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diff --git a/21976.txt b/21976.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb16816 --- /dev/null +++ b/21976.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14157 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Three Years in the Sixth Corps, by George T. Stevens + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three Years in the Sixth Corps + A Concise Narrative of Events in the Army of the Potomac, + from 1861 to the Close of the Rebellion, April, 1865 + +Author: George T. Stevens + +Release Date: June 30, 2007 [EBook #21976] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN THE SIXTH CORPS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, David King, and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +THREE YEARS +IN THE +SIXTH CORPS. + +A CONCISE NARRATIVE OF EVENTS IN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +FROM 1861 TO THE CLOSE OF THE REBELLION, APRIL, 1865. + +By GEORGE T. STEVENS, +SURGEON OF THE 77TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS. + +ALBANY: +S. R. GRAY, PUBLISHER. + +1866. + +Entered according to act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and +sixty-six, + +By GEORGE T. STEVENS, + +in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the +Northern District of New York. + +WEED, PARSONS AND COMPANY, +PRINTERS, STEREOTYPERS AND BOOKBINDERS, +ALBANY, N. Y. + + + + +[Illustration: MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following pages are offered to my old comrades of the Sixth Corps, +with the hope that they may pleasantly recall the many varied +experiences of that unparalleled body of men. If much has been omitted +which should have been written, or if anything has been said which +should have been left out, I rely upon the generosity of brave men to +treat with leniency the failings they may detect. + +I have endeavored to present without exaggeration or embellishment of +imagination, a truthful picture of army life in all its vicissitudes; +its marches, its battles, its camps, and the sad scenes when the victims +of war languish in hospitals. The story is written mostly from extensive +notes taken by myself amid the scenes described; but official reports +and letters from officers have been used freely in correcting these +notes, and gathering fresh material. The narrative commences with the +experiences of my own regiment; then when that regiment became a part of +Smith's division, its incidents and history includes the whole. From the +organization of the Sixth Corps to the close of the rebellion, I have +endeavored without partiality to give the story of the Corps. If I have +failed to do justice to any of the noble troops of the Corps, it has +been from no want of desire to give to each regiment the praise due to +it. + +I cannot close without acknowledging my many obligations to the numerous +friends, officers and soldiers of the Corps, and others who have favored +me with their assistance. I take especial pleasure in acknowledging the +kindness of Miss Emily Sedgwick, sister of our lamented commander; +Vermont's honored son, Major-General L. A. Grant, Major-General Thomas +H. Neill, Colonel James B. McKean, Colonel W. B. French, Chaplain Norman +Fox, and Mr. Henry M. Myers. I am also indebted to the friends of Samuel +S. Craig for the use of his diary, extending from the early history of +the Army of the Potomac, to the death of the talented young soldier in +the Wilderness. + +The engravings are nearly all from sketches taken by myself on the +ground, the others are from the pencil of the well known artist, Captain +J. Hope, and all have been submitted to his finishing touch. Mr. +Ferguson has executed the wood cuts in a style creditable to his art. + +The typographical portion of the work has been done in a style of beauty +and finish for which the work of Weed, Parsons and Company is so well +known. + +18 North Pearl Street, Albany, N. Y. + +_September 5, 1866._ + +[Illustration] + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + 1. Portrait of General Sedgwick. + + 2. Illustrated Title Page. + + 3. The Old Church at Hampton. + + 4. The Quaker at Newport News. + + 5. Charge of the Vermonters at Lee's Mills. + + 6. Charge of Hancock's Brigade at Williamsburgh. + + 7. Charge of the Seventy-seventh New York at Mechanicsville. + + 8. Portrait of Colonel James B. McKean. + + 9. Charge of the Sixth Corps at Burkettsville. + +10. White Oak Church, Va. + +11. Storming Fredericksburgh Heights by Howe's Division. + +12. "What'll Ole Missus do Now?" + +13. Church Call. + +14. Battle of Fort Stevens. + +15. "Why Don't he Come?" + +16. "Going Norf." + +17. Diagram of the Charge of the Sixth Corps, April 2, 1865. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +Chapter I. + +A New Regiment goes to the War. + +Organization of the Seventy-seventh N. Y. V.--Departure from +Saratoga--Greetings by the way--New emotions--The noble dead--On board +the Knickerbocker--At New York--Presentation of flags--Beauties of +monopoly--Hospitality of Philadelphia--Incidents on the route--Arrival +at Washington--In camp. + +Chapter II. + +Army Life at Washington. + +Meridian Hill--Neighboring scenery--First Sunday in +camp--Drills--Sickness--The Hospital--General Casey--"Why don't the army +move?"--Washington blockaded--Burnside's heroes--Orders to +move--Something of a train--Smith's division--Our first reconnoissance. + +Chapter III. + +The Manassas Campaign. + +Orders to march--A grand spectacle--Bivouac near Fairfax Court +House--The camps at night--Visits to Manassas and Centreville-- +Dissatisfaction in the army--A deserted country--Lawless +soldiers--Fairfax Court House--A representative Southerner--Review by +Gen. McClellan--March to Alexandria--"Camp Misery." + +Chapter IV. + +The Army Transferred to the Peninsula. + +The advance to Yorktown--A thunder storm--"Reliable contrabands"--Facing +the enemy--A strong position--The Union line--A rebel welcome--Digging-- +On picket--A dreary country--An enterprising planter--Active +work--Battle of Lee's Mills--Charge of the Vermont brigade--Progress of +the siege--Ravages of disease--A front seat--Short supplies--The rebels +withdraw--Entering the strongholds--Infernal machines--March to +Williamsburgh--Victims of disease. + +Chapter V. + +Yorktown. + +The advance to Yorktown--A thunder storm--"Reliable contrabands"--Facing +the enemy--A strong position--The Union line--A rebel welcome--Digging-- +On picket--A dreary country--An enterprising planter--Active +work--Battle of Lee's Mills--Charge of the Vermont brigade--Progress of +the siege--Ravages of disease--A front seat--Short supplies--The rebels +withdraw--Entering the strongholds--Infernal machines--March to +Williamsburgh--Victims of disease. + +Chapter VI. + +Williamsburgh. + +Battle of Williamsburgh--The army not organized--The medical +department--Hooker's gallant fight--Hancock's charge--McClellan at +Yorktown--Night on the battle-field. + +Chapter VII. + +The March up the Peninsula and the Organization of the Sixth Corps. + +March up the Peninsula--Joy of the contrabands--Cumberland Landing--The +Sixth Corps organized--At White House--On the Chickahominy--Fight at +Mechanicsville--Battle of Hanover Court House. + +Chapter VIII. + +On the Chickahominy. + +Gaines' Farm--The line of battle--Battle of Seven Pines--Sedgwick and +Kearney to the rescue--Hooker's charge--A lost opportunity--Golden's +Farm--Ditching--Malaria--Chickahominy fevers--A German regiment-- +Stuart's raid. + +Chapter IX. + +The Seven Days' Battles. + +The army united--Plans and counter plans--Battle of Fair Oaks--Lee's +plan--The situation--Stonewall Jackson on the flank--Battle of +Mechanicsville--Joy in camp--Porter's corps retreats--An astonished +army--Battle of Gaines' Farm--Slocum's division at Games' Farm--Retreat +to the river--Battle of Golden's Farm--A young hero--A Union +victory--Our right exposed--The sick abandoned--A night of sorrow--The +grand retreat commenced--Sad scenes at Savage's Station--A meteor +railroad train. + +Chapter X. + +The Grand Retreat. + +Lee's army in pursuit--Sumner and Smith at Bay--Battle of Savage's +Station--The Vermont Brigade--Sick and wounded abandoned--Retreat to +White Oak Swamp--Battle of White Oak Swamp--An astonished division--A +night march--A mystery--In sight of the James--Battle of Malvern +Hill--Departure of the princes--Gloom and anxiety--Lee's attack--The +rebels demoralized. + +Chapter XI. + +Harrison's Landing. + +March to Harrison's Bar--A scene of confusion--A beautiful +landscape--Fourth of July in camp--Gloom at the north--Cause of the +disasters--Prevalence of disease--Review by the President--A night +demonstration by the enemy--Reconnoissance to Malvern Hill--Departure of +General Davidson--A retrospect. + +Chapter XII. + +Retreat from the Peninsula, and General Pope's Bull Run Campaign. + +Premonitions of a change of base--The transfer commenced--Marching down +the Peninsula--On board transports--A contrast--Arrival at +Alexandria--Unaccountable delays--General Pope's campaign--An obstinate +general--Causes of Pope's failure. + +Chapter XIII. + +The Maryland Campaign. + +General McClellan restored to command--March through +Washington--Leisurely campaigning--Battle of Crampton Pass--Death of +Mathison--Battle of South Mountain Pass--Death of Reno--Surrender of +Harper's Ferry--March to Antietam. + +Chapter XIV. + +The Battle of Antietam. + +The Valley of the Antietam--Gathering of the hosts--The +battle-field--The battle commenced--Splendid fighting of Hooker's +forces--Successes and reverses of Sumner's troops--Timely arrival of the +Sixth corps--A gallant charge--Losses of the corps--Burnside's +attack--Hours of suspense--The enemy defeated at all points--Retreat of +the rebels--Scenes on the battle-field--At the hospitals--At +Sharpsburgh--A division of militia--Couch's division joins the Sixth +corps--Visit of the President--Recruits--Energy at the north--At +rest--Want of clothing--Stuart's raid--Delays--Clear Spring--General +Brooks. + +Chapter XV. + +The Second Advance into Virginia, and the Battle of Fredericksburgh. + +Marching in Maryland--Arrival at New Baltimore--General McClellan +superseded by General Burnside--Thanksgiving in camp--The grand +divisions organized--The march resumed--Fatal delays--In order of +battle--The crossing--Fredericksburgh bombarded--Situation of +Fredericksburgh--Scenes of activity--The Bernard house--Scenes at the +hospital--The battle on the right--Charges of the Pennsylvania +reserves--The river recrossed--Reflections. + +Chapter XVI. + +The Winter at Falmouth. + +Camp at White Oak Church--"The mud march"--Return to camp--General +Neill--General Hooker supersedes General Burnside--Burnside's +magnanimity--General Hooker as a soldier--Reconstruction--The cavalry +organized--Business departments renovated--The medical department-- +Ambulance system--Quartermasters' and commissary departments--Life in +camp--Snowball battles--In the Seventy-seventh--The Light +division--Review by General Hooker--General John Sedgwick--Scene at +head-quarters--Review of the army by the President--Preparing for the +campaign. + +Chapter XVII. + +The Chancellorsville Campaign. + +Orders to move--The river crossed--Sedgwick's command--The First corps +withdrawn--Gallant conduct of the Light division--Advancing to the +heights--The line of battle--The columns of attack--Attack of Howe's +columns--Of Newton's column--Of Burnham's--Misfortune following +victory--Fight of Bartlett's brigade--The First division at work--A +critical position--The Sixth corps surrounded--Savage fight of Neill's +brigade--The corps withdraws to Banks' Ford--Recrosses the +river--Hooker's operations on the right--Position of the corps--Rout of +the Eleventh corps--The rebels repulsed--Jackson renews the attack--The +rebels again repulsed--Hooker recrosses the river. + +Chapter XVIII. + +Second Encampment at White Oak Church and the Pennsylvania Campaign. + +The army in its old position--A trip to Dixie--The wounded at the +hospitals--Introduction of army badges--Adornments of the camps--The +"Third crossing"--The Barnard mansion--Exchanging papers--A broken +lieutenant--The Pennsylvania campaign commenced--Restriction of +baggage--A severe march--An army bathing--At Centreville--Bristow +Station--March to Maryland--General Hooker succeeded by General +Meade--Position of the army. + +Chapter XIX. + +The Gettysburgh Campaign. + +The rebels in Pennsylvania--Panic at Harrisburgh--Alarm at Baltimore and +Washington--Sixth corps leaves Bristow Station--A surprise--General +Meade takes command--Position of the army--Marching through +Pennsylvania--An unprecedented march--Exciting news--Battle of +Gettysburgh--Death of Reynolds--First and Eleventh corps fall back +--Second day's battle--The battle-field--Fighting at Round Top--On the +right--The grand onset--The battle decided--Rebel and Union wounded. + +Chapter XX. + +Pursuit of Lee's Army. + +Scenes of the field of Gettysburgh--The rebel hospitals--The sightless +rebel soldier boy--The Sixth corps at Fairfield--"Hurrah for the +Union"--Kilpatrick's handiwork--At Waynesboro'--On picket--A division of +militia--The Vermonters at Funkstown--The army at Funkstown--Meade's +failure to attack--New York riots--Return to Virginia. + +Chapter XXI. + +Camps at Warrenton, the Centreville Campaign and the Battle of +Rappahannock Station. + +Camp at Hart's Mills--A ride to the Sulphur Springs--Contrabands going +north--The Vermonters go to New York--Jersey Brigade at Warrenton--The +Sixth corps at Cedar Mountain--Retreat to Centreville--Battle of Bristoe +Station--Advance to Warrenton--Battle of Rappahannock Station--Flight of +Lee's army. + +Chapter XXII. + +The Army at Brandy Station. + +Encampment at Brandy Station--The Mine Run campaign--Crossing the +Rapidan--Battle of Locust Grove--The army on Mine Run--The order of +battle--The army withdraws--Back at Brandy Station--Reconnoissance to +Madison Court House--Ladies in camp--Chapel tents. + +Chapter XXIII. + +The Wilderness Campaign. + +Preparing to leave camp--General Grant in command--The last advance +across the Rapidan--The battle-ground--Battle of the Wilderness--Noble +fight of Getty's division--Hancock's fight on the left--Rickett's +division driven back--The ground retaken--The wounded--Duties of the +surgeons--The noble dead. + +Chapter XXIV. + +Spottsylvania. + +Moving by the flank--The wounded abandoned--The Fifth Corps at +Spottsylvania--Arrival of the Sixth Corps--Getting into line--Death of +Sedgwick--General Wright in command--Battle of the 10th of +May--Upton's splendid charge--Battle at "the angle"--Another flank +movement. + +Chapter XXV. + +The Hospitals at Fredericksburgh. + +The journey from the battle-field--Sufferings of the wounded--A +surgeon's letters--Rebel hatred--Assistance from the north--A father in +search of his boy--The wounded sent to Washington. + +Chapter XXVI. + +Coal Harbor. + +At Hanover Court House--The Eighteenth corps joins the Army of the +Potomac--The armies meet at Coal Harbor--Battle of June 1st--Battle of +June 3d--Terrible exposure--The army strikes for Petersburgh--Charles +City Court House--A centenarian--Review of the overland campaign. + +Chapter XXVII. + +Petersburgh. + +The march to Petersburgh--Smith's successes--The battle of June +18th--The Sixth and Second corps sent to the left--Rebels penetrate the +line--Progress of the siege--Sixth corps proceeds to Reams' +Station--Kautz's and Wilson's raids. + +Chapter XXVIII. + +Sixth Corps Transferred To Washington--Battle of Fort Stevens. + +The Shenandoah Valley--Hunter's advance to Lynchburgh--The +retreat--Rebels advance into Maryland--Battle of Monocacy--Sixth corps +goes to Washington--Battle of Fort Stevens. + +Chapter XXIX. + +The Shenandoah Valley. + +The Sixth and Nineteenth corps follow the enemy--Crossing the +Potomac--Averill's fight at Snicker's Gap--Return of the Sixth corps to +Washington--March back to Harper's Ferry--Return to Maryland--Death of +Major Ellis--General Sheridan assigned to command--Back in the +Valley--Charlestown--John Mosher--March to Fisher Hill--Return to +Charlestown--Fight at Charlestown. + +Chapter XXX. + +Battle of Winchester. + +Encampment at Berryville--Leaving camp--The advance--Taking +position--Advance and retreat--Death of Russell--"I know they'll +run"--Reminiscences--At the hospitals--A regiment going home--"Why don't +he come." + +Chapter XXXI. + +Fisher Hill. + +March up the valley--Strasburgh--The army confronting Fisher Hill--The +flank movement--Flight of Early--The pursuit--Guerrilla +warfare--Southern refugees--Starting for Washington--Return to Cedar +creek. + +Chapter XXXII. + +Battle of Cedar Creek. + +Position of the Union forces on Cedar creek--Demonstrations by +Early--The morning of October 19th--Eighth corps straggling--Nineteenth +corps routed--The Sixth corps to the rescue--Death of General +Bidwell--The Sixth corps holds the enemy--General Wright prepares for +another attack--Arrival of Sheridan--The charge--The rout--Guns, wagons +and prisoners--The victors in camp. + +Chapter XXXIII. + +The Final Campaign. + +Sixth corps returns to Petersburgh--Condition of the corps--Sheridan +joins the grand army--Capture of Fort Steadman--The last grand +charge--The pursuit of Lee's army--Tributes to the Sixth +corps--Disbanding. + + + + +THREE YEARS IN THE SIXTH CORPS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NEW REGIMENT GOES TO THE WAR. + + Organization of the Seventy-seventh N. Y. V.--Departure from + Saratoga--Greetings by the way--New emotions--The noble dead--On + board the Knickerbocker--At New York--Presentation of + flags--Beauties of monopoly--Hospitality of + Philadelphia--Incidents on the route--Arrival at Washington--In + camp. + + +Our regiment was organized at Saratoga Springs, the historic scene of +the battle of Bemis Heights and the surrender of Burgoyne--hence its +name, "The Bemis Heights Battalion." Hon. Jas. B. McKean, then member of +congress, a gentleman of well known patriotism, was made our Colonel. We +left our rendezvous on the 26th of November, 1861, Thanksgiving day, +having been mustered into the United States service three days before. + +As the long train of cars bore us from the station at Saratoga Springs, +the thousands who had gathered to witness our departure united in cheer +after cheer until all the groves and vales of that charming resort rang +with the echoes of the tumultuous shouting. + +The thousand brave fellows, who were about to try the stern realities of +war, were by no means backward in replying to these hearty expressions +of good wishes. Long after we had lost sight of the lovely village, the +shouts of the multitude could be heard and the hills rang again with the +responding cheers of those in the cars. At each station, as we passed, +crowds of people pressed to greet us, and loud and long were the cheers +that bade us "God speed." + +We were now fairly off for the war. We who had followed the various +peaceful avocations of life, in the professions or in the workshops, in +trade or in husbandry, had now turned away from the office, the desk, +the shop and the plough, to join the Grand Army upon which the hopes of +the nation were staked, and which we confidently believed was soon to +sweep the rebellion to destruction. + +Emotions hitherto unknown to us filled our hearts. We were soldiers, +wearing for the first time the army blue, and perhaps soon to be called +out to meet in deadly strife an enemy whose prestige for valor was +already too well established. + +Were we to return to the friends from whom we had just parted, bearing +the chaplet of victory, or were we to find a last resting place on some +field of the south, never again to meet with wife or sister, father or +mother? Four years have passed and those doubts have been solved. Many +of those brave men have gone to their long rest. + + "Their graves are severed far and wide." + +Some sleep beneath the tall pines of Yorktown; and the bright azalia +casts its purple blossoms over the graves of many who lie in the swamps +of the Chickahominy. The Antietam murmurs a requiem to those who rest on +its banks, and green is the turf above the noble ones who fell +gloriously at Fredericksburgh. Some rest amid the wild tangles of the +Wilderness, and upon the arid plain of Coal Harbor. Many of their graves +are upon the banks of the Ny and the Po. The marble monument at Fort +Stevens tells the names of some who gave their lives in the defense of +the Capital, while the simple headboards of pine tell where repose many +in the valley of the Shenandoah, and before Petersburgh. The remains of +some have been brought back to the peaceful cemetery at home to rest +beside the dust of loved ones. + + "'Tis little; but it looks in truth + As if the quiet bones were blest + Among familiar names to rest, + And in the places of their youth." + +Must it be said, many of the strongest yielded to the grim monster +starvation in the rebel prison pens, and found relief from their +tortures in lowly graves at Andersonville and Salisbury. + +A little band, with bronzed faces and manly hearts, returned home. Their +glorious and unspotted record had preceded them. They needed no song of +victory, and they desired no greater marks of honor than their simple +silver crosses, the badge of their corps. + +No incident worthy of note occurred until we reached Albany, where we +left the cars and embarked upon the steamer Knickerbocker, an old +dismantled craft, unfit for any purpose but the transportation of +soldiers; whose decks were covered with mud an inch in depth, and whose +doors having been thrown overboard, a free circulation of the rough +November air was allowed in every part. The men had no rations, and some +of them became clamorous; but order was soon restored, and rations of +bread and ham with coffee were distributed. They could not, however, all +be brought to a perfect state of quietude. Some were determined not to +submit, and passed the night in carousal, while those soberly inclined +tried in vain to sleep. The officers found lodging in the after cabin, +where some in berths and some on the floor, we passed a restless night. + +As we approached New York in the morning, the sky was hung with heavy +clouds, and as we left our rickety old craft for _terra firma_, the rain +poured in fresh torrents upon us. We marched through 14th street and +Broadway to the Park. We were to remain in New York until six o'clock in +the evening, and the Sons of Saratoga were to present us with a stand of +colors and guidons. They commenced by presenting us with an excellent +dinner, at which speeches were made by the committee, and responded to +by Colonel McKean and others on our part. + +Dinner over, the regiment was drawn up in front of the City Hall, where +the ceremony of presenting the flags took place. The banner was an +exquisite piece of work, of the richest fabric; a blue ground with +elegant designs in oil. On one side was represented an engagement in +which the American soldiers, led by Washington, were fighting under the +old flag--thirteen stripes and the union jack. On the reverse was +pictured the surrender of Burgoyne, at Saratoga, under the new flag--the +stars and stripes--first unfurled in the goodly city of Albany, and +first baptized in blood at the decisive battle of Bemis Heights, which +resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne and the virtual success of the +Revolution. + +We had already a beautiful national flag, the gift of the patriotic +young ladies of Mr. Beecher's seminary, at Saratoga. + +The hour for departure arrived, and we crossed to Amboy by ferry. We +were in New Jersey. We had heard disparaging things of the railroad +management of this State, but we were now to realize the beauties of +monopoly. We learned afterwards to respect New Jersey's soldiers, many +of whom fought shoulder to shoulder with us, and were among the bravest +of the brave, but we never forgave her railroads. The men were crowded +into a number of shaky old cars, reeking with filth, and redolent of +most noisome odors. It was in vain that we protested that these vehicles +were unfit for transporting men; we were offered by the agent of the +road the alternative to take these cars or remain where we were. We +concluded to go on. + +At four o'clock we had passed over the whole of the Camden and Amboy +road. Another ferry crossed, and we were in Philadelphia. Glorious, +generous, enlightened Philadelphia! Many of our men were sick when we +left Saratoga, and the unaccustomed hardships, with the cold and rain +thus far on the route, had greatly prostrated them. Many others had also +been seized with violent illness, so that our single medical officer had +been taxed beyond his strength in looking after the wants of the sick, +while the little case of medicines with which we started from Saratoga +was exhausted. Among the first acts of kindness of these excellent +people was the care of our sick. A gentleman, with countenance beaming +with benevolence, said to the doctor, "If you will get your sick +together, we will conduct them to comfortable quarters, and see that +they are well cared for." The heart of the surgeon leaped with joy at +finding some one who could and would help to care for the poor fellows. + +The sick being collected, our friend mounted a barrel and called to the +soldiers to hear him a moment. "You are welcome," said he, "to +Philadelphia, and to show you that we are glad to see you, it gives us +pleasure to invite every man of you to partake of a warm breakfast which +will be ready for you in a few minutes." This speech was greeted by +three hearty cheers for Philadelphia. + +The doctor soon had his sick removed to the Soldiers' Retreat, a place +fitted up by the noble-hearted people of Philadelphia for the +entertainment of soldiers passing through their city. The upper part of +the building was arranged with exquisite taste and order for a hospital. +Here were many sick men left by the various regiments which had passed +through the city. Our sick boys were placed in beds, with expressions of +gratitude that, notwithstanding their illness, their lot had fallen in +pleasant places. + +Presently the men were marched into the long saloon, where all took +their places at the well spread tables. The repast being over, Colonel +McKean called upon the men for three cheers for the Philadelphians; +remarking that there need be no fear of raising the roof, for even +should such an accident occur he doubted not these generous people would +willingly replace it. Then came the cheers; and such cheers! only to be +surpassed by the three more and then three more that followed. + +The long years of our campaignings never diminished the lively feelings +of gratitude we experienced that morning, and to this day our veterans +never speak of Philadelphia but with pleasing recollections of the +friendly reception given them by the goodly inhabitants of the Quaker +city. + +The sun was up when we resumed our journey, and again we were met with +surprises. All along the track of the railroad, men, women and children, +filling the windows of the houses and thronging the wayside, cheered us +on our way, shouting and waving flags and handkerchiefs. Children in the +arms of their nurses waved little flags from the windows in great glee, +while gray haired old men in piping tones cried "God bless our +soldiers." This unlooked for, and to us surprising ovation continued +until we had passed the limits of the city, and indeed did not cease +till we had left the station many miles behind. In the train, the men +kept up a continuous cheering; tears stood in the eyes of many, and the +most enthusiastic expressions passed from lip to lip. + +The experience of our regiment was only that of others who passed +through this noble city, and often during our long campaigns, the +soldiers of different regiments would gather round their camp fires, and +relate to each other the kindnesses received by them in the City of +Brotherly Love. + +We were cordially welcomed in Delaware, the people waving banners and +handkerchiefs, and when those were not at hand, newspapers or even +articles from the clothes lines answered to show their good will; and +the negroes in the fields swung their hats and their hoes with great +spirit. + +We reached Baltimore in the evening, where we were kindly received, +furnished with supper and sent on our way. After many delays we reached +Washington at four o'clock Sunday morning, and were assigned to +temporary quarters near the station. Who would have suspected that it +was the Sabbath? Now we began to see something of the circumstance of +war. Horsemen were galloping in every direction; long trains of army +wagons rattled over the pavements at every turn of the eye; squads of +soldiers marched here and there; all was hurry, bustle and confusion. + +It was night when we reached the ground for our encampment on Meridian +Hill. The men had suffered much from cold, and what at that time was +hardship. Not less than a hundred of them were sick. It was not long +before tents were up, and for the first time the regiment was under +canvas. + +Our camp was pleasantly located, commanding a fine view of Washington, +the Potomac, Alexandria and other points of interest. We were surrounded +by the camps of other regiments, some arriving and some departing almost +daily. We had not been two days here when we began to get a taste of +camp rumors. One rumor declared that we were to have barracks erected, +and we were to go into winter quarters, while another assured us that we +were to have an immediate taste of actual warfare. These proved quite as +reliable as the thousands of rumors which during all our years of +service were afloat throughout the army, and acquired the expressive +appellation of "Camp Yarns." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ARMY LIFE AT WASHINGTON. + + Meridian Hill--Neighboring scenery--First Sunday in + camp--Drills--Sickness--The Hospital--General Casey--"Why don't + the army move?"--Washington blockaded--Burnside's heroes--Orders + to move--Something of a train--Smith's division--Our first + reconnoissance. + + +We encamped on Meridian Hill December 1st, 1861, with 960 men. + +Meridian Hill is the most delightful locality in the vicinity of +Washington. The plain on which the city stands, extends northward from +the Potomac about two miles where it is abruptly terminated by a line of +hills. From the summit of these hills stretches back another plain, at +an elevation of one or two hundred feet above the first. Along the +margin of these eminences were some fine old suburban mansions. On our +right towards Georgetown, was Kalorama, a charming spot, once the +residence of Joel Barlow, the author of the famous poems "Hasty Pudding" +and "The Columbiad." Now the building was converted by the government +into a hospital. In close neighborhood to us was Columbia College, also +used as a hospital, and to the east was the fine mansion of Colonel +Stone, and other superb places, all of which, like Kalorama and the +college, were full of sick men. + +Meridian Hill was in the center of this line of once beautiful country +residences, directly north of the President's house. It had been the +residence of Commodore Porter, and the house still bore the name of "the +Porter Mansion." The grounds had been elegantly laid out with box and +juniper, while the rich groves of oak and chestnut surrounding lent +additional charms to the locality. The hill was dotted with the white +tents of a dozen regiments, but none were so pleasantly located as our +own, under the shadow of those grand old trees. + +The mansion itself became our hospital, and for a time also served as +our head-quarters. From its broad piazza we could look upon the busy +scenes of the city, and watch the vessels passing up and down upon the +river. A week had passed before we were fairly established in our +quarters, but we rapidly learned the mysteries of the soldier's life. + +The weather was delightful; more like September than what we were +accustomed to experience in December. Although heavy mists hung over us +until nine or ten o'clock in the morning, they were dispelled by the +warm sunshine, and then all was bright as midsummer. This lovely weather +continued until about the first of January. + +The country in rear of our encampment was charming. Fine groves, +traversed by streams of pure, sweet water, and fields surrounded by +hedges, stretched far to the northward. The dark green leaves of the +magnolia were to be seen here and there among trees of larger growth, +and the shining, ever-green laurel forming a dense undergrowth, gave the +woods a lively and spring-like appearance. On the open plain might any +day be seen a regiment of Lancers, wheeling and charging in their +brilliant evolutions, their long lances with bright red pennons adding +greatly to the beauty of the display, and, as we at that time vainly +believed, to the efficacy of the troop. + +The first Sunday came, and we had religious services. The regiment was +formed in front of the mansion, every man being called out, unless on +duty or excused on account of illness. This became an established rule +with us for all time; every man was required to attend divine service +unless especially excused. Chaplain Tully and the members of the staff +occupied the piazza. The chaplain offered a prayer for the loved ones at +home, and then we all sung "Coronation," and after the sermon, we sung +"Cambridge" and "Old Hundred." The men seemed deeply affected by the +simple service, and many a quivering lip betrayed the emotions of the +heart. + +Drills became the order of the day. Every morning the hill rang from one +end to the other with the sharp commands of the company officers to +"Order arms!" "Shoulder arms!" as the men exercised by squads. Besides +the regular drill in the manual of arms, some of the companies delighted +in that system of military gymnastics called the bayonet exercise. In +the afternoon Colonel McKean usually trained the regiment in the more +difficult exercises of the battalion drill. + +But we began to feel the scourge of new regiments. Disease became almost +universal. We had but a single medical officer and he was tasked beyond +his strength. One hundred and fifty or two hundred men were prescribed +for every morning, aside from those so ill as to be in the hospital. + +The large parlors of the old mansion were neatly fitted up for our +hospital, for which they were admirably adapted. The two principal wards +were the large front parlors, which communicated by folding doors; the +ceilings were high, and the large open fire places in either apartment +served the double purpose of supplying heat and ventilation, so that +while about fifty beds were always occupied, the air was kept fresh and +pure. Typhoid fevers, typhoid pneumonias, diphtheria, and remittent +fevers were prevalent, while now and then the malaria manifested itself +in the form of the terrible spotted fever. Besides, as usually occurs +when the last named disease prevails in camps, some died suddenly from +unknown causes. + +By the tenth of the month the majority of the men were unfit for duty. +In one company the three commissioned officers were in the hospital, and +but twelve men could be mustered for evening parade. The labors of the +medical officer who undertakes single-handed to minister to the wants of +a regiment of recruits can only be known to those who have tried it. Our +doctor was as much worn out by the perplexities of organizing his +department as by the actual attendance on the sick. New demands came +almost every hour of the day and night, and it was only when the +violence of disease had subsided, and another officer was added to the +medical staff, that our weary son of Galen found a degree of respite. + +We were in the command of General Silas Casey, a noble specimen of a man +and a soldier. His manly dignity and kindly bearing impressed all with +profound respect for him, and although we were but a few weeks in his +command we never ceased to remember him with pleasure. The provisional +brigade and division to which we were attached was frequently reviewed +and drilled by the general, and made a fine appearance. + +Thus the time passed until the opening of the New Year. Our men, like +most fresh soldiers, were anxious for a fight, and were heartily tired +of what they considered inglorious inactivity. Many of them expressed +great fears that they would be obliged to return home without ever +hearing the sound of battle. How greatly they were mistaken we shall see +as we trace the bloody campaigns of more than three years of hard +fighting. + +Our friends at home were not unmindful of us. Boxes of clothing and +other comforts for the sick were sent in goodly numbers; so our sick +were well supplied with bedding and changes of clothing, as well as +jellies and other luxuries. Our friend, McMicheal, of Congress Hall, +Saratoga, thinking we could better celebrate the New Year with a good +dinner, sent us one worthy of his fame as a landlord. Could Mack have +heard the cheers of the boys that made the ground tremble as the four +hundred pounds of cooked chickens and turkeys were distributed among +them, his glory as a caterer would have been complete. With the New Year +came stormy weather; rain was the rule, sunshine the exception. The mud +became almost unfathomable and it was not uncommon to see the six mules +attached to an army wagon tugging and striving with all their power to +drag the empty wagon out of a mud hole. Boys who had plied the trade of +bootblack gave up their profession and with pail and sponge in hand +called to the passer by, "Wash your boots, sir?" During the lovely month +of December we had been impatient for action; but now the oft repeated +question, "Why don't the Army of the Potomac move?" became ludicrous to +our ears. + +Thus passed another month in drills and camp duties. Some recruits came +to us, while many of the men who came out at first were found unfit for +field duty and were discharged. + +Distrust arose among officers and enlisted men of our army about the +capital, in regard to the manner in which the army was managed. A +wilderness of men surrounded Washington, and yet we were blockaded by +the rebels on all sides except one. + +Government was paying enormous prices for fuel consumed by the army, +because the Potomac was closed, and all wood had to be brought by rail +from the sparsely wooded districts of Maryland. Provisions sold at +fabulous prices, and Washington was in fact a beleaguered city. Some +rays of light from the west penetrated the thick darkness; but it cannot +be concealed that while the Grand Army stationed about the capital +panted for action and longed for the glory of the battle-field, a gloom +possessed the spirits of the men, and a feeling, that all this splendid +material was destined to a "masterly inactivity," prevailed. Our hopes +were newly kindled when the affairs of the War Department passed into +the hands of a live man, and when Mr. Stanton's practical energy began +to be manifested both in the department and in the field. We heard from +Burnside; first sad news, and then of success; and our hearts burned to +be with him. Fort Donelson followed Roanoke; and Price's army was routed +in Missouri. We envied the men who had been our nearest neighbors, but +who had followed Burnside to the South. Glorious fellows! What cared +they now for the fury of the waves or the hardships of short rations? We +were afraid of being left as idle spectators of great things in which we +should not be allowed to participate. + +On the 15th of February came an order for us to move in a few days, and +join Smith's division. This division lay upon the other side of the +river, and although we had been anxious to move we did not wish to get +permanently fixed in the mud by moving there. We knew little of General +Smith or his division, only that the general had been trying very hard +for some time past to get the regiment, and we had little hopes of good +from the new arrangement. How little did we then suppose that the cross +of that old division would be one of the proudest badges of honor that +men could wear! + +Sunday night came, and the order to move at once, came also. What a +scene of confusion! We had never broken up camp before, and the +excitement ran high. The pounding and tearing of boards, the shouting of +men and braying of mules, combined in a grand uproar. Bonfires blazed +from every part of the camp, and the whole night was spent in tearing +down quarters and loading the stuff into army wagons as they presented +themselves in great numbers. It was a rare sight. The camp glowing with +a hundred fires, and the men and teams moving about among them like +spectres. Morning came, and the teams were loaded, and the men ready to +march. The teams drove out and formed a line reaching down 14th street +from our camp nearly to the White House! One hundred and five six-mule +teams constituted the train for our regimental baggage; and so much +dissatisfaction prevailed among certain company officers that we were +allowed twenty-five more teams next day! Rain had fallen nearly all +night, and the prospect looked dreary. As the day advanced the rain came +faster and faster, until it fairly poured. The men waded through mortar +nearly to their knees. + +It was three o'clock in the afternoon when we reached Smith's division +and the ground on which we were to make our camp. The prospect was not +cheering, and as two or three of our staff officers rode upon the +ground, the place seemed forbidding enough. It had been recently the +location of a thicket of scrub pines, but the trees had been cut down +for fuel, and the stumps and brush remained, so that the mounted +officers found much difficulty in reining their horses into the midst. +Snow covered the ground to the depth of several inches. Here our men, +tired and wet, cold and hungry, were to pitch their tents, cook their +suppers, and make their beds. + +The men fell to work heartily, and by dark they had cleared off the snow +and brush enough to make room for their tents, and many cook fires +blazed over the camp. + +The regiments of the division showed us much hospitality, and a very +pleasant acquaintance commenced on that day, which was destined to +become earnest friendship. The next day was spent in putting the camp in +order. As rain continued to fall, the mud in the company streets became +knee-deep. Our sick, those unable to walk, had been left in our old +hospital with a sufficient number of faithful nurses, under charge of +the surgeon of one of the regiments that remained. + +Let us for a moment glance at the composition of the division of which +we now formed a part. We were assigned to the Third brigade. It +comprised, beside our own, the Thirty-third New York, Colonel Taylor, a +regiment whose gallantry at Yorktown, Williamsburgh and Fredericksburgh +fully established its reputation as one of the best fighting regiments +in the army. The Forty-ninth New York, Colonel Bidwell, a noble regiment +with a noble commander, a regiment which could always be counted on to +do all that men could do; the Seventh Maine, Colonel Mason, whose men +were patterned after the pines of their own forests, tall, straight and +powerful fellows, who never forgot their proclivities for hunting, and +who were never so happy as when they could pick off a few rebel pickets +with their rifles. The brigade was commanded by General Davidson, who +afterwards made himself exceedingly disagreeable to the rebels, and +famous at the north by his daring cavalry raids in the west. The first +brigade included the Forty-third New York, Colonel Vinton; the +Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Irwin; the Sixth Maine, Colonel +Knowles; and the Fifth Wisconsin, Colonel Cobb; all of them excellent +regiments, under command of General Hancock, who has since placed his +name high on the roll of fame as the commander of the old Second corps. + +The Second brigade was composed entirely of Vermont troops, including +the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Vermont regiments, commanded +respectively by Colonels Henry Whiting, B. N. Hyde, E. H. Stoughton, L. +A. Grant and N. M. Lord, and known as the "Vermont Brigade," and nobly +did they sustain the traditional reputation of the Green Mountain Boys, +as stern patriots and hard fighters. They were commanded by General +Brooks, who afterward commanded the Tenth corps. + +General William F. Smith, or, as he was familiarly known, "Baldy Smith," +commanded the division. He is too well known to all who admire a true +soldier to require more than a mention here, and his great fame has been +well and faithfully earned. + +No more splendid material, either for officers or men, ever entered into +the composition of a division, and how nobly it played its part in the +great drama of the war, it shall be part of our duty to record. Drills, +regimental, brigade and division, were again in order, and picket duty +now became a part of our routine. + +This would not be a faithful chronicle of the doings of the new +regiment, were we to forget to relate the history of our first +expedition into the enemy's country. + +An order came one evening in February for Colonel McKean to take his +regiment and make a reconnoissance towards Vienna. His instructions were +to pass the picket line, advance towards Vienna, make a thorough +reconnoissance and return. + +The news spread through the camp, and the regiment was ablaze with +excitement. Some who had been on the sick list, and were excused from +camp duty, sought from the surgeon permission to accompany the +expedition, while a few who had been, up to this time, well, were +earnest in their applications to be excused from the march. + +The regiment was formed at ten o'clock at night; thick darkness, +darkness of the blackest and most intense degree, prevailed. One could +scarcely see his neighbor whose shoulder touched his own. We were miles +away from the enemy, but the men were to be instructed in performing +their movements in secrecy; so the commands were passed along the line, +as the companies were forming, in whisper. No lights were allowed, and +we left our camp a column of blackness. We were presently joined by a +guide who carried a lantern. We passed a great many regiments, all the +while observing strict silence. + +The mud was deep, very deep; some of the men lost their shoes in the +depths of the mire, and some even lost themselves, and were only +discovered when they arrived in camp some hours earlier than the +regiment. Through the darkness we plodded until we reached our +destination, at daylight on the following morning. Here we found bough +houses which had been used by rebel cavalry; and the tracks of many +horses imprinted only a little while before, whether by the horses of +our own cavalry, or by those of the enemy, we never knew. The battalion +was halted and scouts were sent to the front and on the flanks. Some of +the boys who had lost their shoes in the mud before we had advanced the +first mile, had made the whole march in their stockings; while others, +who had been sick, looked as though they could never get back to camp. +The companies deployed and marched through the woods, but as the enemy +was on the other side of Vienna we saw no rebels. It was noon when we +reached our camp, tired and covered with mud. Those who went laughed at +those who remained behind, and called them "dead beats!" The "beats" +tauntingly demanded of the others what all their demonstration had +amounted to. + +The New York papers heralded the exploit as a grand advance on the +enemy, and we said little about it. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE MANASSAS CAMPAIGN. + + Orders to march--A grand spectacle--Bivouac near Fairfax Court + House--The camps at night--Visits to Manassas and + Centreville--Dissatisfaction in the army--A deserted + country--Lawless soldiers--Fairfax Court House--A representative + Southerner--Review by Gen. McClellan--March to Alexandria--"Camp + Misery." + + +The first week in March brought lovely weather: birds sang more sweetly, +the sun shone more brightly, and bands played more merrily than usual, +and friends passed from regiment to regiment seeking social pastime with +friends. + +We had known no such pleasant times in camp; still we were waiting for +orders to advance. During the night of Sunday, the 8th of March, the +order came: "This division will move at four o'clock in the morning with +two days' rations in haversacks." Little rest we got that night; the +hammer and the axe were plied vigorously in tearing down quarters and +packing stores, and as the sun rose in the morning the whole army was in +motion. It was a sublime spectacle: that immense line of troops pouring +along hour after hour, stretching over the hills as far as the eye could +reach; a hundred and twenty thousand troops on the move! Just beyond and +above them, in the gray sky of the morning, hung a beautiful rainbow. At +six our division commenced to march. Rain soon began to fall, and +continued all day. We passed through Vienna and Lewinsville, each a +hamlet of a dozen houses, and reached our camping ground at five o'clock +in the afternoon, tired, and drenched, and hungry. + +Great numbers of troops had already occupied the fields, and the whole +country seemed alive with men and horses, artillery and wagons. We were +in the vicinity of Fairfax Court House, about a mile to the northward, +on what was called Flint Hill. + +The army, for the first time, was under "_tentes d'abri_," or, as they +are now called, shelter tents. Until now the enlisted men had occupied +the spacious Sibley, or the comfortable wedge tents, and all officers +were quartered in wall tents; now, line officers and enlisted men were +to occupy shelter tents, which they were to carry on their shoulders; +and although a small number of wall tents could be carried in the wagons +for field and staff officers, yet so imperfect was the understanding, in +or out of the quartermaster's department, of what could or ought to be +done, that most regimental field and staff officers were left without +any shelter at all. + +The men proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as possible under +their novel coverings, and as evening approached, the hills were +magnificently illuminated with thousands of camp fires. Very few men +occupied their new tents that night. They had not been accustomed to lie +upon wet ground, with only a single blanket wrapped about them, so +during all the night groups of soldiers stood about the camp fires, +talking in low tones and wondering what was to happen in the morning. +The sky was clear and bright when the sun rose, and as we looked out +upon the hill tops, dotted with clean white tents, and bristling with +stacks of shining muskets, we exulted in the thought that we were part +of the Grand Army that was now at work. Soon we knew that we were not to +fight here. The cavalry, and some of Porter's division, were returning +from Manassas and Centreville, both places burned and deserted. Were we +to pursue the retreating army, or were we to return to Washington to +take a new start? Parties from the division rode to Centreville and +Manassas. The works were indeed formidable and the barracks extensive; +and the old chestnut logs with blackened ends, that were mounted in some +of the embrasures, had, at a distance, grim visages. The smoking ruins +betokened the destructiveness of war. On the old battle-field lay +bleaching the bones of horses and men, and here and there might be seen +portions of human skeletons protruding from the shallow graves where +some pretense had been made at burial. Fragments of shells, broken +muskets and solid shot strewed the ground. + +Head-quarters of the army were established at Fairfax Court House, and +thither repaired the corps commanders to hold a council in regard to our +future movements. The country about our camp was rolling and sparsely +settled. Nearly all the houses were deserted, and most of them destroyed +so far as any future usefulness was concerned. One house, the ruins of +which stood not far from our camp, and which had been the most +comfortable place in the whole section of country, had been the +residence of a northern farmer. Although the house was completely +stripped, and nothing of the barns and outhouses remained but the +frames, yet there were many evidences of the thrift and comfort of the +former occupant. A northern reaper, several horse rakes, ploughs of +improved patterns, and other modern implements of agriculture, betokened +a genuine farmer. We were told that he was driven from his home early in +the war, and had now found refuge among his friends in New Hampshire. +But the houses of the southerners had not been exempt from the general +devastation, and some who had sought refuge in Richmond had left their +homes to ruin. The people were evidently strongly "secesh," although +some of them professed to be glad to see us. + +It cannot be said that the presence of our army afforded them great +protection, for the men, unused to the strict discipline which afterward +prevailed, coolly appropriated whatever articles seemed to them to be of +use either for the present or the future. It was amusing to see the +soldiers of some of the divisions in which less than the usual +discipline prevailed, peering and creeping about wherever there seemed a +prospect of plunder. Now one would pass with a pair of chickens; next, +one bringing a clothes line; then one with part of an old table, and +still another with half a dozen eggs. This system of plunder was at +length checked, in a measure at least. Fowls, eggs and potatoes could be +purchased of the people at fair rates, while rebel currency could be +bought for silver at a very considerable discount. Twenty-five cent and +one cent shinplasters were brought into camp and laughed at by men who +were afterward glad to get shinplasters from another manufactory. + +To Fairfax Court House was but a short distance; and a ride to the +village afforded a pleasant gallop of a morning. The place, and the +country half a mile on each side, was occupied by McCall's division. The +village was pleasantly located on high ground, surrounded by fine +groves. It contained some pretty residences, which were occupied by +officers as head-quarters: their horses, in some instances, being +picketed on the porticos, and in others in the kitchens. The village was +nearly deserted by its own people, not more than fifty of the original +inhabitants being left, though the population of the town before the war +was nearly six hundred. Houses which were deserted were generally +stripped of everything. The court house was a solid old brick building +of very limited dimensions, with a little bell swinging in a comical +looking steeple. The court house was by no means an exception to the +general rule of destruction; the seats were torn out, and the judge's +bench had been split in pieces, and nearly all carried away by pockets +full, as relics. At one of the houses where the family still remained, a +party reined up and made some inquiries of the _pater familias_, a +hangdog looking specimen, with an old slouched hat covered to the crown +with rusty crape, a mark of second-hand gentility in these parts. He +said that "this yer war" had caused such a famine among the people, that +nearly all of them had been obliged to leave; some had gone to +Washington and some to Richmond, "a right smart lot of them had gone to +Richmond." He had "reckoned onct or twict" that he would have to go too, +but he "had succeeded in hanging on so long." + +Our division was reviewed by General McClellan, who was received with +enthusiasm. Although many of us were familiar with the appearance of the +Commander-in-Chief, this was his first appearance to us as a division. +The General appeared a man below the medium height, with broad +shoulders, full chest and a round pleasing face relieved by a heavy +moustache. He sat his horse well and rode with great speed. While his +appearance and address were pleasing, there seemed in his smooth face +and mild eye nothing to indicate a man of brilliant genius or great +purpose. + +At length the council of corps commanders had rendered its decision, and +the grand campaign of the Virginian Peninsula was planned. On the +morning of the fourteenth of March, with buoyant hopes and exulting +anticipations of a "quick, sharp and decisive," and as we devoutly +believed, a successful campaign, we left our camp at Flint Hill. It had +few charms for us, and we were glad to leave it. How little we yet knew +of real campaigning. Although we had notice several hours beforehand +that we were to move by daylight, yet many, indeed, the majority of us, +marched that morning without breakfast. + +No morning sun cheered us as the day began, but the sky was hung with +heavy clouds. A drizzling rain, now diminishing almost to a heavy mist, +and now coming in fresh showers, made the marching heavy and unpleasant. +Grandly appeared that majestic army as it filed down the turnpike to +Alexandria. At times the elevation of the road afforded a view of the +mighty column for miles to the front, and at other times we could see it +pouring onward an endless stream of cavalry, infantry, artillery and +wagons, far from the rear. + +So grand a spectacle had never been witnessed on this continent before. +Our march was rapid and we made no halt for dinner: those who went +without breakfast had poor chance for coffee that day. + +Towards evening the rain increased, and as we drew off into a piece of +woods five miles out from Alexandria, the rain came down in sheets. Near +our halting place were some deserted houses. No sooner had we stopped +than began the work of destruction, afterward so familiar to us, and in +less than an hour there was not a board or timber left of either +building. The ground, although quite uneven and sloping, soon became so +flooded that tents, even when they could be pitched, were untenable. The +men attempted to build fires, but in most instances the floods of water +quenched the flames. Some, however, succeeded in starting huge fires, +and around these stood the men during the whole night, while the tempest +poured in torrents upon them. A few of the officers of the division, +among whom was one who afterward became noted for looking out for and +providing good things for his regiment as quartermaster, sought refuge +in a house not far off, where, for the moderate sum of twenty-five cents +each, they were allowed by the people sleeping room upon the floor. +Never since the times of Pharaoh was an army so thoroughly drenched. +During more than three years campaigning in the field our boys never +forgot that night; and to this day they frequently refer to the +disagreeable experience in what they not inappropriately term "Camp +Misery." Here, in "Camp Misery," we remained several days, waiting to +embark for Fortress Monroe. + +Without doubt, the rebels all this time knew of our destination; for the +people among whom we were encamped were by no means our friends or +indifferent to the success of the rebels, and the point of our +destination was well known and freely spoken of among them. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ARMY TRANSFERRED TO THE PENINSULA. + + Embarking for the Peninsula--Mount Vernon--On the + Potomac--Hampton--In camp--Orders to march--A night visit to + Fortress Monroe--The advance--A sifting--A Quaker battery--At + Newport News--Compliments of the Teaser. + + +On Sunday morning, March 23d, we marched to Alexandria. The whole of our +division, and of the other divisions of Keyes' corps, were there, +besides part of Heintzelman's corps and other troops. In the course of +the afternoon, this great body of men was embarked upon the transports. +The vessels having received their lading, swung out upon the river and +laid at anchor during the night. Early in the morning the whole fleet +was under way, steaming down the river. We passed Mount Vernon--the +bells of the fleet tolling. The tomb lies in the midst of a clump of +firs just south and a little below the house; the mansion and the +grounds are nearly as they were left by Washington, and the whole looks +down upon the river, calling upon the passer-by for a thought upon the +great man whose dust lies beneath the fir trees. After passing Mount +Vernon, nothing of special interest was seen except the broad expanse of +waters of this magnificent stream. A few large mansions, a few inferior +houses, and now and then a little hamlet, appeared on the banks; and at +Aquia creek could be seen the insignificant earthworks that had covered +the few field pieces which for so many months had kept up an efficient +blockade of the Potomac. + +How different was all this from our Hudson! The country bordering on the +river is beautiful; nature has done everything for it, but a cursed +institution has blighted it. There is not a country in the world where +nature has been more lavish with its blessings, and yet it is forsaken, +worn out, almost a wilderness. The magnificent rivers and unsurpassed +harbors of Virginia, its natural fertility and the mildness of its +climate, present natural advantages scarcely equaled by any country. As +we stood upon the deck of the steamer, watching and admiring the +ever-varying beauties of the noble stream, some one repeated these lines +from Barlow's _Columbiad_: + + "Thy capes, Virginia, towering from the tide, + Raise their blue banks, and slope thy barriers wide, + To future sails unfold a fluvian way, + And guard secure thy multifluvian bay, + That drains uncounted realms and here unites + The liquid mass from Alleganian hights. + York leads his way embanked in flowery pride, + And noble James falls winding by his side; + Back to the hills, through many a silent vale, + Wild Rappahannock seems to lure the sail; + Patapsco's bosom courts the hand of toil; + Dull Susquehanna laves a length of soil; + But mightier far, in sea-like azure spread, + Potowmac sweeps his earth disparting bed." + +At night we were on the broad Chesapeake. A stiff breeze set our fleet +rocking, but we slept quietly, leaving the waves to take care of +themselves and the pilots to take care of the boats. Reveille awoke us +in the morning to discover on the one side of us the world-renowned +Fortress Monroe and on the other the equally famous Monitor. At our bow +lay the village of Hampton--or rather the chimneys and trees of what had +been Hampton. Orders came for us to disembark here, and we were soon +among the debris of the town. A sadder commentary on war could hardly be +found than the ruins of this beautiful village. A forest of shade trees +and chimneys marked the place where a few months before had stood one of +the most ancient villages in America. Hyacinths and daffodils, peach +trees and roses, were in bloom in the deserted and fenceless gardens; +and the dark green leaves of the japonica and laurel covered many a heap +of unsightly rubbish. + +The walls of the old church, the most ancient in the State, stood like +silent witnesses against the reckless spirit of destruction of the +rebels. Although not large, the church had evidently been a fine old +structure, having the form of a Greek cross. About it were the graves of +the forefathers of the village, reposing under the shadow of those old +trees. Many of the tablets were ancient, dating back as far as 1706. + +[Illustration: THE OLD CHURCH AT HAMPTON.] + +The whole army was pouring out upon this shore, and at Fortress Monroe. +Dense masses of infantry, long trains of artillery and thousands of +cavalry, with unnumbered army wagons and mules, were mingled in grand +confusion along the shore; the neighing of horses, the braying of mules, +the rattle of wagons and artillery, and the sound of many voices, +mingled in one grand inharmonious concert. + +Our division marched along a pleasant route to a field about midway +between Fortress Monroe and Newport News. We rested until March 26th, +when an order came at midnight for the army to march very early in the +morning. We were short of some medical stores and quartermasters' +supplies, and officers at once mounted their horses to ride through the +thick darkness to Fortress Monroe, to procure the needed articles. Along +the road men were already cooking their breakfasts, and artillery was +hurrying towards Newport News. At short intervals along the road, +sentinels were posted; and as the sounds of the horses' hoofs were +heard, the sharp command rung out through the darkness, "Halt! who comes +there?" and the galloping horses would suddenly halt at long distance +from the sentry. + +"Friends with the countersign." + +"Dismount and advance one; and give the countersign." + +One of the parties, leaving his horse with the other, would advance and +give the required word, and on we rode again until suddenly halted by a +similar warning. As we approached the fortress, the sentinels were more +frequent, until, as we came within half a mile of our destination, the +guards were posted so frequently that we had hardly passed one, before +the sharp command to "Halt!" was heard again. We crossed the drawbridge, +and at length found ourselves in the little village in rear of the fort. +Passing here many sentinels who examined us very carefully, we reached +the door of the citadel. Here we were halted by a sentinel, and each +examined for the countersign. The sentinel called the corporal of the +guard; who after satisfying himself that we were Union officers shouted +to the sergeant. The great iron door ground upon its massive hinges as +it swung open just far enough to permit the sergeant to squeeze through, +and again it was closed, and the heavy bolts rung as they flew back to +their places. The sergeant, after asking a few questions, went back into +the fort, and soon returned with the officer of the guard, who, after +receiving the countersign, questioned us closely as to our business, and +who we were. Satisfied, at length he ordered a soldier to take our +horses, the heavy door slowly opened, and we were admitted within the +walls. Such were the precautions in admitting strangers to the +stronghold. + +At six o'clock the division was in line and on the road. The morning was +indescribably beautiful. The vapors that rose from the broad expanse of +waters were tinged with a thousand gorgeous hues as they rolled away, +dispersed by the morning sun; and the tall yellow pines were crowned +with rich golden coronals of light. The road was perfectly level and +dry, and the country delightful. Long rows of locusts and pines lined +the sides of the road, and the rich groves of oak just sending forth +their foliage, were beautifully interspersed with the holly, with its +bright red berries and rich evergreen leaves. Peach orchards in full +bloom added to the beauty of the scene, and when at times we could see +the lines of troops, two and three miles in extent, their muskets +glittering in the bright sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men was +unbounded. + +All the bridges over the route had been destroyed by the enemy, but +pioneers advanced at the head of the column, and as the bridges were all +small they were quickly repaired. A march of a few miles brought us in +sight of the James river; a noble stream, at least five miles wide at +this point. Not far from the shore appeared the masts of the U. S. +frigate Cumberland, sunk in the memorable fight with the Merrimac. As +our march led us along the banks, the views were charming. On one hand +was the noble river, and on the other the orchards and groves. Deserted +houses, and gardens blooming with hyacinths and other blossoms of early +spring, were passed. On the opposite side of the river lay a rebel +gunboat, watching our movements. + +Our division, Smith's, had taken the lead on the James river road, while +Porter's division had marched upon Great Bethel. After a march of +fifteen miles, our division was drawn up in line of battle near Warwick. +Porter's division had already reached Great Bethel, on our right, and we +could see huge columns of smoke rising in that direction, and hear the +roar of artillery. An aide dashed up and informed General Davidson that +the enemy were in line of battle ready to receive us. Soon the order +came to advance; the line swept onward through the woods and over a +cleared field, but found no foe. A few cavalry pickets only were seen, +and a shell from one of our Parrott guns set them flying towards +Yorktown. We passed through the confederate encampments where their +fires were still blazing, but soon turned round and bivouacked on ground +last night occupied by rebels. + +In this advance or reconnoissance of the whole army, the qualities of +the individual soldiers composing it were brought out in bold relief. +The effect on our own division was marked. During the months we had been +in winter quarters, many officers and men had established marvelous +reputations for bravery and hardihood, merely by constantly heralding +their own heroism. But from this time these doughty heroes went back. +Officers suddenly found cause for resigning; and enlisted men managed to +get sent to the rear, and never showed their faces at the front again. +On the contrary, some who were really invalids insisted on dragging +themselves along with the column, fearful that an engagement might take +place in which they would not participate. A sifting process was thus +commenced throughout the whole division, and to its honor the poltroons +were very soon sifted out, and from that time forth, Smith's division +never afforded a comfortable resting place for men of doubtful courage. +"They went out from us, because they were not of us." + +Next morning we retired over the road upon which we had advanced, and +encamped near Newport News. As we passed this place on our outward +march, we saw at a distance what appeared to be a heavy gun, but as we +approached it proved to be a large cart, on which was mounted a great +wooden mortar, which had, perhaps, been used by negroes for cracking +corn. When we returned a hog's head was fixed in the mouth of the +mortar. "There," remarked an officer, "is the first Quaker we have seen +on the Peninsula." "You must sketch it," said the colonel of the +Seventy-seventh, and the officer obeyed. + +[Illustration: THE QUAKER AT NEWPORT NEWS.] + +The division encamped upon a low plain covered with sedges and reeds, a +good enough encampment while the dry weather lasted, but when the rain +came in floods two nights after we pitched our tents here, the whole +division was inundated, and we moved to higher and better ground. + +The masts of the Cumberland greeted our eyes whenever we turned toward +the river, and the rebel gunboats made short excursions toward our side +of the stream. One day large numbers of men, mostly from the Vermont +brigade, were on the shoals of the river bathing and gathering oysters. +The gunboat Teazer discovering them, steamed down toward them, and threw +some heavy shells, shrieking and cracking among them, causing great +consternation among the bathers, and some confusion and much amusement +on shore. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +YORKTOWN. + + The advance to Yorktown--A thunder storm--"Reliable + contrabands"--Facing the enemy--A strong position--The Union + line--A rebel welcome--Digging--On picket--A dreary country--An + enterprising planter--Active work--Battle of Lee's Mills--Charge + of the Vermont brigade--Progress of the siege--Ravages of + disease--A front seat--Short supplies--The rebels + withdraw--Entering the strongholds--Infernal machines--March to + Williamsburgh--Victims of disease. + + +At length, on the 4th of April, the army was put in motion for Yorktown. +The General-in-Chief had arrived at Fortress Monroe the evening before, +and at once the army became the scene of prodigious activity. Keyes' +corps, our own division in advance, took the road along the banks of the +James river. The rest of the army, headed by Porter's division, advanced +on the more direct road to Yorktown, through Great Bethel, accompanied +by General McClellan. + +The day being clear and warm, the men soon began to realize the +difficulty of transporting large amounts of clothing and camp equipage +on their shoulders, and the roadsides were strewn with blankets and +overcoats, dress coats and pants. The bushes and trees for miles along +the route were thickly hung with articles of clothing, mostly new, and +all good. Soldiers who had put on their marching suit would fall out of +the ranks, the knapsack would quickly disgorge a new coat and pants, the +wearers would as quickly divest themselves of the soiled garments and +replace them with the new ones, the others being left on the ground. +Whenever a halt was ordered this shifting process became general. + +The roads, which at first were dry and firm, were as we advanced badly +cut up, and great difficulty was experienced in getting the trains +along. + +An advance of ten miles brought us in front of Young's Mills, a strongly +fortified position five or six miles from Yorktown. The corps was drawn +up in line of battle and cavalry sent to reconnoiter the position. The +works were deserted, but camp fires still blazed in them. Here we rested +for the night. At daylight next morning the advance was renewed. The +roads were even worse than the day before. Infantry could get along well +enough, but artillery and army wagons had a hard time of it. Each piece +of artillery made the road worse, until the axles dragged in a river of +mud. We passed the little village of Warwick Court House. There were +here a little brick court house, a jail and a clerk's office seven feet +by ten, a store and a tavern. There were also two small dwelling houses. + +After a march of three miles the division was drawn up in line of +battle. We had reached the hostile works before the rest of the army. +Skirmishers were sent to the front and we advanced slowly and cautiously +through the woods. A terrific thunder storm burst upon us and the roar +of the heavenly artillery seemed to mock any efforts at martial +grandeur. Seldom, if ever, had we of the northern states witnessed such +an exhibition of sublimity and terrible magnificence of the workings of +the elements. The vivid lightning and terrific peals of thunder seemed +to the men the presage of deadly work to come. The advance was very +difficult, the woods being marshy and filled with tangles and briars. +The men were scratched and bleeding. The long line of battle presently +emerged from the woods and occupied a clearing, in the center of which +was a mansion, the late residence of a rebel officer. Some scouts +brought from the house a couple of negresses whom they led to General +Keyes. They communicated their information with an earnestness that +proved their sympathies were not with their late master. It was a +picturesque scene; those tall negresses with their bright red turbans +and long white woolen gowns, telling with earnest gestures what they +knew of the position of the enemy, while the generals and their staffs +listened eagerly to their words. They said that when we passed over the +little hill just in front, we should be under fire from the batteries of +the rebels, who were in large force; "but laws a massa, noting like all +dese yer," said they, pointing to the troops of our division. + +Cautiously the clearing was crossed, the long line of battle moving in +beautiful order--Kennedy's, Ayres' and Wheeler's batteries each +accompanying a brigade. + +Again we entered a heavy pine wood in which the swamp was deeper than +ever, and advancing through it we came face to face with the enemy. +Warwick creek, a marshy stream which had been dammed by the rebels, +raising its waters into ponds and deep morasses, was between us and +their works, and the accessible points were guarded by artillery. Two +regiments were at once deployed as skirmishers and sent in advance, and +our batteries were planted along the edge of the wood with the line of +the infantry. Only Smith's division was in line, the others were waiting +on the road for orders to come up. + +Along the road, for more than half the distance back to Young's Mills, +the brigades of Couch's and Kearney's divisions were resting on their +arms, while cannon by scores waited to be called into action. + +The enemy was not slow to acknowledge our presence, and as a token of +greeting sent some twelve-pound shells crashing among the trees about +us. The firing now became brisk on our side, and the rebels replied +spiritedly with their twelve-pounders. Hundreds of men were now called +up from the rear brigades and detailed to build corduroy roads. Trees +were cut down and trimmed of their branches, and laid side by side so as +to form a kind of bridge over the swamp to enable more artillery to come +up. The rapidity with which such roads were built was marvelous. + +By this time the column on the right had reached the works in front of +the town. The position here was also strong. Although the Warwick did +not interpose, yet high bluffs, crowned with redoubts in which were +mounted heavy guns, frowned upon the assailants. Thus far it appears +that the leaders of our army had been totally ignorant of the position +and strength of the enemy, and had led it up to the works, blindly +feeling the way without maps or guides. (McClellan's Report.) The +defensive works were now found to consist of a series of redoubts and +rifle pits stretching across the Peninsula, seven miles in extent, with +high bluffs on the right and Warwick creek in their front on the left. + +The position occupied by our division was known as Lee's Mills, and to +our right, nearly three miles, was the village of Yorktown. The line of +battle was now arranged in the following order from right to left: +Heintzelman's corps, consisting of Porter's, Hooker's and Hamilton's +divisions, were in front of the town; Sedgwick's division of Sumner's +corps on the left of them, and Keyes' corps, comprising Smith's and +Couch's division (Casey's division arrived in a few days), held the +position on the Warwick at Lee's Mills. + +The position of the enemy was, without doubt, one of great strength, and +everything had been done to render it more formidable. Yet they were by +no means too strong or sufficiently well garrisoned to resist an assault +from such a body of men as now appeared in their front. That there were +weak points in this line of defenses, stretching seven miles, was +afterwards demonstrated; and that the forces behind the works were by no +means sufficiently numerous, at the time of our approach, to afford +formidable resistance at all points in their extensive line, is now well +known. + +It appears from the official report of the rebel General Johnston, who +then commanded all the rebel forces in Virginia, that at the time of the +appearance of our army before Yorktown the works were defended by only +about eleven thousand men, and that even after he had reinforced the +garrisons by the troops which he was hurrying from Manassas, his army +amounted to only fifty thousand men. + +The artillery duel was kept up until night. We had lost some men during +the day, but not so many as we had feared. First a poor fellow from the +Seventh Maine, his heart and left lung torn out by a shell; then one +from the Forty-ninth New York, shot in the head; the next was from our +own regiment, Frank Jeffords, who had to suffer amputation of a leg; +then a man from the Forty-ninth was sent to the rear with his heel +crushed. In all, our loss did not exceed twenty men. The casualties in +the other brigades were less than in our own. + +As night approached, the firing gradually ceased, and nothing but the +scattering shots of the skirmishers was heard. We lay down in the swamp +with no tents, and many of us without food. Officers and men built +platforms of logs and bark to keep out of the water where they were not +fortunate enough to find a dry place. General Smith bivouacked near the +line of battle, making his bed at the foot of a pine tree, with nothing +but his overcoat for shelter. It may not be amiss to say here that +General Smith, unlike most gentlemen with stars on their shoulders, was +always in the habit of sleeping at the very front. + +All the following day, and the next, the firing was kept up steadily on +both sides. At night showers of cannister and grape would fall in our +camp, and fortunate was he who had a good tree or stump between him and +the rebel works against which to lay his head while he slept. + +We at length became so accustomed to the continual skirmishing, that +unless the firing was in fierce volleys we took no notice of it. The +boys of the Thirty-third New York being on the skirmish line on the 8th, +charged a rifle pit with shouts and hurrahs, and drove the rebels from +it. An attempt was made to retake it, but the boys held their ground. + +The men performed herculean labors on the roads, and in throwing up +earthworks. No rest was allowed. When not on picket they were cutting +down trees or throwing up earthworks or building bridges. Such constant +labor soon began to exhaust the strength of the stoutest, and hundreds +of them yielded to disease who supposed themselves capable of enduring +any amount of hardships. Yet there was now and then a grimly gay episode +in this hard routine. Here is an incident that occurred two or three +days after we approached the works, and affords a good sample of +picketing between us and the forts. Our pickets were within speaking +distance of those of the enemy; each party kept, if possible, snugly +behind some big stump or tree, out of the reach of his disagreeable +neighbors. A good deal of hard talk had passed between one of our +pickets and one of the "Johnnies." Finally the rebel thrust his hand +beyond his tree holding in it a bottle, and shaking it, challenged the +Yankee to come and take it--"_crack_" went the Yankee's rifle at the +hand. "Ha, ha! why don't you hit it? What do you think of Bull Run?" +"How do you like Fort Donelson?" responded the Yankee. + +While this colloquy was going on, Yankee number two crept round behind a +log, and drawing on the southerner, blazed away at him. The son of +chivalry clapped his hand to his shoulder and ran off howling. "There, +you fool," shouted Yankee number one, "I told you that blind man would +be shooting you pretty soon." + +The country about us was uncultivated and unhealthy. The lands were low +and swampy, and mostly covered with a heavy growth of yellow pines. The +few remaining inhabitants were mostly women, negresses and children; now +and then a disabled specimen of poor white trash, or a farmer too infirm +to be of service in the rebel army, was to be met with. All were alike +destitute of enterprise, and the houses upon the "plantations" were of +the meanest order, raised three or four feet above the ground upon posts +without the usual foundation of stone. The "plantations" consisted +usually of about ten or twenty acres of cleared land in the midst of the +forest, with narrow roads among the pines leading to neighboring +plantations. + +The writer inquired of the proprietor of one of these isolated spots, +who also had some forty negro women and children, how he managed to +support so large a family from the proceeds of so little land. "Well," +said he, "I could not support them from the proceeds of the land alone, +but you see I sell a few negroes every year and buy corn with the money; +so with what we raise and what we get for the sale of the negroes, we +get along very well." + +"But why do you not cut down some of this forest and till more land? You +own a large tract of land which is entirely worthless as it now is." + +"There is where you are greatly mistaken, said the enterprising +southerner, my timber land is my best property." But of what use do you +make it? "Oh, I sell a great deal of wood. I take it to Fortress Monroe +and Hampton and get two dollars and a half a cord for it!" + +The reader will perhaps understand the profits drawn from the wood +lands, when it is remembered that Fortress Monroe was twenty miles +distant. + +Night attacks by the enemy became common; and it was not an unfrequent +occurrence for the whole division to be called suddenly to arms at +midnight and stand in line until morning. Skirmishes and sharpshooting +continued with little intermission; bullets of rebel riflemen whizzing +through our camps or unceremoniously entering our tents at all times. +Rebel gunboats approached the mouth of the Warwick and by their +assistance the rebel infantry attempted to turn our left flank, but the +troops of our division gallantly met their attack and drove them back. + +This state of affairs continued until the 16th of April. That morning, +word passed through the division that we were to make an assault. Orders +came to move, and the division was massed near some ruins, known as "The +Chimneys," in front of one of the rebel forts; the Second brigade +holding the front line, supported by the First and Third brigades. As we +moved round to take our positions, an American eagle whirled above our +heads in elegant circles and at length floated away toward the south, +the boys swinging their hats and cheering the bird with loud huzzahs. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE VERMONTERS AT LEE'S MILLS.] + +The fort in our front covered the road from Newport News to +Williamsburgh, and could we get possession of it we could turn the +flanks of the enemy, obliging him to abandon his position and enabling +us either to prevent his escape or to harass him in his flight. In front +of the fort the creek had been dammed and a deep morass interposed +between us and the works. General McClellan and his immense suite rode +to the point from which the attack was to be made, and communicating a +few minutes with Generals Keyes and Smith, left the field. Mott's +battery was now brought into position on the open plateau and opened a +fierce cannonade, to which the rebels replied with spirit, dismounting +one of our guns and killing several of the gunners at the very start. +Mott was reinforced by Kennedy's and Wheeler's batteries, and the +hostile guns were soon silenced. Our batteries then advanced within five +hundred yards of the fort, and the gray-coated rebels who were seen to +fill the woods, were soon dispersed. Two companies of troops, from the +Third Vermont, were now ordered forward. Down from the woods they came, +rushed into the water to their waists, and gallantly made for the rebel +rifle pits. The first line of the works was gained and then the second. +The fort was empty, but a ditch to their left was filled with men. They +poured a volley among them and the gray coats fled. Thus the fort was +actually in their possession, and was held for some minutes by the noble +fellows, but when they looked for support, none came. The three brigades +stood upon the opposite bank, ready to plunge through the stream, and +waiting with intense anxiety for the order, "forward;" but no order +came, and the brave Green Mountain boys who had so nobly performed their +part of the work, were forced to fall back under a galling fire from the +rebels, who rushed back to their pits as soon the Vermonters had left +them, pouring volley after volley into the retreating forces, who, their +ammunition spent, could not reply to the rebel fire. Before they were +able to reach the shelter of the woods, sad havoc was made in their +ranks. Skirmishing was kept up for some hours, by other regiments, but +with no result except the loss of men. + +The following list of killed and wounded was obtained the next day after +the battle: + +2d Vermont--1 killed. + +3d Vermont--24 killed, 7 mortally wounded, 56 wounded, + 1 missing. +4th Vermont--3 killed, 30 wounded. +5th Vermont--2 killed, 6 wounded. +6th Vermont--11 killed, 77 wounded. + +Total loss to the brigade, 218. + +Thus ended the fight known as the "Battle of Lee's Mills," a battle in +which two hundred men gallantly captured an important work of the enemy, +and thousands of their companions burning with desire to share in their +glory stood by and saw them abandon it! Why the other brigades were not +ordered forward has never been explained satisfactorily. That General +Smith would gladly have sent them forward we earnestly believe; but we +now know that General McClellan desired that a general engagement should +not be brought on at that time. + +The wounded men exhibited the same bravery, while their wounds were +being cared for, that characterized their brilliant charge. Men badly +mutilated, with bullets in their heads, or breasts, or limbs, refused to +receive attention from the surgeon who dressed their wounds, until their +more unfortunate companions were cared for. "Don't mind me, doctor, +there are others hurt worse than I am," said many a brave fellow, as he +lay upon the ground bleeding from his wounds. + +The following incident connected with this noble charge will be +remembered by all who were at that time members of Smith's division, and +by hundreds who saw accounts of it in the newspapers of the day: + +Private William Scott, of Company K, Third Vermont, was, in the autumn +of 1861, found asleep at his post on the picket line. It was a grave +fault; but the weary soldier, inexperienced in the service, and +unaccustomed to such night vigils, in an evil hour yielded to the +demands of tired nature, little thinking that the lives of hundreds of +his comrades were periled by his unfaithfulness. He was tried by a +court-martial and sentenced to be shot. The sentence was approved, and +at the appointed time he was brought forth to execution. General Smith, +desiring to impress upon the minds of his men the terrible consequences +of such an offense, formed his troops in line. The culprit was brought +out before them, and led to the place of execution. The guard, with +loaded muskets, stood ready to execute the dreadful sentence, which was +read before all the troops. All waited in breathless expectation for the +order to fire; but instead another paper was read. It was a pardon from +the President! Then the wildest shouts of joy ran along the line. Shout +after shout arose from the division, and hundreds blessed the name of +President Lincoln. + +There were many circumstances to render this a case of peculiar +interest. It was the first sentence of the kind; it was at the beginning +of the war, when a soldier's life was regarded of value, and when all +eyes were riveted upon the army, and every incident was of interest. It +was also the first instance of the kind in which the executive clemency +had been exercised. So near had the hour of execution arrived when the +President signed the pardon, that, fearing it might not be received in +season, he took his carriage and drove to camp, to assure himself that +the man's life should be spared. + +"I will show President Lincoln that I am not afraid to die for my +country," said the grateful soldier; and well did he fulfill his +promise. Among the bravest of those two hundred heroes who crossed the +swamp at Lee's Mills, was William Scott, of Company K, Third Vermont. +But he was brought back a corpse. He had shown the President that he was +not afraid to die for his country. He was one of the foremost in the +charge, and one of the first to fall. His comrades made his grave under +the shadow of the tall pines, and as they folded his blanket around him, +and lowered him to his resting place, tears stood upon those brown +cheeks; but the tears of sorrow were mingled with tears of joy, when +they thought of his glorious death, and his narrow escape from an +ignominious fate, and again, in their hearts, they blessed the man who +was always the soldier's friend. + +We resumed our place the next day after the battle, on the front line, +and commenced digging. + +Fierce night sorties were again made by the enemy and bravely resisted +by our boys, who continued the work regardless of these annoyances. Only +one fight occurred on our part of the line after the 16th, in which we +lost any number of men. On the 28th the First brigade had a skirmish in +which we lost one killed and half a dozen wounded. Among the latter was +Lieutenant, afterward Colonel Milliken, of the Forty-third New York. A +reconnoissance on the left about the same time, resulted in finding the +rebels in considerable force, and a loss of two good soldiers to the +Seventy-seventh New York. In the meantime earthworks of great strength +were being thrown up on the right of the line before Yorktown, and +everything was being put in a complete state of preparation for the +grand bombardment. Enormous siege guns of one hundred and even two +hundred pound calibre, and immense mortars were brought up and mounted +in the earthworks, and it was thought that with the powerful means we +were using the fall of Yorktown was only a question of time. + +Our losses by the rebels before Yorktown were not great, but the ravages +by disease were fearful. Many thousands of noble fellows who would +gladly have braved the dangers of the battle-field, were carried to the +rear with fevers engendered by the deadly malaria of the swamps, from +which few ever recovered sufficiently to rejoin the ranks; and thousands +of others were laid in humble graves along the marshy borders of the +Warwick or about the hospitals at Young's Mills. For a month the men +were almost continually under arms; often called in the middle of the +night to resist the attempts of the enemy to force our line under cover +of the thick darkness, standing in line of battle day after day and +digging at earthworks night after night. + +During the thirty days of the siege we had twenty days of rain. Thunder +storms followed each other in quick succession, with lightnings more +vivid than we had ever seen at the north. Men lay down to rest at night +with their equipments buckled about them and wet to their skins. Men +unaccustomed to the hardships of campaigning could not endure such +exposure. + +A few divisions of the army performed by far the greater part of the +labor, either because they had at first reached positions which imposed +greater toil, or because greater confidence was reposed in them. Our own +division was one of those upon which the duties imposed were too great +for men to perform; yet the men would have resented being sent to the +rear, and it was said that General Smith remarked that "he had spoken +for a front seat for his boys and he intended to keep it." + +Added to all the exposures and hardships of the siege, there was a +deplorable want of proper commissary and medical supplies. While the men +were supplied with fair rations of hard bread, vegetables were unknown +among us, and the supply of fresh meat wholly inadequate. In the Medical +Department the greatest difficulty was experienced in obtaining +supplies, and indeed it was impossible to get them. Not that regimental +surgeons did not use their utmost endeavor to procure them, but as +brigade and regimental commissaries could not obtain supplies of food +which were not furnished to the army at all, so surgeons could not +procure medicines and other necessaries which were locked in the +storehouses in Washington. This subject will be more fully alluded to in +another place, and it is to be hoped that the responsibility of this +criminal negligence to supply the army with medical and hospital stores +may fall where it belongs. + +Thus, with their minds wrought up to a continual state of excitement, +with constant exposure to tempests and malaria, with excessive and +exhausting labors, and with improper food and scarcity of medicine, +sickness and death swept over us like a pestilence. + +At length, after a month of toil and exposure almost unprecedented, +after losing nearly one-fifth of our magnificent army by disease and +death, our batteries were finished, the enormous siege guns were +mounted, and the thirteen inch mortars in position. The army looked +anxiously for the grand _finale_ of all these extensive preparations. +Men had lost the enthusiasm which prevailed when we landed upon the +Peninsula, and a smile was seldom seen; but a fixed and determined +purpose to succeed still appeared in their faces. Now at length we were +ready; and the countenances of the soldiers began to lighten up a +little. But as the sun rose on the morning of the 4th of May, behold, +the rebels had vanished, and with them our hopes of a brilliant victory! +Unfortunately for our hopes of a great success at Yorktown, the rebel +generals had shown themselves unwilling to afford us such an opportunity +by waiting for us longer; and during the night of the 3d and 4th they +had evacuated the place. + +They had gained a month of time for strengthening the defenses about +Richmond, and for concentrating their forces there. Now they were ready +to fall back without testing our magnificent works and huge guns, and +lead us into the swamps of Chickahominy; where they hoped that the fever +would complete the ghastly work already commenced at Yorktown. + +During the night of the evacuation, the roar of artillery exceeded +anything that had been heard before. From one end of the line to the +other the shells and shot poured into our camps, and the arches of fire +that marked the courses of the shells, with flame spouting from the +mouths of the guns, created a magnificent pyrotechnic display. But at +daylight, orderlies flew from regiment to regiment with the startling +intelligence that the beleaguered works were deserted, and with orders +to occupy them at once. Smith's division hastened to cross over the dam, +and we found ourselves in the strongholds that we had so long invested. +As the Seventy-seventh regiment passed along one of the roads leading +among the intrenchments, a sharp report like that of a pistol was heard +at the feet of those in the center of the column, and directly under the +colors. The men scattered, and a piece of old cloth was seen lying on +the ground at the point from which the report emanated. Colonel McKean, +who was very near, lifted the cloth with the point of his sword, and +discovered a torpedo carefully buried in the ground, except a nipple +which had been filled with fulminating powder, which was covered by the +old cloth. The fuse only had exploded. Had the machine itself exploded, +it must have destroyed many of our men, our colonel among them. Other +regiments were not so fortunate as we were. Very many men were killed in +the streets and intrenchments by these torpedoes, which the enemy had +planted in the street at either end of the bridges, about springs, and +near the deserted guns. They were concealed beneath the ground with +great care, the capped nipple only rising above the surface, and this, +covered by an old rag or piece of bark thrown over it, exploded at the +slightest touch. These infernal machines were only one feature of the +general plan of our enemies to carry on a war by brutal, savage and +cowardly means. The starving of prisoners at Andersonville and +Salisbury, and the wholesale butchery at Fort Pillow, were other parts +of the same savage plan which was crowned by the fearful tragedy at +Ford's Theatre. + +We made little delay among the rebel intrenchments; only long enough to +glance over the formidable works, where the enemy had abandoned +seventy-two pieces of artillery, mostly of heavy caliber, with immense +numbers of shovels, picks, wheelbarrows and other paraphernalia of an +army. + +The division was at nine o'clock sent forward on the road toward +Williamsburgh; encountering, before it had proceeded far, a portion of +the rear-guard of the confederate army, which hastily fell back before +our advance. General Smith informed the Commander-in-Chief of the +encounter, who ordered Stoneman, with a regiment of cavalry, to give +chase to the retiring body, and, if possible, cut it off; but, +unfortunately, either from want of proper information in regard to the +roads, or from other hindrances, this was not effected. The division +pushed on over the road lately traversed by the rebels, the men +overcoming all obstacles that had been thrown in their way, in their +anxiety to overtake the foe. + +The scenery, as the troops passed, was indeed charming beyond +description. Magnificent forests of oak and pine, interspersed with +clearings, the residences of farmers, with fine fields, covered with the +green blades of the newly springing wheat, met the view along the road; +while the woods were adorned with innumerable flowers. The tall dogwood, +with its clusters of large flowers like swarms of white butterflies, +mingled with the Judas tree, whose leafless boughs were densely covered +with racemes of purple blossoms. The azalia and the honeysuckle beneath +formed a delightful contrast with the gorgeous floral display above. + +Thus the division was hurried on, until at evening it came upon the +rebel works at Williamsburgh. As our forces approached Williamsburgh, +the cavalry came upon the enemy, and a sharp skirmish ensued, in which +we lost about fifty in killed and wounded, and the rebels left as many +on the field. The charge was made by the Sixth cavalry and Gibbon's +battery, driving the rebels back. They, in their turn, being reinforced, +forced our troops back; one of our guns, from which all the horses were +shot, being abandoned. Each party strove hard for the possession of the +gun, but night closed upon the contest, leaving it in possession of +neither. In the meantime, the men of our division too sick to march were +being cared for by our medical officers. Hundreds of the men of our +division lay sick with typhoid fever and other equally dangerous +maladies. These were all taken to the hospital which had been commenced +a day or two previous, about a mile and a half from our camp. The whole +day was occupied in removing these men. Of those sent to this hospital, +as of the many previously sent to the hospital at Young's Mills and +Fortress Monroe, few ever returned. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WILLIAMSBURGH. + + Battle of Williamsburgh--The army not organized--The medical + department--Hooker's gallant fight--Hancock's charge--McClellan + at Yorktown--Night on the battle-field. + + +Early on the morning of the 5th skirmishing commenced. The division of +Hooker was posted on the left of the road from Lee's Mills to +Williamsburgh, and our own division held the road, stretching mostly to +the right of it. Fort Magruder was directly in front of us, commanding +the road. All that part of the army which had advanced on the right, +that is, on the road from Yorktown, were massed as fast as they arrived, +awaiting orders. Great delay was experienced in getting the troops in +position, as there seemed to be no harmony of action. Every general of a +division seemed to do what pleased him, without orders from higher +authority. + +General Sumner was in command of the troops on the field, but from some +cause seemed not to be able to combine his forces in such a manner as to +bear effectually upon the lines of the enemy. One of the serious +difficulties was getting artillery to the front. The roads had become +very muddy from the rain during the night, and were blocked up with the +immense multitude of wagons, so that artillery could not pass. Here was +sadly exemplified the grand defect of our army--the want of +organization. + +Our army was an enormous heterogeneous mass, without any pretense of a +system to centralize and harmonize its movements. An army is not +organized by throwing it into brigades and divisions; this is but the +first and easiest step. The _departments_ must be so organized that each +performs well its part, without interference with another. In this case +the quartermaster's department sadly interfered with the others. Every +regimental quartermaster was for himself, and, as a natural result, the +immense trains were thrown into great disorder, impeding the movements +of all the other branches of the service. No one seemed at liberty to +bring order out of this confusion; and thus artillery and wagons +remained stuck in the mud. This same confusion prevailed in all the +departments. We shall take the liberty here to quote at some length from +the remarks of the Prince De Joinville, who was at that time a member of +General McClellan's staff, an able soldier and an ardent friend of the +Commander-in-Chief. Says the Prince: + + "The American system of 'every man for himself,' individually + applied by officers and soldiers of each corps to one another, + is also applied by the corps themselves to their reciprocal + relations. There is no special branch of the service whose duty + it is to regulate, centralize and direct the movements of the + army. In such a case as this of which we are speaking, we should + have seen the general staff of a French army taking care that + nothing should impede the advance of the troops; stopping a file + of wagons here and ordering it out of the road to clear the way; + sending on a detail of men there to repair the roadway, or draw + a cannon out of the mud in order to communicate to every corps + commander the orders of the general-in-chief. Here nothing of + the sort is done. + + "The want of a general staff was not less severely felt in + obtaining and transmitting the information necessary, at the + moment of an impending action. No one knew the country; the maps + were so defective that they were useless. Little was known about + the fortified battle-field on which the army was about to be + engaged. Yet this battle-field had been seen and reconnoitered + by the troops which had taken part in Stoneman's skirmish. + Enough was surely known of it for us to combine a plan of + attack, and assign to every commander his own part of the work. + No, this was not so. Every one kept his observations to himself; + not from any ill-will, but because it was nobody's special duty + to do this general work. It was a defect in the organization, + and with the best elements in the world, an army that is not + organized cannot expect great success. It is fortunate if it + escapes disaster." + +We may be pardoned for continuing this digression from the narrative, to +speak particularly of the disorder in the medical department. The +surgeons of regiments were, as a general rule, men of ability, and who +were earnestly devoted to the duties of their position. Of course, in so +large an army, there were some who were not fitted for their position, +either by ability or moral worth; these were exceptions. Yet, while +there was a general disposition prevailing in the department to make any +sacrifice or submit to any amount of fatigue, in order to relieve the +sufferings of those committed to their charge, they labored under the +greatest disadvantage from want of proper combination and cooeperation in +the staff. Every man was for himself. Each regimental surgeon was +expected to look out for the wants of his own men; to erect his hospital +tents; to see that the wounded of his regiment were carried off the +field; to administer food, dress wounds, and attend to the operative +surgery. With all these divers cares, he could hardly be expected to +perform any duties well. When any combination of action was effected, +the organization was voluntary and temporary, and, of course, wanting in +order and efficiency. Added to these difficulties, the medical officer +found himself destitute of supplies, and seemingly without any prospect +of obtaining them. + +It is true that the officers of the medical staff were generally +inexperienced in the duties of military surgery, so different from the +labors of the physician in civil life; yet, the great trouble was +without doubt at head-quarters. The department was directed by an +officer who had done good service in the Mexican war, but who by long +connection with the regular army, seemed to have become so wedded to the +formal precision of military routine, that no contingency was sufficient +to move him from his established habits. Here was occasion for +dispensing with formalities. Responsibilities should have been assumed, +and, if necessary, supplies should have been thrown into the army +broadcast, without thought of requisition or receipts. Under the +direction of the efficient and gentlemanly surgeon of volunteers, Dr. +Letterman, order was at length brought out of the confusion which +existed until the battle of Antietam; from which time the medical staff +became the most efficient ever known in any army. + +To return to our narrative. By noon the battle raged furiously; Hooker's +division contesting the field nobly against superior numbers, while our +own division held the position on his right, but without coming to any +direct engagement aside from being subjected to the fire of artillery. +Hooker brought his men gallantly up to the work and at first forced the +enemy back, but in turn was driven from the ground he had taken, and +only by the most valorous fighting, prevented a rout. + +The gallant general and his noble men held the ground alone until the +division was fearfully cut up. At length General Kearney, at the head of +his division, approached on the Lee's Mills road. General Sumner rode up +to him and said quietly, "General, do you know that Hooker is badly cut +up?" "No." "He is, and is falling back. Hurry on your division as fast +as possible." "How shall I reach him?" said Kearney. "Through yonder +strip of woods." Kearney now led his men forward at a rapid pace and +very soon came to the relief of the exhausted division. The troops of +Hooker were holding their ground against the enemy twenty thousand +strong. They had fought for hours with only nine thousand men. + +General Hancock of our First brigade, at his own and General Smith's +request, was, at three o'clock, allowed to take his own and a part of +our Third brigade to the right of the line, where the position of the +enemy was very strong by nature, and which was on that account secured +with less care than the rest of the line. + +A steep wooded bluff rose to a great height in our front, and a mill +pond lying at the foot of the bluff and newly dammed by the rebels, +served as a moat. Spanning the pond near the dam, was a bridge of logs +which they had neglected to destroy. Across this bridge and up a road +winding along the side of the bluff, the general led his troops, finding +the enemy upon the plateau above, occupying strong redoubts. Artillery +was brought to bear upon them and the rebels fled; our forces advancing +and occupying the works. The enemy was now reinforced by a brigade of +North Carolina troops and charged upon the federals. The Union troops +allowed them to approach very near, when they opened a tremendous fire +of musketry and artillery upon them. Still the rebels came on until they +were within thirty yards of our men. "Now, gentlemen, the bayonet!" +cried Hancock, as he rode along the line of battle close to the troops. +The men charged upon the rebels, who fell back before the shock, broke +and fled, leaving the broad, green wheat field strewed with their dead +and wounded. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF HANCOCK'S BRIGADE AT WILLIAMSBURGH] + +While the fighting was going on, General Hancock had sent for the +remainder of our Third brigade. The order "forward, double quick" was +received by the men with one of those wild exulting shouts, such as is +only heard on the field of battle; and they rushed forward through the +liquid mud, each regiment striving which should first reach the field. +But as we reached the scene of conflict, the rebels had fled; leaving +the victory with the men in blue. + +The regiments engaged in this brilliant affair were, the Forty-third New +York, the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, the Sixth Maine and Fifth Wisconsin, +of the First brigade, and the Thirty-third New York and Seventh Maine of +the Third brigade. + +The rebels, outflanked by the gallant movement of Smith's division, were +glad to fall back from before Hooker and Kearney, and seek refuge behind +their works. Meanwhile the great body of the army had remained entirely +passive; not even having been brought into line of battle. Why some of +these troops were not called to the assistance of Hooker, or to render +the victory of Hancock more complete, we do not know. + +Thus closed the battle of Williamsburgh; a battle fought by two +divisions and a part of a third, while the mass of the army remained as +idle spectators of the terrible scene. If less than twenty thousand men +could drive the rebels from their strong works, what could not that +grand army have done had it been brought into action! + +General McClellan arrived on the field at five o'clock in the afternoon, +and was received with shouts of applause; but the fighting was then +over. The general had remained at Yorktown since the morning of the 4th, +to superintend personally the shipment of Franklin's division of twelve +thousand men; one-half of whom, in order that they might be in readiness +at any moment to proceed up the river and head off the enemy, had never +been allowed to disembark from the transports which brought them to +Yorktown. General McClellan's conduct in spending nearly two days in +overseeing personally the embarkation of half or even the whole of a +division of men, while one of the most important battles of the war was +in progress, leaving it to others to take care of the "little affair at +the front," has, by some, been severely censured; while others have as +earnestly claimed that the Commander-in-Chief had his own views of the +necessity of getting those troops off at once, and the necessity of +seeing that supplies of rations, ammunition and war material, were +forwarded, was imperative; and that we are to remember that the advance +was intrusted to General Sumner; a man in whose ability both he and the +army confided. The general telegraphed that night to the Secretary of +War: "After arranging for movements up the York river, I was sent for +here. I find General Joe Johnston in front of me in strong force, +probably greater a good deal than my own.... My entire force is +_undoubtedly considerably inferior to that of the rebels_, who will +fight well; but I will do all I can with the force at my disposal." + +It was not known that night that we had won such a victory; but when, in +the morning, we found the rebels all gone, he telegraphed: "Every hour +proves our victory more complete." + +In the light of this testimony of the Commander-in-Chief, what a noble +record had those three divisions that day made for themselves! They had, +according to these dispatches, fought with a force "greater a good deal" +than our entire army, and had won a complete victory! + +Night closed upon the battle-field. Our division bivouacked around one +of the rebel redoubts. It was filled with rebel wounded, whose groans +and cries made the night hideous. The ground was a bed of liquid mud, +and the rain still poured. No fires were allowed, and the men stood +shivering all night rather than lie down in the mud. + +The sun rose clear and bright next morning, and the whole army filed +into the works deserted by the enemy during the night, and occupied the +town of Williamsburgh, a mile or more from the battle-field. All the +public buildings in town were filled with the rebel wounded; and the +inhabitants were actively engaged in ministering to their wants. Here +the army remained three days, waiting for provisions to come up from +Yorktown, a distance of fifteen miles. It is a question, why troops, who +were afterward accustomed to carry four or even six days' rations, were +sent away from Yorktown with one. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MARCH UP THE PENINSULA AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SIXTH CORPS. + + March up the Peninsula--Joy of the contrabands--Cumberland + Landing--The Sixth Corps organized--At White House--On the + Chickahominy--Fight at Mechanicsville--Battle of Hanover Court + House. + + +On the ninth of May, after a delay of three days, the Army of the +Potomac resumed the pursuit of Johnston's army. The day was fair and +bright, and the journey of fifteen miles, to troops as yet little inured +to the fatigues of long marches, bore severely upon them. We rested till +three o'clock next morning; when orders came to fall into line, and at +five we were again toiling over the road. After a hard day's march we +halted near New Kent Court House; where General Stoneman, with his +cavalry, had a day or two before overtaken the rear-guard of the enemy, +who gave him battle. Evidences of the engagement were to be seen all +about us, and many wounded cavalrymen were found in the neighboring farm +houses. We remained here over the Sabbath and the next day; glad of +rest, though anxious to be on the trail of the enemy. + +General Franklin's division had already landed, and beaten the rebels at +West Point; and the flotilla laden with supplies had also ascended the +river thus far. + +It was at New Kent Court House that the news of the destruction of the +Merrimac, and the possession of Norfolk by General Wool's forces, first +reached us, and our hearts swelled with joy at our successes. On the +13th we resumed the march; winding along the banks of the tortuous +Pamunkey, enchanted by the lovely scenery which constantly met our gaze. +The profusion of flowers in the forests, the bright green meadows, and +the broad fields of newly springing wheat, offered a perpetual charm; +and as we passed along, the women and negroes watched us with +conflicting sentiments of interest. All the white men capable of bearing +arms, and every able-bodied negro, had been swept along by the rebel +army in its retreat, and none but women and children and aged negroes +were now left along the route. At every house the alarmed white people +threw out the white flag in token of submission, as though their +protection from injury depended upon this symbol of peace. + +Great numbers of negroes flocked to the roadside, to welcome the Union +army. Their expressions of joy at seeing us were wild and amusing. All +hoped we would shortly overtake and destroy the rebel army, their own +masters included. Those who had hitherto regarded the relation of master +and slave as one of mutual affection, had only to witness these unique +demonstrations of rejoicing at our approach, and the seemingly certain +destruction of the slave owners, to be convinced that the happiness and +contentment claimed for those in servitude was but a worthless fiction. +The negroes, gathering in crowds along the wayside, would grasp the +hands of the Union soldiers, calling down all manner of blessings upon +them, and leaping and dancing in their frantic delight. + +One gray-haired old patriarch, surrounded by a numerous group of younger +chattels, who were leaping and shouting, exclaimed, in a loud voice, +"Bress de Lord! I'se been praying for yous all to come all dis time; and +now I'se glad yous got so fur; and I pray de Lord dat yous may keep on, +and conquer def and hell and de grabe!" All the others, joining in the +chorus, cried, "Bress de Lord!" The master of the old man sat quietly +watching the scene, offering no hindrance to these expressions of +sympathy; but it is doubtful whether this conduct on the part of his +servants was forgotten after the departure of our army. Whatever +information the slaves could give concerning the movements, numbers, or +probable intentions of the enemy, was communicated gladly, and although +this information was not always reliable for accuracy, it was always +given in sincerity, and was very often of great service. + +Our march on the 13th, was an easy one of six miles. As we reached the +brow of a hill overlooking the plain of Cumberland Landing, a scene of +imposing beauty was spread out before us. Between us and the broad +river, were thousands of troops, parks of artillery, squadrons of +cavalry, divisions of infantry; some already in camp, others moving +about in order, but seeming, from the distance, to be intermingled in +most perfect confusion. + +A broad plain stretched far away to the left, beautifully variegated +with green pastures, rich groves and fields of grain. Beyond was the +Pamunkey; here spreading out into a broad expanse of water, on which was +riding the Union flotilla of gunboats and the transport fleet. + +Upon this broad plain the whole army assembled. At no other time in the +history of the Army of the Potomac, were all its forces gathered within +a compass that the eye could take in at a single glance. + +Early on the morning of the 14th, the cry, "Fall in!" resounded through +the camps, and we proceeded up the river about four miles, and again +encamped on its banks. A field of fresh clover served for our bivouac. +In this pleasant spot we remained for several days; and while here, an +event occurred of no less interest than the organization of the Sixth +corps. + +Just before the Army of the Potomac embarked for the Peninsula, it was +divided, by order of President Lincoln, into five corps of three +divisions each. These corps were placed under command, respectively, of +Generals McDowell, Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes and Banks. On leaving for +the Peninsula, the First and Fifth corps had been left behind. Now two +new corps were to be organized; the Fifth provisional, consisting of the +divisions of Porter and Sykes, and the reserve artillery, under command +of General Porter; and the Sixth provisional corps, consisting of +Franklin's division of the First and Smith's of the Fourth corps. +General W. B. Franklin was assigned to the command of the corps. + +Franklin's division, now the First division, Sixth corps, under command +of H. W. Slocum, had been ordered away from the First corps, to join the +army of the Potomac, while we were at Yorktown; and its recent +exhibition of gallantry at West Point, had already established for it a +reputation for valor. The regiments composing this division were, the +First, Second, Third and Fourth New Jersey; regiments trained to the +service by the knightly soldier and ardent patriot, Philip S. Kearney, +now under command of Colonel Taylor, and afterwards so long and so ably +led by General Torbert; the Sixteenth and Twenty-seventh New York, Fifth +Maine and Ninety-Sixth Pennsylvania; General Slocum's own brigade, now +commanded by Colonel Bartlett; and Newton's brigade: the Eighteenth, +Thirty-first and Thirty-second New York, and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania. + +The history of the Second division, General Smith's, we have already +traced. The bravery and extraordinary endurance of each of its brigades +had been exhibited too often to be questioned. + +With such splendid materials for a corps, a brilliant history of great +achievements was to be anticipated, and nobly has it wrought out for +itself such a history. + +No other body of troops has ever made for itself so proud a record. No +corps, either in our own army or any other, ever met the enemy so +frequently in general battle, and never were more glorious deeds +accomplished by troops than were done by these. Never in the course of +all their campaigns were either of these two divisions put to rout, and +in almost all its encounters the corps held the field as victors. + +We were now encamped on the old Custis place; at present owned by +General Fitzhugh Lee, of the rebel cavalry service. On every side of us +were immense fields of wheat, which, but for the presence of armies, +promised an abundant harvest. Day after day passed, in quiet repose, and +the Sabbath found us still waiting on the banks of the Pamunkey. It was +marvelous that such silence could exist where a hundred thousand men +were crowded together, yet almost absolute stillness reigned throughout +the vast camp during the whole of this pleasant Sabbath. Save that here +and there the notes of Old Hundred or some sacred air was heard from the +band of some regiment whose chaplain had gathered his men for religious +services, no sound disturbed the universal quiet. + +Not far from us was the White House, at the head of navigation, on the +Pamunkey. The house was a fine building, once the property of +Washington, now in possession of the Lee family. Here the Richmond and +York River railroad crossed the Pamunkey, and this was made the base of +operations for the army. Here the transports poured out a vast amount of +supplies, and under the protection of the flotilla of gunboats, the +quartermasters and commissaries commenced their active operations. + +Except that a few rails had been torn up, the railroad was in excellent +order, and engines and cars were at once placed on the track ready to +follow the army on its advance to Richmond. + +The Sixth corps proceeded toward the Chickahominy, which it reached at a +point several miles above the railroad crossing at Bottom's Bridge, +occupying the extreme right of the Union line of battle as formed along +that river. The position of the Union army was now as follows: Keyes' +corps had crossed the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge, and Heintzelman +had followed, taking a position between Keyes and the bridge. Sumner was +on the railroad, and Franklin on the right near New Bridge; Stoneman's +cavalry was on the right of the Sixth corps, and Porter's divisions were +in the rear, within supporting distance. + +On the 23d, General Stoneman with his cavalry pushed forward toward +Mechanicsville, supported by Davidson's brigade. The brigade halted for +the night near Beaver Dam creek, a marshy stream pouring into the +Chickahominy. On the following morning the brigade again pushed forward, +the men making their way with great difficulty through a swamp, then +plunging through the stream, then forcing their way through brambles and +briars, and again wading through the water; until the men seemed to have +become amphibious. They at length found the enemy near the little +village of Mechanicsville. + +The brigade, with Wheeler's battery, formed in line of battle on some +commanding grounds, and quietly rested for the night. On the morning of +the 24th, the Seventy-seventh and part of the Thirty-third were ordered +to advance toward the village and reconnoiter the position. Hardly had +the advance commenced before the rebels opened upon the two commands a +fierce cannonade, which forced our men to lie down, that the shells +might pass over them. Wheeler's battery responded nobly to the rebel +artillery, and presently General Davidson ordered Colonel McKean to +charge the village with his regiment. The men rose to their feet and +started forward with a yell. Down the hill they rushed impetuously, +cheering and yelling; but the two rebel regiments, the Seventh and +Eighth Georgia, startled by the shouts, seized their muskets and ran; +firing but one parting salute. Their battery also limbered up and beat a +hasty retreat; and as our men reached the village they were seen lashing +their horses into a run, and in a moment they disappeared altogether +down the road. + +In their haste the rebels forgot to carry off their knapsacks, canteens +and haversacks; and our boys gathered them up to be kept till called +for. They had also left a great many guns and cartridge boxes; and a +flag, which the Seventy-seventh bore away in triumph. + +On the 26th of May, the enemy was discovered in considerable force at +Hanover Court House, to the right and rear of our army. A part of +Porter's corps was sent to meet this rebel force, and if possible drive +it from its position. After a fatiguing march through mud and rain, +General Emory, with his own brigade, and other troops of the corps, came +up with the enemy near Hanover Court House, and at once commenced +advancing slowly against the line of the enemy, when, being reinforced +by part of Martindale's brigade, a charge was ordered and the rebels +were routed. They fled precipitately, leaving one of their guns in the +hands of our troops. + +Being reinforced, the rebels turned upon our troops, but were gallantly +held by Martindale's brigade until General Porter brought a large force +to the field. The rebels were again attacked and completely routed. They +left about two hundred of their dead on the field to be buried by our +men. Seven hundred prisoners were captured, beside two railroad trains, +a twelve pound gun and many small arms. Our own loss amounted to about +fifty killed and more than three hundred wounded and missing. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE 77TH NEW YORK AT MECHANICSVILLE.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ON THE CHICKAHOMINY. + + Gaines' Farm--The line of battle--Battle of Seven + Pines--Sedgwick and Kearney to the rescue--Hooker's charge--A + lost opportunity--Golden's Farm--Ditching--Malaria--Chickahominy + fevers--A German regiment--Stuart's raid. + + +Davidson's command was withdrawn from its position on Beaver Dam creek +on the 26th of May. Moving down the river about five miles, it encamped +with the rest of the Sixth corps on the farm of Dr. Gaines, a noted +rebel, where it remained until June 5th. The camps were within easy +range of the enemy's guns, which were planted on the opposite side of +the river, and our pickets could observe those of the rebels as they +walked their beats. + +Few more charming places than Gaines' Farm could be found on the +Peninsula. The broad wheat fields, alternating with wooded hills, +afforded a scene of enchantment to the weary soldiers. A single wheat +field contained four hundred and fifty acres, and a delightful grove in +rear of the superb old mansion, furnished a cool retreat during the +intense heat of the day. The extensive gardens were filled with rare +exotics and most beautiful native plants and trees, and birds of varied +and brilliant plumage sported among the flowering shrubs and charmed the +air with their lively notes. Near the river side stood a large barn well +filled with tobacco, from which the boys of the corps did not hesitate +to lay in a full supply. + +In the rear of the corps was Liberty Hall, the birthplace of Patrick +Henry. Now it was used as a hospital, and hundreds of soldiers, worn out +with fatigue or burning with fevers, occupied the house and hospital +tents surrounding it. + +Our men were employed in doing picket duty, and in building corduroy +roads and bridges. The river, scarcely restrained by banks, was rising +rapidly from the continued fall of rain, and at one time the pickets of +our division, including the Thirty-third New York, were found in the +morning surrounded by water; the rain having within three hours risen so +rapidly that many were standing in water above their waists, while +others were clinging to bushes for support. Boats were procured, and the +drenched pickets were removed from their disagreeable positions. + +The army was divided into two wings, one on the south and one on the +north side of the Chickahominy. The line of battle was in the form of a +V: Keyes' and Heintzelman's corps on a line from Bottom's Bridge to +Seven Pines, forming the left arm of the V, and Franklin's, Sumner's and +Porter's on the north bank of the Chickahominy, from Bottom's Bridge to +Gaines' Farm, the right arm. + +Keyes' corps, now composed of Casey's and Couch's divisions, had crossed +the river at Bottom's Bridge on the 24th, and after considerable +skirmishing with the enemy, had established itself on the road from +Richmond to Williamsburgh, about six miles from Richmond, and as far +from the Chickahominy, at a fork in the road called Seven Pines. +Heintzelman's corps had followed, and occupied a position in the rear +near the river. Casey's division occupied an advance position, and Couch +the second line. One of the roads from this point, called the nine-mile +road to Richmond, crossed the Richmond and York River railroad north of +Seven Pines, at a place called Fair Oaks. The country was wooded and +marshy, and General Casey was not able to throw his pickets out more +than a thousand yards in advance of his line of battle. Both divisions +at once intrenched themselves, and slashed the forests, that any +approach of the enemy might be discovered, and to widen the sweep of +their guns. Here the two divisions remained, having occasional +skirmishes with the enemy, until the morning of the 31st of May. + +During the night before, the rain had fallen in torrents. Thunders +rolled along the sky, and the heavens blazed with perpetual flashes of +lightning. The morning found the earth drenched by the floods, and the +men of Casey's division rose from their beds of mud to fight the battle +of Seven Pines. + +It became evident to General Casey early in the day that the enemy +designed to attack him in force. He accordingly ordered his division +under arms, and made such dispositions of his forces as seemed best +calculated to resist the onset. + +At half-past twelve the attack was commenced. Large bodies of rebels +emerged from the cover of the woods, and at once commenced a brisk fire +of musketry and artillery, driving in the picket line, and pressing +forward against the Union line of intrenchments. The numbers of the +enemy were now seen to be greatly disproportionate to those of the +single division opposed to them, and General Casey called for help. +Couch's division was under arms, acting as support, but not yet engaged. +Some of the new troops, thus pressed by overwhelming numbers broke and +retreated in disorder; but the division at large nobly withstood the +mighty host which assailed it in front, flank and rear. The forces of +the enemy constantly increased; and the single division was now fairly +invested by the exultant foe, who pressed forward, unmindful of the +losses inflicted by Casey's troops. Again and again the enemy came on in +masses, receiving the shot and shells, which tore open their ranks, +closing up the gaps, and pushing steadily on to the assault. Against +these repeated attacks of superior numbers of confident troops, who +constantly arrived in fresh numbers, and, forming under cover of the +woods, rushed against our lines, Casey's division held its ground three +hours, until almost half its number were destroyed. The execution done +on the rebels was great. All means of transportation at their command, +were brought into requisition to carry off the wounded to Richmond; and +their dead lay piled upon the bloody field. The white-haired veteran, +General Casey, was present wherever the danger seemed greatest. Riding +along his lines, encouraging his troops, and making his dispositions for +repelling the overwhelming assaults, his heroism inspired bravery in the +hearts of the men, and prevented defeat from becoming a rout. General +Keyes was directing the movements of the second line, held by General +Couch. Portions of the division were rallied, and with the aid of +Couch's troops and a brigade of Kearney's division, which that never +tiring general had just led on to the scene of conflict, the attempt was +made to retake the line of works just lost, but without success. + +By this time General Heintzelman had arrived with his corps; and orders +were given to fall back to a third line. The enemy made one more +desperate attempt to crush the retreating division, but they were +repulsed with fearful loss, and here commenced the turning of the tide +in the conflict. + +The line of battle as now formed was nearly two miles in the rear of the +position of the morning, at Fair Oaks. + +Heintzelman's and Keyes' corps at once proceeded to strengthen this +position, and before dark the brave fellows of Sedgwick's division, of +Sumner's corps, were on the ground, ready to assist in repelling the +progress of the enemy. Richardson's division, not far behind, arrived at +sunset; and now the Union army was prepared for any attempt which the +rebels might see fit to make. The efforts which the enemy were now +making to break through our flank on the left at White Oak Swamp, were, +by this timely arrival of Sedgwick, thwarted. Had the confederates +succeeded in this, the retreat of Keyes' corps and that part of +Heintzelman's on the ground must have been cut off, and our army +destroyed. The rebels, not satisfied with a partial victory, and +determined to destroy the left wing of our army, then thrust beyond the +river, renewed their assaults, and again and again pushed forward. +Gathering in masses under cover of the forest, they would dash upon our +lines with impetuous fury; only to be sent reeling back by a hurricane +of leaden and iron hail. Sedgwick and the intrepid Kearney fought their +divisions with greatest skill; and by their own example animated and +encouraged their men. Night closed upon the scene; and at eight o'clock +the fighting had ceased. The rebels, so exultant at their success in the +early part of the day, were now hopeless of turning their victory to any +good account; for their last assaults had met with such terrible +repulses, that to renew the attack in force in the morning, would be but +a useless waste of life to them. Still, they held their ground, and on +the morning of June 1st, made some demonstrations against parts of our +line, which were gallantly met. + +Finally, General Hooker, who here sustained the enviable reputation he +had so nobly earned at Williamsburgh, led his command across the open +space in front of our line, a space not more than one-fourth of a mile +wide, beyond which the ground was interrupted by forests, to attack the +enemy. + +With quick and steady step, the well trained division advanced across +the field, deploying to the right and left; and before half crossing the +open space their pace was quickened to a run; constantly firing as they +dashed forward on the enemy. + +Presently the edge of the forest was reached; and here considerable +opposition was met with; yet, after a moment's halt, the division again +pushed forward into the woods. The din of arms was heard for a few +moments, then the firing ceased, and our troops were in possession of +the ground. + +The rebels were, in their turn, now panic-stricken; and hundreds of them +rushed back to the confederate capital, spreading the alarm, and +declaring that the Yankees were about to walk into the city. + +It was doubtless a sad mistake that this victory was not followed up. +The rebels, who had greatly outnumbered us in the fight of the day +before, were now themselves outnumbered. They had suffered severe +repulses on the evening before, and on this day their rear-guard had +been whipped by General Hooker. + +A renewal of the attack in force on the part of the Union army would +have probably resulted in the capture of the beleaguered city. As it +was, the commander of the Union army was on the north side of the +Chickahominy, many miles from the scene of action, and no order for a +forward movement was given. + +Such was the battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks. Fought for the most +part, by a single division of less than six thousand men, against the +combined forces of Longstreet, Hill, Smith and Huger; all under the +immediate command of the Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, General +Johnston. + +General Johnston had become satisfied, from the reports of his scouts, +that only Keyes' corps, of two divisions, was across the Chickahominy. +Believing that the bad state of the roads and the swollen condition of +the Chickahominy, would effectually prevent reinforcements reaching this +corps before he could fall upon it and crush it, he had determined to +bring an overwhelming force against it. Accordingly, the divisions of +Longstreet, Hill, Smith and Huger, were placed in position to make a +sudden and destructive assault upon the front and flanks of Casey's +exposed division, in the confident expectation of annihilating it. But, +instead of giving way before this avalanche, as Johnston had +contemplated, the regiments of the division, with few exceptions, +manfully held their ground for three hours. + +The Commander-in-Chief reported to the Secretary of War that Casey's +division "gave way unaccountably and discreditably." Five days later he +promised to modify his charge, if he found occasion; but it was only in +his final report, made many months after leaving the army, he was +constrained to acknowledge the good conduct of the division--an act of +tardy justice to deserving men. + +Notwithstanding the great disparity in the numbers of those engaged on +the rebel and Union sides, the losses were nearly equal. The Union army +lost four thousand five hundred and seventeen in killed and wounded, and +one thousand two hundred and twenty-two missing. Nearly one-half of all +these losses were from Casey's and Couch's divisions. General Johnston +reported the rebel loss in Longstreet's and Hill's commands at four +thousand two hundred and thirty-six. + +Among the trophies of the enemy, were ten pieces of artillery and four +stands of colors. + +With these trophies, they were satisfied to boast their victory; +regardless of the fact that they had been the assailants in superior +numbers, and had been repulsed with fearful slaughter, and that the only +fruit of their boasted victory was a few guns and colors, as an offset +for the loss of thousands of their soldiers. General Johnston himself +was among the rebel wounded, and was forced to give over the command to +another. + +On the other hand, the Union army might, had the corps on the north bank +of the Chickahominy promptly followed that of General Sumner across the +river, have easily entered Richmond. But the hesitancy which +characterized the movements of the army lost to us all the advantages of +success. Early next day the treacherous river had risen to such an +extent as to render crossing almost impossible; so the army remained as +the battle of Fair Oaks had left it; three corps on the south, and two +on the north side of the Chickahominy, separated by an almost +unsurmountable obstacle. + +From our camp at Gaines' Farm, the men of the Sixth corps could see the +smoke of battle and hear the roar of artillery and musketry; but were +not able to go to the assistance of their fellows. + +The distance from Gaines' Farm to Fair Oaks was, in a direct line, +scarcely more than four miles, but as all communications with the +opposite side of the river were by way of Bottom's Bridge, the distance +was about fifteen miles. The Vermont brigade essayed a crossing in our +own front on the afternoon of the second day of the fight, with the view +of rendering assistance on the other side, but the attempt was +abandoned. + +General McClellan, with General Hancock and other officers, took a +position in the line of our Third brigade, on Sunday, where they +remained watching the progress of the battle from afar until darkness +shut out the view. + +On the day after the battle, rain poured in a continuous storm; deluging +the roads and swelling what had been but rivulets the day before, into +rivers. In the midst of this tempest of rain, Casey's division, +destitute of tents and blankets, weary from fighting and disheartened by +injustice, marched six miles to the rear to find a new encampment. On +the 5th of June, Smith's division, of the Sixth corps, was ordered to +cross the Chickahominy, and encamp on "Golden's Farm," nearly opposite. +The Third brigade took the advance, followed by the rest of the +division. Owing to the swollen state of the river, and the impossibility +of bridging it, the division was forced to march to Dispatch Station +before effecting a crossing. The march was a long and weary one to gain +a distance less than three miles. + +Some of our troops were found skirmishing with the enemy, and our +batteries opened upon the gray coats, who quickly surrendered the ground +and took to flight. Our Second division encamped in a pleasant locality, +yet in close proximity to the swamp. + +The Chickahominy wound its doubtful course among multitudes of islands +scarcely raised above the surface, yet covered with trees, shrubs and +vines in profusion, within a few rods of our camp. Beyond us, in our +front, were forests of luxuriant growths of trees and climbing shrubs, +and the country all about us was interrupted with rank growth of timber. +The division at once proceeded, as did all the other divisions in the +army, to throw up earthworks; making slow advances at certain points by +pushing these works further toward the front. On the 18th, we were +joined by the other division, Slocum's. The Sixth corps now formed the +right of the new line of battle on the south of the river. The line +reached from Golden's Farm to Fair Oaks. Day and night the men worked at +the breastworks and bridges. One-third of the army was employed +constantly at these works, and the immense lines of intrenchments were +marvels of achievements in engineering. These were all constructed under +the fire of the enemy; no day passing without its skirmish. Soldiers +were daily brought to the hospitals with wounds, even in the most quiet +times. + +Everything combined to exhaust the energies of the men and produce +fevers, diarrheas and scurvy. Day after day the men worked under a +burning sun, throwing up the immense walls of earth, or toiled standing +to their waists in water, building bridges. Night after night they were +called to arms, to resist some threatened attack of the enemy. Their +clothing and tents were drenched with frequent rains, and they often +slept in beds of mud. With the hot weather, the malaria became more and +more deadly. The whole country was alternately overflowed and drained; +and the swamps were reeking with the poisoned air. The hospitals became +daily more crowded. The strongest were constantly falling. Diarrhea, +typhoid fever, and other miasmatic maladies, became almost universal. +Men who worked at the breastworks one day would be found in the +hospitals on the next, burning with fever, tormented with insatiable +thirst, racked with pains, or wild with delirium; their parched lips, +and teeth blackened with sordes, the hot breath and sunken eyes, the +sallow skin and trembling pulse, all telling of the violent workings of +these diseases. + +Day after day, scores of brave men, who had left their northern homes to +aid in the hour of their country's need, were borne to lowly graves +along the banks of that fatal river; and at times one might sit in the +door of his tent and see as many as six or seven funeral parties bearing +comrades to their humble resting places. + +Hospital steamers plied constantly from the White House to Washington, +Alexandria and Philadelphia, bearing thousands of these victims of +disease; and many, with stoic indifference, lay down in their shelter +tents and gave themselves over to death, without even applying to +comrades or surgeons for assistance. + +Everywhere at the north, men were seen on cars and steamers, on the +streets and in the houses, whose sallow countenances, emaciated +appearance, and tottering steps, marked them as the victims of +"Chickahominy fever." Express cars groaned with the weight of coffins +containing the remains of youths who but a few months before had gone to +the war in the pride of their strength, and had now yielded, not to the +bullets of the enemy, but to the grim spirit which hovered over that +river of death. + +Our army seemed on the point of annihilation from disease; and matters +were constantly growing worse. At White House landing, great temporary +hospitals were established, where hundreds languished, and waited their +turn to be sent north. + +Thus, for nearly a month, the two armies looked each other in the face, +each engaged in throwing up defenses against the approach of the other, +but neither attempting to bring on any general engagement. The pickets +of the two opposing forces were within speaking distance, but they +contented themselves with watching each other, and, as a general rule, +amicable relations existed between them. But occasionally, when a +belligerent regiment would be on picket on one or the other side, some +fellow, who imagined he had a capital chance to pick off an opposing +picket, would blaze away; when in a moment the whole line on either side +would flash with the discharge of musketry. Night demonstrations on the +part of the enemy were so common, that it was a rare thing for our +troops not to turn out at midnight, or at two or three o'clock in the +morning, and stand under arms until after daylight. + +The men of our Third brigade were a part of the time engaged in building +a strong fort, near the river bank, which, in honor of our dashing +brigadier, was named Fort Davidson. + +A new regiment was added to Davidson's brigade during the month of June, +the Twentieth New York. The regiment was composed entirely of German +Turners. Nearly every man had served his three years in the Prussian +service. + +They had been stationed in the works at Newport News, and their drill +excelled anything in the army, either in the regular or volunteer branch +of service. Their full ranks, and their unsoiled uniforms, were in +striking contrast with the shattered and worn-out regiments forming the +rest of the brigade. + +Among the causes of discouragement and anxiety for the safety of our +army, was the notorious raid of General Stuart in our rear. This +energetic officer, with a body of about two thousand rebel cavalry, had +swept round our entire rear, causing something of a panic, not only at +White House, where all the shipping dropped down the river, but in the +ranks of the army, where it was feared that our communications were +destroyed, and we were liable to be hemmed in and overthrown at any +time. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES. + + The army united--Plans and counter plans--Battle of Fair + Oaks--Lee's plan--The situation--Stonewall Jackson on the + flank--Battle of Mechanicsville--Joy in camp--Porter's corps + retreats--An astonished army--Battle of Gaines' Farm--Slocum's + division at Games' Farm--Retreat to the river--Battle of + Golden's Farm--A young hero--A Union victory--Our right + exposed--The sick abandoned--A night of sorrow--The grand + retreat commenced--Sad scenes at Savage's Station--A meteor + railroad train. + + +At length, after great labor, the bridge across the river, near our own +camps, was finished. It was an immense structure, spanning not only the +river, but the swampy banks on either side to a great distance. Sumner's +forces had also rebuilt and enlarged the bridge below, and now the two +wings of the army, after weeks of separation, were united by means of +these bridges. Communications were now rapid and easy, and there was no +difficulty in reinforcing one wing with troops from the other. + +General McClellan now determined to act; and an advance of our picket +line was ordered on the 25th of June, preparatory to a general forward +movement. + +But General McClellan was not alone in deciding upon this particular +time for commencing offensive operations. + +General Lee, who had succeeded to the command of the rebel army when +Johnston was wounded, aware of McClellan's intentions of approaching the +city by regular approaches, and aware that it was in no condition long +to withstand a siege, determined to act on the offensive. + +The two armies were now about equal in numbers, each consisting of a +little more than one hundred thousand men for duty. (Our army had +115,000 men for duty.) Our own army had recently been reinforced by +McCall's division, and five or six thousand troops from Fortress Monroe; +and the rebel army had been strengthened by the accession of Jackson's +force, of nearly twenty thousand, from the valley. + +McClellan's first move was to advance the left wing, under Heintzelman, +who occupied the ground on which had been fought the battle of Fair +Oaks. General Hooker was ordered to advance his division about a mile +across a clearing in his front. This the gallant general essayed to do. + +In front of his camp, before reaching the clearing, was a thick +entanglement of low pines and bushes, filled with swamps and ponds. This +chaparral was about five hundred yards wide. Beyond was the clearing, in +which were the rifle pits and strong redoubts of the enemy, and still +farther on a forest. Hooker's brigades, commanded by Sickles, Grover and +Robinson, protected on the left flank by Kearney's division, and on the +right by a Massachusetts regiment, moved into the tangled forest, about +eight o'clock on the morning of the 25th. Grover's pickets soon fell in +with those of the enemy, and sharp skirmishing commenced; but the rebel +picket line was steadily driven back into the clearing, where it was +strengthened by their reserve. The fighting now became general. The +woods rang with the sharp sounds of musketry and the deep tones of the +artillery, and clouds of smoke obscured the scene from view. Ambulances +were emerging from the woods bearing the wounded; and bloody forms on +stretchers, and the less seriously wounded leaning on the shoulders of +comrades, made up a melancholy procession. + +The fire in the edge of the woods and in the open fields increased in +intensity, until all of Hooker's and part of Kearney's forces were +brought into action. The rebels finally retreated across the field to +the cover of their rifle pits. The retreat was slow and orderly, every +foot of the way being disputed. + +Our men were exultingly pushing forward, determined to drive them from +their pits also, when an order from General McClellan directed General +Hooker to retire with his division to the original position. Here was +evidently a sad misconception of the state of affairs, for, when the +Commander-in-Chief, an hour later, arrived on the field and consulted +with General Hooker, the men were ordered forward once more to occupy +the ground they had once taken and surrendered. + +This time there was less resistance. The rebels steadily gave way, +giving up their rifle pits and yielding the whole of the open field. +Under cover of the forest beyond the field they made another stand, and +late in the afternoon a brigade charged upon our lines; but they were +bravely met by men of Grover's brigade, and driven back, leaving three +hundred of their dead on the field. + +By the action of this day, our line was advanced on the left nearly a +mile. The victory, such as it was, cost us six hundred and forty men in +killed and wounded. The men remained under arms all night, in readiness +to meet the frequent sorties of the enemy, who intended nothing more +serious than preventing reinforcements from being sent to the right of +our line. + +Little did General Lee heed these operations on our left. It was all the +better for his plan that the attention of our army should be engaged in +this direction. He was ready now to execute his plan of raising the +siege of Richmond; and a tremendous force had been massed against our +right, ready to advance upon it and our rear, with the hope of cutting +the Union army off from its supplies, and placing it in the greatest +jeopardy. + +Let us, for a moment, recall the position of our army, which, since the +first battle of Fair Oaks, has been somewhat changed. Porter's corps, +consisting of McCall's, Morrell's and Sykes' divisions, still held the +right, on the north bank of the Chickahominy, at Gaines' Farm and +Mechanicsville. The several bridges which had been constructed since the +1st of June, formed avenues of communication between the two portions of +the army separated by the river. Next, near the river, and opposite +Porter's corps, was our own Sixth corps, Slocum's and Smith's divisions, +Smith's nearest the stream. Then, on our left was Sumner's corps, +Sedgwick's and Richardson's divisions; and finally, on the left of all, +was Heintzelman, with his divisions under Hooker and Kearney, and +Couch's division, of Keyes' corps. Casey's shattered division was in the +rear, guarding Bottom's Bridge and the road to the White House. + +The line stretched from Mechanicsville across the river to Golden's +Farm, and thence to Fair Oaks. + +The whole of this extensive line was protected by earthworks of +marvelous magnitude, and whole forests of timber slashed in front of +some parts of the line formed almost impenetrable abattis. + +On the other hand, Lee's army had been as actively engaged in ditching +and throwing up redoubts, and Richmond was surrounded by a cordon of +most powerful works. Stonewall Jackson had been recalled from the +Shenandoah Valley; and now, with an army of thirty thousand men, a very +large proportion of them being men of his original army, he hung upon +our right and rear, ready to come down upon our communications and flank +like an avalanche. + +Scarcely had General McClellan finished his dispatch to the Secretary of +War, in which he announced the glad tidings that he had got his pickets +in the right place, preparatory to a general advance, before he was +aroused from his illusion by the intelligence that the pickets on the +right were being driven in. He had already, during the day, learned +something of Jackson's position, and it was now easy to divine the +intention of that energetic chief. + +During the night, Hill and Longstreet crossed the upper Chickahominy; +and, by rapid marches, confronted the pickets of McCall's division at +Mechanicsville before daylight on the morning of the 26th. Jackson, +delayed by our skirmishers, was still behind. Without waiting for +Jackson, Hill ordered an attack by daylight. Our pickets were forced +back upon the main line, and the battle of Mechanicsville commenced. +McCall's division, consisting of Reynolds', Meade's and Seymour's +brigades, was strongly posted behind Beaver Dam creek; a stream about +twelve feet wide, wooded on either side, with water waist deep, and a +steep bank on the side held by the Union forces. Along this bank, timber +had been felled, rifle pits dug, and other careful preparations made for +meeting an attack. The only accessible places for artillery were the two +roads which crossed the stream, one at Ellison's Mills, and the other a +mile above. Against these two points the rebels directed their principal +efforts. Hill's division made the first assault. Clearing their rifle +pits, his men rushed forward with a yell, gaining the creek, within a +hundred yards of our line. Here the creek and the almost impenetrable +abattis checked their progress, and a murderous fire of shot, shells, +cannister and musketry was opened upon them, which threw them into +confusion, and repulsed them with fearful loss. Again and again the +charge was renewed; each time with equal want of success. More and more +grand and terrible the battle became, as the combatants struggled with +each other at close range. Thus far there had been no such terrific +artillery firing during the war. The uproar was incessant, and sublime +beyond description. Finding the position too strong to be carried by +direct assault, the confederates fell back to their rifle pits; leaving +their many dead and wounded on the ground. The men of McCall's division, +securely posted behind their breastworks, had suffered comparatively +little; our loss not exceeding three hundred in killed and wounded, out +of the six thousand belonging to the brigades engaged. + +On the other hand, the rebels had lost heavily. From their own official +reports, it is known that of the twelve thousand engaged, the loss in +killed and wounded was fifteen hundred; Ripley's single brigade losing +five hundred and seventy-four men. + +Both Davis and Lee were present on the field, directing in person the +movements, and exposed to the fire where the battle was fiercest. +General McClellan was at the head-quarters of General Porter, where he +remained until the close of the battle, when he rode over the field. + +From the camp of the Sixth corps, the battle-field was not more than +four or five miles distant in a direct line, though by way of the bridge +it was much farther. + +We could watch the columns of smoke as they rolled up from the scene of +carnage, and see the flashes of bursting shells, like sheets of +lightning in dark thunder-clouds, and hear the tremendous roar of arms. +In the afternoon, as the rebels charged upon a certain part of our +lines, we could watch the movements of both armies. Our only part in the +engagement was to stand to arms, ready to rush to the assistance of +those on the other side of the river, at a moment's notice. In the +evening, the news of our success spread through the army, creating the +wildest joy. Men who had, by constant hardships, and by continually +looking on death, almost forgotten the feelings of joy, now broke out in +loud shouts of gladness; and for the first time in many weeks the bands +played those heart-stirring national airs, which in times past had been +wont to fill the hearts of the soldiers with enthusiasm. + +The night passed in constant watchfulness, the men resting upon their +arms; for a renewal of the attack might be expected at any moment. +Still, the men of the whole of the left wing of the army were exulting +in the glad hope that in the morning we were to march into Richmond, +almost without opposition; and that their high hopes of success were to +be speedily realized. The prize which they had so often been promised, +seemed almost within their grasp. Men shook hands with each other, sung +patriotic songs, and shouted in greatest glee. + +Bands continued to ring out their notes of gladness until long after +nightfall; general officers rode about announcing a grand victory; all +was the most intense excitement; and the men lay down upon their arms to +dream of reveling in the streets of Richmond before another night. For +weeks, even the drum calls and the bugle notes had not been heard in our +camps. Now, as if suddenly waked from a long slumber, the strains of the +bugle and the roll of the drum were added to the general rejoicing. + +It was known that the rebel troops engaged were not those of Jackson. He +then must be working around to our rear. He was known to have a very +large force; not less than thirty thousand. It was evident that our +communications were in great danger, and that unless the main force of +our army, now on the right bank of the Chickahominy, were hastily +concentrated on the left bank, we could not expect to hold the line to +the Pamunkey another day. If this were done, the rebels could easily +prevent our retreat to the James river, and leave us on the banks of the +Pamunkey. Accordingly, General McClellan gave up all hope of being able +to maintain the position of that portion of the army on the north side +of the Chickahominy, and at once issued orders with a view of preparing +for a change of base. The quartermaster at White House was directed to +"send cars to the last moment, and load them with provisions and +ammunition." "Load every wagon you have," said the dispatch, "with +subsistence, and send them to Savage's Station. If you are obliged to +abandon White House, burn everything you cannot get off." + +The quartermaster was directed, also, to throw all his supplies, not +burned or sent to the army, up the James river, and there establish +depots of supplies. General Casey, who was now in command of the guard +at White House, was instructed to see these orders carried out. He +burned immense quantities of stores, consisting of clothing, +subsistence, and other war material, and then hastily marched his force +to rejoin the army. + +The evening of the 26th was passed in gladness over our victory; but +while the army was rejoicing at this temporary success, it was losing +one of the grandest opportunities ever presented it for entering the +rebel capital. The whole plan of Lee had been based upon a false +calculation; and had this mistake been improved by our commanders, the +history of the war would have been entirely changed. Both Lee and Davis +believed that the main body of our army was on the north side of the +Chickahominy; whereas, of the five corps constituting our army, only +one, that of Porter, remained on that side. Under this erroneous +impression, Lee had brought nearly the whole of his army across the +river to assail the Union army on its right. This was known to our +generals, for while positive information had been received that Jackson, +with his large army, was making for our rear, the prisoners taken during +the day were from Hill's command, and from them it was known that the +troops of A. P. Hill, Longstreet and D. H. Hill, were confronting us on +the right. Thus, between our main force, of over seventy-six thousand +men, and Richmond, less than twenty-five thousand rebels guarded their +extensive line of works. A concentrated assault of the four corps on the +south side of the river must have resulted in the utter rout of the +force opposed to them, and the road to Richmond would have been opened. + +But the error of General Lee was never suspected, and this grand +opportunity was lost. + +During the night of the 26th, the heavy artillery and baggage of +Porter's corps was all sent across the river. McCall's whole division, +except a line of pickets left as a blind, also fell back five miles +below, to the vicinity of the bridge at Gaines' Farm, where the three +divisions of the corps united. + +The astonishment of the men on the south side of the river on +discovering, in the morning, that Porter's corps had fallen back, was +only equaled by their mortification and disappointment, as they saw the +long lines of rebels advancing in the gray of the morning against our +retreating column. + +They had believed, when night came on, that our arms had achieved the +first of a series of victories which was to give us the rebel capital. +Now they saw that our army was already in retreat, and they gazed at the +long train of artillery and wagons, which had parked near us, with +downcast faces. From our camp, Porter's division could be distinctly +seen, and we could watch the movements of the rebels as they arrived +upon the highlands, formed their line on the range of hills opposite +Porter, and planted their guns near the large barn on Dr. Gaines' farm. + +The position of Porter's corps was a strong one; and he was ordered to +hold it till night, and then to cross the bridge and burn it after him; +the upper bridge having been burned during the night. The country +between the two lines was rolling, somewhat wooded, but in parts +cleared. Both parties went to work to cut down trees in their front. + +The rebel forces, who supposed on the 26th that they were fighting our +main army, were surprised, on the morning of the 27th, to find that only +a picket line opposed them. They were early astir; and advancing against +the slender line, drove it back. The whole rebel force advanced +cautiously; A. P. Hill and Longstreet bearing to the right, while D. H. +Hill turned to the left, to unite with Jackson, who was supposed to be +coming in from the rear. Owing to the uneven country over which they +were advancing, their march was slow; for they might fall upon a Union +line of battle behind any rounding swell of land. + +It was afternoon before the rebel army had fully formed its line on +Gaines' Farm. The position of that army was nearly that of the same army +when Grant attacked it at Coal Harbor two years later, only it was faced +about. The battle opened about one o'clock, by skirmishing on both +sides; but it was not till an hour later that Hill's division dashed +across the open space, rushing through the swamp, and under a severe +fire from our batteries and musketry, pushed up the slope on which was +posted our line. The confederate troops advanced almost up to Sykes' +line of battle on the right, and in other parts of the line actually +forced back the Union troops; but they were able to hold their position +only a short time, when they were forced back with great loss. + +Longstreet now advanced against the left of our line, but he too met +with a stern reception, and he withdrew to rearrange his plan of attack. + +By this time Jackson was approaching, and now the overwhelming forces of +the enemy promised to crush the single corps; but Slocum's division of +our Sixth corps was ordered to the relief of the Fifth corps, and +arrived at four o'clock. The division was sent into the fight at once, +each brigade being ordered separately to strengthen the weak points of +the line. Thus, while the division fought bravely, and suffered equally +in proportion with the Fifth corps, its incorporation with that corps +for the time deprived it of the honors to which it was justly entitled. + +Bartlett, with his brigade, went to the aid of Sykes, who was doubtfully +struggling to hold his line; but who now, by the aid of the gallant +brigade, was able to hurl the assailants back from his front. + +The rebel line being completed, Longstreet, A. P. Hill, and Jackson all +up with their troops, a general advance was made. + +The charge was made with great spirit, the rebels rushing over the open +ground and floundering through the swamp under a most writhing fire, but +the position of our forces was still too strong for them. At all points +they were repulsed with terrible slaughter. First on the right, where +Sykes' regulars, supported by Bartlett's brigade, withstood the onset of +Hill, the disordered and disheartened confederates began to scatter in +all directions. + +One of the confederate generals reported that had not his men fallen +back themselves he would have ordered it. "Men were leaving the field," +says another general, "in every direction; two regiments ... were +actually marching back under fire. Men were skulking from the woods in a +shameful manner. The woods on our left and rear were full of troops in +safe cover, from which they never stirred." Such was the effect of the +reception given by the regulars. On our left they met with no better +success. These, too, fell back in disorder. Now a desperate attempt was +made against our center. The tactics with which we afterwards became so +familiar on the part of the rebels were brought to bear. This was in +massing troops against certain parts of our line and making desperate +onslaughts with a view of breaking the line. The forces of Jackson, Hill +and Longstreet threw themselves fiercely against our works, but without +being able to drive our men back. Here it was that the First and Third +brigades of Slocum's division saved the wavering line, and all the fury +of the rebels was spent in vain. General Porter directed Newton's +brigade to its position in the center; Newton leading the Thirty-first +New York and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania into the woods on one side, and +the gallant Colonel Matheson with the Eighteenth and Thirty-second +entering on the other, both in the face of a destructive fire. The +rebels charged upon the brigade and gallantly the charge was met. +Newton, seeing the rebel line waver before the fire of his men, shouted +"Forward!" and the impetuous regiments cleared the woods and drove the +rebels more than seven hundred yards. But the confederates, reinforced, +pressed hard upon them with overwhelming numbers, and Newton demanded +aid. Regiments from the New Jersey brigade rushed to the assistance of +their brothers of the Third brigade, cheering as they advanced, and the +position was held until the left wing of Porter's corps gave way. For +two hours the conflict on this part of the line raged with terrible +violence; the columns surging backward and forward, neither party being +able to gain any permanent advantage. Never had we heard such volleys of +musketry as now rolled along the borders of the swampy Chickahominy. +Artillery was less used; a strip of pine woods intervening between the +position occupied by some of our batteries and the rebel line preventing +an accurate range. The attempt to break our center was abandoned, and +now immense forces were brought against the left. The roar of battle +became more loud than before. The thousand continuous volleys of +musketry mingled in one grand tumultuous concert of death; while the +booming of artillery, which was now brought more into action, shook the +earth for miles around. Under the pressure of overwhelming numbers, one +brigade gave way; and another on the extreme left, finding itself +outflanked, fought its way back to the upper bridge, which had been +partially destroyed during the night, and, crossing to the south side of +the river, gathered its shattered regiments behind the breastworks of +our Second division. + +For two hours and a half the battle had raged fiercely on this part of +the line, and as these brigades on the right gave way, the confusion +spread all along. The rebels, seeing the disorder, and encouraged by +their success on the left, came on with redoubled fury; and the whole +line gave way, and fell back to some high grounds near the bridge. Here +two brigades from the Third corps appeared as reinforcements, and the +retreat was checked. The Fifth corps, with Slocum's division and the two +brigades from the Third corps, were able to hold their position on the +north side of the river till after dark. + +But we had been beaten, and our losses were very great. Twenty-two +pieces of artillery fell into the hands of the enemy. We lost two +thousand prisoners, among whom was General Reynolds, commanding one of +McCall's brigades; and our killed and wounded numbered about four +thousand. The rebels had suffered greater losses in men, nine thousand +five hundred having been killed or wounded. The action, on the part of +the rebels, had been directed by General Lee in person, who was on the +field during the whole action, controlling the movements of his troops, +and attending to the details of the fight. On our part, the battle had +been fought entirely under the direction of General Porter. General +McClellan, believing he could best watch the movements at all parts of +his line from a central position, had remained during the day at the +Trent House, five miles from the scene of action, without deeming it +necessary even to ride down to the river by the Woodbury bridge. +(McClellan's Report.) + +Meantime, while the battle raged with fury on the north side of the +Chickahominy, there was active work in our own front. Our Second +division, at Golden's Farm, was joined on the left by Sedgwick's +division, of the Third corps. The two divisions held the key to +Richmond; for, had the brave men composing them, under the leadership of +such men as Smith and Sedgwick, been ordered to break through the rebel +line, there was no power in their front to restrain them. The rebels, +aware of this, and designing to prevent reinforcements from going to +Porter, made frequent feints all along our line. Now with pickets, and +anon, gathering a considerable force, they would advance upon some part +of our works. From the nature of the ground, they could appear in large +force at one point, then withdrawing, pass under cover of the woods and +reappear at another point; thus keeping up the idea of a large force. + +These skirmishes and the artillery duels had been kept up all day, to +the annoyance of all. + +Just at sunset, Davidson's brigade was ordered to cross the river, by +the Woodbury bridge, to reinforce the Fifth corps. Preparations for +moving were not complete, when the enemy opened a fierce fire of +artillery and musketry. The idea of reinforcing the Fifth corps was at +once abandoned, and we hastily took refuge from the howling missiles +behind our breastworks. The artillery firing increased, until the scene +became in the highest degree exciting. + +Our guns were answering the rebels with great spirit, hurling shells +fast and furiously, and clouds of smoke rolled up from both the opposing +lines. At length the rebel infantry was brought forward to charge our +line. Hancock's brigade of our Second division, and Burns' of Sedgwick's +division, were farthest in advance. Hancock had taken up a critical +position in front of the line of works, where his brigade was supporting +a strong battery. Against these two advance brigades the enemy pounced +with the hope of routing them by this sudden onset. Against Hancock they +made the most desperate attempt, but with no success further than +driving in the picket line. In return, the rebels were hurried back to +the cover of the woods from whence they came, leaving many dead and +wounded on the field. While the First brigade was thus bravely +withstanding the assault of the rebels, the Third brigade and the Second +occupied a second line, acting as support, but neither were actively +engaged; yet several of the regiments in the second line lost men by the +shells. + +During the night our Third brigade relieved Hancock's regiments and +remained in possession of the advanced position until afternoon next +day. We had moved from our old position while the fight was in progress, +and had left everything except arms and ammunition. + +We could hear the sound of ambulances in the front where the rebels were +gathering up their wounded, till after midnight; and toward morning they +made a sally upon a part of the line, but were quickly repulsed. + +June 28th, the men of Davidson's brigade who had been ordered the day +before to leave haversacks, canteens, blankets and tents, found in the +morning that their camp was occupied by another division, tired and +hungry, who had lost their blankets in the fights of the two days +before, and who had now appropriated the haversacks and blankets of our +boys to their own use. Some confusion occurred upon making this +discovery, but our boys soon helped themselves to substitutes and bore +their loss on the whole very patiently. + +Our picket line was relieved at 9 A.M., but before the whole line was +changed the rebel batteries opened upon the moving companies a +concentrated fire from twenty pieces of artillery, putting a stop to the +process. Shot and shell came tearing through our camps in every +direction, crashing through trees, throwing up great clouds of dust, +riddling tents and alarming the cooks and contraband servants who +remained in camp. + +This artillery practice continued for an hour without eliciting much +reply from our side, as our guns had been nearly all withdrawn from the +front to join the train preparatory to the retreat. + +The rebels ceased their fire and we inferred that they had withdrawn to +some other point; but at two o'clock the mistake was discovered. A +brigade of rebels was seen to leap over their breastworks and rush +toward our line with yells and shouts like so many madmen. Our picket +line was forced back before this impetuous charge, the pickets +retreating to the main line. + +The Thirty-third New York held the principal part of the picket line, +but two companies from the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania of Hancock's +brigade, and a detachment from the Seventy-seventh New York also guarded +a part of the line in front of the Second division. + +A part of the detachment from the Seventy-seventh held a small advance +redoubt or lunette which had been thrown up by Hancock's men. Over this +work the rebels rushed, unmindful of the bullets sent by the +skirmishers, and the guard was compelled to retreat in haste. + +But all did not leave that picket line. + +One youth, as brave a boy as ever shouldered a musket, John Ham, of the +Seventy-seventh regiment, had sworn never to retreat before the enemy. +Faithful to his word, when the handful of pickets were compelled to +retreat (and this was the first time that any part of his regiment had +ever fallen back before the enemy), he stood his ground, loading and +firing as rapidly as possible, alone defending the redoubt! + +The rebels pressed upon him, and he fell riddled with bullets. When, +later in the day, we had driven the confederates back to their works, we +recovered his body, pierced by bullets and bayonets. + +As the rebels neared our main line of battle, they were met by a +withering fire from our men, and, after maintaining the contest for a +few moments, they broke and fled in confusion, leaving the ground +thickly strewed with dead and wounded. Not satisfied with this repulse, +they reformed and came on again; this time with less audacity than at +first. Again a murderous fire compelled them to fall back, leaving more +of their number on the field. Among their wounded was Colonel Lamar, who +was in command of the charging regiments. + +He was brought into our lines by Sergeant Bemis and another soldier of +the Seventy-seventh. He had been formerly a mischievous member of +congress from Georgia. + +The final repulse of the rebels was made more complete and more fatal to +them by the timely aid of a section of Mott's battery, which had come up +and opened an enfilading fire upon them from the left. Joyous cheers +went up from our men as they saw the rebels fleeing in all directions, +and it was only by the peremptory orders of their commanders that they +were restrained from following the flying enemy. + +A company of about fifteen rebels threw out a white flag and voluntarily +surrendered themselves. Fifty dead rebels and one hundred wounded +remained in our front, whom their comrades were allowed to remove, under +flag of truce. + +The Thirty-third New York had, during this engagement, sustained the +principal shock of the enemy's charge; and with that gallantry for which +they bore during their two years of service an enviable reputation, they +met the charge and repulsed the enemy. + +By the retreat of the Fifth corps to the south side of the Chickahominy, +which was accomplished during the night of the 27th and 28th, the rebel +army was allowed to approach the river at Gaines' Farm. By this movement +the camps of Davidson's brigade, which were upon the extreme right of +our line, near the river, and the two forts we had erected, were +rendered untenable; for the rebel guns shelled the whole position with +ease. Our men went in squads and brought away the most valuable +property, including regimental papers and the knapsacks and blankets. A +few days before this, our whole corps, as well as the other corps of the +army, had been supplied with an abundance of new tents. Staff and +company officers had their wall tents, and the private soldiers their +shelters. All these were destroyed by cutting them with knives; as it +was known that any attempt to remove them would be discovered by the +rebels, who would at once open all their batteries upon us. + +Now, the feelings of the men underwent a terrible revolution. It was, +for the first time, told them that the army must _retreat_ in all haste +to the James river! Our brave fellows had looked with sad faces at +Porter's retreating column; but that was felicity compared with what +they now experienced. Even when the right wing was forced across the +river, they still had faith that their bravery was to be rewarded with +victory. + +Now, they felt that all was lost. General Davidson rode through the +camps, and announced to the commanding officers of his regiments the +mysterious information, with directions to get off a few valuable +articles and abandon all else. + +Already, by Porter's retreat, the brave fellows in Liberty Hall +Hospital, mangled and sick, groaning with wounds, and delirious with +fevers, were abandoned, _deserted_, to fall into the hands of an enemy +known to be merciless. + +And now the siege of Richmond was to be abandoned, and the men who but +two days before had exulted in the glad hope of a speedy entrance into +the city, which even now lay just within our grasp, were to turn their +backs as _fugitives_ before their enemies! It was a time of humiliation +and sorrow. Every man was weighed down with a terrible anxiety. Officers +hurried to and fro, silently and hastily forwarding the preparations for +the retreat. The great caravan of army trains was on its way under the +direction of scores of officers, and with it were escorts of cavalry and +infantry. + +At three o'clock Sunday morning the 29th, the Sixth corps quietly +evacuated its works and proceeded in the direction of Savage's Station. +The men slung their knapsacks and quietly moved off. A scene of +desolation met their view as they passed along. Tents cut to pieces, +commissary stores thrown upon the ground or burning in heaps, blankets +and clothing piled promiscuously about, not considered worth carrying +away; all indicating a retreat under most disastrous circumstances. + +We had been preceded by Keyes' corps, which had started at noon the day +before, crossed White Oak creek and occupied the opposite side, acting +as advance guard for our long trains which were now making all haste +toward the James river. + +The endless streams of army wagons, artillery trains and ambulances were +all pouring down the roads from the various camps, and crowding into the +narrow paths that led to the opposite side of the Peninsula. Porter's +infantry mingled with the trains, and thousands of cattle driven along +through the woods by the roadside made a strange scene. Franklin's, +Sumner's and Heintzelman's corps were to guard the rear, and it was with +secrecy that we had left the rifle pits; for the enemy was close upon us +ready to take advantage of every movement. A picket guard was left to +deceive the rebels, while regiment after regiment silently disappeared, +leaving only the pickets to hold the long line of earthworks. These +brave men waited hour after hour for the signal to retire. The gray +lights of the morning broke upon them, yet there was no sign for them to +join their commands. At length, when they had given up all hope of being +relieved, they were signaled to leave the breastworks, and under cover +of the morning mists, they quickly joined their comrades. + +The Second division moved in the direction of Savage's Station, while +the First kept on to the crossing of White Oak Swamp, acting as +rear-guard to Porter's corps. We of the Second division kept along the +high lands which skirt the Chickahominy, when, after marching about two +miles, the division was brought to bay by the pursuing enemy. Facing +about we waited in line of battle for our trains to get out of the way; +when we again resumed the retreat. While here, General McClellan, with +his immense staff, rode by us on his way toward Harrison's Landing. He +passed White Oak Swamp the same day, and waited the arrival of the army; +which, hindered by battles and innumerable difficulties, did not come up +with its commander again till the 1st of July. + +We arrived at Savage's Station at 4 P.M. Here trains and troops were +crowded together in wonderful confusion. Immense heaps of commissary +stores, arms and ammunition were waiting destruction lest they should +fall into the hands of the enemy, and hundreds of sick and wounded men +were taking sad leave of their friends; for it had been determined that +these brave unfortunate men must be left to the tender mercies of the +rebels. Again the division was formed in line of battle to protect our +pioneers and the regiments which were engaged in the destruction of the +stores. The long railroad bridge across the river at this point had been +burned. The work of destruction went on at a marvelous rate. Boxes of +hard bread, hundreds of barrels of flour, rice, sugar, coffee, salt and +pork were thrown upon the burning piles and consigned to the flames. One +heap of boxes of hard bread as large as a good sized dwelling made a +part of the sacrifice. Boxes of clothing and shoes were opened and every +man as he passed helped himself to whatever he thought worth carrying +away. Notwithstanding thousands helped themselves, and huge boxes of +clothing were cast into the flames, we found on our return to the +Peninsula two years afterwards, that the inhabitants for a long distance +around were clothed and shod with articles left by us at Savage's +Station on the grand retreat. The people had also made large gains by +gathering up the coats, pants, shirts and shoes left on the ground and +selling them in Richmond and elsewhere. + +It was easy thus to dispose of commissary and quartermaster's stores, +but to destroy the immense magazines of cartridges, kegs of powder, and +shells, required more care. These were loaded into cars; a long train +was filled with these materials, and then, after setting fire to each +car, the train was set in motion down the steep grade. With wildest fury +the blazing train rushed; each revolution of the wheels adding new +impetus to the flying monster, and new volumes to the flames. The +distance to the bridge was two miles. On and on the burning train +thundered like a frightful meteor. Now, the flames being communicated to +the contents of the cars, terrific explosions of shells and kegs of +powder lent new excitement to the scene. The air was full of shrieking, +howling shells, the fragments of which tore through the trees and +branches of the forest; and huge fragments of cars were seen whirling +high in the air. + +At length the train reached the river; and such was its momentum, that, +notwithstanding the bridge was burned, the engine and the first car +leaped over the first pier in the stream, and the cars hung suspended. +While this destruction was going on, Smith's division moved back beyond +Savage's Station, toward White Oak Swamp, marching, with frequent halts, +three or four miles, when we were ordered to retrace our steps with all +speed, to reinforce Sumner's corps, which was engaging the enemy. The +heat of the day was most oppressive. Many of our men fell with +sunstroke. Among those who thus suffered was General Davidson. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE GRAND RETREAT. + + Lee's army in pursuit--Sumner and Smith at Bay--Battle of + Savage's Station--The Vermont Brigade--Sick and wounded + abandoned--Retreat to White Oak Swamp--Battle of White Oak + Swamp--An astonished division--A night march--A mystery--In + sight of the James--Battle of Malvern Hill--Departure of the + princes--Gloom and anxiety--Lee's attack--The rebels + demoralized. + + +Meanwhile the rebel army, finding no force in front of them, were at +first at a loss to determine what course we had taken; but when it was +discovered that we had withdrawn from before both wings of their army +and that our base of supplies at White House had been abandoned, it was +quickly divined that the Union army was retreating to the James river. +Stuart, with his cavalry, had dashed down to White House and found only +heaps of smoldering ruins; and from the absence of all motion in front +of the right of their line, it was clear that no attempt was to be made +on Richmond. Finding himself thus unexpectedly victorious, Lee at once +ordered his forces, now on the north bank of the Chickahominy, to cross +over and pursue the retreating army. + +During the night of the 28th, they had been actively engaged in +rebuilding the bridge destroyed by General Porter, and early on the +morning of the 29th, the main body of Lee's army was pouring across the +river. Hill and Longstreet moved rapidly so as to interpose between our +army and Richmond, and to be able to strike us on the flank; two other +divisions followed on the Charles City road, and Jackson, with his +corps, moved down the bank of the Chickahominy, threatening our rear. + +To resist any attack from these approaching columns, Sumner's and +Heintzelman's corps, and our Second division of the Sixth corps, were +formed in line of battle before Savage's Station. + +For hours our division, with Sumner's corps, stood in the open field +watching the enemy. Heintzelman withdrew his corps and left Sumner and +Smith to stem the tide that was destined to pour upon us. It seems to +have been the impression of General Heintzelman, who had listened with +credulity to the stories of the immense superiority of the enemy in +numbers, that all hope of resisting the power of Lee's army was gone, +and that there remained nothing for us but to make the best of our way +to the James river without stopping to give the enemy battle. + +In the view that there was no safety but in retreat, he was guided by +the opinion of the Commander-in-Chief, who had no thought of any further +resistance than should suffice to bring the men and as much of the +material of the army as could be brought by the teams across the +Peninsula. Not so the old war horse Sumner. He would gladly have +attempted, a few hours later, to have "pushed the rebels into the +Chickahominy," had not his application for help been answered from +beyond White Oak Swamp, "The rear-guard will follow the retreat of the +main body of the army." If there was no hope for the army but rapid +retreat, then it was right for Heintzelman to leave the road clear; for +as it was, with only Sumner's corps and our own division, the road was +packed so full that the men could scarcely march. But if there was an +opportunity of inflicting great injury upon the rebels, as Sumner +believed there was, then we are not surprised at the amazement of the +veteran when he discovered, the battle having commenced, that one corps +had left the line altogether. We were now as near our new base of +supplies as the rebels were to theirs, and here we had enough to last +the army many days. We were, as they had been, on the defensive; and we +had the advantage in position. But there was nothing left for those now +on the line but to make the best resistance possible under the +circumstances, and then fall back to the banks of the James. + +About five o'clock the huge cloud of dust in the direction of the camps +we had deserted, gave warning of the approach of that part of the rebel +army which was marching by the Charles City road; and at sunset the +thunders of their artillery burst upon us. For an hour, only the heavy +roar of artillery was heard from both sides. Shells screamed from one +side to the other, and the bright flashes and sharp reports, as they +burst in the air, mingled with the noise and smoke of the battle, as +battery responded to battery. Thus far no discharge of musketry was +heard; but suddenly Magruder's men, with yells and shouts, rushed to the +charge. Streams of fire flashed along the two lines, and the rattle of +innumerable muskets told of closer work than artillery duels. The brave +fellows of Sumner, and of our Vermont brigade, met the assailants with +defiant shouts that rang out above the roar of muskets and cannon. + +Leaving Sumner's heroes to contend the ground on their part of the line, +let us glance more in detail at the part borne by our own division in +this battle of Savage's Station. + +The Vermont brigade having the advance of the division, General Brooks +at once threw his regiments to the front. The Fifth and Sixth as +skirmishers, supported by the Third and Second in line of battle, the +Fourth being thrown upon the flank, the brigade advanced rapidly through +a wide strip of woods. Suddenly, as the line of skirmishers emerged from +the woods they received the fire of a battery and of a strong line of +battle. The Fifth at once charged upon the force in front, which +scattered in all directions. The rebels were beaten back both from our +own and from Sumner's front; but only to reform and press forward again +from the cover of the woods to which they had retreated, to give battle +with new vigor. Again the flash and roar of musketry mingled with the +wild yells of the rebels and the manly shouts of the Unionists, and +again nothing could be seen but the clouds of smoke, out of which sprung +the vivid blaze of the cannon, and the quick flash of the rifles. Every +now and then, fresh troops arriving upon the field would send up the +shout above all the other noise of battle, and then nothing but the +continuous din of arms could be heard. Three rebel regiments now +advanced against the Fifth Vermont; but the brave fellows secured a good +position and held it, in spite of every effort of the rebels to dislodge +them. The other regiments were not so hotly engaged as the Fifth. Two +hundred of the men of that regiment were killed, wounded or missing. +Fifty of their dead bodies were left on the field. Davidson's and +Hancock's brigades guarded important positions, but were not actively +engaged. + +The conflict raged till eight o'clock, when the confederates, repulsed +at every point, beaten and discouraged, left the field, and no more was +seen of them. The whole loss to the confederates in this engagement was +about four hundred. + +Before midnight, the rear-guard had turned toward White Oak Swamp, +leaving many hundreds of our brave wounded and sick men lying upon the +green sward, or collected under rude shelters. Here, large groups were +gathered under the shade of some large tree; and there, long lines of +staggering invalids, leaning upon their guns or staffs for support, +tottered after the retreating column, in the hope of being able to reach +with it a place of safety. + +Surgeons were left to care for these unfortunate ones who could not get +off; and a small amount out of the abundance of provisions that was +condemned to destruction was saved for them. Of all the sad scenes which +had made the Peninsula swarm with melancholy memories, nothing we had +seen could compare with this most sorrowful of all. Twenty-five hundred +of our sick and wounded were left to fall into the hands of the enemy. + +At nine or ten in the evening, we withdrew from our position before +Savage's Station, and