Washington Sept 17^th 1863

 

A sketch of the life of George S Palmer

since his enlistment

                        On the 5^th of August 1862 the town of Cromwell voted $100 bounty and on the next day a recruiting office was opened by Henry S Geer afterwards Orderly Sergeant of Co D with 17 others I enlisted on that day the next day the quota of the town was filled up and we went into camp at New Haven Conn where we were soon mustered into the U.S. Service and verry soon the 20^th Conn Vols were on their way to help put down this cruel and unjust Rebellion arriving at 42^nd St NY City we proceeded to the East River where we got aboard of two fine steamers and soon afterwards were sailing down the bay and arriving at South Amboy NJ we took the cars for Philadelphia here through the kindness of the union ladies we had a good supper / it rained verry hard and for the first time in my life I was willing to lie down on the side walk to take a little sleep we left for Baltimore and from there come to Washington when we got here we were orderd to fall in and march to Capitol hill tired and hungry having had nothing for 24 hours we camped in the road and soon I went to sleep awoke next morning found a sutler and got something to eat we were there one week when we were ordered to Arlington Heights (Camp Chase) we staid there three weeks when we were orderd to march to Fredric Md. from there we went to Harpers Ferry and were put in the 12^th Army Corps 1^st Division 2^nd Brigade the Commanders of our regiment were Col Ross Lieut Col Wooster Major Buckinham the officers of my Company were Capt Parker 1^st Lieut Cadwell 2^nd Lieut Cambell the Rebels were in pretty strong force in the Shenandoah / valley at this time and Kanes brigade were orderd to Loudon Heights where we kept the enemy in check while the army of the potomac marched to Fredricksburg the Rebs tried to shell us out we soon come down to Loudon valley and camped on the Leesburg turnpike where we staid for three weeks marching orders for Fredricksburg being the order of the day we took up our line of march passed through Hillsboro where a young lady came out and waived her handkerchief we gave her three cheers and gave her a small union flag she said that they were the only union family in the town we arrived at Leesburg and Chantilly where the noble Genl Kearney fell from there to Fairfax and Dumfries hearing of the defeat of the federal army we were orderd to retreat to Wolf Run shoals we arrived to and camped near there for three weeks when we were sent out in heavy force to reconnoiter towards Dumfries / we done so and the enemy retreating before us to Dumfries on the first of January I was taken sick and on the 18^th of January I was brought to the Campbell Hospital and have been here ever since I have given a rough outline of my life during my stay with my Regiment the rest is known to the inmates of this hospital having endeavoured to do my duty in the past I trust I may be able to in the future whether in the field or in the hospital and trusting this cruel and unjust Rebellion may end and that we may live to once more enjoy the benefits of liberty and justice through our noble land I subscribe myself your friend now and ever

                                                                                   

George S Palmer

Private Co D 20^th Conn

 

To Dr J Lemon                                                            

SOURCES