May 1^st in the    year ob our Lawd , 1864

Sunday, Cupeper Co.house

My dearest Marion,

I am dreadfully sik ob this war, sik of it.  I think of Robert Browning when he says;

At the meal we sit together;salve tibi! I must hear

Wise talk of the kind of weather

Sort of season, time of year….

But soon, within a month I will see death again as I saw it 3 years ago.  But enuf with my mealancholy dreams.  Plainly I wll tell you what happened yesterday and today.

Woke up in Camp yesterday. ‘gain only 15 or 20 souls make up the Citizens Guard.  Our long Capt. Stevens dead , Ketchum gone, Leiser gone,Huntington gone, only a couple pards left.  It was rainy Friday but turned very hot.  Our sergt. Bennet took us though more agonizing drill led by our Lt.  George like the blowhard he is, is very bully with his rank.  I beguiled the boys into smiling with some literature of the Maid of Esopus.  It’s a very bully book.  You must read it.  Drill was followed by Dinner of corncake, salt pork, Lincoln Pie.  No coffe.  I was fit to be tied until Hanson shared some.  Our Abel Silsbee was Abel  to make use of his condeseuer skills as a chief cook and bottle washer.  He turned out some bull corn cakes with canned tomato. George and I made use of a can of peaches and each put his share of cracker to make a dish.  It was so, so.  Eating was replaced by bayonet drill.  After, many of the boys went to the land of nod.  Me, Able and Thomas played some cards and I lost.  After, we rehearsed skirmish drill.  After that the boys talked  about many things.  Francisco like always is a very bully speacher.  The Quarter sergent Thompson made a very , very, very, very, very hunky stew and first rate peach conglomerate. I had 2 or 4 helpings.  Green finally got into the war and arrived from the hospital.  He said he had the quikstep, but in all acuallity , he straggled from a Darky whore-house and fell asleep in a grave.  The ribber next to us remind be of Trenton.  From some reason the first in its history dear Marion, some of the boys led by the ancient Higgins got into the whiskye and Geoge received a bit too much.  He was sent with sour stomach with Thompson the wagons.  The local town of Unionist people put on a bit of a contillon.  Me , Cole, Kinney, Able delighted ourselves with the Culpeper girls and the Darkies.   I must say that Hodges once ag’win proved himself a very liable clerk.  Father Abram is still alive and a stought Corpl.  On the other hand Kinney will never make it past wood cart.  Francisco is always great to “A” company us.  Welch , Branton are very bully comrades. It would be a severe blow the our cause if they fall.

            The night was cold and breakfast was corncake, Lincoln Pie, coffee and drill.  I have never learned that putting  a picture of darkes under L.t Morgans duffle is a good idea.  So he enslaved me and made me cart water and drill the boys. The former is for Darkeys and the latter I don’t mind.  We all were payed and with this letter I send you 5 dollars for  your pleasure.   Also knapsacks were inpected not to have indigenous articles.  Father Abram did have cards.    It rained a bit, and I sat on a box with another for a table and ate my pork.  Green fried some potatoes and they were first rate.   We then packed up and marched towards the RR. On the way we sang merrily the “girl I left behind me”

Take care, your servant

Jesse Wing

Corpl

Citizens guard , Second Regiment, Wisconsin

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This Report Filled out by: Private David Fictum, 2^nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company A “The Citizens Guard.”

 Location: On the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, between Brandy Station and Rappahannock Station.

 Date: August 29^th, 1863, and August 30^th, 1863

Saturday, August 29^th, 1863

 We have been ordered an advance southward on the railroad by the 2^nd Wisconsin, Companies A, B, E, and K. We made camp near a small train depot. We are also accompanied by a small detachment from the 5^th Wisconsin and from the 1^st U.S. Sharpshooters, Company C. We are not too far away from the old Brandy Station Battlefield. Rebel strength was estimated at around 50 infantry and at least one piece of artillery. They were over a creek nearby. Our company numbered about 28 men. The bridge that the train tracks went over was barricaded, so for the morning hours, pickets were posted on the bridge. We did drill that morning, and our company’s turn for camp guards was met.

