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| 22nd New York Infantry, A. A. Robinson Source |
Chère maman,
"Frenchie, Dignan, Kilmer come with me." 1st Sergeant Kelly seemed to be in a hurry. The men grabbed their gear and followed.
Joseph had noticed the 1st Sergeant was limping badly, some said he was soon to be sent back home. The man was in his forties and looked older. Some said that Sergeant Wynas would be the new 1st Sergeant. Joseph hoped not, the man had taken a dislike to Joseph.
After sitting in camp all winter, we are on the march again. Some of the fellows think that we are to go into the land of the secessionists and take their capital of Richmond. The sergeants all say it is nonsense. We will just march back and forth until the summer then return to camp once more. If this continues I shall certainly regret joining Monsieur Lincoln's army.
Over the past days we have marched four or five miles a day all over Virginia, then we camp and march again. There seems little point to it. We did come very near the first battlefield of this war at Bull Run. Finally we set up camp at Falmouth on the Rappahannock River just north of the town of Fredericksburg. Rumor has it that the President is coming to review us at this place.
I do not mind standing for a parade, my legs are ready to fall off from all of this marching. But in truth, it gets easier the more we do it.
Votre fils, Joseph
"So, are we going to see the President?" Private Adam Kilmer was allegedly 18, he looked all of 15 to the older men.
"The regiment will see him, you boys will not, you have guard duty during the great man's visit."
"Merde." Joseph muttered under his breath.
"English, Frenchie, I speak a bit o' that tongue of yours, and what ye just uttered was no pleasantry. Now was it?"
"No, 1st Sergeant. I am just disappointed to not see Mister Lincoln."
Kelly stopped and spun on his heel.
"You fellows are gonna have it easy. While the rest of the regiment is sweltering under the hot sun while the politicians talk, ye'll be in the artillery park back in yon trees. Plenty o' shade back there. I'd rather be with ye, but Cap'n Cadwell, bless his soul, wants me with the company."
Joseph had noticed the 1st Sergeant was limping badly, some said he was soon to be sent back home. The man was in his forties and looked older. Some said that Sergeant Wynas would be the new 1st Sergeant. Joseph hoped not, the man had taken a dislike to Joseph.
His friend Thomas Dignan thought that unlikely, "They'll probably bring someone in from outside of the company. Besides, the Captain doesn't like Sergeant Wynas, which is probably why he's so damn mean."
"Think we'll see action this year, Thomas?"
"I do lad, I do. The Johnnies aren't going to quit on account of our marching around all over Virginia. Would we quit if they was marching around upstate New York?"
"No Thomas, I'd think we'd shoot them." As Joseph said that, a shudder passed through him.
His friend Dignan nodded and said, "I think the Johnnies are just looking for the opportunity to shoot us. We just won't hold still long enough, I suppose."
Joseph looked off into the distance as a fanfare of music sounded in the distance.
"Do you think it's the President?"
"I do lad, I do. Probably come down to kick McDowell to get him moving against the Johnnies instead of just wearing out their roads."
"And our legs!"
Dignan chuckled, "That too, lad."
An enjoyable bit of banter between soldiers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael.
Delete"I do lad, I do. Probably come down to kick McDowell to get him moving against the Johnnies instead of just wearing out their roads."
ReplyDelete"And our legs!"
Dignan chuckled, "That too, lad."
And their shoes. Those M1851 Jefferson Booties (yes, bootie, or possibly bootee) were notoriously uncomfortable and short lived, often wearing out in a month or two.Thin leather soles, no arch support, stiff uppers that came over the ankle but gave no support. Two pairs of thick woolen socks ("Ah! Esso si que es!" "Well why didn't you say that in the first place!") could make them almost comfortable. If you didn't put in hobnails it was deucedly hard to go uphill if the grass was damp. Even with them it was difficult. And you needed toe and heel plates to keep from wearing them out - especially the heels- in the first mile. They were my least favorite part of the uniform when I was doing reenacting.
