Centerville Virginia

October 17^th 1863.

 

Dear Brother:

                                    Your's of the 6^th came to hand some time since, but I hav'nt had time to answer you till now. I will now try to give you the particulars of our late march from the Rapidan river. October 10^th found our Regiment in camp within a half a mile of the Rapidan river. Before some of us had finished breakfast we had orders to fall in. In a very few moments we were in line. No sooner were we in ranks than we saw the 1^st Corps flag coming up, and presently we saw the troops approaching. we now felt confident that there would be a / forward move. We had heard early in the morning that the rebel pickets had, during the past twelve hours, been greatly diminished, and we were not much surprised when we learned that we would soon be on the move. I do not know how many of our troops were now here, but I was told that the open fields just back of the woods, of which we were now in, was full of Artillery and infantry, and that troops were continually arriving. But I was afterwards informed that there was no other there except the 1^st Corps. We were now expecting that within a few hours more we would be trying to cross the river, and / that the rebels, from behind their concealed breastworks, would be hurling shot and shell at us, from more than one direction. About this time the two left Companies of the 7^th Indiana (I & K) were ordered to fall in. We began now to feel still more uneasy, for we supposed that these two Companies were going forward as skirmishers. But we advanced about one hundred yards to the front, and there deployed out each way, to the right & left, and were ordered to remain there, and prevent the men from going any farther to the front. It was but a short distance from there to / the edge of the woods, from which place a distinct view of the rebel pickets was visible. We remained in this position until about 3 O'clock P.M. when the bugle sounded "fall in" and in a very few moments we were in line. Our two Companies immediately joined the Regiment. We were now in line of battle, and I supposed that we would now advance. But it was quite different, we were ordered to pitch tents, that we would go into camp where we were. This news was recieved with pleasure on the part of every one, for we would all sooner go into / camp than to make an attempt to cross the river. After having our tents put up in order, we soon had supper over, and were enjoying ourselves just as though there had nothing been going on. It was by this time very cloudy, and from all appearances we would soon have rain. So we set about and ditched our tents, and prepared ourselves as comfortable as we could for the night. As soon as it was getting dark, we were ordered to strike tents and fall in with as little noise as possible, but as our Regiment was to bring up the rear, we did not get started until about eight or nine O'clock / and instead of crossing the river, we went in the opposite direction, to the rear. It was now very clear to us that we were falling back.

 

We traveled 'till twelve O'clock at night when we halted, and was told to rest as much as we could, for we had to move precisely at 3 O'clock in the morning.

 

October 11^th '63.

                                    3 O'clock came and the bugle sounded "Pack up" and we were soon ready to march, but we remained there until daylight, and was then told to make ourselves comfortable as possible until further orders. We then remained there until nearly twelve O'clock, when the bugle sounded "fall in" / and the troops began to move off. About this time we could hear numerous reports as to our destination, some said that we were going to the West to join "Rosencrans", that the rebels, instead of trying to flank us, had gone down there to join "Bragg".

 

The day was a little cool, the sun was however shining pretty warm. The most of us were tired & sleepy, but as we always are, we were ready for any emergency, and willing to go wherever we were ordered to go. About twelve O'clock we were on the move. We had'nt went but a short distance before we could hear and see the shells from the enemies guns bursting in among our Cavalry, / who were now covering our rear. As we passed Stevensburg, I saw that we had some pieces of Artillery planted there on the hill, and we had'nt passed but a short time before we heard them booming away at the rebels. But our Corps moved on as fast as the circumstances would permit. This Corps was the only one that came this road, the rest went by way of Rappahannock Station on the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road.

 

We crossed the Rappahannock river at "Kelly's Ford" on a pontoon bridge about sundown, went back a short distance from the river and / camped for the night. As we were all tired and sleepy, we soon spread our blankets on the ground, and was soon asleep. We did not take time to put up any tents. We could now hear the roar of cannon in the direction of Rappahannock Station, and we now felt satisfied that the rebels had followed the other part of our Army instead of us.

 

            Oct 12^th 1863. We woke up this morning almost froze, for there was a very heavy frost, and the night had been very cold. This morning was very foggy. I forgot to mention that as soon as our Corps crossed / last night we took up the pontoon bridge, and Artillery and troops placed in position on this side.