            Toward 11:00AM, a skirmish between pickets commenced. Our company was off duty and was resting under a grove of trees. The sounds of firing continued for about a half hour then slackened. A messenger was sent for reinforcements. We quickly strapped on our gear and 1^st Lieutenant Andy Seymour lead a detachment of about 12 members of companies A and B. We loaded on the way there. I was among them. There was a line bushes, undergrowth, and trees before the creek. We could not see the bridge from were we kneeled. All of a sudden, one lone rebel ran from the bridge and when he came in sight of us, immediately surrendered. The rebel’s side arm was discharged safely. By that time, the firing had stopped. We then returned to camp with the prisoner. The prisoner was interrogated, but to no success, and paroled. As the officers put it, “We had missed the dance” or we had missed the battle. The pickets had advanced over the creek, almost trapped, but had gotten away with only 5 casualties (1 dead, 3 wounded, and 1 captured).

            At 1:00PM, we were marched down the train station. Abraham Lincoln inspected us and gave a great speech. It seems that there was a ford discovered about a mile upstream. We were marched to the ford, crossed the ford, and then waited for about an hour about 500 yards away from the ford. There, the railroad that went over the bridge continued. We were then ordered to advance and the enemy had been discovered. We loaded our guns. Our company had been put in front of the column. The sharpshooters were put in front as skirmishers. They started firing. Then we started forward on the tracks, just our company, the rest of the column stayed back. We were in a column of two. We ran forward. We emerged from the woods and came upon a slope leading up a hill to the left of the track. Eventually the tracks turned to the left toward the enemy, about 400 yard of were we ran off the track. The terrain had a few clumps of trees, but was an overall clearing. The battle had begun.

The enemy pickets quickly ran from the top of the slope out of sight. Then we quickly deployed as skirmishers along the slope. We opened fired on enemy entrenchments. It seemed as if the enemy had prepared a line of entrenchments if they were attacked on the flank or rear. They also had two cannons. There was a lot of firing coming from the enemy at us. We had to lie on the slope, out of sight of the enemy and load on our backs. We were firing as skirmishers. When we got up to fire, we had to do it quickly. When we made a shot, sometimes as much as ten shots came in return. But then the rest of the column came up, and advance up the slope to the left of us. They luckily had the cover of a fence about 50 yards from the slope, on the hill. Our company then shifted to the right. Our company was the main attraction on the rebel’s left.

            We continued to be in skirmisher formation. We lost a man on the slope. We shifted a second time. We lost another man when we moved. We formed together in a tighter formation, but still firing as skirmishers. Then they aimed a cannon at us, fired, and killed two, and then another went down due to small arms fire. We shifted one more time to the cover of a few trees and bushes. They tried to aim a shot at us again, but we cleared the area were the shot cut canister through. It tore up the bushes and undergrowth. We moved back and continued to fire from our position. We then sent Private Tyler Protz out across the field to get more orders. He lost his hat to a rebel bullet on the way. About ten minutes later, he made it back, and said that the commanding officer had no orders for us. Then all of a sudden, a rebel sharpshooter opens up. He was sharp shooting from the tree. Me and another comrade tried to shoot him out of the tree. Every time he shot out of the tree, we would give him two shots in return. I must have wasted 4 or 5 shots on him. Then Captain Scott Sonntag ordered 4 or 5 of us to fire a volley at him, and was successful at shooting him out of the tree. Then we got the order to advance down the tracks.

            We all advanced down the tracks. The barricade also seemed to be the home of one of the cannons in the Confederate arsenal. The track was surrounded on each side of the tracks, so when we emerged from the cover of the left side of the tracks, we charged about 100 yard toward the rebel entrenchment on the right side of the track, with the cannon behind it. There were probably 15 men behind the entrenchment. We charged in, meeting resistance from only 5 rebels, but were quickly shot or clubbed down with a musket but. The rest of them ran but were trapped due to that they had their backs to the river. Another man from the company yelled for them to put down their weapons and come out. One man with a big club like object would not surrender behind us. He was quickly shot. While this was happening, our main attacking force was charging the main line of rebels. I saw about 15 to 20 of them try to form a last desperate battle line. But a cannon shot from our own cannon took out about 5 of them, then about 3 more by small arms fire. The rest then put their weapons in the air in surrender. The battle was over.

            After the battle, we picked up our wounded and dead, and headed back to camp. We suffered only five casualties, 3 dead, 2 wounded. The enemy suffered severely, with a total 20 prisoners, the rest were dead, wounded, and a few escaped by river. Reports from other companies say that they had suffered a lot more casualties than us. We were lucky. For the rest of the night, we rested and got a good night of sleep.

