Picketing On The Rappahannock, Va.

Jan. 2^nd 1863.

                       

Dear Sister.

                                    This day finds me out on picket posted with six others in what appears to be a cellar to some old building that probably flourished before the Revolution. It is a very pleasant place for a picket post at this time of year, being formed so as to let in the sun, while all the wind is broken off by the high bank in our rear to the N.W. The river runs past our door in plain sight and about a quarter of a mile away while on the opposite shore are seen the rebel pickets watching our movements in the same manner that we are watching theirs. Hostilities for the time being are done away with. the sentinel of each army walks his beat unarmed and both can come to the waters edge with perfect safety. But probably / if either should attempt to go further they might encounter what our Col. calls an "Obstacle". We are out on a three days trip of picketing this time, today being the second day, or, at noon, the commencement of the third. The first twenty four hours we lay back on reserve, while the other two Co's that came with us from our regiment went to the front. each one will have two days on post and one on reserve, then go back to camp.

 

I went to the edge of the river yesterday and had a little conversation with the rebel pickets for a little while they would talk very freely but two of their officers coming along at this time put a stop to all talking on their part except by signs. they were pretty full of fun on some account or other. I had a big spy glass with me and at first we would look at them through it. there was about twenty in one group where we were talking first one would turn around with his back towards us, bend over, and throw up his coat tails on his back, and let us take an observation of what we could see / then they would laugh as though it tickled them. then another would go through the same ceremony, all of which seemed to give them a lot of amusement. They told us that they lost two Generals in this last battle and gave me their names and the states they came from. This they told the same as I had read in the papers. They wanted to know what we thought of the last battle at Vicksburg (I have not heard yet as there has been any there) they said they heard this morning there had been one. Some of our men staid behind when we retreated across the river that night in order to be taken prisoners and so go to Richmond get paroled and get rid of doing duty for a while. The rebels served them just right. they took their guns away from them, then kicked their moots down to the river and made them swim across to us. I did not know as they had so much honor in them. Well I guess I have talked rebel long enough so I will try something else. Your letter came along yesterday with another lot of envelopes. Do you think I haint got any, that makes you send them? if you do, you are mistaken, for I have money and can get them quite as / well as you can though perhaps pay more for them. I am much obliged to you for them for all that. You say they will not be large enough for my diary to go in. I guess they are, for the leaves in it are pretty well nigh exhausted. Tell Isabel I had a hole in my stocking Christmas morning and—I cant get it out. I have got most all the yarn Ma sent me a year and a half ago, and the darning needle, all thats wanted now is some fingers to use them. The stockings I have got now are government ones not worth mending. I think I will send home for what I want after this. I am going to send home a pair of legs that are good and have new feet put on and then sent back. that is if it can be done. I wish Mendon would have a dance every night if they would give the proceeds to the soldiers. I thank the fellow that kicked out the dollar for me, "may his shadder never be less". I guess I will take postage stamps as I want them along about eight at a lick, that will be the best way I can get the value of it out here. Sam Wilcox was here to see me the other day he looks pretty tough and healthy says he likes his job, thinks the war most through. I gave him the watch George had he says he will not take fifty dollars for it now. He said he had a letter from Uncle Willard a little while before "but its too cold to answer letters this weather". He talked about Frank and George he has the same confidence about going home that George always had. Lowell C Cook. /

 

            I guess I will scribble a little more as there is plenty of time to spare. I dont have to stand guard only two hours out of ten so have eight off. I went on this morning at five and staid on till eight, three hours. I had a good fire to sit by and Charley was asleep so I let him keep on an extra hour. I shall go on again at four oclock this afternoon. The rebels are drilling this morning. Co. drill. They go along heads down the rear rank men all looking at the front rank men's feet. Our Officers make us hold up our heads as though we were not ashamed to be seen. There is men here digging up some of the bodies of the men killed in the fight, taking them to Washington to embalm them and send them North.

 

Wood seems to bring a pretty good price but I suppose eight dollars now is not worth much more than six was two years ago, is it? I should think seventy loads a day would be apt to glut the market in a little while. 

 

I guess Mrs. Jo. has more subjects in So. Milford than ever before, hasnt she? Ans. calls her the Mare of So Milford, then he altered and said Mayor. I suppose either way would not be a great ways from correct.

 

Col. Wheaton is thought more of by us than our Brigade Gen. He has taken Howe's old brigade. the reg^t made up a purse of money to buy him a new uniform and shoulder straps the night he left us. Co I. raised fifty dollars besides what the officers gave. On the whole he got about five hundred or a little over.

I think I should prefer skirmishing to going in to heat of the fight but is not much difference as far as safety is concerned. I dont like sleeping the way we did that night as well as in bed. I dont remember any thing about Saturday night being very cold. my ink froze last night for the first time but I slept warm enough. Do you have any snow at home now? It looks now as if we was going to have some by tomorrow or sooner. Every thing is still, not a mite of wind and a little thin cloud off in the South and West. I guess I will close now by wishing you a happy new year, even if it is a day behind time. Havent I written enough for one time         

L. C. Cook, Esq /

           

Jan 3^rd

                        I guess I will scribble over a little more after all. I thought the other half sheet would be sufficient but we had a little excitement on picket last night so I will send you an account of it.

