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Color Sketchbook by Private Henry Berckhoff
Sketches About
Marching and Fighting
The Eighth New York Volunteers,
under the command of General Louis Blenker, first set up camp
at East 58th Street in New York City. When the regiment "marched
to the seat of war" (Washington, D.C.) in the spring of 1861,
German Americans and other New Yorkers lined Broadway to cheer
the soldiers. The Eighth New York made a strong impression in
Washington. Unlike many understrength volunteer regiments, it
had an artillery unit and medical detachment with ambulances.
The soldiers also had two different uniforms: the regular blue
uniform as well as a distinctive gray for parades and other ceremonious
occasions.
The Eighth New York was held in
reserve at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) but assisted
in covering the chaotic retreat of the Union forces on 21 July
1861. General Blenker's soldiers were then sent to aid John C.
Frémont against Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley.
Following the Battle of Cross Keys on 8 June 1862 and General
Franz Sigel's arrival in the Shenandoah, Blenker was ordered to
return to Washington. The Eighth New York continued to participate
in significant battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run
(Second Manassas).
The Eighth New York set up camp
in a distinctive fashion. The soldiers' tents were arranged in
orderly rows with lanes of fir and cedar trees separating each
regiment in the division. In fact the Eighth New York's Washington,
D.C., camp was reported to be a popular tourist attraction.
The Eighth New York left federal
service when its term of enlistment expired in April 1863. Berckhoff
then served with Company A of the Fifth New York Veteran Volunteer
Infantry until the end of the war.
All of these sketches are part
of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, on deposit at the Pierpont Morgan
Library.
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Marching to the Seat
of War, 27 May 1861.
GLC 6106 p.1.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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General Blenker at
the Close of the Battle of Bull Run, 21 July 1861.
GLC 6106 p.3.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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Attack on the Outposts
near Annondale, Va., 5 December 1861.
GLC 6106 p.7.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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Gen. Blenker's Fatal
Fall at Salem, 7 April 1862.
GLC 6106 p.8.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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The Battle of Cross
Keyes, 8 June 1862.
GLC 6106 p.13.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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Battle on Manassas
Plains, 29 August 1862.
GLC 6106 p.14.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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Cavalry Skirmish near
Aldie, 28 November 1862.
GLC 6106 p.15.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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Skirmish at Haymarket,
4 November 1862.
GLC 6106 p.16.
The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, on deposit at the Piermont Morgan Library.
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Large
image
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