As part of our ongoing observation of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, The Duxbury Rural and Historical Society offers a glimpse into the life of Duxbury’s Union soldiers.

David Meechan – March 7, 1862 – Vienna, VA.

Our regiment arrived here at Vienna this morning.  A cheerless looking place.  Cold clear air.  Dreary looking wood with a patch of open country in sight.  Skirmish drill forenoon.  The rebel cavalry reported hovering around, some rumor around that there is enough of them to annihilate us as we have no support, our regiment here all alone.  Col. Hayes is galloping about on his horse, swinging his sabre and swearing we can wallop all the cavalry the Rebs will bring on.  He moved us into the clearing and made us form a hollow square ready to resist cavalry.  A long cold wait, no cavalry appearing.  We were ordered to boil coffee and eat some hard tack and salt junk out of our haversacks.  Hayes instructing us how to act.  I think he is slightly intoxicated.  Rumored by scouts that Rebel cavalry has skeedaddled on seeing our formidable hollow square.  Guarded railroad which is threatened, all but the guards are rolled up in blankets asleep with our feet towards a big fire on the cold hard ground.” Edward Baker – March 7, 1862 – Off the coast of Florida near Fernandina Beach.

Finished coaling and dropped off from Bienville and anchored. Lardner staid on board last night. He is paymaster of the Flag (and son of Capt. Lardner of the Susquehanna) and Mattier left us, to join the Ottawa which is going to St. John, probably starting tomorrow. We expect to go to Brunswick. Afternoon, Dr. Kitchen and Rhoades and paymaster Kitchen and myself went on shore for a stroll. We called on old Capt. Scott, who evidently likes us, but I think his friends are rebels, as they never show themselves to us. I carried him some illustrated papers, and we afterwards took a stroll about town. The place is very pretty & picturesque, has two protestant churches, and a small Catholic chapel, many pretty cottages and is as nearly like a northern country village as can be. The people were many of them northerners. The Ottawa when she came in, was fired on by musquetry and fired a shell which killed two men. This was all killed in the attack upon the place. The same valiant little vessel has today returned from a trip to St Mary’s and thirty miles beyond where she was vigorously attacked on both sides the river on her return by riflemen who filled her sides with balls, keeping it up for about twenty minutes, but being dispersed by her “Scrapnel,” (as old Willet, our quarter gunner says) with many shrieks and groans. Four of her men were wounded. The most serious one threatens a man with amputation of the arm. One of the men stood cooly at the lead throughout the fight getting a bullet through his sleeve and the captain of the forecastle, in firing the rifle gun on the forecastle, broke the lock and had to use a hatchet. This was knocked from his hand by a rifle bullet and the handle split, so he cooly picked it up again, and fired his piece in a most unconcerned manner. Sailors are a brave class of men. Sent our letters on board the McClellan which goes to Port Royal tomorrow.

For daily Civil War journal updates, please visit the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society’s Web site at duxburyhistory.org and under the blog heading, click on the individual in whom you’re interested.