 Sunday, August 30^th, 1863

 The morning was quiet and calm for us. Company B was merged into our company due to lack of numbers. But at about 10:00AM, the pickets met enemy skirmishers. But the sharpshooters were on duty. The sharpshooters pinned the enemy skirmishers down quickly. We did more drill. About 20 men arrived to reinforce us; mostly men detached from companies E, K, and the 5^th Wisconsin.

            At 1:00PM, our pickets report that there is a major force coming in this direction. We are rushed to the positions we captured yesterday. We moved off the rotting dead and dug in a little. Our company was placed near the right of the line. Company K made up the right flank. I was behind a rock near a big section of undergrowth and rocks. Behind me was a rock and rail wall. I noticed that a rebel had chosen this spot to call his home earlier because there was a bunch of peanut shells around. Over an hour after we had been marched out to the defensive positions, the pickets starting firing again. A detachment of men from companies A and B sent out men to the picket line. 10 minutes later, they came back. Then the other pickets came back in. There was an odd and mysterious lull in the battle. No shots were being fired. It was scary in a way. We waited.

Then, there was a rebel yell, and we saw a rebel battle line come in to the left of us, about were our company was yesterday. We opened fired. An even bigger group of rebels came up in our front. They opened up on us. Company K was now engaged. We gave them a volley, and were ordered to start firing in volleys. After about 3 or 4 volleys, Company K fell back under pressure. Now our company’s flank was exposed to the rebels that were pouring into the original position that Company K had been in. We fell back to the rock and rail wall behind me. I got only 1 shot in before we fell back again.

We fell back to two sections of rock and rail wall. After I was able to get 2 more shots off, a cannon shell exploded right in the middle of us. It seemed that the rebels had brought up 2 cannons. Corporal Richard Propp was next to me before, and was alive, now he was dead and just a pile of human flesh, cut up by shrapnel. I was in shock for a few moments. I try to get up, but the shock of the shell was still in my legs, so I crawled, using my rifled musket to help. About 8 yards away from the wall, the other men still in action fell back. I tried to crawl as best as I could, and was able to gain my legs again. I tried to gain my breath again. Then 1^st Sergeant Matt Laing got me to get back into line. I saw that he already had blood on him, I couldn’t tell though were he was wounded. I calmed myself and loaded again. A sturdy battle line was made again and we put a withering fire into the rebels, causing them to stop their advance. I saw that a Company A member try to run, but was shot by the 1^st Sergeant. Then the order to go forward was made. I was still trying to load when the 1^st Sergeant urged me on. He ran ahead, and he disappeared into the smoke. That was the last time I saw the 1^st Sergeant alive. That was the last time I saw any of my company alive.

I saw that there was some fire needed on a cannon nearby. I helped lay fire on it. The rebels were drove out of the entrenchments, and toward were company F was originally, almost a dozen of the rebels surrendered, as did a rebel gun and gun crew. But there was about 10 more men near another cannon on the fence. The rebel gun crew of the other gun tried to load, but had trouble. About 5 other rebels put some fire down, but 2 of them were shot down, and the others ran. All that was left was the rebel cannon and its gun crew. They managed to load and we ducked. But that time, I was standing behind a tree that was forked. The cannon fired a canister shot, taking 2 men down. There was another lull in the battle as we waited for the smoke to clear. A few men shot at the direction of the cannon, but there was still about 40 seconds of silence. The smoke was just thin enough to see 4 men lying on the cannon. Was it possible those few shots between when the cannon fired and this moment killed them all? Then we saw them loading the cannon again. We fired into them again. Then they hauled the cannon down the slope and out of sight. We ceased fire, but did not dare pursue, because we thought that maybe that it was a trap and when we came down the slope, the cannon would spew a canister shot at us. Also, we did not know how many men were still down there, there might be a whole new bunch of rebels waiting for us. We waited.

While we waited for another possible attacked, we regrouped all the companies. Company E and the 5^th Wisconsin boys took the least casualties, due to that they were on the left. Company K took almost the most casualties. But our company, Company A took the most. Only a member of Company B that was merged into our unit and I survived. For the rest of the day, we waited the rest of the day. We finally sent out pickets to find that the enemy had fled. That night, it was lonely in the camp. The Company B man and I were put into Company E. The next day we were ordered back across the Rappahannock.

