Waitt, Ernest Linden, History of the Nineteenth regiment, Massachusetts volunteer infantry , 1861-1865

[128] couple of miles, orders were issued to retrace the steps as the regiment was on the wrong road. This order did not please the men, but soon the command began to ascend a steep and high hill. For a good part of the way up the road was well shaded by large trees, making it cool and refreshing when the sun became high. There were frequent openings between the trees which presented charming pictures of the beautiful valley below.

The regiment moved at a very quick pace, considering the steepness of the ascent. Song and joke no longer enlivened the march.

The army of McClellan was moving in three columns,— one in the road and the others across country on each side of the road. It was the custom to have a column take the road on one day and the field the next, so that once in three days each column had the easier route along the highway. The order of march was ‘Route Step’ which simply meant ‘go as you please,’ keeping up the general formation but relaxing tension and carrying the musket in the easiest position. If a fellow kicked up too much of a dust in this way, however, he had to ‘settle’ with those immediately behind him. When the bugle sounded ‘Attention’ from the head of the column, every gun was brought to the ‘Carry,’ the formation was regulated and everyone within sound of the bugle listened, wondering what was up.

It was customary to march forty minutes and rest twenty in each hour and the order ‘Halt’ was never misunderstood. In an instant the men sought the nearest tree on either side of the road and, lying flat on their backs, to which their knapsacks were strapped, dropped off to sleep. At times the artillery or cavalry, discovering the road clear, would ‘heave ahead,’ clattering over the ground to make a ‘lap,’ arousing the sleepers, burying them in dust and worrying their own poor horses who were equally as tired. At such times there was much good natured chaffing between the infantry and the mounted troops.

Little by little, the trees seemed smaller and further apart and evidently the top of the hill was not far away. Suddenly the sound of distant cannon broke the stillness. Another followed almost immediately and was re-echoed again and again.