IN VIRGINIAIN VIRGINIA

NOV. 3-12 MARCH TO THOROUGHFARE GAP AND CHANTILLY

DEC. DUTY AT BROOKES STATION BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG

JAN. 20-24 BURNSIDE’S “MUD MARCH”

APR. 27-30 CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN

MAY 1-3 BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

• When the 17th left Washington on November 3rd bound for Alexandria, Virginia, they were joining the 11th Corps to “fight mit Sigel” and to finally “see the elephant.”

• The 11th Corps had the unwanted reputation as the “foreign corps” in the Union Army. Two of its three divisions were led by foreign commanders.

• Between 1820 and 1860, some 1.3 million Germans arrived in America.• Many were heavily influenced by, or had taken part in the failed 1848 revolution in Germany. • They were strong supporters of Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionists’ cause, and did not hesitate to take up arms to preserve the Union. • Many had been army officers in Germany.

2ND DIVISIONBRIG. GEN. ADOLPH VON

STEINWEHR• Prussian• Born in

Blankenburg, Duchy of Brunswick, Germany

• Son of a military family

• Emigrated to U.S. in 1847

3rd DIVISIONMAJOR GEN. CARL SHURZ

• Born in Liblar, Germany

• Attended University of Bonn and became a revolutionary

• After living briefly in Zurich and Paris, emigrated to America in 1852

1st Division – 1st BrigadeCOL. LEOPOLD VON GILSA

• Former Prussian officer

• Fought in German revolution 1848-50

• Emigrated to NY• Earned his living

lecturing, singing, and playing piano in music halls in the Bowery

22ndnd Division – 1 Division – 1stst Brigade BrigadeCol. Adolphus BuschbeckCol. Adolphus Buschbeck

• German officerGerman officer• Emigrated to Emigrated to

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia• Led a brigade Led a brigade

largely made largely made up of Germansup of Germans

33rdrd Division – 1 Division – 1stst Brigade BrigadeBrig. Gen. Alex Von SchimmelfennigBrig. Gen. Alex Von Schimmelfennig

• Born in Bromberg in the Born in Bromberg in the Prussian province of Prussian province of Possen, GermanyPossen, Germany

• Became involved in Became involved in revolution and later fled to revolution and later fled to SwitzerlandSwitzerland

• Met Carl Shurz and fled with Met Carl Shurz and fled with him to Parishim to Paris

• Emigrated to US in 1854Emigrated to US in 1854• At Gettysburg-hid from the At Gettysburg-hid from the

Rebels in a pigsty Rebels in a pigsty

33rdrd Division – 2 Division – 2ndnd Brigade BrigadeCol. Wladimir KrzyzanowskiCol. Wladimir Krzyzanowski

• Born in PolandBorn in Poland• First cousin to First cousin to

Frederick ChopinFrederick Chopin• Took part in 1848 Took part in 1848

Polish revolt against Polish revolt against PrussiaPrussia

• Emigrated to VirginiaEmigrated to Virginia• Became involved in Became involved in

railroadingrailroading

Twelve of its twenty-six Twelve of its twenty-six regiments and six of its eight regiments and six of its eight artillery units were artillery units were commanded by Central commanded by Central Europeans—Europeans—

8,345 officers and men—over 8,345 officers and men—over two-thirds of the Eleventh two-thirds of the Eleventh Corps troops available for Corps troops available for duty, were in eleven exclusivly duty, were in eleven exclusivly German and four “mixed-German and four “mixed-nationality” regiments.nationality” regiments.

• Most of these had not Most of these had not yetyet learned to speak fluent learned to speak fluent English. English. • One witness describedOne witness described early drills: orders had early drills: orders had to be translated into 4-5 to be translated into 4-5 different languages to different languages to be be completely understood!completely understood!

