YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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YALE UNIVERSITY
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MEMORIALS

WILLIAM FOWLER

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NEW YORK:
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY,
i875-

The compilation of these papers and the slight link
ing by which they are connected, have often swollen a
father's heart and flooded his eyes ; but there has been a
comfort in' the work that more than compensated for the
grief and the tears. Long shrunk from by an irresistible
instinct, there was a fascination in the prosecution of it
that allowed no pause until the end was reached. It is
meant as a private record for the eyes of family and
personal friends, and any peculiarity in it may be as
cribed to this intent. The prayer cannot be repressed,
that while pleasant and tender recollections are awaken
ed by the reading of it, happy influences and valuable
improvement may come from it.

MEMOR IALS.

William Fowler, son of the Rev. Philemon
Halsted Fowler, D.D., and Jennette Hopkins
Fowler, was born under his paternal grand
father's roof, in Albany, N. Y., September 26th,
1839, during the transition of his father's home
from Washington, D. C, to Elmira, N. Y. He
was named for his grandfather, whose forename
had passed down in the family for many genera
tions. The first who bore it in this country,
landed at Boston, June 4th, 1637, from the ship
" Hector," in the company of Rev. Peter Prud-
den, Gov. Eaton, and Mr. Davenport, and was
one of the original settlers of New Haven, and
also of Millford ; one of the " seven pillars" of the
church of the latter place ; one of the framers of
the Constitution of the New Haven Colony, and
one of the magistrates from the first, down to
1654.
CHILDHOOD IN ELMIRA.
William's childhood was spent in Elmira
where he was peculiarly fortunate in his earliest
(5)

6 MEMORIALS OF
education, being thrown among uncommonly
excellent associates, and placed under the in
struction of superior teachers, eminent among
whom it is a pleasure to mention the late Elijah N.
Barbour, while he was surrounded by exquisite
scenery which constantly acted on his sensitive
and appreciative nature, and developed that sense
of the beautiful for which he was afterwards so
much distinguished. His resemblance in charac
ter to his grandfather, made him almost his du
plicate, and all the traits of his manhood appeared
in his boyhood ; his diffidence when not thrust for
ward by overmastering conviction of duty, or no
longer tolerable provocation ; his modesty, which
kept him re.ticent about himself, and incapable of
a boast ; his quiet humor and quick perception of
the ludicrous ; his disinterestedness, which made
him too ready to subordinate himself to others,
and to spare and gratify them at his own ex
pense ; his power of endurance, which repressed
and concealed all utterance and sign of suffering ;
his respectfulness and dutifulness, and his tender,
prolific, ardent, but rather undemonstrative affec-
tionateness, when not surprised or impelled into
its expression ; his calmness, self-possession, and
courage ; his thorough honesty and honorable-

WILLIAM FOWLER. y
ness ; his quick-wittedness, and the instinctive-
ness almost, with which he acquired knowledge.
With a single amusing exception, occurring
while he was a toddling child, he was never
known to speak a disrespectful word to either of
his parents, and never was guilty of so much as
a harsh look toward his brother or sisters ; and
while there was a difference of three years be
tween himself and his brother, and they belonged
therefore to different sets of boys, and sought
different diversions, they never had the slightest
collision, though it was often necessary, of course,
for one to give place to another, and to forego
something for him. He held a high stand in his
classes without effort, and took in books at a
glance, and was fertile in scientific experiments
and other entertainments for himself and the
neighborhood, and ready with the pencil and
the brush. Though not fond of ordinary active
sports, he liked boyish expeditions, and was un
surpassed in bearing fatigue, and discomfort, and
pain, and whether at school or at play, he re
markably attached his mates to him without any
aim at it or thought of it.

8 MEMORIALS OF
BOYHOOD IN UTICA.
In the eleventh year of his age, William removed
with his father's family to Utica, N. Y., and there
entered upon and completed his academic course
preparatory for college. He was favored here,
as he had been in Elmira, with the best of teach
ers and companions, chief among the first being
Mr. Fitz Henry Weld, to whose training he often
acknowledged himself largely indebted. With a
passion for m usic, he received new inspiration from
that gifted organist and genial man, the late Prof.
Oliver Shaw, who loved him like a younger bro
ther, and materially assisted him in understanding
the science and practicing the art, and in becom
ing the critic he was. He had advantages also for
cultivating the eye, until few connoiseurs sur
passed him in his judgment of paintings and
engravings. LIFE A T YALE COLLEGE.
In the fifteenth year of his age William' entered
Yale College, and though attentive to subjects
outside of the curriculum, and a general reader
and busy with students' affairs, he attained to quite
high scholarship and graduated with an oration.

WILLIAM FOWLER. g
Complimentary notices of his various public
exercises were given in the papers, and he served
with credit as one of the editors of the Yale
Literary Magazine, and while a general favorite,
he made the impression on those about him that
had he been intent upon it, he could have reach
ed a foremost rank in his classes. His college
life was exceedingly happy, and the intimacies
he then formed were ever after inexpressibly
dear to him.
ADMISSION TO THE BAR.
Returning to the shelter of his grandfather's
roof, under which he was taken at birth, William
entered the Albany Law School and the law
office of Messrs. Reynolds & Harris, and com
pleting his preparations for it there, he was ad
mitted to the Bar, and formed a partnership in
New York with his friend and college class
mate, Daniel Cady Eaton, now of the Depart
ment of the Fine Arts in their Alma Mater.
«
ARMY LIFE IN LOUISIANA.
The alarm of war soon reached the young
lawyer, and closing his books and leaving his
table, he ,went forth to battle for the Union.

I0 MEMORIALS OF
Commissioned as lieutenant in the 173d New
York Regiment, he set sail to take part in Gene
ral Banks' Louisiana expedition, and moving
with it in its various marches, he passed through
the Teche country, and lay in the rifle-pits before
Port Hudson until its fall, and after suffering
from illness as the consequence, he was trans
ferred, in the Autumn of 1863, to the 146th New
York Regiment, and joined the Army of the
Potomac on the eve of the Mine Run movement,
and went through the battles of the Wilderness,
and was commissioned as Captain. Subsequently
brevetted Major, he served as Assistant Adjutant-
General on the staff of General Charles Griffin
ofthe Fifth Corps, until the surrender of General
Lee, with the exception of a very short interval,
when he was called to General Casey's staff at
Washington, and he marched with our victorious
army through Richmond to Washington.
He maintained a constant correspondence
with his relatives amid the distractions and
fatigues and absorbing activities of army life, a
large number of his letters having been written
on battle-fields. Some of these happen to have
been preserved, and though hurriedl}- penned or

' WILLIAM FO IVLER. t i
penciled, and often on scraps of paper and with
out a thought of their being seen outside of his
immediate home, they contain much that may
interest other friends, and extracts from them are
therefore appended. Much of trifling account is
quoted, for this will be appreciated by the small
circle for whose eye the memorial is designed.
It is very much regretted that several well re
membered letters have failed to appear. One of
these, and the most valued, perhaps, describes the
opening battle in the Wilderness, which proved
fatal to several of his young townsmen and
most-prized friends.
The regiment he first joined rendezvoused at
Riker's Island, and his parents can never erase
the painful impression from their visit to him
there. The situation was as uncomfortable and
disagreeable as it well could be made to one of
his tastes and habits. The weather was raw and
cutting, and he had scarcely an apology for pro
tection against it, while an almost wild rabble,
largely gathered from the slums of the city, sur
rounded him, and even among the officers he met
no congenial spirit. With this rough crowd,
after long delay, he was stowed, New Year's
day, 1863, in a miserable vessel, with utterly in-

I2 MEMORIALS OF
adequate accommodations, and shipped, first for
Fortress Monroe, and then for New Orleans.
There was tumult on board, of course, and the
men, exasperated by poor fare, plotted against
the officers. " We have two poor miserables,"
he writes, January 5th, "shackled to the mast
now, and ten more in a sort of chain-gang be
tween decks, and I imagine that we will have to
double their number before long."
He did not recoil, however, at this introduc
tion to military experience, and only for a mo
ment did his spirits even flag. " Last night I had
my first touch of home-sickness. It was rainy
and dreary, and something had gone a little
wrong, and I got into my bunk with symptoms
of the blues. The sun has driven them away,
and there is nothing left this morning but the
feeling that it would be pleasant to land in Utica
for a few moments." He pitied the recruits,
bad specimens of humanity as most of them
were, remarking, " One must see the hardships
of a common soldier to form any conception of
them. They cannot be told. People invest their
life with a sort of romance, which they suppose
makes it easy, but there is nothing of the kind in
it, and the man who holds out from other mo-

WILLIAM FO WLER.

13

tives than fear or gain deserves more credit than
he will ever get. The fighting, for which all the
honor is paid, is least deserving of it."
Military jealousies and prejudices broke out
almost simultaneously with the sailing of the
vessel, and revealed a class of scenes, too com
monly enacted among more prominent actors in
great wars, and which patriotism did not wholly
suppress in our conflict for the Union.
" I forgot to speak before of the misfortunes of
our Lieutenant-Colonel, who was in command ot
the detachment. During the passage to Fortress
Monroe, and while we were lying there, he treated
some of the officers rather rudely, and made him
self quite unpopular. One of the cavalry officers
was especially embittered against him ; and, tak
ing advantage of the desertion of a few of his
men and the leniency of the Lieutenant-Colonel
in not placing the officers of the day under arrest,
he persuaded General Dwight to arrest him and
send him to New Orleans on another vessel.
This was exceedingly unjust, and in a day or so
afterward the cavalry were transferred to a ship
by themselves, and some succeeded in deserting
from that. The officer in charge ought to bear

14 MEMORIALS OF
the punishment he had caused to be inflicted on
our Lieutenant-Colonel."

This was not the end of the Lieutenant-Colo
nel's misfortunes and of successful plotting against
him. Just after the regiment had received their
pay at Opelousas in April, 1863, and had sent
more than $30,000 to their homes, and just on
the eve of an engagement, for which it was in
the best of trim, he " received a despatch from
Washington dismissing him from the service.
He did not know the precise reasons for this.
He had faults, of course, and many enemies, but
only among those officers whom he had disci
plined. Through his constant and active exer
tions the regiment had improved wonderfully,
and would shortly have equalled any in the ser
vice. He knew his business well, and performed
it faithfully, never hesitating to punish either
officers or men, and working with an untiring
energy astonishing to us who were accustomed
to only carelessness and indolence in command
ing officers. He did this in the face of opposition
which would have discouraged almost any one
else. To me and many other officers his dismissal
was a terrible blow, and since then we have
had opportunity to see the extent of our loss."

WILLIAM FOWLER. jj
Justice, however, overtook and vanquished
wrong. The Lietenant-Colonel was restored, and
took a gallant part in the subsequent campaigns,
and acted as Brigadier- General, with Lieutenant
Fowler as chief of his staff.
It was inevitable that worthless officers should
be commissioned among the multitude who en
tered the volunteer army. " If I were contented
vvith my regiment, I should be happy. As it is,
I don't deny being home-sick. While Colonel
Peck was with us I was better satisfied every
day, for I knew that right would be done if pos
sible. Now I am discouraged, and would hail
the consolidation of the regiment, or anything
else that took me out of it. If you knew the
kind of associates I am thrown in with, the diffi
culty I find in doing what I think is right, and
¦ the want of harmony among our officers, you
would not wonder that I feel as if I were stand
ing more than even patriotism requires. There
is fine material in the regiment, and its con
duct under fire elicited the warmest commenda
tion from our generals. I am proud of it for
that, and the more unhappy on this account be
cause its internal condition is so bad. None of
the officers seem to have any ambition for the

1 6 MEMORIALS OF
regiment left, though, of course, very different rea
sons account for it with different persons. You
can easily imagine that, as the result, affairs are
conducted in a careless, grumbling way. This
must be kept secret for the present. I can only
wait, and hope for relief from my trying position."
" A great many of the line officers are unable to
write properly and spell correctly, and are illiter
ate in the highest degree, and it is very seldom
such men make good officers. There are excep
tions, and some among us, but very few. There
is another class composed of those who have some
intelligence, but who seem to have come here for
' a good time,' and their aim is turned wholly in
this direction, to the serious detriment of their
companies. My own captain is in the last class.
He is a good fellow socially, but if he wishes to
do anything or go anywhere, the company inter
ests are neglected and sacrificed. All duty falls
on the lieutenants, but as no discipline of moment
can be enforced without the Captain's sanction,
and he is not with the men much, and either does
not appreciate their faults or is too indolent to
correct them, we have been utterly unable to
bring them into the state we wished. Lieut. Dill
attends to his part like a man, even when unwell

WILLIAM FO WLER.

17

enough to be in the hospital, but both of us have
been nearly discouraged. Since the late trouble
the Captain has done somewhat better, and I hope
he will keep it up. There is, however, this diffi
culty : that in attempting to drill the company, he
gives such commands now and then as would
make Gen. Casey's hair stand on end, and he
can't be persuaded to study enough to learn first
principles." The work exacted of officers besides fighting,
is more onerous than civilians suppose, and faith
fulness in it demands principle and energy. " The
captain, though a first-rate fellow, is lazy, and
don't understand drill at all. In the absence of
Lieut. Dill I have done all that, and superintended
inspections and roll calls. It is horrible work
teaching these stupid men the manual of arms.
They can handle a spade or hod well enough, but
when it comes to a gun they are all lost, and make
ridiculously awkward movements. At squad drill
in the morning, I devote myself to the five or six
worst men I have — a trial of patience, indeed.
They can't understand anything, and persist in
handling their pieces as if they weighed five hun
dred pounds, instead of twelve, and look as if the
2

1 8 MEMORIALS OF
touch of one was destruction. But they are
slowly getting into shape, and I have hopes of the
most ungainly, and there is the further comfort
that all are under better command than ever
before. They have no chance to ' skedaddle,' and
we give them pretty fair punishment now and
then. I send a little sketch of one who was kept,
with loaded knapsack and equipments, standing
on a barrel, for a good long while, before our tent."
The conveniences and comforts of camp life in
war times do not compare well with those of
ornamental soldiery in times of peace, and the
marches are anything, but holiday performances.
" Our regiment, after having been knocked about
in an extraordinary manner, is encamped at last
in this little out-of-the-way place, (Indian Village,
La., Feb. 8th, 1863) in the heart of rebeldom, and
surrounded by rascally Secesh guerillas. Last
Tuesday we joined the other part of the batallion
at Baton Rouge, after a long and wearisome
sojourn on shipboard. We found the brigade to
which we are attached, in the intrenchments just
out ofthe city on the ground where the battle of
Baton Rouge was fought last Summer. Some
fifteen miles north of us, at Port Hudson, a large

WILLIAM FO WLER. T n
Confederate force was placed, and our pickets
often caught sight of stragglers from it, and took
flying shots at them. The intrenchments were
merely earthworks hastily thrown up, but situ
ated very advantageously. The negro brigade
was continually adding to them and improving
them. Before long they will be formidable. The
city was covered with marks of hard fighting.
Whole rows of houses were levelled by shot and
shell, others were burned down, and still more .
riddled with musketry. Shot and shell were still
lying all around in the fields and on our camp
grounds. The State capitol, a beautiful building,
had been set on fire shortly after our troops land
ed last December, and nothing but the burned
and smoked walls stood. The place was almost
deserted by the inhabitants, the stores all closed,
and the ravages of war were more evident than in
any place I have yet seen. Everybody ' spiled
for a fight,' and every sort of rumor floated
about, and the daily coming in of pickets
added to the stock. It looked very little
like ' playing soldier.' Our regiment did not
pitch their tents on account of the rain,
and it was fortunate, too, for the day after we
arrived our whole brigade was put under march-

20 MEMORIALS OF
ing orders, and on Friday we embarked for our
present location. At first we expected to go at
the rebel stronghold, Port Hudson, though it
hardly seemed possible that such men as our de
tachment contained — men who hardly knew a
musket from a pistol — should be sent immediate
ly into a fight. But Uncle Sam does a great
many queer things, and it was Only after we were
started down the river, instead of up, that my
mind was at ease. Early Saturday morning we
reached Placquemine, a small town on the op
posite side of the river from Baton Rouge, and
about eighteen miles below it. One or two
Union companies were stationed there, and in
formed us that their pickets had been driven in
several times, and that 2,000 rebel cavalry lay at
Indian Village. As we were destined there, the
information was not enlivening. However, 'go
we must, and we went.' It was a hot day ; the
men were just off ship and loaded like pack-
horses. I shall not soon forget that first march
of mine. It was only nine miles, but it seemed a
hundred. The soldiers fell out of the ranks by
scores, and when we reached the end only 150
were left of the whole regiment. The Captain
and I marched heroically in at the head of eight

WILLI A M FOWLER 2 1
men, the sum total remaining of fifty-four. Com
pany G came up with none save officers,
and other companies suffered correspondingly.
Happily we encountered no foes, and bivouacked
in peace. By nightfall the stragglers brought
up, and the brigade laid down to sleep as best it
could. The first comers of us reached the place
at 3 P. M., and we officers, notwithstanding weari
ness and aching feet, started forth at once on a
foraging expedition. We made a strike at a desert
ed sugar-refinery and its surroundings, which
furnished work for the whole afternoon. We
rushed in like a flock of sheep, and secured every
thing of military value. The Captain and I got
two nice chairs, a table, wash-basin, stone-jug, tin
measures, and a half-barrel of fine molasses, and
in consideration of some fine sweet potatoes, we
gave a gracious permission to some poor whites
living near by, who had kept aloof from the
sugar-house out of fear of the owner, to help
themselves ad libitim. Their eyes bunged out
with joy, and in they went. We confiscated a
donkey and cart and proceeded to load up.
Several others afterwards reached the spot and
grabbed right and left, and a flock of sheep and
some chickens hove in sight and the crowd

22 MEMORIALS OF
made for them. Soldier-straps flew around in
utter looseness. Here was a pair hanging to the
horns of a big ram, there was another pair
covering a couple of fowl. In fact, they raced
over the field like mad, though on getting back
to camp there was good evidence that there
had been method in the madness. The return
ing troop was headed by the donkey and
cart, laden with old furniture of every kind,
boards, sugar, molasses, sheep, and poultry.
As the donkey was unaccommodating, an officer
walked at his side to help the driver effect a for
ward movement. Behind a half-dozen captains
and lieutenants marched, shouldering chairs,
sweet potatoes, pots, pans, kettles, and other
articles of domestic utility, and in this form we
passed the guard and entered camp, and laid
down our plunder in readiness for tent-pitching.
That night I slept on the steamer Iberville, which
brought our stores up the bayou. If weariness
was ever embodied, it appeared in me. My
back was almost broken by the weight it had
borne on the march, my feet were blistered to
sores, and I was generally used up. Why so
short a march should be so trying I cannot con
ceive. I stood it better than most, but it gave

WILLIAM FO WLER.

23

me a good pull, and I am glad enough that it is
over. To-day we have been pitching tents, and
it was little like Sunday in consequence. We
had no shelter, and it was a work of necessity
and mercy. It is nearly nine weeks since I have
known a Sabbath. I would give a deal for a
seat in church, if it was only old Yale chapel.
I can't get used to having every day a week day.
Sunday is devoted to letter- writing. No drill to
tax one, and little to do, it is natural to sit down
and think of home, and one sees throughout the
camp officers and men scribbling away, and now
and then one a little overcome by his thoughts
and giving way to a regular school-girl fit —
' iome on the brain,' as it is styled here.
"Last night I slept in tent for the first time.
We have ours fixed up in gorgeous style. Three
la-ge doors, a contribution from some gentleman
ly Secesh, make the floor; an ancient bedstead,
from the same quarter, stands on it, and with
sugar-cane leaves spread upon it, and these cover
ed with an india-rubber blanket, we have a
mattress, the luxuriousness of which I tested
lastinight. All this, with two chairs, a table, and
our equipments, furnish the place handsomely and
comfortably. I ask for nothing better, and so

24

MEMORIALS OF

long as my health continues, as now, in the finest
condition, I have no fear of home-sickness. Our
darkies cook quite palatable meals, pretty greasy,
to be sure, and when we have cakes, exceedingly
heavy; but we lay in, and get fat upon them.
There is just excitement enough in it all the
while to give zest to our life. We lie down at
night with arms at hand, ready any instant for
the ' long roll,' and always uncertain as to when
the rebels will be upon us.
" It is funny how a brace of good servants
such as we have, can supply a tent with the con
veniences of home. When we came here we
had no table furniture, but now there are four
plates, knives, forks, and spoons in abundance.
Cups and bowls grace our board, and the sto;k
increases in a mysterious manner every day. I
cannot justly claim that our fare equals that of
the Maison D'Oree, but bacon, salt pork and beef
(technically termed ' salt horse ') have fatten:ng
qualities which rapidly fill out my 'attenuated
form. The principal thing I fear is waiting
some night afloat on the raging waters, or under
neath them, for the bayou has already risen above
the level of our camp-ground, and if the levee
gives way we are borne on a flood or sunk in it."

