John Ellen Journal, 23rd OVI, Part 1: "...like a moving rabble..."

I recently came across the journal of 2nd Lt. John S. Ellen at the Western Reserve Historical Society. Ellen was a native of Painesville, Ohio, and served in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His writings are full of fascinating insights on the war and its political, military, and moral aspects. I only had the time to look at the pages from late August 1862 through January 1863, but I hope to go back to view more in the future, as it could serve as a great source for future writing and research projects.


I thought I would post portions of the journal on here, as the entries are fascinating. The entries below extend from August 30th through the Battle of Antietam. As you will see, once the regiment was on the road, the entries stopped until after the battle. His comments during the days following Second Manassas are quite interesting; they show the rumors floating amongst the soldiers of the ongoing battle, suggesting that some thought it could have been a Union victory while the fight was taking place. Also of note, on September 8th, Ellen writes that the army resembles "a moving rabble" rather than a "well disciplined soldiery." This is of particularly interest for me, as it is yet one more example of the confusion plaguing Federal forces at the start of the Maryland Campaign. The army was not a well organized force, but an amalgamation of units thrown together to meet the enemy during a time of crisis. This is a fact forgotten by many historians.


Tomorrow and Friday I will post two other sections of the journal, extending up to January 6th. In the weeks following Antietam, Ellen wrote about the problems in the army, obstacles facing the Union war effort, and he also expressed his ideas on how the war should be fought.

Saturday, August 30th

Left Alexandria at 5 A.M. arrived at H Qrs of the 23rd Regiment Camp at Upton’s farm at 12 M, Heavy firing heard all day in the direction of Manassas Gap. Severe fight, the wounded are coming in. Reported defeat of the Rebel forces under “Stonewall” Jackson, Major General.

Sunday, August 31st

Camp at Upton’s Farm, near Washington

Some rain today. Received two letters from E.H.C. and one from Henry. Rumors very prevalent. Some heavy firing heard this evening. Wrote to E.H.C.

Monday, Sept 1st

First day of Autumn. Cold and blustering. Commenced raining in the evening and continued all night. No news of importance. Heavy firing heard this evening. It is thought that the Gov’t held its own against the rebels in Saturdays fight.  

Tuesday, Sept 2nd

Ceased raining this morning; very cold. Rumours of all kinds; defeats, victories, etc. etc. Hundreds of stragglers.

Wednesday, Sept 3rd

No news; all quiet

Thursday Sept 4th

The enemy made a reconnaissance this evening near “Falls Church”. Reported victory of Union troops at Harpers Ferry. Office of the (illegible, possibly guard).

Monday, September 8th

Bivouac fifteen miles from Washington. Burnside's corps.

Cox’s Division crossed the Potomac Saturday the 5th passed through Washington and gained this camp yesterday. This whole army seems more like a moving rable than a well disciplined soldiery. Wrote to E.H.C.

Monday September 22nd

Camp near Sharpsburg

Arrived in camp at this place Sept 19th. Wrote to E.H.C. 20th. Weather pleasant. Thousands of troops here. Since I last wrote severe battles have been fought, and glorious Union victories won. The 23rd has made four desperate bayonet charges, in two great battles. Sunday Sept 14th at South Mountain, and Wednesday the 17th at Sharpsburg. The loss to our reg’t has been great, but we have enough left to do good execution yet. Wrote to E. yesterday the 21st to E.H.C. this p.m.



Friday Sept 26th

Camp at Antietam Creek Md.

Changed camp to day. Moved about two miles. No news of importance. The army seems to be closing in for another fight. Night very cold, morning very foggy, days hot.

 Source: John S. Ellen Journal, Western Reserve Historical Society, Mss. 3502.

Fredericksburg 150: The Cost of War

"Oh mother, how I do like to have you put in a word to year dear son in the war fighting to save his dear country. It looked sad to me to see so many dead bodys that I see the other day lying on the battlefield. I thought to myself if thear mothers could only see them they would be crasy."

