"The Irish Ninth in Bivouac and Battle"
by Michael H. Macnamara
CHAPTER IX.
We leave Arlington. -- Arrive at Miner's Hill. -- Painful Scene. -- Many killed and Wounded. -- Colonel Cass' Opinion. -- How we kept Christmas. -- Lieutenant-Colonel Peard dies. -- Fairfax. -- A March in the Rain. -- Alexandria.
WE left Arlington Heights late in the afternoon of October 29, 1861, leaving the woods all ablaze with innumerable camp fires, presenting a most pyrotechnic display, and marched in the direction of Miner's Hill, about five miles distant. The roundabout way which we took in marching there consumed a deal of time, and caused a late arrival. We halted near the house of one Basil Hall, stacked arms, and, resting, waited for orders to pitch tents. We had waited about an hour, when the sharp roll of musketry rang out on the night air, and the cries of falling men saluted us from the direction of our right, and about three hundred yards distant. Another and another roll of musketry proclaimed the meeting of opposing forces. Colonel Cass gave the command, "Fall in, lads !" The line officers took up the cry, "Fall in, lads, and lively !" With the calm precision of veteran troops the men took their places behind their guns; and, when the next command, "Take arms," was given, one could scarce hear the rattle of their weapons. The cries of wounded men disturbed the stillness of the night, and told us that considerable havoc had been made by the firing we had heard. The regiment stood patiently awaiting orders, a picket being thrown out on the front and flanks. In a short time the officer of the picket came in with the terrible intelligence that our troops had been firing into each other; that a force of cavalry from the front had, upon meeting the regiment of Colonel Baker (Californian) mistook his command for rebels, and fired upon them. Colonel Baker's regiment had immediately returned the fire. The left of Colonel Baker's brigade had now come up, and mistaking the right for rebels, made the same terrible blunder as the cavalry; they immediately levelled their pieces, and discharged such a terrific volley at their comrades as stretched many a gallant Californian upon the grass. Four batteries of artillery were posted a short distance off, with the intention of sweeping the Californian brigade; and God help the poor fellows if the fuse had been snapped on the cannon, for terrible would have been the havoc committed. However, luckily, they were made aware of the fearful blunder. In an instant the pieces had changed position; in an instance every rifle was lowered, and men kneeling beside the comrade they has just shot, dropping water upon his parched and dying lips, and shedding tears of rage and sorrow. It was a terrible and affecting scene. The cause of this unfortunate affair has never been satisfactorily explained; but General Smith, then commanding that brigade, we think, cannot but feel that the onus of that terrible night's work rests heavily on his shoulders.
The official account given of this extraordinary mistake, we feel safe in stating, did not correspond with the facts as they actually occurred. The names of killed and wounded amounted to many more than were officially reported, and bordered somewhere upon fifty-four killed and wounded. The graves of those killed can still be seen, and the recollection of that fatal night awakens feelings of sympathy and regret.
Such was our solemn introduction to our camp at Miner's Hill, where we remained, doing picket duty, and a variety of labor incidental to a soldier's life in camp. Here we will relate an anecdote characteristic of Colonel Cass, in connection with the unfortunate rencontre above referred to. The position of the artillery on that occasion was such that if the Ninth had advanced, they must have received the same politeness chown the Californians. In complimenting Colonel Cass upon the coolness of his regiment in that fearful and trying emergency, General Morell asked him what he would have done if the battery had opened fire upon him. "Done !" exclaimed the colonel, with a flash of his penetrating eye; "I would have charged the battery, and by Heaven I'd have taken it, too !" Those who knew Colonel Cass, and the regiment, felt the full force of his remark; and we think, that in the panic which then existed, he would have taken it even if defended by a brigade.
To record many of the events that occurred at Miner's Hill would be only a repetition of former scenes, detailed in previous chapters. Christmas was celebrated there with an éclat highly creditable to those concerned. A profusion of luxuries was sent to the regiment from Washington, the camp was splendidly decorated with ivy, evergreens, and arches enclosing appropriate mottos and compliments to distinguished generals of the army. General Fitz-John Porter had been invited, but was unable to attend. In the punning language of the lamented Madigan, "While we deplore the absence of 'Porter,' we were happily supplied with 'more ale;'" the witty reference being to General Morell, who honored the regiment with his presence, accompanied by his staff. The joviality of these Christmas festivities will doubtless be long remembered. Among the guests present on that memorable night were Colonel Woodbury, Fourth Michigan, and Colonel Black, of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers -- the guests of Colonel Cass and his officers. These three colonels, all of the same brigade, have since died in battle, or from wounds received on the peninsular. No abler commanders were in any brigade in the army of the Potomac.
These festivities were honored by the gratifying presence of several ladies, which greatly enhanced and increased the enjoyment of the festive season.
On the 25th of January, Lieutenant-Colonel Peard died. He was promoted on the discharge of Lieutenant-Colonel Rowell, who had resigned some time previously, and was a good officer, and highly esteemed by the regiment.
Early on the morning of the 10th of March, we struck tents; and, while speaking of tents, we may relate an incident connected with them which occurred here. Soon after our arrival at Miner's Hill, our regiment received that kind of small tents called "poncho," and now in general use in the army. The men at that time had "wedge" tents. When the "ponchos" were brought, one of them was put up, near the large tents of the officers for the men to examine. Truly it was a cheerless-looking affair; the men would look at it, walk round it, look through from one end to the other, then look at the large and commodious tents they then occupied; then they would sadly shake their heads, heave a deep sigh, and walk meditatively away. They could not imagine how a man was to lie inside of it; when they got used to them they found that the same tents would hold three, and sometimes four, on a pinch.
Our line of march lay over roads deeply cut up by the artillery and wagon trains. Very muddy, and very tired, we reached Fairfax Court House, Virginia, a distance of twelve miles, the men on this march carrying their knapsacks, &c., heavily laden. Here we ascertained, from the cavalry, that Manassas had been evacuated. We remained here some days, awaiting orders, and on the 15th we marched toward Alexandria. It rained fearfully, and nearly all the day we were marching knee-deep in water and mud, and were glad to halt after travelling more than twelve miles, pitching our camp at a place called by some "Camp California," while by others, more appropriately, "Camp Misery."
At reveille in the morning, a waggish sergeant called at the door (?) of every poncho, and asked to be allowed to scrape the shoes of the occupants. The request was novel and surprising, but of course granted with alacrity. The sergeant was careful to put into a great paper bag the combined dirt of five hundred army brogans. Having got back to his headquarters, he closed the bag, and tied it with all the taste and tidiness of a grocer's clerk. His eccentric proceeding was still a mystery to his comrades, some of whom were watching him with a lively curiosity. The sergeant took his pen, and explained himself by labelling the package, ironically, "The Government Bounty Land of Five Hundred Veteran Volunteers." I dedicate this joke to Congress.
The next day was Sunday, and being a bright, clear day, gave the men a good opportunity to dry their clothes, which it is unnecessary to say they took advantage of. During the day our camp was shifted a few hundred yards back, and directly in front of Fort Worth.
We remained at this place until Friday, the 21st, when, passing through Alexandria, we embarked on board the steamer State of Maine, for Fortress Monroe. On board the transport we found very comfortable and satisfactory arrangements, and started on our voyage, the men of the regiment in the best possible spirits.
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