Pvt. Stowe posted to picket duty in the county
Published: May 28, 2009
Updated: May 28, 2009
Editors’ Note: In commemoration of the 145th anniversary of the Battle of the Wilderness, Miner produced and directed a play based on the letters of William H. Stowe, 2nd Vermont Co F. The narrative and letters will be published in a four-part series. The dialogue between William and his mother was written specifically for the play. John Tole of Rappahannock contributed to the narrative. Thanks to Dennis Buttacavoli for providing the letters.
Last week Pvt. Stowe was confronted with the horrors of war particularly the events during the Battle of Chancellorsville 1863 and wrote the following;
“The air was full of arms and pieces of men blown to pieces by the murderous fire of our artillery. I never want to see the like again; the ground was covered with the enemys killed & wounded.”
Stowe was promoted to Corporal and in June of 1863 was posted to picket duty along the Rappahannock River.
June 10th, 1863
Along the Rappahannock River
Wednesday the 10th finds me on the banks of the Rappahanac doing picket dutey the same as I have bin doing for the last two days.
At the time of my writing the boys are getting ready to cross over and get the papers from Richmond Va. The rebils are on the other bank waiting with the papers in their hand.
This is contrary to orders and has to be done on the sly. If our oficers knew of it, it would be a hard job for them that went over to the rebils.
One of the boys that crost the river isent a very good swimer so the rebils go and gits a plank for him to come back on. They are having a good time with each other talking of the difarent battles they have been in during their soldiers life.
It may seem rather strange to you that the boys on both sides are so freindley to each other, some would say that this was fals if it was in the papers but this is fact. Since I have sat on my knapsack and watched them with one eye and tended to my writing with the other.
They all want this war to be settled for the best. They say they have got sick of the war and want to go home but dont want to settle the war on the tearms that we propose to them. please write soon. this from William
Soldiers from both sides had one major wish: a longing for the war to be concluded so they could return home.
Zann Miner’s column appears each Thursday in the Star-Exponent. She can be reached at or send her mail at the Star-Exponent, 471 James Madison Highway, Culpeper Va., 22701.
Advertisement
Advertisement