 

Before half of us had breakfasted our regiment was ordered to fall in breakfast or no breakfast. This did not suit some of us, but we are always willing to do just what we are ordered to do, so in a few moments we were in line. We at once started towards the river, and took position behind a little Fort which was situated on the banks of the river. This fort had two pieces of Artillery in it. Those who had'nt had breakfast were / now permitted to get it. We remained here all day and laid down at night with the expectation of getting a good nights rest, but at half past twelve at night we were ordered to pack up and get ready to march. About one O'clock at night we started and traveled all night at a brisk rate at that. A little after sunup October 13^th 1863 we halted and was told that we would have a half an hour to get our breakfast in. But in about ten or fifteen minutes we heard Artillery firing in our / rear (it proved however to be amunition burning) So we were ordered to fall in, but very few of us having finished our breakfast. The wagon trains were moving back as fast as possible.

 

We started again, passed Warrenton Junction a little ways, and formed in line of battle, and finished getting our breakfast. The wagons still moving on as fast as possible. We remained here until half past two O'clock, when we again started in the direction of Alexandria along the rail road. 

 

Several Corps had now come up all of which were moving on as fast as possible. As we passed "Catelet Station" all of the adjoining fields were full of wagon trains. I believe that I saw there at one view more wagons than I ever saw before in my life. We continued to travel, did not take time for supper, until about ten O'clock at night, when we halted, and was told to make ourselves as comfortable as possible for the night. We were all tired, hungry and sleepy, and some lay down without getting any supper. But I felt much better after drinking a warm cup of coffee / and eating a few hard-tacks.

 

October 14^th 1863. About an hour before sunup, the bugle sounded, and we arose, drew four days rashions, which made us eight (for we had four on hand) and this, together with the amount of clothing that it is necessary for us to carry, in order to sleep comfortable, makes a tolerably heavy load. Having finished putting away our rashions, about daylight the bugle sounded "Pack up" and in a very few moments we were on the move. We still continued to travel along the rail road until near Manassas Junction, when / we left the rail road to our right and started in the direction of Centerville, passed near the "Bull Run" battle ground. We could now hear heavy vollies of cannon in our rear. We at length reached Centerville, formed in line of battle, stacked arms, and cooked dinner. The firing in our rear was now growing louder and faster, and in this way it was kept up all evening. As darkness approached the firing ceased, and as soon as supper was over, we made down our beds, and were soon asleep. During the fight our Army repulsed the enemy, and captured / five pieces of Artillery, and four hundred and fifty prisoners. The fighting was mostly done by our Cavelry, and the 2^nd Corps. Troops and wagon trains kept a coming up all night. Towards morning it sprinkled rain, and we got up and had breakfast by daylight.

 

October 15^th 1863. Remained at Centerville all day, very foggy in the morning. About two O'clock P.M. it commenced raining, and continued showery all evening. At about three O'clock P.M. the rebels opened with artillery and from where we were (on a hill) we could see them, / could see the flash and smoke of their Artillery. But towards evening our men got a cross fire on them, and about sun-down the firing entirely ceased. Late in the evening we moved our line further up the hill, and took position behind breastworks. It was now raining, and we all knew that unless we put up our tents, that during the night we would get soaking wet. So we put up our little tents, dug ditches around them to keep the water from running under us, and then went to bed.

 

            October 16^th 1863.

Continued showery all day. / during the day more batteries were put into position. Ten from a Company of our Regiment was detailed to dig rifle-pits in front of the main breastworks. Towards dark the rain & wind increased until it became too bad to work, and we were dismissed. Rained nearly all night.

 

            October 17^th 1863. Clear nearly all day. in the afternoon we moved camp and took position behind our new breastworks that we had dug the preceding day.

 

October 18^th 1863. About an hour before daylight we were ordered to get up and get breakfast, and be ready to march. / we done so, and it is now 9 A.M. and we are still here, but I think we will move soon. I do not know where we will go from here.

 

            In our Brigade there are a great many conscripts, and I certainly think that they are the most ignorant set of fellows I ever saw. Many of them can't tell what Regiment they belong to. They frequently get lost from their Company, and probably you will meet with one and he will ask you "do you know where K regiment is", where is 95 regiment. They do not know the difference between / a Company & a Regiment. But I must close. I do not know whether you can read this or not. my pen is very poor, and I have wrote this in a hurry. The boys are generally well. F. M. Ravencroft is not well this morning.

 

Give my love & respects to all enquiring friends. Do not fail to write soon

 

From Your Brother

W^m. H. Speer

 

[fragment]

 

Centerville Va.

            Oct. 18 1863

1½ O'clock P.M.

we just now got

orders to pitch

tents. So we will

probably remain here

a few days longer

            WHS

SOURCES