Camp of the Sec R.I. Reg^t

In the Field.    

Dec 14 1862.

                       

Dear Sister,

              Your letter written last Sunday and Monday arrived this morning. I will do what I can to answer it now. I may have time to write all I want too and I may not have time to write another line. Our time is not our own now by any means. I suppose you have heard by this time that the battle of Fredericburg has begun. Thursday morning early we left our camp and marched in this direction till near noon when we got as far as we could go in good shape. Our batteries shelled the other side of the river pretty much all day without getting a reply from the rebels. At sundown Gen Devens Newton came to Col. Wheaton and asked him if he had two regiments in his brigade that could be depended upon in any emergency. he / told him the Sec R.I. and 10 Mass could be, so these two regiments were the ones ordered to cross the river in advance of all the rest, and above all Co. I. was the first Co. over. It was a pretty dangerous piece of business for us to undertake for it was expected by everyone that as soon as we came up out of the river on the plain in sight of the rebels that they would open an awful fire from masked batteries. as we were leaving the place where we had lain all day and passing other regiments they would look at us as if we were all marked men, and it was the last time they would ever see us alive. Co's K. and B. followed in our rear, and when we got to the edge of the river just ready to step on the bridge Gen. Newton and Devens both came to our front to give us our final instructions They were both a good deal excited, and it was the first time I ever saw Wheaton turn pale. We stood here a few minutes, waiting the signal to start. not the least grain of noise was to be heard everything was as still as the grave. at last an aid came down and told the Gen that every thing was in motion. behind us Devens gave us our instructions / directly to the men and we started across that bridge just as fast as we could go. the minute we started the batteries behind us poured such a fire of shot and shell over our our heads as I never saw before it seemed as though the heavens were being stripped into ribbons as the shells screamed thro the air we got across, and climbed up the bank on the other side, through dogbriers and grape vines and deployed as skirmishers. as soon as the men behind us saw that we had gained a foot hold such cheering as went up you never heard, fifty thousand men were watching little Co I. as they were engaged in their dangerous work and I dont believe that ever there was more heartfelt sympathy sent up in cheering than at this time. We took four prisoners one a capt. within a few minutes. they had crawled into a hole in the ground to escape our shells and could not get away a little before dark we came across rebel skirmishers and drove them in. They did not know us at first whether we was friend or foe. they kept retreating however in a kind of oblique manner, hardly knowing as it appeared what to do. At last one of them asked us who we were and Jo Wood told them we were Yankees. they then disappeared / in a ravine from which a few minutes later they sent us a volley of bullets. One hit a man in our company in the shoulder but his knapsack straps kept it from going in it lamed him pretty badly. soon after this we halted and lay down in the positions each man occupied till morning it was the coldest night I ever lay out in and glad enough we was to see the sunrise the next morning when we were relieved and fell back where we could have fires. Yesterday there was a good deal of hard fighting some of the time so near us that we could see the lines of battle of each side. We saw our men advance up the hill in front of the town to charge the enemies batteries they were driven back and then the rebels charged them in return. towards night we had to go down on our left flank about two miles as the battle was raging there with terrible fury and help them in case they were too weak before we got there however the rebels fell back and we were not needed about eight oclock we came part way back and lay down till morning then came back to our old position, where we yet lay. There has not been but little done to day whether it is out of respect for the day or whether it is from military tactics I dont know. I shall not have but little room to devote to your questions on this sheet. You wrote me a first rate letter this morning a good long one I guess I shall have stamps enough now to last a while. I should like to know how

 

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you knew I wanted some sage. It is just the thing I have been wanting to get this long time to season my fried cakes. when I have used it I will tell you how much it improves their taste.

