Back "In War Times": History of the 144th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry

Back "In War Times": History of the 144th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry

Soldier's Life

History of the 144th regiment. Starting on page 66 great detail about life at Camp Bliss on Upton's Hill

James Harvey McKee

Archive.org

Horace E. Bailey

1903

Camp Bliss pg. 68
The camp of the 144th on Upton's Hill, known as Camp Bliss
was pleasantly situated on the eastern slope with a very good water
supply near at hand. The wood supply at first quite convenient was
soon exhausted, compelling the men to make quite a journey for it,
not so far out, but a long way in when weighed down with a backload
of poles.
The Regiment had for neighbors, encamped near at hand, the
127th, i42d and 143d N. Y. Vol. The first regiment, the 127th was
recruited in New York City and in Brooklyn and nearby surroundings,
Col. William E. Gurney commanding it. The i42d was a St.
Lawrence county regiment, commanded by Col. Judson and the 143d
was a Sullivan county regiment, commanded by Col. DeWitt. By a
general order the four regiments, 127th, I42d, 143d and 144th, were
formed into a brigade, known as the Third Brigade, in Gen. J. J.
Abercrombie's Division.
General Abercrombie was a veteran of several wars
—
Black
Hawk, Seminole, Mexican and now of the Civil War. He was a
native of Tennessee, born in 1798, and graduated from West Point
in 1822. He was in the Shenandoah Campaign of '61 and in the Peninsular Campaign of '62. At the battle of Fair Oaks he was
wounded ; but was able to take part in battle of Malvern Hill. Afterwards
he was placed in command of troops before Washington. He
was retired in 1865 ar>d died January 3d, 1877.
The command of the Third Brigade in Abercrombie's Division
was given to Col. Gurney of the 127th N. Y. V., and since he was so
long and closely identified with the interests of the 144th, the following
brief biography will be of interest
:
General Gurney was a native of New York State, born at Flushing,
August 31st, 1 83 1. He entered business as a clerk in a wholesale
provision, store and later became a partner in same store and was doing
business there under the firm name of Gurney & Underhill at the
time of the breaking out of the Civil War. He was at this time First
Lieutenant in 4th Co. of 7th Regiment N. Y. N. G., and served
with the Regiment during the three months call and afterward served
as Captain in the 65th N. Y. V. In 1862 he was on Gov. Morgan's
staff as Asst. Inspt.-General. In the latter part of 1862 he recruited
the 127th and served through the war with it—a large part of the
time commanding the Brigade of which it was a part. In 1865 he
was promoted to Brigadier-General by brevet. After the war he returned
to Charleston, S. C, and established himself in business as a
wholesale grocer and commission merchant, changing later to the
business of cotton and rice selling. In 1870 he was made treasurer
of Charleston county and held this position for six years. In 1877
he came North, suffering from Bright's disease and died in Brooklyn,
N. Y., February 2d, 1878.
It was at Camp Bliss that the 144th, using the expressive words
of Kipling, began to "find itself." Every body of men organized for
a specific purpose has to adjust itself to its work. A regiment of men
has to find out the working relations of the men to the officers, to each
other and to their immediate work and surroundings. Up to this
time the Regiment had been simply a structural organization, the vessel
just off the stocks that had only made its trial trip in the quiet harbor.
Guard duty that had seemed so irksome and unnecessary when
no enemy was near now began to assume a new importance in the
minds of the men under these new conditions, with frequent alarms at picket outposts calling for vigilance and constant watchfulness to
prevent surprises from the enemy.
Even that, which seemed to so many to be a hardship and in some
way to interfere with the prerogatives of a free-born American citizen,
the saluting of officers, began to have a new meaning. Little
by little the relative importance of obedience, implicit obedience to
orders, in order to insure prompt results in the movements of the army
was seen to be necessary and to this end all the units must know their
place and give a ready and loyal recognition of each officer according
to his rank. Sometimes, indeed often, it might be found, was found,
that there were officers not at all equal in merit to their rank, entirely
unsuited to their place ; but all the more was there need that the office
itself should have full and prompt recognition in order to insure
something of power to it when in the movement of the great machine,
The Army, this cog was called upon for its ratio of force. With
some men there remained always a rankling feeling because of this requirement.
Some in the process of "the finding" of the Regiment, had
to learn this lesson in the guard house and through other military
processes. Happy the soldier who settled it at the outset with this
mental soliloquy : "When I cannot salute the man, I can salute the
office."
Then, there was the "finding" process by which knowledge was
acquired as to how the soldier could best be cared for in the sanitation
of the body, the tent and the camp. So much that had to be learned
by sad experience where there was no education or theories in advance,
so much that had to be learned as to a ready obedience to well-established
theories, but resented by the free-born American citizen, new to
the duties of a soldier. In some cases a scrubbing squad had to be
detailed to take down to the creek and initiate into body cleanliness,
with a horse brush, individual soldiers who had not learned that
"cleanliness was next to godliness."
The matter of the food ration and how best to use it was another
of the problems, and not the smallest in the "finding" of the Regiment.
Few have forgotten the first issue of the "hard-tack" ration in place
of soft bread. "Humph," sniffed one squad of soldiers, "just about
enough for one good meal," and forthwith they sat themselves down
