fixed by our men, they now having a large force at work on the road, the Rebels having destroyed the road completely. We went on out to Brentville 4 miles from Bristoe. Reached there about 4 P.M. When we were getting our supper, we [were] ordered to go back to Bristoe when we get our supper. Just after dark we started and went to within 1 mile of Bristoe having to wade Kettle Run or now it is a river, so swollen is it by the rain which has been incessent all day. This make three times we have waded up to our hips. We turned off the road in the low pine woods and bivaucked. It is now 9 P.M. We have made 20 miles today. And having so many wet things to carry (tents &c) that we are completely tired out. Greater part of the Boys say they will not go into the Veteran Corps now. That they will serve out the 10 months and go home for good. But as for me, I am just as much a veteran as ever I was, real stanch veteran.

  October 25, 1863

  And fine day. The sun shone out bright and warm which was a fine thing for us fellows. We lay in around till noon when most of us put [up] our tents. We drew rations today to do the month out (viz 3 days) having several days on hand. This being Sunday, we have church services. All the Chaplains in the Brigade have joined & we now have Brigade services all at the same place. This being my week for drawing rations for the Co, I couldn’t well attend church. Now all the noncommissioned officers have to draw a week apiece. The boys are getting lots of Percimmons. They are verry plenty this year. The mail come in today. I got a letter from Henry. Alls well as usual. He has got the $50.001 sent him and 50 cents more. The Doctor at the Hospital must have made a mistake. I left him 30 cents to pay expressage. But he sent all that and 20 cents more. I allways knew he was a gentleman or I wouldnt have trusted him to sent it. I got a Post Stamp in same letter.

  October 26, 1863

  And fine day. We lay in camp all day. I, with some of the Boys went down to Broad Run. Got some grapes & washed hands & face. Some of them not washed since they left the Gap. Late in the evening for an hour or so there was heavy canonading off to our left. Probably a skirmish. The officers are making out the payrolls for the months of Sept & Oct. I must write a letter now as I have got some stamps and traded one stamp for 3 envelopes.

  October 27, 1863

  And fine day. I drew 3 days more rations today. Today there is considerable canonading off on our left. Probably a skirmish only as it lasted only an hour or so. The rebels, it is said, are all on the other side of the Rappahannock except a few roving bands of Gurrillias.

  October 28, 1863

  I and John washed all day. Done our own & Jakes & for the officers and several of Boys. We had nothing but a small kettle which made it slow work. I washed one without washboard & that made my hands sore. Then while John was washing some, I took my hatchet, walked up to a cedar tree and in less than half an hour I had a washboard that answered the purpose as well as a zinc one. So we got along first rate. Jake got dinner for us. Also supper.

  October 29, 1863

  And fine day. We have a detail of 2 to 3 men out of a Co. for picket now. There was rations of whiskey issued today by the commissary & some of the Boys didnt drink any and others drank their rations so the consequence was that some 2 or 3 got tight and made a great deal of noise and towards night the Brigade got verry noisy and just at night there was a Brigade guard put on. I guess old Col Robinson (he is commanding the Brigade now) thought that if they couldn’t behave themselves we would give them something to do. This is what I think, only I may be wrong.

  We drew soft bread today which pleased me as well as the Boys verry much. We have straightened & cleaned up camp & the indications are that we will stay here a while. I wrote a letter to Mother today and sent it along with Henrys which I mailed today. We now have our mail regularly evry day.

  October 30, 1863

  And fine day. We still draw soft bread. I drew all kinds of rations today that is allowed, even to dried apples & pepper &c the first since we left the Rappidan [Rapidan]. John went down to the Butchers and bought us a verry nice piece of beef for which he paid 10 cents and with what we draw will keep us in beef for quite a while. We drew some verry nice bacon today. They are giving us lots of good rations now.

  Our going home has played out. We cant go, so the War Department say. So the Veteran Buisness is played out and we stay 10 months more and go home for good. The President has called for 300,000 more men to be raised by Volunteering by the 4th of Jan next. And if not raised by that time there will be a draft to fill it up. All those are designed to fill up old Regt. Go ahead old Abe, I will support you in that.

  October 31, 1863

  And stormy in the morning till about 10 A.M. when it cleared off and was fine the rest of the day. We were mustered at 10 A.M. today for 2 months more pay, $26.00, by Maj Finnecum [Mark Finnicum of Fennimore]. We had no Inspection as we used to. He only called our names. The Regt is small, the largest Co is only 26 men for duty & we are next. We have 23 for duty. I get the [Wisconsin] State Journal regularly but not much other mail.

  From todays paper we hear the Rebels have been whipped again this time by Joe Hooker. He is in command of 2 or 3 corps on the Virginia & Tennessee RR. They attack him at midnight. He drove them 5 miles &c.122

  As for the Armies in Virginia, the Rebs are on the other side of the Rappahannock and ours just on this side. We (the 1st Corps) are on the Reserve like as near as I can hear. We have pretty heavy picketing. I guess to inside Picket for the RRoad mainly to keep the Gurrillas off.

