1861.

Aug. 17.

Aug. 18.

Aug. 19.

Aug. 20.

Aug. 21.

Aug. 24.

Aug. 25.

Aug. 26.

the brigade camped, after a march of twenty-six miles. Rained after reaching camp.

Still raining. At eight A.M. marched through Buckeyston, and crossed the Monocacy River, when a halt was ordered. Rumor said the thermometer ranged from 100° to 120° in the shade.

Doubleday's artillery, the Ninth New York, and other troops, are on the move.

Roused early with the already familiar orders, to move at a moment's notice. A dense fog prevailing, delayed matters, till at nine A.M. tents were struck, and the regiment floundered through muddy roads to Urbanna, where it was rapturously received by the inhabitants, under the supposition that it was a Confederate force. Shortly after passing Urbanna, a false alarm set every one on the qui vive; and, flanked by skirmishers, the regiment marched to Hyattstown, where it camped for the night. Capt. Kimball with twenty men was sent to Hyattstown, to search a house said to be full of ammunition; but all he could find was a few old muskets, of date not much later than the Revolution.

Citizens were in camp speedily sent about his

Fine day, but short rations. complaining of theft. One was business by Lieut.-Col. Bryan. During the morning General Orders referring to discipline were read, the instructions to guards being very strict. Battalion skirmish-drill. Several prisoners were brought into camp. Gen. Banks and the Second Massachusetts arrived. Great excitement prevailed on account of a rumor of poisoned springs.

Rained since morning of 23d. Company A on picket. Mail came, and news of evacuation of Harper's Ferry by the Union forces.

Sunday-inspection. At the evening service the chaplain discoursed on "The Individual Responsibility of Man to his Maker."

Col. Webster left for Washington. Five members of Company F were detailed for hospital service at Baltimore. Two lieutenants and four men were detailed for service in signal corps. Heavy firing heard in direction of Washington, causing all manner of rumors.

1861. Aug. 27.

Aug. 28.

Aug. 29.

Aug. 30.

Aug. 31. Sept. 1. Sept. 2.

Company F on guard near Hyattstown. First brigade reviewed.

Severe north-east storm. Toward noon subsided enough to permit a review of the second brigade. At four P.M. received orders to march at seven A.м. Aug. 29.

Reveille early. At 6.30 A.M. struck tents; at 7.30 A.M. marched. Travelled for thirteen hours, doing only five miles on account of the bad condition of the roads, and camped in the edge of a wood. Surgeon Baxter averred that very little more hard marching over the miserable roads in such bad weather would send the entire regiment to the hospital.

Sun came out to take a look at the country.
Inspection; pay-rolls signed.

Chaplain spoke on "Refining Influences of the Bible."
Capt. Allen, officer of the day, put under arrest by Col.
Gordon, of Second Massachusetts (temporarily command-
ing the brigade). The circumstances are familiar to all
of the regiment, and briefly were, that a member of the
Second Massachusetts was hung up by his thumbs for
some trifling misdemeanor, the Twelfth shouted their ob-
jections, and Capt. Allen was arrested for not preserving
order. Col. Gordon, in his privately published "History
of Second Massachusetts," refers very slightingly to the
Twelfth, and Col. Webster, averring that "To interfere
with our discipline was at one time the desire of the
Twelfth."
"It was plainly evident from many facts that
Col. Webster could not control his men;" and speaking
of "the regiment which commanded Col. Webster." Let
one incident, out of hundreds which might be cited, show
whether or no Col. Webster had "" control' over his

men.

Once they were rather noisily amusing themselves with story-telling, joking, etc. The adjutant came and said, "Col. Webster would like you to make a little less noise." There was instantaneous silence.

That Col. Gordon's course was not approved by his superiors is evident from the fact that Capt. Allen was released from arrest; and Davidson of Company B, who had been charged with inciting mutiny and in

1861. subordination, was tried by general court-martial and acquitted.

Sept. 3.

Sept. 4.

Sept. 5. Sept. 7.

Sept. 8.

Sept. 10.

Sept. 11.

Sept. 12.

Sept. 13.

Sept. 14.

Sept. 15.

At evening Col. Webster returned from Washington, and was received with hearty cheers.

Gen. Abercrombie witnessed battalion drill under Capt. Bates, and spoke flatteringly of the regiment's appearance. The customary "Orders to move at a moment's notice." News that Jeff Davis has again died.

Mail came. Rainy.

Orders to be ready to move," etc. Company H, and a company from the Second Massachusetts, guarding a supply-train. About two thousand mules, with proper allowance of wagons and teamsters, camped near by. A rumor was afloat, to the effect that seventy-five thousand rebs were going to cross the Potomac. (Just one year later this proved a truthful report.)

Sunday. Lieut. Hastings and five men returned from Washington, bringing the mail. Breakfast this day consisted of potatoes and beefsteak (not the "fresh meat" of later days).

