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Camp Griffin, Fairfax Co., Va.. Monday evening, Jan. 20, 1862— Last Thursday I visited the Col. Good’s 47th Pa. Regt. to say, Good by and God Speed, to friends in the same, among them Ex-Sheriff Van Dyke and Shindel Gobin, Esq., of Sunbury, the former now Quartermaster, and the latter, Captain. The regiment is a fine one and has been ordered to Key West. They were fixed in winter quarters and doubtless calculated to remain as permanent residents of the sacred soil. But the best laid schemes of mice and men, and sogers (soldiers) are often spoiled. All seem eager and glad to go and I know they will give a good account of themselves when they get amongst crocodiles, rebels and other varmints away down in Florida. On the same day while dashing throough the mud on my charger, which seemed to like the sport and dislike the curb and check upon going faster we quiet unexpectedly run into a squad which might have been "Secesh" stragglers, rather out of their latitude. But who would not know our friend Ben Cawley at half a sight, even in Rebeldom. Of course, he was ahead, and Marsh, Brown and Snyder and a whole Lewisburg party were behind, had to look up and trot, to enjoy the company of the tall leader. Our surprise was mutual, and on my part will be remembered as one of the most pleasant event sin my experience in old Virginia. Last Friday night, about ten o’clock we had quite an alarm in our camp; occasioned by a quick, continued, and heavy bombing of big guns. The firing seemed in the direction of Alexandria. It causes the earth to tremble under our feet, and could not be accounted for, seeming too heavy for field artillery and too close to be the batteries of columbiads on the Potomach beyond Alexandria. Gen. Hancock who will not be caught napping, ordered readiness and was obeyed with alacrity. The night air was dense and as we have learned the firing was about 30 miles beyond Alexandria, the atmosphere must have been in the best state possible as a conductor of sound. Yesterday we received orders of Gen. McClellan saying the exigencies of the times demanded that every officer and colonel should be at his post, and that no more furloughs should be issued except in case of real necessity. So the hope of seeing our friends soon is banished, unless they come to see us. As Signal Officer of the Battery, I feel privileged to say that this valuable addition to the service precludes any more Bethel or Ball Cross Roads blunders and massacres, if the officers understand an perform their duties. It is a system of day and night countersign signals, consisting of words, sounds, numerals, flags and lights, very simple, yet so complex and changeable that it seems impossible for the uninitiated to discover its secret language. Today the week’s rains continue and O horrors! what a mud. If it continues much longer I fear the proud mother of states will sink with the load of mud adds to her already crushing weight of infamy. One of the most amusing yet distressing sights of the 4th day was the arrival of a NY Regt. from Gen. Key’s Brigade on the other side of the river. They were scattered for miles along the way, Bull Run fashion, worn out, yet struggling to get out-not far from the fire in the rear, but the mud. Many of your readers will be pleased to hear that Seth Yocum, Orderly Sergt. in the Cameron Dragoons, has the confidence and respect of his commanders, and will undoubtedly soon receive a commission as evidence thereof. The Chronicle with the carrier’s abolition! New Year’s Address, reached here today. but we feel no danger in carrying contraband articles here where the F.F.V’s have lost their power. T.G.O. THE ACTIONS AT HANCOCK, Hancock, Md. Jan. 9, 1862— We left Camp Curtin on the 2d inst.- arrived at Hagerstown Friday night. Near there, Whiskey raised a quarrel between somee Irishmen and others, wherein swords, knives, pistols, and stones were used, a dozen of the Irish were badly hurt and one or two others, one man had a leg broken, but none were killed, as reported in the papers. Saturday, we marched 26 miles, and pitched our tents- gathered corn fodder and straw to sleep on, thinking we would have the best night’s rest since leaving Camp Crossman, but cruel fate ordered otherwise as we had to strike tents and march here ( a distance of 11 miles) for the Rebels were trying to cross the Potomac into Maryland and we could hear their cannon plainly. Within four to five miles of Hancock, we saw a big light, which the women said was this town burning, but it proved to be a barn on the other side of the river. Saw the flash of their cannon, but it finally ceased. We took up lodging in the different churches, but were too much over crowded to sleep well. Sunday morning, 5th inst, the Rebels planted their artillery on the Virginia hills and sent over here a Col., blindfolded, with an unconditional demand to surrender or he swore they would burn the town down- ordering the citizens to leave, they left, but the Union troops filled the streets. Our company was marched into a warehouse on the canal, and ten men outside with one of our cannon back of us, and the others further back on the hill. The enemy commenced a heavy fire at 2 P.M. some of their shells falling near us, and in the canal; their artillery and infantry were in sight but the latter withdrew so we had no chance to try our new French rifles. Our “Pet” cannons returned the fire in double doses, disabling one of the Rebels cannons when they suspended hospitilities. Monday morning, the enemy again attempted to place their cannon at the foot of the hill, and also at the top, but our fire got too heavy for them. In fact they had to pull down their tents, as we were throwing shells over the hill into their camp, and they could not return a single shot. Their force, it is said, numbered 15,000 of whom 40 were killed; we had 6,000 and lost not a man. We have been quartered in private dwellings, but will soon have to go to our tents, as the citizens are beginning to return.War is a pretty sore thing for towns. Evenything that could add to our comfort, has been pressed into service, and you can imagine what a house would look like after being used by a company of soldiers for a few days. D.L.Baker Comp D Col. Lewis 110th Reg. P.V. © Copyright 2012 by Mifflinburg Telegraph Weekly Newspaper Top of Page |
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