Thursday, April 24, 2014

Departing from Camp Gilmore

Sunday, April 24, 1864

The departure from Camp Gilmore was delayed by one day to break down the camp and to begin a march on Tuesday morning. The Thirteenth New Hampshire had been stationed at Camp Gilmore for nearly one year. With a final cheer the Thirteenth bade farewell to Camp Gilmore on Tuesday, April 19, and embarked on the road to Portsmouth, where they boarded the steamer "Escort" en route to Newport News. After disembarking at Newport News the Thirteenth marched to Yorktown by way of Big Bethel and Lee’s Mills and made camp. On Saturday, for the first time in one year, the Thirteenth engaged in a brigade dress parade. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday routine of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. They also received orders to cut down their baggage for marching to one suit and one set of underclothes. 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), 249-52.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Answering the "Long Roll" Call to Arms

Sunday, April 17, 1864

On Tuesday at 11:00 P.M. the Thirteenth New Hampshire responded to the "Long Roll," a call to arms or to battle, by marching from Camp Gilmore to Suffolk and lying on their arms all night. On Wednesday the Thirteenth deployed pickets at Suffolk and on Thursday marched along the Nansemond River to their old camp of May 1863 at Jericho Creek. Early Friday morning the Thirteenth boarded railroad cars for the return to Camp Gilmore. The event was designated a reconnaissance for cavalry with support of the infantry. Today the true reason for the reconnaissance was revealed, as the Thirteenth received orders to march in the morning with three-days rations for the beginning of the Spring Campaign of 1864. 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), 247-49.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Detachment for Duty around Camp Gilmore

Sunday, April 10, 1864

The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured another week of heavy rain at Camp Gilmore. Many of the Thirteenth had again detached for picket, guard, garrison, and provost duty in and around camp. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday regimen of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. 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), 246.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Colonel Stevens Returns for Service

Sunday, April 3, 1864

In the early part of the week heavy rain caused flooding at Camp Gilmore, with the wet weather postponing daily drills. At least one-hundred men from the Thirteenth New Hampshire were detached and sent to Portsmouth on provost guard duty. Colonel Aaron Stevens returned to Camp Gilmore on Friday, as he had been away from camp since December enlisting men for other New Hampshire regiments. General Ulysses S. Grant arrived in Norfolk by boat but did not make landing. This morning the Thirteenth lined up for inspection and in the evening engaged in a dress parade.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), 244-46.