Heel plates could be a simple horse shoe design, or a plate with a fancy cutout - e.g. a tar, heart, trefoil, etc. Some were made with the Corps badges cut out: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM70836
Other examples of period heel and toe plates: (obviously these first ones were NOT military issue shoes...well, maybe Hookers Division) https://www.clarendonvthistory.org/HSWF_DisplayItem?ID=225&XS=A
Camp finds around Vicksburg https://civilwartalk.com/threads/boot-toe-plates.198706/
Other camp finds: http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/justoutoftheground13.html
Those sword bayonets are interesting. In my mind I more associate with Zouaves than regular or volunteer infantry units. I'm nor used to seeing the M1855 Socket Bayonets (which make very nice candelabra https://isteam.wsimg.com/ip/ef6043c7-72a8-11e5-8b8b-14feb5d39f58/ols/67901_original/:/rs=w:600,h:600 and https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-XcQVPF8ycdddRwYDLGHHDYtx6fVmQryaFsvgMaukDP431qkL3lvBOCnFRl4myXwjmAdAgMfna9chkvUTgKNWuVeTvBuDtfr1yPdvXlHdUg3nQiOb33Mnd79H82U9EAygusSKMbFMoQ/s1600/Bayonet+Candlestick+1870s.jpg )
Re: the Historical Society of Clarendon Vermont page, I believe the comment about the heart pattern heel plate being used by prostitutes is in error as many examples of that pattern have been found on military brogans and in areas known to be camps and battlefields.
DeleteI like this story very much, Sarge! I think you’ve very well described life as a young infantry soldier. Probably as it is and was in every war in human history. Keep up the good work!
Deletejuvat
Joe - Shoes were always a problem.
Deletejuvat - Thanks!
DeleteThe real value in reenacting is as Joe described; "walking in their shoes". Did enough " humping" in my younger days to avoid "playing Army" for "fun".
DeleteWe did walk part of the Bastogne perimeter one year; it's an annual event each December and there are always reenactors in WWII gear. WE stuck to Columbia, Merrell, fleece and other " Gucci Gear"; good thing, too, as the weather was appropriately miserable..
Boat Guy
Amen to modern gear!
DeleteMy Dad told an (unconfirmed) story about when native Algerian French troops (who normally went barefoot and with calloused foot soles like shoe leather) were issued WW2 army boots. They would drop a handful of pebbles and sand in each boot to make walking feel more natural and comfortable.
DeleteSounds apocryphal, but hey, stranger things have happened!
DeleteJoe #2 - This comment was rescued from the spam filter.
DeleteI, too, am enjoying this series Sarge. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIn my life I have seen one President in person (President Reagan). It was quite a different time and I am sure things do not work like that now, but it was enjoyable.
I've never seen a President in the flesh. Having to sit through a Vice President's (Hubert Humphrey) speech in junior high cured me of wanting to meet (or listen to) politicians.
DeleteWalk-krieg is much better than Being-shot-at-krieg. Both armies were playing a war of maneuver. Who will strike first?
ReplyDeleteThat had to be unnerving amongst veteran soldiers. Are they coming here? Are we going there? Questions on both sides.
On a bad day you get both!
DeleteLove the look of those Loong bayonets in formation, see it in period photos, never modern. (movies/ stills). Even alot of WW1 and 2 historical photos always have "longer" bayonets than portrayed in modernity. I know you only need 4" to kill, but, when ordered to "Give them the steel!' I'd rather have a few more inches... (that's what she said).
ReplyDeleteSarge , I missed an opportunity to April Fool, your offer to write. And transcribe Jr. High's "Savetail Viking" 's . Creative writing book report.
Those long bayonets do have a "I mean business" look to them!
DeleteInteresting to compare with yesterday's photo. This group are armed with Pattern 1858 Rifles, as opposed to Pattern 1853 Rifle Muskets shown yesterday. Both used the same ammunition, so there are no logistics issues with the mixed arms. The P1858 has a barrel about 33 inches long, and used a really long sword bayonet with a sexy curved "Yataghan" blade that attaches to a long stud on the right side of the barrel. The P1853 had 39 inch barrel, and used a triangular socket bayonet with an 18 inch blade, which attached with a "Z" shaped notch fitting over the front sight.
ReplyDeleteMilitary geniuses at the time decreed that arms with shorter barrel length needed to compensate by having bayonet lengthened so the tip would match the "reach" of the longer arms. In fact, someone suggested to the Ordnance Department that the simple way to win the war was to equip all our soldiers with bayonets 2 inches longer than previously used, and thus able to reach the enemy without them reaching us!
John Blackshoe
Without the negative effect of weight, or the 'physics" of a center of balance, I would heartily agree with, "Just a bit more steel".
DeleteJB - Geniuses indeed. Why not just issue them pikes?
Delete(And no repeating rifles, thank you. Ammunition costs money, dontcha know?)
DV - I like the idea of being able to touch the other guy before he can touch me, but that sucker would be nose heavy I would think.
Delete(I got to handle an AK-47 back in my brief Army ROTC days, had the permanently attached folding bayonet on it. I thought the weapon was nose heavy, compared to other weapons I'd handled.)
May have been a design purpose rather than a flaw... Help keep the muzzle down and on target against recoil.
DeleteThat was my thought as well.
Delete