Civik War Pontoon Bridge
The life of a Union soldier during the winter months is encapsulated in the diary of New Yorker, and Baptist, Judson Odell, of the 50th Regiment Engineers, New York Volunteers. Odell, during the first six days of this year, offers the following brief summary of his daily routines:
Wednesday, January 1, 1862
In camp for lunch. Rested.
Thursday, January 2, 1862
Drilled two hours in the morning and drilled on the Pantoon Bridge in the afternoon.
Friday, January 3, 1862
Drilled on skirmish two hours in the morning and on the Pantoon in the afternoon
Saturday, January 4, 1862
Drilled two hours in the morning and two hours on the bridge in the afternoon.
Sunday, January 5, 1862
Inspection of arms and dress parade.
Monday, January 6, 1862
Drilled two hours in the morning.
While tedious on the one hand, the daily winter drills nonetheless offer a chance to work up a sweat during the cold weather, while preparing Odell and his fellow soldiers for battles that will come later in the year. In particular, the 50th New York’s pontoon practice is put to use in the battle of Fredericksburg in the coming December. The engineers of the 50th construct pontoon bridges during the battle in a failed attempt by Union forces to contain Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Sources: Diary of Judson Odell (link); 50th New York Engineer Regiment (link); photograph of pontoon bridge (link); Battle of Fredericksburg (link)