I suppose you know now that I received the mittens they have done me more good already twice over than their cost. That Phunny Phellow you sent me got to me at the time intended. I believe it got along Monday, but I did not read it (only look it over) till the next day. for some reason or other we had two men desert a week ago Friday night in that snow storm. they must had a cold time crossing the Potomac

We haint got to be very independent yet. I believe we are attached to some corps but whose I dont know. they have changed us so many times. There was quite a laughable incident occurred this morning a Gen. Officer came along and asked some of us what corps this was Some one answered Franklins corps. no says another its Couch's old Division, and another it was Newton's corps. a general laugh along the whole line followed this last answer, when Angell our fool said we didnt know whose corps we was in we had been in so many. he knew we belonged to Co I. and that was all we did know for certain. another laugh followed this when the officer passed along. I made a soup day before yesterday that went pretty good out of a little piece of fresh pork If I have the stuff I can cook my victuals so I can eat them without much trouble /

 

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Well! I guess I wont scribble any more. I forgot to put in my diary the last time I wrote but I will now

I will put in a twenty five cent stamp so you can have something to get me some more stamps when I get out again.

 

Taylor lost a horse the other night in crossing the pontoon bridge

he got scared at something and jumped off onto one of the boats below

 

Lowell C. Cook

 

[Sunday, December 1, 1861.]

At ten oclock this morning we went out on our guard duty we are out about two miles from camp though the right of the line is much further out_x It has been cloudy and warm all day with a little rain in the morning. my post is on the South side of a hill in the woods and there is a first rate place for two to sleep in, a little hut such as I have made at home when I have been watching for crow We have plenty of wood and water close to us and I dont see why we cant have a pretty good time on our three days of guard It looks pleasant now, midnight all starlight_x

 

[Monday, December 2, 1861.]

It has been fair to day though windy and rather cold_x At noon to day our posts were all changed, we being sent further along from camp At sundown Co I was relieved by another co. all the others having been relieved at different times in the afternoon. we were relieved in order to go to camp and be paid off_x we expected to get our pay this evening, but the pay rolls are not signed yet so we shall not be paid before tomorrow. cloudy again, and it has the appearance of a storm_x

 

[Tuesday, December 3, 1861.]

Pleasant day again to day_x we have laid round the camp all through the day waiting to sign the pay rolls, but it wasnt till three oclock that we got ready to be paid. I got a good pile this time, in all eighty dollars, lacking ten cents. the pay due us for clothing which we had not taken up was given to us, and those that had overdrawn had it taken out of their monthly pay, so there was a good deal of difference in the amounts drawn by different persons_x One man had three dollars left after paying all his debts_x

 

[Wednesday, December 4, 1861.]

We got marching orders last night. this morning the reveille was sounded at five oclock and a little before sunrise we started but it took till the middle of the afternoon to get the troops out of the way that were ahead of us_x After that for about three hours we rushed ahead almost double quick. we marched about six miles and camped in a heavy wood where there was plenty of leaves for a good bed_x We passed the 1^st R.I. Cavalry towards night but I did not see Sam Wilcox though he was with them. I heard from him by some of the other men_x He is well and likes the business

 

[Thursday, December 5, 1861.]

We started on the march this morning about an hour before light. At ten oclock we halted pitched our tents and had got everything snug and tight, for a two or three days stay, when the drum sounded to fall into line. we had to pack up all our things and what made matters no better, it began to rain just after we had put up our tents, so they were all full of water. We went off about a mile into some woods the thickest I ever saw so thick we had to cut a path in before we could get in, and camped. the rain turned to snow, and kept snowing till late in the night. we had fires enough so we kept warm_x

 

[Friday, December 6, 1861.]

Every thing to day looks wintry the ground bushes and trees are all covered with snow and it is the same at night that it was in the morning. it has not thawed but little all day. I wrote a few lines in the morning to send home but the mail went to quick_x

The rest of the time has been pretty well taken up in getting wood, drying our clothes, and cleaning up our guns. the rust comes off much easier if taken right away after a storm than to let it lay a day or two and eat in_x

Some of the men are pretty busy all day long speculating on their money. Some gain considerably and others have lost about all_x

 

[Saturday, December 7, 1861.]

