WALTER OSGOOD HART:36TH WISCONSIN
The 36th was a regiment who arrived on the Virginia front in mid May of 1864. Mr. Hart,a surgeon's assistent offers a clear glimpse into life in the trenches. Enjoy.
"One day as he was passing in front of the battery of siege guns, which was some distance in the rear of the front lines, he was startled by the firing of one of them. Looking in the direction which the sound of the shell cutting the air indicated, he saw Confederates on top of their breast works repairing them.
They jumped down to places of safety and the shot made the dirt fly right where they had been at work. They came up again and went to work lively with their shovels, but another gun fired and they hunted their holes again. This shot also hit its mark, and so it went for a little while.
Sometimes Plodder would stand near Fort Rice and watch the fun. A few of our men would stand on top of the works to draw the enemy's fire. When they saw the flash of the cannon, they hunted their holes with laughing and cheers. Plodder saw the shells drop into the ground many rods short of the mark and explode, throwing up a cloud of dirt. Up the men came again and stood till they saw the next flash. This time the shell fell a little nearer the works but farther to one side. This was repeated several times, but every time the shells fell harmless and far from their mark. On his way to the front he had to cross a certain knoll, and when he failed to crouch low enough he would hear a sharpshooter's bullet whiz past him, but none ever hit him."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The rest of the orders: Last orders of the ANV
Below are the last of the orders from the ANV command that I found at the Wisconsin HIstorical Society. Reading between the lines is one of my favorite aspects of reading material such as this. I can almost hear the desperation boiling under the veneer of professionalism. Enjoy.
NOTE: the lines seperate the orders.
On the road to Farmeville
April 6th 1865
General,
I have the honor to report that telegraphic communication is open to Farmville to Lynchburg No enemy has been to the former and none reported to be in that vicinity.
M.W. Gary
Brig Gen
Lt Genl Longstreet
Comdg Corps 1
---------------------------------------------------
Hd Qu’rs Longstreet’s Corp
April 7-1865
Gol W.H. Taylor
A.A.G. A.N.Va
I desire you to know whether there is any cavalry on this side & if there is that you will order it to report to me- What effect will the presence of the enemy on my flank make on my movements?
Very Respectfully
(Sgd)) Jas Longstreet
Lieut Genl
Official
W.H. Palmer
a.a.g.
(ON REVERSE)
Lieut Col. W.H. Taylor
A.A.Gnl
ANVa
General,
There is cavalry here, not the whole, but Gen Fitz Lee is here fighting the enemy’s cavalry with part of his & has driven it back & captured Gen Gregg.
The other cavalry under WH Lee is on your left flank, Fitz Lee being on your right.
Very Respy
RE Lee
Gn
---------------------------------------------------
Hq Qurs Longstreets Command
April 7 1865
This command will be withdrawn by retiring Field’s front to the hight ground in rear of the road. As he retires Gn’l Mahone will retire his right and Gen’l’s Heth & Wilcox their left. After Gn’l Fields has taken his new position Heth Wilcox & Mahone will withdraw their commands by filing around below this postion of Gn’l Fields, retiring by the rout taken by the Army & opposite the rear of Gn’l Fields center. The Artillery on the line will be withdrawn first and placed near the rout by which we are to follow the Army.
As soon as Gen’ls Heth, Wilcox,& Mahone have taken up the line of march in the rear of Gn’l Field and passed sufficiently far to allow Gn’l Field to file off to the rear, Gn’l Field will follow the march bringing with him the artillery.
The movement will not be made until further orders, when Gn’l Field will be specifically instructed to retire his line as afore stated. This will be the signal for the officers to execute their movement.
Orders will be given for the withdrawal of the Artillery a little before the order for Gn’l Field movement.
By command of
Lt Gn’ Lonstreet
W.H. Palmer
Aag
------------------------------------------
N Va. Cav Div
April 7th 1865
Gen:
My success is complete.
I have captured everything except a few cavy that escaped by swimming the River- I killed the Yankee Gen Reid- Dearing is wounded- Major Thompson & Knoff and Col. Boston are killed- My loss however is slight- Half dozen Ambulances & all the armes have fallen into my hands.
Mu Comd is very much fatigued, and if possible should rest the remainder of the day.
Let me hear from you at once if you pleass- I will wait here till I hear from you.
