As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I like to research battlefields during the winter, in preperation for a tour in the summer. Chancellorsville is one battle I studied during the snow so I could immerse into the battle when I got to Virginia. For fun, I collected some 1st person accounts of the battle and placed them according to the best location on the battlefield for me to read them. If you can get to the Chancellorsville battlefield for a tour, the next few weeks postings might make your visit a bit more immersive. I think you'll like this. Enjoy.
Our first stop is at the Stafford House. All of the content in this post would be best read at the home or in front of it.
(April 7th) President Lincoln visited the various encampments and our regiment was drawn up in line to receive him. He was accompanies by a large number of generals and their staffs with a regiment of lancers following behind as a body guard. President Lincoln wore a tall black hat, his feet nearly reached the ground, and his great height, clothing in civilian dress as he was, in striking contrast with the rest of the company. As he passed along the front of the line, the regiment presented arms, the drum corps played and the boys all joined in giving lusty cheers. President Lincoln returned the salute by raising his hat. The visit was preceded by a humorous event which occurred as the President and retinue passed through the regimental street to reach the parade ground. In this street a limb of a tree projected over the street, high enough for the ordinary man mounted, wearing a military hat, to pass under, but the tall hat of which Lincoln wore came in contact with that limb, and the hat fell to the ground. An orderly promptly handed the hat to that owner, who replaced it on his head, this was in plane view of the regiment and a smile passed along the line as a result.
J.P Fahey, 12th New Hampshire, Bowman’s Brigade, Whipple’s, Division, 3rd Corps
Hooker Takes Command
Now we all feel that General Hooker will be like the poor man that won the elephant at the raffle. After he got the animal he didn’t know what to do with him. So with fighting Joseph. He is now in command of a mighty big elephant, and it will remain to be seen if he know what to do with him. All know that General Hooker can command and fight a division to perfection, but to take a great army like ours in hand and cope with the great rebel chief successfully is another thing. But we will wait and see, and like good soldiers, obey orders and go where we are sent, even unto death.
Daniel Crotty, 3rd Michigan Infantry, Hayman’s Brigade, Birney’s Division, 3rd Corps
“Pack up!” “Fall in!” all is stir and excitement in the camp. The bugles are blowing,” Boots and saddles” for the cavalry, camped above of us on the hill: we drummer-boys are beating the “long roll” and “assembly” for the regiment; mounted orderlies are galloping along the hillside with great yellow envelopes truck in their belts; and the men fall out of their miserable winter quarters, with shouts and cheer that make the hills about Falmouth ring again. For the winter is past; sweet breath of spring comes balmy up from the south and the whole army is on the move-wither?
“Say, captain, tell us where are we going?” But the captain doesn’t know, more even the colonel,-nobody knows. We are raw troops yet, and have not learned that solders never ask questions bout orders.
So fall in all together and forward! And we ten little drummer-boys beat gaily enough, “The Girl I left Behind Me,” as the line sweeps over hills, through woods and on down to the river’s edge
Harry Kieffer, 150th Pennsylvania Infantry, Stone’s Brigade, Doubleday’s Division, 1st Corps
Soon the regiment was forming in line, while the drum corps, at the suggestion of the sergeant-major, played the tune The Girl I Left Behind Me for leaving Falmouth seemed like leaving home. The colonel, riding to the centre-front gave the command, “Shoulder arms: right face; right shoulder shift arms; forward, route stet, march.”
“We are off for Richmond or the Grave,” expressed some of the boys.
J.P Fahey, 12th New Hampshire, Bowman’s Brigade, Whipple’s, Division, 3rd Corps
After Hooker’s retreat the army returned to Falmouth and Stafford.
The march back to Stafford Court House, full twenty miles was made through a driving rain storm, and when we reached our old camp, about eight o’clock that night, we were in deplorable condition with neither tents, blankets or overcoats-which had been lost on the battlefield- we had no shelter from the storm and nothing remained for us to do except build immense fires and rest our wearied limbs as best we could. Reminiscences how we were able to build fires when everything we possessed was soaked through by the rain. Generally someone was thoughtful enough to protect his matches and after one fire was started with difficulty of building others overcome. But it sometimes happened that there were no matches in the party. A fire was then obtained by putting into a rifle the powder of a couple of cartridges, ramming loosely upon it a piece of flannel, or woolen cloth and then discharging the gun upon the ground. The flannel becomes ignited and with the aid of a few dry twigs a fire is easily started.
Samuel Toombs, 13th New Jersey, Ruger’s Brigade, William’s Division, 12th Corps
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