It has been fair and very cold the snow lies on the ground just as it fell and has scarcely thawed where the sun had fair chance_x We have been in camp all day suffering more from the smoke from our fires than the cold My eyes are so sore and weak I can hold them open only for a few minutes at a time then the water will run from them like rain. the officers Col. and all have to take it if any thing worse than ourselves, and that is considerable consolation. The woods are beginning to look pretty thin, it will take but a short time to clear them off

 

[Sunday, December 8, 1861.]

It has been quite pleasant to day though we have not sweat much the smoke has not been near so troublesome as yesterday, as it seems to go straighter into the air. there has not been so much fire as there was yesterday as it was not needed so much_x

I have made out to write one letter, to Sally, but my fingers got so cold I did not write any more. I cannot get any envelops yet to put what I have written in

One of the men in the thirty seventh was killed to day by a tree falling on him

I had a pretty good supper to night out of a chicken soup

 

[Monday, December 9, 1861.]

my birthday. A rather cool day but quite pleasant I remember what my ma told me ten years ago this morning as I was getting ready for school, she said twice seven is fourteen, three times seven is twenty-one, then you will be your own man. that time is come and past three years ago, but I am not my own man now by any means Uncle Sam has a pretty tight hold of me, as snug a one as any body had on me We are expecting to move on tomorrow for some other place We are getting a good lot of rations five days ahead. I guess some thing is going to be did_x

 

[Tuesday, December 10, 1861.]

 

We have had a real nice day warm and pleasant for the time of year_x We are still in camp, though we expect to leave some time after midnight or else early in the morning troops have been moving all day. it is said our troops are meeting with no opposition in crossing and furthermore that the rebels have evacuated Fredericsburg_x We are living pretty well now, full belly all the time. we had a good dinner of beans today and in the morning I am going to have a breakfast of them_x

 

[Wednesday, December 11, 1861.]

It has been a beautiful day, warm and pleasant_x We got up between three and four this morning eat breakfast then started on the march towards Fredericksburg. at five olcock a brisk cannonading commenced along the river below the city by our forces and which continued through the day with an occasional breathing spell now and then. We are now sundown, within view of Falmouth directly under out batteries_x with all our awful firing to day, we have not yet got a reply from the rebels. It is said we are to cross the river to night_x

 

[Thursday, December 12, 1861.]

We have had another beautiful day_x Last night at sundown two brigades, Deven's and Howe's crossed the river under cover of the guns behind us. Co I. was the first Co. over, and as soon as over we deployed as skirmishers and scoured the country till we occupied enough ground for a corps. We lay on our arms all night, cold enough to freeze a Greenlander. today has been spent in feeling out the enemys batteries. we have succeeded in drawing his fire, and twice to day he has put the shot and shell to us as though he meant it. We took four prisoners last night and drove in the rebel skirmishers one of Co I's men got slightly wounded_x

 

[Friday, December 13, 1861.]

We have had another nice day_x The battle has begun in earnest today. the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry has been kept up with very short resting spells from nine oclock this morning till now near sundown and its still going on. We have just moved from near our place of crossing the river, by the left flank about two miles. I think we have the best side of the argument so far. what will be done in the rest of the daylight I dont know. Our regiment has not yet been into it though a number of shells have struck pretty close_x

 

[Saturday, December 14, 1861.]

It has been very pleasant all day. it has been real warm some of the time make us sweat sitting on the ground doing nothing. we got back here this morning a little before sunrise and have lain here all day. there has not been any fighting of any consequence within sight of us. The rebel batteries in front of the town have opened a little once in a while and there has been a little firing on the left. We have drawn three days rations again today. The ambulance corps has had plenty of work since yesterday morning and they are busy now taking the wounded across the river. the rebels fired upon them last night, probably mistaking them for ammunition wagons_x

SOURCES