A Raw Recruit's War Experiences Part 2

"G.o.d of all nations! sovereign Lord, In Thy dread name we draw the sword; We lift the starry flag on high, That fills with light our stormy sky.

"From treason's rent, from murder's stain, Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign, Till fort and field, till sh.o.r.e and sea, Join our loud anthem, PRAISE TO THEE!"

I used to be greatly amused at times at the kind of literature which reached us when in camp from kind friends at home who were solicitous concerning our moral welfare. Sometimes it was very evident that a book or tract smuggled itself into the package sent which had never been "pa.s.sed upon" by any member of the Christian Commission. Just think of placing a cook-book in the hands of a man who had been living for months on hard-tack and salt junk, with no prospect of a change in diet for months to come!

I am reminded, in this connection, of an incident which occurred in one of the hospitals in Washington. A kind-hearted Christian lady pa.s.sed through the wards one day distributing religious tracts. She placed one in the hands of a young soldier who was occupying one of the numerous cots. As she turned away from him on her mission of love, she heard him laugh. The good woman's feelings were hurt, and retracing her steps she mildly rebuked him for his seeming rudeness and ingrat.i.tude. He begged her pardon and a.s.sured her that no discourtesy was intended, and remarked that he was amused by the inappropriateness of the t.i.tle of the tract she had given him, "The Sin of Dancing," when both of his legs had been shot off.

CHAPTER VII.

In common with soldiers generally, the _menu_ of our company was somewhat limited in variety, and the dishes served did not materially differ from day to day. Sunday, however, was an exception to this general rule when we were in camp. In accordance with the time-honored New England custom, on Sunday morning we had _our_ "baked beans." If we did not always remember to keep the Sabbath day holy, we certainly never forgot that it was the day for baked beans; and I sometimes thought that the appearance of that article of food on Sunday morning served us better than a Church calendar or the "Old Farmer's Almanac" could have done as a reminder how the day should be spent.

Our cook had a novel way of cooking or baking beans. He soaked them in the usual style, parboiled them in a large kettle, and then put them in a deep, iron mess-pan, generous slices of pork being placed on top of the beans. A hole was then made in the ground a foot or two feet deep and the bottom well filled with live coals, and on top of the coals was placed the iron mess-pan with its savory contents. Upon the cover of the pan was then placed more live coals, and the whole covered with turf well tamped down. This was done on Sat.u.r.day afternoon, and on Sunday morning the beans came out of their improvised oven piping hot and in no wise inferior to those which furnished the staple article of the Sunday morning meal in so many New England homes.

Burns tells us that "the well-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley." On one occasion it occurred that we encamped one Sat.u.r.day afternoon on an old battlefield, and as it was known that we were to remain there over Sunday, our cook began the usual preliminary work whereby he was to furnish the company with baked beans on the following morning. It so happened that at the spot where the hole was dug in the ground an unexploded sh.e.l.l was buried a little farther down, and after the live coals and the bean pot had been deposited in the earth long enough to form a mutual acquaintance and become warm friends a loud explosion was heard, and immediately the beans took an upward tendency and the air was completely filled with them, confirming the a.s.sertion of Artemas Ward that the "festive bean, when baked, is a _very lively fruit_."

The spring of 1863 was particularly favorable to the development of typhoid fever, and a good many men in our regiment were in the hospital with that disease. The surgeon ordered a gill of whiskey to be served to every man daily, and as an inducement for him to "put it where it would do the most good"--at least in the surgeon's opinion--he was told that he would not be excused from duty if reported on the sick list. The whiskey was usually taken by the men and put into their canteens with the water, but in very many cases it did not take such a roundabout way in reaching its destination. In my "mess" was a good, orthodox, prohibitionist deacon, a man whose example I was told before leaving home that I could consistently follow in all things--especially in _spiritual_ things. One day he remarked to me that he had observed that I did not take my ration of whiskey when it was dealt out. I told him that I had not felt the need of it. He replied that he was very much afraid of the typhoid fever, and had no scruples in regard to the taking of a little whiskey as a precautionary measure, and if I was going to continue to refuse to take my ration of it, he wished I would let it be poured into my canteen, and he would turn it into his own when we got back to our quarters;--"only be careful," said he, "that there is no water in your canteen." After that I allowed the whiskey to be poured into my canteen; but the good deacon's argument as to its being a preventive for typhoid fever was so convincing that I did not allow it to be transferred to his.

