Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Mustered for Pay

Friday, October 31, 1862

After a cold and rainy week the weather finally clears. The Thirteenth New Hampshire is called for review and mustered for pay by Brigade Commander Colonel Dexter R. Wright.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company 1888), 19.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Letters from the Front - Nathaniel Caverly Jr.

Saturday, October 25, 1862

Nathaniel Caverly Jr. wrote his first letter home to his father from Camp Chase, letting him know that he was well and that he enjoyed camp life. Nathaniel mentioned that he had suffered from dysentary but was fighting the ill effects by eating vegetables. He asked his father to send him a lead pencil and pencil holder to write letters, as the steel pen he had did not work. Nathaniel asked for all the news from home, stating "I want you to write me if it rains there write if it is cold there and if it is fair write how you are getting along with your harvesting how your crops are coming in and what you are going to sell and keep this winter and so forth."1

References:
1Alan C. Phillips, Soldiers in My Family: Caverlys and Murrays 1754-1865. (DePere, Wisconsin: A.C. Phillips, 1993.), 77-79.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Assistant Surgeon John Sullivan Joins the Regiment

Thursday, October 23, 1862

As the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment prepares for another move, Assistant Surgeon John Sullivan, who has served with the Second New Hampshire Regiment, joins the Thirteenth.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 16.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Passing the Test

Tuesday, October 21, 1862

The Thirteenth New Hampshire regiment is tested to see how quickly they can assemble, pack gear, and be ready for march. The Thirteenth completes the test in less than fifteen minutes.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 15.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Return from Picket Duty

Sunday, October 19, 1862

After two days of picket duty the men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire gather at Upton Hill for inspection, drills, and religious services. They receive orders to return to camp, leaving Upton Hill at 6:00 P.M. and returning to Camp Chase by 8:00 P.M. Exhausted and without tents, the men camp on the open ground in the freezing rain. Exposure to the elements begin to take their toll, as nearly one-hundred men report sick the next morning.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 14.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Picket Duty at Falls Church

Friday, October 17, 1862

The Thirteenth New Hampshire had its first taste of military action early this morning, as the regiment arose before dawn and left camp at 7:00 A.M. with knapsacks, haversacks, and arms for Upton Hill, about two miles from Falls Church and fifteen miles from the Bull Run battlefield. Arriving at 11:30 A.M. two companies of the Thirteenth immediately deployed for picket duty beyond the earthwork defenses of Washington, while the remaining companies camped, mainly without tents, on open ground.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 13-14.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Adjusting to Camp Life

Thursday, October 16, 1862

The men of the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment, accommodating to camp life, end their first week at Camp Chase. A regimen of company and batallion drills, dress parades, and roll calls fills their day from sunrise to sunset. In addition to adjusting to the physical demands of their schedule they need to adjust to meager rations and the changeable Virginia autumn weather, with its warm days and cold evenings.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 11-13.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Camp Chase

Thursday, October 9, 1862

The men of the Thirteenth marched through the streets of Washington D.C. and made camp on open ground at Camp Chase, located one mile from Robert E. Lee's former home at Arlington House. Reporting to their commanding officer, General Silas Casey, and settling into their new camp the regiment prepared for a daily schedule of discipline and drills.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 10.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Arrival in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, October 8, 1862

The men of the Thirteenth arrived in Baltimore at 6:00 A.M. Three hours later the regiment boarded railroad cars headed for Washington, D.C. and reached their destination by 9:00 P.M. The regiment spent an uncomfortable evening bivouacking in the rain on Capitol Hill.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 10.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

En Route to War

Tuesday, October 7, 1862

After arriving at Jersey City early in the morning the regiment boarded railroad cars for Philadelphia. Reaching their destination by nightfall, the regiment ate their evening meal at Cooper's Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. Following their meal the regiment marched through the city and boarded freight cars headed for Baltimore.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 9-10.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Traveling South to War

Monday, October 6, 1862

The men of Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment boarded railroad cars at Concord Depot at 4:00 A.M. Leaving Concord at 7:00 A.M., they traveled south through Nashua and Worcester, Massachusetts, eventually arriving near Ledyard, Connecticut by 8:00 P.M. to board the steamer "City of Boston" en route to Jersey City.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 9.

Friday, October 5, 2012

On the Eve of Departure

Sunday, October 5, 1862

The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment marched to Concord to receive their regimental colors. They returned to Camp Colby by evening, anticipating an early departure for war the next morning.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 6.