150 years ago today, the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought. The Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia, which had met in battle at Antietam just two months prior, yet again clashed and engaged in great and terrible bloodshed. Thousands more were added to the death toll of the war.

Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Chase, of the 5^th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, was just one of those men at Fredericksburg. Posted below, you will find excerpts of letters which Chase wrote home to his parents throughout 1862. Throughout his writings, Chase repeatedly told his parents that he hated the war, and hoped it would end soon so the death and killing would stop. These letters do not show us a soldier eager for killing and war, but a rightfully scared young man, who did not want to die, but only to see his family once again. As Chase wrote to his mother a few weeks before Fredericksburg, “I hate this foolish war more and more every day I live.” Chase’s words remind us that these battles were not fought by lines on a map, but by real people, who left behind fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, sons, and daughters. In many cases, these men would never again see their loved ones, as they laid down their lives that this nation might live. Many of these men were barely old enough to be called such; many were younger than twenty years old. The youth of the nation, dying upon once peaceful fields, gave our country a “new birth of freedom,” and that is what we should remember as we commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of Fredericksburg, and of the American Civil War.

Benjamin Franklin Chase enlisted in the 5^th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry on September 16, 1861. He was 18 years old, five feet nine inches tall, had blue eyes and black hair. He mustered in at Concord, New Hampshire, on October 19, 1861, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on November 11, 1862.

In camp, harrison’s landing, VA, james river

Dear Father,

(Most of this letter consists of small talk about the family, asking if his parents had received the letters he had sent, including one where Chase mailed three dollars to his parents. Chase also asks about different members of the family. Not much is relevant or of interest, except for the following lines)

… I guess I shall get my picture taken and send home, so if I should get killed out hear you could have it to look at. It costs 150 to get it taken.

… tell mother not to worry about me, not a mite. I stand one chance in 7 hundred thousand to not get killed. But perhaps I may get killed. I think I shant, cant tell.

Write all the news when you get this.

I am full steadier that I used to be at home, as good soldier as they is in the Co. dave and sarah said they were going to send me something when Hadley come back. I wish you would send me som stamps. Its hard to get them hear.

Write soon

B.F. Chase

The next letter is from August 3, 1862

In camp at harrisons landing, james river, VA

Dear father and all

As I received your kind and welcome letter a few days ago, I will now try and answer it. The first thing is, I am well as ever, and as harty as an old bear. Thease few lines I hope will find you and all our folks well as I am. I received those stamps and was happy to get um….

I still like pretty well and I hope I shall continue to like until the war is over. Which I hope will be soon but I am afraid it will last quite a while longer. We cant tell when it will end….

I am glad they have called for more troops, so as to have the war ended sometime or nother. It looks to us though it never would end, but they has got to be a settlement to it soon, one way or the other. It looks dreadful hard to see the poor soldiers killed of as they are hear. On our retreat was the hardest thing I ever see. I wish I only could be at home one week and tell you about what I have seen hear. I could think of anough to talk a week, all the time. I don’t put in eny thing in my letters that I write about what i have seen because I have anough else to write. I leave that out so as to tell you it when we get home.

I am going and get my picture taken to morrow and send it home to you all so if I get killed hear you can have it to look at and remember me by, to. How fast the time does pass away, almost fall again. I have been enlisted most a year, shall be the 11th of September….

We are under marching orders now. I guess I will put in a word to mother. Good by. Write as quick as you can.

B.F. Chase

The next, and last, letter in the collection was written just after Antietam, on September 28, 1862.

Sabath day

Virginia

Sept 28th, 1862

Camp at harpers ferry

My Dear Mother,

I will now sit down and let you all know that I am a live and well. I hope this will find you all the same

We are hear to harpers ferry now. Ben hear 6 days and we except to stay hear some time. All the boys is well.