As is well known, a wide and almost impa.s.sable gulf of difference exists between the officers and the rank and file in the regular army. But I had not been long in the volunteer service before I discovered that considerable difference existed even there between the private soldier and the officer. To ill.u.s.trate. While in Suffolk there happened to be an "r"

in the month. Walking along the princ.i.p.al street one day, I espied in the window of a restaurant a card, upon which was printed or painted in letters of large dimensions these two words: "STEAMED OYSTERS." Visions of Pawtucket and Providence river bivalves immediately came up before me, and I then and there resolved to have a good square meal of "steamed oysters,"

even though it should pecuniarily impoverish me. So, entering the restaurant, I seated myself upon one of the unoccupied high stools at the oyster bar. And here I will remark that I could not have felt the importance of my elevated position any more if my blouse had been covered with shoulder-straps. Presently the proprietor of the establishment presented himself, and eyeing me with an air of indifference almost amounting to contempt, he asked me what I wanted. I replied, "Steamed oysters." I confess I was somewhat surprised and considerably "down in the mouth" when he informed me that he couldn't sell steamed oysters to a private soldier. My suggestion that he might overcome the difficulty by _giving them to me_, failed to secure the much-coveted bivalves, and I retired from the restaurant a sadder but wiser man than when I entered it.

As I remarked at the outset, there was considerable difference between the private soldier and the officer even in the volunteer service; and this was, as I have shown, particularly true as to which one should eat steamed oysters. But the line had to be drawn somewhere, I suppose, and so at Suffolk they drew it at steamed oysters, and, unfortunately for the man who was serving his country at thirteen dollars a month, he "got left."

CHAPTER VIII.

While the Eleventh regiment was in service only nine months, and was never in action as a full regiment, yet it lost in that time two colonels. A certain fatality appeared to await those who were sent to take command of the regiment during the early part of its term of service. It seemed at one time as if the regiment was raised for the sole purpose of giving those who were to become colonels of other Rhode Island regiments an opportunity to perfect themselves in battalion drill and other military movements before a.s.suming command elsewhere--a sort of stepping-stone, as it were, to something which was considered more desirable. There was, for instance, Colonel Edwin Metcalf, who went out with us and who left us to take command of the Third Rhode Island. Then there was Colonel Horatio Rogers, who came to us from the Third regiment and remained less than two weeks, leaving us to take command of the Second Rhode Island. The next to put in an appearance was Colonel George E. Church, who had previously served as lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh Rhode Island. He remained with us until the expiration of our term of enlistment.

It is not within the province of a private soldier--more especially a "raw recruit"--to criticise his superiors, and consequently I will not attempt it, notwithstanding this is the "piping time of peace," and all fear of the guard-house has forever vanished. I will say, however, that all of the officers named had their peculiarities, and that our lieutenant-colonel was peculiarly peculiar; and yet I believe him to have been every inch a soldier--at any rate, there was no such word as fear in his dictionary. He was in command when the regiment came the nearest to being in an engagement, and I fancy I see him now, mounted on his horse and riding at the head of the column, wearing a moth-eaten blouse and an exceedingly dilapidated straw hat, with a very black "T. D." clay pipe stuck in his mouth, the bowl downwards. He looked more like the "cowboy" of modern times than the pictures of military heroes which I used to see in my school-books when a boy. This was our lieutenant-colonel--John Talbot Pitman. He had good "staying qualities." He never threw up his commission, nor did he die. He remained with us to the last, and rose considerably in the estimation of the men after his appearance at the head of the regiment at the time I have just mentioned. Men everywhere--especially soldiers--admire pluck. Our lieutenant-colonel had pluck, even though at times his heart seemed somewhat lacking in tenderness. He never winked at any breach of discipline on the part of an officer or a private while he was in command of the regiment. If at times he appeared to have too little consideration for his men, he never failed to exact the fullest measure of consideration for them from all others.

Colonel Metcalf, as I have stated, came to us first, and was the first to leave us. Universal regret on the part of officers and men was felt when he took his departure for Hilton Head.

Colonel Rogers did not remain with us long enough for us to learn to like him or dislike him. He came to us "sp'ilin' for a fight," his heart's desire all the time he was with us was to fight, and when he found that he couldn't fight the rebels with us, he began to fight the War Department for a "change of base;" and in order to have peace within our own borders, and in response to a very general demand on the part of the loyal North for a vigorous prosecution of the war, coupled with a declaration on the part of certain northern newspapers that no further delay in pushing "On to Richmond" would be tolerated without a satisfactory reason being given therefor, the authorities at Washington compromised matters by sending the plucky colonel to the Second Rhode Island regiment, where he "honored his regiment, his State and himself by his gallant deeds." It is, however, but simple justice to the Eleventh regiment to say that the men were hopeful that Colonel Rogers' vigorous and persistent efforts with the War Department to relieve them from the disagreeable duty which they were performing at the Convalescent Camp would be crowned with success. Service in the field was coveted.

