In a letter to the Miners’ Journal of Pottsville, Captain Oliver C. Bosbyshell of the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry described conditions just outside the imposing walls of Fort Monroe at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula on October 3, 1861.
The 48th Pennsylvania had arrived at Fort Monroe a week earlier, sailing down the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore aboard a steamship called the Georgia. According to Bosbyshell, who served as captain of Company G and signed the letter with his initials, O.C.B., the regiment from Schuylkill County had begun to settle into the routines of a newly assembled infantry regiment.
“We have a Regimental drill every morning and dress parade and drill every evening – beside many company and squad drills during the day,” Bosbyshell wrote. He described the scenery near the Chesapeake, a violent rainstorm that swamped their makeshift early campground, and the comings and goings of ranking officers as the United States Army carried out operations in coastal Virginia and down to the coast of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
The 48th had been assembled at Harrisburg’s Camp Curtin in August and September 1861 under the command of Colonel James Nagle. Bosbyshell’s company was made up primarily of men recruited in and around Pottsville at the end of the summer of 1861.
From the Miners’ Journal, October 12, 1861
Letters from Our Volunteers
Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, Va.
Oct. 3, 1861,
Editors Miners’ Journal:
About one mile from the walls of Fortress Monroe, on the road to the village of Hampton, upon a slight eminence overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, lie encamped the 20th New York, 16th Mass., part of the 20th Indiana, and the 48th Penna. Regiments – all under the command of Col. Max Weber, of the New York 20th – one of the Fort Hatteras heroes – he being the senior officer in the camp.
A week ago today we arrived, and are highly delighted with the prospect of making our camp a comfortable one. Should we succeed in getting it anywhere near as neat and comfortable as our New York and Mass. neighbor camps we shall feel amply repaid for the trouble necessary.
They have their streets nicely guttered upon each side and pavement of shell and some brick are laid before the tent doors. Bowers of evergreen are extended over most of the streets of the New York 20th, while they hae nicely dug wells of water, neatly lined with brick or barrels.
Old Gen. Wool, commanding this department, seems ever active in the discharge of his numerous duties – scarcely a day passes that he does not visit our camp, attended by three or four aides. These visits are generally made as early as 7 o’clock A.M. and woe to the chappie he discovers slumbering after that hour.
Lieutenants Farquhar and O’Rouke are both stationed in the Engineer Department of the Fortress, and are attached to Gen. Wool’s staff. Lieut. F. has visited us quite frequently and shows every attention to the members of the 48th whenever any of the Regiment give him a call.
An early day is named for a grand review of all the troops encamped at Camp Hamilton – but how soon it will take place is not yet known.
The balance of the 20th Indiana intend departing for Fort Hatteras, or near there, where the rest of the Regiment has gone to-day.
A violent rain storm visited this section last night completely flooding our camp – consequently all we are doing this morning is drying our wet clothes. This afternoon we remove our camp across the road to a dryer spot of ground, where we hope to be better situated.
Our Regiment is fast becoming efficient in the many evolutions laid down in the tactics under our able and much talented Colonel James Nagle. He is untiring in his efforts to make this a tip-top Regiment. We have a Regimental drill every morning and dress parade and drill every evening – beside many company and squad drills during the day.
Picket guard now forms one of our various duties. Every day a detail of 36 men, with a commissioned and two non-commissioned officers are required. The Picket extends out to Hampton, which is about two miles and a half from camp. They are not often disturbed, and it is believed that but few rebel soldiers could be found for 30 or 40 miles in the interior.
Squads occasionally come down to Hampton and at times fire on our guards. One of the NY 20th was shot while on picket a day or two ago, and has since died. Parties who have visited Hampton say it presents a most desolate appearance – being one mass of ruins.
Ex-President Tyler’s houses is just this side of Hampton bridge (where our pickets are stationed), and many members of it are already in possession of different members of the Regiment – among other things severy pieces of Tyler’s piano.
Liet. Ed. Baird of Co. H., has received an appointment of Asst. Adg. Gen’l with the rank of Captain and expects to leave here in a few days. He leaves many friends in the Regiment who will regret his departure, while rejoicing at his good fortune.
If agreeable to Messrs. Editors, I shall take pleasure in communicating at times, matters of importance that may possibly occur hereabouts…
Tuesday morning we were very agreeably surprised by the receipt of several packages of the JOURNAL for the different companies. Co. G. respectfully returns thanks for its share, and will furnish you with a roll of the members as soon as the ranks are fuller.
Yours, etc.
O.C.B.
Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.
Subscribe to the latest from Jake Wynn – Public Historian
Enter your email below to receive the newest stories.