  November 2, 1863

  And fine day. Today there was a detail sent out of each of the Regts that were in the fight at Gainesville to rebury the dead. They found them almost naked, many of them quite naked. There was 2 went out of our Co.

  November 3, 1863

  And fine day. We had election today for State officers. There was nothing unusual transpired. We still have heavy Picket detail evry 2 day and Brigade guard evry day. There is amusement for the Boys now. There having been a great deal of Foraging done by the Boys since we came here and now there has been an order issued that the officers of this Brigade will have to go without their pay until they find the men that killed the cattle &c or they themselves must pay the damages which is $50.00. This the officers swear they will not pay & they say they can’t find out who did kill them & I don’t know what they will do. But somebody will have to pay it I guess. For they say they are known to be Union People without that had their stock killed. I don’t wish anybody harm but I would like to see something done to stop this pillaging in the army. I have always detested it and do now.

  November 4, 1863

  And fine day. I get some logs to fix up tent. I wash shirt, drawers & my pants. My tentmates are on Picket. They went yesterday morning. There is nothing going on except most of the Boys are gambling playing what they call Cap Poker. They have no money but value the caps [musket percussion caps] at 10 cents each and play for them and redeem them payday.

  November 5, 1863

  And fine day but windy today. There is
a Sergt, Corpl, Private out of our camp for Picket. I was the Corpl to go. We went out at 9 AM. All the Boys from our Regt Cos are on Reserve this time out. We stay till about 3 PM when we were drew in to camp to march. But we found they had gone so we went on & overtook them on the road to Catlets Station [Catlett Station] road. We, our Brigade bringing up the rear & on wagon guard, we were divided up half a Regt in a place. We got along slow getting to within 1 mile of Catlets at midnight. Here we camped for the night. Came 6 miles.

  November 7, 1863

  Coming along the Rail Road to several miles south of Warrenton Junction when we left it. We are leading the Corps today (our Regt is). We come along pretty brisk, resting once & awhile for to let the wagons get along. We are to go to Morrisville they say, which we did or near it. And turned into the field, made coffee after which the order come to camp for the night. The weather being fine, not many of us pitched tents. Just made down beds in open air.

  They say we come about 12 miles today came most of it in the forenoon at which time we hear cannonading up the Rappahannock (river wards) which is kept up steady all the afternoon and towards night it grows more fierce. And by going out from camp a little, we can hear musketry or small arms, perhaps cavelry. From appearances I guess we will go to the Rappahannack River & take up line.123

  November 8, 1863

  And march at daylight, come to Kelleys Ford & cross the river on a Pontoon Bridge. Went about half mile, got dinner. Here we hear that our forces took 3 cannon & 1500 prisinors yesterday when that fighting was going on & that we whipped the Rebs badly. We start again and march along, pretty good jog, till we reached Brandy Station. Here we turned to the left and went about 1 mile, formed line of Battle and Bivaucked in rear of our arms, it now being just dark. The whole army has crossed the River last night & today & I hear ready to give battle if need be. There has been considerable firing today away upon the right at times. Pretty heavy especially as night comes. But ceasing soon after. The rumor is that we are victorious.

  November 9, 1863

  And fine day. But rather windy. There was a few flakes of snow today which started most of the Boys to pitching tent and after getting most of them pitched, the order come to march immediately. Which we did taking the road to Rappahannock Station 6 miles distant. None of the army but our corps appears to be going. The officers tell us if we get to the Bridge first, we cross first and get camp sooner. So we put out nearly doublequick & did reach the Bridge first & just before dark we crossed without stopping. Came up the river some 3 miles & bivouacked in the woods opposite Beverly Ford. We reached here about 7 P.M. We started at half past 4 P.M. having come at least 8 ½ miles in 2 ½ hours. There has been no firing today.

  November 10, 1863

  And cold, windy and cloudy. Snowed a little here last night. But looking over the other side of the River to the Blue Ridge, there we can see the snow plainly. The mountains are perfectly white. But none to be seen on this side. Twas verry cold last [night]. We lay around till about noon when we draw 3 days rations and get dinner & move camp. Going about ½ mile in some nice thick timber and camped in good order, if need be to stay all winter. Have orders to cut no timber till further order. It appears that our corps is on the reserve certain. Tis said only our corps on this side & there was only 1st & 2nd divisions of it. We left the 3rd division at Bristoe when we come away. Just at dark tonight, the sergt major come around for a detail of 7 men from our Co to go and work on the Rail Road. To start at half past 6 in the morning, take six days rations with them. They were supposed to have 8 days rations but none had it and taking the Regt through twill not average more than 4 days. But the order is to take plenty. Let that be what it may so all those that were going to work drew 3 or 4 days more rations. There is some 50 or 60 to go out of our Regt tomorrow.

