The trip to Shenandoah 1862 began around 3:30 on Friday afternoon after picking up two comrades. On the way from Pennsylvania to Virginia, we encountered a non-stop rain that was very hard at some points along the way. Just as we were dreading the thought of sleeping in the mud, the rain stopped just before we reached Harrisonburg where, much to our surprise, we found the ground to be completely dry. We arrived at registration at about 9:00 that night and immediately put on our gear and checked in. The registration was next to a cemetery where several Confederates were buried after the Battle of Harrisonburg. After looking around briefly, we caught a "wagon" to the Federal camp where we arrived around 10:30.

After topping off our canteens, we located our company and prepared for the night. 1st Sergeant Hooks gave us our rations for the next day which consisted of a half-loaf of soft bread, a chunk of slab bacon that was mostly fat, a large onion, coffee, and brown sugar. Sergeant Hooks then filled me in on the details for the following morning. After chatting with some of the guys, I bedded down for the night near midnight. With a nice cloud cover, the night was warm enough that I did not even pull on my blanket until around 4:00 in the morning.

By the time reveille sounded at 6:00 on Saturday morning, most of the battalion was already up cooking breakfast and getting organized for that morning. At morning roll call, our company numbered eighteen, but our strength was increased shortly after with two more arrivals. Companies were permitted to conduct company drill on their own, so Sergeant Hooks formed the company at 7:15 and we drilled in fine order for about forty-five minutes.

Around 8:30, the battalion was formed and our company was designated as Company E (4^th company). The entire battalion consisted of seven companies and was commanded by Colonel Bill Watson. We then began the short march to where the morning’s action would take place. The battalion, representing the 8^th New York Regiment, marched across an active cow pasture and up a short slope full of cedar trees to the edge of a field. This field gradually sloped upward for about 200 yards to another line of trees of which we could only see the top half. Here, the battalion rested as some of the boys speculated as to where the Rebel line was located. We did this until about 9:30 AM when Colonel Watson called it to attention and the bugle sounded for the battalion to advance.

As we approached the line of trees to our front, with our colors in front, there was a commotion at the tree line as a brigade of Rebels, hidden from our view, rose up appearing somewhat startled from the sight of our battalion. Our battalion advanced to within fifty yards of the Rebel line when each of their battalions fired devastating volleys into us. We advanced another ten or so yards before stopping and giving the Rebels independent fire. Our battalion fought for several minutes, but already hit hard, it began taking many casualties, so Colonel Watson ordered it to the rear, leaving our dead and wounded on the field. As we withdrew, a number of Rebels pursued us half way across the field, so I sent several of the boys from Company E to give some resistance until the battalion was fully withdrawn. Of the 20 men Company E took into that engagement, it lost ten as casualties.

After the battalion withdrew, the men streamed back through the cow pasture to a white barn which we had passed earlier. As the survivors from Company E were crossing the pasture again, the men encountered another danger. Along our column were several cows that apparently didn’t take much liking to us invading their grazing area. The next thing I saw was the site of a large female cow running straight toward me. The few men around me instantly tried to skedaddle away, but only having a second or so to react, I for some reason froze and waited to see which way she was going, so I could go the opposite. As she got about five feet from me, she stopped and quickly retreated back to the other cows. Our hearts beating a bit faster, we quickly made our way out of the pasture.

At the white barn, the companies were reformed once everyone had returned from the engagement. Here, we waited for the transports to arrive to take us to our drop-off point at the start of the marching route. Company E piled into the back of several "wagons" which took us to a school in McGaheysville. Our company being one of the first to arrive, we stacked arms in the yard of the school and waited for the arrival of the rest of the battalion. While waiting, most of the men napped or chatted with the other guys. A few guys discovered a patch of wild raspberries along a tree line, but most of the berries were out of reach.

By around 1:00, all of the other companies had arrived and we began the march toward Lynnwood, our bivouac site of that night. We would now be representing the 66^th Ohio Regiment for the rest of the event. After marching for nearly two miles, Colonel Watson realized we had taken a wrong turn and were about half of a mile off track, so the battalion reversed and continued. A little farther down the road, the battalion stopped in the yard of a white farmhouse for a short break. Much to our surprise, the residents of the house gave everyone two homemade cookies and a cup of lemonade. This also gave guys a chance to change socks and adjust gear if needed. After about half-an-hour, the regiment was back on the march.