and ate up at one sitting the entire day's ration of "hard-tack." The results recall the cynic's recipe for boarding school fare, "Feed them
dried apples for breakfast, give them water for dinner and let them
swell for supper." The problem of corned beef had to be solved, that
good ration, our stand-by in later experiences on the march, but at
Camp Bliss the much' abused, talked about, wrote about, traduced
"horse beef," all because we had not yet learned how to cook it properly.
More or less of these experiences came into the life of every volunteer
organization in the war of '61, and should have explained some
of the many stories that were current during the late Spanish War.
Another and a large factor in the "finding" of the Regiment came
through the experiences on the drill ground at Upton's Hill. The Enfield
rifle and equipment was not yet a part and parcel of the man, but
rather a cumbrous attachment and dangerous to every one but the
enemy. Casualties, the result of awkward handling of the guns, were
of frequent occurrence. The volunteer had not yet acquired that
"touch of elbow" and ready change of step which made him one with
his fellow in the dark as well as the light. How many awkward,
laughable mistakes were made by officers as well as men in the explanation
and execution of Hardee's and later Casey's tactics. They
furnish the occasion for many a hearty laugh in their recital about the
"camp-fire" of today, but it all had much to do in knitting together
officers and men and making them ready for their mutual work. That
old drill ground, just north of the camp, sloping off through the bushes
down to the creek, witnessed some very strange maneuvering both in
company and regimental drill ; but it all helped to make the soldier,
even if some lessons had to be unlearned. Hall's Hill and Bailey's
Cross Roads are points of special interest because associated with
brigade drills and reviews in which the soldiers came into touch with
the general officers and were made to realize something of the power
there is in masses of men working and moving in harmony under a
tried leader. Inspections of all kinds served like examinations in
school to quicken both officers and men to do better and more intelligent
service.
Thus far the Regiment had been quite free from sickness, except
that the mumps had a short run ; but after a few weeks at Camp Bliss
negligent sanitation on the part of companies and men, together with
changed conditions of living brought consequent result in long lines of men responding to sick call and a large number in tents not able to
respond in person. The shirking soldier very soon found the sick call
a very convenient way to evade duty. This fact gave some waggish
soldier occasion to compose this rhyming adaptation to sick call : "Ye
dead beats, ye dead beats; come and get your pills, your pills, pills,
pills." It proved a very healthful deterrent to any disposed thus to
evade duty. The surgeons also had some very effectual methods by
way of restraint. One day a soldier who was one of the "stand-bys"
in the sick line was detailed by his orderly sergeant for guard duty.
The man protested against this detail because he had such a lame back
he could not do duty. The Orderly insisted, and as a final resort the
soldier reported to Dr. Bryce at sick call and related his grievance as
to the cruelty of the Orderly. "Let me see your back," directed the
doctor, and at once the back was bared. "A very bad case," commented
the doctor, "I will treat you here, but you must report at
once to the Orderly and show him your back, no one else will do for
it demands special treatment." The doctor then took his iodine bottle
and with a brush painted across the back the words
:
"DEADBEAT."
With triumphant stride the patient reported to the Orderly and
bared his back again for the "special treatment." It is needless to add
that after examination the treatment consisted of a summary ordering
to duty. It should be added that in not a few cases, a very great injustice
was done to worthy men by the wholesale judgment rendered
in the rhyming of the sick call as given above, since it deterred some
really sick from reporting.
Another practical adaptation to the sick call, brings vividly to
mind the two standard "sick rations," so often dealt out : "Quinine,
quinine, and a blue pill too, and a blue pill too, and a blue pill too."
All this review of these too familiar memories recalls the name and
faces of three men who for three years served steadily at their posts
and by their skill and courage gave material strength to the Regiment.
Few men in the 144th, who cannot recall the patient, thoughtful care
of the three surgeons and their personal ministrations in the tent, or
hospital, at the dispensary or on the march and with it all cheery, helpful
words, often the best of tonics. November 17th was marked by the first death in the
144th, on southern soil. Curtis Fagan of Company B. died on that
date in Regimental Hospital after only a few days' illness. His disease
is one known to the physicians as purpura haemorrhagica, a very
rare disease. This was the only case known to our surgeons in all
their experience during the war. The next day the Regiment witnessed
and took part in that which has left such deep impress in the minds
of every soldier—a soldier's funeral. The army regulations prescribe
the forms to be observed. In case of a private the escort is to
consist of "eight rank and file," commanded by a Corporal. These
receive the body with a "Present Arms," and then with arms reversed,
follow the body, while the music with drums muffled and covered with
crepe, precede it playing in slow time appropriate airs. One which
the members of the 144th will recall as often used was Portuguese
Hymn, arranged as a march. When the grave is reached the escort
forms on one side, receiving the body again as it is brought to the opposite
side with a "Present Arms." When the coffin is at rest the
command, "Rest on Arms," is given and then each soldier places the
muzzle of his gun on the left foot, and both hands on the butt, then
with head bowed awaits the funeral service. When this is over and
