Homer Curtiss, 2nd C.H.A., November 24, 1864
Title
Homer Curtiss, 2nd C.H.A., November 24, 1864
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 2nd (1863-1865)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life
Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888
Wheaton, Frank, 1833-1903
Wright, Horatio Gouverneur, 1820-1899
Upton, Emory, 1839-1881
Description
Homer Curtis writes to his family about his daily routine and a recent review by General Sheridan. He also gives extended assessments of the generals of the 6th Army Corps.
Date
1864.11.24
Identifier
6-123a
Text
No. 14
Con. Hdqrs. Co. "H" 2d Conn. H. Artillery
2d Brigade 1t Division 6h Army Corps
"Camp Russell", Army of the Shenandoah
Friday, November 23rd AD. 1864 eve'g.
Dr. Friends at Home
It has been a lovely day
clear, warm Indian Summery, a pleasing change after
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, which were rigorous.
We are in camp here where I first joined the boys
a half mile from Corps Hdqrs, a mile from Dept. Hdqrs
and 1 1/2 miles from Kernestown which is 3 miles from
Winchester, Va. The boys have put up comfortable
quarters, generally, though not what would naturally
be called "rustic qrs" as few have stockades, but
most have good fireplaces and chimnees and though
wood is not convenient, they manage to pick up enough to keep from suffering with cold. We go a mile
for wood and 1/2 mile for water, but both are good when
reached, so if it keeps us busy to supply fire and food
we are healthy and enjoy the life very well indeed
though there is the usual amount of grumbling.
[page 2]
Nothing out of the usual line to day. An early
rise, breakfast of dyspeptic griddle(or spider)
cakes and Gov't. beef, guard mount at 9 o'c. Co drill
from 9.30' to 11 o'c. I drilling Co "H" + "K" consolidated
going through 1st Vol. Casey and McClellan's Bayonet
Exercise mostly, diffuse if not very profitable. An
excellent dinner of chicken pot pie. Thanksgiving remnant
Battn drill from 1.30' to 3.30' p.m. the 2d being divided
into 6 Cos with 3 line officers out, 2 of which rank
me, so I get 3d Co (Color Co.) and am chief of Div'n
for First line, but I manage to get along without any
bad errors all through the drill, which like mine
of the morning, is quite diffuse, going over Vol. 1, 2, + 3
of Casey's Tactics regardless of morder or arrangement.
A brigade dress parade up near Gen. Wright's Hdgrs
at 4.30 closes the active exercises of the day, a
light supper of remains of dinner, this letter writing
and the 8.30 roll call being inconsiderable efforts.
For Aunt Mary Wedge's benefit I would say that
Frank Wedge is a Sergt. in Co. K an honest, respectable
quiet and I have no doubt a "pious" young man.
He acted as right guidepost of the line this morning's drill.
He is quite deaf but otherwise an excellent soldier.
[page 3]
Did you hear of our review the 21st inst? I did,
and what is more to the point, saw it + participated
in it, to the extent of my humble ability.
It had been cloudy all day the morn'g and it began to
rain as we fell in at 12 n, so we had a muddy
little march up the pike to Gen. Sheridan's Hdqrs, nearly
where we formed in column by regtl division, our brigade
the 2d of the 1st Divn bringing us well to the right of
the line. Our regt is the 1st or right of the 2d brigade.
We formed the Corps line promptly, and myst have
waited nearly an hour bin the cold dip, after forming
for 2 o'c (the reviewing hour) to arrive. Gen. Sheridan
in full dress and with a large staff and train rode
up punctual to the minute, and the review commenced.
He rode a splendid black horse, and rode him excellently
well. Rode in front of each Brigde Comdr and saluted
them down the brigade line. So on through the 3 Divisions
of the infantry part of the Corps, these then the batteries of
of artillery, posted in rear of the infantry line. It was
a little differently conducted review, from what I had
ever seen, for Gen. Phil dont go mto Washington for his
Method of Review, but has Gen. Torbert get up one to suit
the circumstances and the "Army of the Shenandoah."
[page 4]
After he (the Gen.) had done his part, the battn
of the hin changed direction by the left flank, by
head of column took wheeling distance, and so
marched in series, and home in the rain I read
Gen. Sheridan is a little man physically, but a
whale militarily. All the boys nearly worship
him, and dont growl at his reviews at all.
I should have known him readily from his
pictures I had seen in the papers. A queer
plain face, round kind of head with striaght
hair and full beard and mustache. There
is a very good picture of him in the "annals
of the Army of the Cumberland". There is
a curious look on his face, half comical, half
sad, all bright and sharp, different from anything
I ever saw in any other dace. A man told me
the Gen. almost cried when he rode up to the Fight
of Oct. 19th another told me he almost laughed.