WILLIAM FO WLER.

25

" Near Brasher City, La., April 8, 1863.
" We are bivouacked on the Bayou Boeuf. The
men sleep under sheds, in the open air, and al
most anywhere if the ground is a little soft. Our
small tent is put up on an old road, where the
soil is clayey and trodden into dust as fine as flour,
and our appearance is therefore rather unoffjcer-
like. Worse than this, an old wood-pile stood
near by, and lying on the chips is the torture
of beds of iron spikes, on which heretics were
put. I have slept on almost every known sub
stance, but the torment of these chips, exceed
everything else.
" We reached Algiers on the 4th inst., and on
the evening of the 6th, received orders to be
ready to march by day-break next morning, offi
cers to turn their valises in for storage, and to
carry only a small bag or knapsack, and one pri
vate's tent for shelter; and privates to carry the
flies of officers' tents for shelter. We went to
work immediately, getting little sleep that night.
and in the morning took rail for this place
(Brasher City, April 8, 1863). I do not know
what the expedition intends, but the rumor is
that Gen. Weitzel, about five miles off, expects

26 MEMORIALS OF
an attack, and we go to reinforce nim. We are
ordered to be ready for an engagement at any
moment, and if cannon are heard, to hurry towards
them. " We reached here (Brasher City, April 9, 1863)
this A. M., and are cooking three days' rations, af
ter which we will advance again. The enemy
is reported quite near us."

"Simsport, La., May 21, 1863.
" All our division has crossed the Achafalaya at
this place, except our regiment, which acts as
rear guard for the entire force. The heat is very
oppressive, and marching tells severely on the
men. Numbers are sick. We are bivouacking
now on the bank of the bayou, our old field, and
the ground is poorly adapted to sleeping pur
poses. It is broken into countless hard lumps,
lying on which is like a bed of cobblestones, and
as no boards are procurable, we bruise our un
happy bodies black and blue. Fortunately, expe
rience has toughened us to rough couches, and
we suffer much less than would be imagined. In
deed, a mattress has lost its charms, and my high
est aspiration is a good, soft board. I have rested

WILLIAM FOWLER. 27
sweetly on four rails taken from a fence, with a
haversack filled with ' hard tack ' for a pillow.
I never expect to be troubled more on the scare
of beds. I have learned, moreover, to appreciate
housekeeping difficulties, and the embarrassment
of getting a meal when there is nothing to eat.
I understand ' the plague of life,' too. Our con
traband from Mr. James McFarland's plantation-
did well at first, but proves lazy beyond descrip
tion, and harbors a voracious appetite. No amount
of supplies can last beyond two days, as the dar
key is always eating when he is not sleeping.
Lieutenant Dill and I mess alone now, the Cap
tain having joined another mess. Indeed, he has
deserted the company, never sleeping in it, and
seldom coming near it. He looks out for his
own comforts, and lets everything disagreeable
come upon us, and if either of us happens to be
sick, he keeps aloof from helping the other.
" I have given you the bright side of soldier-
life," writing to his brother. " The innumerable
little anxieties and cares, added to the hardships
ever and anon, make up the dark side. Personal
experience alone permits an idea of the facts.
This, I hope, you may be spared. Taking every
thing into consideration, we are worse off almost

28 MEMORIALS OF
than dogs. If you are wise, keep out of the
army. One from a family is enough. I do not
regret my own step, but do you hold back until
there is more need of you than now appears.
"Things are managed better in our brigade
than usual. It consists of the 2d and 4th Metro
politan regiments, the 4th Wisconsin, and the 8th
New Hampshire, and one battery of six twelve-
pounders, the whole under the command of
Colonel Payne, of the 4th Wisconsin. He is a
splendid man and soldier, and keeps affairs all
straight. I feel safe with him, and wish that
other brigades of the division were as well com
manded." A genuine officer is as sensitive to the honai
ofthe body to which he belongs, as to his own.
"March 13.
" Yesterday General Banks reviewed two di
visions of his army. Our brigade was included,
and of course our regiment. The troops appear
ed in full marching order, just as they would if
moving upon the enemy. It was a grand sight
even to me, with my poor opportunity for a
view. The race-course, two miles from our

WILLIAM FO WLER.

29

camping-ground, was the scene of action. Our
brigade of four regiments marched out with fixed
bayonets, in cadenced step and in column by
platoon. As we reached a hill, I could see the
immense black host stretching out, the long lines
of flashing guns, and the steady swing and tramp
ofthe men, dressed and equipped as they were,
in marching forth for battle the next day, and I
cannot expect to behold a more magnificent
spectacle. It was the pomp and circumstance of
war in its reality. I defy anyone to look upon it
without feeling his heart beat quicker. When
we reached the review-ground, the three brigades
forming our division were drawn up in three
lines of battle, ours being the interior, and the ar
tillery and cavalry the rear. The ranks were
opened, the officers moving to the front of their
companies. I then got a sly glance now and
then down the line, which lengthened out until
it ran, as it were, into the ground. We stood
with arms at the shoulder, presumed not to move
a muscle, while General Banks and staff rode
slowly along each brigade front. My sword
grew very heavy, and my shoulders ached. How
the men stood it with their heavy rifles, and
knapsacks, overcoats, and blankets strapped to

30 MEMORIALS OF
their backs, I cannot comprehend. Fifteen min
utes more would have finished me, lightly weight
ed as I was. Our regiment looked finely, and at
tracted the attention of the General and his staff
in a marked degree, soothing my wounded spirits
a little. The ranks were then closed, the lines
wheeled into column of companies, and we march
ed by in review, 10,000 moving on one open field.
" During yesterday and to-day the entire army
of sixty odd thousand men has gone forward,
leaving a few troops behind, our regiment, I
regret to say, among them. Gen. Weitzel is
reported opposite Port Hudson, on the other side
of the river. Our expedition to Indian Village
was expected to find him there by another route,
which was found impracticable, however. The
gunboats have gone up the river, and the ball has
opened by a little cavalry skirmish this morning,
which drove the rebel pickets in, with a few
captured and killed. It is galling to sit quietly
here while such work is in progress. I could
hardly keep from crying to-day when the rest of
the brigade filed by, singing and cheering, and I
wanted to wring the necks of our whole regiment.
" I told father that our regiment was to remain
behind while the rest ofthe brigade went against

WILLI A M FO WLER. , j
Port Hudson, the reason being that the men
refused to leave Plaquemine until paid off, and the
Lieut.-Col. promised them, on condition of their
moving then, that they should not be called upon
to break camp again until money matters were all
settled. We arrived here on the eve ofthe great
advance. Our Lieut.-Col. reported his course to
headquarters, and it was approved, and the regi
ment ordered to stay behind. I need hardly say
that 1 do not wish to speak of circumstances that
make this, at least, apparently a lasting disgrace
to the regiment. You can see that no excuse will
clear us of the dishonor upon us, in general esti
mation, And I need not describe the agony of
mind to which it has put me ; but I would like to
state some facts that will be palliative at least.
When the regiment first started the various boun
ties to which enlisting men were entitled amount
ed to $237, and this was published in the recruiting
handbills. Several of these bounties were stopped
while the regiment was in process of organizing,
but no change was made in the handbills, and
many were thus brought in, counting on the orig
inal sum, when they could obtain scarcely a
quarter of it. This produced trouble on Riker's
Island, and has continued a cause of complaint

32

MEMORIALS OF

ever since. Then the Police Commissioners, who
raised the regiment, promised a certain relief to
the families of all volunteers in the Metropolitan
brigade. This promise has not been fulfilled, and
there is another and good reason for dissatisfac
tion with the men. And still further, we have
never received a farthing of pay, though it has
been often pledged. Now, imagine the feelings of
soldiers, many of whom left good situations, hear
ing from home that their wives were in the alms
house and their children begging. Who but
would have their patriotism and patience severe
ly tested thus ; and as a good proportion of the
men enlisted more for money than from a sense
of duty, the trial has been too much for them."

"Opelousas, La., April 2$, 1863.
" That night I slept on a couple of boards
(across Berwick bay) in an open field, and rested
refreshingly, noth withstanding the heavy dew
which falls in this region. The next day, April
11, orders came to move, and I stored my blank
et and dress coat, carrying only my overcoat
and India rubber coat (since lost), and India
rubber blanket. We started at noon, Weitzel's

WLLLIAM FOWLER. 33
brigade holding the advance, and we following
next. General Grover's division took the other
side of the bayou to fall on the flanks and rear of
the enemy. We had hardly gone a mile when
cannon were heard shelling the woods ahead. On
we pushed, leaving the road just before reaching
the village of Patterson, and marching through
fields of high uncut sugar-cane, over ditches and
ploughed land, and in a sweltering atmosphere,
thick with dust. It was severe beyond fancy.
Every few minutes the sound of cannon saluted
us. It was impossible to keep the order in col
umn unbroken, and to form a line of battle must
have been very difficult, so that there was great
anxiety of mind besides weariness of body. We
reached a place of encampment in a ploughed
field, however, without getting into action ; and
worn out, I laid down under my overcoat in
the dust and dirt, and tried to sleep, but the cold
and dew made the night most uncomfortable.
Early on the morning of the 12th, we formed
line of battle, and advanced about half a mile
over the kind of ground we had when we cross
ed in column yesterday. It is one ofthe hardest
tasks for a regiment to work itself on in this way
on a level parade-ground, and it was next to im-
3

34 MEMORIALS OF
possible over those furrows and through those
cane fields. But we were moving within reach of
the enemy's guns, and that is the safest course in
such a case. We laid quiet there for several
hours. The skirmishers were busy before us,
and occasionally the cannon boomed, though none
of the balls struck near us. At 5 P.M., we ad
vanced again in line of battle, and some shot and
shell hissed over our heads, a cloud of dust and
dirt rising now and then where a missile fell.
There was no faltering, however, the regiment
going steadily forward, dressed as coolly as at
parade, and finally it laid down just out of musket
shot. The cannonading grew hotter, the whizzing
of round shot and the hiss of bursting shell be
coming unpleasantly close and frequent. Weit
zel's brigade, just before us, elicited a little mus
ketry, but evening was at hand, and the brunt
was put off until the next day, and shortly after
6 o'clock, we faced about, retired a short dis
tance, and bivouacked. A mail arrived that
night, but we were in range of the rebels shell,
and no lights were allowed, so that its distribu
tion waited until the morrow. We were called
up once and formed line, because of some sharp
picket firing. It amounted to nothing, however,

WILLIAM FO WLER. 3 5
and I laid down again for such sleep as the cold
and dew allowed. Early on the morning of the
13th, we were aroused and brought into line.
Two heavy Parrott guns were stationed on each
flank of our brigade, and a battery of brass pieces
at our front. The latter our regiment was or
dered to support, a duty always reckoned very
honorable. Here we received our letters, doubly
acceptable then. I had not finished mine, when
the Parrotts opened, and the troops were com
manded to lie down. The two at our left direct
ed fire chiefly at the rebel gunboat ' Diana,'
whose smoke-stack and flag were plainly visible
as she sailed towards an opening in the trees
which lined the bayou, and threw her huge shells
humming through the air towards us. The firing
was not brisk at first, and we could stand up and
watch the effect of our own guns, see the return
flash from the steamer, hear the horrible screech
of the shell coming towards us, and lie down in
time to protect ourselves. At 10 o'clock, a rebel
battery, some distance outside the intrenchments,
was silenced. Up to that time the cannonading
had been steadily increasing in rapidity, but then
it ceased entirely.
" I send a little diagram of the battle-field and

36 MEMORIALS OF
rebel intrenchments. That may give you a bet
ter idea of the position. The open ground was
an old cane-field whose furrows ran parallel with
the rebel works, and ditches for draining crossed
it at frequent intervals in the same direction. The
nature of the ground was advantageous to our
troops, preserving many lives that must have
been otherwise destroyed.
" Soon after the lull in the firing, the battery in
front of us limbered up and advanced, we follow
ing it, and marching right over one regiment
lying in a ditch on our way. We were
halted and ordered to lie down in another
ditch, marked 2 in the diagram. The firing re
commenced in our advance, and became more
lively than before. Weitzel was still in front of
us, receiving musketry and artillery. After
lying awhile, orders came to cross the river, but
these were countermanded. In the meanwhile
Weitzel changed front, facing the works near the
woods, which ran at right angles to the main
works, and at 2 p. M. we were commanded to
rise and go forward. A fearful artillery dis
charge fell upon us, bursting shell blinding and
stunning us, and dropping their fragments all
about us. The regiment behaved admirably,

WILLIAM FOWLER. 37
never breaking for an * instant, and marching
steadily over the uneven ground. Two regi
ments of the brigade, both older than ours, falter
ed and broke slightly, but were rallied again.
We went on until we came within supporting
distance of our batteries in the extreme front,
and then laid down, the men in the ditch, and the
file closers and officers in furrows behind it.
There we remained four hours under an inde
scribably fearful fire of grape, round-shot, shell,
and musketry. It seemed impossible for any to
escape, and yet our loss was only two killed and
five wounded. It is strange that none were
touched while on foot and in the advance, though
the fire was hottest then and our exposure so
much the greater. My experience sustains the
common remark that lying quiet under fire is the
hardest of military feats. The air was filled with
screeching, humming, whizzing, buzzing, and
whistling shell, grape, round-shot, and rifle-bul
lets, and with the deep reports of cannon, and
the sharp reports of bursting shells. We were
obliged to keep motionless and still amid this
startling and tremendous storm, the dust and dirt
occasionally covering us as a shot fell near by,
and some missile every now and then startling us

38 MEMORIALS OF
by ploughing within a few inches of us. Our
calmness seems incredible as I look back upon it.
Our batteries partially silenced some of the
rebel guns, when General Paine rode up and
said : ' Now comes the tug, boys. I know the
173d can do its duty, and I believe it will.
We're going to take that battery !' Then follow
ed the order to the whole brigade : ' Attention,
battalion — second battalion, battalion of direc
tion. Forward march!' Scarcely a man hesi
tated. The brigade was up in a moment, and
away we went. A terrible volley of musketry
poured from the whole rebel line, the bullets
singing about our ears like a swarm of bees, and
a battery, unseen or unused before, was put in
position to rake our entire line, and had we gone
on, it must have mowed us down by the hundreds.
General Paine saw this, and ordered us back,
and we resumed our uneasy and perilous prone-
ness in the ditch and furrows, and retained it
until near dark. Just before six o'clock, unusual
ly sharp musketry opened on our left, in the
direction of General Weitzel. The 173d was
ordered up to help there if needed. We march
ed a short distance, and then formed line at right
angles to the position we just left, and received

WILLIAM FOWLER. 35
the worst musketry fire given us, and were kept
under it for some time, owing to the difficulty of
dressing our line, because the right and left wing
belonged to different commands. Here we con
tinued until retiring to bivouac, the fire gradual
ly decreasing and finally ceasing. That night
the rebels evacuated their works, and we occu
pied them, and took our breakfast there in high
spirits, and so ended my first battle. -
" We had hardly finished our breakfast on the
14th when the column was put in motion to pur
sue the retreating rebels. General Grover had
been moving his division up the Achafalaya
bayou all this time, and crossed over to the
Teche, meeting the enemy near the city of
Franklin, and giving them a good drubbing in
addition to the one before inflicted upon them.
From that time until the 21st, when we reached
this place (Opelousas), we followed them up by
forced marches, continually skirmishing in front,
and taking a multitude of prisoners, and routing
their army. We suffered all the hardships of
soldier-life, and they surpassed my worst appre
hensions. The whole period was a season of
concentrated agony. I stood the trial well, not
withstanding your fears before I took my com-

40 MEMORIALS OF
mission. Not an officer kept up better, and only
two or three as well. My health was never finer,
and the exposure and fatigue have benefited
rather than harmed me."

BEFORE PORT HUDSON, FROM ITS INVESTMENT
TO ITS FALL.
June 5, 1863.
" You have heard of our army operations here.
I will give you a brief account of the movements
of my own regiment. We left Simsport the 24th
of May, taking a transport and passing through
the Achafalaya and the Mississippi to Bayou
Sara. We reached there at dark, ¦ and imme
diately marched for Port Hudson, bivouacking
at midnight some eight miles from the place.
We started again in the morning, and joined our
brigade about noon. We had hardly finished din
ner, when the order was given to fall in and move
against the rifle-pits which composed the enemy's
outer defence. We moved some distance over a
dreadful road, and then formed line of battle on
the edge of a thick wood. The skirmishers were
soon engaged, and a heavy musketry discharge
commenced. We advanced slowly as the rebels
fell back, lying down at every halt. This contin-

WILLIAM FO WLER.

41

ued until 5 P.M., the regiment not having been
exposed to anything but stray shot, though the
wounded from the line before us were brought
back in numbers. At 5, our right wing, including
my company, was ordered to the support of the
skirmishers on the right, and away we went
through the under-brush, and over felled trees,
and across ravines, which looked impassable, with
none to oppose. We reached our position on
the brow of one of these ravines, and lay there
until night darkened, and the firing ceased. We
then rejoined our regiment, on the left of the
174th New York. The men stacked arms and
laid down, but were hardly settled when a tre
mendous volley of musketry began. It was ter
ribly startling, and a general scampering com
menced. My first impulse was to run, but I
checked myself instantly, rallied the men around
me, while the officers behind drove theirs up.
Soldiers at the right and left fired at random,
some at us, some into the air, and a few front. I
could not help sptiiling, even in that critical mo
ment, at the utter disregard of aim by most, and
at the ludicrous figures of others. This lasted a
few moments, when it was discovered that the
53d Massachusetts was picketing before us, and a

42 MEMORIALS OF
shot or two from them drew our fire. It was a
serious mishap, and would have been vastly
worse, had not our men shot over the heads of
our friends. Two of our regiment were wound
ed, one from my own company. The night passed
quietly afterwards, and I slept soundly on the
bare ground until day-break, with nothing under
me or over me. The Captain was taken with a
severe chill, and woke me up, and he was so
prostrated as to be taken to the rear. We re
mained in our position until 2 P.M. Nothing
occurred the next day (May 26) but an occasion
al rifle shot, and now and then a cannon. At 2
P.M. we were sent to relieve the 8th New Hamp
shire, on picket. The line ran on the brink of a
deep ravine, through which a little bayou flowed.
We could see a rebel on the other side now and
then, but our orders were not to fire unless
fired at. We got back to our position about
6 A.M., and were ordered immediately to ad
vance by the 'right of companies,' and we did
so under a fire of grape, canister, shell, and mus
ketry, which beggars description. And besides,
the fallen trees and under-brush precluded the
keeping up of our formation. Wounded men,
covered with blood, were running back all the

WILLIAM FO WLER. 43
time, and there lay the bodies of their fellows
killed outright. We moved on, however, down
a little gully, and up the other side, where we
halted and stood in the face of a merciless fire.
Lieutenant Dill was wounded here, and I took
command of the company. Hardly had I done
so, when a ball plumped through my men,
wounding two, and tearing the clothes of oth
ers. An instant after, down went the color ser
geant and one of the color corporals. We were
then ordered to lie down, while two regiments
passed ahead, we being reserved to support a
battery. Taking position by the battery, we
again laid down, a storm of shot and shell beat
ing upon us. But a single man was killed, and
another wounded. The firing slackened on our
front, but heightened on our right, and we were
moved in that direction to support the ist Louisi
ana. They did not need us, however, and we
took a position in a ravine behind them, where
we stayed until Tuesday, June 2d.
"The fighting was over for that day. We had
driven the enemy over ground than which noth
ing could be better for defence, and stand now
close upon his main works, completely surround
ing the fort, and intending, I suppose, to besiege

44 MEMORIALS OF
it. Batteries are planted along the entire front,
and more guns are being constantly brought
up. Our rifle-pits hug the works, and it is
pretty sure death for a rebel to show his head.
We have dismounted all guns visible at our
front, and our sharpshooters command them so
that they cannot be set up. On Tuesday, June
2d, we rejoined our brigade, and were immedi
ately placed in the rifle-pits very near the enemy,
our left resting on the road which enters their
fortifications. It is a safe post, for we can dodge
most of the bullets, and the shell burst beyond
us. I came to the rear on Wednesday, having
been in the immediate front ten days, sleeping
right on the ground, with no blanket whatever,
the entire care of the company falling on me,
and ceaselessly annoyed by the rattle of rifles
and the roar of cannon. I was unwell at the open
ing of the battle, and was thoroughly exhausted
when the Captain came up and gave me a chance
to get back and rest here. I am better now,
and return to my company to-day.
" With respect to the management of the fight,
I can only say that it was outrageous, and our
officers declare that they will never go into an
other under  . A battle is bad

WILLLAM FOWLER.

