After several weeks at Camp Wilkins, James Chadwick moved on July 1 with his regiment to Camp Wright, 12 miles up the Allegheny River. Third Lieutenant George Norris, a classmate of Chadwick, returned to Meadville to recruit additional volunteers to raise the College Company to close to its required strength of 101 soldiers. On 18 July the regiment entrained to Hopewell and then moved to Harrisburg. There, on Saturday, July 20, 1861, the eve of the Union’s severe defeat at Bull Run, the volunteers were mustered into the United States Army, part of the first regiment to be accepted for a term of three years. James Chadwick, however, was not with them, for apparently he had been home on furlough. His next letter tells of his efforts to catch up with his regiment.
Harrisburg, July 24, 1861
Wednesday eve.
Dear Father:-
Reached Camp Wright last evening and found it tenantless. It brought to mind Goldsmith’s Deserted Village.[1] From there I went down to the city and at twelve o’clock, midnight, took the car for Harrisburg where I had heard my regiment had been ordered.
They had been ordered, as we heard, to Cumberland, but when they had arrived at Hopewell and commenced the march to Cumberland, an order was sent after them countermanding that route. They were then ordered to Harrisburg, where I hoped to overtake them, but on my approach to this place I found they had gone to Washington, via Baltimore. I had the good fortune to find some of the boys belonging to my company, also some of the Venango Grays. We will stay here over night and start in the morning for our regiment which we expect to find in Hagerstown, Baltimore or Washington to-morrow night. Lieut. Col. [James T.]Kirk is with us, also Capt. [C. Miller] Over.
I visited the public buildings in the city to-day, was in the House and Senate Chamber, etc., etc.
The city is thronged with soldiers going to the scene of action and returning home. The 3rd, 5th and 16th regiments came home to-day as also the 12th. They were all three months’ men. They will reenlist after seeing their friends—at least most of them will. They give hard accounts of the treatment they have received at the hands of the Government. They have had to make forced marches living on half rations and of a very inferior quality at that. Some of them are bare-footed and very ragged. The news this evening is that [Major]Gen’l [Robert] Patterson is discharged and under arrest, charged with sympathizing with the rebels.[2]
I had conversation with several men who served under him and they speak in terms of highest censure.
The Army is concentrating very fast in Washington, preparatory to making an attack on Manassas again.[3] I suppose I will be at the victory or—defeat, as we will undoubtedly be in active service very soon. You will excuse this bad writing, for I am hurried and it is quite dark, so much so that I can’t see the lines on the paper. I expect that I will have nothing but what I have on my back as the boys threw away almost everything they had when they commenced the march from Hopewell.
I will write soon again. In haste, Yours affectionately,
J. D. Chadwick
Next posting August 2, 2011
Jonathan E. Helmreich
College Historian
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
[1] The reference here is to a pastoral poem written in 1770 by the Irish author Oliver Goldsmith.
[2] Patterson was widely criticized for his delay in attempting to retake Harpers Ferry from Confederate forces and failure to contain Rebel troops sent to reinforce the Confederates at the first battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861). He was mustered out of the army with an honorable discharge at the end of the month at the age of 69.
[3] Confederate fortifications at Manassas (Union terminology for this location was Bull Run) blocked the best military route from Washington to Richmond.