Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  July 25, 1863

  And fine day. Nothing unusual today. But scrubbing the ward floor. That’s done once a week or every Saturday so as to be nice and clean for Sunday morning Inspection. I rec’d a letter from Amos yesterday and answered it and today I received one from Lucretia which I must soon answer.

  July 26, 1863

  And answered the letter I received yesterday. We had a nice little shower this evening, then cleared off again. We had the Sunday morning Inspection & passed as good. Had church at 1 P.M. after which the Passes were given out to return at 6 P.M.

  July 28, 1863

  And rained a little in the evening, a nice shower. Evrything passes of right. I got a letter from Mother & Henry which I answered. Mother was a little unwell but Henrys folks was well as usual.

  July 29, 1863

  And rained a little shower in the morning but turned out to be a fine day. I had a pass today and run around considerable. Was down in the country a little. Run about good deal, seen the country which is verry pretty.

  July 30, 1863

  And fine day. Quite warm. Good many gets in the guardhouse for one demeanor & another. They say there is about 40 arrested now, mostly for drunkeness. It pains me to see so much of it, this is a worse place than the field for sin & wickedness. There are many on the Blacklist. They cant get passes and there has been different arrangements made in the pass system. There is ten passes issued evry day. They begin and take all as they go right along skipping those that’s got their name on Black list. In that way I will get more passes than heretofore. For I will get to go out tomorrow again as my bed is first.

  July 31, 1863

  And rained a little in the morning, but cleared off about 9 oclock. I got a pass today, got it earlier than usual, half past ten. So I and one of the 19th Ind started, went down to the city on the steam cars. From the depot we went to the Navy yard, going most of the way on the horse cars or street cars as some call them. Go any place in the city for 5 cts. There we saw 2 or three large crafts in course of erecting and one a Monitor with 2 turrets. A verry large one. She is pretty well along. Most of the wood work is done here. I saw many cannon of all sizes & kinds, also ammunition for same. But we could’nt stay long, got only a slight look at the things. From there we went to Chestnut St and on up to Independence Hall. We entered, found many curiosities. We went up in the steeple where we could look all over the city. Fine View. But just as we reached the Hall the Bell rung the alarm for fire and when we got on top of the steeple we had a fine view. The firemen running with their engines, hose &c for extinguishing the fire. But they soon came back as the fire didnt get much of a start.

  August 2, 1863

  A fine day. Verry warm as it has been for several days. I got a letter from Henry to that had been to the Regt. It was written on the 6th July. So that had no news of consequence as I have got letters of a later date.

  August 3, 1863

  And fine day with a nice shower in the evening, rained quite hard. There is quite a number of the guards sent of today also some from the wards that were convalescent and some taken from the wards and put on guard. There was 3 of each from our ward. We have pleasant times here. But there is one thing about it that I don’t like. There has been a pack of cards brought in and wardmaster threatened to burn them once when he caught them playing. The players contended that it was no worse than checkers. And I don’t know but it is just as bad to play any other game as cards. They don’t gamble any place for pastime only. We have several checker boards in the ward, some have half a dozen and I think it is more sin to play a game at cards for pastime than to play checkers. But when the Doctors come in some of them asked him about it. He told them they might [play] cards or checkers either if they wouldnt gamble. But they must be kind to each other and not get up any bad feeling twixt each other or he would discard both.

  For my part, I wish Dan (the Ward master) had of prevailed for I don’t like cards any way. They have ruined so many men & are ruining thousands evry day. There is a good deal of grumbling about passes. But they have to take their regular turn now. Dan having got a Pass Book, we eat, drink and sleep and most of us are happy. Maybe all. But I don’t think. There was a number released from Prison today. Some had been there for days and others only as many hours according to the offence they had committed.