45

enough, but to be in it without confidence in
one's commander, is awful. The men behaved
nobly, and happily got through with compara
tively trifling loss, the killed and wounded not
exceeding thirty. The bane of our regiment is
liquor. If that could be banished from officers
and soldiers, it would be a priceless blessing.
The army is called a drinking-school, but it is
quite the reverse with me, for I never saw the
evil effects of liquor so revoltingly displayed
before." " June 7.
" I came again to the front yesterday, and am
greatly revived by my short rest. The life we
lead in these woods, however, tells on us all, and
many a poor fellow is carried off every day on a
stretcher. We have no covering whatever, the
water is very poor, the effluvia from half-buried
horses and offal is sickening, and we have no
chance for exercise. I believe I am getting a
little rheumatic from the dampness, but a short
march will cure that. We are expecting daily
to have our batteries and mortars open on the
fort, and if we get anything like what we shall
give, dodging shells will drive stiffness from our
limbs."

46

MEMORIALS OF

"June 17.
" We made a second, and, unhappily, an un
successful assault on the works here Sunday,
and I write these hurried lines to let you know
that I have again escaped unhurt. Our regi
ment alone attacked the portion of the fort op
posite where we were picketing. We reached
the earthworks after losing severely, and lay in
the surrounding ditch all day. Our Major is
wounded, probab(ly mortally. Three officers
were killed, and three badly wounded. The
regiment lost between sixty and seventy — a
quarter of all who went into battle. Our whole
brigade is sorely cut up. General Paine was
wounded, an event that probably lost the day
for us. I certainly have great reason for thank
fulness at passing unscathed through the three
hard battles of this campaign, the constant skir
mishing, and the fearful and habitual exposure to
death. My health is capital, though the intense
heat tells on me somewhat."

" Before Port Hudson, June 27, 1863.
" You have probably heard of our second, and,
unfortunately, unsuccessful assault. I will speak

WILLIAM FO WLER. 4 7
of my own regiment alone. We were on picket
at the time in a ravine, which faced a portion of
the enemy's works that juts out considerably be
yond the main line. Our distance from this point
is not over a hundred yards. The main assault
was made a long distance to the left of us. We,
totally unsupported, and numbering only about
250 men, were led against the part immediately
opposite to us. Our left rested on a road which
runs directly to the breastwork, and before us
was a ravine filled with felled trees and brush,
on the opposite side of which the fortifications
stood. Our orders were to move when the firing
became heavy on the left. Instead of this, we
were called forward when only the skirmishers
on the left were engaged. We set out by com
panies, some on the road, where the loss was
heaviest, and some across the ravine, my com
pany among the last. We reached the works,
and ensconced ourselves in the ditch before
them. Our Major was severely wounded at the
outset. Two of the line officers were instantly
killed, and two badly injured. Our loss is be
tween sixty and seventy killed and wounded —
nearly all in the advance. In the ditch the ene
my could not harm us, for if one of them showed

48 MEMORIALS OF
his head he was sure to be shot. Some time
after we reached this spot the charge was made
on the left. General Paine led it, and was se
verely wounded. All then was confusion, and,
after terrible loss, the attempt was abandoned.
The engagement reduces our brigade to about
800 — scarcely a minimum regiment, and it is
commanded by a Major. We have taken the
front, so far, in every engagement, and been the
fighting brigade of the division. The men would
follow General Paine anywhere, almost reverenc
ing him, and they deeply feel his loss.
" To return to our regiment. We remained in
the ditch, sweltering in the heat and anxiously
watching the top of the works. We could get
no orders, and about noon Captain Rogers, who
commanded, took three companies back into the
rifle-pits to cover us who remained. The bullets
then whistled over our heads, and one fatally
struck a man in my company. Our batteries
opened fire also, and threw shot and shell just
over us into the embankment immediately in
front, throwing dust and dirt in quantities upon
us. " Major Galway died from the effects of the
wound received at the charge of June 14th. He

WILLIAM FO WLER. ,g
begged pardon of the regiment for having led
them into unnecessary danger. It was always
his ambition to have us first at the works, and
he took us forward before the appointed time."

"July 7.
" To-day is the forty-fifth that we have been be
fore Port Hudson, and it has not fallen yet. We
have assaulted the place twice, and both assaults
were fierce and bloody. Our second brigade,
as usual, held the advance on those two occa
sions, and suffered severely. We all feel proud
of it, and if any brigade in the department de
serves honor it is this. Unhappily, we have lost
General Paine, for the present at least, and I am
afraid for ever. He could take the brigade any
where, and it could whip double its number
when he led it. We would undoubtedly have
been in the fort now if he had not been disabled
during the last attack. My regiment is in the
rifle-pits, less than a hundred yards from the
enemy's works. A deep ravine runs parallel
with these, and its sides are indented with nu
merous gulleys, running from the top to the bot
tom. We place our men in the gullies. At the
4

g0 MEMORIALS OF
top they dig out little places, throw up breast
works of logs, with portholes, and there the men
on post stand. Caves are cut out in the sides,
and sleeping apartments of every description,
and here the men take what comfort they can.
You would be surprised at the amount of work
performed in making these pits, and amused at
the curious lodgings. It is seldom that any one
is hit, and a wound is generally the punishment
of carelessness. Neither the rebs nor we show
ourselves, but both fire at the smoke of the
others' guns. The minies whistle over our
heads, but we do not mind them, as we know the
exposed spots. The greater danger is from our
own batteries, which fire over our heads. A de
fective shell occasionally bursts prematurely
among us. Two or three have been killed in
this way, and all the officers of Co. H barely
saved their lives a day or two ago. We were
sitting at ease in our house when we heard the
deafening explosion of a big Parrott, and the
next instant dirt and splinters showered upon
us. The shell fell only four feet from us, shatter
ing a fallen tree on the bank to atoms, and then
glancing from another tree, entered the rebel
works. A couple of holes were made in our tent,

WILLIAM FO WLER. ' r x
but no person was touched. The gunner rushed
to us, frightened out of his wits, presuming that
we were all slain. We earnestly begged and
solemnly adjured him to fire no more such shot,
and he departed a happier man, with sharper
eyes for ' rotten ' shells.
" One ofthe hardest things to stand, by the way,
is the thundering of our batteries. The concus
sion almost shakes our heads off."

"July 9.
"Port Hudson surrendered yesterday. You can
hardly imagine the delight of us poor fellows
who have been struggling and fighting here so
long. I am afraid that I shall see but little of the
interior of the works, for, unhappily, I am on the
sick list, having caught the fever shortly after the
last assault. Our regiment, for some unknown
reason, was kept in the rifle-pits without relief.
We staid there uninterruptedly for the last
twenty days, and I unwisely remained when I
ought to have came into the hospital. The conse
quence is that I have been quite prostrated.
The disease is broken, but I am very weak. It is
particularly unlucky for me just now, for, to our

j2 ¦ MEMORLALS OF
, great joy, Colonel Peck rejoined us a few days
ago, not only reinstated, but advanced, as he
richly deserved to be, to the colonelcy of the reg
iment. He brought with him promotion to the
vacancies which existed when he left, and im
mediately on his return made promotion to the
vacancies which have since occurred. I get a
lift to a first lieutenancy, and as the names have
already been forwarded, hope for my commis
sion before long. The Colonel took command of
the brigade, and detailed me as aide, a peculiarly
gratifying position. I got up from bed and tried
to report for duty, but had to go back to the
doctor's quarters, sick when most I wished to be
well. The Colonel will keep the place for me as
long as he can, though he may retain command
of the brigade only a little while. Changes will
be made as soon as we are settled. The Colonel's
arrival diminishes the prospect of consolidation,
for he will collect our stragglers, and put new
vim into .the regiment. He seldom attempts any
thing without accomplishing it, and it will be
strange if he fails to keep up the organization, if
he makes up his mind to it. Affairs will be much
pleasanter now. We shall be sure of just treat
ment, of good discipline, and of a trustworthy

WILLIAM FOWLER. 53
leader. Unless I gain strength, I must leave here
for some hospital where food and rest may be
had. But I get stronger, I think, and there may
be no need of it.
" I am sorry to hear of Bayard's sickness (E.
B. Webster, his cousin), but envy him his fur
lough. His regiment suffered heavily in the
first assault here, but was not engaged in the
second. The nine months men have been a
bane to the department. Two regiments refused
to do duty a short time since, in the face of the
enemy, and that too when we were expecting to
make a third assault. They are deeply dis
graced, and I do not envy them their reception
at home.
" We expect some respite soon, and have cer
tainly earned it, and I trust that we may be put
near enough civilization to reach some of the
comforts of life.
" I shall probably send home soon for some
clothing. At present I wear a private's full uni
form, and have nothing better in my wardrobe.
This does well in the field, but would hardly be
becoming on parade.
" Tell Aunt Sarah that I can never do enough
to repay her kindness. I did not receive her last

54

MEMORIALS OF

present, but am as much obliged and as grateful
as if it had come to hand."

"Baton Rouge, July 15, 1863.
" I remained so weak, that after the surrender,
the surgeon sent me here to recruit. The fever
is cured, but a short walk tires me, and if the
regiment marches, as is now presumed, I must
lag behind, and overtake it after it is settled."
" Near Port Hudson, July 23.
" I am deluging the family with letters ; not
so much to communicate anything of interest,
but to send a series of Port Hudson views."
Then follows a description or key of each,
marking and describing his own position in
them. " You will see, from the heading of this, that I
am back with my regiment. We are encamped
a mile and a half outside the fortifications, and
are picketing about the same distance further off.
I was greatly benefited by a week in hospitalat
Baton Rouge, and though still feeble, am in
capital condition otherwise. The climate, of
course, is very debilitating.

WLLLIAM FOWLER. 55
" Quite a battle was fought at Donaldsonville,
in which we were worsted. The rebels seem to
have retreated since, though I am afraid that we
shall have trouble in that direction yet.
" We expect to remain here for some time, and
have sent for tents and baggage. Our living is
not luxurious, and when we patronize the sutlers
and indulge in the fancies, it makes havoc with
our pay." " July 24.
" I congratulate you," writing to his brother
at New Haven, " on taking a Townsend and do
ing so well at the Deforest. I would have given
almost anything to be present.
" We expect to lie here for some time, and have
sent for tents, etc. May no rebels dash in upon us
and steal them away. We have a pleasant camp
ing ground, with nothing to complain of but the
water. A darkey woman plays cook, with no
fault to be found with her save that she lets our
stores supply her family. We live under the
flies of our old wall tent, airy enough and penetra
ble by every shower. I am so wonted, however,
to open-air slumber, that a close tent stifles me.
I used to lie awake in the doctor's tent at Baton

eg MEMORIALS OF
Rouge, but here I sleep soundly in spite of rain,
flies, mosquitoes, and fleas, all of which swarm to
an extent none but experience can estimate."

"July 31.
" Our camping ground is the identical spot
where our regiment formed its first line of
battle for the reduction of Port Hudson, and
right here the first skirmishing in our front com
menced. We have received the articles stored
at Algiers when we set out on our campaign.
My eyes are greeted with the sight of my green
blanket and of my valise, the contents of the last
having been untouched. I fished out the photo
graphs first, and had a good look at you all at
home. The tents have also come, but for some
unknown reason they are not pitched, and no
camping ground is marked out. The men put a
couple of rubber blankets together, and form a*
semi-shelter. The officers use the 'flies' of our
old wall tents. Imagine two forked poles stuck
in the ground, and a third laid across them, and
a big, thick sheet stretched over this, and you
have an idea of our dwelling. The rain drives in
at both ends, and drizzles through the top, caus-

WILLIAM FOWLER. 57
ing no little trouble to keep dry. Our beds are
formed by driving down four forked stakes at the
corners of a parallelogram, putting two poles on
the stakes along' the longer sides of the parallelo
gram, and laying barrel staves across these for a
mattress. We sleep soundly on our rustic
couches. They are somewhat hard, to be sure,
but we are used to that, and it is a comfort to be
raised above the ground. But I long for my tent,
for the sake of privacy. One likes to get now
and then out ofthe view of everybody else, and I
shall enjoy this after having been denied it so
long. Old cracker boxes are the common tables
and chairs, though some of us have moved in
stands from a neighboring house. Our meals
have been greatly improved. A colored woman
cooks soldier rations very palatably for our
mess. Chickens and vegetables are foraged now
and then beyond our lines, and they make a
feast, and though it depletes our purses, we do
not grudge it when we occasionally patronize the
sutler, and the extravagance is justified to our con
sciences by our horrible fare for months past. Our
greatest want is vegetables. These we can seldom
seize, nor buy for love or money. I would give
anything for potatoes. The desiccated stuff which

58 MEMORIALS OF
the commissaries sometimes have is not edible.
We have had one or two squashes, but with this
exception, I have not tasted a vegetable since
last April.
" Just before Port Hudson surrendered, mat
ters were threatening below us. New Orleans
and Baton Rouge were both in ferment, and a
few days might have brought our operations
here to quite a different terminus. I wish it
looked more promising at the North. We were
all elated by the prospect a few days ago, but the
escape of Lee and the New York riots gave a de
pressing aspect to affairs. The latter do not
trouble me so much. Were they the expression
of systematic hostility to the draft, and of decent
ly supported anti-war sentiment, they would be
overwhelming, but the end, I take it, will be the
thinning of the ranks of drunkards and prize
fighters. " Yesterday I had my first turn at picket on
this ground. Our part of the line extends about
two miles on the road by which we entered the
woods first. Twenty-one men cover the entire
field, and the outpost and picket officers can
hardly shun capture in case of an inroad. The
quartei-s of the officers of the picket are at the

WILLI A M FO WLER. 5 g
house of a Mrs. Husten, which has been deserted
by its occupants, and robbed by the negroes and
soldiers. Our regiment has largely benefited
from the place. I have been amusing myself by
looking over a mass of old letters and papers
which were lying around, and collected quite an
amount of information about the family. Mr.
Husten, who died some time ago, was a Brig
adier-General in the Texas army under Sam.
Houston, and sank a deal of money there.
He was also a strong Southern - rights and
anti - Union man, as his correspondence in
1850 shows. After his death, Mrs. H. was in
volved in numerous law-suits, and the place is
deeply in debt. The house is old and dilapidated,
a story and a half high, with the usual Southern
piazza. The household was evidently well edu
cated and cultivated, and it surprised me to see
their habitation so small and in such poor repair.
The plantation could produce at least seven or
eight thousand dollars a year. A good sugar-
house was built on it, and a thrifty Yankee would
have made his fortune there. The front yard was
beautiful, notwithstanding long neglect, and I
lounged away the heat of the day in a rocking-
chair beneath the immense trees. Beyond the

60 MEMORIALS OF
yard was what had been a fine garden, with an
orchard on one side, and beyond was the ground
broken by the precipitous ravines which abound
in the neighborhood of Port Hudson, and add so
much to its strength. It was sad to witness the
utter desolation which the war had wrought in
that one place. If Mrs. Husten should return to
it, (and she has received permission so to do,) she
must depend on the Government for subsistence,
even with this valuable property in hand. The
same is true of hundreds of immensely larger and
better plantations throughout the State. The
.amount the people have lost must be incalcula
ble. Northern people do not understand how
thankful they ought to be that their section of
the country is not the seat of war. One must see
the ruin to judge of it. The heart aches to look
at the elegant residences and situations abandon
ed by the owners and pillaged and wasted by the
blacks and by both armies." "August i.
" Colonel Peck is again in command of the
brigade, and has detailed me as Assistant Adju
tant-General. Just now I care little for the
place, though at most times I would eagerly

WILLIAM FO WLER. 6 1
take it. It may be continued only a little while.
Our tents are up, and they are quite home-like.
I counted on one for myself, but am disappointed.
But even with the Captain in it, I feel far more
comfortable than before.
" Our regiment was removed a day or two
ago to within the fortifications near the right.
At first, no little indignation was felt, for much
work had been spent on the old camp, and it was
just about in perfect order. Besides, it lay in the
woods and was well shaded, while we are ex
posed to the sun here. Our brigade headquar
ters, however, are pleasantly located in the yard
of an abandoned plantation, about a mile from the
fort. We have a breeze as well as shade, and the
heat must be intolerable without them. I hope
that Colonel Peck will remain in command for a
goodly space. I did not care at first for my posi
tion on his staff, but I like it more every day. It
relieves me of company duty, which is distasteful
to, me, and gives me employment enough to be
agreeable. I have a tent to myself, get the
earliest news of what is going on in the front,
and catch an insight of that most formal of army
departments, the Adjutant-General's, and this
may be of great use to me in the future.

62 MEMORIALS OF
" Logan, the guerilla, has a force of cavalry
near us. Night before last he was within a mile
of our videttes, and we had lively times for an
hour or two in preparing to receive him, but he
did not come up to us. We may be plagued
by raids, and I never lie down to sleep without
a vague expectation of being waked by a " long-
roll." Our outside forces are being gradually
drawn into the fortifications, and engineers busy
themselves in improving the defences and tear
ing down the batteries which our troops raised
during the siege. You can form an idea of
what labor these batteries cost, w hen I say that
a large body of men have been constantly at
work since the surrender in demolishing them,
and they are not yet fully destroyed.
" The officers are rushing to New Orleans, and
passes there are granted almost daily, of course.
I cannot leave yet, but hope for a chance by-and-
by. The trip is expensive, but it would hardly
answer to be so long in Louisiana, and not visit
its principal city, and I need several things which
can be obtained only there."

WILLIAM FOWLER. 63
" Headquarters 2D Brigade, 3D Div., )
" Port Hudson, Aug. 13, 1863. j
" My days all pass in nearly the same way. I
turn out between 7 and 8 o'clock, and after break
fasting commence clearing away the business
which accumulated the previous day. That takes
the whole morning sometimes, and at others only
an hour or two. Orders, letters, details, returns,
etc., come in at intervals, and these are attended
to immediately, or pigeon-holed for the next
morning. I generally have the latter part of the
afternoon and evening at my disposal, though
even then some one is in my tent most of the
time. I have secured a horse, not very hand
some, but very easy, and with nice equipments
he would appear fairly. It is too hot to ride
much. When I go out with Colonel Peck, he
gives me enough for a week, for he is a furious
rider. He is in high spirits at present, having
been presented with a watch and chain hy the
enlisted men of his regiment. The affair was
creditable to both parties. The men contributed
towards the present of their own accord, and
even without the knowledge of the officers, and
it shows that they appreciate the Colonel's efforts

64 MEMORIALS OF
to improve them. No previous commander ever
treated them with his rigor ; but no one has taken
his care of them, and sought more earnestly to
give them their dues and to make a good regi
ment out of them. My opinion of them has bet
tered tenfold. If they would only stop getting
so beastly drunk at every opportunity for it,
I would think still more of them.
" Our new Lieutenant-Colonel has appeared.
There is opposition to him because he over
slaughs the other officers and bars their promo
tion. But he seems a first-rate man to me. Al
the battle of Chancellorsville he captured a rebel
captain, five privates, and a set of colors. He
took the Captain in pugilistic style, knocking
him down with a fist blow. He has intelligence
and a good education, with his other gifts, and
will make a far better field-officer than any of our
Captains." u Aug. 17th.
" The nucleus of the negro corps is stationed
here, and the poor fellows do not stand soldier-
life well. Their officers think their rations too
high living for them. At all events, sickness pre
vails among them, and we hear muffled drums

WILLIAM FOWLER. Qt
and slow marches in their camps every day. At
Baton Rouge I saw a very full regiment of them,
and splendid-looking soldiers they were. Their
dress-parades surpassed those of any white sol
diers I ever witnessed. The great Seventh would
be put to their mettle to compete with them."

" Headquarters 2d Brigade, 3D Div., i
"Port Hudson, Aug. 19, 1863. \
" The 19th Corps is being reorganized, for the
purpose, I suppose, of active service. The 4th
Wisconsin is detached from our brigade and
transferred to cavalry duty. The 26th Connec
ticut takes its place. General Nickerson will
command the division, and General McMillan
the brigade. General McM. is expected to-mor
row, and then Colonel Peck and, in all probabil
ity, his staff, including myself, will return to the
regiment. I do not fancy the prospect, for my
present position suits me well. There is nothing
so pleasant as staff service. There has been a
great deal to do in my department, but it' is vastly
preferable to drilling and disciplining a lot of
stupid and stubborn men. I managed, too, to
get a good riding horse, and it will be hard to
5

66 MEMORIALS OF
give him up and make my way on foot. I would
ask nothing better from the Government than an
Assistant Adjutant-Generalcy. I have little mili
tary ambition, for my tastes run in a different
channel, and I care for promotion only as a token
that I have done my duty, and because each ris
ing rank decreases personal privation and adds a
little to an officer's small pay. If retained on the
staff, I shall be inclined to refuse the commission in
the 146th, though I am not yet positive about that.
There are many reasons why I prefer service in
the army of the Potomac, besides the disagree-
ableness of my regiment to me. I would be
nearer home, and could get there much more
easily in case of sickness or wounds. Commu
nication is more rapid and sure, and you can
hardly imagine how substantial a favor this is to
a soldier, and especially to one who has suffered,
as I have, the miseries of delayed mails and lost
letters, and never so much as of late. The army
is better organized, and, probably, better disci
plined there than here, and for that reason more
agreeable. It is the grand army of the war, and
when it strikes a blow, it is a hard one ; and yet
the risk run in it is less than with us, for statistics
show that the proportion of casualties in our

WILLLAM FOWLER.