I think likely from what I saw of his face that
probably it did not look very differently from what
it usually does, the difference being in the 2
mens eyes more than any thing else. Altogether
he is not a common looking man. Of his achieve
you know as much as I. They speak for dimensions
[page 5]
I am not certain that you will get a very vivid idea
of the Army of the Shenandoah from my rough and
imperfect sketch, but it may assist you just a little.
You will notive that the 6th Corps has the post of honor
(right wing) and half of the danger + work (at least)
To hear the 6th Corps boys talk one would reasonably
suppose njo other corps could fight at all. They say
the 8th + 9th broke + ran at Winchester as well as at
Cedar Creek and nothing "but our brigade of the 6th
stood to a man" and saved the day. The 2d C.A.
can brag more, [unclear] more and fight harder than any
other military organization in the Vol. Army if
the boys words are to be credited at all.
Our brigade (famous Upton's) is a small squad now.
Does not turn out more than 1000 rifles at the most
and usually not upon an inspection or mparade. There
are besides the 2d C.A. which is the right battn, the 95th
P.I. 121st + 65th N.Y.I, all good regts. and true.
Col. Hubbard our regl Cmdr is more beloved by the
boys than ever Col. Kellogg was, which is saying much.
Of. Col. McKenzie I need say nothing except that
[page 6]
he is about as popular a brigade cmdr as he
has been regtl Cmdr. Others can detail his saying
and doings better than I as he was one of [unclear]
Gen. Wheaton Div. Cmdr is a gentleman and very
fastidious in style + dress, appearing in the finest
and brightest attire. Gen. Wright comes out in his
very plainest dress possible, enlisted man over
coat, cavalry boots and slouch hat, but both Gens
ride very finest horses - Gen. Wright's a black, Gen.
Wheaton's a chestnut, both beauties, but not grand
like Gen. Sheridan's black that took him from
Winchester to Cedar Creek that 19th of Oct. and took
him all through the afternoon battle.
Gen. Upton is said to be at Brigde Hdqrs. He
is brevet Maj. Gen. I hear, and goes to Sherman's
Army from here. Sorry to lose him, glad to
have him rise. Reverse for "3 fingered slack".
There! I have gossiped enough of my betters
but I have also reached the bottom of the
last page, so I cannot change the subject
not having room to turn around.
With much love therefore I bid you all
a very good day.
Homer S. Curtis
Lieut. 2nd C.V.A. Comdg Co "H"
Con. Hdqrs. Co. "H" 2d Conn. H. Artillery
2d Brigade 1t Division 6h Army Corps
"Camp Russell", Army of the Shenandoah
Friday, November 23rd AD. 1864 eve'g.
Dr. Friends at Home
It has been a lovely day
clear, warm Indian Summery, a pleasing change after
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, which were rigorous.
We are in camp here where I first joined the boys
a half mile from Corps Hdqrs, a mile from Dept. Hdqrs
and 1 1/2 miles from Kernestown which is 3 miles from
Winchester, Va. The boys have put up comfortable
quarters, generally, though not what would naturally
be called "rustic qrs" as few have stockades, but
most have good fireplaces and chimnees and though
wood is not convenient, they manage to pick up enough to keep from suffering with cold. We go a mile
for wood and 1/2 mile for water, but both are good when
reached, so if it keeps us busy to supply fire and food
we are healthy and enjoy the life very well indeed
though there is the usual amount of grumbling.
[page 2]
Nothing out of the usual line to day. An early
rise, breakfast of dyspeptic griddle(or spider)
cakes and Gov't. beef, guard mount at 9 o'c. Co drill
from 9.30' to 11 o'c. I drilling Co "H" + "K" consolidated
going through 1st Vol. Casey and McClellan's Bayonet
Exercise mostly, diffuse if not very profitable. An
excellent dinner of chicken pot pie. Thanksgiving remnant
Battn drill from 1.30' to 3.30' p.m. the 2d being divided
into 6 Cos with 3 line officers out, 2 of which rank
me, so I get 3d Co (Color Co.) and am chief of Div'n
for First line, but I manage to get along without any
bad errors all through the drill, which like mine
of the morning, is quite diffuse, going over Vol. 1, 2, + 3
of Casey's Tactics regardless of morder or arrangement.
A brigade dress parade up near Gen. Wright's Hdgrs
at 4.30 closes the active exercises of the day, a
light supper of remains of dinner, this letter writing
and the 8.30 roll call being inconsiderable efforts.