*Author’s Note, David Fictum:

This event is really inspired by the Green Bay event of 2003. I tried to make the scenario try to fit into the real war as much as possible. The real scenario for that reenactment was May of 1864, in the Wilderness battle. But at the time, the 2^nd Wisconsin was actually fighting in the battle of the Wilderness, with thousands of other men, unlike the Green Bay event with no more that 200. So I put it in August 1863, on Meade’s Rappahannock line, were many small and unnamed skirmishes happened. A skirmish like the Green Bay scenario could of really happened but is unlikely. Enjoy.

Fox Lake Historical Days Living History After Action Report (credit: Tom Klas)

June 22d, 1862

Camp Opposite Fredericksburg

My Dearest Alise,

Today we find our men of the Citizens Guard sharpening up on their duties of drill and more drill. The morning was filled with a heavy air from the violent storms of the 21st, but we made haste to keep Col. O'Connor proud of his Dodge County boys.  Captain Converse, myself, Privates John & Levi Bennett and Fritze all withstood the spoils of nature from the night of the 21st without harm.  The rest of our small detachment was on reconnaissance near a local Falmouth establishment.  This detachment arrived at six o'clock in the morning and was busy preparing rations for the duty day.  Pvt. Minor Palmer received our rations for dinner call at seven o'clock in the morning, but had to leave his post as camp cook due to orders from headquarters.  All I can state is Minor's efforts were much noted by his orderly sergeant.  Reveille and roll call came quickly after, with fourteen able men reporting for duty.  I led our Company through the School of the Soldier starting with the Manual of Arms and progressing towards Company movements.  Corporal’s Archibald Bennett and Richard Leiser are to be commended for their instruction as well.  For harness makers, they come no better than these two.  Privates Green, Hodges, and Jones reported back from detached service during this drill session.

After School of the Soldier, we started boiling our issued beef rations and army beans in kettles and made sure the fire was hot enough to cook another meal of soldiers fare. I took to task of cutting up some onions for the boiled beef while several of the men assisted me in getting fresh water and gathering wood.  Captain Converse led us in Company Drill with a firm grasp on firings and company maneuvers.  I must admit the Citizens Guard is fine body of men, equal in discipline and good-natured camaraderie.  Dinner Call came with delight and then murmurs.  Our well soaked and boiled kettle of army beans did more than just fill our ribs but left a mark on citizenry of Falmouth they will not soon forget.  We even delighted in the washing of mess furniture with lye soap after Dinner Call on behalf of the ladies of Falmouth.  Pvt.’s Levi Bennett, Green, Pitcher, & Pomeroy seemed to be having a first rate time laughing all about and even rolling on the ground.  If we left these boys alone, they would scare off all the fine ladies of Falmouth to the hills of Fredericksburg.

Skirmish Drill and Bayonet Exercise followed our humble meal, with great attention. The men followed instruction meticulously and we proceeded thought both endeavors quite well. Some of our boys even learned the School of the Piece from Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery.  The One Hundred and Forty Thieves gave several members the correct instruction if ever we would have to support them in battle.  Private Zahn was allocated a pass for the evening and next day by Captain Converse as the boys wished our pard the finest adventures possible.

Rations were issued at 4 3/4 o'clock in the afternoon for Supper consisting of Slab Bacon, Hardtack, Coffee, Sugar, Salt, and Rice. The Citizens Guard took to preparing rations and their uniform and equipage for our next formation. I must note that Corporal Leiser has a certain fondness to hardcrackers that can only be seen to be fully appreciated. Private Pitcher and Green attempted to catch some fish on the banks of the Rappahannock River, but to no avail. Private Pitcher did however share his knowledge of broiling bacon with success.  Captain Converse started on his way to Fredericksburg for a visit with some of his relation. It turned out to be a pristine day here in Virginia, even with the thick air hanging over us.

Dusk came with the citizenry of Falmouth assembling for a presentation and social to follow. I must admit that the men of the Citizens Guard were of the finest conduct in every pursuit.  The ladies of this charming village made us feel welcome and even got Corporal Bennett to show his dancing talents.  After our evening events, we all settled in for the night just trying to keep away all the bugs from sucking out every drop of blood in us. Needless to say, they could not whip the Citizens Guard, but did insight our determination.

Reveille came upon us once again on the 23d, with a beautiful sunrise to welcome us this day.  I led our boys in School of the Soldier with the assistance of Corporals Bennett and Leiser.  Rations were once again cooked, and we took some time to catch up on some much needed rest and cleaning our camp kettles.  After breakfast, we assembled for Company & Skirmish Drill under the beaming Sunday morning sun.  After drilling for an hour, we all took a small rest, filled canteens by the river, and made ourselves respectable for Church Call at eleven o'clock in the morning.

