1862. the only regiment in the brigade that suffered no loss. Persons unfamiliar with such matters commonly estimate the value of a regiment's service by its number of killed and wounded. This is not a safe guide, as it frequently happens that the commanding officer of a regiment can save his men by coolness and good judgment. The regiment that can do the most execution with the smallest loss, is certainly the one that serves the country best. An instance happened with us at this time which, though seemingly insignificant, illustrates this idea very well. When we received orders to change position to the right, the brigade had its bayonets "fixed." The moon happened to be in a cloud when the movement was begun, and, as it was important that it be made with all possible secrecy to the enemy, our colonel gave the order to "trail arms!" which order had the effect of concealing the bayonets from view as the moon became unobscured. The position of the other regiments was discovered when the rays of the moon flashed on their bayonets, thereby drawing the enemy's fire. Whether or not this accounts for our good fortune, the thoughtfulness exhibited by the colonel on this occasion has often been spoken of in terms of praise. There are plenty of instances during the war when the rashness of officers has cost the lives of many men. General Hartsuff's report of his part in the battle of Cedar Mountain is as follows: I first took position in close column by division about two hundred and fifty yards in the rear of the centre of General Tower's line, and when the fire of the enemy's battery was directed toward my position, I moved my brigade a few yards beyond the crest of a hill, which sheltered them from the fire, and changed my direction so as to face the fire. In this position I remained until 3.30 A.M., when, by General McDowell's directions, I moved about half a mile to the rear. Officers and men behaved under the unexpected and close fire with very commendable coolness; ranks were unbroken, and there was no confusion. The last place to look for a stock company would be among a regiment of soldiers. After being deprived of camp kettles, mess pans, etc., each man was obliged to do his own cooking, as already stated, in his tin dipper, which held about a pint. Whether it was coffee, beans, pork, or anything depending on the services of a fire to 1862. make it palatable, it was accomplished by aid of the dipper only. Therefore any utensil like a frying-pan was of incalculable service in preparing a meal. There were so few of these in the regiment, that only men of large means, men who could raise a dollar thirty days after a paymaster's visit, could afford such a luxury. In one instance the difficulty was overcome by the formation of a joint-stock company, composed of five stockholders, each paying the sum of twenty cents toward the purchase of a frying-pan, which cost the sum of one dollar. The par value of each share was therefore twenty cents. It was understood that each stockholder should take his turn at carrying the frying-pan when on a march, which responsibility entitled him to its first use in halting for the night. While in camp, it passed from one to the other each day in order of turn. It was frequently loaned for a consideration, thereby affording means for an occasional dividend among the stockholders. The stock advanced in value until it reached as high as forty cents per share, so that a stockholder in the "Joint Stock Frying Pan Company" was looked upon as a man of consequence. Being treated with kindness and civility by his comrades, life assumed a roseate hue to the shareholders in this great company, in spite of their deprivations. It was flattering to hear one's self mentioned in terms of praise by some impecunious comrade who wished to occupy one side of it while you were cooking. On this particular morning, when we started out, expecting shortly to be in a fight, the stock went rapidly down, until it could be bought for almost nothing. As the day progressed, however, there was a slight rise, though the market was not strong. When the order was given to leave knapsacks, it necessarily included this utensil, and so the "Joint Stock Frying Pan Company" was wiped out. 1862. Sunday, August 10. CHAPTER VI. MARCHED back to the place where we left our knapsacks yesterday afternoon, while on the way to the front. Having recovered our worldly goods and restored our tempers to as near a normal condition as the exasperating circumstances would allow, we were formed in a square to listen to a sermon by the chaplain, whose text was, "What came ye out for to see?" That was a conundrum that each must answer for himself, and some of us very soon. Friday, Marched to the Rapidan River, seven miles, and camped. The spot selected was in an elevated posi August 15. tion in sight of the river and the fields beyond, where could be seen the enemy's pickets. Sunday, In the afternoon we received sudden orders to march down the river about four miles, the enemy being in force on the opposite side. Our camp was not far from Mitchell's station, and the water scarce. August 17. In the afternoon a batch of recruits arrived from Boston, and another fine lot of boys they were. Their knapMonday, August 18. sacks were loaded, as we knew from experience, with many things they could do without, and beside ours they looked like "Saratogas." They were at once drawn up in line and assigned to companies, after which the chaplain gave them some friendly advice as to what we "old fellows" were; cautioning them to beware of our seductive advice about discarding this or that, and particularly cautioning them about swapping their bright, new dippers His advice was, no doubt, well-intenfor our old, battered ones. tioned, but his accusations were so general that the recruits hardly knew whom to trust, and it was, therefore, a rather delicate matter for us to give advice, though they sadly needed it. However, we |
