Hard Bread and Coffee Our Only Food, Blankets Our Only Shelter: The First March of the 20th Maine

In September 1862, the new recruits of the 20th Maine endured their first wartime march during the Maryland Campaign and “a hard one it was” remembered Sergeant Edward Simonton.

“We marched our march last Friday and hard one it was, at the rate of 20 miles a day, under a scorching sun, loaded down with gun, ammunition, rations and blankets- leaving our knapsacks behind,” he wrote. “Hard bread and coffee was our only food-blankets our only shelter at night. The old regiments said it was the hardest march they ever had. I felt ready to drop once or twice, but the idea that we were in pursuit of old Stonewall nerved me up to new effort and urged me onward.”

          The 20th Maine, mustered into service on August 29, 1862, at Camp Mason, near Portland, Maine, had sailed from Boston to Alexandria, Virginia aboard the steamer Merrimack along with the 36th Massachusetts. Upon arrival on September 6, the regiment camped at the Washington Arsenal, received weapons, and on the 11th were assigned to General Daniel Butterfield’s brigade, Morrell’s Division, of the 5th Army Corps

          Sergeant Simonton’s description of the 20th Maine’s first wartime march first saw publication in the October 1, 1862, edition of the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier.

 

Sergeant Simonton's comrades during the first march of the 20th Maine included two men familiar to readers who have watched the movie Gettysburg: Sergeant Thomas Chamberlain, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's younger brother, at left was then in Co. I while Captain Ellis Spear on the right commanded Simonton's Co. G. Both men would be promoted to field grade by the end of the war: Spear became the colonel while Chamberlain became lieutenant colonel. 

Near Keedysville, Maryland

September 18, 1862

          We left Washington for Arlington Heights, about two miles into Virginia, a week ago last Monday. There our regiment was immediately attached to General Fitz John Porter’s corps (V), Morell’s Division, and General Dan Butterfield’s brigade. Ours is the only Maine regiment in the brigade; the others are New York and Michigan regiments.

          Soon after we arrived at Arlington Heights, Porter’s corps was ordered to cross over into Maryland to join McClellan in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson. We marched our march last Friday [September 12] and hard one it was, at the rate of 20 miles a day, under a scorching sun, loaded down with gun, ammunition, rations and blankets- leaving our knapsacks behind. Hard bread and coffee was our only food-blankets our only shelter at night. The old regiments said it was the hardest march they ever had. I felt ready to drop once or twice, but the idea that we were in pursuit of old Stonewall nerved me up to new effort and urged me onward. Many, however, fell out by the way.

          We passed through the city of Frederick, a place I think about as large as Bangor. Here we saw sad indications of Rebel raids- bridges destroyed, camps deserted, and general ruin all around. Our march was through a beautiful region of the country. Day before yesterday we passed through Middletown, the scene of the late fight, and there saw many prisoners as well as arms, clothing, and heaps of slain, scattered along the road, all proclaiming the horrors of war.

The Smith Farm near Keedysville was used as a hospital after the Battle of Antietam. This image was taken by Alexander Gardner soon after the battle. 

          Yesterday we arrived here near the village of Keedysville which is about five miles from the Potomac and nine from Harper’s Ferry. There was a terrific engagement all day, a constant roar of artillery-bang! Bang! A continuous rushing to and fro of troops, artillery, cavalry, and infantry. Our corps acted as reserves, being drawn up in line of battle all day ready and expecting every moment to be called into action. Shot and shell went whizzing over our heads and falling all around us but doing no other injury to our division than to cause some of us to bend our necks and shrug our shoulders slightly. But towards night, our brigade had orders to hasten to the right; we started on the double quick and expected an engagement but had none for the enemy had appeared there in force and on seeing us, skedaddled.

          We have a tremendous force here and hope to be able to bag the entire Rebel force. Would to God that we might. Wouldn’t it be glorious? General McClellan is very popular here. Just now he rode by our lines and was very heartily cheered as he is wherever he goes. He raised his cap and bowed his acknowledgements. He is undoubtedly the man; if let alone, he will, I believe, lead us on to final victory.

Sergeant Simonton would enjoy a long and active service during the Civil War, but only a small portion of it was spent with the 20th Maine. After being commissioned as second lieutenant in January 1863, he resigned scarcely two months later. However, in July 1863, he accepted a commission as second lieutenant in Co. I of the 1st U.S. Colored Troops and would serve with that regiment until mustered out on September 29, 1865, as a captain. He was severely wounded in the left thigh on June 15, 1864, during the first battle of Petersburg and spent several months recuperating from this wound. He received two brevet promotions, to major and lieutenant colonel for “gallant conduct before Petersburg and for general good conduct and meritorious service.” He would join the army a third time in February 1866, serving until September 1870 with the 4th U.S. Infantry.

Source:

Letter from Sergeant Edward D. Simonton, Co. G, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry, Bangor Daily Whig and Courier (Maine), October 1, 1862, pg. 2

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