We had been occupying the second line of pickets till sundown yesterday when the first line (Cavalry) were drawn off, and the infantry pickets put in their places. Every thing went well enough as usual till about ten oclock, when some of the men in the thirty seventh Mass who joined on to our left heard a noise in the river. their imagination probably magnified the noise several times. they sent in word to their head quarters that the rebels were trying to cross the river the Col. sent a line of skirmishers out to reconnoitre, and came in sight of Parkhurst who was on at the time. he stood there and watched them as long as he dared, then turned and run for the hole where we were all abed he told the same story as the thirty seventh and wanted the / sergeant to go back with him and see what it meant. this routed us all out of bed but myself and another man and they went out to see what was to pay. Our Sergeant Sam found the supposed rebels and wanted to know what they was doing then they told him the rebels were trying to lay a pontoon bridge across the river to come over on. In a little while news had been passed along the whole line, the reserves ordered up, and the Col. sent in word to our Gen. Wheaton that he was likely to be attacked, and wanted three regiments immediately. Wheaton did not pay much attention to it, but one regiment was got into line and waited expecting further orders but none came. Things remained in this manner considerable excitement in the thirty seventh till two oclock, the time for me to take my post on the river. I hadnt been there a great while before I heard a splashing in the river, but it did not take a great while to discover what it was, nothing but muskrats, and it was them that had caused the whole trouble. The fog on the water so thick that it was hard seeing very plainly or the thirty seventh might have seen for themselves. the rebels remained quiet all night we could hear them hawk and spit and as long as made noise enough so that I would hear them I felt safe enough. There has been a good deal of laughing this afternoon about pontoon bridges. We were relieved and got into camp at noon today. Lowell C Cook.

 

[Wednesday, December 25, 1861.]

To day is Christmas and a pleasant day it has been, so warm that it has been more comfortable in the shade than in the sun_x We have had no drill or duty of any kind today and the only thing at all out of the ordinary course of events was the issuing of rations of whiskey at noon. I have seen Sam Wilcox today. he has been here in camp and I have had a long talk with him. he has taken the watch that I have had since George died. he is well looks tough as a pitch knot and is in excellent spirits to all appearances_x

 

[Thursday, December 26, 1861.]

It has been warm and cloudy all day with the appearance of rain_x Lieut English drilled us this forenoon or undertook too for we did not know how to do anything we cant drill so well as we could eighteen months ago. This afternoon we had a battalion drill under our new Col. Viall. I guess he never undertook anything yet that he never made a blunder in before he got through. He kept us on the move about all the time we were out an hour and a half We have put a fly over our tent to night to keep the rain from driving through should it come

 

[Friday, December 27, 1861.]

It did not rain in any in the night for all it looked so much like it. It has looked all day as though it might begin at any time. We have had no drill to day as it is Saturday, the day to clean up in, police the Co streets, and put our guns in the proper condition to appear on inspection in the morning_x I have washed my clothes today but could not get them dry_x There is considerable talk about moving from here the fore part of next week, back to the Potomac Run, a few miles from here some say we shall go Monday_x

 

[Saturday, December 28, 1861.]

When we got up this morning it was as clear as a bell. It has been very warm all day, without any wind_x I wish we could have such weather all through winter_x We have heard considerable cannonading through the day, but what it means we dont know. some of the time it was quite fast. Our new Major inspected the left of the line this morning. he handled the muskets rather awkward_x We had another good dinner of beans today they are the best eating we get_x

 

[Sunday, December 29, 1861.]

It has been fair and pleasant today. Some of the time the sun came down almost too warm_x I have been at the Capts tent most all the time today helping make out the muster rolls. We made out four and got through at sundown_x There has been two drills which I got rid of and an inspection at night. We are expecting to move in a day or two. there is a general belief throughout camp that we shall have a winter campaign on the peninsula somewhere about the James River. I dont like the idea of wading through half frozen mud and water this winter_x

 

[Monday, December 30, 1861.]

 

            [Shorthand]

                        Annapolis July 3^rd

 

[Tuesday, December 31, 1861.]

It has been fair and cold today but in the afternoon it began to cloud up and at dark it rained a little and snowed a little, but not to amount to anything. This morning we went out on picket on the river, together with two other companies of the Sec, and a number from the thirty seventh Co. I has been on reserve back of the pickets and has had nothing to do only keep a guard around the stacks the rebels are plain to be seen on the other side of the river. Lewis and I have made up a first rate bed to sleep in with plenty of straw

 

[Memoranda.]

 

                        July ninth.

 

                        [Shorthand]

 

[Memoranda.]

Jan 1^st

It has been clear as a bell today and rather cool, but very pleasant for the time of year_x We left our yesterdays position this morning about ten oclock and relieved another co who fell back into our place We have had a nice picket post in an old cellar hole where the sun came in nice and warm. This afternoon I went down to the edge of the river and had a little talk with our Southern friends, but they would not talk but little. they said they had got orders not to have any conversation with us, but they would talk a little till some of their officers came and stopped them_x I have had two letters today one from home_x

 

[Memoranda.]

            Jan. 2^nd

It has been a nice day warm and pleasant. In the middle of the day it seemed like May_x Picketing passed off very pleasantly through the day. in the after the Cavalry pickets in our front were drawn in for some reason or other and we put in their places. About ten oclock the pickets in the thirty seventh heard something in the river, so their Col. threw out skirmishers directly in our front without our knowledge. this made a little more confusion. Word came that the rebels were coming across on pontoons the whole picket line was aroused reserve and all. When I took my post at two oclock on the river bank I found out what the trouble was, nothing but muskrats_x

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