Battalion drill in "bayonet charge," the movement being executed with a "howling accompaniment.

Regiment was visited by Gen. Banks, Mayor Wightman, and the correspondent of "The London Times." In the afternoon some of the men indulged in a foot-race. Rain at nightfall.

Lieut.-Col. Bryan, with Companies B and G, left camp under sealed orders. Major Burbank, Chaplain Clark, Surgeon Baxter, and the band accompanied the party. Gen. Banks and lady visited camp at dress-parade. At night the supply-trains moved.

The following organizations were camped near the Twelfth Second and Thirteenth Massachusetts, Twelfth and Sixteenth Indiana, Fourth and Fifth Rhode-Island Batteries, Cameron artillery, and a regiment of NewYork cavalry.

Were reminded that should move shortly.

Fine day, men playing foot-ball and base-ball.

During the afternoon Gen. Pierce in citizen's dress visited regimental headquarters.

1861. Sept. 19.

Sept. 20.

Sept. 21. Sept. 22.

Sept. 23.

Sept. 24. Sept. 25.

Sept. 26.

Sept. 27.

Sept. 28.

Sept. 29.

Sept. 30.

Forty

At eleven

At three

Soon after tattoo the regiment was turned out.
rounds of ammunition were issued to each man.
P.M. marched, passing through Darnestown.
A.M. the regiment bivouacked "by Potomac's shore."
During the afternoon shifted camp to near Muddy
Branch.

Building ovens. Company F on picket.

Sunday. Firing heard across the river, and a column of Confederates could plainly be seen on the opposite shore of the Potomac. Company H on main guard. Religious exercises at ten A.M.

Private Rufus A. Peck, Company I, while killing beef, was struck by a falling beam. He lived about half an hour after the accident. This was the first death in the regiment. The Eleventh Cavalry camped near by. Rufus A. Peck buried at three P.M.

One hundred men out mending the roads. In the evening paymaster arrived.

National Fast Day. The new sutler came.

Rain. Mail received. Firing heard in direction of Long Bridge.

Mail received, and newspapers.

Inspection. Service at ten A.M.: subject of discourse, "Firmness in Time of Battle and in Temptation." A soldier of the Twelfth writes under this date,

"To-day is the sabbath; and it is kept in our camp with as much strictness as at home, except that the work necessary to be done is a little more. This morning we had an excellent sermon preached in the open air by our worthy chaplain. The decorum observed, and the attention with which it was listened to, speak well for the regiment."

Heavy firing heard, and smoke seen up the river. It proved to be an attack on some of our troops which had crossed the Potomac, above Harper's Ferry, to seize some wheat belonging to the Confederates. A call being made for re-enforcements, part of Third Wisconsin Infantry, and four pieces from the Rhode-Island and New-York batteries, were sent from the brigade. The Confederate force was repulsed, and moved down the river to nearly opposite the

1861.

camp of the Twelfth.

Oct. 1.

Oct. 3.

Oct. 4.

Oct. 5.

Oct. 6.

Oct. 7.

Oct. 9.

Oct. 10.

Oct. 12.

There were six regiments, and the sight of so large a body of the enemy caused some stir in camp. Orders to move were received.

At early morning the regiment silently moved back from the river. At noon Companies B and G, with Major Burbank, returned from their mysterious errand of Sept. 12. Reports had been received, that a "secesh" legislature was to be convened at Baltimore, and these two companies had been despatched as an armed force to repress the movement. As this legislature never was assembled, the services of the military pilgrims were not required. Mail came. Ten men, with Company K as guard, were

sent to fell trees on an island in the river. The stream
being unfordable, the expedition returned to camp.
Firing heard all day. Dress-parade in evening.
A call received for volunteers for regular cavalry and
artillery. Five men required from each company.

Col. Webster received information that the "six regi-
ments of rebel infantry and one battery that attacked Great
Falls a few days previous were encamped directly oppo-
site the camp of the Twelfth," and that Gen. Banks de-
sired him and his command to be on the alert.
A report
was afoot that the regiment was to guard rebel prisoners
at Fort Warren.

Thunder, lightning, snow, rain, wind, sleet.
Younger of Company K died from typhus-fever.
Heavy firing heard all day.

Oliver

One of Company C's men, while on picket, suspected that some one was concealed in a clump of bushes near him. When relieved, he notified his successor, warning him to watch those bushes. Then, without acquainting any one of his intention, he started on a tour of investigation outside the picket-line. Result: the poor fellow received a serious wound in the leg; for the sentry promptly fired on noticing a movement in the bushes, on which he had been warned to keep good watch.

The following was received at headquarters:

LIEUT.-COL. BRYAN, commanding Twelfth Mass. Vols.

Colonel, You will take personal charge of all the pickets