Julius DieckmannJulius Dieckmann11stst Division - Artillery Division - Artillery

• Recruited in NYC Recruited in NYC during August , 1861 during August , 1861 as part of the 13as part of the 13thth Independent Battery- Independent Battery- NY Light ArtilleryNY Light Artillery

• Trained at Artillery Trained at Artillery Camp of Instruction at Camp of Instruction at Camp Duncan in Camp Duncan in Washington, DCWashington, DC

33rdrd Division – Artillery Division – ArtilleryOhio Light Battery Ohio Light Battery Capt. Hubert DilgerCapt. Hubert Dilger

• Born in GermanyBorn in Germany• Served as an officer in Served as an officer in

the Army of Badenthe Army of Baden• Intelligent battlefield Intelligent battlefield

leader and highly leader and highly proficient artillerymanproficient artilleryman

• Given the U.S. Army Given the U.S. Army Medal of Honor for his Medal of Honor for his bravery at Battle of bravery at Battle of ChancellorsvilleChancellorsville

THE 17THE 17thth CT, HOWEVER, WAS PART OF CT, HOWEVER, WAS PART OF THE 1THE 1stst DIVISION WHICH WAS LED BY DIVISION WHICH WAS LED BY BRIGADIER GENERALS CHARLES DEVENS, BRIGADIER GENERALS CHARLES DEVENS, JR. AND NATHANIEL MCLEAN.JR. AND NATHANIEL MCLEAN.

WITHIN THE 1WITHIN THE 1STST DIVISION, DIVISION, THEY WERE PART OF THE THEY WERE PART OF THE 22NDND BRIGADE WHICH WAS BRIGADE WHICH WAS LED BY GENERAL MCLEAN LED BY GENERAL MCLEAN

AND COLONEL JOHN C. LEE.AND COLONEL JOHN C. LEE.

NOVEMBER 3, 1862: THE NOVEMBER 3, 1862: THE SOLDIERS OF THE 17SOLDIERS OF THE 17thth CT CT VOLUNTEERS BOARD THE VOLUNTEERS BOARD THE

STEAMSHIP STEAMSHIP MARTHA MARTHA WWASHINGTONWWASHINGTON, HEADED FOR , HEADED FOR

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

THERE, THEY WERE SHOCKED TO THERE, THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEE A BUILDING WHERE SLAVE SEE A BUILDING WHERE SLAVE

AUCTIONS WERE HELDAUCTIONS WERE HELD

ON THE MARCH TO GAINESVILLEON THE MARCH TO GAINESVILLE

THE SOLDIERS PASSED THROUGH THE THE SOLDIERS PASSED THROUGH THE 22NDND BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD, (Aug. 28- BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD, (Aug. 28-

30) AND THE SOLDIERS WERE 30) AND THE SOLDIERS WERE EXPOSED TO THE HORRORS OF WAR EXPOSED TO THE HORRORS OF WAR

FOR THE FIRST TIME.FOR THE FIRST TIME.

LEFT BEHIND ON THE BATTLEFIELDLEFT BEHIND ON THE BATTLEFIELD

• TWO MILES OF FEDERAL TRAIN CARS TWO MILES OF FEDERAL TRAIN CARS BURNED TO THE TRACKSBURNED TO THE TRACKS• BROKEN GUNS AND DISMANTLED GUN BROKEN GUNS AND DISMANTLED GUN CARRIAGESCARRIAGES• BAYONETS AND CANNONBALLS BAYONETS AND CANNONBALLS SCATTERED AROUND THE FIELDSSCATTERED AROUND THE FIELDS• BODIES OF MEN WHO STILL LAY BODIES OF MEN WHO STILL LAY WHERE THEY HAD FALLEN IN THE WHERE THEY HAD FALLEN IN THE STRUGGLESTRUGGLE• THE CARCASSES OF HORSES AND THE CARCASSES OF HORSES AND MULES WHO HAD PERISHED THEREMULES WHO HAD PERISHED THERE

THE 11THE 11THTH CORPS WAS THE RESERVE CORPS WAS THE RESERVE OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. THE OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. THE BRIGADE AND DIVISION TO WHICH THE BRIGADE AND DIVISION TO WHICH THE

1717THTH BELONGED WAS GUARDING BELONGED WAS GUARDING THOROUGHFARE GAP IN THE BULL THOROUGHFARE GAP IN THE BULL

RUN MOUNTAINS.RUN MOUNTAINS.