Very Respy
Thos L Rosser
Maj G
Gen Longstreet
Please send Mahone
------------------------------------------------
3 ¼ pm 8th April
General,
General Lee directs me to say that there is no water on which you can encamp until you reach the one of the headwaters of the Appomattox about half a mile south of Day’s House, Gordon has gone two miles and a half beyond the stream mentioned. If you will let your troops know that they have but a short distance to march, they will move briskly and you will be able to get them a good rest and an opportunity to cook their suppers. The Gen. is now just south of the creek on which he wishes you to encamp and desires to see you if you can come.
Very resp yours ob serv
C. Marshall
Lt Col & aag
Lt. Gen. Longstreet
------------------------------------------------
Hdqrs
1st Army Corps
April 9th 1865
Circular
Gen Comdrs will prepare immediately list of the names & rank of each officer and man of their command for the purpose of completing the parole agreed upon today between Comdg offs of the C. S and U.S Armies.
Officers and men will be allowed to go to their homes and remain until regularly exchanged, carrying with them all private property.
Mahone
Field
Pickett
Comdg off Kershaw’s Div
Heth
Wilcox
Alexander
On the envelope (signed by)
Genl Order shown to
Maj Gen Field
Heth
Mahone
Wilcox
NOTE: the lines seperate the orders.
On the road to Farmeville
April 6th 1865
General,
I have the honor to report that telegraphic communication is open to Farmville to Lynchburg No enemy has been to the former and none reported to be in that vicinity.
M.W. Gary
Brig Gen
Lt Genl Longstreet
Comdg Corps 1
---------------------------------------------------
Hd Qu’rs Longstreet’s Corp
April 7-1865
Gol W.H. Taylor
A.A.G. A.N.Va
I desire you to know whether there is any cavalry on this side & if there is that you will order it to report to me- What effect will the presence of the enemy on my flank make on my movements?
Very Respectfully
(Sgd)) Jas Longstreet
Lieut Genl
Official
W.H. Palmer
a.a.g.
(ON REVERSE)
Lieut Col. W.H. Taylor
A.A.Gnl
ANVa
General,
There is cavalry here, not the whole, but Gen Fitz Lee is here fighting the enemy’s cavalry with part of his & has driven it back & captured Gen Gregg.
The other cavalry under WH Lee is on your left flank, Fitz Lee being on your right.
Very Respy
RE Lee
Gn
---------------------------------------------------
Hq Qurs Longstreets Command
April 7 1865
This command will be withdrawn by retiring Field’s front to the hight ground in rear of the road. As he retires Gn’l Mahone will retire his right and Gen’l’s Heth & Wilcox their left. After Gn’l Fields has taken his new position Heth Wilcox & Mahone will withdraw their commands by filing around below this postion of Gn’l Fields, retiring by the rout taken by the Army & opposite the rear of Gn’l Fields center. The Artillery on the line will be withdrawn first and placed near the rout by which we are to follow the Army.
As soon as Gen’ls Heth, Wilcox,& Mahone have taken up the line of march in the rear of Gn’l Field and passed sufficiently far to allow Gn’l Field to file off to the rear, Gn’l Field will follow the march bringing with him the artillery.
The movement will not be made until further orders, when Gn’l Field will be specifically instructed to retire his line as afore stated. This will be the signal for the officers to execute their movement.
Orders will be given for the withdrawal of the Artillery a little before the order for Gn’l Field movement.
By command of
Lt Gn’ Lonstreet
W.H. Palmer
Aag
------------------------------------------
N Va. Cav Div
April 7th 1865
Gen:
My success is complete.
I have captured everything except a few cavy that escaped by swimming the River- I killed the Yankee Gen Reid- Dearing is wounded- Major Thompson & Knoff and Col. Boston are killed- My loss however is slight- Half dozen Ambulances & all the armes have fallen into my hands.
Mu Comd is very much fatigued, and if possible should rest the remainder of the day.
Let me hear from you at once if you pleass- I will wait here till I hear from you.
Very Respy
Thos L Rosser
Maj G
Gen Longstreet
Please send Mahone
------------------------------------------------
3 ¼ pm 8th April
General,
General Lee directs me to say that there is no water on which you can encamp until you reach the one of the headwaters of the Appomattox about half a mile south of Day’s House, Gordon has gone two miles and a half beyond the stream mentioned. If you will let your troops know that they have but a short distance to march, they will move briskly and you will be able to get them a good rest and an opportunity to cook their suppers. The Gen. is now just south of the creek on which he wishes you to encamp and desires to see you if you can come.
