My First Campaign

At the earnest request of many of my comrades of the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers, I am induced to publish this narrative, which, with very little addition or alteration, I have copied entire from my private journal. This was written under many disadvantages during a campaign of unusual hardships and privations. Hoping it may prove of use, as a reference, to many of my companions, who from the very nature of the campaign, found it impossible to keep a record, is the only apology I have to offer for publishing a work of this nature.

DIAMOND HILL, R. I., August, 1863.

MY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

CHAPTER I.

On the 16th day of September, 1862, the author of this narrative was duly enlisted as a volunteer in the service of the United States; and, on the 22d of the same month, reported at Camp Stevens, Providence, R. I., for duty. At this place, the Twelfth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers was organized; and in this city, on the 13th day of October, 1862, it was mustered into the service of the United States, for a period of nine months.

As a member of this regiment, your subscriber was duly elected, and from the 13th of October, 1862, until the 29th of July, 1863, was known as J. W. Grant, private, Company F, Twelfth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers. Our regiment was under the command of Colonel George H. Browne, and as yet no lieutenant-colonel or major had been assigned us. The following were the company officers:

Company A.--Captain, Edward S. Cheney; 1st Lieutenant, ----; 2d Lieutenant, John S. Roberts.

Company B.--Captain, James M. Longstreet; 1st Lieutenant, Oscar Lapham; 2d Lieutenant, Albert W. Delanah.

Company C.--Captain, James H. Allen; 1st Lieutenant, Jales Macharet; 2d Lieutenant, Matthew M. Chappell.

Company D.--Captain, George C. Almy; 1st Lieutenant, William H. King; 2d Lieutenant, George H. Tabor.

Company E.--Captain, John J. Phillips; 1st Lieutenant, George F. Bicknell; 2d Lieutenant, Christopher H. Alexander.

Company F.--Captain, William E. Hubbard; 1st Lieutenant, George F. Lawton; 2d Lieutenant, George Bucklin.

Company G.--Captain, ----; 1st Lieutenant, William C. Rogers; 2d Lieutenant, James Bowen.

Company H.--Captain, Oliver H. Perry; 1st Lieutenant, ----; 2d Lieutenant, Edward P. Butts, Jr.

Company I.--Captain, George A. Spink; 1st Lieutenant, Stephen M. Hopkins; 2d Lieutenant, Munson H. Najac.

Company K.--Captain, ----; 1st Lieutenant, Edmund W. Fales; 2d Lieutenant, James M. Pendleton.

John L. Clark, of Cumberland, was appointed Quartermaster, and John Turner, of Bristol, Adjutant.

On the 21st day of October, at six o'clock, P.M., the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers formed for its last parade, on Camp Stevens, and at seven, P.M., of the same day we were aboard the cars, and hurrying on our way en route for Washington, by way of New York and Baltimore.

We reached Groton at half-past nine, went aboard the steamer Plymouth Rock at this place, and at eleven were moving down the Sound.

It was rather an unpleasant night; the wind blew fresh from the south, rolling up the clouds in heavy masses, with every appearance of its raining immediately. However, at daybreak, the wind changed to the north-west, the clouds began to disperse, and at sunrise the sky was perfectly clear.