The failure of the Union campaign on the Peninsula led Lincoln to appoint Major General Henry Halleck as general in chief. The two subsequently decided to evacuate the Peninsula and transfer the Army of the Potomac to join Pope’s forces on the Rappahannock halfway between Washington and Richmond.
Headquarters Third Brigade, P. R. C.
Camp near Fredericksburg, Va.,
August 21, 1862
Dear Parents:-
Here we are again precisely on the same camping ground that we occupied three months ago! I wrote you last week that there was a movement on foot, but that I did not know exactly how, when or where we were going. The Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing had been gradually melting away for several days before I wrote, as troops and artillery were being shipped down the river every night. Our Brigade was about the last to leave as it was across the river doing picquet duty.
All the wagon trains went down the peninsula escorted by the cavalry and several Divisions of troops. We started on Friday night about midnight, having boarded the ocean steamer “Forest City”. There were about 1500 on board, the greater part of two regiments, the 9th and 10th. We reached Fortress Monroe at noon Saturday but on account of the roughness of the sea, we were compelled to lie there all Saturday night, Sunday, and Sunday night, and Monday until about 4:00 P. M. The boat could have gone right ahead but she had two schooners in tow, laden with horses which would not be able to stand the tossing of the waves. We had an unpleasant time coming up the bay as it was quite rough—many a fellow cast up his accounts with the “old man of the sea,” as the railing and guard of the vessels attested. I did not feel well before I started and the trip helped me but little. I haven’t got off my “sea legs” yet but hope to recover my equilibrium before long.
We landed at Aquia Creek on Tuesday at 1:00 P. M., boarded [railway] cars and are now encamped for the night near Falmouth.
McClellan’s army is coming as fast as it can be brought—every train of cars brings a load of troops. Burnside is here but has only 2 Brigades with him as all the rest of his troops have been sent to Pope within the last fortnight.
It is a comfortable place here to what we had on the James River, indeed, it seems quite a relief to get here—not unlike getting home.
Everything was taken away safely from Harrison’s Landing and nothing was sacrificed in making the move. It has been a decided success.
I suppose the army will be thoroughly reorganized here and commence active operations.
The health of all the Venango Boys is good. Nearly all the wounded have returned from the hospitals in the different cities where they had been sent.
It is the unanimous testimony of all the returned sick and wounded soldiers that the Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic organization, have done more really to alleviate their sufferings than all the rest put together. They would stand by the bedsides of the poor fellows suffering from wounds, loathsome fevers, etc., and wait upon them as though they were their own brothers. What I, myself, have seen of the Roman Catholics induces me to believe them a Christian and philanthropic people, so different from what I was brought up to believe. I always looked upon the picture as it stood in the Dark Ages—the tortures of the Inquisition and the burning of heretics. Arch Bishop [John Joseph]Hughes [of the Archdiocese of New York] has doubtless done much to give the people of England, Ireland and other countries a just conception of the difficulties existing in America.
An order has just come that our Division shall be in rediness for a sudden move. Perhaps we are to cross the Rappahannock or to join Pope.
My classmate and friend, Major [Sion] Smith, died of typhoid fever on the 4th ultimo at Andover, Ohio.
I am, Affectionately your son, James
Next posting: September 6, 2012
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335