THEY SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS IN THEY SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS IN GAINESVILLE, GUARDING BOTH GAINESVILLE, GUARDING BOTH THE RAILROAD AND THE PATH TO THE RAILROAD AND THE PATH TO MANASSAS JUNCTION.MANASSAS JUNCTION.

““IT WAS A GOOD LOCALITY IT WAS A GOOD LOCALITY FOR RABBIT HUNTING, AND FOR RABBIT HUNTING, AND THE BOYS CAUGHT A THE BOYS CAUGHT A NUMBER OF THEM. THE NUMBER OF THEM. THE MODE OF CAPTURE WAS TO MODE OF CAPTURE WAS TO CHASE THE RABBIT AND CHASE THE RABBIT AND YELL AT HIM UNTIL HE WAS YELL AT HIM UNTIL HE WAS PARALYZED.”PARALYZED.”

ACCORDING TO WILLIAM WARREN OF ACCORDING TO WILLIAM WARREN OF COMPANY C:COMPANY C:

THE WEATHER TURNED COLD, AND THE THE WEATHER TURNED COLD, AND THE MEN FREQUENTLY AWOKE SHIVERING MEN FREQUENTLY AWOKE SHIVERING

TO FIND THEMSELVES COVERED IN TO FIND THEMSELVES COVERED IN SNOW, THE CAMPFIRES HAVING LONG SNOW, THE CAMPFIRES HAVING LONG

BEEN EXTINGUISHED.BEEN EXTINGUISHED.

AFTER A FEW WEEKS IN GAINESVILLE, AFTER A FEW WEEKS IN GAINESVILLE, THE CORPS MARCHED TO ANTIOCH THE CORPS MARCHED TO ANTIOCH CHURCH IN THE THOROUGHFARE GAP.CHURCH IN THE THOROUGHFARE GAP.

WILLIAM WARREN OF COMPANY C:WILLIAM WARREN OF COMPANY C:

“…“…Antioch could not have Antioch could not have appeared more primitive to us appeared more primitive to us from busy Connecticut. There from busy Connecticut. There were but few houses thereabouts, were but few houses thereabouts, and scarcely any of them within and scarcely any of them within sight of another. The church was sight of another. The church was a stone structure, simple in form. a stone structure, simple in form. We pitched our tents in a large We pitched our tents in a large field probably used for pasture field probably used for pasture by its owner.”by its owner.”

““As soon as the tents were up, As soon as the tents were up, many of the boys and officers many of the boys and officers started out to forage. A week started out to forage. A week of hardtack and salt junk had of hardtack and salt junk had whetted our appetites for whetted our appetites for something fresh. The results of something fresh. The results of the forage were turkeys, the forage were turkeys, chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, and pigs. It was a disastrous and pigs. It was a disastrous Sabbath for livestock.”Sabbath for livestock.”

ELEVEN MEMBERS OF COMPANY C WERE ELEVEN MEMBERS OF COMPANY C WERE IN THE HOSPITAL AT THIS TIME, SEVERAL IN THE HOSPITAL AT THIS TIME, SEVERAL OF THEM BEING LOCATED IN BALTIMORE OF THEM BEING LOCATED IN BALTIMORE AND THE OTHERS IN WASHINGTON. ON AND THE OTHERS IN WASHINGTON. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, WE LEARNED THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, WE LEARNED THAT CAPTAIN BENSON OF COMPANY I THAT CAPTAIN BENSON OF COMPANY I HAD DIED.—HAD DIED.—WILLIAM WARRENWILLIAM WARREN

NOV. 19NOV. 19THTH THE THE REGIMENT IS ON THE REGIMENT IS ON THE MARCH. WILLIAM MARCH. WILLIAM WARREN, SAM WARREN, SAM BARNUM, AND JARVIS BARNUM, AND JARVIS BEERS ARE PART OF BEERS ARE PART OF THE “SICK SQUAD.”THE “SICK SQUAD.”

THE MEN REACHED CHANTILLY ON NOV. 19THE MEN REACHED CHANTILLY ON NOV. 19THTH AND AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL DEC. 10REMAINED THERE UNTIL DEC. 10THTH..