Dinner call came upon us quickly as we were delayed in getting back to camp by several of our well-intentioned Falmouth civilians.  We scurried back and boiled our rations quickly as not to be late for our inspection at one o'clock in the afternoon.  A member from the Quartermaster Department, Mr. Solomon Cuddleback, was to review our men and to instill confidence in our "quality" Government Issue uniform and equipage.  I assembled the men for a Knapsack Inspection, at which our men and Mr. Cuddleback took note of the marginal quality of our uniform & equipage.  Several men questioned the poor quality of our issue shirts and leggings.  The Thomas boys were quite the topic, as they both claimed to having either lost, drowned, or burned some of their uniform & equipage while on our last campaign.  Mr. Cuddleback was set straight on our lack of quality and ignored requisitions for uniform and equipage.  If Mr. Cuddleback thought Pvt. Welch was spirited, just wait till he meets up General Gibbon.

After knapsack inspection, we rested for a little while enjoying this fine Virginia day, until two and a half o'clock in which we performed bayonet exercise.  The boys are quite enthusiastic while practicing the motions of defense and attack, especially one Corporal Archibald Bennett. One of our boys, Pvt. Pitcher, caught the attention of a young Falmouth miss of charming character.  Pvt. Pitcher seemed to hold himself quite well and conversed with this fine belle for at least 1/2 of an hour.   Daily duties are tended to and the evening is fast approaching us.  We continue to stay here in Falmouth waiting for the Army to do some fighting.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts Alise.

Wishing for quite times in Fall River,

1st Sgt. Henry M. Hunting

Co. "A" 2d Wisc. Vols.

Hastings, Michigan After Action Report (credit David May)

THE RECENT EXPERIENCES OF SOME COMPANY A MEMBERS WITH THE 24TH MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

Over the weekend of the 19th to the 21st of July 2002, elements of Company A 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry traveled to Hastings, Michigan to lend support to our chums in the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry in suppressing the rebellion. Being unable to locate the "Wolverines" upon arrival of the Wisconsin contingent late on Friday night, a hasty bivouac was made at the outskirts of Hastings village. At first light. the "Badger's" set out in search our comrades in arms. That successfully being accomplished, the camp was located adjacent to that of the 19th Indiana.  A complete western atmosphere was present, being enhanced by the close proximity and friendly overtures of the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The 2nd Wisconsin contingent was then blended with the above units and after a hasty camp breakfast, all marched off to engage in a multi-station graded tactical exercise within which the 2nd Wisconsin and its affiliated unit(s) received an above average and passing score at all points. The remainder of Saturday morning and early afternoon was spent in exploring the village, visiting with chums, and provisioning for the up-coming battle.

Saturday's afternoon battle contained brisk musketry and intricate maneuvers which ultimately led to a union victory. Back in camp after maintenance of arms and equipment, the evening was spent in reflection. Also scheduled at Hastings that evening was a night firing display performed by artillery and infantry units. A camp rumor that a "house of ill repute" was present in the village led to a reconnaissance, which although proving false did provide the "Badgers" with a glimpse of the Hastings Village occupants at night. SGT. Hunting successfully led the contingent back to camp with our virtue intact. The next morning came early and after a brief army breakfast Company A 2nd Wisconsin bid our fellow westerners farewell and headed back home.

Green Bay Railroad Museum AAR, (credit Lucas Dietsche)

August 14^th 1862

Near the Rapidan

To my dearest Mother;

            Please be joyfull that I have seen the elephant and he is big and frightful.  Since my last letter we continued to suffer the heat, dust and dirt for the sake of our glorious Union.  We were marching west and parallel of the Rappahannock and camped near Dutchman’s creek and Culpeper Courthouse on the 9^th.  That night only a 1/8 of our Co.made it to bivouac. The rest of it was straggling between Culpeper and Fredericksburgh with Ordely Sergent Hunting bringing them up.  Tom Green(the one that was Cleopatra in a past life)Corpl. Bloodgood, the puritan Preston and me enjoyed the fruits of rest and coffee.  Saturday morning, around sunrise Van Buren Bloodgood ordered me and Tom to dig a rifle pit near the track at the top of a small bluff across the creek and  a unknown force of Johnies.  We had a first-rate time.  Tom did most of the ditching and I watched for activity across the way.  When a suitable breastwork was complete we quietly scaddlattled back to camp following the Orange and Alexandria R.R.

