Headquarters 53d Penna. Vols.
Camp Near Brandy Station, Va.,
Sunday, Nov. 15th, 1863.
Messrs. Editors:–It is past eight o’clock, and while the good folks at home have congregated in the churches for Sabbath
evening worship–we that have no churches to go to, and even very little to remind us that this day is Sunday, occupy ourselves
in writing you. Instead of the clear tingling of church bells reminding us that the pastors are waiting for their flocks, we hear
the rap-tap-tap of the drum, and the far-sounding strains of the tatoo bugle, warning us to “tumble out” for roll-call. Well, such
is life a la militaire.
The election is over and of course, the country is once more saved. We will not violate the neutrality of your columns
by saying that we are sincerely pleased by the re-election of Mr. Curtin. Presuming that politics is not now the all-absorbing
theme of your readers, we are pleased to render the following historyette of the doings of the 53d during the past month.
September 12th, in accordance with orders we broke camp near the mythical burg of Morrisville, and took up the line
of march. A march of six miles brought us to Bealton Station on the Alexandria & Orange Railroad. The weather was
oppressively warm and several men died from the effects of the heat. In the evening we arrived at Rappahannock Station, and
we bivouacked in the woods about a mile from the river. The next morning we passed over the Rappahannock on pontoon
bridges. The cavalry was in force in our front and our Corps (2d) was its support. The move appeared to be a reconnoissance in
force, as no other corps had as yet broken camp. Our cavalry had advanced but a few miles beyond the river when they began
skirmishing with the rebels. The enemy was steadily pushed back. At noon we were at Brandy Station. Here permit me to
remark in parenthesis, that the proper name of this Station is Brandreth; but, once upon a time, so the rumor goes, a certain
General had his headquarters there, and ever since that the place has been termed Brandy Station.
Our cavalry had a right smart skirmish at Culpepper. Gen. Custer’s brigade of horsemen made a beautiful charge upon
the rebels, and captured two pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners; and afterwards charging through the streets of
Culpepper, and driving the rebels several miles beyond the town. At sundown our corps bivouacked near Culpepper. During
the night, the enemy withdrew to the south bank of the Rapidan River.
On September 15th we again moved forward and marched twelve miles, taking up a position near the river and
advancing our picket line to the stream itself. It now became evident that the whole army was advancing. Our camp was in the
woods near Cedar, better known as Slaughter Mountain, where Pope had a big fight when he was going to Richmond with “his
headquarters in the saddle.” Lee was in a strong position on the hills on the southern side of the Rapidan. His works could be
plainly seen; as well as the frequent manoevering of his battalions. Our position confronting him was a weak one, and would
have no doubt required more force than Gen. Meade had at his disposal to dislodge Lee from his chosen position.
The railroad was used for transportation purposes to Mitchell’s Station, at which place Gen. Warren commanding the
2d Corps in the absence of Gen. Hancock, had established his headquarters. The rebels used the same road to Rapidan Station,
but four miles from Mitchell’s, and often we heard at the same time the whistles of the Union and rebel locomotives.
We remained in the front of the Rapidan until the 8th of October, when the 6th corps came up to relieve us and we
marched to the rear and camped about a mile to the rear of the town of Culpepper. Here we anticipated some rest. While in
front the picket duty was unusually heavy, but there was to be no rest for us. [The excellent Band of the 3d Division is
discoursing a grand air, and I really must stop writing until the music ceases.]
On the 10th of October, it was discovered that Lee was flanking us on our right. At noon of that day we passed over
Mountain Creek and moved a few miles out the Sperryville pike, at nightfall forming in line of battle in good position about
three miles to the right of Culpepper. We built small fires, cooked supper, coffee, and bivouacked. Two o’clock in the morning
we were aroused by that hateful word “fall in, fall in.” It was so very dark that it was difficult to tell whether we fell in or fell
out, and we are certain that several had their personalities disturbed by falling down.
Well, we marched and we countermarched through the woods in the dark, and daylight found us on the road to
Brandreth–beg pardon–Brandy Station. At noon we arrived at Rappahannock Station. Here we lay until late in the afternoon,
until the wagons had all passed the river. About 4 P. M., we crossed the stream and marched to Bealton Station, where we
bivouacked. The entire army was evidently retreating. At 10 o’clock the morning of the 12th, we were much surprised by
receiving orders to move forward to Rappahannock Station. We were immediately pushed across the river and upon reaching
the Southern side at once developed lines of battle. Skirmishing was going on in our front and as our advance kept forcing the
rebels back we advanced our lines of battle and at sundown we were near Brandreth–once more your pardon, kind reader–
Brandy Station.