““What I particularly remember of What I particularly remember of Chantilly was the mud. The rain fell in Chantilly was the mud. The rain fell in torrents a good part of the time we torrents a good part of the time we were there, and there was a large were there, and there was a large number of troops present—their number of troops present—their trampling made the mud a prominent trampling made the mud a prominent feature of the place. Our regiment was feature of the place. Our regiment was stationed in a huge field or common. stationed in a huge field or common. There was no village apparent, except There was no village apparent, except the city of tents. It was a vast, the city of tents. It was a vast, undulating plain, with here and there a undulating plain, with here and there a substantial planter’s house.”substantial planter’s house.”

WILLIAM WARREN OF COMPANY CWILLIAM WARREN OF COMPANY C

DEC. 9DEC. 9 BATALLION DRILL FOR NEARLYBATALLION DRILL FOR NEARLY THREE HOURS.THREE HOURS.

DEC.10DEC.10 REVEILLE WAS SOUNDED AT REVEILLE WAS SOUNDED AT 2:30 A..M. FOR ROLL CALL2:30 A..M. FOR ROLL CALL

DEC. 10-12 THE CORPS IS ON THE MARCHDEC. 10-12 THE CORPS IS ON THE MARCH

WILLIAM WARREN COMPANY C:WILLIAM WARREN COMPANY C:

““The roads were in a frightful state of The roads were in a frightful state of mud. The marching was wading. We mud. The marching was wading. We made ten miles on the 11made ten miles on the 11thth and twelve and twelve miles on the 12th. All we had to eat at miles on the 12th. All we had to eat at night was coffee, sugar, salt pork, and night was coffee, sugar, salt pork, and five crackers.”five crackers.”

FREDERICKSBURG

BURNSIDE’S PLAN INVOLVED USING PONTOON BOATS TO CROSS THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER TO SURPRISE THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. THE PONTOON BOATS, HOWEVER, DID NOT COME. MEANWHILE THE RAIN POURED DOWN, TURNING THE COUNTRYSIDE INTO A SEA OF MUD.

MEANWHILE….

THIS GAVE THE CONFEDERATE ARMY TIME TO BUILD ITS TROOP STRENGTH AND TO OCCUPY THE “HIGH GROUND” ON MARYE’S HEIGHTS. BUT INSTEAD OF CHANGING HIS PLAN TO MEET THIS NEW THREAT, BURNSIDE INSISTED ON KEEPING TO HIS ORIGINAL PLAN.

THE UNION THE UNION SOLDIERS HAD TO SOLDIERS HAD TO CROSS A CANAL IN CROSS A CANAL IN AN OPEN FIELD.AN OPEN FIELD.

CONFEDERATE ARTILLERIST, PORTER CONFEDERATE ARTILLERIST, PORTER ALEXANDER ASSURED HIS COMMANDER, ALEXANDER ASSURED HIS COMMANDER, “GENERAL, A CHICKEN COULD NOT LIVE ON “GENERAL, A CHICKEN COULD NOT LIVE ON THAT FIELD WHEN WE OPEN UP ON IT.” THAT FIELD WHEN WE OPEN UP ON IT.”

YET, BURNSIDE WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS YET, BURNSIDE WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS PLAN. HE STUBBORNLY SENT SIX UNION PLAN. HE STUBBORNLY SENT SIX UNION DIVISIONS, BRIGADE BY BRIGADE ACROSS DIVISIONS, BRIGADE BY BRIGADE ACROSS TWO TINY BRIDGES AND 400 YARDS OF TWO TINY BRIDGES AND 400 YARDS OF CONFEDERATE INFANTRY LINED UP SIX CONFEDERATE INFANTRY LINED UP SIX DEEP IN THE SUNKEN ROAD.DEEP IN THE SUNKEN ROAD.

THE FEDERAL FORCES LINED UP AND THE FEDERAL FORCES LINED UP AND CHARGED 16 TIMES. NOT ONE OF THEM CHARGED 16 TIMES. NOT ONE OF THEM MADE IT ANY CLOSER THAN 30 YARDS MADE IT ANY CLOSER THAN 30 YARDS FROM THE WALL. FROM THE WALL.

