A PRISONER’S DIARY.
A PAPER READ AT THE OFFICERS’ REUNION IN BOSTON,
MAY 11, 1877,
BY
SAMUEL M. QUINCY,
CAPTAIN SECOND MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL VOLUNTEERS.
BOSTON:
George H. Ellis, Printer, 141 Franklin Street.
1882.
PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR THE ASSOCIATION.
The committee’s announcement, that on this eveningthere would be read by me a paper relating to the history ofthe regiment, I fear may have awakened false expectations.But it was suggested that a little personal history of my ownexperiences, from the moment when that terrific flank firecaused the regiment to leave me for dead on the field ofCedar Mountain to the moment when, three months later,I again came under the stars and stripes at Aiken’s Landing,would interest former comrades for a short time to-night.It is safe to say, perhaps, that our regiment passed throughevery possible experience of the war. In all the variousscenes of suffering and endurance, both physical and mental,which the war could offer, the Second Massachusettswas represented; and in that view, perhaps, the personaladventures of those who, while separated from the corps,always considered its membership the highest of honors,may be considered as forming part of the general history ofthe regiment itself.
I was fortunate enough to find in my blouse pocket, afteracute physical suffering had in a measure given place to theprisoner’s worst enemy, the leaden vacuity of ennui, a littleduodecimo almanac and diary for 1862, with half a leadpencil. With these, by dint of fine writing, I succeeded inkeeping a sort of journal of daily events, with my reflectionsthereupon, during the whole period of my captivity, the lastentry being comprised in the words, “A free man at[Pg 4]Willard’s.” From this journal, I shall make copious extracts,believing that words then written will reproduce the situationbetter than any subsequent description from memory.
At about 2 P.M. on the 8th of August, the long roll wasbeaten in the camp of the Second Massachusetts, at LittleWashington. As has often happened, we fell in only to fallout again with the news that it only meant get ready tomarch; and in fact it was nearly five before we were off.The heat during the first hour or two of the march wassevere, but the latter part was by moonlight and very pleasant.Still, I find it recorded that some unfortunate andunseasoned recruits, who had just joined us from home withknapsacks heavy with five times what they really needed,were utterly played out before the sun was down. Andhere I take up the narration as I find it in the little bookreferred to, with an occasional interpolation and explanationwhich will be marked as such in brackets.
August 14, 1862.—One week to-day since the fight. Letus attempt a résumé. On arriving at Culpeper, Friday night,after a moonlight march which about played out the unfortunaterecruits with their heavy knapsacks, we lay down in afield, Stephen and I cracking my provision box, which hadcome on with the blankets. [This was Lieutenant StephenPerkins of Company A with whom I had become intimate,and who shared with me a great and innocent passion fortea. Whichever of us was known t