We captured entire a rail fence, built bivouac fires and tumbled in for the night. Everything was lovely until midnight
when a “get up! pack up! fall in” and away we moved instanter and at a double quick. We tumble into runs, we break our neck
over fences, we fall among the briars, we bring our toes in close contact with stones, in which the stones stubbornly maintain
their position and come off victorious. We were on the skedaddle now in earnest–no one doubted it; our aching toes painfully
testified to the fact. We double-quicked for nearly four miles to Rappahannock Station at once crossed the river. Within the
space of twenty-four hours we had passed this historic stream three times. We followed the railroad to Bealton Station, and
which place we arrived about half past three in the morning. We the proceeded in the direction of Warrenton.
At daylight we halted in line of battle and were allowed a few minutes to cook coffee. We then resumed the line of
march–and all day were marching–over all manner of roads; apparently in every direction. The 2d Corps was covering the
retreat of the whole army. At sunset we bivouacked in a wood about 6 miles from Warrenton, at which place the enemy was in
force. During the close of the day’s march we had abundant evidence that the rebels were around us. They fired upon our
flankers. A squad of the graybacks fired upon the gallant General French and staff as he was riding at the head of his column.
We believe that it was about this time that the brave Col. Tippen of the 68th, was so unfortunate as to be “gobbled up.” While
we were making arrangements for bivouacking the 3d Corps was passing us. During the day we marched at least 35 miles.
Day was just breaking on the morning of the 14th of October when we marched. A few miles tramp brought us to
Kettle Run, which we waded, and marched to the top of a hill, stacked arms and built fires for the purpose of cooking coffee
for breakfast. While we were engaged in this laudable enterprise our cavalry became engaged with the rebel skirmishers about
a mile from us, in the direction of Warrenton. It was quite a brisk bang-banging, and many of us were looking on,
congratulating ourselves that the minnie balls were harmless when we were out of range; when quick as gunpowder, the rebels
opened on us in our rear with a battery, and they planted their shells right among us. The fact of the matter is, it was decidedly
bad. Notwithstanding the bursting, hissing and furious splurging of shell, obedient as ever to the commands, cool and prompt,
of Col. Brooke, every man fell into his place behind the stacks of muskets and took arms as coolly as if on parade. The brigade
was moved partly under cover of a hill. A battery of ours was got in position and soon the rebels were compelled to haul off
their guns. The enemy had got in our rear under cover of the fog. Seven men were killed and about twenty wounded in our
brigade. In the 64th N. Y., a few yards in front of our regiment, two men were killed and four wounded by the explosion of one
shell. The Corps began moving out on road leading to Catlett’s Station. Our Division was in the rear and our Brigade was the
rear guard of the Division. The place at which the action occurred in the morning is known as Auburn, not the “lovliest village
of the plain” that Goldsmith sings so emphatically of, but one of those two houses-and-several-negro-shanties affair that the
First Families of V. Seem to have a mania for forming towns and burgs.
Col. Brooke formed his brigade in line of battle in the woods parallel with the Centreville Road and placed his pickets
and skirmishers. Although the enemy vastly outnumbered our rear guard, and were hurling at our troops shell, grape and
schrapnell, Col. Brooke boldly advanced his lines, and by this movement for a while deceived the enemy as to the fact that our
corps was moving off towards Catletts. To keep our brigade from being cut off required quick movements and good
generalship. The rebels appeared to be everywhere. While engaging the enemy in the front it would become necessary to about
face in order to give the compliments of the season to those in our rear or pressing rather too heavily on our flanks. This
unequal fight continued until noon–during the action the brigade was about faced six times to repulse the enemy in the rear. At
noon Col. Brooke withdrew the troops and followed the main column. They followed savagely for several miles.
While our brigade was desperately holding the rebels in check at the infant village of Auburn, the corps advanced to
the Railroad at a point between Catletts and Bristoe Stations. The 5th corps had come up the Railroad and were halted near
Broad Run, and afterwards moved off towards Manassas. Hill’s column of the rebel army fell in with the rear of the 5th corps
and began shelling. While this was going on the 2d corps very quietly moved in on the flank of the enemy–took up a strong
position along the railroad bank, and, no doubt very much to the surprise of Rebel General Hill, opened upon the enemy with
cannon and musketry. The rebels saw that while they were amusing themselves by good bye shells and farewell grape after the
5th corps, Gen. Warren was taking particular pleasure in covering the rebel flank with the veterans of the old 2d corps. The
fight lasted for several hours. The rebels tried hard to gain the day. Victory, six pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners
were ours.