            From camp to creek it was about a ½ a mile.  When we got back, the camp was in a bustle and active again.  Officers goin here and there and soldiers having a hunky time.  Zahn( the 10-foot-tall Prussian) regaled us with anectodotes and with him we had a even bullier time.  Van Buren was sewing his stripes on, Preston was layed out and Tom and me were first-rate.  We then had roll taken and everyone still laughs at my name.  Finally Hunting, Welch, the Thomas boys, and Corpl. Bennett brought up the rear-guard and all were hunky.  Incidentally Hunting was brevetted to Leutenaut.  He is no whore-house pimp when he is an officer but still an enlisted pard.

            Anywho, the day was filled with drill.  Our beloved Capt. Converse again took over our company and a Ordely from Co.K took over.  Like at Hastingstown there were proprietors selling things that the army issues.   This Co. doesn’t fall for that junk.  Next to that was a refugee camp, many were husbandless women who ideally were loyal Lincolnites but, in my heart they were all Secesh and loyal to King Davis.

            Around Mid-morning me and Green ate some Secesh corn, bacon, and Lincoln pie.  The around noon, most of the battalion placed their duffles on the baggage wagons, but the wiser Tom, Chester Thomas, and me chose to bring them along( since some of the boys lost theirs at Bull’s Run).  Also Pomeroy and Mason came to join the march toward Richmond.  On the way Hunting made us sing the Battle Cry of Freedom.  We halted at a small junct.  While there, we were bade farewell by some “loyal Unionists” and then we started to march to Richmond to-get-into-a fight, but countermarched back to camp.  You do not know how fit to be tied I was when we saw our old camp again! But seeing Minor Palmer show us up of how much spunk he had to kick the bottom of the Secesh, we felt bully.  But soon we boarded a train like cattle again and chugged towards wherever.  All I know about the fight is we halted, got off and got into line of battle along the R.R. there we were subjected to spent bullets nicking our faces and shells hitting the tops of trees spewing leaves upon us.  Me, Hunting and Chester kept our morale up.  We then formed in skirmishes and hit a medium rise in front of Reb cannon and muskets.  We fired at them and kept our heads low.  Chester and me talked to each other to keep our sand bully.  Then with a shout we charged the Reb lines and their volley hit Green, Zahn and Chester.  They went down with pills in their bodies.  Zahn wasn’t much alive than a dead dog.  Green was bleeding from the arm and leg.  Chester had a ball in his knee.  I sent them on the train hopefully they would live.  Later they reported with what the sawbones called “minor wounds”.  The Benett boys came with a jubilant  success over fevors.  That afternoon I delighted myself with some applesauce I made and my chums with stories and jokes.  Minor received a ghastly wound that made  him go back to Randolph.  Unfounatley Pomeroy and Mason had disabilities and were sent North.

            Cuddleback  returned from his expedition against the quickstep.  He was very cheery and tanned like a darkie.   That night the Thomas boys were invited to a ladies house for some fine cookery and didn’t ask the rest of his pards to join.  But Tom did enlighten me with a peach or two.  Sunday we had more drill church, and for lunch I had some hunky corned-beef and corn.  The beef was compliments of Archy Bennett.  I got the beef after I gave him a bite of a fruit I cannot spell, but it was first-rate.  Bennett is from Canada and enjoys eating corned beef than French duck.  He is well-mannered and a great soljer.  We also had an early mail call, if Bennet or Archy tell u about some fluzy named Pricilla tell them I never heard of the name. Welch wanted to know that joke that Cole told me, but he didn’t like it one bit.  We marched and met Mr. Lincoln himself, I couldn’t believe my spectacles!  He looked careworn, but atlas he was a Westerner! He reviewed us and asked how we fared and I summoned enuf courage to ask him what was he going to do about the darkies and he said the “ people will decide”(whatever that means)

            We then marched along the Orange and Alexandria and occupied some abandoned works left by the Johnies.  It was a hunky that I was in the works with Archy.  I was very brave in dealing with the loud amount of gun-fire and shells.  We held our ground against rebel attacks and Co. E lost very heavily.  The Baby-Sixth took over the blood-soaked field and we returned again to the old campground.

            After having roll taken we rested a bit, cleaned our guns and repacked up our duffles and ready to move north.  Darn, we are forming up again, tell pa I love and him and the same goes for my aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and neighbors.  Tell azalea that I don’t miss her one bit.

