Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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Back to 10th Vermont Volunteers

Primary Sources for the 10th Volunteers Infantry

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Head Quarters 10th Vt
Camp at Relay House Md
July 11th, 1864

My Darling wife
Again I have passed through a severe battle and again God has spared me. I passed through unhurt this time - None of the Waterbury boys were hit. Maj. Dill died nobley and is all right. Also Lt. Thompson. For my good conduct during the fight I was detailed by Genl. Ricketts to take command of this position which is the most important one from Baltimore to Washington and was allowed to take my own Regiment and the 67 Pen. while I find about 600 troops already here all of which I have command of so you see I am commanding a Brigade and am quite a Brigadier.

In the fight I lost abouty fifty killed and wounded and some prisoners cannot tell yet how many Sergt. Peabody was mortally wounded he could not live four hours – he is the only one now I can think of that you know in our Regt. none of the officers were hit while the 14th N.J. lost most all of their officers Hurons cousin Capt Chamberlin of the 106 N.York was mortally wounded. They also lost very heavy in officers and men. I send you a morning paper with most of the particulars. The Rebs had more than three to our one and although we fought well they were to many for us and we had to fall. Will write more particulars during the day this is early in the morning and am very busy.

As ever
William

https://cdi.uvm.edu/manuscript/uvmcdi-93430?islandora_paged_content_page=2

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Vermont Watchman and State Journal, July 29, 1864

FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.

RELAY HOUSE, July 12, 1864.

* * * Perhaps you will wonder how my letter came to be dated at this place. I can tell you in a few words: simply because we are here. But to begin; at daylight on last Wednesday morning, July 6th, our division orders were to be ready to move immediately, and started at once for City Point, report said to take the boat at City Point, 12 miles distant, for Harper's Ferry. It being very warm and the dust any where from three inches to half knee deep, and we going pretty fast, you can rightly imagine that it was very hard marching. We arrived at about noon and took the boast by 3 o'clock and started about 4; we sailed all night and reached Baltimore Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, making the passage in 24 hours — Here we remained on the boat till 1 o'clock, when we landed and took the cars and start of for Frederick City at 3 A. M, Friday, which point we reached at 9 1-2 o'clock A. M. We marched and countermarched thro’ the city several times, and after stopping to get dinner started for Frederick Junction, which place could have been reached by march of only three miles, but they took us around a distance of full ten miles, and our destination was not reached until midnight of Friday. The rebels were already in the vicinity and a small fight had occurred the day before near Frederick. Saturday morning we were moved round into position and pickets were sent out, and immediately after, skimishing commenced and very soon one of our company—Geo. Poor-came in wounded. He was hit in the right arm, just below the elbow and had one bone broken. During the middle of the forenoon the rebels commenced throwing shell and soon the fighting opened in earnest. We did not get into it much before noon, but the rebels having the much the largest force, the most artillery, (we had only seven pieces) and the best position take it all in all they were too much for us. The enemy had two or three lines of battle. and we only one. There force was estimated at 20,000, while we had only 6,000. In the afternoon the fighting was severe, neither side had entrenchments and in plain sight each other, all we had to do was to load and fire as fast as possible, I never want any better mark to shoot at than I had on that day. The battle raged until about four o'clock; when it was ascertained that they had got us nearly surrounded and were about to “gobble” us all up, did we not make good our escape. We began to fall back with the rebels close on to us and they took a good many prisoners. We had a hard time of it, for it had been a very hot day, and by the constant hard fighting the boys were most “played out.” The whole division was soon scattered—some on one road and some on another, but we all went in one direction, i. e. —towards Baltimore. It was such a time as I never saw before — a regular “skedaddle.” I came down the railroad with five others of my company, and after going some 15 or 20 miles we found some hand cars which we put on the track and came some 35 to 40 miles in this way, and by traveling nearly all night succeeded in reaching Elicott's Mills, 15 miles above Baltimore,Sunday noon, 10th. At this point, what remained of our division came together, and Sunday night we came down here to the Relay House. Our division had lost heavily; a good many were killed and wounded, and a large number taken prisoners. It is hoped many of the missing will yet come in. Our regiment musters only 200 to 230 men now. B.

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