67

comparatively small fights, exceeds those of their
great battles, and our successes are hardly known
outside of the Department. These may seem
inconsiderable reasons, but every soldier deems
them of account. Indeed, experience alone can
give the slightest idea of soldier-life, and emi
nently of soldier-feeling. I thought I under
stood them before, but find that I was utterly
mistaken. Both the hardships and the enjoy
ments differ from what I supposed. It amuses
me when I sit down to eat or lie down to sleep,
to think how such meals and beds would have
revolted me at home, but they seem comfortable
here, and often luxurious. Better fare would not
come amiss, but I have become so wonted to it as
to be always contented, save when sickness de
mands something better.
" We are expecting orders to move daily.
General Franklin commands the corps, and is
concentrating his troops at Baton Rouge."

" Baton Rouge, Aug. 30, 1863.
" We left Port Hudson for this place a week
ago, making an inhuman march of twenty-four
miles in one burning hot day, and terribly using

68 MEMORIALS OF
up the men. Colonel Peck had no aide, and I
was obliged to add this part to my other duties.
I had had an immense amount of riding to do
for the two preceding days, and was then kept on
the go continually from one end of the division
to the other. The heat and fatigue overpowered
me, and I went to the hospital the day after our
arrival. I am now well again.
" I received the commission in the 146th regi
ment on Thursday, and one in the 173d the day
after. I elected to take the first, and forthwith
sent in my application for discharge. It went
through the division, and there I had to leave it.
I cannot tell when I shall hear from it ; it may
be soon, and it may be weeks or months. I wish
it had reached me a week earlier. It would then
have passed on speedily ; but now we are on the
eve of a new campaign, and matters like mine
are apt to be overlooked.
" We expect to move every instant, certainly
within a week, and I write now not knowing
when there will be another chance. We will
probably go through the Teche country again,
though everything is secret. How can men be
expected to march in such weather ? But the
army is in for it."

WILLIAM FO WLER.

69

" Near Baton Rouge, Sept. 2, 1863.
" My application for discharge for the purpose
of accepting a commission in the 146th, has just
returned from headquarters, ' disapproved, with
leave to apply after the projected expedition is
over.' The disappointment is great. I can't
tell, of course, how long the expedition will last,
and I do not know what the Colonel of the 146th
will say about having a first lieutenancy vacant so
long. I could have had a captaincy here, but am
quite decided to take no promotion in this regi
ment." Lieutenant Fowler's immediate surroundings
were so distasteful to him, and there was so
much in them offensive to his judgment and
principles, and so little to encourage the hope of
amendment, that his position in the 173d Regi
ment was a mortification and torment from the
first, and though relieved at times by transient
circumstances, the trial on the whole constantly
increased. He longed for deliverance, and
eagerly embraced the opportunity for it furnish
ed by a commission, tendered by General Sey
mour, in the 146th Regiment, attached to the

jQ MEMORIALS OF
Army of the Potomac. But though so troubled
and disheartened, he never slighted duty, nor
violated propriety. He did his utmost through
out, and commanded universal respect and re
gard. The Rev. L. M. Birge, chaplain of the regi
ment, writes : " Before Port Hudson, June 21, 1863.
"As an officer your son has been very faithful,
devoted to the interests of the company, and
often and much in the command of it during this
campaign, and under very trying circumstances.
His conscientious discharge of all his duties, and
uniform faithfulness, I have often noticed, and he
is in striking contrast with too many of our offi
cers, who will sacrifice everything to their own
ease and pleasure. He is occasionally ill for a
day or two, but seldom off duty. His regiment
is now in the rifle-pits, where it is so exceedingly
trying, and many have to give up and go to the
rear. He has been out only once or twice for a
night, and staid last night with one of the cap
tains who has been unwell for some time. He is
quite correct in his habits. As far as I know he

WILLI A M FO WLER. n l
is not addicted to profanity, which is frightfully
prevalent in the army, among officers and men.
He never uses spirituous drinks except for medi
cinal purposes. The excesses and abuses we
have seen among the officers of our own regi
ment have been sufficient to lead me to discard
them, and I know that your son has never been
guilty of dissipation. He has been regular, too,
in attendance upon our religious services, and we
were able to hold these most of the time while at
Baton Rouge."
His Lieutenant-Colonel writes : —
" Headquarters Second Corps, 173D N. Y. S. V., )
"Berwick City, La., Sept. 22, 1863. )
" TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN :
" Unsolicited, I desire to say of Lieutenant
William Fowler, who is about to join the 146th
N. Y. S. V., that since my connection with this
regiment, I have always found him to be an effi
cient and faithful officer, gaining at the same time
the obedience and love of his command, and as a
gentleman courteous in his deportment, and
commanding respect from those who know him.
In common with my fellow-officers, I am loth to
lose him from the regiment, but. do aot hesitate

72 MEMORIALS OF
to take this method of cordially and cheerfully
testifying to the worth in which he is held by
myself and others with whom he has been
brought into contact.
" He has my best wishes for his journey
through life, whether he be connected with the
army or not, and in leaving the regiment he
carries with him my high esteem both as an of
ficer and a man. " Respectfully, " W. M. Green, Jr.,
" Lieut.-Col. 173d N. Y. S. V., 19th A. C,
"Department of the Gulf."
The Colonel of the regiment expressed his
opinion of the Lieutenant by placing him as aide
on his staff immediately on taking command of
the brigade, and by soon after appointing him
Assistant Adjutant-General, and retaining him
to the last. He writes, in answer to inquiries
about his health, which it was feared had been
seriously impaired : " Too ambitious, he has
overworked a not very rugged constitution."

WILLIAM FOWLER. 73

LIFE IN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
To his great joy, after short but delightful
visits to his relatives and friends in Utica, New
York, and Boston, Lieutenant Fowler joined his
new regiment in November, 1863, and kept up
the full and frequent correspondence he had pre
viously held with his family at home.
" Washington, D. C, Nov, 8, 1863.
" I reached here last night, having remained
in New York much longer than I intended.
There were so many old friends to see there that
I hardly noted how time was passing. I had
an exceedingly pleasant visit at Boston also.
Aunt Louisa and Mr. (Homer) Bartlet were de
lighted to see me, and I was sorry to leave so
soon. I haven't the least idea where the regi
ment is, for the army is moving and no one can
tell its whereabouts. I am extremely anxious to
get to it at once, but fear that the confusion
attendant on the present movement may trouble
and delay me." " Camp near Kelly's Ford, Va., Nov. 14.
¦" I did not mail or finish my letter at Wash-

74

MEMORIALS OF

ington. I left there Tuesday, and reached the
regiment, after a deal of toil and a sixteen-mile
march, on Thursday. I have not been mustered
yet, owing to the absence of the mustering offi
cer. I am very much pleased with the appear
ance of the regiment. It is finely disciplined,
and the old men are finely drilled. There is a
number of conscripts who mar the general look,
but they will soon harmonize with the rest.
" It is too cold to write more, and I will give a
detailed report of my proceedings hereafter.
The regiment is in the Third Brigade, Second
Division, Fifth Corps, and you can thus trace it
by the papers."

" Camp near Kelly's Ford, Va., Nov. 16, 1863.
" I took the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
on Tuesday for Warrenton Junction, the farthest
point to which the cars were running. Happily
I was seated by two officers belonging to this
corps, and we joined search for it. We reach
ed the Junction at 3 P. M., and found the corps
supply train about to leave. Nothing could
have been luckier. Putting our baggage on one
of the wagons, we set out, accompanied by a

WILLIAM FOWLER. yr
guard of regulars. It was almost dark before
we were fairly under way, and we went but a
short distance when the officer in charge con
cluded that it was unsafe to proceed, and we
turned back to the Junction. It was cold and
windy, and the prospect for comfort quite un
promising. Fortunately, however, one of our
party scouted about, and found an old friend in
the Colonel who was superintending the construc
tion of the road. So we marched to his tent,
and took a good supper of roast beef and pota
toes, and quartered on the floor. A train of
workmen was to go in the morning as far as the
road is completed, within a mile of Bealton, and
we, of course, concluded to save as much walk
ing as possible, and be carried with it. We .saw
how perfectly the rebels had broken up the road.
Not a tie was left in its place, the rails were all
bent, sometimes five or six were twisted around
a tree ; the ' cubs ' were filled with brush, logs,
and dirt, bridges were burned, and utter havoc
wrought. We waited for our train at Bealton,
and walked beside it to Rappahannock Station,
the scene of the last fight. There we staid a
couple of hours, and looked over the battle-field.
It seems incredible that our army should have

yS MEMORIALS OF
been successful there with such trifling loss. The
wide, open plain was fully commanded by the
works which our men assailed, and it is wonder
ful that they were not ' wiped out ' in the ad
vance. We crossed the Rappahannock shortly
after noon on a pontoon bridge, and trudged
along in search ofthe corps, which we learned was
lying near Kelly's Ford, passing numerous camps
of the enemy, from which they fled after' the
Rappahannock Station affair. They had evident
ly gone into winter quarters, and expected a
nice quiet time, and it must have aggravated
their chagrin to be driven from such cosy huts.
When the train ' parked,' 1 ascertained the direc
tion of the camp, and shouldering my baggage,
made for it, and was fortunate in reaching it, not
withstanding the trouble it cost. Everything
turned out to help me.
" I am better and better pleased with my regi
ment daily. It is splendidly disciplined, equally
so with the regulars right by us. The officers
are fine fellows and understand their duty, and in
all respects it is in exceedingly pleasant contrast
with my former regiment. Our quarters consist
of log cabins covered with shelter tents, and are
so comfortable that we dislike the thought of
leaving them.

WILLLAM FOWLER. yy
" Continue to send the little sheets of paper
and envelopes. My stock of stationery is low.
I regret that I did not bring my valise with me,
for officers have much more transportation than
I supposed. I will send for it when we go into
winter quarters. Just now we are kept ready to
march at a moment's notice, and shall certainly
move this week.
" Horrie (his brother) will be mustered in as
captain of artillery this week, and expects to be
ordered to Fortress Monroe."
The expedition, since known as the Mine Run,
and anticipated in the foregoing letter, was fully
described by Lieutenant Fowler, but his account
of it has been mislaid or destroyed.

" Camp near Bealton, Va., Dec. 17, 1863.
" We are having severe weather, rainy and
cold, and the mud is appalling. There are no
drills. For a day or two past I have had com
mand of a fatigue detail, building courderoy
roads. My squad were set to cutting timber and
loading wagons, and it was amusing to see how
little work a hundred men can do in a day.

78 MEMORIALS OF
Soldiers hate this duty above every other, and
shirk it to the utmost. They do not mind keep
ing their axes going, provided they do little of
the required cutting. A dozen get at a tree and
hit away by the hour, trimming the branches
with great nicety, and then carrying off the
brush twig by twig or leaf by leaf. Half the
number of hired laborers do twice the work in
a quarter of the time.
" A happily uncommon, but sad event, occurred
to-day. One ofthe regulars was shot for deser
tion. The whole division was drawn up in a
large hollow square, two lines deep. The pris
oner entered by an opening left on one side. A
band preceded him, playing Pleyel's hymn, and
mournfully enough it sounded. A coffin of rough
boards was carried immediately behind the
band, and then followed the poor fellow and a
clergyman, with a guard at their rear. This pro
cession marched to the slow, doleful music around
the entire interior line of the square, and though
pale, the prisoner stepped on as erect as if on
parade. At the end of the distressing circuit,
the coffin was put down by the side of a grave,
and the man seated upon it, while the order of
the Court Martial was read to each regiment.

WILLIAM FOWLER. yg
His eyes were then bandaged, the firing party
was drawn up before him, the signal given, and
we saw the body fall before the sound of the vol
ley reached our ears. Every band struck up
Yankee Doodle at once, and the troops marched
away in quick time, and to all appearances totally
unaffected. One cannot imagine how a soldier
can deseit after such a spectacle, and yet six of a
lot of conscripts in charge of one of our Captains,
and placed in a particularly good position for
seeing it, ran away while leaving the spot."
The correspondence between the date last
given, and the close of March, has disappeared.

" Headquarters 3D Brig., 2D Div., >
" 5TH A. C, March 28, 1864. \
" I have been a little unwell, not enough so to
keep me from duty, but sufficient to disincline
me to letter-writing after that was done. Cap
tain Durkee had fifteen days leave, and during
his absence I acted as Inspector-General, making
the usual monthly inspection of the brigade, and
drawing up all the reports. Durkee had hardly
returned, when Captain Mervine, our Assistant

80 MEMORIALS OF
Adjutant-General, got a leave, and I am filling
his place, and this keeps me constantly in the
office. Orders and communications come in
every hour of the day, and I have to be always
ready for them. Mervine is one of the sort that
attend to everything themselves. During the
whole of our stay here, I hardly believe he has
ever seen the camps of the different regiments,
but has sat steadily at his desk from morning till
night. Of course I must be as constant as he.
" The first circumstance of importance since my
writing, was the apprehended raid of Stuart's
cavalry. We had a ' bad scare ' at that. Forty
cars and three engines were kept at the station
ready to start. Orders and telegrams flew about
in flocks, rumors of every kind poured in, pick
ets were strengthened, and all were on the qui
vive for an attack or for summons to support
others attacked. Nothing came of it, however,
and we are living in quietness again.
"A later excitement is the re-organization of
the army. Our corps is to maintain its own,
and have additions from the First. The changes
in divisions and brigades are not yet decided.
" I have been interrupted by orders concerning
this matter. The regulars and our brigade are

WILLLAM FOWLER. 8 1
consolidated under General Ayres, and the ist
Brigade, ist Division, 5th Corps. The divi
sion is placed under General Griffin, and Gen
eral Warren is at the head of the corps. This
sends Colonel Jenkins to his regiment, and I
go with him, and foot it during the coming
campaigns. Everyone is pleased with the ar
rangement, and it secures us splendid command
ers. Troops are crowding into the army.
Train after train is loaded with them every
day. Just now five rolled towards the front
crammed to almost bursting. The nth and 12th
Corps are reported at Alexandria, and rumor has
it that the 9th is to join us with them. General
Grant seems determined that no lack of force
shall keep him out of Richmond.
" I was highly gratified to notice in the papers
that Horrie was one of only a few officers in
his regiment who successfully passed the examina
tion. I have no doubt that he will rise rapidly.
" Enclosed is a sketch of our present brigade
headquarters. The second tent from the right is
mine. The entrance is evergreen work, and the
whole is so handsome that we are very proud of
it." 6

82 MEMORLALS OF
" Battle-field, Wilderness, Va.,
"May io, 1864.
" I wrote after our first day's fight, announcing
my safety. We have been engaged more or less
ever since, but our regiment has lost only a few
men. We are completely used up, officers and
men being overpowered by fatigue and excite
ment. To-day the crowning conflict is going on.
Nothing can convey to you a conception of
the terrible encounter. We were relieved this
A.M., unable to do anything more until our
strength is recruited. Fresh troops are engaged,
and we feel sanguine of success. We must
gain it, however, at dreadful expense. The fight
ing is mostly infantry, and therefore more deadly.
We have lost no officer since the first battle.
Have been in some exceedingly tight places, and
the regiment has acquitted itself grandly. The
strain is intense and wearing. All of us have
grown a year older during the week. To-day, I
hope, decides the contest.
" No news from our missing officers."
" Near Gaines Mills, Va., May 31, 1864.
" Your welcome letter just received. How

WILLIAM FOWLER. 83
little friends at home know our valuation of one t
We long for the mail, and if it brings us anything
we are twice as good fighting material as before.
" We have come to within eleven miles of
Richmond. General Grant's flanking operations
proved an eminent success. We have passed the
strong defences on the North and South Anna
rivers with but little struggling. The first-named
was the scene of the last action in which our
regiment took part. We crossed the river, with
out scarcely the show of opposition, at Jericho
bridge, or rather ford, for we waded. Forming
line, then we advanced, meeting none but skir
mishers ; and, taking a favorable position, we
began to throw up rifle-pits at about 5 P.M. The
pioneers were chopping merrily in front, when a
roll of musketry suddenly commenced and rap
idly came towards us. The pioneers ran with
amusing rapidity, bullets whistled, and in came
our skirmishers pell mell, with a couple of lines
of rebels after them, and we went to work load
ing and firing, at first lying down, and then kneel
ing, and finally standing up. It was more than
flesh and blood could stand, and, after severe loss,
the ' Johnnies ' precipitately retreated. But they
tried us once more, and yet with the same result,

84 MEMORIALS OF
It pleased us mightily to return them the task
they had so plentifully supplied us with in times
before. We had them at an advantage, though
our works helped us, and we lost only twelve
men. They were more successful at first on our
extreme right, assailing the 4th Division before it
was formed, and breaking it, of course, and in
flicting considerable damage. A battery, how
ever, was soon brought into play, and this drove
them quickly back. Trees were riddled, and a
large number of the rebel dead were left on the
ground before us. The prisoners acknowledged
a heavy loss, and General Meade sent the corps
a complimentary order. We reached this place,
after hard marching, on Sunday, passing again
around the right of Lee's army. Yesterday our.
division, with supports, set out on a reconnoi-
sance towards Richmond, slowly feeling our way
along, and perpetually skirmishing. My brigade
halted, and in column by regiments was throw
ing up little defences against the shells, when we
were hurried out and drawn up at right angles
to our former line, and learned that the enemy
were making a heavy demonstration on our flanks.
The musketry at the left was already violent,
and, urged on by it, the men threw up a rifle-pit

WILLIAM FOWLER. 85
of rails with marvelous rapidity — Aladdin could
not have raised a house quicker. But after all,
we did not get engaged. The rebels were re
pulsed with a large loss on the left, and there was
little more than skirmishing in our front. We
are still in last night's pits. Little or no firing is,
going on. We may be started out any moment,
and I write most hurriedly. We expect hard
times, as we close in on Richmond, but are bound
to take the city.
" If any more of my letters are published,
please suppress my name. Composed as they
must be, their style will not bear criticism. The
more frequently I am written to the better, and
ask all who write to enclose a tissue envelope
. and sheet of paper."

" Near Coal Harbor, Va., June 5, 1864..
" I have only this scrap of paper, and must be
brief. Through Captain Mervine I have received
detail as A. D. C. to General Griffin, and am now
acting in this capacity. General Ledlie also sent
for me, but I found that I could not be detailed
out of my division. Application has been made.
at Washington by the latter, Captain Mervine

86 MEMORIALS OF
says, for my appointment as As. Ad.-Gen., but
it is doubtful whether that can be obtained.
" Ahvays send paper and envelopes when you
write. " During the past week there has been heavy
fighting, and, indeed, ever since we crossed the
Pamunkey, May 28th, there has been scarcely a
single quiet day. Some part of the line gets
sharply engaged daily. The last action in which
we took part occurred on the 2d inst. The brig
ade was changing position, when the pickets on
our right were scared, and ran in prematurely.
The line of battle on the right had left sometime
previously, and the rebels poured in on our flank,
taking us entirely unprepared while we were
marching in column. We hastily formed line,
and took possession of some works near, but
were completely enfiladed and compelled to fly.
We rallied the men once, but it was a mere sacri
fice of life, and the order to fall back was given,
followed by the ' tallest running ' on record. But
the men behaved well. None of them were panic-
struck, and most of them treated the matter as a
joke. My regiment lost sixty men and one offi
cer — many of them prisoners, I hope. The ene
my were mixed in with us, and I saw one of their

WILLIAM FO WLER. 3 7
color-bearers shot dead scarcely thirty feet away
from me. It was a repetition of the affair of May
5th, and, considering our numbers, almost as
serious. Last night our corps changed position
again, and we are now in reserve near Coal Har
bor." " 3 A. m., June 6.
" Orders to move just received. We start for
the Chickahominy, about three miles off. A
change has been made which takes my brigade
out of this division, and I am very sorry for it.
"The best accounts of our movements are
contained in the Army and Navy Jour nal and New
York Times. The Herald is very inaccurate.
None are exact, of course, but the two papers I
have mentioned publish very good letters. They
give General Crawford too much credit for the
North Anna fight, the whole brunt of which was
borne by General Griffin, and no part of his line
yielded for a second."

