Posted inUS Civil War

November 2, 1862 – Movements of the Troops

New York. Nov. 1—A special to the Times from Harper’s Ferry 30th, says: Yesterday Richardson’s division passed Snicker’a Gap to Paris, a small town on the road leading from Leesburg and running through Ashby’s Gap. The forces under Gens. French and Sedgewick left here this morning, crossing the Shenandoah bridges. Sumner’s corps also moved into Virginia yesterday, through the Blue mountain and Short hills, where he will form a junction with Burnside, who ia now at Purcelsville.—nearly all the troops have moved off from London and Maryland Heights. For the present Gen. Geary’s command is to remain on Bolivar Heights. Maryland Heights are also well protected. Gen. Slocum’s command to garrison the Ferry.

Posted inPublic Health & Medicine US Civil War

October 28, 1862 – The Sanitary Condition of the Army

We have a letter before us from an Intelligent, educated citizen of this State, a non-commissioned officer in one of our late Maine Regiments, from which we make the following extracts:

“We have been put through a pretty hard breaking-in process. Our march through Maryland was a fatiguing one, and the exposure (sleeping in the open air) was a rough ordeal to those of hitherto sedentary life especially. I stood it better than I expected, carrying my musket every day that the regiment moved, though many stout men gave out, who, I thought, could stand much more than I.”

The writer was afflicted with the prevailing army diseases,—diarrhoea, dysentery, and bloody flux,—and was obliged to report him self on the sick list. He was on the doctor’s hands about a week, and says of his treatment—

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October 21, 1862 – The Battle of Perryville

REBELS BADLY WHIPPED.
THE FORTY-SECOND INDIANA REG’T.

Battle-field, near Perryville,
Forty-second Reg’t I. V.
October 10th, 1862.

Messrs Editors: I embrace the earliest opportunity of giving you a sketch of the battle near Perrysville, Ky., which commenced on the evening of the 8th inst, near one o’clock P. M. Of what occurred outside of the 17th brigade, I am not able to inform you, nor can I particularize about any regiment but the 42d. However, this I do know from personal observation that never can troops fight more bravely than did the 10th Ohio, led by the gallant Lieut. Colonel Burke, on whom too much honor and praise cannot be bestowed. Of the 15th Kentucky, led by Col. Pope, who received a wound in the shoulder, the same may be said, and of the 3d Ohio, led by Col. Beatty, and the 88th Indiana, led by Col. Humphreys, the same may be said: for all did honor to the cause of the Union and liberty. But as I can only speak in general terms of those noble regiment and their brave officers, I will hasten to speak in particular of the part played in the fearful drama by the 42d, in which your readers are more particularly interested.

About 10 o’clock the 42d was ordered to take position in a dry creek, at the foot of a rugged hill, about three hundred yards in advance, and one hundred to the right of Loomis’ battery. There we remained till the fight began, which was commenced by the rebels with artillery upon Loomis’.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 7, 1862 – The Battle of Iuka

General Grant has issued the following congratulatory order:

Headq’rs Dist. of West Tennessee
Corinth, MS, Sept. 20, 1862

General Order No. 1

The General commanding takes pleasure in congratulating the two wings of the army, commanded respectively by Maj. Gen. Ord and Maj. Gen. Rosecrans, upon the energy; alacrity, and bravery displayed by them on the 19th and 20th inst., in their movement against the enemy at Iuka.

Although the enemy was in numbers reputed far greater than their own, nothing was evinced by the troops but a burning desire to meet him, whatever his numbers, and however strong his position.