Jas. M. Scates
1861
Richmond County
Virginia
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1861 -- Memories of Sergt. Jas. M Scates
Member of the Farmers Fork Grays. This company was mustered in to servis on the 4th day of June 1861. We started from our own homes on the 8th day of June and met in company at Westmoreland Courthouse. We started in company and marched to Carter's Wharf taking the boat at that place in Richmond County. We traveled up the river about miles and landed at the hop yard in King George County and marching from there to King George Court house the distance of miles and camped there for the night. On Sunday the 9th after going to preaching we drilled in company drill for a while. and again rested for the knight.
On Monday morning the 10th we was ready again to take up the line of march for Mathias Point the distance of miles in the same county arriving there hungry and tired about 3 o'clock that evening and pitch our tents, the distance of 17 miles from the court house. All was quiet up to the 15th. All was then ordered out before breakfast to meet the enemy but they did not land, and the next day was the same thing but they would not land. On the 16th the cavalry from our regiment boarded and burned a yankey vessel off Hoes Ferry, takeing out what they could carry to the shore in the boat with about $30 cash. On the 17th we had a skirmish on the banks shooting at the yankeys on the tug from the shore. She fired a good many guns at us through(w)ing shot and shell at us with out affect. There was 1 man killed on the tug he was seen fall by us. After this all was quiet again up to the 2nd when the yankeys landed at Hoes Ferry and burned his dwelling house. We was again thrown in motion to meet them but they left before we arrived. They carried away his servant of the house. 24 quiet and on the 25th the old Pawnee came off the point at Mathias and began a heavy cannonading thro(w)ing the bombs and balls all over our camp one bomb shell passed through the house of which 30 of our men of our company was camped but luckily there was but one man in the house and was not hurt. The same ball passed on cutting off a railing post and bursting at the spring where there was about 25 men around the spring but no one was hurt a small piece of the shell ( ) one man but did not hurt him. While she was bombing our camp we was carried under cover of the hill. She then ceased firing when some of the yankeys landed and came upon 2 of the cavalry pickets taking their horses but the men escaped. They then swam the horses to the ship and hoisted them on board also taking one negro from Mr. Gaines.
On the 26 all was quiet the 27 came and with it the first sight of a battle I ever saw the steamers (red stack and freeborn?) came off the point and commenced a heavy cannonading for a while and then landed men on the point for the purpose of erecting a battery of sand bags and dirt. We then marched down under cover of the woods to dislodge them. We were sent in different directions and soon came upon them when the riflemen began a sharp fire upon them. The hour was quite serious for none of us eaver was in battle but we soon drove them from their breast works killing we have since learned 24 of them with out receiving a single fire from their small guns. Happy to say not one of us was hurt. Some of them escaped to the steamer leaving behind them all of their utencils for building the battery. We got from them the bags for the battery their shovels, spades, and picks & also the rope that they used in raising the boats to the shore from the tugs and a spy glass a good many things was after wards found amongst them 2 rifles.
US Navy History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59242
28 quiet on the 29 we moved our camp pitching our tents in another field not over 2 miles distants I have the name of this place camp hoe all was then quiet up to the 4th of July when we was called out about 2 o'clock in the night telling us that we was surrounded by the enemy but as we all found it to be no more than to be our camp again. We all had our breakfast quite early calling out so early was I suppose for the purpose of seeing how quick we all would get in ranks and be ready for motion. We pitched our tents the same evening after a march of about 5 miles and about 8 miles from the Main Point and in the same county calling the camp by the name of camp hoe. all was again quiet only those tugs ____ pass the point and firing at our pickets but to no affect. Up to the 18th of July when we struck our tents at camp hoe and having orders for Brooks Station late in the evening we started on our march and stopping for the night at St. Pauls Church and having to wait for some of the baggage waggons until late in evening of the 19th when we again took up the line of march to Brooks Station and when in about 8 miles of that place we met a dispatch ordering us back to ____ Point in King George County. We marched until 3 oclock in the night having to march back we could get at the Georges distance of miles we stopped for the balance of the night in Potomac Church. Early next morning the 20th we again took up the line of march. when we stopped to cook our breakfast we was only 2 miles from the place we ate our supper the night before. after traveling over an uneaven country what was most pleasing to the most of us we could often see the blue ridge mountains far away from us. after breakfast we marched for ______ Point. we arrived there about 11 oclock crossing over Potomac Creek we landed on Marlbrough Point in Stafford County whare we saw the bones of the Soldiers killed in some ancient battle learning the same day that this point was the place chosen for the city of Alexandria. Thare is yet viserable outer wals of an old house _____of balls supposed to have been fired in the war of 1812. After we landed on this point we received orders to march to Acquia Creek the distance of 3 miles where we again stationed. the march from Mathias Point to Acquia Creek is said to be the distance of 30 miles by land beside marching about 12 miles out of our way on the 21st. we could hear the tremendous cannonading and roaring of the battle of Manassas. a good many of us had the Measels. on the 8th of August I was taken with them. occasionally a steamer would through a ball towards us. On the morning of the 16th of August Capt Walker opened fire from the _________ and 2 of his small rifle pieces from the shore on the steamer out in the Potomac River throwing the balls over around and into them striking the Pocahontas several times knocking a hole in her stern and cutting the rigging off her bow twice when they all left the place amediately from where they lay for some time only firing at him twice. On the 19th we left Acquia Creek and took up the line of march for Brooks Station arriving at the place the same evening about 2 oclock and pitched our tents in a heavy rain and on the wet ground. we had to set up all night the land was too wet to spread our blankets on ground but we soon after made ourselves quite comfortable.. All balance of the month quiet.
(To Be Continued)
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