marched rapidly toward White Oak Swamp. The road +was completely filled with wagons, ambulances and artillery, mingled +with horsemen and infantry, all crowding forward with utmost speed. +Never had our men experienced so severe a march. They were obliged to +pick their way among the teams, losing all organization, each man bent +upon making his way forward regardless of others. + +At length, toward morning, we crossed White Oak creek, ascended a little +elevation on the further side, and lay down upon the grass completely +exhausted and worn out. + +The sun was shining brightly when we were roused from our heavy +slumbers. The morning passed in perfect quiet except the rattle of the +trains which had parked here over night, and now were hurrying along the +narrow road, wagons and artillery rushing by with all speed to allow +room for the immense collection to file out. This process continued till +afternoon, and was the only source of excitement to us except the +distant roar of battle on the left, where McCall and Hooker were hotly +engaged. Thus matters continued until about two o'clock; the men seeking +shelter among the pines or resting quietly after their weary night's +march. A picket line composed of men from the various regiments of our +Third brigade, Second division, guarding our extreme right flank. All +were listless and little dreaming of the tremendous storm of iron hail +which was gathering to break upon us in a moment. + +Suddenly, like a thunderbolt, seventy-five pieces of artillery belched +forth their sheets of flame and howling shells; and in an instant, our +whole division was thrown into the most perfect confusion by the deadly +missiles which flew among us in every direction. Such cannonading had +never before been heard by our army, and before our batteries could +reply with any effect, the horses were killed, the gunners dispersed and +the pieces disabled. It was a most perfect surprise; no one was +prepared; men ran hither and thither seeking shelter behind any object +which seemed even sufficient to conceal them from the view of the enemy. + +It appeared that Jackson had effected a crossing of the river, and with +great secrecy made his way to the border of White Oak creek, where, +concealed by trees and underbrush, he had massed his batteries, and when +all was in perfect readiness had opened upon us this storm of death. +Unutterable confusion prevailed for a time; riderless horses galloped +madly to the rear; men rushed here and there; officers wandered about +without commands, and men were left without directions how to act. +Generals Smith and Davidson occupied an old fashioned wooden house which +stood upon the brow of the elevation above and facing the bridge. About +it were many orderlies, holding their horses, or lounging carelessly, or +chatting with each other. The very first volley riddled the house with +shells; orderlies rushed from the place in consternation and the inmates +quickly appeared without, gazing in amazement toward the source of this +unexpected cause of the tumult. The gray-haired owner of the house was +cut in two as he stood in the door, and several other persons were more +or less injured. General Smith, at the moment the cannonade opened, was +engaged at his rude toilette; his departure from the house was so hasty +that he left his watch, which he did not recover. He coolly walked off +to a less exposed position and devoted himself to restoring order. One +regiment, as soon as the shells began to fly, rushed pell-mell to the +rear, none of the men standing upon the order of their going. + +During all this time a few of the regiments held their ground without +moving. By active exertions, on the part of officers, order was restored +and the whole division fell back a short distance, taking up a position +at the edge of a strip of woods, which commanded an open field. General +Smith, with his accustomed fearlessness, was to be seen riding along his +lines exhorting his men to coolness, and by his own composure restoring +confidence to them. The design of Jackson, to cross the stream, was +frustrated. The firing soon ceased, and, as darkness came on, quiet +again reigned, except now and then a little skirmishing. + +At nine o'clock in the evening, under cover of the darkness, we silently +and hastily withdrew. All orders were given in whispers; men refrained +from conversation; and everything indicated the most intense anxiety on +the part of our generals for the safety of the army. Thus, in silence, +we hastened on our way; the weary and exhausted troops scarcely able to +keep awake while they marched. No better illustration can be given of +the intense state of anxiety, excitement and doubt which prevailed, than +the following little incident, which occurred during this night march. +Our Third brigade, leading the Second division, had halted where the +narrow road passed through a piece of woods, waiting a moment for the +road to clear, or for the guides to report the direction for the march. +Generals Franklin and Davidson, with officers of Davidson's brigade, +were grouped together near the head of the column, sitting upon their +horses. The weary men, almost overcome by sleep, were leaning upon their +muskets or lying in the road half asleep. Officers nodded and swung this +way and that in their saddles. The stillness of death prevailed. In an +instant, without any perceptible cause, as though a breath from some +evil genius had swept the narrow track, every man was gone from the +road. They stood in the woods looking with breathless wonder into the +road for the unseen danger. After the first moment of surprise, the word +passed along, in low tones, "Attention!" Not a living being could be +seen in the road, and all was silence. Recovering from the first +surprise, General Davidson looked for General Franklin, who, but a +moment before, was dozing by his side. "General Franklin! General +Franklin!" called the general in a loud whisper, but nothing could be +found of him, and we saw no more of him that night. What was the cause +of this sudden alarm we never knew. Possibly, a riderless horse might +have suddenly startled those in front, or, quite as likely, there was no +cause whatever; but the incident illustrates the state of feeling in the +army that night. + +At length, just as the gray light of the morning was streaking the +skies, we came in sight of the majestic James river. Every man took a +long breath, as though relieved of a heavy load of anxiety. Officers +clasped their hands and exclaimed, "Thank God." The worn out men stepped +lighter, for they had arrived at the haven of their hopes. Again they +experienced a feeling of safety. We filed into a beautiful clover field, +and there the exhausted columns sunk down for a brief rest. Brief it was +to be, for scarcely had two hours passed when we were ordered into line +of battle. We moved back through the woods, crossing a little stream, +and formed in a wheat field, where the grain stood in shocks. Here we +remained, watching the enemy, who stood in our front, contenting +themselves with occasional sallies of their skirmishers, while the great +battle of Malvern Hill was in progress on our left, where the booming of +our field pieces and the dull roar of the heavy guns from the gunboats +was heard for many hours. At length, as night came on, the sound of +battle died away, and all was again quiet. Now we heard cheers on the +left, and, looking in that direction, we saw, approaching at great +speed, the commander of the Union army. Cheers greeted him as he rode +along the line, and hats were thrown high in the air in honor of the +chief. + +As the leading corps of the army had fallen back from White Oak Swamp, +they had occupied a superb position on the James river, called Malvern +Hill. The wagons and other impedimentia of the army had also arrived +there, and were secured behind the southern slope of the hill. The place +was admirably adapted for a defensive battle. It was a lofty plateau, +rising not less than one hundred and fifty feet above the plain, sloping +gently toward the north and east, down to the border of the forest. The +approach to this sloping field was rendered difficult by ravines, which +ran along the front; and the enemy, if he approached, must do so by way +of the roads which crossed them. + +Upon the crest was posted the battery of siege guns which had escaped +the hands of the enemy; and nearly three hundred field pieces were +arranged along the heights, so that the fire might pass over the heads +of the infantry, who were arranged upon the glacis, up which the enemy +must charge, hidden, for the most part, by the tall wheat and corn. Here +the main body of the army was posted. First, nearest the James, was +Porter's corps; then Heintzelman's, Keyes', Sumner's and our Sixth +corps, occupying the right flank, two or three miles from the position +where the rebels must advance with their main force. The fleet of +gunboats floated upon the river, on our left flank, ready to send their +screaming monster shells into the ranks of the advancing enemy. + +Against this position, naturally almost impregnable, Lee hurled his +hosts, with the design of giving the final blow to the Union army, which +should insure its destruction and capture. The rebel army confidently +believed that the army of the north must now be compelled to surrender +or be driven into the James. + +If the rebels were confident and exultant, our own men were filled with +the deepest despondency. + +Exhausted by a month of constant labor and watchfulness, with fighting +and marching and digging, now, as they believed, fleeing from the face +of an enemy immensely superior to them in numbers, it is not to be +wondered at that they were apprehensive of the worst results. + +Paymasters sought refuge with their treasures in the gunboats on the +river. The Prince De Joinville and his nephews, the Count De Paris and +Count De Chartes, who had acted as aides de camp to General McClellan, +who had been with us from the beginning, active, brave men, who were +frequently where the danger was greatest, and who had entered our +service with the determination of seeing it to the end, now departed; +they, too, finding a respite from their toils upon one of the gunboats. +The young men were accompanied on board by the staff and by the +Commander-in-Chief himself. From the deck of the vessel he communicated +his orders by the signal flags, to those left in command on shore. Here, +with his young friends, and in consultation with the commander of the +fleet, he remained until about five o'clock, when he rode down the lines +to the rear of our corps, where he spent the time till darkness put an +end to the fight. + +Such was the sad state of feeling in our army. Yet, exhausted and +depressed as they were, our men were as brave and determined as ever. +They had yet a country; and they knew that the fate of that country +depended upon the result of this encounter, and they resolved to acquit +themselves with heroism and even desperation. + +Lee had marshaled his whole force in front of our strong position. He +wrote to each of his division commanders ordering an assault, and +directing, when they heard the yell of Armistead's troops, to charge +also with yells. + +The yell was heard, and some of the divisions, but not all, pressed +forward to a wild charge. + +The rebels came on heroically, but were sent reeling back down the slope +in confusion and disorder. Again and again they renewed the charge from +under cover of the woods which skirted the base of the slope. They would +start across the open space, charging our batteries with wild yells, but +the heavy fire of our guns and the steady volleys of our infantry sent +them back as often to the shelter of the woods. At times our infantry +would reserve their fire till the rebel columns had run the gauntlet of +shot and shell from our batteries, almost reaching our lines, when with +exultant cheers they would bound forward to seize the prize now almost +within their grasp, when our men would open upon them a single volley, +and, leaping over the breastworks, pursue the panic-stricken assailants, +capturing prisoners and colors, and driving the rebels in confusion down +the slope. Thus the battle raged with terrible fury; every attempt on +the part of the enemy failing, until darkness set in, and the rebel +chiefs were glad to let the battle subside; though it was not till nine +o'clock the artillery firing ceased. + +The weight of the attacks had been upon our center. Here Couch, Sumner +and Heintzelman withstood the shock of battle for hours, only a part of +Porter's corps being engaged, and neither our Sixth corps nor Casey's +division of Keyes' corps being actively in the fight. + +The rebel General Trimble thus describes the condition of their army on +the morning after the battle: + +"The next morning by dawn I went off to ask for orders, when I found the +whole army in the utmost disorder. Thousands of straggling men were +asking every passer-by for their regiments; ambulances, wagons and +artillery obstructing every road; and altogether in a drenching rain +presenting a scene of the most woful and heart-rending confusion." + +Had but a show of an attack upon such an army been made, it must have +resulted in defeat and utter rout to the rebels. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HARRISON'S LANDING. + + March to Harrison's Bar--A scene of confusion--A beautiful + landscape--Fourth of July in camp--Gloom at the north--Cause of + the disasters--Prevalence of disease--Review by the President--A + night demonstration by the enemy--Reconnoissance to Malvern + Hill--Departure of General Davidson--A retrospect. + + +Our corps remained in line of battle in the wheat field till early next +morning; changing position during the night just often enough to deprive +us of rest. As we started out toward Harrison's Landing the rain was +pouring in sheets; and throughout the day it continued to deluge the +country. The roads were rivers of almost fathomless mud; and our tired +men could scarcely drag themselves along. But at four in the afternoon +we halted under cover of our gunboats, and bivouacked for the night. +Such a deplorable scene as was here, was enough to melt the heart of the +stoutest. As we debouched from a piece of woods skirting the plateau at +Harrison's Landing, officers stood like hotel porters at a steamboat +landing, calling out "This way for the Third corps;" "This way for the +Fifth corps;" "This way for Slocum's division." All was confusion. The +whole army seemed to be made of stragglers. Our little Brigadier +Davidson rose in his saddle to an unusual height, as he looked back and +saw with undisguised pride, his brigade marching in, almost unbroken. + +The landscape before us was indescribably beautiful. There lay the James +river, and spreading out between us and the river were the broad fields +of wheat; the fine country houses; the long avenues and roads lined with +rows of cedar trees; which last were almost in a moment stripped of +their branches to make beds for the soldiers. + +There, crowded together, were the immense caravans of wagons, +ambulances, guns and pontoons, hugging the river, and the multitude of +men swarming over the plain. Long processions of sick and wounded men, +leaning on canes and crutches, their heavy steps and sunken faces now +for a moment lighted up at the thought that their melancholy pilgrimage +was nearly ended, filed by us; and battalions of cooks and special duty +men were wandering about in search of their commands. + +The river was full of transports and gunboats, giving it the appearance +of the harbor of some commercial metropolis. Many of the hungry men, +without waiting for their rations to be brought by the commissary, +plunged into the stream, swam to the boats and there procured the +coveted food. But the greater number of our men, their powers completely +exhausted, without waiting for food, or to provide comfortable quarters, +lay down in the bed of mud and were soon in heavy slumbers. + +Again, after a poor night's rest, the corps was marched to a new +position on the front line, where we remained to celebrate the +anniversary of the nation's birthday. A gloomy "Fourth of July" was this +to us, though every effort was made to keep up the spirits of the men. +Early in the morning the enemy opened a fire upon parts of our line, to +which our guns responded. A national salute had been ordered, and +precisely at the hour appointed, while the fighting was in progress, the +heavy guns were heard booming the salute. Our boys listened for a +moment, and then, as if all inspired with new life, they made the welkin +ring with their cheers. The bands, roused from their long inactivity, +pealed forth stirring national airs, and the Commander-in-Chief issued +an address to his array, in which he praised its gallantry and firmness, +declared that he himself had established the new line, and that if the +enemy would come upon us now we would convert his repulse into a final +defeat. + +At home, a heavy gloom hung over the nation. The news of our retreat and +of the terrible battles, had been carried by the magic wires to the +remotest parts of the north; but few yet knew the fate of their friends +who were in the great army. It was enough that the siege of Richmond, +which had cost so much time and money, and, above all, so many thousands +of brave men, was abandoned, and the grand army, on which the hopes of +the nation hung, was now beleaguered, defending itself in an unhealthy +position, which offered little advantage for anything but defense. +Sympathizers with the rebellion secretly rejoiced and openly prophesied +the speedy destruction of our army by the scorching sun and poisoned +air, even if left to itself by the rebels. + +The cause of all these disastrous circumstances was by some attributed +to unwise interference, on the part of the authorities in Washington, +with the plans of the chief of our army. They claimed that the +President, Secretary of War and the Major General commanding all the +armies of the Union, had, in the words of General McClellan, "done what +they could to defeat this army." They complained loudly that +reinforcements had been withheld, and that McDowell, with a large force, +had been kept unemployed in the vicinity of Fredericksburgh, when his +corps would have thrown the balance of strength upon our side. Others +claimed that the whole campaign had been sadly mismanaged by a commander +who had, as they insisted, never seen his army fight; who had invariably +found employment elsewhere than on the field of battle when fighting was +to be done, and whose character as a soldier was made up of doubts and +hesitancies. + +Six weeks of camp life, dreary, sickly and monotonous, succeeded our +arrival at Harrison's Bar. + +Our corps proceeded to the work of throwing up strong intrenchments and +mounting guns. Our Third brigade, Second division, constructed an +extensive fort, in which several very heavy guns were mounted; each of +the regiments taking their turn at the labor. In our front the forests +were slashed for a great distance, and thousands of sturdy wood-cutters +plied their heavy blows, sweltering under the burning rays of the sun. + +Sickness became almost universal. The men were worn out with the +tremendous labors which they had performed since their arrival on the +Peninsula; they were burned by almost unendurable heat; they were nearly +devoured by the countless myriads of flies and other annoying insects; +and they were forced to drink impure and unwholesome water. It was not +strange that hundreds died in camp, and that hundreds more, with the +seeds of death implanted in their constitutions, went to their homes in +the north to breathe out their lives in the midst of their friends, or +languished in the large government hospitals at Washington, and other +cities. + +Leaves of absence were given freely, and thousands availed themselves of +the opportunity of visiting their homes and recruiting their health. The +men, with the patience which none but soldiers ever exhibit, went +quietly to work to render their situation as tolerable as possible. +Wells were dug in the camps, from which they procured better water than +they were able to get at first, and small pines were brought and set +among the tents, by which some degree of protection was afforded against +the burning sun. On the morning of the 8th of July, the monotony was +broken by the arrival of President Lincoln. The booming of artillery +announced his coming, and the heartfelt cheers of the soldiers assured +him of a welcome. + +The President, after spending a few hours at the head-quarters of the +army, proceeded to review the various corps. He was accompanied by +General McClellan, and many officers of note. Everywhere he received an +enthusiastic welcome from the men, who regarded him as their warm +friend. He manifested great emotion as he rode along the lines and saw +that the regiments, which but a few weeks before had left Washington +with full ranks, were now mere skeletons of regiments. Evening drew its +mantle over the scene, and the review was closed by moonlight. + +Little occurred to relieve the monotony of the six weeks of camp life at +Harrison's Bar, except the events of which we have spoken; a +demonstration by the enemy during the night of the 31st, and an advance +to Malvern Hill by General Hooker's division. On the former occasion, +the troops were startled from their slumbers about midnight, by the +sudden discharge of a battery of artillery from the south side of the +James. The rebels had succeeded in getting a force in position there, +and they now opened a vigorous fire upon our shipping and our camps. +Their shells flew among us in disagreeable proximity, and the long lines +of fire traced upon the midnight sky lent a certain charm to the +dangerous business. Our gunboats answered the fire; and after two hours +of exciting work drove the rebels from their position. Some infantry was +taken across the river, who hastened the retreat of the enemy, burned +the buildings near the shore, and cut down the trees, that they might +not in future afford concealment for the rebels. + +General Hooker's reconnoissance resulted in his occupying Malvern Hill +for a day or two, having a brisk skirmish with the enemy and returning +to camp. + +Our active and gallant Brigadier-General Davidson was, early in August, +relieved from the command of our Third brigade, and ordered to the +department of Missouri. Notwithstanding the severity of his discipline, +and his occasional forgetfulness that men could not accomplish as much +physical labor as horses--for the general had always been a cavalry +officer--his never-tiring energy, his undoubted bravery, and his +interest and pride in his brigade, had endeared him to the men. During +the severe trials on the Chickahominy, and on the retreat, the general +had taken an unusual interest in the brigade, and had made himself +personally acquainted with nearly all the members of his command. + +The general took command of a cavalry division in Missouri; where his +name became a terror to all secessionists in that part of the country. +The command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Corning of the Thirty-third +New York, then senior officer of the brigade, who was soon succeeded by +Colonel W. H. Irwin, of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers. + +Reinforcements began to arrive from Washington, and our army, in August, +numbered one hundred and twenty thousand men. With these, and a few +thousand more, General McClellan declared his belief that he could repel +the enemy and advance into Richmond. + +Let us for a moment turn to the fortunes of the regiment with which we +left Saratoga, and whose early history we have traced. In all the +stirring events which have transpired in the division and corps, the +Seventy-seventh has acted an important and honorable part. Always ready +to perform the duties demanded of it; always in its place when danger +was greatest; ever cheerfully obeying the commands of superiors, it has +assumed no honor above its fellows, but proudly claimed to be the peer +of such noble regiments as the Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, the +Thirty-third New York, and other bright stars in the galaxy of the Sixth +corps; ornaments to it and the army. "It is a little regiment," said +General Davidson to a member of Governor Morgan's staff, who came to +look after the interests of the New York troops, "but it is always in +the right place." The general regarded the regiment with especial favor, +and was accustomed to call it "my little Seventy-seventh." Since the +arrival of the army on the Peninsula the experiences of the regiment +have been varied. With the other regiments of Smith's division, it has +spent a month at Yorktown, within musket shot of the enemy. At +Williamsburgh it, with other regiments of its brigade, supported +batteries in front of Fort Magruder, and when, in the afternoon, it +received the order to go with the Forty-ninth to the assistance of +Hancock, it started forward with cheers; the men going through the mud +at double quick. But when the two regiments arrived on the field, their +gallant brothers of Hancock's and of their own brigade, had nobly +accomplished the work in which they would gladly have assisted. We have +seen how gallantly the regiment routed the rebels at Mechanicsville; +capturing a flag and other trophies; and when on the Chickahominy +Smith's division held the line closest upon the enemy, it bravely +assumed its part of the labor and danger. A portion of the regiment on +picket on the 28th of June, exhibited sterling heroism, and we need +hardly refer to the noble sacrifice of the brave young soldier John Ham. + +Disease and exhaustion had made terrible inroads upon the +Seventy-seventh. Instead of nearly a thousand men with which we came to +the Peninsula, inspection in the middle of June showed only about two +hundred and fifty men present for duty. Although this regiment had from +the very beginning occupied an exposed position in the very front line; +although it composed a part of Smith's division, which has already +become famous both in the Union and rebel armies for being always in +closest proximity to the enemy, yet it had thus far lost very few men in +battle. All the rest of those now absent had been stricken down by +fevers, or worn out by the exhausting labors and exposures of the +campaign. + +[Illustration: James B. McKean--Col. 77th Regt. NYSV.] + +Among those attacked by typhoid fever was Colonel McKean. After +suffering a few days in the vain hope of soon being able to place +himself again at the head of his regiment, he was removed from the +poisonous atmosphere of the swamps to Washington, and thence to his home +in Saratoga. The men looked upon his departure with sincere regret, for +they not only respected him as an able commander, but loved him for his +never failing interest in their welfare. He had been to the regiment in +the capacity of commander and father. His leave of the regiment was +destined to be final; for except as an occasional visitor he never +returned to it; and after many months of suffering, his constitution +undermined, and his health permanently destroyed, he was forced to +relinquish the command. But though forced to leave the field, the men of +his regiment never ceased to cherish feelings of love and respect for +their first commander. They had witnessed his bravery on the field, and +they now knew that he was contending with disease with the same +fortitude that had marked his course in the army. The departure of +Colonel McKean from the service was not only a great loss to his +regiment but to the whole corps; for he was not only a brave officer, +but a gentleman of superior intellectual endowments. Another of the +sufferers from typhoid fever was Lieutenant Bowe, a young man of fine +abilities and greatly beloved by his regiment. After several weeks of +absence, he returned to camp on the 18th of July restored to health. On +the very next day, while standing with several officers in a tent, he +was fatally wounded by an accidental shot from a pistol. His father, +hearing of the sad occurrence, came for him and removed him from camp; +but only to see him expire in a few days. + +Changes occurred among the officers. The lieutenant-colonel and major +left the service, the first by resignation, the other by dismissal. +Adjutant French was made major, and afterwards lieutenant-colonel, which +office he held during the remainder of the term of the regiment. He +assumed command of the regiment on his return to it after the battle of +Antietam, and continued in command while it was a regiment. Captains and +lieutenants also resigned. Chaplain Tully and Quartermaster Shurtliff +departed for their homes, having left the service. Lieutenant Hayward +was made quartermaster, a position for which he was eminently qualified, +and which he thenceforward held to the great satisfaction of the entire +regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RETREAT FROM THE PENINSULA, AND GENERAL POPE'S BULL RUN CAMPAIGN. + + Premonitions of a change of base--The transfer + commenced--Marching down the Peninsula--On board transports--A + contrast--Arrival at Alexandria--Unaccountable delays--General + Pope's campaign--An obstinate general--Causes of Pope's failure. + + +Early in August, rumors were floating about the army, that General +McClellan had received positive orders to transfer the Army of the +Potomac to the front of Washington, there to unite the forces of the two +armies; and that this plan was strongly opposed by General McClellan, +who insisted that he wanted only a few thousand more men to march into +Richmond. + +The army had received large reinforcements since arriving at Harrison's +Landing, and now numbered more than one hundred thousand men; not by any +means an inconsiderable force, yet too small, in General McClellan's +opinion, to warrant another advance. + +But, owing to the movements of the enemy in front of General Pope, the +supposed impracticability of the route, and to some distrust as to the +abilities of General McClellan by the authorities at Washington, +peremptory orders had been sent to him to remove his army as quickly as +possible from the Peninsula. + +What the merits of the dispute in high places might be, the army at +large was not able to decide; but the rumors gave rise to many spirited +debates, in which the authorities at Washington and the authority at +Harrison's Bar had each earnest advocates. At length it became known +that the army was to leave the Peninsula, and preparations for this +important movement commenced. The work of shipping the sick and wounded, +numbering twelve thousand five hundred, began; but it was not carried on +with a degree of alacrity satisfactory to the War Department or the +President. + +The wharves along the river side became the scene of immense activity. +Ambulances crowded along the banks of the river, laden with sick and +wounded, while those from the hospitals able to walk, tottered along +with trembling steps, their wan faces and sunken eyes telling their +story of suffering. Transports were in waiting for these, and were +rapidly filled with their freight of suffering humanity. Everything not +movable was ordered to be destroyed. Tents were struck and taken to the +pickets who had left them behind, and everything betokened an important +movement. Three or four days were spent in momentary expectation of the +order to "fall in," but still the situation remained unchanged. + +At length, on the 16th of August, all was ready and the men were ordered +to pack their knapsacks; but the men of the Sixth corps remained in camp +until the sun's rays became scorching; then the column moved rapidly +eastward. A hard day's march on the 16th and another on the 17th, +brought the corps in sight of the Chickahominy. It crossed a pontoon +bridge of enormous extent, in the construction of which ninety boats +were used, and the length of which was over two thousand feet. +Thoroughly exhausted the men bivouacked on the eastern bank of the +Chickahominy. + +The rebels, now aware of the retreat, were following close at the heels +of the Union army, but declined to make any offensive demonstrations, +further than picking up stragglers and those that fell out by the way +from weakness and fatigue. The main portion of the rebel army was now +occupied in important movements in another direction. + +Another rapid march, under a burning sun, brought our corps to the +ancient capital of the Old Dominion--Williamsburgh. Passing through its +streets without halting, taking only time to glance at its now +dilapidated buildings, we reached the familiar scenes of the old +battle-field, which, three months before, we little expected to recross +before the downfall of the rebellion. Here was the plain where a portion +of our Second division had, by its gallantry, decided the fate of the +battle; the scene of our bivouac in the rain and mud, and the redoubts +where lay the wounded rebels, whose groans had rendered the night +hideous. In the midst of these scenes we bivouacked again for the night. + +At dawn the column moved again, and after a fatiguing march reached +Yorktown; our Second division encamping in the works erected by Porter's +division during our famous thirty days' siege of that place. + +Many of the men had by this time become exhausted; and a long train of +ambulances was filled with these and sent ahead on the morning of the +20th. The well ones soon followed toward Fortress Monroe, halting on the +field of Big Bethel. This was the first visit of our corps to this +disastrous field, and the men rambled about manifesting great interest +in the spot rendered sacred by the blood of Winthrop and Greble. + +Plums, peaches and sweet potatoes constituted novel additions to the +diet of the men, and although the two former were unripe, their good +effects were manifested in arresting multitudes of those troublesome +cases of diarrhea which had resisted all treatment so long as the men +were deprived of acid fruits. Another hard march on the 21st brought the +corps again, after five months' absence, to the vicinity of the +desolated village of Hampton, and the end of our march for the present. +The whole army was crowded along the shores, waiting to embark for +Aquia. Transports of every size and description were riding upon the bay +or lashed to the wharves, and infantry, cavalry and artillery were +crowding toward the beach ready to take their turn to embark. The scene +was one of unusual activity, resembling only the one we had witnessed on +embarking for the Peninsula months ago. + +At length all were on board, and the transports swung out upon the bay +and steamed up the Potomac. One of the transports on which a portion of +the Second division was embarked, the "Vanderbilt," had been, in other +days, an old friend, as she ploughed up and down the Hudson; now her +magnificent saloons, which had been of dazzling beauty, were dismantled +and disfigured. No gorgeous drapery or gilded mirrors adorned them, but +desolation and filth prevailed. + +The weather was charming, and, except for the crowded condition of the +transports, the trip would have been a delightful one. What a contrast +was there in the appearance of those same men now, and when they came +down the river in April! Then our ranks were full; the men were healthy +and in fresh vigor; their uniforms were new and clean, and their muskets +and equipments were polished and glistening. Now, we looked about with +sadness when we remembered how many of our former companions were +absent, and how few present. We could bring to mind many who went to the +Peninsula, full of hope, who had sunk as victims of the malarial +poisons, and now rested in humble graves at Yorktown or along the +Chickahominy; and many others who had nobly fallen upon the field of +strife; and yet others who now were wearing out tedious days of sickness +in hospitals or at home. + +The little band that remained could hardly be recognized as the same men +who left the defenses of Washington but a few months since; their faces +were now bronzed from constant exposure to the scorching rays of the +sun, and their clothing was worn and soiled. Hats and caps of every +description: hats of straw and of palm leaf, of brown wool, black wool, +and what had been white wool. Caps military and caps not military, all +alike in only one respect, that all were much the worse for wear. It +would have puzzled a stranger to have determined from this diversity of +apparel, what was the regular uniform of our troops. + +We came up the river with feelings far less exultant and confident than +those experienced in our downward trip. Indeed a gloom hung over the +minds of all. The army was satisfied that General McClellan would be +removed from command, and it was said that General Pope or General +Burnside would be his successor. Though they remembered the brilliant +successes of the one in the west and of the other in the south, many +expressed fears that the command of a large army might be as fatal to +either of these as it had been to General McClellan. + +At sunset of the 23d, the transports bearing the two divisions of the +Sixth corps, were anchored just off Alexandria; but none of the men were +allowed to go ashore. Spending another night in the crowded vessels, +where the foul air prevailing between decks rendered breathing anything +but a luxury, the men hailed the appearance of daylight as the time for +their liberation from this close and unpleasant confinement. + +The process of disembarking progressed rapidly, and the divisions were +marched through the city to a field about a mile beyond its limits, +where we encamped near Fort Ellsworth. + +Although this was on Sunday morning, and it was known that Pope's army +was fighting the enemy even before we left the Peninsula, and was in +need of reinforcements; yet no signs of marching occurred until +Thursday. + +Let us now turn back for a moment and hastily glance at the movements of +General Pope and his army, which had now for several days been actively +engaged. The battle of Cedar Mountain was fought on Saturday, August +9th. General Banks, pushing his corps toward Cedar Mountain, and, +finding the enemy in his front, had boldly attacked him. The confederate +forces were led by General Jackson, and outnumbered the forces under +General Banks. The field was hotly contested for an hour and a half, +when our forces were obliged to fall back; but being reinforced by +Rickett's division, they were able to prevent the enemy from occupying +the field. During the night, Jackson withdrew his forces, leaving the +ground in our hands, which was at once occupied by the Union forces. + +The whole of Sunday was occupied in burying the dead and bringing off +the wounded of both armies. Our men had behaved with great bravery, and +the gallantry and zeal of General Banks was what might have been +expected from that general. The field was yet in our hands; yet the +battle could hardly be called a decided victory for our arms. Jackson +retreated rapidly across the Rapidan, in the direction of Gordonsville, +leaving many dead and wounded along the road from Cedar Mountain to +Orange Court House. Except to follow up the enemy with cavalry as far as +Orange Court House, no important move was made for several days by the +forces under General Pope. + +Reinforcements were constantly arriving for Jackson, and it became +evident, by the 18th, that nearly the whole of Lee's army was assembling +in front of General Pope, along the south side of the Rapidan. Among +papers captured from the enemy at this time, was an autograph letter +from General Robert Lee to General Stuart, stating his determination to +overwhelm General Pope's army before it could be reinforced by any +portion of the army of the Potomac. + +The whole army was now ordered to fall back and occupy a stronger +position behind the Rappahannock. The movement was executed on the 18th +and 19th of August, without loss; the new line extending from Kelley's +Ford to a point three miles above Rappahannock Station. The enemy +appeared next day at the various fords, but, finding them strongly +guarded, waited for all their forces to arrive from the Rapidan. + +The whole of the 21st and 22d were spent by the enemy in efforts to +cross the river, and a fierce artillery duel prevailed along the line +for more than seven miles in extent, but the rebels were repulsed at +every point, and withdrew with the intention of moving up the river and +turning the flank of the Union army. + +General Pope, appreciating the danger of this movement on the part of +the rebels, telegraphed to Washington, and, in reply, was assured that, +if he could hold out two days longer, he should be so strongly +reinforced as to enable him, not only to hold his position, but to take +the offensive. + +It is needless to say that, with the exception of one or two small +divisions, no reinforcements reached him within that time; and although +General Porter reported to him by letter from Bealton on the 25th, it +had been better for General Pope had he not come at all. On the night of +the 26th, Jackson, coming through Thoroughfare Gap, got in the rear of +Pope's army and cut the railroad at Kettle Run, near Warrenton Junction. +Lee was still in front, in the vicinity of Sulphur Springs. General +Pope, desiring at the same time to fall back toward Centreville and +interpose his army between Jackson's and Lee's forces, ordered a +retrograde movement. His troops were by this time fairly exhausted. In +his report to the Secretary of War, he says: "From the 18th of August, +until the morning of the 27th, the troops under my command had been +continually marching and fighting night and day; and during the whole of +that time there was scarcely an interval of an hour without the roar of +artillery. The men had had little sleep, and were greatly worn down with +fatigue; had had little time to get proper food or to eat it; had been +engaged in constant battles and skirmishes, and had performed services, +laborious, dangerous and excessive, beyond any previous experience in +this country." Jackson had succeeded in burning fifty cars at Bristow +Station, and a hundred more at Manassas Junction, heavily laden with +ammunition and supplies. On the afternoon of the 27th, a severe +engagement occurred between Hooker's division of Heintzelman's corps, +which had arrived the evening before, and Ewell's division of +Longstreet's corps, near Bristow Station. Ewell was driven back; the +loss on each side being about three hundred. During the night, General +McDowell with his corps, and Generals Reno and Kearney with their +divisions, took such positions as effectually to interpose between +Jackson's forces and Lee's, and no alternative was left Jackson but to +turn upon Hooker and rout him, or to retreat by way of Centreville. +Hooker's men had exhausted their ammunition, so that there were but five +rounds per man left. General Pope, fearing that Hooker would be +attacked, dispatched an aide to General Porter with orders to join +Hooker at once. The aide was instructed to inform General Porter of the +immediate necessity of moving at once, and to remain and guide him to +the place. But Porter utterly refused to obey the order. Most +fortunately for our army, Jackson, ignorant of Hooker's weakness, +determined to retreat by way of Centreville; a mistake which prevented +most serious consequences to us. Jackson in his retreat was hotly +pursued, and on the 28th a severe battle took place between McDowell's +corps and the retreating column, in which our forces gained decided +advantages. On the 29th, Jackson was again near the old Bull Run +battle-ground, and a terrific battle ensued, which lasted with great +fury from daylight until dark. The rebels were driven from the field, +which was occupied by our men. General Pope sent peremptory orders to +Fitz John Porter to move at once upon Centreville; which would have cut +off Jackson's retreat; but again this commander refused to obey orders, +and Jackson was enabled to unite with Lee, who had by this time reached +Thoroughfare Gap, and was pushing on toward him. Had the orders of +General Pope been carried out, Jackson must without doubt have been +crushed before Lee's forces could by any possibility have reached the +field of action. + +On the following day the whole of both armies were brought face to face +with each other. General Pope, by this time hopeless of any aid from the +fresh troops he had expected long before this from Washington, and aware +of the disaffection of the largest and freshest corps in his command, +although nearly discouraged, determined to give battle and inflict as +much damage as possible upon the enemy. His force now, including +Porter's corps, was about forty thousand. The whole of Lee's and +Jackson's forces now pressed upon our lines with terrible effect. + +The action raged with great fury for several hours; the rebels +constantly massing heavy columns against our lines, especially upon the +left, where McDowell's and Sigel's corps resisted the onset with great +bravery, but were at length forced to yield, when an utter rout took +place; the whole army falling back upon Centreville in great disorder. +On this day, for the first time in all these long series of battles, +Porter's corps was brought into action. The conduct of the corps, in the +early part of the day, showed a determination on the part of its leaders +not to fight, and the men fell back in disorder; but being rallied later +in the day, the pride of the men overcame the obstinacy of their +commanders and the corps did good service. Hooker's and Kearney's +divisions, and Reynolds' Pennsylvania reserves had rendered most gallant +services from the time they reached General Pope's army. + +Returning now to our Sixth corps under General Franklin. The corps +remained quietly at Alexandria, from the morning of the 24th until the +afternoon of the 29th. Rations and ammunition were as well supplied when +we reached Alexandria as when we left. The booming of cannon was heard +on the 26th and 27th, and contrabands and white refugees informed us +that terrible fighting was in progress beyond Manassas. We wondered that +we were not ordered to go to the relief of the little army which we knew +was resisting the whole of Lee's and Jackson's forces. + +On Thursday afternoon, August 28th, the corps received marching orders. +Tents were struck, knapsacks packed, rations provided, and many +regiments, shouldering their knapsacks, stood in line ready to move. But +sunset came and no further orders. The men waited impatiently, only a +few venturing to unpack their knapsacks or pitch their tents, until long +after dark. + +Friday morning brought few indications of an advance. Head-quarter tents +remained standing, artillery horses stood unharnessed, and everything +showed an intentional delay. At length the corps moved. Marching quietly +and easily, the old ground of Camp Misery was passed, and the corps +reached Annandale, where it halted and encamped after an easy march of +six miles. Saturday morning the corps again moved leisurely along, +making very frequent halts. The firing in front indicated a hardly +contested battle, and our men, knowing that Pope must be in need of +reinforcements, were anxious to push forward rapidly. Every hour the +corps halted for at least twenty minutes, and sometimes even longer. At +this snail pace we passed Fairfax Court House, the roar of musketry and +artillery becoming constantly louder in front, and arrived at +Centreville. Orders immediately came for the corps to proceed to Cub +Run, about two miles beyond Centreville. Here, wounded men by hundreds +and stragglers in greater numbers passed across the little bridge over +the run, a dismal crowd, hastening toward Centreville. + +As usual at such times, scores of cowardly villains were attempting to +pass to the rear as wounded men. + +An amusing encounter occurred between one of this class, a coward in +captain's uniform, and one of our own officers, Captain Deyoe, as brave +a fellow as ever drew a sword. The demoralized captain, his sword thrown +away and its sheath after it, came hurriedly upon the bridge, where +Deyoe was sitting, coolly filling his pipe. The fugitive captain turned +his face, pale with fright, to the imperturbable Deyoe, and, striking +him on the shoulder, said with as much composure as he could muster, +"Captain, we have had hard times of it out there, but _don't be afraid, +don't be afraid_." Deyoe, turning his face toward that of the straggler +with a look of unruffled coolness and unmitigated contempt, replied, +"Well, who the d--is afraid? Oh, yes, I see, _you are_. Well, you had +better get away from here then!" + +The corps remained at Cub Run until nightfall, when it was ordered to +return to Centreville, where it encamped. Regiments from our Third +brigade were sent to the rear of Centreville to arrest stragglers, who +were hurrying toward Alexandria in great numbers. + +The regiments were drawn up in line across the turnpike, where they +remained all night, turning back hundreds of stragglers at the point of +the bayonet. + +The scene at Centreville on the next day was one of the utmost +confusion. Thousands of stragglers wandered about without knowing or +caring what had become of their commands; long columns of shattered +regiments and batteries filed past to take up new positions, either +within the intrenchments or on the flanks. The appearance of these +skeletons of regiments and batteries gave evidence of the terrible +experiences of this long series of engagements. Their ranks, thinned by +the fortunes of battle, and still more by the disgraceful skulking which +had become so universal, the worn and weary appearance of the men, their +flags, each surrounded by only enough men to constitute a respectable +color-guard, all showed that even the hard experiences of the Army of +the Potomac had never had so demoralizing an effect as this. + +The skulkers were loud-mouthed in their denunciations of General +McDowell. Hundreds of them, who had in all probability not been near +enough to the front during the whole retreat to know anything that was +going on there, declared that they had seen him waving that mystic white +hat as a signal to the rebels; and all knew that it was through his +treachery that the army had been destroyed. Others declared positively +that they had seen, with their own eyes, General McClellan, with a small +body of faithful followers, dash against the advancing foe, and arrest +the pursuit! Such wild and improbable stories filled the whole +atmosphere, and, strangest of all, were believed by thousands, not only +in the army, but throughout the whole north. + +Long trains of ambulances were bringing from the battle-field wounded +men, who had been, since Saturday, exposed to the burning sun and the +storm which had prevailed during Sunday night. + +Temporary hospitals were established, and surgeons were actively +employed in ministering to the relief of the unfortunate. Monday evening +the battle of Glendale or Chantilly was fought, in the midst of a +terrific thunder storm. The enemy, in attempting to turn our right, had +been met by Hooker, Reno, McDowell and Kearney, and repulsed with heavy +loss, from our entire front. But the victory was a costly one for us. +The brave, earnest and accomplished soldier, Major-General Kearney, and +the gallant Stevens, were both killed while leading their commands +against the enemy. + +The Sixth corps, on Monday evening, was marched back to Fairfax Court +House; but early next morning returned within a mile of Centreville, +when it took possession of the heights, and lay in line of battle until +three o'clock P.M., when orders were received to march back to our old +camp at Alexandria, which we reached at ten o'clock the same night; thus +making in a single evening, a distance that had required two full days +and a part of another, to march, in going out. + +Thus ended General Pope's campaign in Virginia. Never was a campaign so +misrepresented or so little understood; and never were the motives of +men so falsely judged as were those of the generals connected with this +campaign. + +General Pope had fallen a victim to the foulest treachery of ambitious +rivals, rather than to the strength of his open foes. Any one who will +in candor trace the movements and the handling of that little army, when +beset by an enemy now known to have been double its own strength, must +concede that his plans were well conceived, and his generalship in this +campaign fully equaled that which had won him so great renown in the +west. + +That the defeat of General Pope was brought about by the rivalry and +jealousy of generals of the Union army cannot now be doubted. We know +why Porter withheld the largest and freshest corps in the command from +the fights, while its eleven thousand men were within sight of the +battles; but why was the Sixth corps delayed? Some one was equally +culpable with Porter. Was it worse to keep a corps out of the fight, +when on the field, than to keep another corps off from the field +altogether without any good reason? There can be but one question--who +was responsible for the criminal neglect to send the Sixth corps to the +assistance of Pope's army? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. + + General McClellan restored to command--March through + Washington--Leisurely campaigning--Battle of Crampton + Pass--Death of Mathison--Battle of South Mountain Pass--Death of + Reno--Surrender of Harper's Ferry--March to Antietam. + + +General Pope, at his own request, was relieved from the command of the +army, and General McClellan resumed the direction. Whatever might have +been the real fitness of General Pope to command, his usefulness with +the army just driven back upon the defenses of Washington, had departed. +The return of General McClellan was hailed with joy by a large portion +of the army. + +On the 5th of September, Lee crossed the Potomac into Maryland, and +occupied Frederick City. General McClellan was ordered to push forward +at once and meet him. It was on the evening of the 6th that orders were +issued to move. It was but short work to pack up our limited supply of +clothing, cooking utensils and the few other articles which constituted +our store of worldly goods, and prepare to march. We left Alexandria, +and proceeding toward Washington, passed Fort Albany and crossed the +Long Bridge, the moon and stars shining with a brilliancy seldom +equaled, rendering the night march a pleasant one. As the steady tramp +of the soldiers upon the pavements was heard by the citizens of +Washington, they crowded upon the walks, eager to get a glance, even by +moonlight, of the veterans who had passed through such untold hardships. +Many were the questions regarding our destination, but we could only +answer, "We are going to meet the rebels." Passing through Georgetown, +we reached the little village of Tanleytown, where, weary from the short +but rapid march, we spent the remainder of the night in sleep. The +morning passed without orders to move, and it was not until five o'clock +in the afternoon that we again commenced the march, when, having +proceeded six miles, we halted. At daybreak on the morning of the 8th, +the corps was moving again, and passing through Rockville we halted, +after an easy stage of six miles. + +On the 9th we marched three miles, making our camp at Johnstown. On the +following morning, at 9 o'clock, we were again on the move, driving +before us small bodies of rebel cavalry, and reaching Barnesville, a +small village, ten miles from our encampment of the night before. Our +Third brigade, of the Second division, was quartered on the plantation +of a noted secessionist, who, on our approach, had suddenly decamped, +leaving at our disposal a very large orchard, whose trees were loaded +with delicious fruit, and his poultry yard well stocked with choice +fowls. Our boys were not slow to appropriate to their own use these +luxuries, which, they declared, were great improvements on pork and hard +tack. In the enjoyment of ease and abundance, we remained here until the +morning of the 12th, when we resumed the march, proceeding ten miles +farther, halting near Urbana, at Monocacy bridge, which had been +destroyed by the rebels, but was now rebuilt. On the same day General +Burnside, having the advance, entered Frederick, encountering a few +skirmishers of the enemy, which he drove. On the 13th, we arrived at the +lovely village of Jefferson, having made ten miles more, and having +driven a detachment of rebels through Jefferson Pass. + +The advance was sounded at ten o'clock on the morning of the 14th, and +at three we found ourselves near the foot of the South Mountain range, +having marched about fifty miles in eight days. Upon the advance of +Burnside into Frederick, the rebel force had fallen back, taking the two +roads which led through Middletown and Burkettsville, and which crossed +the South Mountains through deep gorges, the northern called South +Mountain or Turner's Pass, and the other, six miles south of it, +Crampton Pass. + +These passes the rebels had strongly fortified, and had arranged their +batteries on the crests of neighboring hills. The Sixth corps came to a +halt when within about a mile and a half of Crampton Pass, and a +reconnoissance was ordered. + +General Franklin was now directed to force the pass with the Sixth +corps, while the remaining corps should push on to the South Mountain +Pass and drive the enemy through it. We formed in line of battle and +advanced. Before us lay the little village of Burkettsville, nestling +under the shadow of those rugged mountains, its white houses gleaming +out of the dark green foliage. Beyond were the South Mountains; their +summits crowned with batteries of artillery and gray lines of rebels, +while the heavily wooded sides concealed great numbers of the enemy. + +A winding road, leading up the mountain side and through a narrow +defile, known as Crampton's Gap, constituted one of the two passages to +the other side of the range; South Mountain Gap being the other. The +enemy had planted batteries and posted troops behind barricades, and in +such positions as most effectually to dispute our passage. + +At the foot of the mountain, was a stone wall, behind which was the +first rebel line of battle, while their skirmishers held the ground for +some distance in front. The position was a strong one; admirably +calculated for defense, and could be held by a small force against a +much larger one. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE SIXTH CORPS AT BURKETTSVILLE.] + +The day was far advanced when the attack was ordered. No sooner had the +lines of blue uniforms emerged from the cover of the woods, than the +batteries on the hill tops opened upon them. The mountains, like huge +volcanoes, belched forth fire and smoke. The earth trembled beneath us, +and the air was filled with the howling of shells which flew over our +heads, and ploughed the earth at our feet. At the same time, the line of +battle behind the stone wall opened upon us a fierce fire of musketry. +In the face of this storm of shells and bullets, the corps pressed +forward at double quick, over the ploughed grounds and through the corn +fields, halting for a few moments at the village. The citizens, +regardless of the shells which were crashing through their houses, +welcomed us heartily, bringing water to fill the canteens, and supplying +us liberally from the scanty store left them by the marauding rebels. + +Patriotic ladies cheered the Union boys and brought them food; and well +might they rejoice at the approach of the Union army, after their recent +experience with the rebels, who had robbed them of almost everything +they possessed in the way of movable property. + +After a few minutes, in which our soldiers took breath, the advance was +once more sounded, and again we pushed on in face of a murderous fire, +at the same time pouring into the face of the foe a storm of leaden +hail. Slocum's division, of the Sixth corps, advanced on the right of +the turnpike, while Smith's division pushed directly forward on the road +and on the left of it. After severe fighting by both divisions, having +driven the enemy from point to point, Slocum's troops, about three +o'clock, succeeded in seizing the pass, while our Second division +pressed up the wooded sides of the mountain, charging a battery at the +left of the pass and capturing two of its guns. The confederates fled +precipitately down the west side of the mountain, and our flags were +waved in triumph from the heights which had so lately thundered +destruction upon us. As we advanced, we wondered, not that the foe had +offered such stubborn resistance, but that the position had been yielded +at all. Their dead strewed our path, and great care was required, as we +passed along the road, to avoid treading upon the lifeless remains which +lay thickly upon the ground. On every side the evidences of the fearful +conflict multiplied. Trees were literally cut to pieces by shells and +bullets; a continual procession of rebel wounded and prisoners lined the +roadsides, while knapsacks, guns, canteens and haversacks were scattered +in great confusion. The rebel force made its way into Pleasant Valley, +leaving in our hands their dead and wounded, three stand of colors, two +pieces of artillery and many prisoners. Our troops scoured the woods +until midnight, bringing in large numbers of stragglers. + +We had lost quite heavily; some of our best men had fallen. Colonel +Mathison, who commanded the Third brigade of Slocum's division, whose +heroism at Gaines' Farm, and bravery in all our campaign on the +Peninsula, had endeared him to his division, was among the killed. + +The corps moved down the road to the western side of the mountains, our +men resting on their arms for the night, expecting that the battle would +be renewed at dawn. But the morning revealed no enemy in our front; we +were in quiet possession of the valley. + +Meanwhile on the right, at South Mountain Pass, a still more sanguinary +battle had been in progress. + +On the morning of the 14th, the Ninth corps, Burnside's veterans, the +heroes of Roanoke and Newbern, under the command of the gallant Reno, +advanced from Middletown; and coming near the base of the mountains, +found the enemy strongly posted on the crests of the hills, thronging +the thickly wooded sides, and crowding in the gap. No matter what +position the brave boys occupied, they were submitted to a murderous +fire from the crests and sides of the mountains. Under this galling +fire, the First division of the corps formed in line of battle, and +advanced toward the frowning heights. It was an undertaking requiring +more than ordinary valor, to attempt to wrest from an enemy strong in +numbers, a position so formidable for defense; but the men approaching +those rugged mountain sides had become accustomed to overcome obstacles, +and to regard all things as possible which they were commanded to do. +Under cover of a storm of shells, thrown upward to the heights, the line +of battle advanced, with courage and firmness, in face of terrible +resistance, gaining much ground and driving the rebels from their first +line of defenses. Now, the corps of Hooker rushed to the assistance of +the Ninth. As the gallant general and his staff rode along the lines, +enthusiastic cheers for "Fighting Joe Hooker," greeted him everywhere. +Forming his divisions hastily, he pushed them on the enemy's lines at +once. + +Thus far, the battle had been principally maintained by artillery; the +rattle of musketry coming occasionally from one or another part of +Reno's line. But now, the whole line was pushing against the rebel line, +and the continued roll of musketry told of close work for the infantry. +Reno's troops on the left and Hooker's on the right, were doing noble +fighting. The advancing line never wavered; but pressing steadily +forward, pouring volley after volley into the enemy's ranks, it at last +forced the rebels to break and fly precipitately to the crests, and, +leaving their splendid position on the summit to retreat in great haste +down the other slope of the mountain. The engagement had been of three +hours duration; and the bravery of the Union troops was rewarded by the +possession of the mountain tops. Darkness put an end to the pursuit. +Thus the two chief passes through the mountains were in the possession +of the Union army. + +While his corps was striving to dislodge the enemy from the stronghold, +the gallant Reno was struck by a minie ball, and expired. The loss of +this hero threw a gloom not only over his own corps, but throughout the +army. + +In the many battles in which he had taken a brilliant part, he had won +an enviable fame, and his private virtues and kindly qualities of heart +added lustre to the brilliancy of his military record. + +While the fight was in progress in Crampton Pass, the booming of guns at +Harper's Ferry, only seven miles distant, told us of an attempt, on the +part of the rebels, to capture that important point; and while we lay +upon our arms on the morning of the 15th, two miles nearer than we were +on the day before, the firing was heard to be still more fierce. Our +Sixth corps was ordered to press forward to the relief of the +beleaguered place; but before we had started the firing suddenly died +away. General Franklin concluded that the place had been surrendered; +and his conclusion was verified by reconnoissances. So the corps +remained in Pleasant Valley, at rest, all of the 15th and 16th. + +The surrender of Harper's Ferry was a terrible blow to our cause. Had it +continued in our possession it must have insured, with any respectable +energy on the part of our commanders, the destruction of the rebel army +in its retreat. As it was, our loss was over eleven thousand men, and a +vast amount of war material. + +Of course, the surrender of Harper's Ferry, at this critical period, was +owing directly to the imbecility and cowardice, not to say treachery, of +the officers in command at Harper's Ferry and on Maryland Heights. But, +while we condemn the weakness and cowardice of these commanders, can we +relieve from a share in the responsibility, the general who marched his +army in pursuit of the enemy at a snail pace, traveling but six miles a +day upon an average, when by a few brisk marches this important point +might have been reinforced? + +Early on the morning of the 17th, the Sixth corps was on its way, +hastening to the scene of conflict which had commenced on the banks of +Antietam creek. A part of the Seventy-seventh had constituted one-third +of the picket line which had extended across the valley between the +corps and Harper's Ferry. + +These companies, by a hard march, much of it at double quick, succeeded +in overtaking the division just as the Third brigade was making a charge +over ground already thrice won and lost by Sumner's troops. Without +waiting to form the companies, the detachment joined the command, and, +all out of breath and faint from their forced march, rushed with their +companies against the foe. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. + + The Valley of the Antietam--Gathering of the hosts--The + battle-field--The battle commenced--Splendid fighting of + Hooker's forces--Successes and reverses of Sumner's + troops--Timely arrival of the Sixth corps--A gallant + charge--Losses of the corps--Burnside's attack--Hours of + suspense--The enemy defeated at all points--Retreat of the + rebels--Scenes on the battle-field--At the hospitals--At + Sharpsburgh--A division of militia--Couch's division joins the + Sixth corps--Visit of the President--Recruits--Energy at the + north--At rest--Want of clothing--Stuart's raid--Delays--Clear + Spring--General Brooks. + + +Among the delightful and fertile valleys which beautify the State of +Maryland, none is more charming than the one through which the Antietam +winds its tortuous course. Looking from some elevation down upon its +green fields, where herds of sleek cattle graze, its yellow harvests +glowing and ripening in the September sun; its undulating meadows and +richly laden orchards; its comfortable farm houses, some standing out +boldly upon eminences, which rise here and there, others half hidden by +vines or fruit trees; the ranges of hills, rising on either side of the +stream, diversified by charming vales or deep gullies; the turnpikes +winding along the sides of the hills and through the valleys; the lovely +stream itself, now flowing smoothly over its dark bed and anon tumbling +noisily in rapids over a stony bottom, winding here far up to one range +of hills and then turning back to kiss the base of the other; the whole +scene is one of surpassing beauty, upon which the eye rests with +untiring delight. Who would have selected this lovely valley as the +scene of one of the most bloody struggles ever recorded? Who, looking +down from some height of land on the morning of the 13th of September, +would have dreamed that those stacks of grain, which dotted the fields +here and there, would soon become the only protection from the heat of +the sun and the storm of battle, to thousands of wounded, bleeding men? +or, that from those lovely groves of oak and maple, now reposing like +spots of beauty upon the landscape, were to belch forth fire and smoke, +carrying destruction to thousands? Yet, here on these smiling fields, +and among these delightful groves, one of the grand battles which should +decide the march of events in the history, not only of our own country +but of the world, was to be fought. These green pastures were to be +stained with blood, and these peaceful groves marred and torn by shot +and shell. + +Driven from the towns along the Potomac, from Frederick, from +Hagerstown, and from Boonsboro; and forced from the strong passes in the +South Mountains, the detached portions of the rebel army were +concentrated along the banks of the Antietam creek, in the vicinity of +the little town of Sharpsburgh. Hither Jackson and Longstreet, Hill and +Stuart, with their hosts, had gathered to offer combined resistance to +the Union army; boastfully proclaiming that now, upon northern soil, +they would hurl our army to final destruction. One hundred thousand men, +flushed with recent victories, and eager for one grand crowning success, +proudly defied the Union army. + +Their position was well chosen. A line of steep hills, forming a half +circle, with the convexity in front, rising at some distance back from +the creek, and nearly parallel with it, afforded admirable advantages +for posting batteries, in such a manner as to sweep the plain below, +from right to left. Upon their left, wooded fields afforded protection +to their infantry; while upon their right, the undulating nature of the +grounds near the base of the hills, covered them from the fire of our +guns. In their rear was Sharpsburgh; and two fine roads leading to the +Potomac, afforded safe lines of retreat in case of disaster. From the +crest of the hills, on which Lee had thus posted his army, the ground +sloped gently back; concealing the movements of his forces from the view +of the army in their front, allowing them to maneuver unobserved by +their opponents. Owing also to the form of their line of battle, it was +an easy matter to throw troops from one part to another. Thus, strongly +posted and confidently anticipating victory, they waited the approach of +the Union army. + +Our own forces were also gathering toward this point. Richardson's +division of the Second corps, pressing closely upon the heels of the +retreating rebels, had passed through Boonsboro and Keedeysville, and +had overtaken them here. + +Porter, with his regulars, was close at hand, and took position. Then +came Burnside, with his favorite Ninth corps; and the white-haired +veteran, Sumner, with troops worthy of their leader; fighting Joe Hooker +and his gallant men; and Mansfield, with Banks' corps. The afternoon and +most of the night was spent in getting into position. Brisk skirmishes +were occurring with sufficient frequency to excite the men on both +sides; but no general engagement took place. The morning of the 16th +found our army ready to give battle. On our right was Hooker; then +Sumner with his own and the Twelfth, Mansfield's corps; and far to the +left was Burnside. Porter's corps, secure behind an elevation in the +rear, was held in reserve. + +The night had passed with but now and then a little picket firing; but +all felt that, before many hours, must commence a battle, which must +determine the fate at least of that campaign. + +Crossing the Antietam, in front of the line of our army, were three +bridges. The first, on the Hagerstown road; the next on the road to +Sharpsburgh; and the third on the left, three miles below, on the road +from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburgh. + +This last bridge, crossed the stream at a point where steep and high +hills crowded closely on every side; the summits of those on the western +side of the stream, crowned with rebel batteries, and their steeply +falling sides covered with infantry. Over the first of these bridges, on +the right, Hooker was to cross his forces; while on the left, Burnside +was to attempt to dislodge the enemy from his commanding position. Far +in the rear, a prominent hill rose above the surrounding country; here +was a signal station, and here the commander of the army established his +quarters. Hour after hour of the 16th passed away, the two armies facing +each other, watching and waiting; troops moving this way and that, +maneuvering like two giant wrestlers, each willing to try the movements +and feel the gripe of the other before coming to the sharp grapple. At +four o'clock, Hooker crossed his corps and occupied a position on the +west side of the creek, and Mansfield soon followed; a little fighting, +but not severe, and then darkness closed over the scene again. The +skirmishes and artillery practice here, developed, to the quick eye of +General Hooker, the position of the enemy in his front, and their plan +of defense. Satisfied with this knowledge, he was willing to allow his +corps to rest until morning. Our lines were now very near those of the +rebels; so near that the pickets of the opposing forces could hear +conversation from one line to the other. + +At an early hour on the morning of the 17th, the great battle commenced +in earnest. Hooker formed his line with Doubleday on the right, Meade in +the center, and Ricketts on the left. Opposed to him was Stonewall +Jackson's corps. First, Meade's Pennsylvania reserves, of Hooker's +corps, opened upon the enemy, and in a few moments the firing became +rapid and general along the line of both Meade's and Rickett's +divisions. The rebel line of battle was just beyond the woods, in a +cornfield. The hostile lines poured into each other more and more deadly +volleys; batteries were brought up on each side which did terrible +execution. Each line stood firm and immovable. Although great gaps were +made in them, they were closed up, and the opposing forces continued to +pour fearful destruction into each other's ranks. General Hooker, riding +everywhere along the front line, knew exactly the position and the work +of every regiment in his command. Cheer after cheer greeted him as he +passed along the line, inspiring the men by his presence. Thus for half +an hour the two lines stood face to face in deadly conflict; at length +the general directed a battery to be placed in a commanding position, +and the shells and shrapnel were seen to work fearful havoc in the +rebel ranks. The gray line wavered; then back through the cornfield and +over the fences the confederates rushed, seeking shelter from the +terrible storm, under cover of the woods, on the other side of the +field. "Forward!" shouted General Hooker, and his divisions pressed +rapidly through the cornfield, up to the very edge of the wood, while +the welkin rang with their cheers. Here, the fleeing foe, reinforced by +fresh troops, made a determined stand. Terrific volleys poured from the +woods, thinning out the Union ranks at a fearful rate. Unable to sustain +the deadly fire, they fell back--this time the rebels following with +yells and shouts; but before the cornfield was crossed, our troops made +another stand, and the swarthy foe was brought to bay; yet the thinned +line seemed hardly able to sustain the fearful shock much longer. +Hooker, fearing that his center was doomed to destruction, sent to his +right for a brigade, although his right was hard pressed and in danger +of being flanked. + +The fresh brigade pressed steadily to the front, and the rebel line +again fell back to the woods. Mansfield's corps now came to the support +of the right wing, and well did those troops, so lately demoralized at +Bull Run, stand their ground. General Mansfield received here his mortal +wound. + +It was at this time, when Hooker saw his forces gaining a decided +advantage and felt that their part of the work was well done, that a +rifle ball passed through his foot inflicting a painful wound. Lamenting +that he could not remain to see the end of what he hoped would prove a +great victory, he left the field. The battle lulled at this point; but +in the center it raged with terrible energy. There, Sumner the +white-haired veteran, led his corps into the very jaws of death. If he +seemed reckless of the lives of his men, he had no more care of his own. +Across the ploughed ground, over ditches and fences, with unsurpassed +ardor, sweeping over all obstacles, the corps pushed forward, driving +the enemy before it; but the right became hard pressed, and a terrible +fire on that part of the line and on the center, forced the corps back. +Again the ground was taken; and again the enemy, with wild yells of +triumph, drove our men back. Still determined to win, the veteran hero +ordered a third charge; and the third time the field was ours, but only +to be lost again. The brave General Sedgwick, who then led one division +of Sumner's corps, whom we were afterward proud to call the commander of +the Sixth corps, thrice wounded, was at length obliged to leave the +field. Richardson and Crawford were carried wounded to the hospitals. + +It was at this critical moment, when Sumner's troops, weary and almost +out of ammunition, were for the third time repulsed; the remnants of the +shattered regiments no longer able to resist the overwhelming forces +opposed to them; the artillery alone, unsupported, holding the enemy for +a moment in check; that the Sixth corps, our second division in advance, +arrived upon the field. + +The scene before us was awful. On the left, as far as the eye could +reach, the lines of the contending forces, stretching over hills and +through valleys, stood face to face; in places, not more than thirty +yards apart. The roar of musketry rolled along the whole extent of the +battle-field. The field upon which we had now entered, thrice hotly +contested, was strewed with the bodies of friend and foe. + +Without waiting to take breath, each regiment as soon as it arrives on +the field, is ordered to charge independently of the others. The third +brigade is first; and first of its regiments, the Twentieth New York, +with their sabre bayonets, are ready; and the shout, "Forward, double +quick!" rings along the line. The Germans waver for a moment; but +presently with a yell they rush down the hill, suddenly receiving a +volley from a rebel line concealed behind a fence; but the Germans, +regardless of the storm of bullets, rush forward; the rebels breaking +and flying to the rear in confusion, while the Germans hotly pursue +them. Next, on the left of the Twentieth, the gallant Seventh Maine +charges; rushing forward into the midst of the cornfield, they, too, are +met by concealed foes. Although they are concealed from our view, the +crashing of musketry tells us of the struggle which they maintain. + +The gallant regiment makes its way down the slope, almost to the +earthworks of the enemy, when the men throw themselves upon the ground +behind a rail fence. Here, subjected to the shells from the Union and +rebel batteries, the regiment can neither advance or retreat; but our +batteries, finding that their shots are as fatal to our men as to the +rebels, allow the remaining fragments of the regiment to retire from the +perilous position. + +On the right of the Seventh Maine comes the glorious Forty-ninth and our +own Seventy-seventh, Captain Babcock in command. On the right of all is +the old Thirty-third, within supporting distance. The men of the +Seventy-seventh rush forward over their fallen comrades, making toward a +small school house which stands upon the Sharpsburgh and Hagerstown +turnpike, behind which is a grove swarming with rebel troops. Our boys +are almost on the road, when, at a distance of less than thirty yards, +they find themselves confronted by overwhelming numbers, who pour a +withering fire into their ranks. The Seventy-seventh receives the fire +nobly, and, although far ahead of all the other regiments, stands its +ground and returns the fire with spirit, although it is but death to +remain thus in the advance. The brave color-bearer, Joseph Murer, falls, +shot through the head; but the colors scarcely touch the ground when +they are seized and again flaunted in the face of the enemy. Volley +after volley crashes through our ranks; our comrades fall on every side; +yet the little band stands firm as a rock, refusing to yield an inch. At +this juncture, General Smith, riding along the line and discovering the +advanced and unprotected position of the regiment, exclaims, "There's a +regiment gone," and sends an aide to order it to retire. The order was +timely, for the rebels were planting a battery within twenty yards of +the left of the regiment, which would, in a moment longer, have swept it +to destruction. + +The regiment reformed behind the crest, in line with the other regiments +of the brigade, all of which had been forced to fall back; but the line +held was far in advance of that held by Sumner's troops when the +division arrived. Thirty-three of the little band had fallen; they were +less than two hundred men when they came upon the field. In the Seventh +Maine the loss was still greater; of the one hundred and seventy men who +went into the fight, one-half were killed or wounded; more than eighty +of those noble forms were prostrated like the slashings in their own +forests. The Thirty-third lost fifty in killed and wounded. The total +loss to our Third brigade was three hundred and forty-three; of the +Second division, three hundred and seventy-three; of the corps, four +hundred and thirty-eight. + +Our men lay down behind the ridge to protect themselves from the rebel +batteries; yet even here the shells came, carrying death to many of our +number. The Vermont brigade was sent to the assistance of French's +division, who, having expended their ammunition, were making feeble +resistance to the enemy. The Vermonters behaved with their usual +gallantry, resisting the advance of the enemy; and although frequently +subjected to the fire of artillery, they held their ground bravely. The +brigade was composed of men who could always be depended on to do what +they were ordered to do. + +The advent of the Sixth corps upon the field had decided the contest +upon the right of the line, and after the first charge by the Third +brigade the battle lulled. Of all the brilliant charges made in the army +on that memorable day, none was more gallant or more important in its +results than this noble charge of the Third brigade of Smith's division. +Although the infantry on both sides became comparatively quiet, +artillery thundered from every eminence in possession of our own or the +enemy's batteries. Shells and cannister tore through the Union ranks, +making in parts of the line fearful havoc. Thus, for nine long hours, +our Sixth corps endured this fiery ordeal, when darkness closed over the +field of strife. + +Meanwhile, on the left, Burnside became hotly engaged. At nine o'clock +in the morning, his troops moved down toward the stone bridge, over +which they hoped to cross. The hills on either side slope down almost to +the water's edge; the road leading to the bridge winding through a +ravine, and then on the other side ascending through another ravine to +the highlands. No sooner had the head of the column descended into this +amphitheater of hills, than the rebels opened a destructive fire from +behind defenses which they had thrown up along the hillsides. Rifle +pits, and breastworks of rails and stones, concealed thousands of +infantry, who, from their secure position, poured volley after volley +into the advancing column; while batteries, placed upon the heights, +brought an enfilading fire upon the bridge and its approaches. In the +face of this reception, the Ninth corps formed in line of battle. One +brigade with fixed bayonets charged upon the bridge; but the +concentrated fire of the enemy forced it back. Charge after charge was +ordered and executed by different portions of the command with like +success. At length a battery was brought to bear directly upon the +enemy's position at the farthest end of the bridge, and, aided by these +guns, fresh troops charged with great enthusiasm, carrying the bridge +and planting their colors on the opposite side of the stream. Sturgis' +division immediately advanced up the slope, driving the enemy before it. +Meanwhile Rodman's division had succeeded, after a desperate fight, in +crossing the stream below, and had also gained a position along the +crest of the hills. The enemy having the range perfectly, made the +position along the crest of the hills untenable, and the men were forced +to fall back a little; lying close upon the ground to avoid the shells +that burst about them. + +At length, at three o'clock, General Burnside ordered a general advance. +The divisions moved in fine order, but were soon met by the enemy in +overpowering numbers. The whole line became hotly engaged. All the +reserves were brought into action, and still the rebels poured upon the +Union men in increasing numbers; pressing their flank and turning the +attack into a doubtful defense. It seemed impossible for the corps to +hold its position against the overwhelming force opposed to it. At this +juncture General Burnside sent to General McClellan for aid. Porter's +troops were still in reserve; but McClellan refused to relieve the +hardly pressed corps. Again Burnside sends word, "I cannot hold my +position half an hour longer, unless I am reinforced;" and again the +appeal is met with refusal. Contrary to his own expectations, Burnside's +forces held their ground until darkness put an end to the strife. + +Thus our own Sixth corps, and Burnside's corps, held the ground they had +each by most desperate fighting wrested from the hands of the enemy; and +in spite of the peril which had threatened the right, when Hooker's +braves were forced back, the center, where Sumner's brave men fell back +for the third time with empty cartridge boxes, and the left, where +Burnside was so hardly pressed, the advantage remained with our army; +and the weary soldiers lay down in the expectation of renewing the +battle in the morning. + +Their valor had saved them from defeat; they hoped to make the battle +that should come, a complete victory. + +But the battle was ended. Toward morning, it was known to officers of +our corps that the rebels were moving back, and the fact was reported; +but no attention was paid to it. A truce, under pretense of burying the +dead, gave the rebels a quiet day, in which to prepare for their escape, +by sending their trains and much of their artillery to the rear; and on +the night of the 18th, the whole rebel army disappeared. So this +memorable and sanguinary battle ended. A defeat for the rebels, but not +the decided victory to our arms that could have been hoped for. + +The Second division of the Sixth corps was relieved soon after noon of +the 18th by Couch's division, which was soon afterward joined to the +Sixth corps. Until now our corps had consisted of but two divisions, the +First and Second. Our men were glad to fall back enough to allow them to +cook their coffee once more, and they proceeded to the work of preparing +a good meal with great spirit. + +The scene on the battle-field was past description. The mangled forms of +our own comrades lay stretched upon the ground, side by side with those +of the rebels. On almost every rod of ground over one hundred acres, the +dead and wounded, some clad in the Union blue and some in confederate +gray, were lying. A ghastly sight, presenting all the horrible features +of death which are to be seen on such a field. At one point in our own +front, for more than half a mile, the rebels lay so thickly as almost to +touch each other. On the field where Hooker's men had won and lost the +field, the dead and dying were scattered thickly among the broken +cornstalks, their eyes protruding and their faces blackened by the sun. +Wherever the lines of battle had surged to and fro, these vestiges of +the terrible work were left. In the edge of the wood, where the rebels +had made a stand against Hooker's advancing divisions, the bodies lay in +perfect line, as though they had fallen while on dress parade. Further +to the left there was a narrow road, not more than fifteen feet wide, +with high fences on either side. Here a regiment of rebels was posted; +when our batteries getting an enfilading fire upon them, and the +infantry at the same time opening a murderous fire, the regiment was +literally destroyed; not more than twenty of their number escaping. +Their bodies filled the narrow road. Some were shot while attempting to +get over the fence; and their remains hung upon the boards. A more +fearful picture than we saw here, could not be conceived. + +Broken caissons, wheels, dismounted guns, thousands of muskets, +blankets, haversacks and canteens, were scattered thickly over the +field; and hundreds of slain horses, bloated and with feet turned toward +the sky, added to the horror of the scene. + +While the excitement of battle lasts, and we hear the roar of artillery, +and the shock of contending armies, the terrible reality of the occasion +hardly presents itself to our minds, and it is only when we survey the +bloody field, strewed with the mangled, lifeless remains of friend and +foe, or walk through the hospitals, where the unfortunate victims of +battle writhe in the agony of their wounds, that we realize the terrible +nature of a great battle. + +Sickening as is the sight of the battle-field, the scenes about the +hospitals are worse, except to those who are actually engaged in +ministering to the relief of the wounded. To these the excitement and +labor incident to their duties, crowd out the thoughts of the ghastly +surroundings. They see only so many demands upon them for assistance, +and have no time to indulge in sentimental emotions. + +Here in the rear of the army for miles, was a succession of hospitals. +Every house, and barn, and haystack, formed the nucleus of a hospital, +where men, shot through the head, through the limbs, through the body; +with every conceivable variety of wounds, lay groaning in anguish. +Surgeons toiled day and night with never lagging zeal to relieve these +sufferings, but all their labor could only afford slight relief. The +labors of medical officers after a great battle are immense, and there +is no respite from their toils so long as a wounded man remains uncared +for. While others find repose from the fatigues of battle in sleep, the +surgeons are still at work; there is no sleep for them so long as work +remains to be done. + +The rebel army had fallen back; yet a skirmish line had been left to +cover the movement. At length even this suddenly disappeared, and, +firing a few solid shots, as a parting salute, the enemy took a final +leave of the field. Our forces were ordered on. We passed over the scene +of carnage, where hundreds of dead lay still unburied; and pioneers were +on every part of the field throwing the mangled, disfigured forms into +shallow graves. Along the roadsides, under the fences, and where the +confederate hospitals had been, still these gory objects met our view. +We reached Sharpsburgh, and here the evidences of the terrible conflict +were to be seen everywhere. Houses riddled by shells and bullets; some +of them destroyed by fire, and some battered into shapeless masses; the +streets filled with disabled wagons; horses galloping about without +riders; knapsacks, guns and equipments cast away in the hasty flight; +churches filled with rebel wounded; all helped to make up a scene of +destruction such as has been rarely witnessed. The people of the village +welcomed us as their deliverers, and brought water, and such other +refreshments as they had been able to conceal from the rebels. We passed +the village and bivouacked for the night. + +On the 20th, we, of the Sixth corps, retraced our steps, passing again +over the battle-field, where the stench was now unendurable. We reached +Williamsport at daylight, where Couch's division was face to face with +the enemy, who were said to be recrossing the river, and who had last +night forced back part of the division. + +The rebel force had, however, consisted of about four thousand cavalry, +who, finding the Unionists in force, quickly returned to the south side +of the Potomac. Here we found an immense division of Pennsylvania +militia drawn up in line of battle. Its regiments were larger than our +brigades. They were armed with every variety of fire-arms, from light +sporting shot-guns to Sharpe's rifles. Their uniforms had quite as +little uniformity as their arms. Some were dressed in gray pants and +jackets, others in light blue; and still others in the various fashions +which constituted the wearing apparel at home. Grave gentleman in +spectacles, studious young men in green glasses, pale young men who were +evidently more at home behind the counter than in line of battle, roughs +who had not been tamed by the discipline of military life, and boys who, +for the first time, had left the paternal mansion, made up the +heterogeneous division. + +Remaining at Williamsport until the morning of the 23d, we marched on +the Hagerstown turnpike to Bakersville, where we remained about three +weeks. Here it was that Couch's division was joined to the Sixth corps. +(The regiments of this division were, the 36th, 55th, 62d, 65th, 67th +and 122d New York; the 23d, 82d, 93d, 98th and 102d Pennsylvania; the +7th, 10th and 37th Massachusetts, and the 2d Rhode Island.) On the 3d of +October the corps was ordered out for review by President Lincoln. The +line was formed on a fine plain, and the booming of cannon announced the +approach of the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United States. +The illustrious visitor was accompanied by Generals McClellan, Franklin, +Smith and other notable men, with an immense retinue. Conscious of the +fatigues already endured by these veterans, the President simply passed +along the line of the divisions, acknowledging the salutations which +greeted him, without requiring the columns to march in review. The +soldiers manifested their appreciation of the interest taken by the +Chief Magistrate in their welfare, by loud and repeated cheers. +Sumner's, Burnside's and Porter's corps had already been reviewed by the +President. + +While at this camp, large accessions were made to our thinned ranks. +Before the army left Harrison's Landing, efforts had been set on foot +for filling up the skeleton regiments of our army. Recruiting officers +had been detailed from every regiment, to go to the localities from +which their respective regiments had been raised, and bring in recruits, +to fill the places made vacant by death and disease. The critical +condition of affairs when the army was withdrawn from the Peninsula, +and, afterward, when Pope was so disastrously forced back upon the +defenses of Washington, had roused to most earnest action, many +patriots, who hoped to avert further disaster by forwarding men to the +field. Under these influences, and as the result of these patriotic +efforts, many recruits offered themselves; but after the battle of +Antietam, new life was added to the recruiting service. Many who then +supposed that the war was nearly ended, gladly accepted the large +bounties, and in the hope of soon being "in at the death" of the +rebellion, enrolled themselves among the soldiers of the Union. War +meetings were held in every town, and the utmost enthusiasm was created. +In Saratoga, a large concourse of people, among whom were many of the +visitors at the Springs, gathered for a war meeting. Stirring speeches +were made. Ladies offered their diamond rings, their watch chains, their +watches and other valuables to those who should come forward and enter +the service. Under the influence of such enthusiasm, many came forward +and enrolled their names, and received the jewels from the fair hands of +the patriotic donors. By such efforts as these, all over the country, +from two to three hundred recruits were raised for each regiment in our +corps, and large accessions were made to the ranks of the whole army. + +The advent of the new comers was hailed with joy by the veterans, who +had become sadly discouraged by their small and constantly decreasing +numbers. + +Our men were enjoying the welcome rest and the abundant supply of food +obtained in this delightful country, and many varieties of diet, well +remembered as familiar in former years, but unknown to them since their +campaigns commenced, adorned their humble mess tables. Among other +luxuries, "hasty pudding" and johnny cake became common articles of +diet. The process of producing these articles, was after the rude manner +of men who must invent the working materials as they are needed. +One-half of an unserviceable canteen, or a tin plate perforated by means +of a nail or the sharp point of a bayonet, served the purpose of a +grater or mill for grinding the corn. The neighboring cornfields, +although guarded, yielded abundance of rich yellow ears; which, without +passing through the process of "shelling," were rubbed across the +grater, yielding a finer meal than is usually ground at the grist mills. +The meal being obtained, it was mixed with a large or small quantity of +water, as mush or cake was desired, and cooked. + +The men complained of want of proper and sufficient clothing, and many +of them were absolutely barefooted. On whom the blame for the long delay +in furnishing these necessary articles should rest, we can only refer to +the controversy between the Major-General commanding the armies of the +United States and the Major-General commanding the Army of the Potomac. + +Soon after midnight, October 11th, the corps was ordered to move to +Hagerstown. In the midst of a heavy shower the march was made, and +Hagerstown was reached soon after daylight. Here a new cause of +excitement occurred. Stuart, with his cavalry, was in our rear; +Chambersburgh was burned, and other towns sacked. The Vermont brigade +was hastily loaded into cars and sent to Chambersburgh in pursuit of the +cavalry, which was already far on its way to the Potomac. Of course they +could only return, having had an excursion through the country at +government expense. The Third brigade of Smith's division marched +hastily to the Maryland and Pennsylvania line, to where a stone bridge +crossed the Antietam; a battery of artillery was also here, and the +brigades and battery prepared to defend the crossing. But no enemy +appeared, and the two brigades returned to Hagerstown; the Vermonters to +occupy the town as provost guard, the other to encamp in a delightful +grove a mile beyond. + +Thus ended the famous campaign of Antietam; which had humbled the pride +of the boastful confederates, and had turned back their hordes to their +mountain fastnesses in Virginia for safety. A campaign which, while +conducted with great hesitancy and a total want of that celerity of +movement usually considered absolutely necessary to brilliant success in +military operations, yet had preserved the north from imminent and +immediate danger which threatened it. Our losses in killed, wounded and +missing, in this campaign, amounted to fifteen thousand two hundred and +twenty. + +The army was posted, two corps, the Second and Twelfth, at Harper's +Ferry; the remaining corps along the Potomac, above and below that +point, for twenty miles. Here, six weeks were spent in getting ready for +another campaign; the President, meanwhile, constantly ordering an +advance across the river; General McClellan, constantly offering excuses +for delay. It is not our purpose to discuss the merits of these excuses, +but it may not be out of place to mention, that although the Sixth corps +was represented as being in worse condition, in regard to clothing and +shoes, than any other corps, that corps finally crossed the river before +it received its clothing, showing that even the corps least supplied +with these important articles could undertake the campaign even after +another month's wear of the old clothes and the advent of the cold +weather. On the 18th of October, that portion of the Third brigade able +to perform duty, was marched to Clear Spring to perform picket duty, +leaving in camp the recruits, who were unarmed, and the invalids. Thus +the brigade occupied two distinct camps several miles apart. The duty on +picket was by no means severe, and the country was delightful. The boys +found little difficulty in procuring abundant supplies of luxuries, such +as soft bread, hoe cakes and other articles, from the farmers; and as +the enemy was at Winchester, they were not in great alarm from rebel +raids. + +The Hagerstown camp was indeed a pleasant one. The people were generally +loyal, and seemed glad to furnish the soldiers with all the comforts +possible. There was little duty, and the invalids had time for +recovering their exhausted strength, while the recruits were afforded an +opportunity for drill. + +General Slocum, who had commanded the First division of our corps since +the corps was organized, was assigned to the command of the Twelfth +corps, in place of General Mansfield, who lost his life at Antietam. + +In the Vermont brigade an important change occurred, General Brooks, the +old and tried commander of the brigade, was assigned to the command of +the first division of the corps, succeeding General Slocum, who took +command of the Twelfth corps. General Brooks was one of the most +energetic and brave brigade commanders in our army, and notwithstanding +his abrupt and sometimes very stern manners, had endeared himself by his +excellent discipline and fighting qualities, not only to his brigade, +but to the whole division. + +An amusing incident, well calculated to illustrate the mingled +sentiments of love and fear entertained for the general by even those in +his own command, occurred at a meeting of the officers of the brigade, +immediately after the order for the transfer. The object of the meeting, +was to make arrangements for presenting the general with a suitable +testimonial of their regard. Some discussion occurred in regard to the +character of the gift. Some proposed a silver service, some a sword. At +length it was proposed, that a fine horse and equipments be purchased. +An officer rose and said that it was all very well to talk about buying +a horse for General Brooks, but he would like to know who would be so +bold as to undertake to present it to him! Another officer suggested +that the horse might be saddled and bridled and hitched in front of the +general's quarters during the night, with a note tied to the bridle +stating for whom it was designed, and by whom presented. + +A magnificent silver service was finally presented to the general, who, +forgetting his rough manners, received the beautiful gift of his loved +brigade with tears standing on his brown cheeks. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SECOND ADVANCE INTO VIRGINIA, AND THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURGH. + + Marching in Maryland--Arrival at New Baltimore--General + McClellan superseded by General Burnside--Thanksgiving in + camp--The grand divisions organized--The march resumed--Fatal + delays--In order of battle--The crossing--Fredericksburgh + bombarded--Situation of Fredericksburgh--Scenes of activity--The + Bernard house--Scenes at the hospital--The battle on the + right--Charges of the Pennsylvania reserves--The river + recrossed--Reflections. + + +Thus, for nearly six weeks, the army remained at Hagerstown, and on the +line of the Potomac, resting and waiting for clothing. On the 28th of +October, orders came to clear all the camps of sick; and all from our +Sixth corps were sent to hospitals in Hagerstown. At dark, we set out, +and making a night march of a few miles, reached Williamsport, where we +bivouacked and remained two days, and thence went to Boonsboro. + +The march from Williamsport to Boonsboro led us through a magnificent +country. On either side of the road, the long lines of corn shocks and +the vine-clad houses, formed a picture of wealth and comfort. We halted +at Boonsboro in sight of the field of Antietam, and passed our +bi-monthly muster. At daybreak in the morning we were again on the road. +The first part of our way led through a beautiful open country, but we +were soon winding among the hills that form the slopes of "Pleasant +Valley." + +The forests on the hillsides, glowing with the brilliant colors of +autumn, the fine old residences, appearing here and there among the +trees, and the plethoric stacks of hay and grain, combined, indeed, to +make it a "pleasant valley," and, as the lines of troops filed along the +roads, the spectacle was beautifully picturesque. We passed South +Mountain, where the rebels had met with such a bloody reception from our +forces, and not long after we were on the ground of the battle of +Burkettsville, where our Sixth corps had charged up the hill and had +driven the enemy in confusion. Every tree bore lasting marks of a +terrible fight. For more than a mile, the forest was completely scarred +by bullets and shells; not a tree had escaped, and many of them were +pierced like the cover of a pepper-box. We halted near Berlin, in a +charming valley, where we staid over Sunday. Monday morning, we crossed +the Potomac to Virginia, on pontoon bridges, passed through the little +towns of Lovettsville and Purcellville, Union Town and Upperville, then +crossing the valley almost from west to east, from the Blue Ridge to the +Kittoctan mountains, at length, on Thursday, reached White Plains, a +station on the Front Royal and Manassas railroad, not far from +Thoroughfare Gap. Here we were overtaken by a cold storm of rain, sleet +and snow, gloomy enough, but not so gloomy as was the news that here +reached us of the elections in New York. Whatever the attitude of the +political parties may have been before or since that time in reference +to the war, in our army the result of the New York elections was +regarded, at that time, as a repudiation of the war. + +We reached New Baltimore on the 9th, and the next morning we were +notified that, by order of the President, General McClellan was relieved +from the command of the army of the Potomac, to be superseded by +Major-General Burnside. + +No sooner had the farewell order of General McClellan been read to the +troops, than the whole army was ordered into line for review by corps. +The retiring and the incoming generals, each with his long train of +followers, galloped along the whole of the line of the army, while +batteries fired salutes and bands played "The Star Spangled Banner" and +"Hail to the Chief." Many of the regiments cheered the departing general +with great enthusiasm, while others observed a studied silence. + +A week was spent at New Baltimore, and then another week on the banks of +Aquia creek, not far from Stafford Court House. + +The 27th of November was Thanksgiving day, in nearly all the loyal +States, and doubtless our friends at home, as they gathered in many a +family circle that day, to partake bounteous Thanksgiving dinners, spoke +of those who were away at the war, and thought, that with them, +Thanksgiving could only be a hard day's march in the rain or mud, with +rations of hard bread and pork; and so, many kind hearts pitied the +soldiers as they thought that we were deprived of the luxuries which +they were enjoying. + +But we, too, enjoyed a pleasant Thanksgiving. In the morning, throughout +the corps, there was brigade inspection; we put on our good clothes and +presented ourselves to our generals, looking our best; then as we +marched back into the various camps, we found dinner smoking in many a +cook-tent, and the odor of roast meats rising throughout the whole corps +like an odor of sweet incense. Fresh sheep pelts hanging here and there +in considerable profusion, told of good cheer among all the men. + +As evening approached, the voice of singing was heard from all the +camps, and groups were gathered under the shadow of the chestnut trees, +where many pairs of government shoes were shuffling to the music of +violins. Throughout the limits of the corps, good humor and mirth +prevailed; the sick forgot their pains, and the homesick ones, for the +time, looked bright, as they yielded to the general feeling of +happiness. + +General Burnside, immediately upon taking command, consolidated the army +into three grand divisions, of two corps each. The Right, to consist of +the Second corps, General Couch, and the Ninth, General Wilcox; General +Sumner to command the grand division. General Hooker was placed in +command of the Center division, which consisted of the Third corps, +General Stoneman, and the Fifth, General Butterfield. The Left grand +division consisted of the Sixth corps, under General Smith, and the +First corps, under General Reynolds; General Franklin was assigned to +the command. + +The command of the Second division, Sixth corps, was given to +Brigadier-General A. P. Howe. + +At length, we resumed our march, reaching Brooks' Station the first +night; then, after a day's delay, we started again. The weather was +intensely cold, and the mud almost unfathomable. The troops, with much +difficulty, moved about six miles, reaching the rear of Falmouth +Station, opposite Fredericksburgh; but the trains, at midnight, had only +proceeded two miles. In the ambulances, the sick suffered beyond +description. Six soldiers from the Third brigade, Second division, died +in the ambulances that night. Even the well men in camp could hardly +manage to keep warm. Few persons in that vast army slept, and the ring +of hundreds of axes and the falling of trees, which were to be piled on +the fires, were heard all night. + +The Right and Center grand divisions, had arrived in the vicinity of +Falmouth several days before; and it had been the design of General +Burnside to cross his army over the Rappahannock, seize the heights of +Fredericksburgh, and push on toward Richmond, before the enemy could +throw a sufficiently strong force in his front, to offer serious +resistance. In this, doubtless, he would have been successful, but "some +one had blundered," and the Commander-in-Chief suffered the +mortification of seeing his plans foiled, and his series of forced +marches a failure, because the pontoons which were to meet him on his +arrival before Fredericksburgh were still at Washington; and this +through the criminal neglect of some one. This campaign, which promised +more than any previous campaign of the Army of the Potomac, was now +destined to prove a failure. + +From the time that the first troops appeared in front of +Fredericksburgh, nearly three weeks were spent in waiting for pontoons; +while General Lee had abundant time to bring together all his forces and +post them in such positions, as to dispute our passage at any point, for +twenty miles up and down the river. In guarding this extensive front, +General Lee had stretched out his army to such an extent, that Burnside +hoped, by throwing his whole army across at one point, to pierce the +weak line before his enemy could concentrate his forces. + +On the morning of the 11th of December, we marched to a point about two +miles below Fredericksburgh. The whole army was in motion. The ground +had become hardened by frost, and a light coating of snow lay upon it. +The wheels no longer sunk in the mire; but artillery rolled easily over +the frozen ground. + +The Right grand division, Sumner's, had already taken its position +immediately in front and above the city of Fredericksburgh; the Center, +Hooker's, and the Left division, Franklin's, now took position below the +town. + +As we descended from the heights of Stafford, into the valley of the +Rappahannock, dense clouds of fog obscured the view of the opposite +bank, and it was only at noon that we could distinguish objects on the +farther side of the river. Engineers were hard at work laying pontoon +bridges, being submitted to a brisk musketry fire from the rebel +skirmishers, who at times charged upon them, killing and wounding +several of the workmen, and greatly hindering the work. A few volleys +from our batteries, which were brought forward presently, put these +troublesome parties to flight, and the work went on. Still, during all +the day, the enemy strove with artillery and infantry to prevent the +laying of the bridge, but to no avail. + +On the right, where the veteran Sumner commanded, the task of throwing +the bridges across, was far more difficult than at the lower crossing. +In the storehouses and dwellings along the banks of the river, swarms of +rebel soldiers were concealed; and these, by pouring murderous volleys +into the midst of the pontoniers, compelled them to desist from the +attempt to finish their bridge. Determined no longer to be thwarted by +these concealed foes, General Burnside, having previously notified the +civil authorities of the town, that if the houses were used as covers +for men who were shooting our soldiers, the town must suffer the +consequences, ordered our batteries to concentrate their fire upon it +and batter down the walls. Soon after noon, the bombardment commenced. +One hundred and seventy cannon belched forth the huge iron missiles upon +the devoted city. The roar of the artillery was terrific, and as the +winds rolled away the huge columns of smoke, we saw that the city was on +fire, the flames leaping to the skies. The spectacle was one of awful +grandeur. The bursting bombs, shooting forth their flashing coruscations +from the columns of smoke, the great tongues of flame from the burning +buildings, leaping to the heavens, the clamor of the bursting shells and +the shock of the artillery which shook the earth, made up one of the +most terribly magnificent of scenes. + +In the midst of all this direful tumult, and while the conflagration of +the city drove the confederates out of their places of concealment, +Sumner's forces succeeded in laying their bridge and crossing troops; +not, however, until two brave regiments had crossed in boats and +captured or dispersed the rebel sharpshooters, who had given so much +trouble. Hooker also effected a crossing at the same time. We had now +bridges across at three points; "Franklin's Crossing" being nearly two +miles below the town. + +The city of Fredericksburgh is upon the south bank of the Rappahannock +river. Fronting the city, on the north side of the stream, rises a steep +bluff--Stafford Heights--which approaches near the river above and +opposite the town, and gradually recedes from it below. This was the +side held by our army. Behind the town, on the south, the ground rises +in several successive terraces until it reaches an elevation called "the +mountain." Each terrace commands all below it, and the whole forms a +position of unsurpassed advantages for defense. Here, between these high +grounds, and stretching on either side of the river, is the valley of +the Rappahannock--almost a level plain of six miles in length, and +averaging two and a half miles in breadth, narrowing in front of the +town to less than a mile, and spreading out, at the point where our +lower bridges were thrown across, to at least three miles. On the crest +of the heights, north of the river, were posted our batteries in great +numbers. On the plain and on each of the terraces south of the river, +the enemy was intrenched in most formidable positions. + +The advance of the enemy fell back, as our forces crossed the river, +leaving us in possession of the plain on both sides, and of the town. +Night came on, and the spectacle was unutterably grand, as the sheets of +fire burst from the mouths of the opposing batteries; but at length the +roar of battle subsided, and except the firing of pickets, all was +quiet. Franklin threw but a small force across the river; a strong +picket line, well supported, holding a semi-circular tract of the plain. +The Eighteenth and Thirty-first New York were the first of the Sixth +corps to cross the bridge. + +The Sixth corps returned to the heights and bivouacked for the night, +leaving a few regiments to hold the plain in front of the bridge. It was +the intention of the commanding general to press the enemy closely in +front with the Right and Center grand divisions, while the Left division +was to make a flank movement on the right of the enemy's line, seizing +the road to Bowling Green, and rendering the rebel position untenable. + +Before dawn on the following morning, we made our way again to the +river. Thousands crowded upon the banks, or hurriedly dashed across the +bridge. The rumble of wheels upon the frozen ground, the tramp of +thousands of men, the neighing of innumerable horses, mingled with the +roar of musketry. The sun rose in splendor, and the spires of the city, +two miles to our right, shone brightly, for only the lower part of the +town had been destroyed by the conflagration of the day before, and tens +of thousands of muskets gleamed in the morning light. The broad plain, +on the south bank, swarmed with the hosts of Franklin and Hooker. +Musketry fire became more and more brisk, as our forces moved into +position, but no general engagement came on. Shells from the rebel +batteries came bursting in our midst, and in reply, our own guns on +Stafford Heights sent their shells screaming over our heads, to burst in +the midst of the rebel artillerists. + +A fine stone mansion of large dimensions, situated on the south bank of +the river, and a little below the bridge, was taken by the surgeons of +our Second division, for a hospital. The position was exposed to the +rebel fire, but it was the best that could be found. Just in front of it +the gallant General Bayard, of the cavalry, was struck by a shell, and +killed instantly. Others, some of whom had been previously been wounded, +received fatal shots at the very doors of the house. The owner of this +magnificent mansion still remained in it. He was an old secesh bachelor, +very aristocratic in his notions, and highly incensed at the use his +house was put to by the "hireling Yankees." But he was taken care of by +a guard. His servants cooked for the wounded and our surgeons; his fine +larder furnished us delicacies and his cellar rich old wines. + +Doubtless his feelings on delivering to us the keys of his wine cellar +were not unlike those of Sir Hugh Berkley in "The Wagoner;" who + + "--only knew they drank his wine; + Would they might hang, a scarecrow line, + On the next lightning blasted tree." + +Saturday, the sun appeared, bright and warm as on a spring morning. The +battle now commenced in terrible earnest. First, on the left, the +booming of heavy guns and the rattle of musketry told of hot work in our +own front. Then gradually the battle rolled on to the right; and while +it thundered there, our forces on the left remained comparatively quiet. +Then, back again came the roar of cannon, the shrieking and cracking of +shells and the din of musketry. + +The hills in our front were thickly wooded, and in these woods +"Stonewall" Jackson had concealed his forces. General Meade, with his +division of Pennsylvania reserves, and Gibbons, with his division, both +of Reynolds' First corps, were sent to take and hold the Bowling Green +road, which lay in the edge of the wood. Gallantly and in splendid +order, the two divisions moved up toward the edge of the wood. Gibbons' +division halted at the railroad, near the wood, Meade's pressed forward, +and presently disappeared among the trees. Although considerable +resistance was met with, the gallant division continued to press +forward, the rebels steadily giving way. Suddenly, the roar of cannon +became awful, and the fire of musketry almost deafening. The rebels had +opened an enfilading fire upon the division, which made fearful havoc. +The men who had so gallantly marched into the woods, came hurrying back +in disorder; not, however, until they had succeeded in capturing several +hundred prisoners from the enemy. A flag, one or two mounted officers, +and a squad of a dozen or twenty men were all that could be recognized +as a regimental organization; all others had fallen before the deadly +fire that met them, or had lost their commands. The men quickly rallied +about their flags and again charged into the woods, and again they were +sent back in disorder. They were now withdrawn, and the rebels charged +upon the line of the Sixth corps. The troops of our Second division were +lying down behind a slight elevation of ground, and, as the rebels +charged down furiously upon us, our men suddenly rose and poured a +deadly volley into them. At the same time the troops of the First +division met their attack with spirit, and sent them reeling back to +their cover in the forest. + +The wounded poured into our hospitals, and well did those surgeons, who +had seized the stone mansion, earn that day, lasting gratitude from +their division. + +Never had wounded men been so quickly or so well cared for. It was the +beginning of an era of _organized_ labor in that department. Among the +earliest of the wounded was General Vinton, commanding the Third +brigade, Second division. A ball had passed into the abdomen, and was +cut out from his back. The unfortunate men were stowed in every part of +the great house, and in the smaller buildings surrounding it, and tents +furnished shelter for those unable to find room in the buildings. After +General Vinton was wounded, Brigadier-General Thomas H. Neill was +ordered to assume the command of our brigade, which he did on the +battle-field. + +Meanwhile, on the right, Sumner's and Hooker's forces were striving, +with herculean efforts, to dislodge the enemy from his strongholds, but +to no avail. His position was impregnable, and the Union forces only +advanced against the works to meet with deadly repulse from the savage +fire of the concealed foe, and to fall back with fearful losses. Thus +the struggle lasted until evening, when the roar of battle was hushed, +and our tired troops slumbered upon their arms. + +On Sunday morning the rattle of musketry and the thunder of artillery +commenced again, but, as little reply was made by the enemy, the +demonstration on our part soon ceased, and the day was spent in +comparative quiet. It was said that General Burnside, unwilling to give +up the struggle, had ordered an advance of the Ninth corps, which he was +personally to lead, against one of the rebel strongholds, but that he +had yielded to the advice of the grand division commanders to refrain +from the attempt. + +Monday still found us on the battle-field. The thumping of artillery was +renewed, but not fiercely. Our wounded were removed to the other side of +the river. A kind providence had favored them, for the weather had been +delightful. Had such weather prevailed as we experienced a few days +before, many of the wounded, faint and exhausted from the loss of blood, +must have perished with the cold. During the night the whole army was +withdrawn, with as much secrecy as possible, across the pontoon bridges. +No sooner had the troops crossed to the north side of the river than the +bridges were taken up, and the two armies were again separated by the +Rappahannock. As the bridges were being taken up, the rebels rushed to +the bank and fired into the pontoniers, but were repelled by the men of +the Seventy-seventh New York. That regiment formed a picket line along +the bank of the river, but were ordered not to fire unless the enemy +did. "A pretty order," said Terry Gray, of Company B, "to wait till a +man is killed before he can fire his gun!" The army went into camp on a +line from Falmouth to Belle Plain; the Sixth corps occupying nearly the +center of the line, at a place called White Oak Church, from a little +whitewashed meeting house, without bell or steeple, in the midst of a +clump of white oak trees. + +The attempt to capture the heights of Fredericksburgh by a direct +assault was indeed a daring undertaking, and one involving a fearful +risk. The only hope of success lay in the active and hearty cooeperation +of all the commands of the army. Such cooeperation was not to be had. To +the Left grand division was assigned an important work which it failed +to accomplish; not because it was defeated in the attempt, but because +the attempt was not made in earnest. The troops were brave and eager to +meet the enemy. None were ever more brave or more desirous to test their +valor. The heroic deeds of those who did advance against the enemy will +ever redound to the glory of our arms; and had all the forces of the +Left grand division been brought fairly into action, the result might +have been different. Surely such troops as composed the grand old Sixth +corps were fitted for a nobler work than standing upon an open plain, +exposed to fierce artillery fire, without ever being allowed to turn +upon the enemy. Our defeat had cost us more than twelve thousand men, in +killed, wounded and missing. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH. + + Camp at White Oak Church--"The mud march"--Return to + camp--General Neill--General Hooker supersedes General + Burnside--Burnside's magnanimity--General Hooker as a + soldier--Reconstruction--The cavalry organized--Business + departments renovated--The medical department--Ambulance + system--Quartermasters' and commissary departments--Life in + camp--Snowball battles--In the Seventy-seventh--The Light + division--Review by General Hooker--General John Sedgwick--Scene + at head-quarters--Review of the army by the President--Preparing + for the campaign. + + +The men built huts, and made themselves as comfortable as they could, in +their camp at White Oak Church, but disease spread rapidly, especially +among the recruits. The regiments were crowded closely together on +ground too low and wet for good camping ground, and the men, having +never before erected winter quarters from shelter tents, were not so +expert as they became in the succeeding winters; so they suffered from +inconvenient quarters, as well as from the low ground and crowded camps. + +[Illustration: White Oak Church] + +Our army was now composed in large part, of the recruits sent from the +north during the preceding summer and autumn, and thousands of these had +never had any idea of fighting or of suffering the privations of army +life. They had enlisted for the large bounties which were paid at that +time, with the determination to leave the service as soon as their +bounties were paid, and a favorable opportunity offered itself for +escape. Desertions became alarmingly frequent; indeed, when a few weeks +later General Hooker assumed command, there were more than eighty-four +thousand absentees, with and without authority. The great number of +desertions, we think, should be attributed to the fact that so large a +proportion of the new recruits had enlisted for money, rather than to +the demoralization of the army. + +Notwithstanding the inconveniences to which the men were subjected, and +the advance to midwinter, the weather was in our favor. The sun shone +brightly, the days were warm and the roads dry. It became evident that +General Burnside was determined not to allow the delightful weather and +the excellent roads to pass unimproved. Indications of a general +movement crowded upon us, and on the 20th of January came the order to +march. + +The whole army broke camp and moved toward Banks' Ford, two miles up the +river from White Oak Church. On the march, an order from the commanding +general was read to the troops, announcing to them that the auspicious +moment had at length arrived when we were to reap the glorious fruits of +our long toils. At five o'clock we halted in the thick woods at Banks' +Ford, the point selected for crossing the river, and in a few minutes +were quietly and comfortably bivouacked out of sight of rebels on the +opposite side. Scarcely had we settled ourselves for a comfortable +night's rest, when the clouds, which had been gathering since morning, +broke in rain, and the delightful Indian summer gave way to the rainy +winter of the south. All night long the rain poured, and all the next +day. It was evident we had waited too long. But the commander was +determined not to abandon his effort to outflank the enemy. By morning, +the roads were so softened by the rain, that horses could not haul +artillery or pontoons into position. Men took the place of horses. The +whole Vermont brigade was detailed to drag the pontoons and guns to the +river. All day long, working and tugging with the mud above their knees; +here a hundred men pulling at a pontoon boat, there a party prying a +cannon out of the mire with long levers, and still other parties laying +strips of corduroy road. The Vermonters passed a disagreeable day. + +General Burnside was not idle all this while. Riding from one point to +another, now personally superintending the placing of a battery in +position on the bank of the river, now encouraging the men who lugged at +the boats and guns, and now selecting places to cut new roads, he passed +the night and the day in fatiguing and anxious labor. As he rode through +the camp of our division in the afternoon, with only two staff officers, +himself and his horse completely covered with mud, the rim of his hat +turned down to shed the rain, his face careworn with this unexpected +disarrangement of his plans, we could but think that the soldier on +foot, arm oppressed with the weight of knapsack, haversack and gun, bore +an easy load compared with that of the commander of the army, who now +saw departing his hopes of redeeming the prestige he had lost at +Fredericksburgh. + +Men were detailed from each of the regiments of the corps to return to +Falmouth, a distance of five miles, to bring on their backs two days' +rations; those brought by the men being nearly exhausted. But during the +night it was determined to abandon the attempt to cross the river. The +enemy, by this time fully aware of our intention, was prepared for us, +and a crossing could only be made at great sacrifice, perhaps with +defeat. So at sunrise in the morning we were on the road back to our old +camp; this time for permanent winter quarters. All along the road lay a +multitude of dead horses and mules, which had fallen in the tremendous +but unavailing efforts of the day before. Artillery and wagons still +stuck fast in the mud, and cannoniers and teamsters lifted and tugged +with rails and with poles to raise the piece or the wagon from the mire. + +The mud was deep, the day was gloomy and the men were discouraged. They +straggled badly. Regiments were not to be distinguished. The whole +column became an unorganized crowd, pressing toward the old camps. Tired +and discouraged as were the men, they kept up their lively sallies and +jokes, as though all was smooth work. Toward evening the troops of our +corps arrived on their old ground, now to be our home until the opening +of spring, and at once fell to work to restore to some degree of comfort +that most desolate of scenes, an abandoned camp. Unfortunately, on +leaving the place, little thinking that they were so soon to return, +they had burned everything combustible, and thus a strip of board or a +piece of timber could hardly be found within the limits of the corps. +Nevertheless, comfortable quarters were soon erected, and the routine of +drills and picket was resumed. + +Brigadier-General Neill, who was assigned to the command of the Third +brigade, was active in encouraging his men to provide good quarters, and +in furnishing every facility in his power to make them comfortable. The +general was a portly gentleman, with light red hair and whiskers, and a +small blue eye, ceremonious in his style, and a perfect pattern of +courtliness. He had, at West Point, won the appellation of "Beau Neill," +a title which never left him. He was a good commander in camp. He +originated the brigade dress parade that winter, often calling out the +brigade on fine evenings, and substituting the brigade for the +regimental parade. The custom was at length adopted in many brigades in +the army of the Potomac; but few gave credit for the improved parade to +the originator of it. + +The second failure of General Burnside rendered his removal from the +command of the army a thing to be expected; and no one was surprised +when the order came relieving him, and assigning General Hooker to the +command. It must be confessed that our failure at Bank's Ford had done +much to demoralize the army and destroy the confidence in the commanding +general so absolutely necessary to success. On our way back from Bank's +Ford, as we passed Fredericksburgh, we saw huge placards posted up by +the rebels with taunting inscriptions, such as "Burnside stuck in the +mud," printed in conspicuous letters. The men caught up the words, and +"Burnside stuck in the mud" passed from one end of the disordered column +to the other. When we had failed at Fredericksburgh, the men were as +willing as ever to try again under the same commander. They believed him +to be at least earnest and brave. They knew that he was noble and +self-sacrificing. In the noble letter to General Halleck, in which he +assumed all the responsibility for the failure at Fredericksburgh, they +found renewed assurance that he had all the qualities of a true +soldier--bravery, integrity and true manhood; but an army must have +success, or it cannot long repose confidence in the general. So, while +the Army of the Potomac regarded General Burnside with great respect, it +gladly welcomed the advent of "Fighting Joe Hooker" to the command. + +General Hooker had fairly won the title of "Fighting Joe" at the +slaughter of Williamsburgh, where, almost single-handed with his +division, he had stemmed the tide of battle for hours, until reinforced +by Kearney, and then, with the help of that hero, had held the whole +rebel army until it was outflanked by our Second division. + +In all the battles of the Peninsula he had been conspicuous, and at +South Mountain and Antietam his fighting propensities were exhibited in +more than their wonted splendor. In person he was of large stature, with +fine features, brilliant eye, his side whiskers and ruddy countenance +giving a more youthful appearance than his light gray hair would +indicate. His gleaming eye told of the spirit which animated the man, +and his determined air betokened the persistent and fearless soldier. In +battle or on review he rode a magnificent milk white steed, a powerful +animal and of extraordinary fleetness. Mounted on this superb war horse, +he was the most conspicuous, as he was always one of the handsomest men +in the army. + +The energy of the new commander soon began to be manifested in the +reconstruction and reorganization of the whole army. The first step in +the progress of reconstruction, was the revocation of the order making +three grand divisions of the army. By the abolition of the grand +divisions, Generals Sumner and Franklin were relieved from their +commands; and the corps commanders, no longer subject to intermediate +commanders, were again directly responsible to the general-in-chief of +the army. Doubtless General Hooker had seen that the creation of these +grand divisions had much to do with the failures of General Burnside. + +The cavalry next engaged the attention of the general. The whole force +was thoroughly reorganized and put in an efficient condition, under +command of Major-General Stoneman. Hereafter, men were not to ask, "Who +ever saw a dead cavalryman?" To General Hooker, the cavalry of the Army +of the Potomac owes its efficiency and the glorious record it from that +time made for itself. + +The superiority of the rebel cavalry, in the early part of the war, was +generally attributed to the supposed fact that the young men of the +south were so much better horsemen than those of the north. In reality, +this had little, if anything, to do with it. It is even very doubtful if +there was any difference in favor of the superior horsemanship of the +southern cavalry. Their strength lay in their union. The rebel cavalry +was organized from the beginning; ours was an incoherent mass of men, +having no proper relations or dependencies within itself. From the day +that it became organized, the superiority of the rebel cavalry passed +away forever. We had always better horses, and our men were certainly +never inferior to the rebels. All that was needed was the proper +combination of action; and, as soon as this was secured, our cavalry +became the finest in the world. + +The business departments were also thoroughly renovated. The changes in +the medical, quartermasters' and commissary departments were such as to +bring each to a standard of perfection, which had never before been +reached by those departments of any army in the field. No army had ever +been provisioned as was ours that winter. Soft bread, potatoes, beets, +carrots, onions, fresh beef, flour, sugar and coffee, constituted the +regular rations of the men, and facilities were afforded for procuring +luxuries not in the regular supply. + +The medical department became so thoroughly systematized, that wounded +and sick men were cared for better than they had ever been in an army +before. This radical change had commenced under General Burnside; but +was perfected under General Hooker, by the efficient and earnest medical +director of the army, Dr. Letterman; to whom belongs the honor of +bringing about this most desirable change. + +By the new system, the surgeons were enabled to accomplish a far greater +amount of work, and in much better order than under the old; and the +wounded were better and more quickly cared for. By this system the +hospital of the division was the unit. From the division, a medical +officer of good executive ability was selected, to whom was assigned the +general oversight of the hospital. One or more surgeons of well known +skill and experience were detailed from the medical force of the +division, who were known as "operating surgeons;" to each of whom was +assigned three assistants, also known to be skillful men, who were +either surgeons or assistant surgeons. To the operating surgeons all +cases requiring surgical operations were brought, and thus the wounded +men had the benefit of the very best talent and experience in the +division, in the decision of the question whether he should be submitted +to the use of the knife, and in the performance of the operation in case +one was required. It was a mistaken impression among those at home, that +each medical officer was the operating surgeon for his own men. Only +about one in fifteen of the medical officers was intrusted with +operations. + +From each brigade an assistant surgeon was detailed to provide food and +shelter for the wounded. His duty was to superintend the erection of +hospital tents as soon as there was a prospect of an engagement, and to +have hot coffee and rations of food ready for the wounded as soon as +they came to the hospital; he was to attend to their clothing, bedding +and rations as long as they remained in the hospital. + +Another assistant surgeon from each brigade was selected to keep the +records; to take the name and character of wound of every one who was +brought to the hospital, with the operation, if any; and the list of +deaths, the place of burial, and all other matters necessary to record. +An assistant surgeon was to remain with each regiment, and attend to +getting the wounded from the field into the ambulances, and to arrest +hemorrhage in case of necessity. + +Thus, all labor was systematized. Every officer and nurse knew exactly +what to do: each had his own part of the work assigned to him, and there +was no conflicting of orders or clashing of opinions. + +Our ambulance system was also very perfect--so complete, indeed, that, +after a year of trial in the Army of the Potomac, congress adopted it as +the ambulance system of the United States. To Doctor Letterman, also, +belongs the honor of originating this system. + +The ambulances of each corps were under command of a captain, who acted +under directions from the medical director of the corps. A lieutenant +commanded the ambulances of a division, and a second lieutenant those of +a brigade. To each ambulance was assigned a driver, and two +stretcher-bearers; and to three ambulances a sergeant, mounted. The +ambulances of a division always went together, behind the division, and +on the march were attended by a surgeon, an assistant surgeon, a +hospital steward, a cook, and three or more nurses, who were to attend +to the wants of the sick in the ambulances, and at night, if any were +unable to return to their regiments, to erect tents for them, and supply +them with food and bedding. In an engagement, the stretcher-bearers of +each regiment, with the sergeant, reported to the assistant surgeon in +attendance with the regiment. As soon as a man was wounded, he was +brought to the medical officer, put into an ambulance, and taken to the +division hospital. By this means, ordinarily, every man was carried to +the hospital of his own division. + +The improvements in the quartermasters' department were nearly as great; +and we have already alluded to the abundant supplies furnished by the +commissary department. + +Great difficulty was experienced by the troops of our corps in getting +wood. The men of our Second division lugged wood on their backs a mile +and a half, with which to do their cooking and warm their tents. But +notwithstanding the hardships they endured, the inclemency of the +winter, and their severe picket duty, the men were gay. In many of the +regiments, the sounds of the guitar and accordion could be heard every +evening; and on pleasant afternoons and evenings, parties assembled in +the company streets and danced cotillions, and polkas, and jigs, to the +music of violins. When snow covered the ground, mimic battles with +snowballs were a frequent amusement. At times, one regiment would +challenge another, and a general melee would follow. Snowballing was, +particularly, a favorite amusement with our friends of the Twenty-first +New Jersey, who never let an opportunity pass for indulging in their +favorite sport. Each party carried its flags and was led by officers +chosen for the occasion. The capture of a flag, or of a number of +prisoners, from an opposite party, caused great glee among the victors. +A good deal of interest was excited throughout the Second division by a +snowball battle between one of the Vermont regiments and the +Twenty-sixth New Jersey. Both regiments formed in line of battle, each +officered by its line and field officers, the latter mounted. At the +signal, the battle commenced; charges and counter-charges were made, +prisoners were taken on either side, the air was filled with the white +missiles, and stentorian cheers went up as one or other party gained an +advantage. At length victory rested with the Vermonters, and the Jersey +boys surrendered the field, defeated. + +Another favorite amusement in the corps was the game of base ball. There +were many excellent players in the different regiments, and it was +common for the ball-players of one regiment or brigade to challenge +another regiment or brigade. These matches were watched by great crowds +of soldiers with intense interest. + +In our Seventy-seventh regiment, matters went on much the same as in +other regiments of the corps. We had our share of disease and +desertions. We had our ball-players and our violinists; our singers and +our story-tellers, as every regiment had. At regimental head-quarters, +matters went on gaily. It was the custom of the officers of the field +and staff to collect in one of the tents as evening came on, and, in +company with friends from other regiments, pass the hours in lively +converse, in singing and relating amusing stories. + +We had a glee book and an old copy of the "Carmina Sacra," and then our +friend, Colonel, now Major-General, Connor, was never at a loss for a +song, and Colonel French often displayed his genius with the violin, and +our friend, the chaplain, could always tell a good story or perpetrate a +joke. Chaplain Norman Fox was an accession to our staff, who joined us +when we first encamped at White Oak Church. He was a gentleman of +enterprise and talent, who, soon after his arrival in camp, instituted a +series of religious meetings on week days, in addition to the regular +services of the Sabbath, and a good deal of religious interest was +awakened among the men. + +Among other changes, we lost one of our most valuable and beloved +officers. Dr. Campbell, who had for weeks been declining in health, was +obliged to resign. The doctor was a most genial and companionable man, +and an excellent officer. We greatly missed his hearty laugh, his fund +of stories and ready wit in our social gatherings. The doctor was +afterward appointed surgeon of the Fortieth New York, but was attacked +with spotted fever, from which he recovered only after a long illness, +during which he again resigned. + +The First brigade, Second division, which for some time past had been +under command of General Calvin A. Pratt, was broken up, and a new +brigade, called the "Light division," was formed from the regiments of +the First brigade, and one regiment from each the First and Third +divisions. The regiments were, the Fifth Wisconsin, the Sixth Maine, the +Thirty-first and Forty-third New York, and the Sixty-first Pennsylvania. +Colonel Burnham, of the Sixth Maine, was placed in command. + +Among other reviews in the Sixth corps during the winter, was one by +General Hooker, of our Second division and the Light division. The +troops were formed in line, and the general and staff were escorted to +the ground by the Twentieth New York, of Neill's brigade, in splendid +style. The regiment was composed entirely of German Turners. Their drill +surpassed that of any regiment of regulars, and the exquisite neatness +they displayed in their dress and in the care of their equipments, +together with the perfection of their movements, made them the finest +appearing regiment in the service, when on parade. It is to be regretted +that the prestige of the regiment was not always sustained on the +battle-field. As the regiment and cavalcade appeared on the field, it +was a brilliant pageant; first came our brigade band, one of the finest +in the army, then the pioneers of the Twentieth, their axes, shovels and +picks polished so that they glistened in the sunlight like burnished +silver; then the Twentieth regiment, in column by company, marching with +step as perfect as though all were directed by a single will; following +the regiment, rode