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units:71st_new_york_state_militia_primary_sources [2019/06/21 17:12] admin |
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| <p>Yesterday afternoon, through the courtesy of Colonel Stone, the efficient commander in charge of the Washington Branch railroad, we were permitted to make a trip out to the Annapolis Junction, on the special train sent out for the New York Seventy-first Regiment. The train consisted of sixteen large cars, and carried out the Northern mail, a number of iron rails for replacing any that might have been torn up, and several barrels of bread, crackers, sugar, &c., together with a large amount of salt meat for the troops now daily arriving at the Junction. Leaving the depot about 4 1/2 p. m., with a rifleman upon the locomotive, we steamed out toward the secession region at a rapid rate. Everything was all right along the whole route, and there was nothing to betoken any hostile designs either upon the railroad or the troops. Just beyond Bladensburg we passed the first guard stationed to protect the road, and from there to the junction we were but little of the time out of sight of the gleaming bayonets of Uncle Sam's protectors. The guards seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely, and had fixed up neat little booths to protect them from the sun and the dew ; while as we darted over the streams we caught glimpses of some of the chaps who had gone down to bathe, and were having a jolly time paddling in the clear water. Having watered our steam horse at Beltsville, and given a cheer for a couple of loyal sprigs of Young America who lustily waved diminutive gridirons from the fence as we darted by, we soon fetched up at the Junction, where were awaiting the Seventy-first Regiment of Now York, a Pennsylvania regiment, and five companies of the Massachusetts Fifth Regiment.</p> | <p>Yesterday afternoon, through the courtesy of Colonel Stone, the efficient commander in charge of the Washington Branch railroad, we were permitted to make a trip out to the Annapolis Junction, on the special train sent out for the New York Seventy-first Regiment. The train consisted of sixteen large cars, and carried out the Northern mail, a number of iron rails for replacing any that might have been torn up, and several barrels of bread, crackers, sugar, &c., together with a large amount of salt meat for the troops now daily arriving at the Junction. Leaving the depot about 4 1/2 p. m., with a rifleman upon the locomotive, we steamed out toward the secession region at a rapid rate. Everything was all right along the whole route, and there was nothing to betoken any hostile designs either upon the railroad or the troops. Just beyond Bladensburg we passed the first guard stationed to protect the road, and from there to the junction we were but little of the time out of sight of the gleaming bayonets of Uncle Sam's protectors. The guards seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely, and had fixed up neat little booths to protect them from the sun and the dew ; while as we darted over the streams we caught glimpses of some of the chaps who had gone down to bathe, and were having a jolly time paddling in the clear water. Having watered our steam horse at Beltsville, and given a cheer for a couple of loyal sprigs of Young America who lustily waved diminutive gridirons from the fence as we darted by, we soon fetched up at the Junction, where were awaiting the Seventy-first Regiment of Now York, a Pennsylvania regiment, and five companies of the Massachusetts Fifth Regiment.</p> | ||
| - | <p>The Seventy-first, with their regimental band, filed up to the train, and in a twinkling deposited themselves and their baggage therein. Nothing could be more interesting than the scene toward midnight. About the train all was quiet and still, save the measured tread of the sentries ; the camp fires of the other regiments flared fitfully up in the gloom of the forest; the plaintive notes of the whippowil rang out sweet and clear, mingling with the subdued laugh around the fires ; while now and then a 'signal rocket from the enemy would stream up into the sky from the adjacent hills, and falling in a glittering shower, vanish in the darkness. About 2 o'clock there was a sudden concussion, then a tremor along the train, and with a jerk that threw everybody endways, the boys woke to the pleasurable consciousness of feeling the train in. motion. This, however, proved to be nothing more than backing on to the switch ; and all hands settled down to Bleep until, just no the first purple blush of day dawned over the tree tops, the remainder of the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment fined in, and away we steamed for Washington. As we came down the track, the guards were relieved, filling up the platforms and the tops of some of the ears, and all reported right except in one place, where the guard had found, a few moments before, a heavy rail and a large pile of stones placed upon the track. AS we neared the city, hate and handkerchiefs were raised by early risers.</p> | + | <p>The Seventy-first, with their regimental band, filed up to the train, and in a twinkling deposited themselves and their baggage therein. Nothing could be more interesting than the scene toward midnight. About the train all was quiet and still, save the measured tread of the sentries ; the camp fires of the other regiments flared fitfully up in the gloom of the forest; the plaintive notes of the whippowil rang out sweet and clear, mingling with the subdued laugh around the fires ; while now and then a 'signal rocket from the enemy would stream up into the sky from the adjacent hills, and falling in a glittering shower, vanish in the darkness. About 2 o'clock there was a sudden concussion, then a tremor along the train, and with a jerk that threw everybody endways, the boys woke to the pleasurable consciousness of feeling the train in. motion. This, however, proved to be nothing more than backing on to the switch ; and all hands settled down to Bleep until, just no the first purple blush of day dawned over the tree tops, the remainder of the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment fined in, and away we steamed for Washington. As we came down the track, the guards were relieved, filling up the platforms and the tops of some of the ears, and all reported right except in one place, where the guard had found, a few moments before, a heavy rail and a large pile of stones placed upon the track. As we neared the city, hate and handkerchiefs were raised by early risers.</p> |
| - | <p>The Seventy-first expected to have to cut their way through Maryland to the capital, and the first night took every precaution to guard against surprise. The front, middle and rear ranks each carried with them a bugle, with which to sound an alarm, and scouts wore kept out in front, at the sides and in rear. Nothing occurred to interfere with their march, and their felt night was spent perfectly at ease. They express great pleasure at the friendly treatment received from </p> | + | <p>The Seventy-first expected to have to cut their way through Maryland to the capital, and the first night took every precaution to guard against surprise. The front, middle and rear ranks each carried with them a bugle, with which to sound an alarm, and scouts were kept out in front, at the sides and in rear. Nothing occurred to interfere with their march, and their felt night was spent perfectly at ease. They express great pleasure at the friendly treatment received from </p> |
| <p>the people of Maryland, and believe if their motives in coming to Washington were fully understood, they could march through Baltimore unmolested.</p> | <p>the people of Maryland, and believe if their motives in coming to Washington were fully understood, they could march through Baltimore unmolested.</p> | ||
| <p>The men are fine-looking specimens of the American soldier, their uniforms neat and clean, their deportment unexceptionable, and their powers of endurance admirable. They marched all the way from Annapolis to the Junction on two biscuits apiece, and only had two more for their supper yesterday when they got there ; and yet there was not, a murmur heard in the ranks, and when the halt was ordered, and the roll called, not a man was found to be missing. No stragglers or sick had to be waited for. This is an almost unprecedented exploit.</p> | <p>The men are fine-looking specimens of the American soldier, their uniforms neat and clean, their deportment unexceptionable, and their powers of endurance admirable. They marched all the way from Annapolis to the Junction on two biscuits apiece, and only had two more for their supper yesterday when they got there ; and yet there was not, a murmur heard in the ranks, and when the halt was ordered, and the roll called, not a man was found to be missing. No stragglers or sick had to be waited for. This is an almost unprecedented exploit.</p> | ||
units/71st_new_york_state_militia_primary_sources.txt · Last modified: 2019/06/21 17:16 by admin