1862: Bull Run & Parole

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Chère maman,

By the time you get this I shall no doubt be back with my regiment. On the last three days of August the regiment was involved in a furious battle at the end of which I, and a number of my comrades, unfortunately found ourselves guests of the rebel army.

The battle was fought near the first great battle of this awful war, near Manassas, Virginia, along Bull Run. The regiment suffered horribly from what I am told. Of 379 who marched into battle, 10 officers and 42 men were killed, 9 officers and 55 men were wounded, and 4 officers and 60 men went missing (of which I and a number of Company K are numbered amongst). Our Lieutenant Colonel, Gorton Thomas, was wounded as well.

I just heard that he died of his wounds along with the news that I and the others of the 22nd have been exchanged. We leave this place to rejoin our unit, rumor has it that we are marching to Maryland under yet another general, Joe Hooker.

Votre fils, Joseph

Joseph found that his hands were sweating profusely, his rifle seemed to be getting heavier and heavier as the 22nd stood in formation, listening to the outbreak of cannon and musketry to their front.

"Sounds like the black hat boys have stirred up a nest of rebs up ahead." Thomas Dignan spoke just loud enough so that only Joseph and John Corcoran heard him.

"Rebs?" Joseph said, swallowing hard, he felt a powerful thirst and a powerful desire to urinate. He knew what it was he was feeling, he was terrified.

"Shut yer yap, Frenchie. We'll get stuck in shortly, don't you worry none." Sergeant Wynas snapped at Joseph, he was still angered that he hadn't been made the company 1st Sergeant.

As the men waited nervously, a single horseman came galloping down the road shouting as he rode past, "Stonewall's up ahead, he's hitting Gibbon hard!"

A hiss went through the ranks at the mention of the reb general, Stonewall Jackson. He was respected and feared throughout the northern army.

Nothing more came of this action as the 22nd and its parent brigade were ordered into cover. Gibbon's brigade had indeed stirred up a hornet's nest, they had also been immortalized with a new nickname - the Iron Brigade.¹

On the 30th of August fighting was renewed, all Joseph could recall of the battle was the constant loading and firing of his rifle. By the end of the day everyone had a raging thirst from biting off cartridges and their stained faces were evidence of the number of rounds they had fired.

They had stood their ground for as long as they could until ordered to fall back. It seemed like the entire army was once again fleeing for their lives.

Joseph and many of his company had been cornered near a stone bridge, an artillery limber had been hit on the bridge and as the 22nd waited to get across, the rebels had attacked again. As the regiment started to retire over the newly cleared bridge, Company K had acted as the rear guard.

Their ammunition ran out just as rebel troops under Longstreet had launched yet another attack.

"That's it boys! We're done, put down your weapons!"

Joseph couldn't believe his ears, an officer he didn't recognize was ordering them to surrender. He couldn't see his own company's officers, perhaps they were all down, he couldn't be sure. Reluctantly he placed his rifle on the ground.

"Ain't no shame, Billy, y'all fought purty good today. Better'n I've seen 'til now."

The man in the threadbare gray uniform gently shoved Joseph towards another group of blue-clad soldiers.

"Fightin's over for you boys today, heckfire, y'all probably get exchanged soon, Bobby Lee don't have time to babysit a bunch of Yanks anyhow. We's gonna take Washington and chase old Abe back to Illinois!"

The rebels all seemed pretty pleased with themselves.

"I thought we were prisoners, Sarge." Joseph was confused. A reb had handed him a piece of paper, which he'd had to sign, in which he promised not to fight again until exchanged.

Sergeant Foy shook his head, "We are and we ain't, we've been paroled, that's what that paper we all signed means. We stay behind the lines until we get exchanged with some captured Johnnies."

Thomas Dignan spoke up, "What if we just rejoin the regiment, that piece of paper doesn't really mean anything, does it?"

Lieutenant Huntley stirred, "If we ignore that paper, and get caught again, the rebs can shoot us, legally. That's if they check to see who's been paroled."

"Shot?" Joseph said, with said alarm.

"Yep, the lieutenant's right. Bastards can shoot us if we cheat on our parole."

Dignan spoke up again, "Will our general abide by this?"

Huntley nodded, "He better, law says he has to."

"Well, damn boys, let's enjoy the break. At least no one's shootin' at us!"

Joseph didn't see who had said that, but he had to agree. He had been terrified all day during the battle, now he wasn't that worried as the rebs didn't seem so bad. Fellows just like back home, though they did talk funny.

¹ Most in the army still referred to them as the black hat boys. The Iron Brigade was something more for public consumption and the newspapermen.