Delay Delay Delay
TVY Jr | Civil War Events
On May 16, 1864, Colonel Gibson received word to be ready to move the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery regiment from Fort Ethan Allen (#1 below) on short notice.

On May 25, at 5:00 A. M. Orders received - cook five days' extra rations, and be prepared to go at 12 noon. (see initial cause of delay at right)

On May 27 at 4:00 P. M. Batteries (aka Companies) A, G, H and I "fell in" and marched to Fort Whipple (#4 below), about five miles farther down the Potomac River. The command was split up and groups stayed at Forts Smith (#2), Corcoran, Bennett, Strong (#3), Morton, Cass (#5), Scott (#7), Albany, Jackson, McPherson, and one or two others. Ft Whipple Now

On May 28 at 7:00 A. M. the regiment marched from Fort Whipple to Washington by way of the Aqueduct bridge to be reviewed by President Lincoln. (additional delay)

Because other troops were not sent to relieve the regiment, the orders were not fully executed until the 27th when the whole of Colonel Gibson's regiment was relieved by a battalion (aka regiment) of new men from Ohio. (see command structure in charts below)

The regiment marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to 6th Street and down 6th to the Potomac to board four boats. The "Northerner" being much the larger boat, and the fastest, had the field and staff officers on board, in addition to four batteries of the regiment. The balance of men were about equally divided among the other three boats. The crowding on the boats was rather uncomfortable and considered "hazardous tubs to be upon."

The boats left port about 2:00 P. M. that same day (May 28th) and proceeded down the Potomac river and up the Rappahannock to Port Royal. (long way)

My great grandfather was part of this unit that moved the artillery by boat from Washington DC to Port Royal. From Port Royal to Cold Harbor they would have to use mules and wagons to get the artillery to the various battlefields if no railroad tracks were available after leaving the boats. Go to the top of the page and return to the list of Civil War events to learn more about my great grandfather's difficult march to Cold Harbor.
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