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brass musical instruments.
The surgeon at once issued orders that musicians of the Third Brigade should carry the wounded to Savage's Station hospital and abandon their instruments, unless they could carry them easily.
Quite a number of the larger instruments were rendered useless and abandoned as a result.1
A considerable body of troops were in front, covering the approach to White Oak Swamp.
Continual explosions had been heard at the front for some time and the cause was soon learned, for a long train of ammunition was found to be in flames, fired by order of the general commanding, to keep it out of the hands of the enemy.
This continued burning far into the night, the many colored clouds of dense smoke filling the heavens.
One ammunition train was run into the river through the opening in the bridge.
The regiment was posted on an incline at the right of the road, forming in line facing the
1 On the night of June 28, 1862, just as the regimental wagons were about to depart from near the traverses and breastworks in front of Richmond, Principal Musician Newman had placed on one of them, in care of Commissary Sergeant Joseph Snelling, a field bugle and drum. These instruments were not seen again until the morning of July 4, 1862, at Harrison's Landing. On that day, in company with many others, Newman was in the creek enjoying a bath and washing his clothes. Herman Donath the colonel's orderly, rode up and informed him that guard mounting was about to be held, with music, and that he with Fifer John McCammon, (one of the best fifers in the army), were to report immediately to Adjt. Chadwick at guard mounting parade.
The two musicians quitted the stream just as they were, only stopping to empty the water from their boots and wring out their shirts. They reported on parade to Adjt. Chadwick, who handed to Newman the drum which he had placed in the Commissary Sergeant's wagon, and to Fifer McCammon a fine fife. For the ‘Assembly of the Guard’ they played ‘Jefferson and Liberty,’ this being the first music heard in the camp of the Second Corps since the Battle of Fair Oaks. For the ‘Inspection of the Guard’ they played ‘Yankee Doodle,’ with variations. The music attracted the attention of the entire corps and everyone seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion. The men seized the first thing that came handy and, beginning to form to the left, extended the guard line. The countermarch was executed near the camp of the Irish Brigade, 1st Div., 2nd Corps, and ‘Garry Owen’ was played in their honor. The event was a unique one and had the effect of cheering the men up quite a little.
Salem Press. Co., Salem, Ma., 1906.
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