" Near Sumner's Bridge,
" Chickahominy River, June 7, 1864

.1
" We moved at 3:30 this A. m. to the left of our
lines, and have established our pickets on the

88 MEMORIALS OF
banks of this celebrated stream, which is about a
half mile from our headquarters. A number
of shell have been thrown at us, but harmlessly.
There is said to be an immense rifled gun on the
railroad track. We have one of the shell, seven
inches in diameter and fifteen or twenty long —
rather an unpleasant object. Have been in the
saddle most of the day, and am too tired to
write. Please send me, by mail, a red flannel
collar. I wear fourteen and a half.
" Sumner's Ford, Chickahominy River, )
" June 9, 1864. )
" On Sunday night we moved from Bethesda
Church, marching about five miles and taking all
night for it, and camped on the Coal Harbor
road. I anticipated trouble, and am astonished
that we encountered none. The enemy seemed
to have wind of the movement, and kept press
ing our picket line very disagreeably. We passed
three or four hours of intense anxiety, but
happily were let off quietly. On Monday morn
ing we came to our present position. You can
see it on any map. The left of the command
rests at the railway bridge across the Chicka
hominy, and our headquarters are two miles

WILLIAM FO WLER. %g
above at the Tyler House, and we are about
fourteen miles from Richmond. General Sum
ner had his headquarters in the same house
during the Peninsular campaign. The old tele
graph wire still hangs to the trees, remnants of
courderoy roads, built then, lie about, and here
and there we cross the graves of poor fellows
killed in the skirmishes.
" Three deserters came into our lines yester
day, from whom we learned that the enemy
have twenty pieces of artillery planted opposite
us, and indeed they yesterday gave tokens of
themselves, throwing their shells into unpleasant
proximity to our tents, killing and wounding
seven men with one shot, and setting the old
woman who lives in the house crazy with fright.
The right bank of the river is lined with artillery
from here to the railroad bridge, where are a
fort and a railway monitor, the latter a sixty-four-
pounder, mounted on a car and sheeted with four-
inch plating. We have erected a barricade on
the track close to the bridge, and have a couple
of sharpshooters with telescopic rifles in it. I
went there yesterday and took a good view of
the 'Johnnies,' and of their fort. The sharp
shooters on both sides were too busy, however,

gO MEMORIALS OF
to render a long stay profitable or agreeable, and
I left with the light stepping of a man when bul
lets fly at his rear.
" We live luxuriously. Hot biscuit, canned
vegetables, etc., etc., grace our board constantly.
I mess with the General, Captain Mervine, ana
the other aide. The General is very genial for
the most part, but exceedingly cross at times,
when out of sorts. He is fond of a hearty laugh,
and very sociable with his staff. We used to
think him reckless of his men, but I have
learned how different the truth is. I have never
met an officer so pained by losses and so averse
to unnecessary risks. In an emergency he
reaches his decisions instantaneously, and does
not hesitate to carry them out. Artillery is his
pet, of course, and probably no one in the army
can use it with so much effect. His freedom of
speech provokes hostility, and undoubtedly
blocks his promotion, but I shall be greatly mis
taken if, in spite of this, he does not attain to
another star before the present campaign ends.
" My paper is exhausted, and I cannot write
more. Let every correspondent contribute a
sheet of paper and an envelope."

WILLIAM FOWLER. gI

"Wilcox's Landing, James River,)
" June 15, 1864. \
" You cannot have received all my letters. I
always write at the close of an engagement, and
never let a week pass without mailing some
thing. " We had a little fighting on the Chicka
hominy. A few shell were thrown at us, but
slight damage done. Nearly five days of almost
unbroken rest passed, and most acceptable they
were. At 8 P. M. Sunday (June 12), we started
for Long Bridge, getting off without losing
even a picket. After a toilsome night, we cross
ed the Chickahominy, and bivouacked three or
four miles this side of it. General Wilson's
cavalry had a brush in front of us, and a brigade
of General Crawford's division went to their sup
port. Nothing of consequence happened, how
eyer, and we lay until dusk, when we arose and
followed a wagon-train, which was continually
getting stuck and wearing out our patience,
while the night's work was wearing out our
strength. We struck the Charles City road, and
traveled it in a south-easterly course, reaching
Nance's Mills about three o'clock on the morn-

g2 MEMORIALS OF
ing of the 14th. There we stopped three hours,
and then pushed on to Charles City Court House,
and thence to this location, where we arrived
during the same day. We have our head
quarters in a beautiful yard belonging to Dr.
Wilcox. The James is two miles distant, and
transports are ferrying our troops across. It is
charming to look at the steamers sailing about.
The peaceful craft inspire a feeling of security,
and one forgets the war and enjoys the quiet
of home. Last night I had a sound sleep, the
first in forty-eight hours, and if the rest of the
division were favored the same way, they are
' admirably refreshed.' You cannot imagine
how exhausting night-marching is, and we have
had a great deal of it. It tells most just after
midnight, and then the entire of what little
mind is left must be concentrated upon keeping
the saddle. My head is sometimes so light and
dizzy that only with the greatest difficulty have
I stuck to the horse's back and kept away from
his heels. A sleep afterwards is so sweet that
the suffering is hardly regretted." *' June 19.
" I was interrupted in my writing, and have

WILLIAM FOWLER. 03
had no opportunity since to resume it. We
moved again at 4 A. M. of the 16th, crossed the
river and marched for Petersburg. We halted
four miles from the city at midnight, the 18th.
Part of the Ninth Corps were ahead of us, and
had taken the advanced line of works, which
were exceedingly strong, evidently built some
time ago, and with great care. I have seen
nothing equal to them since I entered the service.
The negroes charged at this point grandly. We
were ordered up on the 17th to support the Ninth
Corps, which was to advance against a second
line. I rode to the front with General Griffin,
and looked over the ground. We could see the
spires of Petersburg, within long rifle cannon
range. Burnside's assault was partially success
ful, and we were not therefore called in. I was very
tired at night, and slept soundly, though slightly
disturbed for awhile by another assault made by
our troops. Yesterday (18th) our corps went
forward to press the enemy, passing the last lines
from which they were driven. Their dead lay in
heaps, four pn each other at one spot which I
noticed. They evidently lost largely and the
scene realized the worst description of a battle
field. Our own dead were scattered about, too,

04 MEMORIALS OF
in great numbers, there not having been time to
bury them. We moved to the left, and massed
at a point in the woods held by the rebels the
day before. There their dead lay likewise, most
of them killed by our artillery, which scarred
every tree in the woods. General Crawford was
on our right, and General Ayres and General
Cutler on our left. Skirmishers were pushed
out, the artillery put in position, and the battle
opened. General Griffin rode, as usual, to the
very front, urging on the skirmishers and direct
ing the batteries. The fire from muskets and
. cannons was very sharp, and I expected every
moment that some of us would catch it. Away
went the General, however, and I ground my
teeth and followed, feeling like one of his brigade
commanders for whom he had sent, and who,
when I gave him a message, said : ' Tell Gen
eral Griffin, when you can, that I don't like
skirmishing with him, and would rather be with
him on any other occasion.' We finally pushed
the rebels back to their works beyond the Nor
folk and Petersburg Railroad. At three o'clock
the order was to attack, and our division ad
vanced splendidly, and went to within sixty feet
of the redouts ; but General Crawford's men did

WILLIAM FO WLER. 95
not support us well on the right, and we were
obliged to fall back a short distance. Our loss
was heavy, especially in officers. Another attack
was to have been made at dusk, but news from
Army Headquarters stopped it.
" At our arrival only a small force confronted
us, but I fear that Lee's main army has been
brought here now. We gained much ground
yesterday, but not enough to pay for our losses,
unless the rebels suffered equally.
" Will you order a pair of boots from Cantwell
— top boots, like those he made me before, with
the legs rather stiffer and the feet quite light,
and if there is any way of getting them to me
immediately I would like it, for I am badly off
for foot gear. I also need a new suit — sack coat,
and dark blue pants, without cord on the seams,
light for summer wear, and not in zouave style.
We have not been paid off yet, but hope for the
greenbacks and also for rest to use them."
"Near Petersburg, i
" June 20, 1864. (
" At the present moment I am comfortably en
sconced in a wall tent, pitying the poor fellows in
front, who are keeping up the most outrageous

96 MEMORIALS OF
fusilade I ever heard from pickets. Here is the
great advantage of division staff service, that
after the troops are established on the line, you
can go to what, for the field, are comfortable
quarters, out of rifle-range, and have a quiet time.
It is in marked contrast with living, as I have so
long lived, always in the dust and dirt, and most
of the time unable to stand erect, from fear of
bullets aimed at your head.
" Day before yesterday, this division was hotly
engaged pressing the rebels up to their last line
of works, and assaulting them. We succeeded
in the first, but failed in the last. Had General
Crawford advanced with us, as his duty was, we
would have gone into their lines without a doubt.
I am afraid that our not entering Petersburg
has been a great misfortune. When we first ap
peared before it, everything indicated that a
small force held it. Now it looks as if Lee
was in it with his main army. He may have
been within supporting distance at the begin
ning, but we certainly met none of his army
during the first two days' battling, and I am
greatly disheartened because our attacks were
not more vigorous. One thing I know from per
sonal observation, and that is, that General

WILLIAM FOWLER. gy
Griffin pushed his division with the utmost vim,
that it achieved its purpose more nearly than any
other, and that the slaughter of our 800 men
would not have been so far a waste had other
commanders acted as effectively. He is a war-
horse, and my idea that division staff duty is
safer than line duty during engagements, is
wholly dispelled. I never got under heavier fire,
both of musketry and artillery, than on Satur
day last. The right of our line charged up to
within twenty yards of the rebels, who began to
limber up their guns, but want of connection
compelled us to fall back, and want of co-opera
tion lost us a position which we ought to have
won. Some other flank movement will probably
be tried, but I hardly see with what good hope,
if made to our left as heretofore, and the diffi
culties are quite as great at the right.
" Mother writes that you (his brother) are still
at Yorktown, which has relieved me of a deal
of anxiety. Don't long for fighting. Ypu are
doing quite as valuable service now, and the man
who is bent on battle, is reckoned, by sensible
people, more of a donkey than a hero. I wish I
was quit of them, and I find the feeling shared
by all around me from generals to privates."
7

93

MEMORIALS OF

" Near Petersburg, Va., )
'' June 22, 1864. f
" I am writing in the country cottage of Mr.
Cheesman, one of the wealthiest citizens of Peters
burg. Our division took a new position yester
day to the left, and other corps moved in such
a way as foretokens another attempt to turn the
rebel right. The works before us are very
strong, and it seems impossible to carry them by
storm. I keep mourning over Saturday's failure,
for I never counted more upon success, and it
was only the gross want of energy on the part of
some of our commanders that thwarted us.
" Our present line is 500 yards from the rebel
front, an open plain intervening, and everything
is plainly visible. The general direction of our
corps is north-east. The Ninth is on our right,
and the Second and Sixth on our left. Our head
quarters are the best we have yet had, and I sit here
almost as comfortable as at home. We have clear
ed up the house, removing the shattered glass
and furniture, which our vandal cavalry broke
and scattered, and have a carpeted room, with
elegant mahogany furniture, a spring bed, and
other like articles, while nothing but the occa-

WILLIAM FO WLER. qq
sional booming of cannon reminds us of our real
business. There is an immense difference, I as
sure you, between staff and line duty. The for
mer imposes more responsibility and harder
work at times, but it is compensated by
greater comforts.
" You inquired about Theodore Bailey's (a
young townsman killed in the Wilderness) bag
gage. It is, I presume, in the Government store
houses at Alexandria, where ours, at least, was
put." " Petersburg, Va., )
" June 29, 1864. (
" Heat reigns triumphant, the thermometer
marking ioo° in the shade. The idea of march
ing or fighting is preposterous, and we lounge
about in costumes anything but befitting a Gene
ral of division and his staff. We have rigged up
a fan, four feet square, which hangs from the
ceiling, and the least lazy may be seen any time
swinging it back and forth by a long rope, while
the rest lie around enjoying the breeze. The
men in the rifle-pits sit in the deep holes they
have dug, catching all sorts of disease. Just
outside of them are the pickets, who have

!00 MEMORIALS OF
thrown up brush shelters, and amuse themselves
by talking with the pickets on the other side. A
compact has been formed between them, accord
ing to which they shout before firing, ' Hi !
Yanks, or Rebs, look out for your ogles !' Se
cure in this unwritten truce, the men dawdle
about, and are as pleasant and friendly as if it
was not their business to kill each other. It is
singular that this compact on our immediate line
was proposed by a rebel sharpshooter, from his
post behind the chimney of a burned house, who
had done more execution than any of his com
rades, and who just before mortally wounded
one of our officers. This pacific arrangement
is particularly acceptable to us of the staff, for
visiting the lines is a perilous enterprise. Your
horse must be left well out of range, and taking
to your feet, you must dodge from tree to tree,
double-quicking it across open spaces, and
crawling through ditches, and continually warn
ed to keep low by the whisk of bullets, and
furnishing amusement to all lookers-on, who,
safe behind their breastworks, always enjoy the
manoeuvres of the unhappy wight who is seek
ing cover. I went up to my regiment the other
day. It lies on open ground so covered by

WILLIAM FO WLER. \ 0 1
rebel sharpshooters that it has been necessary to
dig regular approaches from the woods to our
works. Ignorant of the risk, I started from the
woods for the works in an upright, strictly mili
tary carriage, though the numerous ditches look
ed suspiciously to me at the time. 'Zif! zif!'
the bullets came instantly, and instead of flying
high, as is usual with stray shot, they struck low,
showing unmistakably that they were aimed at
my particular person. I ducked my head quick
ly, and obeying the kindly shouts to ' keep low,'
issuing from grinning mouths in the breast
works, I scrambled, without regard to dignity,
into the nearest ditch, and made rapid tracks
for the hole in which the officers quartered.
Soldiers get so used to minnies that a close
shave is a laughing matter, and they dip and
dodge, covering themselves as much as possible,
but with a smile on their faces, and looking as if
peas were pelting them instead of lead. Even
the shelling, which formerly shook them terribly,
is taken with composure, and speculation is in
dulged about the accuracy of the range and the
course ofthe shot, as if target practice was being
watched. They dread an assault, and no
wonder. We have so seldom gained by it, and

102

MEMORIALS OF

have lost so enormously, that they could not be
expected to go into it calmly.
" All signs point to protracted quiet. Sutlers
are allowed to come up, and the division pur
veyor has opened his tent near headquarters.
" I had a note from Horrie last night. He
seems to have been a little sick, and I am afraid
the poor fellow's fare in the army is far worse
than mine. Indeed, I can complain of nothing.
But for incessant alarms, we should be perfectly
comfortable here.
" Tell mother that I am glad she sent the flan
nel suit. I had forgotten about it. How was it
forwarded — together with the other articles ?
" Can you not make me a nice First Division,
Fifth Corps badge ? — a red velvet Maltese cross,
of the size and figure drawn below."

"Near Petersburg, Va., )
" July 3> 1864. \
" It is a question with officers how they shall
hve. The tax on our pay is increased two per
cent., and our servants' pay is entirely deducted.
The last item alone costs me $28 monthly, and
our commissary stores have more than doubled in

WILLIAM FOWLER. 103
price. The one article of beef has risen from
five to seventeen cents per pound.
" Generals Wilson and Kauts were badly whip
ped on' returning from their late raid. The
papers gloss it over, as they did the Second
Corps' mishap. And yet they succeeded ad
mirably in their main object, and this counter
balances everything else.
" Captain Mervine is in the best of health and
spirits. I can hardly count the favors, great and
small, for which I am indebted to him.
" I learn that my old college chum, Ogden,
was killed in Sheridan's late raid. He was
Adjutant of the First U. S. Cavalry, and bore the
highest character. I have seen Twitchell (a Yale
friend, and then chaplain ; now of Hartford,
Ct.) His term of service has nearly or quite
expired. I also saw John Younglove (a physi
cian, now in Elizabeth, N. J., then of Utica).
He is a surgeon in Twitchell's regiment; and I
was not a little astonished to-day, as I was riding
along from headquarters, to be hailed by a stout-
looking private, who turned out to be Goeble,
who was organ-blower for Mr. Shaw. He is in
the 117th, and likes soldier life, and certainly
thrives on it."

104

MEMORIALS OF

"Near Petersburg, Va.,
" July io, 1864.
" We are straightening our lines and throwing
up new works. This attracts the enemy's notice,
and their cannon send us protests. Last night
these came at half- hour intervals, and much
more frequently during the da)'. A few wound
ed comprise the casualties. There has been no
musketry in front, except last night, when Gene
ral Crawford received one or two vollies, given
probably on account of deserters. General
Ewell's corps has gone to Maryland, I think — at
least the reports of deserters are unanimous to
this effect. Longstreet is here yet, for two of his
men, from Anderson's Division, came into our
lines this morning. There seems to be great
trouble in Pennsylvania in determining who of
the enemy are there, and it appears strange to us
that no definite information on the subject has
been yet obtained. Were they in their own
country, their force ought to be known, and still
more in the midst of ours.
" We are suffering from want of rain. Showers
have fallen around, but shunned us. lt is a little
cooler to-day, but the dust is suffocating. A

WILLI A M FO WLER. : 0 5
half-hour's ride in the sun is enough to put one
hors du combat.
" Tell Mrs. Walker that I am much obliged by
her promise of a dinner, and still more for her
good opinion in thinking me deserving of it.
The time may come when I shall give her the
opportunity to f6te me."

" Near Petersburg, Va., )
" July 21, 1864. ')
" We fear an attack to-day, and are poorly pre
pared for it in front. Our left has been moved,
and the line so changed as to expose us, and we
have more work than can be done in time. If
we weather the night the ship is safe. The
Second Corps have left their works, and are
massed ready for action anywhere, and if the
rebels gain an advantage, it can be only tempo
rary. Deserters tell us that they are so short of
rations, that they must fight soon or starve.
Ewell's corps is probably the one gone on the
Northern raid. If only our arrangements can be
perfected, it is all we ask. Any attack can then
be easily repulsed from the front, and we are now
ready in the rear."

I06 MEMORIALS OF
" Camp near Petersburg, Va„
"August i, 1864.
" I have been quite sick for four days. The
unusual exertion to which I was put in the hot
sun on the 30th ult., so tried me that I thought
myself down for a siege of fever. But I am
much better to-day, though weak, which, I
observe, is visible from my handwriting.
" You have heard of the fiasco on the 30th.
All the division commanders were summoned
to Corps Headquarters on the night ol the
29th, and Burnside's project was laid before
them. Watches were timed, ammunition ordered
up, and everything arranged. The mine was to
be sprung at 3:30 the next morning, and the
breach assailed by a strong column. This di
vision was to take no part in the affair, except to
keep up a heavy musketry and artillery fire on
the front. We went to the pits at the appointed
time, and looked eagerly for the explosion. It
did not come off, however, and the delay con
tinued so long, that we became very nervous.
But between four and five, a shout, ' There it goes,'
brought us up at a spring, and just in time to see
masses of earth and dust fly into the air with a

WILLIAM FO WLER. x 0y
dull, heavy ' thud'-like report. Every gun, mor
tar, and rifle along our whole line opened imme
diately, showing splendid practice, and soon the
assaulting column started forward with a cheer,
and occupied and held the breach without appa
rent difficulty. We could not distinguish the
movements afterwards, but our men seemed to
hold the ground, and we returned to a bomb
proof, congratulating ourselves that Petersburg
was at length certainly taken. Soon, however,
word came that the enemy had charged and oc
cupied a part of their old works, and examination
demonstrated that this was too true. We were
still confident that we had more than men enough
to recover it, and felt little concern ; but by after
noon, the rebels, in some unaccountable way,
had driven our troops entirely back into our
lines, taking man}^ prisoners. We could hardly
credit our eyes, but there was the fact staring us
in the face,
" The enterprise was finely conceived. A
movement of the 2d Corps across the river,
drew away, it is said, the bulk of the rebels, and
few remained to resist us, but these- few were
enough to repel us. The fault is not laid at the
doors of the men, and rumor has it that certain

I08 MEMORIALS OF
prominent heads must fall. Burnside and Meade
are chiefly blamed, though everybody is cautious
in uttering his thoughts. These words of mine
might provoke dismissal.
" I rode to City Point two days ago, and saw
Will Spencer (his cousin) at the N. Y. S. C. C.
He had been sick, but fast convalescing. Dick
Lincoln (son of Rev. Dr. T. O. Lincoln) called
on me and wished to be especially remembered
to the family." " Camp at Yellow Tavern, Va., 1
"August 22, 1864. j
" We have had two days of severe fighting
since I wrote last, and there is no chance now to
give more than a bare outline of it, and assure
you of my safety. We were startled from our
quiet at 4 P.M., the 19th inst., by heavy musketry
far to our right, and directed against the pickets
of the 9th Corps, part of which was coming up
to our right, and it soon extended to the left.
We started for the front, and hardly got there,
when the enemy struck General Crawford's line
and broke through. They came out of the
woods in front of us, and went sweeping down
the line towards the left, gathering numbers

WILLIAM FO WLER. j Qg
of prisoners. It was several minutes before
I could believe that it was a rebel column,
and not until I saw their fire was I sure of it.
General Griffin 6pened a couple of batteries up
on them, completely enfilading them and scatter
ing them in every direction. They tumbled back
into the woods, letting most of the prisoners
taken from the 2d Division of this corps es
cape. They manoeuvred magnificently, and noth
ing but our artillery saved us from being swept
away. Meanwhile, the ist Division, 9th Corps,
held them well on the left. It was struck while
coming into line, but nevertheless stood its
ground and drove the assailants back. The pris
oners from General Crawford's division, nearly,
if not quite, 2,000, were secured by the enemy.
General Wilcox's division of 9th Corps was in
reserve, and went in, and after the debris of
General Crawford's was collected, that too ad
vanced. The 2d Division (General Ayres) which
fell back, of course, when the rebels struck their
right, moved up also, supported by a brigade of
our division, and by dark we held our original
position almost everywhere. Matters wore a se
rious aspect for a time, but we triumphed finally.
That night and the following day passed quietly

1 10 MEMORIALS OF.
We were aroused early yesterday morning by
musketry in front of this division, which guards
the left of the corps. In a moment, ' whish ' went
the shell over our headquarters, and it became
evident that the enemy was trying a flank move
ment. ' Saddle up ' and ' pack up ' were shouted
out, and these operations were quickly* performed
under a fearful artillery fire. We rode to the
right of our division, and before long the enemy
appeared in two lines of battle, the first having
moved by the flank along a ravine before us and
then formed, and the second marching directly
out of the woods. Our division was echeloned
with General Butler's, his left being one hundred
yards or more in advance of our right, in this
manner (a diagram is here drawn in the original).
The ravine, up which the first rebel line moved,
is represented by the dotted line. They evident
ly supposed that they had struck our extreme
left, and came confidently on. But they found
themselves fearfully mistaken, for a terrible fire
of infantry and artillery poured upon them, the
latter planting their shot most handsomely. In
five minutes they broke, and the men in the ra
vine raised white flags. General Griffin sent me
to bring them in. I had hardly reached the ravine,

WILLIAM FO WLER. j j r
when our men re-opened fire, and I made rapid
tracks back. The rascals were re-forming and
trying to escape. Many succeeded, but General
Cutler cut off others, who were brought in, and
still more had to come in without being brought.
We bagged five or six hundred men and thirty or
forty officers, ranking from colonel down, and in
flicting a heavy loss in killed and wounded. Our
casualties are small. A prettier fight I never saw.
Jericho Ford came nearest to it, but we had not
so fair a sight there, neither did we take as many
prisoners. I have seldom been so excited, and
would not have missed the action for anything.
Prisoners report that Lee issued an order that
he would have the railway by sunset, cost what
it might, but he has not dislodged us yet."