WAVE AFTER WAVE OF UNION SOLDIERS WAVE AFTER WAVE OF UNION SOLDIERS WERE SENT ACROSS THE FIELD UNTIL THE WERE SENT ACROSS THE FIELD UNTIL THE BATTLEFIELD WAS LITTERED WITH THEIR BATTLEFIELD WAS LITTERED WITH THEIR BODIES. BY NIGHTFALL,BODIES. BY NIGHTFALL, 8,000 UNION 8,000 UNION SOLDIERS SOLDIERS LIE DEAD OR WOUNDED. LIE DEAD OR WOUNDED.

A SOLDIER WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN THE A SOLDIER WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN THE BATTLE DESCRIBED WHAT OCCURRED AT BATTLE DESCRIBED WHAT OCCURRED AT FREDERICKSBURG AS “MURDER.”FREDERICKSBURG AS “MURDER.”

SOLDIERS IN THE LAST CHARGE SAID THAT SOLDIERS IN THE LAST CHARGE SAID THAT THEY NEVER SET FOOT ON GROUND THEY NEVER SET FOOT ON GROUND BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETELY COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH THE BODIES OF THOSE WHO HAD WITH THE BODIES OF THOSE WHO HAD CHARGED BEFORE THEM.CHARGED BEFORE THEM.

COLONEL JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN COLONEL JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN LATER DESCRIBED HOW, AS NIGHT FELL, HE LATER DESCRIBED HOW, AS NIGHT FELL, HE AND THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO HAD AND THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO HAD SURVIVED THE DAY HAD TO PILE UP THE SURVIVED THE DAY HAD TO PILE UP THE BODIES OF THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS TO USE BODIES OF THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS TO USE FOR COVER FROM ENEMY FIRE. FOR COVER FROM ENEMY FIRE.

DURING THE NIGHT,DURING THE NIGHT, THE TEMPERATURETHE TEMPERATUREDROPPED AND SNOW SOON COVERED THE DROPPED AND SNOW SOON COVERED THE MEN IN THE FIELD. THEIR CRIES FOR HELP MEN IN THE FIELD. THEIR CRIES FOR HELP

CONTINUED THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO CONTINUED THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO THE NEXT MORNING.THE NEXT MORNING.

19 YEAR OLD SERGEANT RICHARD ROWLAND 19 YEAR OLD SERGEANT RICHARD ROWLAND KIRLAND OF THE 2KIRLAND OF THE 2NDND CAROLINA CAROLINA (CONFEDERATE ARMY) LEFT HIS POSITION (CONFEDERATE ARMY) LEFT HIS POSITION AND PLEADED WITH HIS COMMANDER TO LET AND PLEADED WITH HIS COMMANDER TO LET HIM WAVE A FLAG OF TRUCE SO THAT THE HIM WAVE A FLAG OF TRUCE SO THAT THE WOUNDED COULD BE ATTENDED TO.WOUNDED COULD BE ATTENDED TO.

HIS COMMANDER REFUSED THE FLAG OF HIS COMMANDER REFUSED THE FLAG OF TRUCE, BUT AGREED TO LET KIRKLAND DO TRUCE, BUT AGREED TO LET KIRKLAND DO WHAT HE COULD.WHAT HE COULD.

SERGEANT KIRKLAND GATHERED UP AS SERGEANT KIRKLAND GATHERED UP AS MANY CANTEENS AS HE COULD CARRY, MANY CANTEENS AS HE COULD CARRY, HOPPED THE WALL AT THE SUNKEN ROAD, HOPPED THE WALL AT THE SUNKEN ROAD, AND STEPPED OUT INTO “NO MAN’S LAND” AND STEPPED OUT INTO “NO MAN’S LAND” BETWEEN THE OPPOSING LINES. BETWEEN THE OPPOSING LINES.