The Provost Guard of the 2d corps, consisting of companies A, B, and K of our Regiment, was following the second
Division. Their position does not require them to go into the front during a battle, but when the lines were formed preparatory
to the opening of the battle of Bristoe, they advanced to the front and throughout the entire action fought well and gallantly as
men of the Fifty-third always fight. The detachment in the battle was commanded by Lieut. Mahlon S. Ludwig. And the boys
speak in the highest terms of his coolness and bravery while under the fire of the enemy. He has recently received his
commission promoting him to First Lieutenant of Co. “B.”
The rear guard brigade under Col. Brooke reached the field of Bristow when the fight was pretty well over.
Skirmishing occurred when crossing Broad Run at midnight. We arrived at Bull Run near Centreville early the following
morning. The Regiment on the 14th October, participated in two battles, marched at least twenty miles and all the time was in
the difficult position of rear guard. One officer and seven men were wounded and two men taken prisoners by the enemy. The
regiment was fortunate.
Oct. 18th we again moved forward, passing through Manassas Junction–wading Broad Run, and halting in the old or
rather recent battle field of Auburn. Then we witnessed shameful evidence of the rebel chivalry and humanity. The enemy
robbed our dead but left them unburied. We remained several days at this place, and then moved a few miles and took up a
position along the line of the Warrenton Branch railroad, about four miles from the town. Camps were laid out in regular order
and many of the boys began to hug the hope that we were going into winter quarters.
“Nary.” Nov. 6th Gen. Meade said “hold your commands in readiness to move at very short notice.” Nov. 7th we
moved. It soon became apparent that our brigade was to be rear guard of the wagon train of the Corps. We were immensely
happy–we thought we would have an easy time of it, such was our expectation; alas, for the straggling realization. It was at
least ten o’clock before the teams had all pulled out and we took up the line of march. At noon we were at Warrenton Junction.
At sunset were at Bealton, where we rested. This guarding the wagon train was not in our case what it was said to be. Like
angels visits the rests that we received were “few and far between.” We were going to Morrisville, only six miles further, and
then the train would park. But six miles when it is the tail end of a day’s march is quite different from six miles when it is the
commencement of a day’s march. It any man who has not got three hundred dollars and is not enrolled in the Corps de Exempt,
(this is not very good French, but Frenchy enough for the occasion) doubts this assertion he can enlist and prove it to his own
personal satisfaction.
Well, we pushed on–we saw the bright cheering blaze of the Camp fires in our front and we pushed on. We reach, we
pass our old Camp grounds. We are in Morrisville, that grand village of a princely one story frame mansion and two houseless
chimneys. The wagon train parks here but we do not. Col. Brooke has orders to immediately re-join the corps at Kelly’s Ford
only six miles further. How pleasing the prospect! How delightful! Who wouldn’t be a soldier! and the echo answer, who. We
were not in the best humor in the world. We had no dinner–that was bad, we had no supper–that was worse. It was rather hard
to keep Mr. Breakfast on guard in the stomach all day but there was no help for it. Orders must be obeyed if it costs a cow. At
or near midnight the Brigade organization arrived at Kelly’s Ford on the Rappahannock. While we were on duty with the
wagon train–the 3d corps and 6th corps were having a fight and winning honors at Rappahannock Station, capturing a battery
and over two thousand prisoners. The following dispatch on the matter has been published:
“Maj. Gen. Meade,–I have just read your dispatch of operations on the Rappahannock on Saturday, and wish to say
well done.”
(Signed) “A. Lincoln.”
On the morning of the 8th inst the corps passed the river and formed line of battle on the southern side. In line of
battle we advanced several miles, bivouacking about three miles from the Ford, near a place called Berry Hill. On the 10th we
moved to a new position, about half way between Kelly’s Ford and Brandreth alias Brandy Station. We are in regular Camp
and have fixed ourselves comfortable quarters. But we doubt whether the present quietude will remain undisturbed long. We
have on hand that diabolical superfluity–eight days rations, and doubtless there is strategy on the carpet. Our letter is getting
lengthy–more anon.
[Montgomery Ledger, November 24, 1863]
