MY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

BOSTON:
WRIGHT & POTTER, PRINTERS, 4 SPRING LANE.
1863.

PREFACE.

At the earnest request of many of my comrades of the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers, I am induced to publish this narrative, which, with very little addition or alteration, I have copied entire from my private journal. This was written under many disadvantages during a campaign of unusual hardships and privations. Hoping it may prove of use, as a reference, to many of my companions, who from the very nature of the campaign, found it impossible to keep a record, is the only apology I have to offer for publishing a work of this nature.

Diamond Hill, R. I., August, 1863.

CONTENTS

MY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

CHAPTER I.

On the 16th day of September, 1862, the author of this narrative was duly enlisted as a volunteer in the service of the United States; and, on the 22d of the same month, reported at Camp Stevens, Providence, R. I., for duty. At this place, the Twelfth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers was organized; and in this city, on the 13th day of October, 1862, it was mustered into the service of the United States, for a period of nine months.

As a member of this regiment, your subscriber was duly elected, and from the 13th of October, 1862, until the 29th of July, 1863, was known as J. W. Grant, private, Company F, Twelfth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers. Our regiment was under the command of Colonel George H. Browne, and as yet no lieutenant-colonel or major had been assigned us. The following were the company officers:

John L. Clark, of Cumberland, was appointed Quartermaster, and John Turner, of Bristol, Adjutant.

On the 21st day of October, at six o'clock, P. M., the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers formed for its last parade, on Camp Stevens, and at seven, P. M., of the same day we were aboard the cars, and hurrying on our way en route for Washington, by way of New York and Baltimore.

We reached Groton at half-past nine, went aboard the steamer Plymouth Rock at this place, and at eleven were moving down the Sound.

It was rather an unpleasant night; the wind blew fresh from the south, rolling up the clouds in heavy masses, with every appearance of its raining immediately. However, at daybreak, the wind changed to the north-west, the clouds began to disperse, and at sunrise the sky was perfectly clear.

Just beyond Hurl Gate we passed the steamer Great Eastern lying at anchor, and had as good a view of her as we could desire to have. She appears to be a beautifully modelled vessel, of tremendous size and power.

We arrived in Jersey City at eight, A. M. Disembarking from the Plymouth Rock, we reëmbarked on the steamer Kill Von Hull, and at ten, A. M., were steaming towards Elizabethport, the wind blowing a gale, dead ahead. Passed by Staten Island, which by the way is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The land rises from the bay to a very great height, and is covered with groves of beautiful trees, interspersed with houses here and there. I should think, from the appearance of Staten Island, that it must be a delightful place. As we sailed along, close by the shore, the people came from the houses to salute us, waving flags and handkerchiefs; in the groves and upon the house-tops we saw and heard them cheering us. We arrived at Elizabethport about twelve o'clock. I should think it to be a place of some importance as a depot for the shipment of coal, there being every convenience in the line of railways and