Very resp yours ob serv
C. Marshall
Lt Col & aag
Lt. Gen. Longstreet
------------------------------------------------
Hdqrs
1st Army Corps
April 9th 1865
Circular
Gen Comdrs will prepare immediately list of the names & rank of each officer and man of their command for the purpose of completing the parole agreed upon today between Comdg offs of the C. S and U.S Armies.
Officers and men will be allowed to go to their homes and remain until regularly exchanged, carrying with them all private property.
Mahone
Field
Pickett
Comdg off Kershaw’s Div
Heth
Wilcox
Alexander
On the envelope (signed by)
Genl Order shown to
Maj Gen Field
Heth
Mahone
Wilcox
Monday, January 16, 2012
April 6th
Amelia Springs
6th April 4 ½ AM
General,
I desire you to move this morning to Rice’s Station as soon as practicable, hold that point, dispose your troops so as to allow the rest of the column to close upon you as far as possible, and try to accumulate provisions from the country & from Farmville. As you find the troops coming up, you can at the proper time move onto P. Ed. C.H. If you find it necessary to go through Farmville to reach P. Ed. C.H. the trains can supply themselves with provisions in passing through Farmville.
Very respy
Your obt Servt
R E Lee
General Longstreet
Gen1
6th April 4 ½ AM
General,
I desire you to move this morning to Rice’s Station as soon as practicable, hold that point, dispose your troops so as to allow the rest of the column to close upon you as far as possible, and try to accumulate provisions from the country & from Farmville. As you find the troops coming up, you can at the proper time move onto P. Ed. C.H. If you find it necessary to go through Farmville to reach P. Ed. C.H. the trains can supply themselves with provisions in passing through Farmville.
Very respy
Your obt Servt
R E Lee
General Longstreet
Gen1
Friday, January 13, 2012
A surgeon's asst. on a bridge?
I just had to share this. I am studying the 36th Wisconsin Infantry in preparation for a program I am presenting at the Kenosha Civil War Museum. I came across, at the WHS of course, an account from Walter Osgood Hart of the 36th, a surgeon’s assistant. In his section on 2nd Corps(his corps) movement to Deep Botom he offers the following explanation of his being a part of an image that was taken of the Deep Bottom Bridge. I’ve posted what I think is the photo above. Enjoy. NOTE: He calls himself the Plodder.
“That night, just before it began to get dark. Plodder was down by the pontoon bridge. Three or four others were there. A man came with a camera and was looking for a suitable place to stand it. The men talked with him, and he told them he was going to take a picture of the bridge, and they could go down on it and have their pictures taken if they wished. Plodder went with them, and while the others sat in the pontoons, he wanted to have it so that if he ever saw the picture he could recognize himself. He stood alone "in the middle of the —" wagon track. Fifty years later he was spending the evening at a home of his son's parishioners. He was shown a book of Civil War pictures, published by the artist who took them, a friend of the man we were visiting. Naturally he was interested, and eagerly viewed the pictures. In the latter part of the book he came upon a picture of the pontoon bridge across the James River, and there he saw himself standing thus conspicuously. He was sure it was the picture of himself because on his head was the hat he bought when in camp at Madison, Wisconsin. And so, gentle reader, if you ever come across that book, and see that picture you may be sure Plodder was there.”
“That night, just before it began to get dark. Plodder was down by the pontoon bridge. Three or four others were there. A man came with a camera and was looking for a suitable place to stand it. The men talked with him, and he told them he was going to take a picture of the bridge, and they could go down on it and have their pictures taken if they wished. Plodder went with them, and while the others sat in the pontoons, he wanted to have it so that if he ever saw the picture he could recognize himself. He stood alone "in the middle of the —" wagon track. Fifty years later he was spending the evening at a home of his son's parishioners. He was shown a book of Civil War pictures, published by the artist who took them, a friend of the man we were visiting. Naturally he was interested, and eagerly viewed the pictures. In the latter part of the book he came upon a picture of the pontoon bridge across the James River, and there he saw himself standing thus conspicuously. He was sure it was the picture of himself because on his head was the hat he bought when in camp at Madison, Wisconsin. And so, gentle reader, if you ever come across that book, and see that picture you may be sure Plodder was there.”
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