FEDERAL SHARPSHOOTERS TOOK SHOTS AT FEDERAL SHARPSHOOTERS TOOK SHOTS AT HIM, BUT A UNION OFFICER QUICKLY HIM, BUT A UNION OFFICER QUICKLY REALIZED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND REALIZED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND ORDERED THE MEN TO CEASE FIRE. ORDERED THE MEN TO CEASE FIRE.

SERGEANT KIRKLAND MOVED AMONG THE SERGEANT KIRKLAND MOVED AMONG THE WOUNDED UNION SOLDIERS, GIVING THEM WOUNDED UNION SOLDIERS, GIVING THEM WATER, WARM CLOTHING, AND WHATEVER WATER, WARM CLOTHING, AND WHATEVER AID HE COULD. WHEN HE RAN OUT OF AID HE COULD. WHEN HE RAN OUT OF WATER, HE RETURNED TO THE SUNKEN WATER, HE RETURNED TO THE SUNKEN ROAD AND TOOK UP HIS POSITION ONCE ROAD AND TOOK UP HIS POSITION ONCE MORE. MORE.

HIS HEROIC AND COMPASSIONATE ACTION HIS HEROIC AND COMPASSIONATE ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG AT THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG EARNED HIM THE TITLE OF EARNED HIM THE TITLE OF “THE ANGEL OF “THE ANGEL OF MARYE’S HEIGHTS.”MARYE’S HEIGHTS.”

NINE MONTHS LATER, AFTER FIGHTING AT NINE MONTHS LATER, AFTER FIGHTING AT CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG, SGT. CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG, SGT. KIRKLAND COVERED THE WITHDRAWAL OF TWO OF KIRKLAND COVERED THE WITHDRAWAL OF TWO OF HIS SOLDIERS AFTER A FAILED CHARGE AT THE HIS SOLDIERS AFTER A FAILED CHARGE AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA AND WAS MORTALLY BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA AND WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. HIS LAST WORDS WERE,WOUNDED. HIS LAST WORDS WERE, “TELL PA I DIED “TELL PA I DIED RIGHT.”RIGHT.”

MEANWHILE, THE 17MEANWHILE, THE 17THTH CT WAITED IN CT WAITED IN RESERVE, EXPECTING TO BE CALLED AT ANY RESERVE, EXPECTING TO BE CALLED AT ANY TIME TO TAKE PART IN YET ANOTHER TIME TO TAKE PART IN YET ANOTHER CHARGE.CHARGE.

““We now understood that we were to We now understood that we were to support General Burnside in an attack support General Burnside in an attack on Fredericksburg. Four companies on Fredericksburg. Four companies of the regiment, including Company of the regiment, including Company C, were detached to guard batteries, C, were detached to guard batteries, and the other companies moved on a and the other companies moved on a mile ahead for the night. We stacked mile ahead for the night. We stacked our guns in a field with the artillery, our guns in a field with the artillery, built fires, and after a while fell asleep built fires, and after a while fell asleep under the shining stars.”under the shining stars.”

““At 4:00 am we awoke to find At 4:00 am we awoke to find the stars gone and a heavy the stars gone and a heavy beating rain. The next day, beating rain. The next day, the terrible cannonade of the the terrible cannonade of the conflict of Fredericksburg conflict of Fredericksburg could be heard distinctly. We could be heard distinctly. We waited tensely for our orders waited tensely for our orders to join the battle…….”to join the battle…….”

““The next day at noon, The next day at noon, the news of Burnside’s the news of Burnside’s

horrible defeat was horrible defeat was read to the regiment.”read to the regiment.”

THE REGIMENT WAS ORDERED BACK TO CAMP, THE REGIMENT WAS ORDERED BACK TO CAMP, ARRIVED ABOUT DEC. 16ARRIVED ABOUT DEC. 16THTH, AND MADE CAMP IN , AND MADE CAMP IN THE WOODS. THEY REMAINED THERE UNTIL AN THE WOODS. THEY REMAINED THERE UNTIL AN ORDER CAME TO BREAK CAMP AND MARCH TO ORDER CAME TO BREAK CAMP AND MARCH TO BELLE PLAIN. THEY WERE TO JOIN BURNSIDE IN BELLE PLAIN. THEY WERE TO JOIN BURNSIDE IN HIS “MUD MARCH” FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPTED HIS “MUD MARCH” FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON FREDERICKSBURG.ATTACK ON FREDERICKSBURG.

