15 Civil War Letters, Journal: 171st PA; Stonewall Jackson Burning Town

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15 Civil War Letters, Journal: 171st PA; Stonewall Jackson Burning Town:
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Flags and cheered us all through town. Theyinvited us to a splendid breakfast at the Union Relief Association. Theytreated us better than they did in Harrisburg.We took cars for Washington on the 29th, got there at 8o’clock…went to the soldiers retreat for supper and then we went to thebarracks and stayed til Monday morning. Our boarding was the meanest kind atWashington. On Monday morning, the first day of December, went on board theSteamboat …Went down the Potomac 250 miles and shored at 6 o’clock on accountof fog. Slept in the dining room. On the 2nd we started and got toFortress Monroe at 5 o’clock in the evening. Lay in the boat til morning andthen the 3d day of December started for Norfolk about 30 or 40 miles up theElizabeth River. Took the cars in theevening for Suffolk. It was raining…Got to Suffolk after dark and we lay in thewoods that knight [sic]. The next day…we set up our tents in the evening. Harper took sick and died on the 9thand was buried on the 12th in the grave yard near Suffolk. He hadthe small pox or brain fever…Just got comfortably fixed when we got marchingorders on the 24th of December and then there was nothing done tillthe 26th Sunday morning. Thenwe took…through the mud and swamp and pine deserts. We marched 18 miles til12’oclock at knight. December 29thtook our march for Gaitesville…We were halted by the rebbels. Our Cavalry wassent to the front and the rebbels fled. We started and went to Gaitesvillewhere we were to take the boat but the rebels got ahead of us and we had totake another road. After dark, therebels came in sight of us. They were cavalry. I seen them ride through acornfield. It was clear [as] moonshine but we did not know how many there was.We got orders to halt and load. We were drawn in line all along the road. Therebels did not advance on us as we were not anxious to attack them. After sometime we were ordered to sleep on our arms and we were so tired. We lay down inthe woods without supper and we did not care whether the rebbels took us ornot. The 30th…marched till 9o’clock at knight when we arrived at…Branden Landing. It was raining and coldwind. We lay on the river bank til 11 o’clock at knight when we got on theSteam Sail Ship…December 31st, we took sail…We crossed theAlbermarle Sound. The water was mostly smooth…but at 12 o’clock when we werecrossing Pamlico Sound, there was a great storm. The river ran over our ship.The sailors were frightened and our men got sea sick. Some of them was almostthrown out of the boat. New Year’s morning it got calm and we landed atNewbern, North Carolina, about 3 o’clock in the evening we were marched 1 and ½miles from town and encamped in a field and got orders to build shanties forourselves and on the 6th and 7th of January we weremustered in for pay.” Drolsbaugh theninserts notes from his earlier home visit.“Went home to see my friends 2 times when I was at Harrisburg. The country through Maryland was splendidfarm land but poor buildings. Washington city is a handsome place but they didnot treat us well. They sweetened our coffee with sous molasses and gave usstinken meat. We seen Fort Washington on the Potomac and Mount Vernon. We seenthe monitor gun boat, the rebell Merrimac, the crazy islands, Roanoke Islands,rebells blockade and the boats they had abandoned. Norfolk is a dirty and poor place and Suffolkis no better. The country is level and swampy. Nothing but pine timber. On ourmarch, we took 3 days rations, our blankets, tents and 4 rounds of cartridgeson our backs. Our load was about 30 pounds. We did not go many miles till thesoldiers began to throw away the blankets. Their load was too much for them. Itwas warm and muddy. When we got out among the Secessionists, our soldiers tooktheir horses, chickens, bread, apples, sweet potatoes and made them cook forour men. The white men were nearly allin the rebell army. The Negroes and white weemen was attending to farming in NorthCarolina…Our men plundered all their houses, took what they wanted. The womenwould scream and cry but it was of no use. I thought a pity of them for allthey were rebels and I did not steal or take anything from them. There wereabout 30,000 of our men and you may think they would scare anybody. Some of thefarmers was butchering. Some had 30 hogs hung up and our men took as much meatfrom them as they wanted and tore down their bee hives and eat their honey. Wewere in General Spinolas Brigade and he was as mean a man as ever lived. Hemade us wade through the swamp…Sometimes we rolled up our pants, took off ourshoes and waded the creeks. Our colonel said he never seen men run as far as wehad…but he had to do what the general ordered. Our colonel is a perfectgentleman. Newbern is a splendid town and country. The rebels burned the bestpart of the town…The inhabitants of North Carolina are mostly for the Union.Great numbers of them are enlisted in our army. They are fine men. There isthousands of Negroes here working around our camps. There is from 70 to 80,000troops here and they are still coming.