  I forgot to speak about Being to church yesterday. As usual the chaplain after sermon, read the Presidents Proclamation, proclaiming to the 6th of August as fast day or thanksgiving and enjoined it upon the people of showing a respect for it & to meet at their several places of worship, there to offer Prayers to the Almighty for his mercies &c as all such Proclamations requires of the people. After which the Chaplain invited all to be present that were able to attend &c. The chaplain is a nice & for what I know, a good man. He appears so, But his preaching is some like a schoolboys Proclamation for it appears not but what somebody has written & he reads it off or Proclaims it as I used to my poetry &c, what little it was when at school.

  Well about my grammar. I don’t get along verry fast for I find this is to much bed lam and then my mind runs on military things and I believe I could study anything of the military kind. I think I will get a copy of Tactics & see if I can study them which I think I can for I come in contact with nothing else much for my mind to run on. I wouldnt be much surprised. I joined the service again soon after my time is out. I shall try studying the tactics and I expect to go out tomorrow and get me one.

  August 4, 1863

  And I got a pass today. The weather is verry warm. I got my Pass about 11 AM, went right, took the 11 ½ tram steam cars for Philadelphia. Soon arrived there. After rambling for a while I come to corner Vine & Green Streets. There I waited a few minutes for street cars which soon came. When I got aboard, went down to the Fairmount water works 2 miles distant. Upon getting there & entering at the large iron gate. Many nice walks & seats. Nice grass plots twixt the walks. The grounds is shaded with all kinds of trees. The sun having verry little chance to strike the ground. In about the center of this flat is the fountains with a number of brass spouts where the water issued going to the hight often to fourteen according to the size of the tube the water issues from. The largest tubes throws the water highest.

  After sitting a while to rest and watch the water &c, gaze on the different trees and shrubs. It appeared as though I could never get done looking. The scene beggars description. It is a lovely spot. The Mount is to the right as you enter the gate on top of which is the Reservoirs. They cover a number of acres. After gazing till tired, I went to the works which pumps the water to the top of the Mount. The works are a series of large water wheels of great power. The water giving the necessary power. The Pumps and machinery & cars all run by the wheels. There is a number of Pumps of great capacity. Near here, right in the side of Mount stands a bust of a man holding a large serpent in right hand. Out of its mouth issues a large stream which rises as much as 20 feet or more and out of the toes of the bust water issues with as much force. This is thrown out hard and falling about 40 feet from the feet of the bust. There is an enormous power used to work the whole thing. I am not capable of describing it accurately.

  From here I went upon the mount where I could see most all over the city. Good view up the river. See all the water works plain. Here I see that the grounds cover about 15 acres I should judge. Here I find the Reservoirs smooth & placid waters. They are fenced in by a strong wooden paling fence and outside of this is a road wide enough for 4 persons to walk abrest. It is graveled and each side of the road is the Kentucky Bluegrass growing rank. This is all around it. Then down about 20 feet below is another such a road running two thirds of the way around the other third. The ground rises abrupt to level with the other road above. Around the outer edge of this walk is a row of nice large shade trees, mostly soft maple. But some of all kinds. This is also a verry nice walk. More comfortable than the upper one for it has no trees near it & is kept clear of tall grass & weeds. There is nothing t
o fall or blow in the water nor no chance for the birds to light. From this 2nd walk, the ground slopes of nicely & covered with the same kind of grass to the foot of the mount, probably 80 feet. There is, I see, another fountain about opposite on the other side of the Mount from the one I have mentioned before. But this is only spout but a large one. There is not many trees on this of any considerable size. It appears to have been lately improved. Many of the trees are small. Well I cant now give a better discription of the grounds. To sum it all up, they lovely beyond discription. At least so of by me. I thought myself well paid for my day travels.

  I got down to the Race street depot. There I took the cars, come up to the 9th street, went to depot. Returned home which I reached half past 7 P.M. half an hour before my Pass run out. I am tired but amply paid for it. I went alone today & enjoyed myself the best I ever have. So ended the 4th of August & my Birth day. But I didnt think of it all day.