THE MUD MARCHTHE MUD MARCH

After Burnside's humiliating defeat at the battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862, his army remained in place around the town of Falmouth, Virginia, just across the Rappahannock river from Fredericksburg.  In late January Burnside decided once again to attack the Confederates. 

Burnside decided to move across United States Ford, ten miles above Fredericksburg. But before Union soldiers could start hauling their guns and pontoons into place, cold rain swirled down and continued for days. An indescribable chaos of pontoons, wagons and artillery encumbered the road down to the river. Horses and mules dropped down dead, exhausted with the effort to move their loads through the hideous mud. One hundred and fifty dead animals, many of them buried in the liquid muck, were counted in the course of a mornings ride.

From across the river, the taunts of Rebels sang out. Every Yankee there remembered the sting of the broad signs put up by Lee’s watching men– •'Burnside stuck in the mud" •"This way to Richmond," •"Yanks, if you can’t place your pontoons, we will send help." •The Rebels had plowed the earth along their side of the river so that if any of Burnsides men did get across, they would sink into more mire.

No Union soldiers would cross in the operation that history knows as the "Mud March," and morale sank with their wagons and animals. As Burnsides men dragged back toward their camps, mud-coated regiments were indistinguishable one from another. The army had become a disorganized crowd. Many, assuming they were on their way to Richmond, had burned their huts to the ground, so not a plank was to be found.

General Burnside resigned.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN REPLACED BURNSIDE PRESIDENT LINCOLN REPLACED BURNSIDE WITH A NEW GENERAL--- “FIGHTING” JOE WITH A NEW GENERAL--- “FIGHTING” JOE

HOOKER.HOOKER.

The new commander of the Army of the Potomac, (as of January 26, 1863), established a reputation as an outstanding administrator and restored the morale of his soldiers, which had plummeted to a new low under Burnside, through reforms in health and welfare programs and efforts to increase esprit de corps. Hooker said of his revived army:

I have the finest army on the planet. I have the finest army the sun ever shone on. ... If the enemy does not run, God help them. May God have mercy on General Lee, for I will have none.

HOOKER WAS A GREAT ORGANIZER, AND HE HOOKER WAS A GREAT ORGANIZER, AND HE SET ABOUT SHAPING UP HIS ARMY. THE MEN SET ABOUT SHAPING UP HIS ARMY. THE MEN WERE FED REGULARLY AND WELL, THE WERE FED REGULARLY AND WELL, THE CAMP WAS KEPT AS CLEAN AND SANITARY CAMP WAS KEPT AS CLEAN AND SANITARY AS POSSIBLE, AND THE MEN WERE AS POSSIBLE, AND THE MEN WERE ASSIGNED CORPS BADGES TO IMPROVE ASSIGNED CORPS BADGES TO IMPROVE MORALE AND PRIDE.MORALE AND PRIDE.

THE 17THE 17thth CT WAS GIVEN A RED CRESCENT CT WAS GIVEN A RED CRESCENT FOR ITS CORPS BADGE.FOR ITS CORPS BADGE.

Hooker's plan for the spring and summer campaign was both elegant and promising. He first planned to send his cavalry corps deep into the enemy's rear, disrupting supply lines and distracting him from the main attack. He would pin down Robert E. Lee's much smaller army at Fredericksburg, while taking the large bulk of the Army of the Potomac on a flanking march to strike Lee in his rear. Defeating Lee, he could move on to seize Richmond.

““FIGHTING” JOE HOOKER WOULD FIGHTING” JOE HOOKER WOULD HAVE HIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW GENERAL LEE “NO SHOW GENERAL LEE “NO

MERCY” AT A LITTLE MERCY” AT A LITTLE CROSSROADS CALLED CROSSROADS CALLED CHANCELLORSVILLE.CHANCELLORSVILLE.