A little farther down the road, we halted near the intersection of another road for a minute or two before continuing forward. The weather was gorgeous, very sunny with a cool breeze and the temperature in the upper 70s. After almost two and a half miles farther, the battalion was halted along a shady stretch of road and officers were summoned by Colonel Watson. At the brief meeting, it was realized we should have taken the road at which we had been halted and now, we were much farther off track. It was discussed whether the battalion should march back or it should wait for some "wagons" to be brought up to help get us back on schedule. Rumors were already floating through the ranks, so Colonel Watson addressed the battalion and said "wagons" would be used to get us on schedule.

The battalion then reversed and marched about half of a mile to where we would meet the wagons. When it was revealed that we had marched in the wrong direction for the second time, the morale in the ranks plummeted, but the men trudged on. Again, most of our company was one of the first to be transported, but instead of just getting us back on schedule for the march, we were taken all the way to our bivouac site for that night. Our bivouac site was a large, cut field near the bank of the South Fork River. I arrived with the first half of Company E, and after selecting a bivouac area for us, Sergeant Troy Bonzo and Corporal John Tartara went to work building a fire to cook our evening’s rations.

A little while later, Sergeant Hooks arrived with the rest of our company. With a couple hours of daylight left, a few of the boys went down to the river for a refreshing swim before supper. Sergeant Hooks and I walked down for a look at the river and much to our humor, found Major Buffington, Captain Herzog, and Sergeant Bonzo all enjoying a relaxing swim. Back in camp, several of the boys and I gathered up several bundles of cut grass to make a mattress for that night. Around 7:00, the call for rations was received and several of the boys went with sacks and gum blankets to collect them. Our rations included one and a half Virginia hams, large yams, apples, sauer kraut, coffee, and brown sugar.

A little before dark, officer’s call was sounded and I reported to headquarters. There, Colonel Watson decided the battalion would move out at 7:30 the next morning or a little earlier if everyone was ready before that time. We would then march to Port Republic to build our defenses. At the conclusion of the meeting, I returned to the company and informed everybody of the plans for the next morning.

The sky that night was clear and the stars were out en mass over us. Some of the boys sat around the fire and chatted, but they had all retired by around midnight, including me. The loose hay I had piled up made a most wonderful mattress for a night’s rest, so lying on my gum blanket, I pulled my blanket over me. I was sound asleep until around 2 or 3:00 in the morning, when the blaring of a train horn suddenly awoke me and as it got closer, I wondered for a second if it was a ghost train coming right through our camp. Then I sat up and saw that it was just on the other side of the farm on which we were camped. That was the first of several trains that came through that night.

When I sat up, I also realized that my blanket and everything else was covered in heavy dew and that the temperature had sunk as well. Too cold to sleep, I weighed in my mind whether I should remain on my comfortable mattress or head to a warmer spot near the fire. It didn’t take me long to decide on the latter. As more people came to the same decision, the fire was soon surrounded by everyone seeking warmth. Few of us slept much, but at least we were warm.

As the sun finally peaked over the mountains, it created a sunrise of some of the most vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. With the arrival of daylight, the men went to work cooking up left over rations for breakfast. Although we were already up, reveille sounded at 6:10 and Sergeant Hooks read roll call. Shortly after "the general" was sounded and the men began packing up their things to move out. After emptying several canteens on our fire, Sergeant Hooks formed the company and we then took our place in the battalion line.

Colonel Watson addressed the battalion and thanked everyone for attending. He also reminded everyone of the reason for us being there and the growing threats to the preservation of the battlefields of that area. Two men then passed their Hardee hats down the line for preservation donations. In all, our battalion donated over $1,100 for preservation. The battalion then began the short march to Port Republic.

We were again blessed with another beautiful day in the Valley, and it added to the spirits of everyone as we marched. We arrived at The Coaling around 8:00 and there was a brief officer’s meeting at which Colonel Watson gave a walkthrough of our defensive position and plans for the battle. The battalion then marched up the wooded hill and took up our position. The companies went to work constructing breastworks from the deadfall for about forty-five minutes. In the meantime, Company C was sent forward as skirmishers.

As we waited behind our breastworks, the boys sat and chatted until just after 9:00 when the first shots from the skirmishers rang out in the ravine to our front. Everyone quickly took his place on the line and waited as the shots began to get closer to us. Then the boys in Company C came into view as they fell back and formed in the rear of the battalion. We waited and finally the first several Rebel skirmishers appeared, and then a few more, but no one fired at them as Major Buffington went up and down our line urging everyone to stay quiet and not to fire. After firing a few shots at us, the Rebel skirmishers withdrew and all was silent as we waited for the attack.