the body is lowered in the grave the escort comes to "Attention," and
loading "at will," fires three volleys of blank cartridges over the grave.
Immediately after it wheels into line and at quick step, with music preceding,
leaves the grounds.
On the occasion of this first funeral the entire Regiment followed
the escort in the order of companies to Fall's Church, where the body
was buried. There came times and often, later in the history of the
144th, when only the regulation escort could be secured. This first
death was the occasion of the largest funeral procession in the history
of the Regiment. During the months of November and December
there were a great many sick and a number of deaths. Quite a number
of the sick were sent to the General Hospital in Washington and
at Fairfax Seminary. With improved sanitary surroundings that
came with a larger experience, there was an improvement in the health
of the men. Among these improved conditions was the stockading
and flooring of tents.
One of the things which characterized the U. S. Volunteer was his ready and ingenious adaptation to his environments. The actual
experience of one tent squad at Camp Bliss will stand as an illustration
of methods, only varied in form, practiced by other tent squads
in all the U. S. Volunteer forces. The government furnished an A
tent, seven feet by seven, and a tenting place for a temporary home,
but without bed or bedding or other furniture. The tent squad put
the tent in place and then began to l<x>k around for the things that may
bring comfort. One finds at an abandoned cavalry camp a number of
grain sacks which he brings to the tent and very soon they are transformed
into a straw tick large enough for five to sleep on. The straw
is found by cutting and curing some tall grass found in a swale nearby
Another one of the squad finds an old rusty ax. It is soon provided
with a helve. A grindstone is found and the rusty ax becomes a good
cutting instrument, almost invaluable in camp life, so valuable that
it has to be watched with care lest covetous eyes lead to covetous act.
One day an old water pail without bottom is found. A cracker box
furnishes the material out from which, with a jackknife, a new bottom
is made and another article of furniture is added to the tent house.
Later a cast-away camp kettle is picked up—true it has a hole in the
bottom, but an ingenious use of an old button makes it water tight
and then there is a washdish provided for. From time to time as they
have had opportunity in their trips outside of camp the tent mates have
brought in a brick or bricks as they have found them loose, with
pieces of sheet iron or old stovepipe. Out from this material a fireplace
was constructed, a most timely provision, for by this time one of
the members was taken clown with typhoid fever and in his care and
comfort, as well as final recovery the little fire-place had a large part.
When orders were given directing the stockading of tents the squad
proceeded at once to rive out material to raise the tent about four feet
from the ground. In the meantime they had procured by purchase a
quantity of lumber, boards and boxes, and when the tent was in place
there was enough of this material to make a floor and a drop table
with other conveniences. The new tent home with its added comfort
brings renewed health and strength to its occupants all of whom in
their turn have been off duty because of varied ailments, that came
with undue exposure and no ready means at hand to counteract.
An interesting chapter could be written describing the various expedients resorted to by the soldiers to bring comfort and to meet
soldier needs, where to the ordinary observer, not under the compulsion
of need which had quickened their "habits of observation," there
would not be a sign of material in sight which could be utilized.
One of the factors which was a material aid in supplying comforts
and sometimes luxuries to the soldier was the much abused regimental
sutler. It is true they sometimes used their opportunity to "fleece"
the soldiers, but large prices were not always evidence of this. The
sutler had to take large risks, for added to the chances of having his
property captured by the enemy there were large losses in expense and
waste of transportation by sudden and repeated removals. They
could "a tale unfold" in doing business under circumstances of which
the ordinary business man knows nothing. The business men who
served the 144th as sutlers were Delaware county men and brought to
this duty patriotism as well as business, and so served the Regiment
well—became an agency through which needed supplies were furnished
and also a line of communication, bearing messages and packages
to and from loved ones at home and often giving material assistance
to those in need.
While at Camp Bliss, S. B. Champion, the editor of the Bloomville
Mirror and now the veteran editor of Stamford Mirror, assisted
in the "sutler's shanty;" but true to the news instinct, born in him and
nurtured by years of experience, he started a newspaper, "The Soldier
Boy," a little regimental paper which was much sought after in
camp and at home. It was printed under difficulty in the tent of John
G. Griswold, Quartermaster Sergeant. Those who have access to files
of this little paper will find many interesting items of the Regiment's
experiences on Upton's Hill.
The special service aside from the regular drill and camp duty required
of the 144th during its stay on Upton's Hill was on the picket
line, in the defenses of Washington. The part of this line
which fell to our brigade to guard, extended from Fall's Church to
Rose Hill. Fall's Church, so often mentioned in connection with
movements of troops in the vicinity of Washington, was a little hamlet
some eight miles west from Washington and about one mile from
Camp Bliss. There were three churches in the place. One of these,
the Episcopal, was of special interest since at one time Washington was a pew holder in it and often attended services there. In the graveyard
attached to the church a great many Union soldiers were buried,
some of the 144th.