Your son Amasa Jeremiah Ketchum 

Wade House AAR, (credit Lucas Dietsche)

                                                                                                                                                    1^st of October 1863

Dear Mother

            The last few days have been a whirlwind.   Just like how everyone is anxious when Mrs. Beiuf has another child.    Incidentally after marching 24 miles or more in pursuit of Bobbie Lee, our Regt. halted in a field surrounded by critter- co.s, red-legs and forests. The aftermath of the fight in Pennsylvania has sapped much of the morale of our Co. So much that half of the Co. straggled on the way to the bivouac.   It’s interesting to see that this Co. with so much sand and willingness to fight has the tendency to straggle so much.  But atlas when the promise for the fight the Co. gets back to its formal self.

            On the somewhat dewy night I looked at my bootees and found them to be no more than the same shoe that Jesus wore on his way to his crucifixion. It needed only some straps to keep hold of my foot.  Our brave Capt. Hunting was worried has much as I was and somehow got hold of a first-rate pair of Gov’ment shoes.  He told me I needed not worry, he said something about a favor the Quart’ master owed him. My new pair fit like a hat and were extremely Hunky.   When we got back to our camp, the orderly informed that I was promoted to the rank of Corp’l and had to study up on drill, and outpost duty, essential to the rank-and-file.  Being scholarly worth and always ready to read, I took it upon my solem duty to read up.   It was a regular meeting of the minds when we had our non-commissioned officers meeting.  “General” Bloodgood was promoted to Sergeant, Preston was also promoted to Corp’l and the ordely discussed plans for tomorrow morning.  So far I think that the rank of Corp'l is everyones dog and nobodys boss, that’s what at least Dick Leiser always said to me.  As I found out, I had to watch over the grand guards, take details of this and details of that and I did  it detaily.

            The morning started with the ordinary sound of the bugle.  Soon we did our roll call and my police details.  Our ranks consisted of the very same, but its important to history. Private Binder, a old tobacco spitting,  Mexican-war dog  that had a twisted eye and scorn mouth, he always been a old man I never liked, because of my promotion, but he’s been very kind to me until he took a blue pill in that very twisted eye.  There was a certain private Spencer Davis, who is younger than me and is a gentleman, Hayden a man who would not at all hurt a fly but of course he would kill one sitting on top a Johnny, John Fritze a man I think who would charge to hell if there were Rebels there, Gould, who is ever vigilant on guard duty and I can depend on most vigilantly.   The Thomas boys also came up and so did the Bennet boys  Milo, Parker and Marrow.  All were extremely Bully and Hunky

            Soon again we filled our time with company and battalion drill.  Fritze,Gould , and Hayden made up my camp guard and they did it splendidly.  Soon Cuddebeck and otheres straggled in and were soon put into line.  Rations consisted of, fresh vegetables, bacon, sugar, and of course Lincoln pie.  Methinks by noon, the whole company was extremely bully because of the thought of action coming up. To build up our sand, Binder and me, swapped stories of whose manliness was more manly.  His manners are rough , but mine our more.  I can eat food that has soaked up more dirt and water, I can swear more that would make a Southron Baptist cry, I know more about books and religion but something that he has that outranks a general, his mind is as clear as a Catholic nun and can fight better if he had 3 arms behind his back!  I will not lie to you, that I do swear and spit a bucket full that would outdo what I did back home, but it’s all in good of sprits.  Especially when Binder offered me a cigar and a plug of tobacco.  I know now that chewing it does not mean swallowing some.

But soon, we had light-marching order and soon were on the march.  We marched though a town saw many of the best womanhood I've seen since Falmouth.

            We were soon in line-of-battle behind 7 artillery pieces.  We could not see much infront of us. What did we see was a large forest on our right and a large hill on our left and plenty of powder smoke I’ve seen since McPherson’s ridge.  Many were already played-out and caught some sleep.  Johny Cook, who I was acquainted last winter, joined me.  We talked about each other’s mothers and things of that nature and soon he went back to his smoking-artillery-gun.   Soon again we were on our feet and ready to meet whatever the Rebels threw at us. Though the smoke we could see a Federal critter Co. attack a large force of rebel horsemen.  And soon we were attacking the Rebel skirmishers.  We drove them away to see though the dust and smoke a Rebel flag on top of a line-of-battle stretched from the hills to the forest.  Soon after eating blue pill after blue pill we ran like madden demons into a path though the forest and soon were behind them.  But we were flanked by shot and shell and a Co. of Johnnies forced us back whence we came.  We huddled in the woods and let the left of the battalion fight them ball for ball. As the Rebels retreated we rejoined our Reg’t.  Soon we pushed them and took their position.  The flight of their gallant army and cavalry was much to my surprise.  We then let the Hoosiers take over our position has we returned to the bivouac site.   Much gun cleaning was being taken over at this time and soon, we were all layed-out and in cheery moods. 