The attack came a few minutes later and as the Rebels approached our line, Major Buffington gave the command to fire and the battalion did so with fairly deadly effect. The Rebels returned our fire for about fifteen minutes, but they eventually fell back down the hill as we pursued them to the edge of the ravine where we found several of their dead on the ground. We then retired back to the protection of our breastworks and waited for the next attack. Just before it came, however, the company to our left was moved to the extreme right of the battalion line to guard against a flank attack. To cover the gap in the line, I ordered our company to extend to the left and make our line one rank. Sixth company also shifted to their right to help us.

After a brief lull, the Rebels launched their second assault on our line. Major Buffington allowed companies to fire at their discretion, so I walk up and down our company line and urged everyone to hold their fire until they got closer. Just as the tension began to mount for some of the men, I ordered the company to fire. One brave Rebel officer, leading his men forward against our line instantly went down. The right and left flanks of our battalion were heavily engaged, but luckily our thin center was not heavily pressed. Then a brief moment of panic swept our company. Being focused to the action in our front, I looked to the left of our battalion and saw a small detachment of Rebels outflanking our line. Immediately fearing that our line was about to be rolled up, I had the left of our company refuse our line in preparation for a possible collapse of our battalion line. But, another detachment was already handling the situation and Major Buffington had the left of our company resume its position on the line. Shortly after, the Rebels again withdrew.

Our battalion again pursued the Rebels to the edge of the ravine. As the Rebels tried to stall our pursuit, a few in our company were slightly wounded, including me in my left arm, but Sergeant Hooks helped bandage it up and get me back on my feet. While the battalion remained in this forward position for a few minutes, Privates Harkleroad and Napoleon rummaged through the haversack of several dead Rebels. The lull did not last long, however.

The Rebels launched yet another assault on our line, but just as we began to engage them in our front, real panic swept down our line as the left of our battalion was flanked by a large Rebel force that began to roll up our line. Major Buffington ran down the line shouting for the men to retreat. I immediately shouted for our company to fall back, but a few men continued to fire at the Rebels. Corporal Sadowski and Private Weiland were the last two men to leave the line from our company and they narrowly escaped being bagged up as the Rebels were quickly closing in on them. As the three of us retreated, we passed Lieutenant Hornbaker who fired several shots from his revolver to help cover us. I’m not sure what became of him, however, as that was the last I saw of him.

With our entire battalion giving way to the Rebel onslaught, we encountered another serious problem; the path down the hill became a bottleneck for us. The Rebels quickly reached this position and began firing into the crowd of men of our battalion. On the way down the hill, I saw Privates Napoleon and Harkleroad go down as well as a couple others. As the Rebels closed in on Major Buffington, I saw him toss his sword on the ground near him and put his hands in the air as a prisoner. I didn’t quite make it to the path, either. As I tried desperately to direct several men from our company in an attempt to help buy some time, I was struck in the right thigh by a ball and fell to the ground clutching the wound. A few rods from me, Sergeant Hooks also lay wounded on the ground. The Rebels soon over took our position, but offered little care to the wounded. Shortly after, the battle was concluded.

After getting up, Sergeant Hooks rounded up fellows from our company in that area while I walked up the hill a little farther to get a few other guys who had been casualties. All total, our company suffered eleven casualties and was led off of the field by Sergeant Bonzo. We then proceeded down the path to a clearing near the road where I re-assembled our company and cleared rifles. The event was concluded and we waited for a transport to take a few of us to the parking area, so we could go back and pick up the rest of our guys. By around 12:00 noon, we were on our way home.

Overall, the Shenandoah 1862 reenactment was a great event. The weather was superb the entire weekend, the rations were fairly good, and the scenarios went very well. Perhaps the best part was being on the actual ground where the 8^th New York fought at the Battle of Cross Keys, the same ground where it lost 220 men in only five or ten minutes of fighting, and the actual ground where the 66^th Ohio fought overlooking the "terrible ravine" as it was remembered by the Confederates who attacked there. However, it is that same ground which will increasingly come under the threat of development, so being able to help raise preservation money and awareness through events like this made every second and penny worth it.

Respectfully,

Aaron Hooks, Capt.

Company E, 8^th NY/66thOH

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