Hold at All Hazards by David H. Jones

Author:David H. Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636240435
Publisher: Casemate
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

On the March

9th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery

Centreville, Virginia, June 25, 1863

Since before first light, the excited batterymen had been toiling to break camp and make final provisions to join in the pursuit of an invading enemy. At the appointed time, Charlie lifted his well-polished bugle and sounded Boots & Saddles. Within minutes, six limbered 12-pounder Napoleons, six caissons, and several wagons of 9th Battery were fully manned and aligned in column. From their vantage point on a low hill, they could see a long meadow in which an artillery column was being formed by the arrival of batteries from bivouacs located in the nearby countryside.

For the men of Bigelow’s Battery, this moment marked a transition from viewing the war from a disconnected perspective to the stark realization that they were to be active participants. Some soldiers were silent and contemplative as they watched the gathering spectacle. These were generally the older men, many of whom had wives and children at home. Their experiences in life made them sufficiently thoughtful and able to envision the hardships and dangers of the coming campaign. Numerous younger men adopted nonchalance to mask their eagerness as they awaited commencement of what they had long desired. Some were bursting with exuberance, as they struggled to remain within limits of conduct that their ever-observant corporals and sergeants might tolerate. To join this march to confront the enemy was a possibility thought remote until a few days before and beyond any expectation just a few months prior.

At the head of the 9th Battery column, three men sat motionless on horseback, each watchful of the activities in the long meadow. The senses of Captain Bigelow, Chief Bugler Reed and Guidon Fisher were sharpened by an anticipation of orders they knew would soon be forthcoming. Before they caught sight of him, the sound of rapidly approaching hoof beats forewarned that a rider was dashing in their direction. The youthful staff officer’s horse had clearly partaken of his rider’s excitement and came skidding to a halt just several yards shy of a collision with Captain Bigelow’s horse. Quickly regaining his composure, the young 2nd lieutenant pointed at a gap in the artillery column.

“Captain Bigelow, your battery will wheel into line immediately behind that battery of 3-inch ordnance rifles. Kindly make haste, sir, we’re behind schedule. There’s the devil to pay if we’re late getting started.” Without further ado, he wheeled his horse around to dash toward another battery that was awaiting orders.

Captain Bigelow turned in the saddle and spoke calmly. “Reed, Column, Forward March.” Charlie raised his bugle and sounded the call and Captain Bigelow started his horse at a walk to converge with the artillery column. The entire battery heaved into motion behind him and shortly thereafter 9th Battery wheeled into line at the designated place. Minutes later, the artillery column began to move onto a narrow country road running in the direction of Fairfax Court House.

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