" Yellow Tavern, Va.,
"August 23, 1864.
" I wrote about Captain Mervine's death as soon
as I heard of it, giving the few particulars I had
learned. His remains must have reached Utica.
We miss him sadly, and it is fortunate for us that
there is so much to occupy us and keep his loss
out of mind.

112 MEMORIALS OF
" The enemy have made no demonstrations since
their disastrous repulse on the 21st. Yesterday
their pickets were withdrawn from our front, and
we have the impression that the entire body has
fallen back to their line around Petersburg. Pos
sibly they will assault there, but, with the least
bravery, we must repel them. There has been
some cannonading on our old line at various
times to-day, and while I write, I hear the distant
sound of artiUery. This Weldon Railroad is of
great value to them,, being the shortest course of
supply for their army, and it seems unlikely that
they will abandon it without another struggle
for it. It has cost us bloody fighting to keep it,
and once, at least, the result was dubious. Now
we are deeply planted, and it must be a hard and
expensive job to pull us up. The battle of the
21st was joyous to our men. Ever)- face beamed
with smiles, and no one thought of bullets or shell.
The rebels came out bravely too, and stood like
men, when our artillery was ploughing through
their ranks. No soldiers could have stood it
longer and better. They gave us, too, a fierce
artillery fire, as violent as I was ever under, and
part of it perfectly enfiladed our lines ; still we
suffered slightly, and not a man flinched.

WILLIAM FO WLER. j 1 3
" We have been having heavy rains, and the
roads are dreadful. Scarcely one of us has been
dry for a week past. I started with a bad cold,
but wetting cured me."

"Yellow Tavern, Va., )
" August 26, 1864. S
" I am sorry that anything has been said about
my promotion. I am likely to have it anyway,
and I dislike to ride over the heads of regimental
officers, whose privilege it is to recommend for
this. My staff position alone can interfere with
it, and that is always equal to one or two grades
in rank, because so much more is learned of the
mode in which troops are fought and the war
carried on, and because the hardships are less, at
least when no engagement is in progress. More
over, General Casey, at Washington, has ap
plied for me as Aide and Ordnance Officer, and
the place has so many advantages, that 1 quite
covet it." " August 28, 1864..
" Every night we get what General Griffin
calls 'stampede orders.' Division commanders
are required to ' be in readiness for immediate

H4 MEMORIALS OF
action,' and such directions have become matters
for merriment. We are perpetually anxious, of
course, and a picket shot startles us, however
soundly we may be sleeping. The General takes
things much more coolly than his staff, but when
aroused, something is certainly up. It is a sight
to look at him in action. He has a marvelously
quick eye and apprehension, and in critical mo
ments, everyone, high and low, defers to him. I
have seen him twist General Warren right
around, and manage to suit himself even when
he had no command. He is not choice at such
times in expressions to his superiors, but blurts
out what he thinks, just as he thinks it. This
makes him enemies among prominent men, but if
there was a vacancy there, the vote of the soldiers
would put him over everyone in command of the
corps." " Headquarters ist Division, sth A. C.
" You have heard of the death of Buckingham
(a young Utica friend). The poor fellow was
wounded in the Wilderness, his first battle, and
had returned to the regiment only three days
ago, and been mustered as First Lieutenant.
Yesterday he went on picket. A cessation of

WILLIAM FO WLER. j j 5
shot had been agreed upon at the suggestion of
the rebels, and during it, he went out to meet a
few of their officers and exchange papers. As he
returned, some treacherous rascals fired, wound
ing him mortally, and slightly wounding an offi
cer who accompanied him. He died in the after
noon, an hour after I saw him. One can see men
wounded and killed in the heat of action without
noticing them, even if they be personal friends,
but it is very different when all is quiet. No
battle-field hardens the sensibilities to such sights
when there is no distraction from flying balls,
and no engrossment with responsibility and
solicitude. " General Casey's application for me has pass
ed up to General Hallock, who approves, ' pro
vided General Casey has a right to him.' The
idea of soldiering in Washington is rather amus
ing. I cannot tell how I shall play the role, but
fear that field service has roughened me too
much for polite society. I shall be in danger of
putting my knife into the butter-plate, and eating
with it, and showing unusual haste at meals, and
grabbing food, and such like faux pas and misde
meanors,"

Il6 MEMORIALS OF
" Headquarters Major-Gen. Silas Casey, )
"Washington, D. C, Sept. 20, 1864. \
" I reported to General Casey last Saturday,
and with going about the city and arranging for
my quarters, I have had no leisure to write until
now. Captain E. P. Halsted (a Utica friend, now
of Worcester, Mass.) and I have nice rooms at
460 1 2th Street, and share them with each other.
My duties will be very light, while my pay is
nearly $200 a month, enough to keep me going
even in times like these. Halsted has been ex
ceedingly kind. I am indebted to him for every
thing, and at present even for the clothes I wear.
" I saw Uncle Webster and Aunt Sarah here
yesterday, and what a pleasant surprise it was.
I have also met other friends and several class
mates, and have greatly enjoyed it, of course."

"Headquarters Provisional Brigades, j
"Washington, D. C, Oct. 21, 1864. \
" General Griffin has come to Washington, and
wishes me back on his staff. I supposed that there
would be enough to do here to justify my leaving
the field, after my long and hard service in it, but
the place is almost a sinecure, and I have felt

WILLIAM FO WLER. 1 j 7
meanly about it, and as if I was a ' beat.' To draw
good pay, and make poor returns, is not a fair
and comfortable operation, and to live in Wash
ington, with no good reason for it, and wear a
uniform, galls one's sense of propriety and right.
All my inclinations dispose me to go with Gen
eral Griffin, who offers me a permanency on his
staff, and is urgent that I should take it. Noth
ing creates the least hesitation but my leaving
this post so soon after Halsted's effort to put me
in it and his and General Casey's great kindness
since I have held it.
" Before I left the field, Major Grindley came
to see me, and inquired whether it would preju
dice me in my position on General Griffin's staff,
if he sent up my name for promotion, and on my
replying that it would not, he said that he would
immediately forward the application, and mail
the commission to my present address."
" Washington, D. C, )
¦• Oct. 25, 1864. i
" General Griffin was telegraphed for last even
ing, and is anxious that I should go with him.
General Casey has consented, and I start to-day.
I am glad of this, for it is mortifying and chafing

U8 MEMORIALS OF
to be doing so little as devolves upon me here,
and I long to contribute somewhat to the grand
finale. The pending movement promises to fin
ish the campaign ; so look out for news. This
must be kept private, however."

"Washington, Dec. 5, 1864.
" My Captain's commission has come to hand,
and I shall go to the field permanently as soon as
possible. General Griffin telegraphs that he needs
me now. I shall apply to General Casey for
permission to go down to-morrow and stay
awhile, and then return to settle my affairs. The
6th Corps has been passing through here for two
days, and this, with General Griffin's telegram,
leads me to believe that the army is to demon
strate at once. I hope to be there in time to take
part in what shall go on."

; Washington, D. C,
" Dec.

ON, D. C, )
7, 1864. \

" I thought best, on the whole, to stay here
long enough to settle my business. I have ap
plied to be relieved of my present duty, and look
for orders to-morrow or next day. General Casey

W LLLL AM FO WLER. \ \ g
wishes to keep me, and has proposed to have me
mustered as Captain here, by an order he will
get from the War Department, but I do not feel at
liberty to accede to it. We are to have a photo
graph taken this morning, of the General and his
staff. " The paymasters have suspended, and we can
not learn when they will resume. There is suffer
ing among detached officers in consequence.
" It is rumored that the 5th Corps goes to North
Carolina, but I doubt it. They received orders
yesterday, I hear, to move at daylight for parts
unknown."
" Washington, D. C, )
"Dec. 14, 1864. S
" The order relieving me from duty with Gen.
Casey, and sending me to join my regiment, came
in last night, and I leave for the front day after to
morrow. The endorsement on the back of my
application for it directs General Casey to inform
me that after I join my regiment and I am mus
tered, I am to 'remain on duty with my com
pany.' This astonished me at first, but soon I
concluded that it was not to be taken literally,
and determined so to construe it."

I2o MEMORIALS OF

"Headquarters ist Div., 5th A. C, )
"¦Dec. 26, 1864. \
" I left Washington on Wednesday afternoon,
and reached here on Thursday evening. I count
ed on a world of trouble in finding headquarters,
but good fortune attended me, and I went through
quickly and safely. I met an old clerk of Mervine
at City Point, taking medical stores to ours corps,
who had a car for his special use, and he put all
my things on board and took them to Parker's
Station. I also met on the way, Colonel Sickell,
who commanded a regiment in the division, and
had sent for an ambulance to meet him at the
Station, and I piled into that with my traps, and
was set down at General Griffin's tent. The
General was indignant because I had not brought
his wife with me, but soon recovered his good
humor. Everything was, and is still, in utter dis
order. We are putting up log houses, and live
anyway in the meanwhile. The General has
a grand one nearly done — four rooms, with good
doors, fire-places, floors, windows, and a'li the
modern improvements. Though the houses ofthe
staff will not equal his, they will be better than
early settlers built, and highly comfortable.

WILLIAM FO WLER. 1 2 1
General G. left for home Saturday, on a ten days'
leave. The rest of us got up a luxurious Christ
mas dinner of turkeys and chickens, roasted and
stuffed, with the usual condiments.
" I was mustered as Captain the day after ar
riving. Grindley wanted me in the regiment for
a time at least. I could not blame him, but could
not yield to him, and appealed to General Win
throp, who ordered me to remain here, and the
order can hardly be revoked. I am rejoiced to
get back. If the news from Wilmington be true,
we must move before long, for General Lee can
not retain his hold of Richmond.
''P. S. — I have a chance to buy a handsome
bridle cheap, and would like $20 immediately to
make sure of it. Money letters for the army
must be registered." " Headquarters ist Div., 5TH A. C.
" I am acting now as Adjutant-General of the
division. It keeps me busy one or two hours a day,
but as any moment may bring a communication,
I must keep ' at home ' all the time, with scarce
ly a chance to stir out.
" Mrs. Griffin and her little child are with us,
the General having permission from the War

I22 MEMORLALS OF
Department to bring them here. I am catering
for the mess in addition to my other responsi
bilities, and the getting up of breakfasts and din
ners almost wears me out. It is perplexing
enough to provide a palatable variety with noth
ing but potatoes and beef, and then the greater
trouble is to keep within financial bounds with
butter at eighty cents, and other articles propor
tionately expensive. Turkeys range from $5 to
t6 each, and oysters cost $1.50 a quart. Bank
ruptcy is upon us unless Congress delivers us."
"Headquarters ist Division, 5TH A. C, /
" Jan, 20, 18*65. )
" I have just received your letter and one from
mother, giving accounts of the accident to poor
Horrie. As soon as I can learn his whereabouts
definitely, whether at Fortress Monroe, or still at
the front, I will go to him at once. Telegraph if
I can do anything for him by my immediate
presence. I would start for him now, but if I
failed to find him, and sought a pass a second
time, it might be refused. I am glad that the
injury is no worse. I have been worried by the
fear that he was in the Fort Fisher fight, and it
is a comfort to learn the contrary, even with the

WILLLAM FO WLER. j 2 3
bad news about him. Since he entered the army,
I find that it is a great deal harder to have rela
tives there than to be enlisted in it myself.
" I am not free until after ten at night, and
then I am too sleepy for much writing."

" Headquarters ist Division, 5TH A. C^ )
"i%7, 1865. S
" Yesterday our corps was quite heavily en
gaged, but without success. There was a bad
break in the right of our line in front of where
we now are. All safe. General Crawford is go
ing in again now ; I hear his musketry this mo
ment. The weather is intolerable, raining and
freezing, and the men suffer severely."

" Washington, Feb. 15, 1865.
" I have just arrived here on business for Gen
eral Griffin. My recommendation for Assistant
Adjutant-General, with rank of Major, started on
the 10th, and will probably reach the Secretary
of War in a few days. I understand that it will
be approved all the way up to him.
" I hope to return by way of Baltimore, and
shall then see Horrie (in the hospital there). I

124

MEMORIALS OF

am afraid, however, that the river will open again
and then I shall be obliged to take the regular line
of boats, and so miss him." "March 3, 1865.
" We have no apprehension of an attack. In
deed, nothing better could be desired. The or
ders issued a short time ago, when he was
reported as near, shows that. They stated that
if the enemy broke through anywhere, command
ing officers must understand that it was allowed
with a purpose. We feel as secure as you at home,
and ask no greater favor of the rebels than a de
termined assault upon us. The newspaper talk
ofthe eagerness ofthe soldiers, is generally ' bosh,'
but at this particular time they would welcome an
attack. The great fear with us now is for Sherman.
The rebels have been indulging in obstreperous
hurrahs for some days, and their deserters, of
whom we have unusually large numbers, bring
in reports that tales of his being thoroughly
beaten circulate in their camps. It is consoling
that none of them believe these." "March 18, 1865.
" 1 had a delightful visit from father, and I

WILLIAM FO WLER. j 2 5
think he enjoyed it. He saw everything near
us, and if he could have remained a little longer,
we would have gone over the 9th Corps line,
where the rebel pickets and works are close upon
ours. There was fortunately a review of our
whole corps while he was here, and he had a
glimpse ofthe host of men we have under arms.
" The army is gradually getting into campaign
trim. Sutlers and all peaceable beings fast disap
pear. Orders to be ready to move at a mo
ment's notice are pending. Reviews and inspec
tions take place daily, and startling rumors freely
circulate. Scarcely a point within a" circuit of 100
miles but is guessed as our destination.
" Mrs. Griffin takes her departure to-morrow,
and then the last link to civilization is broken,
and I shall resume my battered hat and private's
pants, and go unshorn and unshaven once more,
and out at the elbows and knees.
" On the whole, I hail the move. Quiet life
has grown tedious, and I enjoy the prospect of
more exciting scenes." " March 25, 1865.
" Have just returned to camp after a little rum
pus with the rebels, and am so thoroughly ex-

j. 26 MEMORIALS OF
hausted that I must content myself with a note.
I was awakened shortly after last midnight by
unusually sharp picket firing towards the right,
and soon artillery opened. This continued, some
times increasing and then falling off, and it was
clear that something threatened. At half-past
five, word came that the 9th Corps' line was
broken through, and we were ordered to move
there with the utmost dispatch. We set out
with others, leaving our brigade to protect our
flank. After reaching the Wyatt House, two
miles distant, we learned that the captured line
was retaken, and we came to a halt. In the
meanwhile, the pickets on the line of the 2d
Corps began popping away, and at one o'clock
we were sent to their support. They moved
from their works towards the enemy, and our
division followed. General Miles' division of the
2d Corps soon became engaged. They were hid
den from us by a belt of woods, and I went to
see how they were progressing. On reaching
them, I found them wasting their ammunition by
firing straight to the front, when every rebel bul
let ought to have told them that their enemy was
wholly at the right. I staid with them twenty
minutes, long enough to be both excited and dis-

WILLIAM FO WLER. 1 2y
gusted, and then, pretty sure that they would, at
least, hold their ground, went back. Our Third
Brigade was thereupon ordered to the front, and
all of us accompanied it. It relieved part of Miles'
division. Two sections of artillery were brought
forward, and heavy firing kept up until dark.
We have taken over 3,000 prisoners, besides in
flicting a large loss in killed and wounded. Our
casualties, I think, will prove small, probably
not a thousand all told. The Johnnies must be
sorry that they woke us up. All at headquarters
are safe, none of us having been exposed much.
We lost but one horse. The skirmishers still in
dulge in just enough spurts of gunnery to startle
us, but there is a prospect of quiet through the
night. I have no idea what is to be done to
morrow." " March 27, 1865.
" We are at this moment through with as hot
an engagement as often occurs. Breaking camp
at the Cummings House at three this morning,
we moved on the ' stage road ' towards Dinwid-
die Court House, and massed there. After an
hour or two, this division was ordered to move
on the Quaker road, cross Gravelly river, and

I28 MEMORIALS OF
develop the enemy. We went almost to the
Boyalton road before encountering him in force,
and then, driving back his skirmishers", we ad
vanced in line. He made a counter charge, and
though Chamberlain's brigade was alone in
front, it checked him perfectly for a time. At
least four of his brigades made the attack, and
the fire was terrific. Our men finally gave way
a little, when Bartlett's brigade came up and set
the enemy flying. We then reached the Boyal
ton road, where our first line now lies. This di
vision did the work. We have lost heavily, four
or five hundred perhaps, but inflicted a heavier
loss on the enemy, including many officers, and
taken two hundred prisoners. General Meade
has sent a note of congratulation to General
Griffin. We are all safe. One of our orderlies
was hit and one horse. It seems miraculous that
we escaped. A bullet struck my foot, but not
violently enough to leave a mark.
"Am too tired to hold a pen."

