Chapter 7: the Peninsula Campaign.
- Reenlistment and reorganization in the spring of 1862 -- Gen. McClellan -- the Peninsula lines -- the Texans -- the battle of Williamsburg -- the mud.
We left Leesburg about the 7th of March, 1862, for Culpeper C. H., which was the place of rendezvous of the army before taking up the line of march for the Peninsula, whither we were ordered to repair to meet McClellan. Only two things of interest occurred on the way β the reenlistment and reorganization of the battery and a hurried glimpse at our friends in Richmond. The former, as I remember, took place at or near Culpeper C. H., about the 15th of March, and deserves more than casual mention. In the spring of 1862, throughout our service, the men reenlisting were allowed to elect their own officers; so that for weeks about this time the army, and that in the face of the enemy, was resolved β it is the highest proof of its patriotism and character that it was not also dissolved-into nominating caucuses and electioneering meetings. This compliment, by the way, is as well deserved by the men voluntarily reenlisting and electing their own officers, on the Federal side as the Confederate, if, as I presume, the same system was adopted by the Federals. I do not say this is not the usual mode of organizing a volunteer army, at least in this country; nor do I deny that the result was better, on the average, than might have been anticipated, but it was bad enough. Our friend, Gen. D. H. Hill, in a report of a little later date, says, βThe reorganization of the army, at Yorktown under the elective system, had thrown out of service many of our best officers and had much demoralized our army.β