  August 5, 1863

  And fine day. Nothing of consequence occurred. My wound is doing verry well. I have no bandage on my head now. It is most well. They have got a cannon here for firing tomorrow to celerabrate Thanksgiving day. It is an iron piece that was captured from the British when the Battle of this Place was fought or as you may, the Battle of Germantown.109 It has a verry old look. Is about a 6 pounder. It is kept on purpose for such occasions. Evrybody that can get out is taking a look at it. Evrybody takes a lively interest in looking at it. We expect to have great times tomorrow.

  August 6, 1863

  And fine day. But as usual of late, verry warm. We got our usual breakfast. Nothing of interest transpired till 12 N. The cannon fired & kept firing evry 2 ½ minutes til 30 rounds was fired. After which we had dinner rather later. We had in addition to our usual dinner, ¼ of a common pie to a man and about a spoonful of tomatoes & cucumbers apiece. Those were cut up & vinegar on them and that is all we had after all the talk about our great dinner we was to have. And the Pie caused some truble for a few got 2 pieces. By chance I was one of the lucky ones this time and then all wanted and there was not [enough] for [all]. Come verry near having a fight about the thing. It terminated disgraceful in my estimation. I wish that there wasn’t a pie brought on the table.

  Nothing transpired till sundown when a few more rounds was fired. It was posted outside the hospital enclosure on a vacant town lot. When it was fired it jarred the whole hospital. It cracked twice as loud as a twelve pounder would in the field. They pounded grass, green grass into it on top of the load. That made it crack loud. It was a pretty still evening and rather cooler than usual. The town boys have a little gun of some kind that they are firing with. It is a 1 or 2 pounder I should judge. We had an appropriate sermon from the chaplain at 8 P.M. It was well suited to the occasion. He enjoined us to be thankful & offer up thanks to the almighty for our existence as a nation and for the great victories he has vouchsafed to us &c. He went on to considerable length. We finished up the excercise by singing the Star Spangled which all joined in as most of the soldiers can sing it.

  August 7, 1863

  And fine day. Verry warm. But not so much so as several days since. I got a pass today. Got it about 10 A.M. rather earlier than usual. And I start for to find the old Germantown Battle field. Get out on the street after going through 2 guards and showing my pass to each. Went up the street some three fourths of a mile. Came to an old stone wall looking verry old in which was a gateway. Had been a gate there sometime. Here we turned in, went up to the house that the massacre was in. It stands back from the street some 100 yards, a lawn intervening. But not much care taken of it. There is also a great many trees of different kinds & sizes interspersed of it making alltogather rather a pretty place. There has been no Improvement whatever since the Battle. The Grand daughter is living in and owns it. The old man in his will enjoined it upon any and evrybody that lived in the house to not disturb anything whatever. The house is a good & large one. Stories high. Built of stone & plastered. The old negro that was working there, he took some pains to show us the bullet marks on the house. Also several cannon ball marks. As near as I can get it, the English come & surprised our troops & just massacred them & got possession of the house. And our fought them from the outside. History will tell you about it. But I got to see the much noted place. There [are] a number of busts of persons. They are Italian marble & carved in Italy. Bullet mark on them.

  Two pages from William Ray’s Volume 10, detailing his experiences in the hospital following his wounding at Gettysburg. Sherry Murphy

  Volume 10

  The Veteran Question

  August 12, 1863 to January 14, 1864

  Wm R Ray, Member Co F

  7th Regt. Wis. Volt.

  A Resident of Cassville, Grant Co of aforesaid state

  At present a patient in USA Hospital, Germantown Pennsylvania

  August [12] 18, 1863

  Well I must return to the 12 inst. That being the day I got my other diary full and not getting a pass for several day, did not get a book and forgot when I was out. But had a pass today so got it.

  August 13, 1863

  Many of the boys getting 15 day furloughs. All a fellow has to do if he wants a furlough is to ask for somebody is going evry day sometimes 10 or 15 a day.