I don’t hardly know what to say to you, dear mother. I hate this foolish war more and more every day I live.

Oh, mother, the mail has just come in and I got your letter dated Sept 15, and o good Lord how glad I was to hear from you and the rest at home. Oh I am so glad to hear that you all are alive once more.

I spose you have heard what a hard battle we have ben in, but I was so lucky to get out of it alive. But it killed and wounded 118 men in our regt. We had to run about one mile before we got on the battlefield. When we was running I throwed away my blanket and one of them good blue shirts father sent me was in my blanket so I lost it.

Mother, it’s a nough to discourage eny one to see how this war go on. Half of our officers are traters, they don’t care how long this war goes on. Its makes me so mad to see how they go on, I don’t no what to do.

Yes, mother, good many of us thinks the war will be over before winter, but I don’t beleave it will be over for 2 more years to come. How I do wish I was out of it. I would give all my bounty mighty quickly if I could only get my way if I could see you….

We shall go into winter quarters soon, we think, we shall get paid of in a few days.

I shall be glad when I see the boys from the village

When we get paid of I shall write oftener

It’s a very pretty place hear to this ferry. The cars run up hear

I always like to write you, dear mother. I will write a piece to father and the rest.

Oh, mother, how I should like to set down to a good meal of brown bread and beans at home. Oh Lord when will that happy day come. Lord when will that day come when I can speak with you all again. I cant tell that, perhaps never and perhaps twill soon

Oh mother, how I do like to have you put in a word to year dear son in the war fighting to save his dear country. It looked sad to me to see so many dead bodys that I see the other day lying on the battlefield. I thought to myself if thear mothers could only see them they would be crasy.

Cant think of eny more this time. Tell lily when I come I will bring home candy. Write very soon and often. Good by mother, hope to see you soon.

B.F. Chase

That was the last letter Chase wrote to his mother. He would never see her, nor his father, nor the rest of his family, again. At the age of nineteen years old, Chase was killed during the Battle of Fredericksburg, 150 years ago today. His prediction that the war would last at least another 2 years was true. He was also correct in stating that if the mothers of soldiers could see battlefields after the fighting had ended, they would be “crasy”, and perhaps, wars would be brought to a close much sooner. While Chase expressed numerous times that he hated the war, he also did note in his letter home after Antietam that he believed he was engaged in a fight “to save his dear country.” Benjamin Franklin Chase, killed 150 years ago today at Fredericksburg, reminds us that war has a heavy price, and freedom is never free.

Source: Benjamin Chase Letters, typescript copies, 5^th New Hampshire File, Antietam National Battlefield Library

An Interesting Find: A Shiloh Letter, April 8, 1862

As those of you who know me or follow the blog will no doubt know, while Antietam and the Maryland Campaign are my main topics of study, I do have other areas of interest in the Civil War as well. The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 and Kennesaw Mountain are one area of interest, and so is the Battle of Shiloh. I was born on the anniversary of Shiloh, and went to visit there earlier this year with my dad. I did quite a few posts on Shiloh (all of which can be found here), as it is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating battles of the war. The human interest stories of Shiloh are very compelling, and the fact that it was the first of the great battles of the war adds a certain mystique to it. While First Bull Run was a major event in 1861, the first truly great and terrible battle of the war that saw killing and death on a grand scale took place along the Tennessee River in April 1862. For anyone who has been to Shiloh, you will understand when I say it is a place you will never forget.

Anyways, I have been in the Western Reserve Historical Society library lately doing some research on an upcoming and heretofore unannounced project, and I came across the following letter from Captain Peter Hitchcock of the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In Hitchcock's papers at the WRHS, there are folders and folders of beautiful, well written letters to Sarah Jane Willcox, his future wife, while Peter was in the army. Some of the letters resemble love poems they are so well written. Hitchcock also does a great job of describing some of the combat that he saw. Below is one example. This is a letter Peter wrote to his love, Sarah, on April 8, 1862, one day after the Battle of Shiloh. It can be found in the Peter Hitchcock Papers, Container 28a, of the Western Reserve Historical Society.  The 20th Ohio was a part of Lew Wallace's 3rd Division of the Army of the Tennessee which arrived late in the day on April 6th, but in enough time to reinforce Grant and take part in the battle on April 7th.

