Headquarters 53d Regiment P. V.,
Falmouth, Virginia,
Thursday, Jan. 15th, 1863.
Messrs. Editors:–When we closed our last letter to you we had received orders from Grand Division Headquarters to prepare to
move; but for some cause the contemplated move “fizzled” and here we are yet. Well, it is not very likely that we will get any
better accommodations than those afforded by this knock-kneed antediluvian burg of Falmouth, so we are contented to stay
here as long as the “powers that be” choose to permit us. We prefer sleeping in a cozy room with our feet towards a cheering
fire on an ample Virginian hearth, to resting on the ground beneath the thin shelter tent. We have had abundant trial of both
plans, and our personal feelings are strongly in favor of the first mentioned mode of enjoying our nightly “forty winks,” ad
infinitum. For this as well as other reasons we are willing to adjourn in this place “until further orders.”
Col. Zook of the 57th N. Y. Vols. Is Military Governor, and Capt. Arch. F. Jones of our regiment Provost Marshal.
The 53d Pa., and 57th N. Y. alternately guard the town.–There are but few families living here. A great many of the masculines
who are here were at one time in the rebel army; they have different reasons for being in town–desertions, &c., but some of
them are no doubt rebel soldiers at home on leave, and all of them traitors at heart, and yet they skulk around where they please
and enjoy more liberty than any Union soldier here. Prominent among these sheep-faced Falmouthians and the master spirit is a
man by the name of Green–although the individual is only green by name, yet he seems to have the mahic power of reflecting
that grotesque and laughable color on others–perhaps for the purpose of making a “demonstration.” This thing may be very
nice and all that for the parties interested, but as our lamented and gallant Major Yeager would say, “it is not according to
Regulations.” This man Green, with his trouser legs in his boots and his small grey cape, ala secesh militaire, is an avowed
rebel and enemy of our Union. He says he is no seceder. He makes a very pointed difference between secession and rebellion–a
point so delicately nice that in these fierce war times we can’t see it, though we had on our nose the very best of our friend
Andre’s silver mounted “spectacles.” He has considerable landed wealth here, and, as he answered a soldier who asked him
why he was not in the rebel army, “he can be of more service to the Confederate Government here.” He had a brother (Colonel)
killed at Malvern Hill, and another brother is an officer in the rebel hordes on the other side of the river. He rides through our
camps unmolested, and keeps himself posted with regard to all our movements. He, without a doubt has means of
communication with the rebels across the river. To bear out this assertion–a few days ago he exhibited a Richmond paper that
was not eighteen hours from the press. And yet this man, who should be imprisoned, or at least, sent across the river to his
friends, is petted, and his property, oh! so carefully guarded. Vive la bagtelle!
Several of the soldiers of our regiment wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, have since died. Among them it pains
us to notice the death of Acting Orderly Sergeant John R. Good of Coatesville, Chester co. He was a member of Capt.
Eicholtz’s Company (B).–The Captain was wounded ere the regiment was fairly in the field, and there being no other
commissioned officer, the command of the company devolved upon Sergt. Good. While bravely urging his comrades onward
he was struck down by a ball in the thigh. As he was endeavoring to drag his wounded form off the field he was again pierced
in the thigh by a minie ball. He was one of the first that was taken to the Washington hospital, and after lingering for a week in
pain, he died, and one more noble life was offered up for our country. So far as we have opportunity of hearing of our
wounded, scattered around in so many hospitals we find that they are doing well.
Our troops at Gen. Hancock’s Headquarters, have fixed themselves up very comfortably.–They have their A tents
raised from the ground by means of logs, &c. Company K was recently ordered out, and Capt. Mintzer has now command of
the three companies A, B, and K. Sergt. Geiger is the Acting Orderly of Company A.
In Capt. Auchenbach’s Company (68th Pa) the boys are pursuing the even tenor of everyday camp life. 1st Sergt.
Benj. Guest has been appointed 2nd Lt., vice G. R. Clarke, resigned. Lt,. Feger, who has been in ill health sometime is now
home on sick leave. Geo. Reifsnyder and Thomas Boyd have been honorably discharged from the service on account of
disability.
We were agreeably surprised last Thursday by the entrance into the office, of our friend Wm. S. Hobart, who was first
Lieutenant of C. company in the old 4th. He is a private in the 121st Pa. Regiment and has been transferred by order of Gen.
Burnside to the Quartermaster’s Department at Acquia creek Landing. While the regiment was organizing at Philadelphia, Mr.
Hobart was recruiting for a Lieutenancy, but failing to get the requisite number of men, and unwilling to leave the few that
through his exertions had enlisted in a strange regiment, and to make good his promise to be with them, he enlisted as a private.
Such examples of honesty and patriotism is refreshing when we consider how many officers smuggle themselves into the army
by means of political and other weighty influences. Mr. Hobart fought gallantly in the bloody fight of Fredericksburg.
Yesterday morning, as we were going towards our breakfast, through the heavy mist that was hanging over the river,
we dimly saw that the ever busy rebs were doing something more than usual. When the sun had dispelled the fog, we
discovered that the enemy had during the night thrown up about half a mile of entrenchments along the river, several hundred
yards back of the stream. It was of course presumed that our batteries would be ordered to open upon the bold foe, that had the
impudence to construct earth works under our very noses as it were. But no notice whatever was taken of them, and
undismayed by any of our shots or shells, they continuing their operations, like so many active beavers, during the whole day.
It may be policy to permit the enemy to shovel up his parallels scarcely three hundred yards from the muzzles of our guns, but
our narrow understanding cant see it–even supposing that shelling these advanced works would bring on a fight, the advantage
without doubt would be on our side. Though McClellan did a large amount of wise ditching, yet he never permitted the enemy
to do any of it when he could reach him with his guns.
A number of our Regiment that are able to do duty, are absent. Many of them are in convalescent camps; they are
perfectly well and write that they desire to re-join their comrades, but they cannot get away. The Government is very lax in this
matter. Others are home on sick leave from hospital, and, if we are rightly informed, are sufficiently recovered to return to the
regiment. A few are absent without leave, among these are numbered those paroled prisoners that were exchanged a month
ago. Our ranks have been thinned by much hard fighting, and every man is wanted, especially those who have been having a
good time of it month after month. We think it right that our sick and wounded soldiers should be taken home, where, to the
community they are the pale living testimony of what Pennsylvania’s sons are suffering and doing for the nation, but those
soldiers in rugged health, who for weeks and months, loiter about town, when they should be with their Company, are neither
honoring themselves or gaining much credit for their regiment.
Yours, &c. L. J. F.
[Montgomery Ledger, January 20, 1863]