"We took the junction of the Quaker and
Boyalton plank roads yesterday without much
opposition, and formed our line along, and some

WILLIAM FOWLER. X2g
ways in front of it. To-day we have been at it
sharply, and taken the White Oak road, a mile
and a half from the South Side Railroad. It fell
to this division to do the hard work. We have
fought more by far, it is thought, than any other
troops in the army, and have been highly suc
cessful, and we must be excused for feeling
proud. To-day the division took a field from
which the corps had been driven, capturing a
number of prisoners and a battle-flag. My horse
was killed under me, but I got off all right. The
horse, by the way, was a very fine one, and bor
rowed for this march, and I must miss him sorely.
Sheridan went in on our left, but was slightly
whipped." " April i .
" Still safe, but write under the greatest ex
citement. We have beaten the rebels tremend
ously, Sheridan commanding, and his cavalry
and the 5 th Corps performing the task. General
Griffin heads the corps at present, but do not
mention it. Warren will probably be restored. I
never witnessed anything like to-day's doings.
We have four or five thousand prisoners, three
pieces of artillery, and a multitude of flags. Let
9

130

MEMORIALS OF

every one cheer. Come what may to-morrow,
we are grandly victorious to-day." " April 3.
" I sent you word after the triumph of the ist.
I wish there was time to describe how glorious it
was. Sheridan is a tiger, up with the front line
always, and in the heat of battle. I was bound to
be ahead of him, but it was hard enough to keep
there. He urged the men on, carrying his flag
in his own hand. All of us fought on our own
hook. I saw General Griffin not more than half
the time. Sheridan says that the victory is due
to the personal exertions of the officers, and I be
lieve he is right. Wherever one could get a doz
en of men together, he ' filed ahead ' on his own
orders. General Griffin has made his fortune.
Sheridan relieved Warren and placed him in
command in the midst of the battle, and he did
heroically, scaling the rifle-pits, where the artil
lery was, first of all. Greatly to my chagrin, I
received my assignment as Captain and Adjutant
to the division that very night, and had to leave
the General and report to Bartlett. My other
horse was shot under me and disabled, and I
have to ride a picked up ' old plug.' I never saw

WLLLIAM FOWLER. T^
a fight before where the victory was so well fol
lowed up. Indeed, I think I never saw a perfect
victory before. Yesterday (2d) we advanced to
the South Side Railroad. Enemy have left ar
tillery, wagons, and caissons strewed along the
way. Just now hear that Petersburg and Rich
mond are captured. Enemy making tracks, some
think to Danville, some to Lynchburgh, and some
think they will stand at Amelia Court House.
" We are off again." "April 8.
" Have just finished a most wearisome march .
It is twelve at night, and we move again at four
in the morning. Are pushing the remnant of
Lee's army closely, and it looks as if he must
either surrender or be destroyed, and yet possi
bly he may slip away, though we cannot see
how. We are worn out, and writing is next to
impossible ; but a mail - carrier leaves in the
morning, and as our chances for sending letters
are scarce, I rouse myself enough to say that I
am still safe. Our transcendent success pays us for
all the suffering, not only of this campaign, but of
the whole war."

132

MEMORIALS OF

"April 9.
" More glorious news. General Lee has just sur
rendered the whole army in front of us. You can
not imagine our exultation. I can't give particu
lars. Sufficient to say, that after fearful march
ing, we caught him at last. We were hurrying
after him nearly all last night. I wrote you then
as we got into camp. Have an opportunity to
send to-day by the Herald messenger. We set
out at 4 A.M., and struck the enemy before long.
They skirmished a little and shelled a great deal.
I had a narrow escape from one of their last
shots. The cavalry had been skirmishing at our
front, bat we had hardly developed our infantry
and commenced to advance our line, before they
left their position. We followed hard after them,
General Bartlett driving the skirmishing line in
person. We moved about three-quarters of a
mile, when we were notified that Lee was asking
terms. The firiug stopped in great part, and
General Bartlett rode ahead into Appomattox
Court House. Our headquarters flag was the
first there. A rebel colonel surrendered his brig
ade to us in person, only a couple hundred of
them being left. The battery that had been an-

WILLIAM FOWLER. j ,,
noying us so, was still in the streets. General
Gordon (rebel) met us and asked to have that
ground left neutral for the time, and we therefore
placed our guards there and left. Sheridan,
Griffin, Bartlett, and a few other Generals went
into the village, met the rebel officers, and ar
ranged an armistice until four o'clock. Grant
and Lee met soon after, and Lee surrendered.
Laus Deo ! " "Appomattox Court House, )
"April io, 1865. )
" We have been lying quietly in camp all day.
The rebel army is camped immediately opposite,
and the men of the two sides have been trading
knives, hard-tack, tobacco, and horses, in spite
of the orders to keep away from each oth
er. 1 have not rode over to the other camp
yet, for it is not allowed, and besides it seems
like triumphing over a fallen foe. Those who
have been there report that many of the Con
federates are sulky and saucy. Numbers have
undoubtedly left with their arms, and will turn
guerillas or join some other command. A large
proportion of the cavalry who laid down arms to
day were minus every warlike weapon. They

134

MEMORIALS OF

had probably broken or hidden their carbines
and pistols. Our victory is so complete that we
can afford to pass by such an offence. It does not
seriously harm us, while it dishonors them. How
odd and incomprehensible to see Lee's camp-fires
dotting the hillsides and shining through the
trees, and yet to sit in perfect security, without
the sound of a shot, and taking no precautions
against an attack. There has been no parade
about the surrender. Generals Griffin, Gibbons,
and Merritt were designated to carry out the stip
ulations ofthe capitulation, and have done every
thing very quietly. The rebel infantry deliver
their arms to-morrow, and our division is ap
pointed to receive them. The honor has been
well won, for emphatically hard work has fallen
to us. Our Ordnance Officer is directed to take
charge of the cannon, rifles, and ammunition, and
our corps to remain until all is turned over. It
is worth something to have services thus recog
nized by those who have watched them, and not
be beholden to newspaper correspondents. Sher
idan did not fight by map and telegraph, but
took the field himself, and saw who the soldiers
were. There can be no higher compliment than
he paid Griffin by putting him at the head of the

WILLIAM FOWLER. jje
corps on the ist of April, and it was deserved
too. Set free from control, Griffin shot up at
once. Meade has been overslaughed, a large
portion of his army reporting direct to Sheridan,
and Grant in person issuing orders 'to the re
mainder. Though Crawford ranks Griffin, he is
placed under his command, and this makes him
sore." "¦April 14.
" We are still at Appomattox Court House.
All the rebels have left, and most of them were
glad to go, and regard Lee's surrender as the
end not only of his army, but also of the Confed
eracy. We march to-morrow, but for what point
I do not know. Unless Johnson has already giv
en up to Sherman, we may strike at him. But I
do not anticipate much fighting, and if there is,
our men are so elated as to be irresistible.
" I am suffering from nervousness, in conse
quence of two weeks intense excitement, and can
hardly keep still a moment, and I need not detail
the recent events. I wish it were possible to ex
press the exultation we felt on the morning of the
9th. We knew that the whole of Lee's army was
before us, but exhausted by marching the day

136

MEMORIALS OF

and night before, confident as I was of victory,
I felt in poor fighting trim, as we deployed our
division in an open field behind a cavalry battery
that played on the enemy's skirmishers. These
were plainly a few hundred yards ahead, and yet
scarcely annoyed us while we were forming, and
soon we sent our skirmishers forward, following
them up with lines of battle, General Bartlett
taking charge of the skirmishers in person. The
division flag attracted attention, and the rebel
batteries threw their shell at us with uncomfort
able precision. But on we went, and forced the ar
tillery to limber up and move away. We were fol
lowing up and beginning to draw the infantry fire
when Captain Sheridan rode to us on a run, with
the news that Lee had surrendered. We stopped
our men from firing, and spread the report. No
very tumultuous cheering was raised for some
time. The first feeling was that of relief, for all
were expecting a desperate conflict, and besides,
it took us awhile to realize the fact. Firing con
tinued for sometime, as information could not be
spread instantly through the whole line. Even
the rebels in our front gave our staff several
salutes after we had gone before our lines, but
fortunately no one was hurt. Two days after, our

WILLIAM FOWLER.

137

division received the arms of the rebel infantry,
and they got their paroles and started for home.
Their camp is deserted now, nothing but debris
remaining. " I have bought General Griffin's little mare
for $350, and would like a check to pay for her as
soon as the mail is safe. I would not sell her for
a $100 to boot, because of the reminiscences as
sociated with her. I rode her during Lee's sur
render, and learned from rebel officers that she
was thoroughbred, and raised by Hare, the cele
brated Virginia jockey. The only two horses I
had were shot under me, and I have been riding
' old plugs ' so long that it is a luxury to back a
decent animal." "April 25, 1865.
" My correspondence has been so long with
pencil, and so hurried, and in such awkward po
sitions, that I have almost lost the use of a pen,
seated leisurely at table. Our tedious and wear
ing marching and countermarching are finished
for a time, we hope. Our division guards the
South Side road from Wilson's Station to Suth
erland's, headquarters being at the former, where
we were fortunate enough to find a capital house,

^8 MEMORIALS OF
especially well adapted to our use, and inhabited
by a small family for Virginia, consisting of only
eight children and two poor relatives, besides the
pater and mater familias. We pitched our tents,
got our baggage, and for the first time in three
weeks, enjoyed a bath and change of clothes. I
took twenty-four hours to make up for lost sleep,
and indulged the fallacious hope of a respite for a
few days from every kind of labor and care. But
the unhappy people for four miles around poured
in with sad faces and lugubrious stories, and
piteous appeals for safeguards, rations, old horses,
and advice generally. Arrant rebels most of them
are, but they take the oath of allegiance, and will
as readily break it. Our stragglers have given
them a bitter taste of war, and I am quite willing
to let them keep what little they have left. It is
remarkable how many good Union citizens the
wish for a safeguard draws.to us, male citizens, I
mean, for the women are incorrigible, and only
their natural regard for men disposes them to
wards even a show of civility. We had a rumor
that guerillas were prowling about, but our men
go. six or seven miles into the country without
fear, and I rather think that our slim picket line
do more sleeping than watching. All this is

WILLLAM FOWLER. I3q
strange to us, and demoralizing to military char
acter and habits. Leaves of absence are granted
now, and I shall apply for one as soon as business
wears a little deeper channel. I hope that Hor-
rie can be moved home (from hospital) by that
time. If I telegraph from Washington, please
answer immediately to the address I shall give,
so that I may know whether to stop for him at
Baltimore. " General Bartlett is assigned to the 9th Corps,
and General Chamberlain commands the division
now. The latter fully merits the praise given him.
His conduct was even more distinguished at
Lewis Farm on the 29th, than at Five Forks, where
everybody acted nobly. I have sent for informa
tion about the little drummer-boy of whom mo
ther wrote, and will give to it her when I get it."4'
"Headquarters ist Divisison, sth A. C, )
" May 8. !
" The mail goes out to-night for the first time
since we left Richmond. We are making slow
and easy marches towards Washington. We are

* Letters from preceding date to May 8th have been lost,
and the one describing the entrance into Richmond was par
ticularly graphic.

140

MEMORIALS OF

at Milford's Station to-night, and expect to be at
Fredericksburg to-morrow. We passed through
the ex-Confederate capital on the 6th in magnifi
cent style, being received by the 24th Corps, who
frightened all our horses and nearly broke the
necks of their riders. I moved along sideways,
and the rest of the staff were lifted up by the
hind legs of their chargers, the feats being more
entertaining to beholders than to ourselves."
"Headquarters ist Division, 5TH A. C, (
" May 26. )
" I have been bothered more than usually of late.
One of my clerks got drunk and was absent three
days, so that I was obliged to relieve him and
turn him over to the tender mercies of the Provost
Marshal. Another, and he, alas, a minister's son,
forged a letter to get a furlough for a friend, and
I have also been obliged to dispense with his ser
vices, and now I have but two left, one of whom
is raw, and the other sick. I have been doing
my own copying. Added to office duty have
been the grand review to occupy me, and the
presentation to General Griffin of a diamond di
vision badge, which would make your eyes open.
One of the brilliants cost a $1,000. I wish some of

WILLIAM FOWLER.

141

you could have witnessed the review. It was a
sight that never has been seen before on this con
tinent, and probably never will be again. Though
wearied by the passing of column after column
with unvarying monotony, the beholders will soon
forget the tedium, and ever gratefully remember
that they looked upon the two armies that had
marched and fought with an endurance and des-
perateness unsurpassed, and perhaps unequalled
in martial exploits.
" Since the review, the heroes have been badly
demoralized. More drunken soldiers have ap
peared than I ever saw before, and the officers
have behaved no better, and, it may be, worse.
I staid in camp while Sherman's troops passed
through, for some one was needed there, and
every other officer went off. About 5 o'clock I
rode to the city and had a view of the wrecks of
the camps strewing the road from Long Bridge to
Four Mile Run."

" Headquarters ist Division, 5TH A. C,
" June 2, 1865.
" Since regiments began mustering out, ev
ery department officer has been under pressure.
Work is more than doubled, and we lose our

!42 MEMORIALS OF
trained clerks. I have a set of perfect novices,
and am worried constantly in consequence. It
will be a happy day for us when the troops who
go home are out of the way. I cannot tell my
destination, but am likely to be retained for some
time yet, and certainly as long as the division or
ganization continues. Rumors of every kind fly
about ; some to the effect that all but Han
cock's corps, the regulars, the negroes, and the
veteran reserves are to retire soon, and others
that the corps organization is to be maintained,
and the force sent to the interior of Virginia.
" President Johnson remarked to General
Chamberlain that the Government must look for
its soldiers to the Army of the Potomac. Sher
man's men did their prescribed task, but their
depredating march destroyed their discipline and
turned them into a rabble." " June 5.
" To-day the last troops which leave this divi
sion under the order discharging those whose
term of service expires before October ist, were
mustered out. An order is reported to be on the
way, directing the discharge of men whose term
of service expires the present year. But a single

WILLIAM FO WLER. ^3
brigade would be left then, and there is no telling
what will become of the staff officers. I dislike
the uncertainity, but cannot do better than to
wait patiently until it is relieved. I am very
anxious for a furlough, but see no chance for it
now. I have hoped to be able, at least, to run
over to Horrie at Baltimore, but I cannot leave
for even a few hours without the fear of some
untoward occurrence during my absence. The
Summer will find me a citizen at home, and I
can patiently endure until then.
" It has been exceedingly sorrowful to have
the old regiments and old friends turn their steps
home, while we plod along in the old course of
camp-life." "Headquarters ist Division, sth A. C^ )
" June 19, 1865. S
" I reached camp on Saturday night, having
staid half a day longer in New York than I in
tended. My inquiries about business prospects
were not encouraging. Litigation is said to have
fallen off a third, and though lawyers look for
more in the Fall, no good reason for it appears.
I shall write to Chicago and Detroit, and try to
learn what promise they furnish.

144

MEMORIALS OF

" I spent a part of a day with Horrie at Balti
more, devoting most of the time to a fruitless ef
fort to procure his pay. He could not go home
because he could not get leave of absence. He has
sent in his resignation, and looks for its accept
ance hourly. He says that you need not come
on for him, but he cannot travel safely alone.
His leg has united, but the muscles are stiffened.
He hobbles out every day, and keeps in the best
of spirits.
" I found everything going on smoothly here.
Nothing is known definitely about us, but there
is no intimation of our breaking up soon. Any
day, however, may bring a sweeping order, send
ing us away."

The following extract from a letter by W. R.
Dewitt, M.D., Medical Director of the ist Divi
sion, 5th Army Corps, will appropriately close the
record of Major Fowler while connected with the
Army of the Potomac :
" He joined the staff to which I was attached,
that of the late General Charles Griffin, as Aide-
de-Camp. I remember the day well. From the
first we were all pleased with his frank and soldier-

WILLIAM FO WLER. ^5
ly bearing, and he soon became a great favorite
with us. A short time afterwards he was pro
moted to the position of Assistant Adjutant-
General, and as such he became chief of staff, and
was placed to a great extent over his brother offi
cers, many of whom were much older than he. In
this trying and difficult position, especially to so
young a man, he won not only the respect and
admiration, but the love of all with whom he
was associated. In his official capacity he was
strict. Some of us thought him too strict at
times in the construction of orders, yet by his
uniform kindness and willingness to sacrifice his
own comfort for that of others, the strictness and
the soldier were forgotten in the kindness and
the man. I knew him intimately, as we were
tent-mates for some time, and have been with
him in the camp, on the march, and in many a
hard-fought battle. On the field of battle he was
cool and collected, issuing the orders of the Gen
eral with clearness and distinctness, and I often
heard it said by commanding officers, that there
was ' no mistaking an order given by Major
Fowler.' 1 do not speak of his personal bravery
in an army where all were brave, but his cool
ness under fire, his ease upon the field of battle
10

146

MEMORIALS OF

were peculiar to himself. I remember on one
occasion, when I rode up to him to learn the
disposition of the troops, he met me with the re
mark: ' Why, Doctor, are not your surgeons sat
isfied with the slaughter of to-day, or are you here
like Oliver, asking for more?" In camp he was
always cheerful, relieving the tedium of life and
the fatigues of the march with pleasant conversa
tion, and it was often remarked of him that he
kept his temper unfailingly in the most trying
circumstances. General Griffin reposed great
confidence in him, and continued him with him
until the closing battle of the war, that of Five
Forks, when the General took command of the
Corps, and Major Fowler remained in his post in
the Division, on the staff of General J. L. Chamber
lain. " From this time I saw but little of him, meeting
him only two or three times. When I saw the
notice of his death, I felt as if I had lost a brother,
so near had he become to me by intimate asso
ciation in many scenes of danger, trial, and diffi
culty ; and though he did not die in battle, he is
one of the many who gave their lives to their
country."

WILLIAM FOWLER. i^y

SERVICE IN THE FREEDMAN S BUREAU AT
WASHINGTON.
General Griffin desired very much to retain
his Assistant Adjutant-General, when, after the
close of the war, he was assigned to the com
mand of the Department of the South, and for
this purpose secured a commission for him as
Captain in the Regular Army. But Major Fow
ler's distaste for military life constrained him to
decline it, and he accepted an invitation from
General Howard to take charge ofthe Land and
Claim Division of the Freedman's Bureau. The
uniformity of his life there was relieved by no
particular incident worthy of note, but it is grati
fying to record the testimony of his chief to the
mode in which he performed his part, and this
occurs in the course of a letter of condolence :
" Headquarters Department of the Columbia, )
"Portland, Oregon, Feb. 13, 1875. i
" I knew Major Fowler very well after the war.
General Griffin, with whom he had served, came
to me when I was organizing my Bureau divisions,
and recommended him to me as an intelligent,
able, and industrious officer. He was assigned
to duty with me at my official request, and by

1 48 MEMORIALS OF
me placed in the charge of the Land and Claim
Division. Here he worked hard in helping me
to arrange that troublesome division of my office.
Without my records, which remain in Washing
ton, I cannot tell the precise time he left me. I
think he was on duty a little upwards of two
years. His name appears in Johnson's Encyclo-
pasdia, with quite a full notice of the extent of the
labor of his office division. As soon as I receive
a copy, I will forward you an extract ; I have yet
seen only the proof. Major Fowler was very
quiet and retiring, going into society scarcely
any in Washington. He was respectful and at
tentive to duty, and very thoroughly acquainted
with the law. So that when questions affecting
abandoned, confiscated, and public lands came
up, I was sure to consult with him. His opinions
were always clear, briefly spoken, and decided.
I was always delighted to hear good accounts of
his subsequent work, and join you in saying,
' God be praised for it,' that he became a sincere
Christian. " With sympathy and sincerity, I remain your
husband's friend,
"O. O. Howard,
"Brigadier-General, U. S. A."

WILLIAM FO WLER: j 40
The extract from the Encyclopaedia referred
to by General Howard is too long to be intro
duced here. A few quotations from it must
suffice :
" Major Wm. Fowler (succeeded after two or
three years by General A. P. Howe and Mr. Wm.
P. Drew) took charge of the ' abandoned land '
division. The abandoned land that came under
the supervision of the Bureau was upwards of
800,000 acres of land, besides 3,373 town lots.
The work in this division conformed to the
changing policy of the Government at the South,
where the property was situated. A portion
served the purpose of revenue for a time. A
careful record was taken, plans were entered up
on for the settlement of freedmen, and afterward
modified or abandoned. Finally, all, or nearly
all, was restored to the former owners.
" To the land division was assigned, after a
time, what was called after the lands had all been
restored, ' the claim division.' This was organ
ized to take up the work undertaken and left by
the Sanitary Commission of aiding soldiers in
the collection of bounties, prize money, and oth
er dues without charge to them. This division

ISO

MEMORIALS OF

applied in the Bureau to the colored soldiers,
sailors, and marines alone. The number of such
claims in .process of settlement in December,
1867, was over 4,000 ; in 1868, upwards of 17,000.
The Commissioners report for 1869 uses these
significant words : ' It is not possible by any
machinery to furnish absolute security to both
claimants and the Government against fraud.
The inventions of cupidity are almost infinite,
and when no other scheme is successful, the last
resort of baffled dishonesty is to turn upon the
Bureau agents with false charges in the public
prints, for the purpose of getting them dis
graced and removed.' "
Major Fowler's position subjected his integrity
to the severest test. He was often approached
with disguised and tempting bribes by people
anxious to recover, at any tolerable expenditure,
the homes and possessions they had forfeited,
and dishonest claim agents attempted to thrust
upon him or slyly to convey to him large sums
to purchase his connivance at their frauds. Not
a farthing of ill-gotten gains' came into his hands,
and not a suspicion of it ever arose.
Major Fowler retired from the Freedman's

WILLIAM FOWLER.