Colonel Rogers was a strict disciplinarian. The surgeon of the regiment was a great lover of horses. It was said of him, before he entered the service, that if he was sent for in a case of expected immediate death, and he had an opportunity while on the road to trade a good horse for a better one, he would always let his patient take the chances.--I do not wish to be considered as authority for the truthfulness of this a.s.sertion.--One Sunday morning our company was ordered to report in front of the colonel's "markee" for inspection. While the inspection was going on, the colonel stood in front of us, and just a little to his left the surgeon and quartermaster, it being just before divine service, were driving a horse trade. Naturally enough this attracted the attention of the men, and it being noticed by Colonel Rogers, he exclaimed in that melodious tone of voice so characteristic of him: "_Eyes to the front; you wa'n't ordered down here to inspect the quartermaster's department!_"

Colonel Rogers was, indeed, peculiar.

In an excellent paper which was read by Captain Charles H. Parkhurst, of Company C, at a recent reunion of the Eleventh regiment, he thus contrasted Colonel Metcalf and Colonel Rogers:

"Colonel Metcalf, as a rule, commanded without saying anything about it.

When Colonel Rogers commanded he couldn't help saying something about it.

No one seeing Colonel Metcalf off duty, or un-uniformed, would have suspected that he had any command, while the most casual observer looking at Colonel Rogers, even when asleep, would instinctively know that even then the colonel, at least, thought that he was in the exercise of authority."

Our last commanding officer, Colonel Church, was a thorough soldier and, like Colonel Rogers, whom he succeeded, a strict disciplinarian. He was, apparently, a favorite with the officers of the regiment, but his ways smacked too much of the regular army to have ever made him popular with volunteer soldiers. It is, however, due Colonel Church to say that while under his command the regiment attained a high degree of proficiency in all that characterizes good soldiership, and won for itself much praise from those who were even superior in rank to its colonel.

Speaking of the peculiarities of Colonel Church, for he had them too, perhaps nothing created a greater dislike for him on the part of his men than the severity of his discipline in regard to very small matters. To ill.u.s.trate: The sending of a man to the guard-house because in his exasperation he so far forgot himself as to raise his hand to brush a fly off of his nose when on dress parade, was not relished. It might have done for a holiday, but not in time of war. At any rate, that is the way the boys looked at it.

CHAPTER IX.

Suffolk was our last regular encampment. From there we went to Yorktown, expecting to take transportation home, as our term of service had nearly expired. After remaining there a few days we were, very much to our surprise, ordered up the peninsula. Somebody evidently made a mistake in his reckoning, for when we arrived at Williamsburg, only twelve miles distant from Yorktown, we were ordered back, an order which was not reluctantly obeyed, although had there been urgent need for the regiment's services for a longer period, I feel sure that they would have been cheerfully rendered.

Upon our return to Yorktown we once more pitched our shelter (or "dog") tents, and made ourselves as comfortable as we could until transportation was furnished. Finally we embarked on the steamer "John Rice," and after a three days' sail arrived in Providence on the afternoon of the sixth of July, 1863, just nine months to a day from the time we left Rhode Island.

The reception of the regiment by the patriotic citizens of Providence was as generous as it was hospitable. The Pawtucket companies (B and F) reached home just before six o'clock, and were welcomed with the firing of cannon, the ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of respect and kindness. After the warm greetings at the railroad station by friends, the band meanwhile vigorously playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," and other popular airs, a line was formed, (the escort comprising the Home Guard and officers of the Light Guard,) and moved through the princ.i.p.al streets, including a march to Central Falls and back. It was a proud day for the "raw recruit" and his comrades. In marching through the streets of both places, cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs testified the delight of the mult.i.tude at our safe return. On arriving at the old Armory Hall in Pawtucket, where, nine or ten months previously, so many of us had enlisted, and which never looked so well to us before, a bountiful collation was partaken of, and then, with good judgment on the part of somebody, the companies were dismissed without being compelled to listen to speeches from those who, for "prudential reasons," remained at home.

The second death in Company B occurred on the evening of the first day out from Yorktown. Frank M. Bliss, the "drummer boy" of the company, had been sick several days with typhoid fever in the hospital at Yorktown, and his recovery was considered hopeless when he was carried on board the steamer by his comrades. The deceased was a son of Captain Albert Bliss, of Pawtucket, and a young man of excellent qualities. He was very anxious to serve his country in some capacity, and being only eighteen years of age, and not physically able to carry the load of an infantry soldier he enlisted as a drummer, and did good service in that capacity. His remains were tenderly borne by a detail of his comrades from the steamer to the home of his afflicted parents, and what in so many other homes was a day of great joy on account of the return of loved ones, in theirs was a day of deepest sorrow, for the loved son and brother whose return had been so long joyously antic.i.p.ated came not.