April 8, 1864, Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee, HQ 3^rd Brigade, 3^rd Division

You will be surprised to learn that our Brigade with the balance of the Division at Crumps Landing were day before yesterday ordered to move to this place to support the forces here as they had been attacked by the combined rebel forces under Beauregard.

Day before yesterday at about 2 o’clock we left Adairsville for the new position from that time until late at night we were on the way marching, probably 8 or 9 miles on reaching here we learned that our forces had been driven back from their position up nearly to the river, probably a distance of 5 miles, our center had suffered the most and were pushed closest to the river. Beauregard had sent in word that he was going to drive our forces all into the river. General Buell’s forces at about the time we arrived also arrived on the opposite side of the river, and were crossing all night, but only a small portion got over to assist in the battle. We have had a splendid victory. Early yesterday morning our forces commenced the attack, and although the ground was inch by inch hotly contested, our forces kept pushing them farther and farther away, though at places and times they drove us back, still onward pushed our forces, until the last grand stand by the enemy was made on the ground we now occupy, here all along the lines (probably 8 miles) for two hours or more there was a continuous round of musketry and cnanon, at last the enemy gave way, and reired in any good order. Their losses are immense, and ours must be very great there is no doubt over 6,000 killed and wounded. Our regiment though engaged has had few men lost, one killed of Co. B., Capt. William Rogers Co A., wounded, and about 10 or 12 privates of Sunday companies some very badly, our Lt. Col. had his sword shot while in his hand.

I am all safe, only having been well scared several times by stray shots. You can learn more from the papers of the engagement, than I can tell you. I have no time to write as I am wanted with the teams, tell all at home I am safe and well.

We move on Cornith from this point I suppose.

From your own,

Peter

Antietam's Memorial Illumination: The Cost of Freedom

This past weekend, I was back in Maryland for the 24th Annual Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination. Every year, on the first Saturday in December, 23,110 candles are set out on the battlefield to represent each casualty who fell at Antietam on September 17, 1862. This event has grown over the years, and the turnout this year was among the highest ever by some counts. The Illumination gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves that 23,110 is not simply a number in a history book, but the number of men who experienced the pain, suffering, and misery of Antietam in a way that we will never understand. While we can never understand what they went through, perhaps by remembering them as real individuals we can at the very least appreciate what they did for this nation 150 years ago.


Whether Union or Confederate, whether defending the nation or seeking to split it, each man who fought at Antietam had a life, a family, passions, hopes, and dreams. That is what we seek to remember every year on the first Saturday in December.


We must also remember that this is not a "Civil War" event. This is an American event. On Saturday, the day of the Illumination, I was working the front desk at the Visitor Center, speaking with a gentleman and his wife. The gentleman had an ancestor who died at South Mountain, fighting in the 45th Pennsylvania. Thankfully, we were able to locate his ancestor's grave in the Antietam National Cemetery. We then started to discuss the Illumination, how best to see it, and what it meant. When I began describing the casualties for the gentleman, he began to tear up. He told me that he was a veteran of Vietnam, and seeing the candles reminded him of his friends who were lost in that conflict several decades ago. He then thanked me, shook my hand, and left. For this brave American Veteran, the Illumination was as much about those lost in combat in the 20th century as it was for those lost 150 years ago. This incident brought the candles to life for me in a new way this year, and reminded me once again that, no matter what year it is, American soldiers will always be willing to lay down their lives so that this nation might live.

In Memoriam

Pvt. Ellwood Rodebaugh, Company D, 106th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Killed in Action, September 17, 1862