151

Bureau with the view of embarking in, what
seemed at the time, a promising business enter
prise at Newbern, North Carolina. He joined
two young townsmen, school-mates and fellow
officers in the army, in the distillation of turpen
tine by a new process. The experiment proved
costly and unsuccessful, subjecting him to much
anxiety and distress while it Was in progress, and
mortifying and disheartening him at its failure.
Hon. Wm. H. S. Sweet, one of his associates in
business, writes :
"During the twenty-two years since my ac
quaintance with William began, I had an oppor
tunity to know him intimately in various rela
tions. We prepared for and entered college to
gether, and passed our course at the Albany Law
School in the same class. During the war, we
were officers for a time in the same regiment.
Mustered out of service, after the war closed, we
engaged in business together at Newbern, N. C.
My memory does not recall a single instance of
petulant or ruffled temper in all these situations.
He was always affable and genial. His sunny
disposition and attractive manners converted ac
quaintances into warm friends. His standing in

152

MEMORIALS OF

academic, collegiate, and professional studies, was
high and enviable. He was brave and gallant as
a soldier, and as a man of business he was atten
tive and diligent, with capacity and integrity
which his associates remember with pleasure."
Failing in his manufacturing venture, Major
Fowler was impelled to the profession for which
he had been trained, and to which he was emi
nently adapted. He feared to enter this when
he was released from the army, because he
thought it over-stocked, but he appeared to be
allowed no alternative now, and he found it so
accordant with his tastes, that he highly enjoyed
every moment he spent in it.

LIFE AT THE BAR IN ELMIRA.
Several places for practice were considered by
him, but Providence happily decided the question
for him. He was led to Elmira, the home of his
childhood, where he was warmly welcomed by
the many friends of his family, and introduced
into the office of Messrs. Smith, Robinson, and
Fassett. No situation could have been more
agreeable to him. With a keen relish for the

WILLIAM FO WLER.

153

profession, sharpened by actual enjoyment of it,
he was associated with congenial friends, to
whom he was strongly attached. Especially did
he feel favored by his connection and intimacy
with Judge Smith, and by the kindness of that
gentleman's family to him ; and in their delight
ful home he formed an acquaintance which
ripened into affection and resulted in marriage,
and his life thus received its crowning earthly
blessing. His friend and associate, the Hon. H.
Boardman Smith, whose relation to him best
qualifies him to speak of him professionally, says
in a sketch of him, to which personal regard may
have unduly contributed :
" As a lawyer, he displayed great native ability
and very remarkable discipline of mind. This
trained strength gave him great power of analy
sis. He could not be baffled by sophistries or
logical shams. He took an argument to pieces
with great facility, and exposed its hidden fal
lacy. His mind pierced directly to the core of a
question. He had pre-eminently what our pro
fession terms a ' legal mind.' Just what this is, it
is difficult to define. It involves strength of in
tellectual muscle, acumen, discrimination, judg-

I 54 MEMORLALS OF
ment, knowledge of human nature, a mental poise
not unbalanced by sympathy for a client or a fee,
a lack of veneration for the sophistical logic of
courts, — in one word, the ability to get right and
to demonstrate that one is right. While with us,
he was often entrusted with the most important
cases in the higher courts, anc) was successful in a
very marked degree. I thin**, he was never beaten
contrary to his expectations. He loved justice,
and could not be used to circumvent the right.
He magnified his office, aiming at the attainment
of truth and equity in the quarrels of men. If
life had been spared to him, he would have been
very eminent in the higher walks of the profes
sion, and have wielded a great influence in the
community as an 'honest lawyer.' He had a
large heart. He was peculiarly pleasing and
gentle in his manners. He was unselfish — ' lov
ing himself last.' He has left a pleasant memory
in our office. We admired him as a lawyer, and
loved him as a man."
Extremely diffident, Major Fowler naturally
shrank from general society, and yet he always
enjoyed it when brought into it, and few people
were so agreeable in it. Graceful in manners, of

WILLIAM FOWLER.

155

fine person and carriage, of refined taste, of
ready wit and delicate humor, well informed
on current topics, and of kindly disposition, he
graced and entertained any intelligent and culti
vated circle. He ventured out to some extent
during his residence in Elmira, and the impres
sion he made is described in the following ex
tracts from a commemorative paper read before
the " Literary and Social Union of the First
Presbyterian Church," by Rev. Dr. Wm. E.
Knox : " enough to show," as the writer re
marks, " our estimate as a congregation and so
ciety of so truly an invaluable member. We
have no one to fill his place, and are not like
ly to have, though his example in stimulating
others to like service remains."
" At the time of the formation of our Society,
Major William Fowler had been a resident of the
city for a little more than a year. He was pur
suing the practice of law in the office of Hon. H.
Boardman Smith, under severe bodily weakness
which his service in the War of the Rebellion
had occasioned. It was not to have been ex
pected that he could afford much time or strength
to demands outside of his profession, and it was,
therefore, with the greater pleasure that we

!j6 MEMORIALS OF
found him immediately entering with such cor
dial appreciation into our associated aims and
efforts. His superior literary tastes and genial
manners drew our unanimous suffrages to him
as a presiding officer."
******
" At the opening of the second year, he was
chosen critic for the first quarter, as he was for
the first quarter of the succeeding year. The
well-remembered, readable, and racy papers he
produced in this department became a model to
which we are in no small measure indebted for
the sustained interest to which other incumbents
of the place have since so successfully contribu
ted. His always original, graceful, and genial
style of composition, his abounding literary allu
sions, his playful self-depreciation, the abundant
material of semi-serious review, and keen, but kind
ly criticism which he found in the most ordinary
business item, in every written essay, recitation,
reading, vocal or instrumental piece, imparted a
rich and relishable humor to his critiques, which
made them a leading feature of the evening's
entertainment." ******
u His death could not be said to have been un-

WILLIAM FO WLER. j e y
expected, but it was none the less impressive to
the wide circle of his Elmira acquaintances and
friends. We knew that the Bar of our city had
lost from its ranks a youthful member, who, had
life and strength been spared bim, would have
" shone among it brightest ornaments, for he had
eminently a legal mind, whose vigorous and al
most intuitive grasp of law principles had been
recognized by those who had the best opportuni
ties for observation as something unusual, and
for which he had laid the foundation in a thor
ough mental discipline and solid scholarship. To
this he added artistic tastes, and literary and so
cial accomplishments, which would have adorned
any circle in which he had moved. I may be
pardoned for speaking of him with a special admi
ration and interest, for coming into this congrega
tion, of which his father was pastor for many
years ; he seemed to regard nothing that belong
ed to its welfare as foreign to himself. A regular
attendant at church, and a member of the Bible-
class, he aided in the illustration of our Sunday-
school lessons by illuminated drawings on the
black-board, such as made teachers and scholars
wonder how ordinary chalk crayons could pro
duce them."

jc8 MEMORIALS OF
" It is a feeble, but feeling tribute we thus pay
to his memory. Words can but obscurely express
the loss a Society suffers when from its roll of
members a name is struck of one so rich in re
sources and so ready to use them. Doubly
grateful were the valuable services he rendered
us for the spontaneous delight they afforded the
giver. Would that his honored example might
be fruitful in a wide imitation by those who wit
nessed it." ' Peace to the memory of a man of worth,
A man of letters and of manners too.'
" Nor is it a vain benediction, for thanks to
Him ' who giveth His beloved sleep,' there has
come back the report with what quietness of
spirit our departed friend passed away from
earth. The darkness ofthe valley into which he
descended was made light by a divine presence.
He seemed to hear a reassuring voice, saying,
' I am the Resurrection and the Life ; he that be
lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall
he live.'"
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
The first two years of Major Fowler's wedded
life were almost cloudless sunshine. His cosy

WILLIAM FOWLER. j jg
house, embellished with little ornaments which his
fastidious taste selected, was a total contrast to the
quarters he had occupied so many years, and a
loved and devoted wife, and genial visitors, made
his home a paradise. The exposure to which he
was put in the army, and particularly the malaria
he encountered in Louisiana, showed signs ot
their effect when he first settled in Elmira, but
too faintly to excite uneasiness. While attend
ing the Court of Appeals at Albany, in the Win
ter of 1873, he slipped on the ice, and a lameness
and pain in the knee followed, which soon after
pinioned and tortured him. The ablest medical-
treatment failed to relieve him, and by the advice
of physicians, he spent a Winter in Florida. Un
der that genial climate, and in a large household
of his nearest relatives, he enjoyed every moment
ofthe cool season, but as warm weather came on,
unfavorable symptoms appeared, and returning
North, he put himself, as a private patient, under
the care of the able ph}'sicians in attendance at
the New York Presbyterian Hospital, and par
ticularly of Dr. L. De F. Woodruff, with Dr. F.
N. Otis as consulting surgeon. These gentle
men continued their services when he removed
to apartments in the city, and waited upon him

t6o MEMORIALS OF
with the tenderness and earnestness of brothers.
But art and zeal were of no avail. The primary
disease might have been mastered. A supple
ment set in which defied resistance.
The characteristics of the sufferer brightened
in the shades of his chamber. No streak flecked
the sky that canopied him, and be flung a cheer
ful light on all about him. One could hardly
feel that he was in a sick-room when with him.
Though stretched on a rack for weeks and
months, he so concealed and restrained all indi
cations and expressions of pain, that he was not
suspected of enduring it. Never did a murmur
make discord with the notes of gratitude tuned
by his heart. " Was ever sick man treated so
kindly," and " did ever sick man fare so well,"
frequently burst from his lips. His only concern
respected others, and he mourned the smallest
tax on the humblest of those who waited upon
him. Even delirium did not impair his considera
tion for them. He repeatedly supposed during
transient wanderings of mind, that his nurse, an
able-bodied man, was put to some peril or suf
fering in helping him, and he earnestly begged to
have him spared.

WILLIAM FOWLER. !gT

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
Major Fowler never made a formal and public
profession of religion, but he was always open to
its influence, and often exercised by it, and at
last happily subject to it. He waited on its ser
vices and attended to its instructions in childhood
and youth without the restlessness so common at
that age, cheerfully committing to memory pass
ages of Scripture, and the answers and proofs of
the Westminster Catechism, so that he could re
peat them as readily as the alphabet, and giving
the substance of the daily reading at family
prayers as accurately and fully after listening to
it at the time, as if he had made a study of it pre
viously, and on no occasion was he known to
hesitate about going to Sunday - school and
church. He left home first on entering college,
and was then only sixteen years old, but he did
not depart from the way in which he had been
brought up. On the contrary, at one period of
this part of his literary course, he felt committed
to it more than ever before. The Spirit of God
was copiously poured out on the institution, and
upon him in common with his fellow students,
ii

Xfo MEMORIALS OF
and he indulged the hope that he committed his
all to the keeping of the Saviour, and consecrated
his all to His service. The faculty advised his
uniting with the church, but his constitutional
diffidence kept him back, and out of the fold he
relapsed into the world. The solemnities and
horrors of the scenes through which he passed in
the progress of the war deeply affected him, and
he frequently wrote of his feelings : " I am most
thankful that my life is still spared and my body
unhurt. It is due to your prayers at home, and
I have always counted upon them in the battles
through which I have gone. It is impossible for
any reflecting man to look daily into the very
face of death without thinking of preparation for
it, and it has been seriously in my mind, especial
ly since your letter of June 9th. I cannot pre
sume that I am a Christian, but that is my effort
and aim. I feel how little I can accomplish for
myself, and I am driven to pray as my only re
sort. At the same time a dreadful insensibility
distresses me, and I often fear that an utterly un
worthy motive — the fear of sudden death — alone
actuates me. I know you all plead for me, and
greatly do I need such help.
" If put in a different situation, I trust that it

WILLIAM FOWLER. x^
will be in a country regiment, under a good,
moral, or Christian Colonel.
" Since that day I have been much exercised in
religious subjects. I hardly dare to hope that I
am a Christian, but I have tried and am trying,
with God's help, to lead a new life. I have al
ways felt on going into battle the power of the
prayers I know that you and mother were offer
ing for me, and they gave me a confidence and
courage which I could have gained from no other
source." The chaplain of his regiment wrote from be
fore Port Hudson, June 24, 1863: " He is quite
correct in his habits — as far as I know, not ad
dicted to profanity, a habit fearfully prevalent in
the army among officers and men, — and he never
uses intoxicating drinks except for medicinal pur
poses, and I know that he has not been guilty of
dissipation. He has regularly attended our ser
vices when we were so situated as to hold them.
I had a very gratifying conversation with him
last evening. Something was said about Chris
tian men among our mutual friends and acquaint
ances, and of the sad declension of some of his
college-classmates who had made a profession of

r64 MEMORIALS OF
religion during the revival in 1857-8, and he ex
pressed thankfulness that he had not done the
same thing, though he also remarked that a con
nection with the church then might have estab
lished him in the Christian life. He seems
thoughtful and anxious, and as God has heard
your prayers and preserved his life in imminent
danger, so He may likewise make him His child.
In the late engagement, he was uppermost in my
mind, and I have felt that he was kept safe in
answer to prayer. We are in daily expectation of
another attack. I shall try to do as you requested,
should your loved son fall, but I trust that he will
be spared to rejoice your heart by giving the
assurance that he has embraced the Saviour."
While his transfer to the Army of the Potomac
was most agreeable to his tastes, it is doubtful
whether it furthered his spiritual interests, and
there is no knowledge of anything favorable to
these until the seeds of disease sown in him dur
ing his connection with the army in Louisiana
had developed themselves. The strokes of the
rod were needed to turn him fully to God. His
strong aversion to speak of himself, added to his
great distrust of himself, prevented an early and

WILLIAM FO WLER. x 65
frequent expression of his feelings even after the
heavenly discipline began ; but the disposition he
habitually manifested was eminently Christian.
Submission, and gratitude, and love, demonstrat
ed the genuineness and completeness of his con
version ; and when he did speak, the language,
coming from him, admitted of no doubt. He
dearly loved the Bible, and his last and most rel
ished exercise every day was to listen to one of
its precious passages. Always fond of poetry, he
came to exquisitely enjoy devotional hymns.
" The Changed Cross" was particularly dear to
him, not as a work of art, but for its simplicity
and spirituality, and he feasted on this as the ac
companiment of the Bible, calling for a reading
from it as night after night he was preparing for
sleep. He lay several weeks balancing between
life and death, suffering intensely for much of
the time, but as placid and sweet as an infant.
It was the happiness of all his family to be with
him then, and the long-drawn scene was wonder
ful and beautiful, no less than affecting to them,
contradicting the ordinary ideas of dying. There
was no wavering of the faculties until just at the
last, no trepidation of spirit, no gloom, while a
quiet interest continued in the affairs and occur-

1 66 MEMORIALS OF
rences of the world. He was occasionally deliri
ous for two or three days before his death, but
in the intervals, some peculiarly gratifying con
versations were held with him. As his mother
went up to his bed, he said, " I would like to hear
the Bible, and I wish father was here to pray with
me." The twenty-fifth psalm was read, and he
then spoke at length of himself. He said that he felt
very much as if he was dying, and that for several
months he had despaired of living, but thought
that he had committed his soul to the Saviour
some time before, but that his disinclination to
talk on such subjects had withheld him from men
tioning it. " You have had many thoughts on your
sick-bed," it was remarked to him, "that you
could not utter?" " O, yes," he replied, "and
that ' Changed Cross ' has been such a comfort to
me, and helped me so much." He attempted to
say something about feeling that he was a sinner,
and feeling that he believed, and added : " But I
cannot help believing in the Saviour, and all I
can do is to trust myself with Him." He could
hardly consent to have the conversation close ;
and when the hymn, " Just as I am," was re
peated to him, he said: "I wish Laura was
here to sing it to me." Finally, worn out by the

WILLIAM FO WLER. \ Qy
long and severe struggle, he fell into a comatose
state, occasionally arousing from it, and exhaust
ed nature gave out with so faint an expiring, that
the vigilant eyes watching him did not suspect
it. His wife stepped to another part of the room
a moment before ; his nurse had just administered
a potion to him, and was sitting by him, when
his sister came up and looking at him, exclaimed,
"He is dead."
It was concluded to place the remains in the
family plot at the Albany Rural Cemetery, and
for that reason the funeral was held in the city
of New York. Had the choice of the place been
left to the bereaved family, it would have been
appointed at Elmira, the home of the deceased,
or at Utica, the home of his parents, but Provi
dence ordered better. A larger number of at
tendants might have been present at either of
those cities, but not so many special friends.
Every person in the congregation was a mourn
er, and many appeared who seemed brought as
by a miracle there, and whose expression of sym
pathy in their sorrow thus given, was an un
speakable comfort to the afflicted relatives. The
services were conducted in the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church, by the pastor, Rev. John

!68 MEMORIALS OF
Hall, D.D., whose Scripture selections, and re
marks, and prayers were exceedingly happy and
consolator}', while a select choir exquisitely ren
dered the three pieces, " Cast thy burden on the
Lord," " Beyond the smiling and the weeping,"
" Jerusalem, the golden."
Sad as it was on a damp, chilly Sunday morn
ing in November (the 29th), to lay one so precious
in the cold ground, and bury him out of sight,
there was great relief in leaving him there in
the immediate company of near and dear kindred,
and surrounded by a multitude of their most in
timate friends, and almost a thrill of joy was felt
in the thought that Jesus had slept in the grave,
and so given it sweetness and fragrance, and that
its closed mouth would open for a blessed and
glorious resurrection.
Numerous letters conveyed soothing sympa
thy to the stricken family. It would be a pleas
ure to quote from them all, but difficult as a selec
tion is, only enough can be given from a few to
indicate the tenor of the whole.
" I feel as if I could not wait another hour
without expressing my deepest sympathy with
you. I have borne you and yours on my heart

WILLIAM FO WLER. r 6g
and in my prayers for the last week. Dear, dear
Will ! I cannot tell you how dearly I loved him,
and what sweet and lovely memories I have of
him from his boyhood upward. How unselfish,
and genial, and intelligent, and agreeable he was.
I cannot repress the wish that God might have
spared a life that would have been so noble and
useful. MRS. E. A. w."
"They echo all Dr. H. had said to me of his
loveliness of character, his wonderful unselfish
ness, and his brilliant intellect. The Dr. spoke
also with keen regret of his loss to the world,
of the useful and brilliant career undoubtedly his
had he lived ; emphatically repeating, if such a
thing could be, he was too unselfish — too unself
ish for his own good. MRS. R. c"
" In our old college days, when I used to see
him quite often, I loved his acute, and vivacious,
and cherry ways. He was the centre of a bright
company always. I took pride in the easy fash
ion in which he accomplished his. ordinary work
as a student, and with half the usual expenditure
of strength, maintain a high place in his class. I
used to think then that if his physical stamina

170 MEMORIALS OF
had equalled the quickness and force of his mind,
he would have few, if any, real competitors.
Even at that time, he had many serious thoughts
about his religious obligations, and I remember
the gravity and candor with which he acknowl
edged the claims of religion upon him — greater
claims because of the accumulated influences of
home and friends, which had been at work upon
him. I have never ceased to expect much from
him as a man, feeling sure that a mind so just as
his, and a heart so true, would not only fill a
large place of earthly influence, but would soon
or late be devoted to the service of Christ.
" Rev. Prof. A. H. Strong, D.D.,
" Theological Seminary, Rochester."
" Ever since I met him, he has been my ideal
of a charming, cultivated gentleman. I never
saw his equal ; I never expect to find it. I loved
him dearly, first because he was your husband,
and then for himself. His genial, charming man
ners endeared him to everybody that knew him.
His brilliancy and culture alwayrs called forth a
wondering admiration.
" w. s.'

WILLI A M FOWLER. Iyl
" I was strongly attached to him in college,
and I cannot reconcile my mind to the decree
that has cut short a life so bright and promising.
When I first knew him I was attracted by the
elegance of his mind, and the graceful ease of his
expression. When I became intimate with him,
I found him true and faithful. " w. P."
" He was one of my best friends. Indeed, he
was a good friend to all his class-mates, and I
cannot recall anyone who was so universally
beloved. A. B. b."

"He had filled a large place in the circle of
Elmira friendship. He had a richly -endowed
nature, intellectual and social, and to his full
measure ot strength and beyond, his genial and
generous spirit prompted him in his contribu
tions to the happiness of others.
" REV. WM. E. KNOX, D.D."
" I admired and loved your husband. He was
a man of regal intellect, of large heart, of the
most perfect mental discipline, and a most agree-

172 MEMORIALS OF WLLLIAM FOWLER.
able office companion. With health, he would
have led the Bar of our country in the higher
walks of the profession. His untimely death is a
dreadful blow to me.
" Hon. H. Boardman Smith,
'' House of Representatives.
"Washington, D. C, )
" Dec. 6, 1874." 5
"And it 76 so soon over ! So like a dream when
one awaketh ! But it is not over. Your whole
earthly life will be changed by these few brief
years of love, and sympathy, and nseafe^ burden-
bearing. Even eternity will bear the impress of
this deepest experience of your soul.
" p. m. k."