MEANWHILE,

PRIVATE ELIAS BUTTERY (CO. A) OF PRIVATE ELIAS BUTTERY (CO. A) OF NEW CANAAN DIED MAR. 27NEW CANAAN DIED MAR. 27

PRIVATE WILLIAM T. STEVENS PRIVATE WILLIAM T. STEVENS (CO. B) OF STAMFORD DIED FEB. 1(CO. B) OF STAMFORD DIED FEB. 1

PRIVATE GEORGE WEED PRIVATE GEORGE WEED (CO. B) OF STAMFORD DIED FEB. 1(CO. B) OF STAMFORD DIED FEB. 1

CORPORAL EDWIN JESSOP (CO. B) OF CORPORAL EDWIN JESSOP (CO. B) OF STAMFORD DIED MAR. 2STAMFORD DIED MAR. 2NDND..

PRIVATE JOHN Z FERRIN (CO. C) OF PRIVATE JOHN Z FERRIN (CO. C) OF DANBURY DIED JAN. 21DANBURY DIED JAN. 21STST

PRIVATE JOHN G. FRY (CO. G) OF RIDGEFIELD PRIVATE JOHN G. FRY (CO. G) OF RIDGEFIELD DIED JAN. 18DIED JAN. 18

PRIVATE WILLIAM HAUKS (CO. G) OF PRIVATE WILLIAM HAUKS (CO. G) OF BRIDGEPORT DIED MARCH 26BRIDGEPORT DIED MARCH 26THTH

PRIVATE WILLIAM AVANT (CO. G) OF PRIVATE WILLIAM AVANT (CO. G) OF RIDGEFIELD DIED MAR. 30RIDGEFIELD DIED MAR. 30

PRIVATE FRANCIS E. SEYMOUR (CO. G) OF PRIVATE FRANCIS E. SEYMOUR (CO. G) OF RIDGEFIELD DIED APRIL 26RIDGEFIELD DIED APRIL 26THTH. .

PRIVATE CHRISTOPHER OLMSTEAD “CRIP” PRIVATE CHRISTOPHER OLMSTEAD “CRIP” (CO. H) DIED NOV. 10(CO. H) DIED NOV. 10

PRIVATE WILLIAM HARTUNG (CO H) OF PRIVATE WILLIAM HARTUNG (CO H) OF NEW CANAAN DIED MARCH 29NEW CANAAN DIED MARCH 29THTH

PRIVATE EDWIN SMITH (CO H) OF PRIVATE EDWIN SMITH (CO H) OF BRIDGEPORT WOUNDED NOV. AT ANTIOCH, BRIDGEPORT WOUNDED NOV. AT ANTIOCH, VAVA

CAPTAIN D.O. BENSON (CO. I) OF CAPTAIN D.O. BENSON (CO. I) OF GREENWICH DIED NOVEMBER 9GREENWICH DIED NOVEMBER 9THTH..

PRIVATE JOHN COMISKEY (CO. I) OF PRIVATE JOHN COMISKEY (CO. I) OF GREENWICH DIED JAN. 18GREENWICH DIED JAN. 18

PRIVATE JAMES H. LIGHT (CO. I) OF PRIVATE JAMES H. LIGHT (CO. I) OF GREENWICH DIED APRIL 2GREENWICH DIED APRIL 2NDND..

PRIVATE JAMES HEARNE (CO. I) OF PRIVATE JAMES HEARNE (CO. I) OF GREENWICH DIED APRIL 21GREENWICH DIED APRIL 21STST..

• CHAUNCEY RAYMOND, GEORGE CHAUNCEY RAYMOND, GEORGE

PURDY, AND ALANSON MONROE WERE PURDY, AND ALANSON MONROE WERE

ALL DISCHARGED DUE TO ALL DISCHARGED DUE TO

ILLNESS.ILLNESS.

• JUSTUS SILLIMAN WAS SENT TO THEJUSTUS SILLIMAN WAS SENT TO THE

HOSPITAL ON DEC. 31HOSPITAL ON DEC. 31STST IN IN

DUMFRIES, VIRGINIADUMFRIES, VIRGINIA