For Victuals and Abraham Lincoln: Summering in Maryland in 1864

The 144th Ohio Infantry, a hundred days' regiment, arrived in Maryland in May 1864 and was promptly dispatched in detachments across the state. While Grant and the Army of the Potomac and Lee's Army of Northern Virginia hammered away at each other, Co. F found itself with light duties and time on their hands at the little town of Annapolis Junction. 

    "Our duties are light, and at their leisure the boys have reconnoitered the surrounding country on private account, and been rewarded by the discovery of the abundance of cherries and mulberries-of which we are welcome to all we choose to pick," recalled Private Henry S. Chapin. "The consequence is that some of our company keep up a continual skirmishing with the cherry trees and up to the present time the advantage has invariably been in our favor that we have all the fruit we can eat-which, by the way, is no small amount. There is also any quantity of blackberries and huckleberries within easy range of our camp, which are already beginning to ripen; peach and apple trees in this locality are also loaded with fruit. There need, therefore, be no fear of suffering for want of the necessities of life."

    Within a few short weeks, the sense of quiet in Maryland would turn to panic when General Jubal Early led his army into the state. A portion of the 144th Ohio would fight at Monocacy on July 9, 1864 to contest Early's advance, but the men of Co. F would miss out on the action. Henry S. Chapin's letter first saw publication in the June 30, 1864, edition of the Perrysburg Journal; Chapin was the editor of the newspaper. 


A familiar sight to the men of Co. F: the railroad depot at Annapolis Junction, Maryland. The company spent nearly their entire 100 day service guarding this junction, only leaving as Early's army passed within a dozen miles of town and the troops ordered back to Annapolis to guard Camp Parole. 

Annapolis Junction, Md.

June 15, 1864

 

          On Monday last, I wrote you that there were no serious cases of sickness in Company F. At that time such was my belief, and the general belief of the company. True, we had a couple of men in the hospital, but we had not thought either of them to be dangerously ill. About 9 o’clock yesterday morning, however, we were startled by receiving word that Leonard Snyder, of this company, was dead. He had been unwell for a number of days, but remained in camp until Friday last, when he was worse, and had to be taken most of the way to the hospital on a stretcher.

His disease was pronounced by the physicians to be typhoid fever, but members of the company who have seen frequent cases of brain fever, say that his attack and subsequent symptoms strongly resembled it. He improved however and on Sunday morning I am told he was able to sit up, and conversed with some members of the company who called to see him though he could talk but little at a time. Since Sunday afternoon, he appeared to be deranged all the time, except perhaps a few minutes Monday morning. Early Tuesday morning a member of the company went to see him and found him insensible in which condition he remained until about 6 o’clock when he died.

          His remains were placed in a coffin by members of the company and at 11 o’clock this morning we followed him to a soldier’s grave. The funeral procession was formed as follows:

          MILITARY ESCORT: under command of Corporal Stewart with arms reversed- composed of the following persons: Lewis Householder, Harvey Phillips, Alanson Bushnell, Eli Scott, Alvin C. Austin, Thomas Shanks, John Priest, Isaac Smith.

          PALL BEARERS: Alexander Bruce, Lewis Schaller, James Russell, Peter Algoner, Charles Champion, William Stein.

          Then followed members of the company and officers.

          Arrived at the grave, the escort halted in front of it-the company standing in line in rear of the escort. The Pall Bearers then lowered the coffin into the grave-the escort presenting arms. The Hospital Chaplain then read a portion of the Scriptures and offered up a prayer, after which the escort fired three volleys over the grave. The company then formed in the same order as before and returned to camp, leaving the dead soldier, so lately our associate.

          Leonard Snyder, was a resident of Webster Township, Wood County. He was not, when we left Perrysburg, a member of this company, but belonged to the company from Webster and Freedom townships which was broken up at Camp Chase, when he was assigned to Company F. He has resided in Webster township for 8 or 10 years past; has been married but was divorced from his wife about two or three years since. I am told that he has cousins residing somewhere in Wood County but no relatives in Webster Township. His father resides near Syracuse, New York. His age was 31.

Henry S. Chapin
Editor, Perrysburg Journal


I had no acquaintance with the deceased previous to his connection with this company- since that time, however, I have known him as a kind friend and a soldier always ready and willing to do any duty required of him. Possibly- had he made as great an effort as some who were members of this company- he might have obtained an exemption and remained at home, and today been in his usual health, but he responded to the call of Governor Brough and has fallen in the service of his country. And I appeal to you readers, whether the memory of this dead solider-whatever may have been his past faults or failings- in his late sickness knew no mother’s or sister’s care and whose grave was watered by no relative’s tear, is he not a thousand times more worthy of the honor and respect of his countrymen than is the man who sneaked from service of his country, and remains at home-a live healthy coward?

The only member of Company F now in Hospital is Robert Emmons, who was severely bruised a day or two since, by falling from a cherry tree. No bones were broken, however, and he is recovering. 