The regiment was paid off and "mustered out" of service in Providence on the thirteenth day of July, 1863. It left Rhode Island a little more than one thousand strong. It came back numbering eight hundred and thirty-eight enlisted men and thirty-eight commissioned officers. During its absence it lost sixty men by discharge, and seven others by death.

Fifty-five of its members were left behind in various hospitals, and twenty-five sick men were brought home on the steamer. It is a remarkable fact in the history of the regiment that not one man was killed in an engagement with the enemy during its entire nine months' campaign. It is doubtful whether this has its parallel in any other regiment which entered the service during the civil war.

But there were many other things which the soldier had to do besides fighting. One thing all had to do, namely, _obey orders_, and when that was done, the soldier had done all that was required of him, all that he promised to do when he enlisted. The entire regiment never appeared in line once after we left Providence, so many of the men being detailed for various kinds of service, such as hospital nurses, ambulance drivers, wagoners, and so forth. But, comrades, whatever the service performed by our regiment, it should be esteemed honor and distinction enough for any one of us to have it said of him, "_This is the country which he helped to save_."

CHAPTER X.

I have thus imperfectly, and to myself at least very unsatisfactorily, sketched the nine months' war experiences of a "raw recruit" of the Eleventh Rhode Island regiment. Whatever has been said, if anything, which shall provoke criticism, be a.s.sured that "naught has been set down in malice."

As was said by one whose words I have already quoted, "the men composing the Eleventh regiment compared favorably with those of other regiments which went from Rhode Island." Some theories, however, in regard to what const.i.tutes the best material for soldiers were upset by the results of our nine months' campaign. In my own company, for instance, the majority of the men were recruited from the professions and the counting-room. But before leaving home it was deemed best by the officers to enlist a few men upon whom they could rely to do the fighting in the event that the cla.s.ses to whom I have referred should show the "white feather" in the hour of trial. Consequently a few "roughs," or "toughs," or "bruisers," or "scalawags," were introduced into the company. With what result? Just what every intelligent man should have known at the outset. They were absolutely good for nothing when we were in camp but to furnish the company's quota for the guard-house, and when an emergency required their services they were either drunk or in the hospital by reason of their excesses. They were, indeed, "invincible in peace and invisible in war."

The best men at home proved the most serviceable in the field. And this I believe to be true not only of our own company and regiment, but of all the troops who entered the service of the country.

All soldiers have a regimental pride and affection. It would sound equally as strange to hear a man not speak well of his mother, as to hear a soldier not speak well of his regiment. The rebel General Hill tells of an Irish soldier belonging to a New Orleans regiment whom he found after the second day's battle at Gettysburg lying alone in the woods, his head partly supported by a tree. He was shockingly injured. General Hill said to him: "My poor fellow, you are badly hurt. What regiment do you belong to?" He replied: "The Fifth Confederit, sir; and a dommed good regiment it is." The answer, though almost ludicrous, well ill.u.s.trates a soldier's pride in his regiment.

That the Eleventh did not accomplish all that the men composing it expected it would when it left Rhode Island is admitted. But that it did its full duty in the obedience of every order, who will deny? As another has so well and truthfully said in regard to the regiment, "it had not the ordering of its own destiny. It went where it was ordered to go, and performed the duty to which it was a.s.signed, and left no stain to sully the fair fame and honor of the State or country." While it is true that to some regiments better opportunities were furnished to achieve distinction and renown than to others, there is no reason to suppose that the Eleventh Rhode Island would not have done equally as well under the same circ.u.mstances.

I am not insensible to the fact that during the war, and for some time after it was ended, a feeling was entertained by some of the men who first went out in the three years' regiments that the patriotism of the nine months' men was stimulated by the bounties which were offered. In Rhode Island, so far as my knowledge extends, the largest bounty paid any one person was one hundred and fifty dollars. Would any old soldier, especially if he has a family or others dependent upon him, consider the sum mentioned compensation in any adequate sense to induce him again to become a target for rebel bullets? It cannot be denied that there were some men--unworthy the name of soldiers--who were induced by the offers of bounty money to enlist and take the chances of "jumping" the bounty, or of desertion, but by far the larger proportion of those who enlisted after the bounties were offered, did so because they were then enabled to leave those who were dependent upon them for their daily bread in such a condition as to keep the wolf of starvation from the door in their absence.

Every man who, from love of his country, left home and friends to defend the honor of the old flag in the hour of its a.s.sailment by traitorous hands was a true patriot and deserves well of his fellow-countrymen, and whether he served for a longer or a shorter period, or whether his service was performed in the army or in the navy, on land or on sea, he has, by the faithful discharge of his duty, honored the State which he represented far more than it can ever honor him, and of him a grateful and appreciative people will unite in saying, "WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."