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commissioned lieutenants, subsequently being transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. Capt. Dodge was transferred to Co. D, and Lieut. Wm. L. Palmer, having returned from the hospital, was promoted to Captain and assigned to Co. C.
The balloon which had been stationed near the old camp was moved up stream and the signal corps officers used it for the purpose of looking into the rebel camps, a proceeding to which the latter objected by sending over a few shells which burst near but did not hit it. They scared the observers so much, however, that they withdrew further from the river.
The camps were visited every few days by an aged negro who came creeping down the dusty road from the country up the river.
He was a character, jovial and witty, dressed in many colored rags and with his head covered by an ancient stove-pipe hat. He leaned his tottering frame on a cane and carried a large basket of pies and other eatables on his arm. As he neared the camp he would call out ‘Here's your pies and cakes and apples.
Pay me today and I'll trust you to-morrow.’
He had no trouble in disposing of his load and would trudge off homeward, contented and happy.
The pies and cakes were much better than were usually found in the South.
About this time Gen. Hooker introduced the badge of designation into the army.
The flag of the Second Corps was a trefoil or clover leaf.
Red or scarlet designated the first division, white the second and blue the third.
The division flags were rectangular, the color of the first being white with red trefoil; second, blue with white trefoil; third, white with blue trefoil.
Brigade flags were triangular.
In the division to which the Nineteenth Massachusetts was assigned (second) the flags were blue with white trefoil in the centre.
The first brigade had a red stripe or border on one side; second, red on two sides; third, red all around.
These flags made it much easier for men to hunt up their regiments.
The Second Corps headquarters flag was rectangular, color blue, with a large clover leaf in the centre.
The rebels called it ‘The Ace of Clubs’ from the shape of the badges.
For several weeks after Chancellorsville, both armies lay quiet, watching each other.
Hooker finally received information
Salem Press. Co., Salem, Ma., 1906.
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