  August 15, 1863

  And fine day. I got a pass today. Went down to the State Agent and from there to the mint. Stayed there couple hours, found the managers and officers verry courteous. Showed me around the building. Seen them making copper cents. They were not coining in the other departments. But got to see the machinery and the coins of different nations and all nations. Some verry old pieces. Also many specimens of all kind of mineral, one piece of lead ore from Galena, 111. And copper and iron from Lake Superior mines. I was pleased to find my state so well represented in the cases in the way of minerals. Evrything is neatly arranged in glass cases so they can be seen but not touched. I had to register my name on going in. Admittance from 9 A.M. til 12N only. This stares you in the face as you enter, it being posted on the right hand door. I got there half past 11 A.M. I considered myself well paid for my trip.

  From here traveled homeward taking rather a circuitous route the better to see things to be seen. And came into the hospital at last without getting a diary. Done most of the traveling in the street cars. Traveled some 15 miles today I should think. I got a letter from Henry and mother. Well and doing well. Henry had got nearly done harvesting & had good crops.

  August 17, 1863

  And fine day, rather cooler today. We had hard rain last night and a change in the atmosphere. I think we will have some cooler weather now for a while. Some more furloughs came today. I think sometimes of trying to get one but then I think the cost is to much for a weeks pleasure. Twill cost me at least $40.00 on my trip there & back and then to think how much iron that would buy if I work at my trade when I get back or how many acres of land I would buy if I chose to farm it for a livelihood. Or how long it would school me if I chose to go to school. Any of those, if I chose follow them as a business would require all the capital I could raise so I think I had better save it. $40.00 is not picked up just whenever a fellow wants it.

  August 18, 1863

  And fine day. Had a pass today. Got about 10 A.M. went out a little while, come in to dinner, stayed in till after supper when I went out and got this book and returned.

  August 19, 1863

  And fine day. Had a hard thundershower last night. The air is nice and cool this morning. I have a good time now. My wound almost healed up and nothing to do but study tactics of which I purchased a volumn, containing the maneuvers through School of the Soldier & Company Drill and Battallion Drill. I calculated to study it as my [mind] seems to run on something of the military. I tried studying grammar but no go for not but war matters could I think of, so I will study such. I got a letter from Sarah yesterday and today I got one from Henry & one from Amos. He is still at Vicsburg still. He spoke of seeing Richard Lander, Isaac Ray & they were well. Henry, I am
sorry to hear is rather unwell at present & Sarah has been quite sick, but was better. The folk was done harvesting generally and I was glad to hear that the crops was a good average yield.

  I also got a letter from the Co. From F. A. Boyantan. The Regt was at Rappahnnock Station. Done nothing except a little picket duty. There was 20 of the boys only, no ranks, but they were in good spirits. I am glad to see Frank and also the boys so patriotic. Frank is verry much so to my surprise.

  August 20, 1863

  And fine day. Things goes on as usual. I had a pass but didn’t go out. I did not put in for one either. The weather is some cooler for the last 2 or 3 days. The showers we had done that. It is quite pleasant sitting in the wards now. I bought me a new hat for 75 cents. It is only a cheap one. Bought it so as to send my old one home and I thought that it would last me till I got to the Regt. Then it not being in uniform I should have to draw a new one. So I didn’t want a verry expensive one to throw away. Some of the boys that went away on furloughs are coming back, their time being up.

  August 21, 1863

  And fine day. I had a pass today. But didn’t use. I have seen most of the places of interest round here & in the City and I can’t see what the boys find so enticing out. But Oh, it’s the liquor that entices them and many at a fearful rate too. Evry day there is some going into the guard house for drunkness. A day or two since the fellow that I associated with some got into the guard house for drunkeness. He was, I thought, about the best fellow I could associate. But I will have to give up going with anybody. When I go out, go alone then I will not be disgraced with being in their company. Oh what will this world come to.