Here in the immediate vicinity of Company F remain in stata quo and no change of base is regarded as probable before the expiration of our term of our service.

The health of the company is good. With the exception of Emmons-who fell from a cherry tree but is now able to get around- there is no member of the company in hospital here. I have however, failed to notice that Caleb Miller was some time since sent to the hospital at Relay Barracks, he having been unwell ever since we left home.

It is my opinion that we are enjoying much better than average fare of soldiers in camp. Our duties are light, and at their leisure the boys have reconnoitered the surrounding country on private account, and been rewarded by the discovery of the abundance of cherries and mulberries-of which we are welcome to all we choose to pick. The consequence is that some of our company keep up a continual skirmishing with the cherry trees and up to the present time the advantage has invariably been in our favor that we have all the fruit we can eat-which, by the way, is no small amount. There is also any quantity of blackberries and huckleberries within easy range of our camp, which are already beginning to ripen; peach and apple trees in this locality are also loaded with fruit. There need, therefore, be no fear of suffering for want of the necessities of life.

Thursday evening last President Lincoln and party passed this place in a special train for Philadelphia-but the train did not stop. However, when he returned on Friday the train was detained for 15 or 20 minutes, when the President appeared on the platform of the car, bowed to the crowd, but didn’t “make a speech!”

President Abraham Lincoln 

On Sunday last a collision occurred on the Washington branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad about half a mile from our camp. The two locomotives were considerably injured, the front end of a passenger car broken in and a lieutenant seriously bruised; two freight cars filled with cavalry horses were completely wrecked and the platform of one being raised off its trucks, and sliding on the platform of the other, unceremoniously scattering the horses out of the other side, yet none of them were injured, with the exception of a few slight scratches.

On Thursday morning last, in company with Lieut. Tyler and Sergts. Averill and Bates I visited Washington, and very soon after our arrival we commenced on an exploration of the curiosities of the National Capital. Time and space forbid that I should attempt even the briefest description of what to us was interesting and seemed worthy of mention; yet I cannot forebear a brief general allusion to the most important objects of interest.

The Capitol building under construction during the Civil War. 

Of course, the first thing which attracts the attention of a stranger is the Capitol building-the extent and grandeur of which surpassed even the idea I had formed of it from many descriptions which have been so freely circulated by the newspapers. The Capitol of Ohio is a fine building and an honor to the state, yet it would appear like an unattractive pygmy if placed beside the Capitol of the Nation.

Among other public buildings which we visited were the Treasury Department, Post Office Department, President’s Mansion, Smithsonian Institute, and Patent Office.  The two latter are truly, in the fullest sense of the term, curiosity establishments. At the Smithsonian may be seen specimens of almost every known variety of beasts and birds-stuffed of course-looking much more natural and life-like than the sickly specimens to be seen in traveling menageries, also, specimens of fishes, rocks, minerals, & c. In fact, almost everything to be found in air, earth, or water. Our visit here was short and one glance at the various specimens a hasty one, yet we were convinced that the Smithsonian was one of the interesting features of Washington. In the same catalogue however may be enumerated the Patent Office, where may be seen models of all the machinery, implements, & c. for which patents have been issued; also many rare and curious articles manufactured in foreign countries, the original Declaration of Independence and Commission of Washington as Commander-in Chief are to be seen- both, however, are very much faded and the signatures are very indistinct. The printing press at which Benjamin Franklin worked when a journeyman printer in London is also to be found there.

Washington Navy Yard in 1862. 

Friday morning we visited the Navy Yard, and passed through a number of shops connected therewith, were we saw in process of construction articles for the navy many times too numerous to publish. Among many other things in the relic department were two small brass guns brought from Spain by Cortez and also used by him in the conquest of Mexico. There were also a large number of implements of war which had been captured in battle.

Our visit to the President’s Mansion was unattended by important results. We found a fellow with his feet in a chair, apparently enjoying a delightful snooze at one of the windows of the East Room- but it wasn’t “Old Abe”, we concluded it was a sleepy sentinel. Finding doors open and meeting with no opposition, we proceeded to usher ourselves through some of the apartments, but didn’t see “Father Abraham”- in fact he had fled- he couldn’t stand the descent of the “One Hundred Days’ Men” and had consequently gone to Philadelphia to attend the Sanitary Fair. In his absence, however, one of our crowd placed himself in a statesmanlike attitude and received the balance of the party with “distinguished consideration.” After this we withdrew, feeling confident that although we had not seen the President we had seen where he had been. And this reminds me of an interesting incident which once happened away out in Illinois, but as I was not there when it happened, I will not attempt to related it, but go for my rations.

Yours for victuals and A. Lincoln,

H.S.C.

Source:

Letter from Private Henry S. Chapin, Co. F, 144th Ohio Infantry, Perrysburg Journal (Ohio), June 30, 1864, pg. 2

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