My dear Mother I’ve thought I understood everything that went amast in this Army.  How the Army works at the Corps level to Co. level, I have mastered drill and I am proficient at bayonet exercise, I know how companies form battalions and then brigades into divisions, and some sheer luck Corpl. Dick Leiser gets pneumonia and I get his place.  But I will never understand a man, of decent  Badger quality and a great comrade like Spencer Davis can be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant!  Everyone tells me, its just luck of the draw , or he got a commission, but even though I once saved his life and he to mine, I know that something went askew that day!  I am neither jealous nor zealous of him, just that fact that, someone like John Pope to be Generaled is a mistake but to do it many times in the same Army is insane!  But that day he came back from Quart’ master with this eyebrows over his spectacles and a cheery disposition with a package from New York. In it was a fine 6 or 7 button, shiny, new whore-house pimp coat complete with First Leutenant rank. I did not recognize him as I came from the sinks tucking in my shirt I saw him and saluted.  He smiled and saluted back. 

That night was filled with going to a gathering of some ladies from the neighboring villages.  I was not in the mood to dance with such  Cottonian woman.  I was too played out at the moment.  But the Leutanant showed off with his new suit of blue.  I begged to be a part of the new selection to the officer corps whilst we went back to camp.  We talked about home and I didn’t want to mention what disgust I thought of Uncle Sam at the time.  We then fell asleep near the firey embers of the pit.  But then I was awakened by the soakness of my body, and whilst I was drying off my blanket, the sky opened up with a steady down pour, I woke up the men around the fire to get their duffels under the other skunks tent.  Soon Massa Davis and me found an abandoned tent and soon were sound a sleep.  As usual the drums told us to stop being in the land of nod and I was soon awake.  By 8 or so Binder and me were trying to hurt each others sand, but it was all in good fun.  Both of us didn’t go to church and soon we were making up rules for a pugle match. It was agreed that I insulted his Irishhood and him my Welshood.  We agreed and then we took off our blouses unrolled our sleeves and ready to strike the first blow, when the orderly reminded me of the law against giving Privates bloody noses.  So Binder and me stooped and shook hands.   That morning Corp’ls Archy and Dutcher rejoined our ranks and the brought up the rest of the Co. Preston was demoted to the rank of web-foot.   For some reason this stay at god-knows was a funny endeavor.  For some reason instead of battalion drill it was necessary to look for a critter-co. cavalrymen’s pistol.  Our company jested of how ridiculous it was.  But orders were orders.

Soon we were back in camp and it started to rain again, I threw my duffel under Binder’s tent and sat in the rain, like a fish.  As soon as it started, it ended and it was beautiful out again.  The boys brought out the time of how funny it was for them to see me bag full of lemon drops and to gobble them up.  So for some reason someone had the very it and I tasted Utopia again.   Our Capt. told everyone if lemon drops were on top of our flag, “Amasa would follow it even more”.  But it was all in good of humor.

            Again the trumpets were sounding from near and far the call for the war and our Reg’t was in battalion formation again.  For some reason Hunting was nowhere to be found and my dear comrade Massa Davis had to lead us.  We marched on the very same road, though the very same town and heard the rumor that Early’s Division had pushed back the Hoosiers and retaken their former positions and entrenched.  And it was up to us to capture them.  I think it was someone’s folly to use us the same way as the day before,but this time we flanked them and succeeded this time.  We caught some mounted Rebels off guard and got them in a deadly crossfire.    We then flanked a Tennessee Co. and pushed up to the heights and captured 2 guns and 67 prisoners.  I was extremely bully.  We marched back to camp to get ready to pursue again.  Our brave and gallant Col. says the war will be over by Dec.25^th.  I hope to God that is the case.  As soon as I packed my duffle and shouldered the Co. shovel I had a nice talk with a lady from the area.  She said that I reminded her of a lost love, but I told her I had no time for marriage quite yet, and soon bade her farewell.  Soon we marched 12 miles that day and soon straggled like the Ole Citizens guard does occasionally.

Your son,

Amasa