"Ham owes me a Yankee".

Tuesday, October 20, 1863, between the Hazel and Rappahannock Rivers, Virginia

General Lee, being a very good general, decided that the time was ripe to attack the Yankees again. We have learned that a good part of their army left our front to go to Tennessee. Now that their numbers were reduced, it was time to punish them again. Our own force had been reduced to to to the same place but that did not stop General Lee.

About a week ago, we were told to cook rations and that told us that there was to be some action. We had thought that operations had concluded for the year. We were looking forward to spending another winter warm and cozy in our rude cabins. At first, we thought that the Yankees were up to something and that we were to put a stop to it. Over the next few days, as we advanced and they retreated, we realized that it was ourselves who were doing the attacking. We felt very good.

The brigade crossed the Rapidan near Cave's Ford. For several days we marched further northward in the general direction of Warrenton. We desired that the Yankees would turn their backs to face us but they would not oblige us. We saw no action during these several days but did hear cannon and musket to the right of us in the distance. We cheered whoever was engaging the Yankees and loudly proclaimed that our turn would come.

Somewhere shy of Warrenton, we gorged ourselves on excellent white cabbage. Around the campfire that night, "Ham" Steele proclaimed, with great regret, that he could march no further on bare feet. There are quite a number of us sans shoes these days. Ham showed us his feet and inded, they were tore up. The cause of his depression was not his poor fet but rather that he could not keep up with us and would be unable to pot some Yankees.

From my pack, I removed the shoes that I had been keeping for when my current pair would blow out. The previous owner needed them no longer. I gave my old ones to Ham and put on the new ones. They were not fully worn in and I feared blisters but Holton gave me his spare pair of socks. I now have on both pairs and will trust that the additional padding will protect my feet. Ham expressed his gratitude by saying that the first Yankee he shoots will be for me.

On the fourteenth, we fell out from the line of march and went into line of battle. Some wounded of Heath's division passed us in the other direction. They called to us that the Yankees were hard by and that we should give them H--l. We swore that we would. I reminded Ham that he owed me a Yankee. My feet had been suffering a little but I forgot all about it now that we were about to attack.

In anticipation of our glorious charge which would rout them back to Washington, the Yankees shelled us but without much effort. When daylight faded away, which is earlier this time of year, the Yankees turned their backs to us once again and retreated towards Manassas. We were quite disappointed that they should not give us battle. As we marched the next day, we said that we would catch the Yankees at Manassas and would give them a good beating for a third time at that same place. It was at Manassas two years ago that our Jackson acquired the nickname of, "Stonewall". Our regiment was still in South Carolina at the time.

Once we reached Warrington, we halted and began the destruction of the railroad there. This may have been the Orange and Alexandria but I am not sure. The destruction of a railroad is a pleasurable affair. With whatever tools may be obtained from the nearest mechanic's shed, we pry away the spikes holding the rails to the ties. After the rails are removed, the ties are paced in a pile and set on fire. This was difficult as it was raining on and off during the day. Even so, we succeeded in heating the rails to the point where they would bend and be useless.

While we were enjoying ourselves, it was Hancock who asked if we were advancing, why were we destroying a railroad that would be in our rear as we advanved. Would we not need that line to keep us supplied as we moved towards Washington? It took a moment for this observation to sink in and when it did, there was no more joy in the burning.

That night, we marched to another point on the railroad. The rain was violent and all of us were as wet as fish in a run. We tore up another section of railroad but was not at all gleeful. Then we headed back the way we came. We could not have felt more miserable.

We crossed the Rappahannock yesterday and are now in camp. We can see the Yankee cavalry looking back at us from the other side. They cannot get at us and we cannot get at them. There will be a next time. Ham owes me a Yankee.


I Send You These Few Lines


What Tooms writes of is the Bristoe Campaign. It is little known or studied. Shiloh, Gettysburg and Nashville are better known. This campaign was an attempt by Lee to get around Meade's Army of the Potomac and threaten Washington. Lee was intending to maneuver Meade to a point where the latter would be forced to defend Washington. Lee would then tear off a piece of Meade's army and destroy it.

Meade would not co-operate. Rather than allow himself to be placed in a bad position, he retreated. There was one battle of any size, Bristoe Station. Hill attacked Hancock's II Corps but could do no significant damage. The casualties Hill suffered were severe.

In this post-Gettysburg fall of 1863, Lee's army is again suffering for want of men and supplies, including rations. Ham Steele was one of many such sufferers and winter is coming.

Tooms had previously written that as neither side was up to a new offensive, even though the weather would allow it, both sides would settle in for the rest of the year. Of course, he was greatly mistaken and surprised as was most everyone else. 

Now that this latest effort has expended itself, will the armies finally suspend their activities for the year or is there enough good weather and enough will for one more good throw?

Either way, it will be a long winter.