For Aunt Mary Wedge's benefit I would say that
Frank Wedge is a Sergt. in Co. K an honest, respectable
quiet and I have no doubt a "pious" young man.
He acted as right guidepost of the line this morning's drill.
He is quite deaf but otherwise an excellent soldier.
[page 3]
Did you hear of our review the 21st inst? I did,
and what is more to the point, saw it + participated
in it, to the extent of my humble ability.
It had been cloudy all day the morn'g and it began to
rain as we fell in at 12 n, so we had a muddy
little march up the pike to Gen. Sheridan's Hdqrs, nearly
where we formed in column by regtl division, our brigade
the 2d of the 1st Divn bringing us well to the right of
the line. Our regt is the 1st or right of the 2d brigade.
We formed the Corps line promptly, and myst have
waited nearly an hour bin the cold dip, after forming
for 2 o'c (the reviewing hour) to arrive. Gen. Sheridan
in full dress and with a large staff and train rode
up punctual to the minute, and the review commenced.
He rode a splendid black horse, and rode him excellently
well. Rode in front of each Brigde Comdr and saluted
them down the brigade line. So on through the 3 Divisions
of the infantry part of the Corps, these then the batteries of
of artillery, posted in rear of the infantry line. It was
a little differently conducted review, from what I had
ever seen, for Gen. Phil dont go mto Washington for his
Method of Review, but has Gen. Torbert get up one to suit
the circumstances and the "Army of the Shenandoah."
[page 4]
After he (the Gen.) had done his part, the battn
of the hin changed direction by the left flank, by
head of column took wheeling distance, and so
marched in series, and home in the rain I read
Gen. Sheridan is a little man physically, but a
whale militarily. All the boys nearly worship
him, and dont growl at his reviews at all.
I should have known him readily from his
pictures I had seen in the papers. A queer
plain face, round kind of head with striaght
hair and full beard and mustache. There
is a very good picture of him in the "annals
of the Army of the Cumberland". There is
a curious look on his face, half comical, half
sad, all bright and sharp, different from anything
I ever saw in any other dace. A man told me
the Gen. almost cried when he rode up to the Fight
of Oct. 19th another told me he almost laughed.
I think likely from what I saw of his face that
probably it did not look very differently from what
it usually does, the difference being in the 2
mens eyes more than any thing else. Altogether
he is not a common looking man. Of his achieve
you know as much as I. They speak for dimensions
[page 5]
I am not certain that you will get a very vivid idea
of the Army of the Shenandoah from my rough and
imperfect sketch, but it may assist you just a little.
You will notive that the 6th Corps has the post of honor
(right wing) and half of the danger + work (at least)
To hear the 6th Corps boys talk one would reasonably
suppose njo other corps could fight at all. They say
the 8th + 9th broke + ran at Winchester as well as at
Cedar Creek and nothing "but our brigade of the 6th
stood to a man" and saved the day. The 2d C.A.
can brag more, [unclear] more and fight harder than any
other military organization in the Vol. Army if
the boys words are to be credited at all.
Our brigade (famous Upton's) is a small squad now.
Does not turn out more than 1000 rifles at the most
and usually not upon an inspection or mparade. There
are besides the 2d C.A. which is the right battn, the 95th
P.I. 121st + 65th N.Y.I, all good regts. and true.
Col. Hubbard our regl Cmdr is more beloved by the
boys than ever Col. Kellogg was, which is saying much.
Of. Col. McKenzie I need say nothing except that
[page 6]
he is about as popular a brigade cmdr as he
has been regtl Cmdr. Others can detail his saying
and doings better than I as he was one of [unclear]
Gen. Wheaton Div. Cmdr is a gentleman and very
fastidious in style + dress, appearing in the finest
and brightest attire. Gen. Wright comes out in his
very plainest dress possible, enlisted man over
coat, cavalry boots and slouch hat, but both Gens
ride very finest horses - Gen. Wright's a black, Gen.
Wheaton's a chestnut, both beauties, but not grand
like Gen. Sheridan's black that took him from
Winchester to Cedar Creek that 19th of Oct. and took
him all through the afternoon battle.
Gen. Upton is said to be at Brigde Hdqrs. He
is brevet Maj. Gen. I hear, and goes to Sherman's
Army from here. Sorry to lose him, glad to
have him rise. Reverse for "3 fingered slack".
There! I have gossiped enough of my betters
but I have also reached the bottom of the
last page, so I cannot change the subject
not having room to turn around.
With much love therefore I bid you all
a very good day.
Homer S. Curtis
Lieut. 2nd C.V.A. Comdg Co "H"
Files
Citation
“Homer Curtiss, 2nd C.H.A., November 24, 1864,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed November 23, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1731.