Flagstaff was raised and Sunday the 22nd, Spinolas Brigade was inspectedand the Flag hoisted on Fort. Spinola and 32 guns fixed in memory of ourbeloved Washington…25th of February, Major General Foster reviewedour troops of Newbern. Estimated 16 or 18,000 men…In the evening of the 4thof March, we got orders to cook 3 days rations and hold ourselves in readinessfor a march at an hours notice. On themorning of the 6th, we took up our line of march. 6,000 strongencamped on Mcdenny’s Farm, 8 miles from Trenton. Saturday morning got ordersto have breakfast over and pack our knapsacks and overcoats in a vacant housenear our Camp. E. Duncan was detailed toguard our baggage. We loaded our arms and started for Trenton and…the rebels runaway. So the citizens surrendered the twon to us and we came back to ourbaggage, took some crackers and coffee and started for Jackson. Run into campat 8 o’clock near White Oak River, built a bridge on Sunday morning. Heard therebells call their roll. Planted a brass battery on the bank till we got thebridge rebuilt. The New York regiment crossed the bridge and then the 171stthe 2 regiments were drawn up in line of battle in a large field. But therebels were not to be found so we went on to 8 miles on the side of Jacksonvilleand took our positions. The cavalry rode onto town and captured some horses andprisoners and came back to camp. Monday morning went to Stevensville. Drovethem out and took their horses and at 10 o’clock, we started for home and cameback to White Oak River and encamped …The mud was very deep. Got into camp atNewbern…Friday the 13th rebels commenced driving in our pickets andthreatened to burn town. The 14th we went to town to celebrate thatday in memory…it was taken. But we wereturned back to prepare to fight the rebels. Throughout we shelled…So a brisk cannonadingcommenced above town and lasted til dark when the rebels was repulsed and droveback. We were drawn up in line of battleat our breastworks. Saturday and Sunday morning at 4 o’clock the rebels begunto come down the Trent River…Our brigade went out to meet them and encamped 3miles on this side of Pollocksville. Threw up a riffle pit…Sunday night. Ourcompany went on picket…Monday morning we advanced to the rebels works and foundthem dissented so we came back to camp…Thomas Smith and Nicholas Brieide wasdetailed on the 14th of March to attend the canon on ourbreastworks. March the 26thwent out at night, got a boat…caught a splendid lot of fish…”

blood run out of mynose for several days. I was so weak for 2 weeks I could hardly walk but Iattended to my business all the time. Iam well now…My weight was 180 ¾ pounds. The fat is coming out between my ribsas big as ears of corn…” February 22, 1863, Newbern, “…I hope the day will sooncome when this war will come to an end. If I had no family, I would devote mytime in the military service of our country.A soldier’s life is one of hardship full of trials & troubles. Butif I could leave home as many do, I would certainly bear the toils and trialswith more pleasure and pride than I do. We are now well quartered and I thinkin a healthy country. If the war was over, I would rather live in NorthCarolina than go west…” March 28, 1863, CampNear Newbern, North Carolina, “…It is wet and cold at nights. We have been on 2expeditions and now we have orders to go out again. We have not been in anyfights yet we are to start this evening at 4 o’clock. We have 3 days’ rationsso we aint going very far…” May 13, 1863, Washington, [NC], E. Duncan, friendof Drolsbaugh writes on behalf of his friend, “…I am sorry to inform you thatmy friend Jas Drolsbaugh is sick at present.He has not been well for some time but was able to go about until 11inst. He was taken to the hospital. He is better this morning. He thinks he cancome to camp in a few days. Some of us go to see him morning and evening andwill as long as he stays in the hospital. I cannot tell you what is the matterwith him as the doctor will not tell us. Carter has been sick for a few days…Itwas James request that I should write to you…” June 22, 1863, Washington, “…Thelieutenant colonel gave me his horse last Saturday and I took the mare out toour men. I could hardly get on the horse. But when I was on, I could ride verywell…I am staying in my tent by myself and am as contented as the day islong. In all my sickness I was contentedin the hospital. Weak for 3 weeks…I think that contentment is one of thegreatest blessings God bestows…One report says that we will leave for home nextweek…” July 18, 1863, Camp Curtain,Harrisburg, “…We left Fortress Monroe at 5 o’clock, July the 16th,and landed at Baltimore at 4 in the evening of the 17th and thismorning at 8 o’clock we landed here. Our regiment is at South Mountain gap…I amgetting better…Have the charge of 74 men here. They are invalids. Some sick,others playing off sick. Would of went home to day but I could not get away andmade out 2 furloughs for our boys…” March 27th, 1863, “