  November 11, 1863

  The Boys started this morning according to order of last evening. They all appear glad of the chance to change buisness and they think we will not have to move soon. And that also pleases them for we havn’t much rest since I came to the Co and now we will be apt to get it. To be sure we will have to work about half the time and Picket one quarter of the time for each and evry man. But we will be content with that and glad to have it to do nothing worse.

  This morning about 8 oclock the Paymaster come and we signed the payroll and then they were sent to the men on Picket & those that went to work for them to sign them & in the evening about 4 oclock we got our pay. Our Regt was paid first this time. The Captains drew the money for those on duty as usual. I got all that was due me on clothing account, $13.80, making in all $39.80 & I collected what was owing me otherwise till now I have $57.00 and some yet due me. I shall be able to send home $50.00 and give some to the war widow Mrs. Simpkins. Her husband, James [W.] Simpkins was a member of our Co and was killed at Antietam.124 He was a good soldier & was much respected in the Co and the Co concluded to get up a contribution in the Co.

  November 12, 1863

  And fine day. The boys are settling up & paying each other which they always do and signed their contribution for the war widow. Some giving 25 cts & on up to $2.00.1 gave $2.00.1 was the only one that gave that amount when I signed. I did think of giving $5.00 but Cap thought $ 1.00 was enough as we could get up another sometime hence. That what she would get this time would do for sometime as they, the officers, would give $5.00 apiece which would be $15.00. I made me a washboard & fixed up a tub. Put handles, preparatory for washing tomorrow.

  November 13, 1863

  I & Jake washed today. We washed John clothes for getting & bringing our dinners to us. We wash for others to the amount of $ 1.10 which being divided leaves each with 55 cents for his days work or rather about 5 hours and our own washing which in all is as good as 75 cents for the day. We get 10 cents apiece for washing.

  We, in our tent, had a big quarrel yesterday. Jake & John doing the most for I left there. Twas on account of John neglecting his duties as tentmates. He has not done much of late. I suppose like most of us he has his lazy fits as well as working ones.

  November 14, 1863

  And fine day. There was a detail for Picket this morning and I, not being detailed to go, and not wanting to go on work to the Railroad so I change with one of the Boys & come on Picket. The R Road squad will go out the morning we come off Picket, but 3 hours earlier. We started at 10 A.M., came to the lines. Here we was counted off, 15 out of our Regt squad to go outside of the lines to the lookout post some half mile in advance. Here we have a nice place, one Post in daytime, 2 at night so that will not be hard work. We have good water and plenty of good wood. All went right till just dark when it commenced to rain and thunder & lightening & we had one of the hardest storms I have seen in Virginia and it tapered down to a steady rain & rained about half the night. I was on Post through the first & worst of it. We only stand an hour at a time. I sheltered under a big tree. But get wet almost to the skin and when relieved found the fire at quarters almost out, the Boys having crawled into their shanties and let it go out. But I went to work and amidst the rain, I soon had a good fire. And sat around kind comfortable till 12 oclock when I went groping my way to my post, it being so dark that I could not see the man so I had to whistle. He answered me & in that way found the post to stand another hour but didn’t rain much this time.

  November 15, 1863

  And rained some in the morning but cleared of about 10 A.M. and was kind a pleasant. Nothing of note transpires about in this vicinity. But we hear some firing away down the River. A skirmish I suppose. Some of the Boys went into camp today, got the mail. But none for me. But the [Wisconsin] State Journal which will come good to read.

  November 16, 1863

  And fine day. Nothing of interest transpired till about noon when the officer of the day came and had the picket line advanced outside of us thereby doing away with the lookout post. & we went on the Picket Reserve. But still had one Post to stand amongst 7 of us and we stood 2 hours so we came on only once in the night.
Twas pretty cold tonight. I went on at 6 & stood till 8 oclock so I had all night to sleep.

  November 17, 1863

  And fine day. About 10 A.M. the Relief came and after being relieved we came to camp. Found the rest of the Co had gone on fatigue duty which proved to be working on a fort at Rappahannock Station. The Boys that went to work on the R Road come back when only out 5 days. They having got the Road finished to the River. And on the other side the road is not torn up for we drove the Rebs away so quick that they had not a chance. John went on Picket so there is one out of our tent most of the time.

  November 18, 1863

  Jake and I done a big washing today. We made $1.60 apiece besides our own washing. About 10 AM they made another detail to work on fortifications and sent for Jake but when he got to camp, they had sent another man so he came back and helped me finish which took us till nearly night. Worked verry hard.

  I expressed my money this evening. The Chaplain starts with it in the morning for Washington. There has been men sent home to Recruit from the Regt from our State. Cap [Hollon] Richardson is the commissioned officer from our Regt, then there is a Sergt & Private from each Co. George Eustice (Sergt) and Private C. B. Bishop [Corydon B. Bishop] from our company went to recruit. They started yesterday morning at 8 oclock so now we are certain that the Veterans scheme has played out.