General Hooker on his superb white horse, a head and +shoulders above all his cavalcade. The immense suite, consisting of +General Hooker's own staff, and a large number of major-generals and +their staffs, completed the brilliant column. The division was drawn up +in a line, stretching a half a mile across the field, straight as the +flight of an arrow, with artillery on either flank. The general and his +brilliant retinue, rode to the right of the line, and advanced slowly +along the front of the whole division, inspecting closely each regiment +as he passed, the bands playing "Hail to the Chief," the colors dipping, +and the bugles pealing notes of welcome. Having passed the entire front +of the line, the chief now rode at a rapid pace along its rear to the +point of beginning. He then, with his attendants, took a position on a +slight elevation of ground at a distance from the line, when the whole +division, in column, marching to the place, passed in review before him, +and the pageant was ended. + +An important change in the command of our corps occurred about this +time. General Smith, who had so long commanded our division, and for +some time past our Sixth corps, was relieved of his command, and ordered +to the department of North Carolina. His successor was General John +Sedgwick, then well known as one of our best division commanders, and +one of the sternest soldiers in the Army of the Potomac. Bred as a +soldier, he had served with great distinction in Mexico, and at the +breaking out of the rebellion he had joined the Union army, and was soon +placed in command of a division in Sumner's corps, which, under his +command, became the best division of the corps, as the Sixth corps +became the best in the army. Modest and retiring in his ordinary +intercourse with his fellows, he exhibited the most brilliant qualities +in time of battle. The dignity of his bearing fitted him to command, and +he needed not the insignia of rank to command the deference of those +about him. + +None who witnessed the farewell reception of General Smith, will forget +the scene at corps head-quarters. The two generals, the old and loved +leader of the Second division and of the corps, and the new commander, +stood side by side. General Smith, tall, well dressed, his regulation +coat buttoned closely about him, his easy and graceful manner and +conversation; General Sedgwick, of stouter build, wearing a loose blouse +and coarse blue pants, such as are furnished the private soldier, strong +and manly in his appearance, and somewhat abrupt in his manner. Officers +returned to their camps satisfied that although the corps had lost a +favorite commander, it had also gained a brave leader. + +One of the grand events of the winter was the review of the whole army +by President Lincoln. The review continued two days. The first was +occupied in reviewing the Second, Fifth, Sixth and Third corps; the +second of the remaining corps. It was a most imposing spectacle, never +to be forgotten by those who were actors or spectators. The President, +in his civilian's dress and tall hat, accompanied by General Hooker, and +followed by an immense suite, was welcomed by the thundering of +artillery as it fired the national salute. The different corps were +drawn up in line, each occupying a plain within sight of the others. +Riding in front of the corps, the President and the immense cavalcade +passed along the whole line, inspecting carefully each regiment, then +returned in the rear. This inspection over, the President and staff +stationed themselves in some favorable position, and the whole corps +passed in review before him. The same process was repeated with each +corps. + +How one unaccustomed to such physical fatigues could endure such labor, +commencing early in the morning and only resting at dark, was a wonder. +It seemed as if the President's physical, like his mental constitution, +could bear up under the most trying and continued labors. As the warm +weather of spring appeared, the men adorned their camps with evergreen +trees and beautiful arches, so that the camps presented a pleasant +appearance; but we had little time to enjoy these, for as soon as the +roads began to be passable, preparations were pushed forward for the +spring campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. + + Orders to move--The river crossed--Sedgwick's command--The First + corps withdrawn--Gallant conduct of the Light + division--Advancing to the heights--The line of battle--The + columns of attack--Attack of Howe's columns--Of Newton's + column--Of Burnham's--Misfortune following victory--Fight of + Bartlett's brigade--The First division at work--A critical + position--The Sixth corps surrounded--Savage fight of Neill's + brigade--The corps withdraws to Banks' Ford--Recrosses the + river--Hooker's operations on the right--Position of the + corps--Rout of the Eleventh corps--The rebels repulsed--Jackson + renews the attack--The rebels again repulsed--Hooker recrosses + the river. + + +On Tuesday, the 28th of April, the Sixth corps received orders to break +up its camp and be ready to march at a moment's notice. Eight days' +rations had been issued to the men, who were in the highest spirits, +having forgotten all their former discouragements, and were now only +anxious for an encounter with the enemy. A storm of rain of some +violence set in on the morning of the 28th, which rendered marching +difficult. At twelve o'clock we received the order to "fall in," and in +five minutes we were on our way to take our place in the line of battle. +A march of six miles through thickets and bogs, brought us to the rear +of Falmouth Station, at a short distance from the river. Here we +bivouacked for the night, and were awakened before daylight in the +morning by the sound of artillery and musketry at the river, where +Russell's brigade, of the First division, was forcing a passage across +the stream. The Second division only had been allowed to rest quietly +during the night. The men of the Light brigade had toiled from dark +until nearly dawn, carrying the pontoon boats on their shoulders to the +river side, and launching them in the stream. So noiselessly had they +conducted their operations, that the pickets of the enemy took no alarm +until they suddenly saw the braves of Russell's brigade approaching in +the boats, just as dawn was breaking. The astonished confederates fired +a few volleys of musketry, and our guns threw among them a few charges +of cannister, and the rebels fled precipitately. A number of prisoners +were captured, among them the officer of the picket-guard. Colonel +Irwin, of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, who had, at Antietam, commanded +the Third brigade of the Second division, was among the wounded on our +side. + +At sunrise the Second division filed down to the river side, and took +position in line of battle. Our horses cropped the green blades which +had sprung from the grain scattered for their food nearly five months +before. The division was upon the very spot where it lay before, at the +first battle of Fredericksburgh. The bridge also was in the same place +that Franklin's bridge had been. The point was known as Franklin's +Crossing. + +The First division of our corps (Brook's) was on the other side of the +river, holding the plain for some distance. The pickets of that division +formed the half of a circle of about three-fourths of a mile in +diameter, the center being at the pontoon bridge, where some earthworks +were thrown up. At our left, about a mile down the river, the First +corps had also effected a crossing. The rebels had offered strong +resistance, but the crossing was gallantly accomplished by Wadsworth's +division in boats. Like the First division of our own corps, Wadsworth's +division was holding a semi-circular portion of the plateau; but being +able to maintain the position by some fighting. + +Sickles' Third corps was upon the high ground in the rear, ready to come +to the assistance of the corps at the river. The three corps, First, +Third and Sixth, were under command of General Sedgwick. + +The rebels spent the day in throwing up intrenchments and shelling +Reynolds' position. Toward night the artillery practice ceased, and the +First and Sixth corps bivouacked where they had stood during the day, +but Sickles and his corps were ordered to the assistance of Hooker, on +the right. + +The morning of the 30th was lowery, but the clouds dispersed as the day +advanced. About noon the troops were massed by brigades, and a +congratulatory order from General Hooker was read to them, amid great +cheering. "The enemy," said the order, "must now come out and fight us +on our ground, or retreat ingloriously." Nothing more of interest +occurred that day; but, in the afternoon of the following day, the First +corps became engaged in a fierce artillery duel with the enemy, in which +the corps lost a large number of its men in killed and wounded. At +sunset an order came from General Hooker, at Chancellorsville, for +General Sedgwick to assume a threatening attitude--to make a severe +demonstration--but to make no attack. There was much marching and +getting into position, and regiments and divisions were marched and +countermarched in such a manner as to convey to the rebels the +impression that a grand attack was to be made at that point. The enemy +was evidently deceived by these maneuvers, and heavy columns of rebel +infantry commenced to form upon the old battle-field. While we stood in +line of battle, one of our bands near the skirmish line struck up the +air, "Dixie." The rebels, hearing the strains, set up defiant cheers, +which were answered by our army in the most tremendous shouts +imaginable. The contest seemed for the time to depend on strength of +lung, and our boys certainly beat them at shouting. + +As the sun disappeared behind the hills, when Hooker's guns were +thundering, we retired to our tents. All day long the earth had been +shaken by tremendous firing of artillery on the right; and now, as +darkness gathered over the scenes of conflict, the thundering of the +guns and the trembling of the earth seemed like a succession of +earthquakes. The spirit of our boys rose, as the battle on the right +progressed, and there seemed to be indications of work for them. Groups +might be seen at any time, when we were not standing in line of battle, +telling yarns, singing songs, playing ball and pitching quoits, while +they momentarily looked for the order to advance upon the heights, into +the very jaws of death. + +Saturday morning, May 2d, the First corps was withdrawn from its +position; its bridges were taken up, and the corps moved past us up the +river to join the main body of the army under Hooker, on the right. The +Seventy-seventh was sent to do picket duty on the ground occupied by the +First corps the night before. Our reserve was posted a little way from +the river, in a pleasant field, where the fresh clover furnished a soft +bed for the men, and a dainty bite for our horses. Just in front of us +was a lovely spot--the residence of Doctor Morson, for fifteen years a +surgeon in the United States navy. The place was in remarkable order; +the gardens in full bloom, the mocking birds building their nests, and +the greenlets warbling sweetly among the flowering shrubs. + +We strolled along the banks of the beautiful river, gathering flowers +and glancing at our "secesh" neighbors on the opposite bank, only a few +yards distant; or we lounged in the shade of our tents, enjoying the +charms of a lovely May day, while the terrible din of battle on the +right, where Hooker's forces were contending, shook the ground beneath +us, and we knew that ere the sun set, thousands of our brave comrades +must be sacrificed. + +As the evening drew near, we who were on the north side of the river saw +our skirmishers, of the "Light division", drive back the skirmish line +of the enemy. It was a gallant feat, and finely executed. Our hearts +leaped for joy as we watched our brave fellows, their line as perfect as +though on drill, advance, firing rapidly, and pressing the enemy at +"double-quick." They made no halt until they had crossed the whole +breadth of the plain and reached the base of the hills. + +Few who were then in the Sixth corps will ever forget that scene. The +sun, just sinking behind the hills where Hooker was at work, threw a +beautiful golden light over the plain, and crowned the heights with +brilliant hues. It was one of those evenings of surpassing loveliness, +such as gladdened our hearts only at long intervals. Prominent in the +foreground of the beautiful scene was a noble white steed, with its +gallant rider, dashing from one end of the skirmish line to the other. +None who witnessed the spectacle will forget the white horse and the +fearless rider; and few of the Second or Light divisions need be +reminded that the horseman was Colonel Baker, of the Forty-third New +York, who was then in charge of the skirmish line. + +The "Light division" was, as we have before stated, the First brigade of +our Second division, with regiments from the First and Third divisions +which had been, a short time before leaving camp, detached to form an +independent organization. The arrangement was broken up immediately +after this battle, and the regiments put in the First and Second +divisions again. + +Immediately after the brilliant advance of the "Light division," the +Seventy-seventh regiment was ordered to leave the picket line and join +its brigade. The Second division crossed the river and took position, +the Third brigade in front, the Vermont brigade in rear. The +Thirty-third and Forty-ninth New York, of the Third brigade, went +forward as pickets in front of the hills, relieving pickets of the +"Light division," which moved to the right. We remained in line all +night, sometimes throwing ourselves upon the ground to catch a moment's +sleep, then roused in expectancy of an advance. + +At four o'clock in the morning we did advance. Straight across the plain +we went, until we came nearly to the base of the heights, where the +hosts of the enemy awaited us, then taking the Bowling Green road, filed +to the right and proceeded to the rear of Fredericksburgh; the +Seventy-seventh in front, the Twenty-first New Jersey, the Forty-ninth +New York, Twentieth New York, Seventh Maine and Thirty-third New York, +constituting the Third brigade, under command of General Neill, +following in the order mentioned. Then came the Vermont brigade, Colonel +L. A. Grant commanding; these two brigades forming the whole of Howe's +(Second) division of the Sixth corps since the First brigade was +detached. + +As we gained the rear of the eastern part of the town, the batteries of +the enemy opened upon us, and swarms of infantry rose up in our front +and poured volleys of bullets into our ranks. The "Light division" and +Newton's Third division of our corps had passed through the streets of +the town, and were now on our right. The skirmishers from Wheaton's and +Shaler's brigades had struck those of the enemy near a large mansion, +where, each party dodging behind the garden fence, the cherry trees and +the outhouses, they kept up a lively engagement for several minutes, but +Newton's advance was forced to yield the ground. + +In the meantime, the long line of rifled cannon which surmounted +Stafford Heights, on the north side of the river, as at the first battle +of Fredericksburgh, were throwing huge shells across the wide valley and +stream into the works of the enemy. One or two field batteries near the +head of our own column, and some attached to the other divisions, got +into position and opened a fierce cannonade. + +General Howe quickly formed his troops in line, as did the other +division commanders. + +The line of battle of the corps extended from the pontoon bridge at +Franklin's Crossing to the right of the town of Fredericksburgh. First, +on the left, Brooks' division held the plain in front of the crossing. +Next, on the right, in front of Marye's Heights, was Howe's Second +division; then the "Light division," Colonel Burnham; and on the extreme +right was Newton's Third division. Gibbon's division of the Second +corps, which, because its encampment was in plain view of the enemy, had +been left behind, also crossed into the town by a bridge which it threw +over, and took position on the right of the corps. + +General Sedgwick, finding that the heights could only be carried by +direct assault, directed storming columns to be formed in the Second and +Third divisions and the Light division, which order was at once carried +into execution. + +In the Second division, General Howe directed General Neill to lead the +advance. The plan of attack of the division was in two lines of battle +of three regiments each. + +The first line consisted of the Thirty-third New York, Colonel Taylor, +the Seventh Maine, Colonel Connor, and the Twenty-first New Jersey, +Colonel Van Houten, preceded by the Seventy-seventh New York, Colonel +French, as skirmishers. The line was commanded by General Neill[1]. The +second line consisted of the Sixth Vermont, Colonel Barney, the +Twenty-sixth New Jersey, Colonel Morrison, and the Second Vermont, +Colonel Walbridge, and was under command of Colonel L. A. Grant. Both +lines were arranged from right to left, in the order above mentioned. + + [1] "I was ordered to form three regiments as the _advance of a + column of assault_ against the heights of Marye's Hill, back of + Fredericksburgh. I led the Thirty-third New York, Twenty-first + New Jersey and Seventh Maine Volunteers, preceded by the + Seventy-seventh New York, who were acting as skirmishers, under + a heavy fire of shot and shell."--_Neill's Report._ + +The Forty-ninth and Twentieth New York formed the right reserve, and the +Third, Fourth and Fifth Vermont, under Colonel Seavor, the left reserve. + +The next column was composed of the Seventh Massachusetts, Colonel +Jones, and the Thirty-sixth New York, Colonel Walsh; both under the +command of Colonel Jones--the Fifth Wisconsin, Colonel Allen, acting as +skirmishers. Supporting the column, in line of battle, were the Sixth +Maine, Colonel Harris, Thirty-first New York, Colonel Jones, and the +Twenty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Ely. + +The right column of all consisted of the Forty-third New York, Colonel +Baker, and the Sixty-first Pennsylvania, Colonel Spear--the two +regiments under command of the latter officer, who fell, mortally +wounded, while leading the charge. The Sixty-seventh New York, Colonel +Cross, and the Eighty-second Pennsylvania, Major Bassett, under command +of Colonel Shaler, supported this right column. + +At half-past ten, the arrangements for storming the heights were +completed, and Newton's batteries opened upon the enemy. At the sound of +Newton's first gun, General Howe ordered his batteries to direct their +fire upon the heights, and then ordered the storming column forward. + +The division advanced toward the bold bluffs, which, bare of trees as +well as the plain below, allowed the enemy an excellent view of all our +movements. A railroad traversed the plain near the bluffs, and in a deep +cut through which the road passed, were rebels. They rose up as we +advanced, and poured showers of leaden hail into our line; but one of +our batteries, getting an enfilading fire on the road, sent the +gray-coated occupants hurriedly to the rear. For a moment we halted, the +batteries on either side playing into each other with spirit. + +It was a moment of contending emotions of pride, hope and sadness, as +our gallant boys stood face to face with those heights, ready to charge +upon them. At double-quick, and in splendid style, they crossed the +plain. Our line was perfect. The men could not have made a more orderly +appearance had they been on drill. Proud of their commands, Generals +Howe and Neill, and Colonel Grant, cheered the men onward, while +Lieutenant-Colonel French, in charge of the skirmish line, inspired, by +his own intrepid behavior, the utmost confidence and bravery in his men. +They took the matter as coolly as though on parade. + +Just in rear of the division, three batteries of Parrott guns were +playing into the works of the enemy, while from the heights above, all +the opposing batteries poured a terrible and destructive fire upon the +advancing lines. Having gained the rifle pits at the base of the hills, +they pushed forward to capture the heights. + +[Illustration: STORMING OF MARYE'S HEIGHTS BY HOWE'S DIVISION.] + +A more grand spectacle cannot be imagined. There were the hills, enough +to fatigue any man to climb them without a load and with no one to +oppose. At the foot of the hills were thousands of the enemy, pouring +into them volleys of musketry, and on the heights were their lines of +earthworks, with their artillery, from which poured grape and cannister +in a frightful storm. But the boys pushed nobly, steadily on, the rebels +steadily retreating, the division coming up in splendid style. Generals +Howe and Neill and Colonel Grant directing the movements and cheering on +the men, as they pressed undauntedly against the murderous storm of iron +and lead that met them from above. Our men were falling in every +direction, but the lines were immediately closed, and on they passed. +With shouts and cheers that drowned the roar of artillery, the noble +division, with bayonets fixed, mounted the heights, the rebels +retreating in confusion. Of that noble column the skirmishers of the +Seventy-seventh first reached the heights of Marye's Hill, the +Thirty-third New York, in line of battle, followed, and then the Sixth +Vermont,[2] the other regiments of the two brigades being but a moment +behind. But the work was not all done yet. On our left was an earthwork +of strong profile, from which now the rebels turned their guns upon us. +Against this the column turned, and soon gained possession of it also. A +third stronghold then fell into our hands, and we were in undisputed +possession of the heights. While the troops under Neill and Grant had +thus nobly stormed the works in front, Colonel Seaver, with his three +regiments, had scaled the heights further to the left. + + [2] General L. A. Grant, in his report, does unintentional + injustice to a brave regiment. He says: "The Sixth Vermont + followed the Thirty-third New York, _and was the second_ to gain + the heights of Fredericksburgh." The Thirty-third was not the + first to gain the heights on that part of the line. The + testimony of General Neill, as well as of the members of the + regiment, and the many trophies it captured, fully establish the + claim of the Seventy-seventh to the honor. + +With one or two exceptions, every regiment in the division had behaved +with great gallantry. + +The Seventy-seventh New York captured a stand of colors belonging to the +Eighteenth Mississippi regiment, two heavy guns, a large number of +prisoners, among whom was Colonel Luce of the Eighteenth Mississippi, +and great numbers of small arms. + +As the regiment reached the heights, and took possession of the guns, +General Howe rode up, and, taking off his hat, exclaimed: "Noble +Seventy-seventh! you have covered yourselves with glory!" The general's +words were greeted with tumultuous cheers. + +In the second work, the Thirty-third New York captured a piece of heavy +ordnance and a number of prisoners. The regiment had exhibited great +spirit and bravery. Six color-bearers had been shot down successively. + +It was at the signal of the first gun in Newton's front that General +Howe had ordered the charge of the Second division. The Third division +and the Light division had not been idle while the events we have +described were going on. It will be remembered that the column on the +right consisted of the Forty-third New York and the Sixty-first +Pennsylvania, supported by a line of battle; and that the other column +consisted of the Seventh Massachusetts and Thirty-sixth New York, also +supported by other regiments. + +The ascent in front of the Third and Light divisions, though steep, was +less precipitous than in front of Howe's column, and a good road led to +the heights. But a stone wall skirted the base of the hills, behind +which the rebels swarmed in great numbers. + +Under the fire of the rebel batteries, Newton's and Burnham's regiments +lay, some in the outskirts of the town, some in the cemetery, until +General Sedgwick gave the order for the advance. Then, almost at the +same time, both commands moved up the glacis towards the heights. +Colonel Jones, with his two regiments, the Seventh Massachusetts and +Thirty-sixth New York, pushed forward up the telegraph road, against the +stone wall, bearing to the right of the road; their knapsacks and +haversacks were left behind that they might be unencumbered with +needless burdens. As they approached within three hundred yards of the +wall, a murderous volley checked the advance, and threw the head of the +column into disorder. In two minutes the men were rallied, and again +they approached the wall, this time nearer than before; but again they +were broken. A third time they were rallied; this time they pushed +straight forward to the works. + +The column under Colonel Spear started briskly forward, divested, like +the others, of knapsacks and haversacks. Sallying from the town at +double quick, in column of four ranks, they crossed the bridge just +outside the city, when the gallant Colonel Spear received his mortal +wound, and fell at the head of his men. The Sixty-first, which led the +column, shocked at the death of their beloved leader, broke, and in +confusion turned toward the town. This unfortunate confusion spread to +the men of the Forty-third, who, checked by the disordered mass in +front, and submitted to a galling fire, also commenced falling back. +Finding any attempt to get the men through the disordered mass in front, +the gallant Wilson drew his colors to the right and rallied his regiment +around them. Then, bounding forward, the regiment reached the heights +scarcely behind any of the regiments on the left, capturing a gun and +many prisoners. + +The line of battle under Colonel Burnham advanced on the left of the +road; the Fifth Wisconsin on the skirmish line, the Sixth Maine, the +Thirty-first New York, and the Twenty-third Pennsylvania in line. Four +more gallant regiments could not be found in the service. Leaving +everything but guns and ammunition, they started forward, encountering a +shower of bullets, grape and canister, as soon as they rose above the +slight knoll which had concealed them. We of the Second division looked +with admiration upon the advancing line; our flag--it was the flag of +the Sixth Maine--in advance of the others, its brave color-guard +bounding forward, then halting a moment while the men came up, then +dashing forward again, and finally gaining the heights before us all! It +was a noble spectacle, and filled our hearts with pride for our brave +comrades of the Light division. The Light division secured as trophies +about seven hundred prisoners and five cannon. + +Thus the heights were won. It was a glorious day for the Sixth corps. +Never was a charge more gallantly made. But it was a sad day, for many +scores of our brave comrades lay stretched in death, along the glacis, +and on the steep ascent, in the ravines and along the road. + +The Seventh Massachusetts, the Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, the +Second Vermont, and the Seventy-seventh, Thirty-third and Forty-third +New York, were among the greatest losers. The Sixth Maine reached the +rebel works with the loss of six captains and the major, and a +proportional number of enlisted men. Two color-bearers and +Lieutenant-Colonel Newman were shot in the Thirty-first, and Colonel +Jones, of the Seventh Massachusetts, was seriously wounded, while one +hundred and twelve of his brave men were either killed or wounded. + +The wounded had been taken to the city, where they were kindly cared for +by the surgeons of the corps, who had seized the town for hospital +purposes. Churches and private dwellings swarmed with the unfortunate +men, whose mangled forms told of the fearful work of the day. Surgeons +were hard at work ministering relief to the suffering, binding up the +wounds or removing the mangled limbs which offered no hope of recovery; +while nurses administered food and coffee, and prepared beds, such as +could be extemporized from blankets spread upon the floors. More than +three thousand wounded were brought into the city before nightfall. + +Upon the very heels of the brilliant success of the corps commenced +disaster. An order from General Hooker had directed General Sedgwick to +advance toward Chancellorsville, and form a junction with the main army. +So the corps which had so nobly won the heights pressed on for further +achievements. The heights were left behind. Brooks' division, which now +took the lead, had advanced as far as Salem Church, on the +Chancellorsville pike, when, instead of meeting any portion of Hooker's +army, a few shells from rebel guns warned the division of the presence +of the enemy. + +A dense thicket was in front, and Bartlett's brigade, which had the +advance, was deployed to skirmish and ascertain the position of the +concealed foe. Presently, having fallen upon a strong line of +skirmishers, the brigade was formed in line of battle; the +Twenty-seventh New York on the right, then the Fifth Maine, then the One +Hundred and Twenty-first New York, and on the left the Ninety-sixth +Pennsylvania; the Sixteenth New York holding the skirmish line in front. +General Bartlett advanced his line to the thicket, the Sixteenth driving +the rebel skirmishers, the brigade following closely. At the edge of the +thicket General Bartlett halted the line, but being ordered by General +Brooks to advance rapidly, he pushed on again. + +Advancing through the thicket about thirty rods, the brigade suddenly +found itself face to face with a rebel line. The confederates were lying +down in a road which traversed the thicket; and, when the Union line was +within twenty yards, they suddenly discharged a volley, which, had it +been well aimed, must have almost annihilated the brigade; but the fire +was returned with effect, and presently, the confederates were glad to +leave the road, which was almost filled with their dead and wounded, and +seek shelter behind rifle pits. The rifle pits were but a few yards in +rear of the road, and here a very strong force was posted. The Union +forces occupied the road, and directed their fire against the works; but +the rebel fire cut down their unprotected ranks like grass before the +scythe. For fifteen minutes the gallant regiments endured this murderous +fire, and then fell back in good order, having lost, within twenty +minutes, nearly seven hundred men; of whom two hundred and seventy-three +were from the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York. + +The New Jersey brigade, and the whole division, had by this time been +brought into action, and great slaughter was made in almost every +regiment. Newton's division was also fiercely engaged on the right, +Wheaton's brigade holding its position only by the most stubborn +fighting. The enemy having forced the First division to retire, advanced +against our line; but the batteries under Williston, Rigby and Parsons, +by splendid practice, repulsed the onset. The Second division, forming +the rear of the column, had not been brought into the engagement. + +Darkness came to the relief of the corps, and the men slept soundly on +their arms after the arduous duties of the day; but there were many +misgivings among officers in regard to what to-morrow might bring forth. + +While we rested, the enemy was bringing up reinforcements from the +direction of Richmond. Very early in the morning the siege guns on +Stafford Heights, opposite the town, sent some shells screaming across +the valley to the heights of Marye's Hill, giving the alarm to those in +the town and to those who had so recently left it. Lines of rebels were +seen all along the outskirts of the town and on the crests above. +Fifteen thousand confederate troops were between the Sixth corps and +Fredericksburgh Heights. The surgeons immediately prepared to send the +wounded across the river, but, supposing that to accomplish the whole +before the rebels should take possession of the town would be +impossible, made every preparation for being themselves taken prisoners. +A small detachment of Gibbon's division still guarded the town, but +nearly all his troops had recrossed the river and were on Stafford +Heights. But the small force in the town seemed sufficient to convey to +the rebels the impression that it was well guarded, for they made no +attempt to seize the immense amount of hospital stores which was at +their mercy, or to molest the wounded or the surgeons. + +The Sixth corps was now in a critical position; its communications +entirely cut off, and surrounded by hosts of the enemy. The corps was +sandwiched between the rebels on the heights and Lee's whole army; while +on its left was a strong force, and on its right an impassable river. +Dispositions were at once made to meet the emergency. + +Brooks' division was drawn back, and Howe's, still in the rear, changed +front and quickly extended the line of battle to the river, so as to +include Banks' Ford, six miles above the city, over which communications +were at once established. + +The whole of Early's rebel division occupied the crest of Marye's and +Cemetery Hills; the divisions of Anderson and McLaws were on our flank; +and the brigades of Hays, Hoke and Lawton, supported by Lee's whole +army, were in our rear. We were in the vicinity of Salem Church, and our +only line of retreat was upon the road leading to Banks' Ford. + +The first demonstration of the rebels, on the morning of the 4th, was +against the position held by Neill's brigade. A company from the Seventh +Maine, and two companies from the Forty-ninth New York, in conjunction +with a part of Martin's battery, and supported by the remaining +companies of the Forty-ninth, gallantly repulsed and routed a whole +brigade of rebels, capturing two hundred prisoners, and the colors of +the Fifty-eighth Virginia regiment; which last trophy was borne off by +the men of the Forty-ninth, and was the second stand of colors taken by +that gallant brigade in this engagement, the Seventy-seventh having +captured the other. + +The day wore away with little fighting till five o'clock. General Howe +had so disposed his troops as to occupy two positions. + +In front was the Third brigade, holding a crest which overlooked a +ravine through which the rebels must pass. Behind the brigade was +another ravine, in which was a thin skirt of woods. In rear of this +second ravine, and behind a swell of ground, the Vermont brigade was +strongly posted, forming the second line of battle. There were in each +of these two brigades about three thousand men. + +Now came the most fearful struggle of the campaign. At five o'clock the +rebel hordes came, with deafening yells, upon the division. The +divisions of Early, Anderson and McLaws rushed upon the single brigade +of less than three thousand men, massing their troops in the ravine, and +charging with impetuous fury. But the noble regiments heroically +withstood the shock, the Germans of the Twentieth only going to the rear +in confusion. The stubborn resistance of the brigade prevented the +rebels from piercing our lines, and cutting off our retreat, and thus, +by its gallantry, enabled the corps to cross at Banks' Ford. But one +thousand men--more than one-third of the brigade--fell on that crest. +Colonel Van Houghton, of the Twenty-first New Jersey, was mortally +wounded, and many other choice spirits were among the fallen. General +Neill was injured by the fall of his horse, which was shot. General Howe +now ordered the brigade to fall back, and the decimated regiments left +the front line, and fell behind the strong position held by the +Vermonters. The rebels, thinking this a retreat, followed with yells of +exultation, but were met by the second line of battle, which, from its +position behind the swell of ground, was concealed, with a murderous +fire, which sent them reeling back to the cover of the first ravine. +Their charge had inflicted little damage upon the Union line. It was now +nearly dark, and the reception which the rebels had received had so +completely routed and broken them, that they made no further attempt +upon our lines. + +About nine o'clock, the division was ordered to fall back to Banks' +Ford, now two miles distant from us. We fell back quietly, and found +that the other divisions had preceded us, and were snugly behind rifle +pits. They had fallen back as soon as it was dark, leaving the Second +division to cover the retreat. + +Meantime, comparatively little fighting had been done by the other +divisions, though a constant skirmish was kept up, and in the evening +the confederates managed to get in the rear of a part of the picket of +the Light division, capturing a large number of prisoners from the +Forty-third and Thirty-first New York, and Sixty-first Pennsylvania. + +The position at Banks' Ford might have been held until reinforcements +could have reached the corps from Hooker; but, unfortunately, that +general, receiving from General Sedgwick first, intelligence that he +could not safely hold the position, then that he could, ordered the +corps to be withdrawn, and afterward countermanded the order; but the +last order was only received when the movement had been accomplished. + +Toward morning the corps recrossed the Rappahannock on pontoon bridges; +not without the utmost difficulty; one bridge being destroyed by rebel +artillery, and the other barely saved from destruction long enough to +allow the troops hurriedly to pass over. + +The corps had passed through a fearful ordeal, and had shown itself to +be made of heroic material. No two more brilliant feats had been +performed during the war, than the storming of the heights of +Fredericksburgh, and the splendid resistance when surrounded and +attacked by overwhelming forces. The men came out of the fight, not +demoralized, but as ready to scale those terrible heights again, if +called upon, as they had been on the 3d of May. + +General Sedgwick had manifested during the fights, those masterly +qualities which made him one of the greatest soldiers of the age. His +conduct on the retreat was cool and unimpassioned. Personally examining +every part of the ground in front and rear, riding from one end of the +line to the other, now ordering a battery placed at some commanding +point, and now looking out a new position to which his troops might fall +back in case of necessity, he was everywhere present, full of energy, as +determined to save as he had been to win. + +Throughout the land the glorious deeds of the Sixth corps became +household words; but its glory had been dearly purchased. Five thousand +of the heroes who crossed the Rappahannock on the 2d of May, were either +dead or wounded. Colonel Van Houghton, one of New Jersey's bravest sons, +had received a mortal wound, from which he died in the hands of the +enemy. Captain Luther M. Wheeler, of the Seventy-seventh, was shot while +we halted at the foot of Marye's Hill. It was a sad loss to his +regiment, and the corps. Few more gifted young men could be found in the +army. He was one of our bravest and most efficient officers. Gentle in +his relations with his fellows, cool and daring in battle; his youthful +face beaming with fortitude, was a continual joy to his men in time of +danger. He died as he had lived, a hero. + +The Forty-third had lost Captain Knickerbocker and Lieutenant Koonz. Two +young men of brilliant promise, greatly loved and respected in their +regiment and in their native city, Albany. + +The wounded men in the hospitals exhibited the same heroic fortitude in +their sufferings that they had manifested in the charge and in the +retreat. A few instances are given as illustrations of many: Erskine +Branch of Company D, Seventy-seventh New York, when his leg was torn to +shreds by a shell, hobbled off on the sound one and his gun, singing +"The Star Spangled Banner." Corporal Henry West was shot through the +thigh, and he was brought to the rear. "I guess," said he "that old Joe +West's son has lost a leg." The corporal died soon after. While in the +hospital, suffering from extreme anguish, a wounded man at his side +lamented that he had come to the war. "I am not sorry that I came," +instantly responded the brave corporal. + +Let us now turn back and glance hastily at the maneuvers of the main +army at Chancellorsville. We, of the Sixth corps, could only see by the +balloon which, like some huge bird, hovered over the army, where it held +its position, and the unceasing roar of artillery told us of a severe +struggle with its foe; while rumor brought, now reports of brilliant +success, and anon tales of sad defeat. We knew little of the true state +of affairs at the right, and it was only when we mingled with our +comrades of the other corps that we learned the details of the battle of +Chancellorsville. We now repeat it as it was given to us. On the day +that the army broke up its winter camp, General Hooker led the Fifth, +Eleventh, Twelfth and Second corps, except Gibbon's division of the +latter, up the river, until he reached Kelley's Ford, about twenty miles +above Fredericksburgh. Here he crossed his whole force, and pushing +southward and eastward, uncovered the United States Ford eight miles +below, which was guarded by a brigade of rebels, and struck the +intersection of the Gordonsville plank road with the Orange county +turnpike, about five miles from United States Ford; having by great +exertions crossed two rivers and marched twenty miles. At the crossing +of the two roads, west of the turnpike, and south of the plank road, +stood a single large mansion, the Chancellor house. Here General Hooker +made his head-quarters, and from this point he disposed the corps of the +army so as to form a line of battle, which should face south and east, +with a single corps to guard against an advance from the west. The Third +and First corps soon joined Hooker's forces, and the corps were posted +as follows: The Eleventh corps, under General Howard, was on the right +of the line, three miles southwest of Chancellorsville, facing westward; +next, to the left of Howard, but far to the south, and holding the +turnpike five miles in front of Chancellorsville, was Sickles with his +Third corps; back almost to the plank road, and left of the turnpike, +was Slocum with the Twelfth corps; and still to the right, and behind +the plank road, the Fifth corps, under General Meade, faced toward the +southwest; behind Meade and Slocum, the Second corps was posted, one +division guarding the approach to the bridge. The country was densely +wooded. Except an open space about the house, it was a tangled +wilderness. The ground was low and marshy, and nearly level. Earthworks +were thrown up in front of all the corps, and everything seemed in +readiness for the enemy, for whom General Hooker now waited, hoping, +that by fruitless assaults upon what seemed an impregnable position, the +enemy would be so exhausted that he might turn upon him with fresh +divisions, and rout the retreating forces. His programme was to secure a +position in the rear of the rebel positions at the fords, while that +portion of the army left at Fredericksburgh was to divert attention from +the principal movement. Stoneman, with the cavalry, was to make a grand +raid on the communications of the rebel army, burning the bridges and +tearing up railroads. The main body of the army having secured its +position, and accomplished its work, the Sixth corps was to press +forward and harass them in their retreat toward Richmond. + +Saturday afternoon, almost at dark, the First corps, Reynolds', which +had that morning parted company with the Sixth corps, crossed the river +and took position near the ford, four miles in rear of Howard. + +The rebel army had been on the southeast of ours. Sickles, on the +afternoon of Saturday, discovered a train of wagons and ambulances +moving across the pike far in his front. He sent a force to cut it in +two, and was successful in taking a large number of prisoners and in +creating a panic in the train. He advanced, and was met by a strong +force of the enemy. He now sent to General Howard for reinforcements. +General Howard led a brigade to his assistance in person, and then at +full speed galloped back to his corps. He was just in time. Bursting +shells on the right of his line told of the presence of the enemy. +"Stonewall" Jackson, with an immense force, had passed round our army, +and now came like an avalanche upon the right division of the Eleventh +corps, General Devins. The men were cooking their coffee, when suddenly +the whizzing of innumerable bullets aroused them from their culinary +engagements. The hosts of Jackson, with yells and shouts, fell like a +thunderbolt upon the astonished division, and it melted away like a +snowflake in summer. The next division, Shurz, tried to maintain the +ground, and did what men could do, but could not withstand the shock of +fifty thousand men. General Hooker, fearing that the flying Germans +would stampede the whole army, directed the cavalry which was with him, +to charge upon the fugitives and arrest their flight; but no power could +halt them. The commanding general at once directed General Sickles to +attack the enemy on the flank, and, if possible, check his farther +advance. + +General Howard, with great presence of mind and perseverance, succeeded +in stopping the rout at a stone wall, behind which he posted his line. +Forty pieces of artillery were also, by General Hooker's order, +concentrated to oppose the confederates, who again rushed forward with +mad desperation, and were met with terrific fire from this long line of +guns. They staggered back, but soon rallied, and again charged, and +again met with a terrible repulse. The conflict now ceased for the +night. Hooker drew in his lines, making them more compact, changed the +disposition of some of the corps: throwing the Eleventh corps from the +right to the left of the line, and bringing Meade, with the Fifth corps, +to the right. Sickles and Slocum, with the Third and Twelfth corps, were +near the Chancellor house. Artillery was massed to command the +approaches to the turnpike, and earthworks went up in the night as if by +magic. At daylight, Sunday morning, Jackson, with all his forces, +advanced on the turnpike, against the Chancellor place, not with the +thin line of battle, but in solid mass. His men poured from the woods +like a torrent, their shouts and yells making a pandemonium of the +wilderness. Suddenly, from the mouths of forty cannon was hurled against +them a cruel storm of grape and canister, which ploughed through the +advancing column, carrying death and destruction in its course, while +the infantry from the Third corps poured into the faces of the desperate +foe a terrible hail storm of bullets which almost decimated the heavy +column. With the desperation of madness, the rebels rushed against this +terrible fire, almost reaching the muzzles of the guns, only to be +hurled back again by the fearful tornado in front. The Third corps +seemed hardly able to hold its position, but now General Hooker sent two +divisions of the Second corps to attack the enemy in the flank. These, +with the Fifth corps, came with great force upon the left of the column. +It reeled, the huge mass wavered to and fro, and then fell back in +flight. The troops at the house, however, had been forced back, and +General Hooker again shortened his lines, making his forces still more +compact. + +Again, in the afternoon, the rebels came on exultingly, but not with the +desperation that marked the attack of the morning. Hour after hour they +strove to drive back or break in two the Union line, but it was +immovable. Artillery poured into the ranks of the assailants the most +deadly fire, until they fell back, long before nightfall, disheartened +and defeated. Hooker had at length succeeded in accomplishing a part of +his object. He had allowed his enemy to fight him until his army was +exhausted and dispirited, while he himself had half his army fresh and +ready to charge upon the weakened foe. Now came the time for action. If +he now succeeded in putting the enemy to flight, the rebel cause was +destroyed; if, on the contrary, he suffered a repulse, what would be the +result? The river was swelling rapidly; the pontoons could even now with +difficulty be held together. If, haply, they were to be swept away, all +means of retreat would be cut off, and a repulse would amount to +annihilation. Sedgwick and the Sixth corps were driven back, and +Stoneman, who had gone with his cavalry toward Richmond, was not heard +from. In the midst of these doubts, he called a council of corps +commanders, who agreed, not unanimously, that it was advisable to +recross the river. So the army, on Wednesday, was withdrawn across the +river, when victory seemed ready to rest on our banners.[3] Without +doubt, had the general known of the panic created by the cavalry in the +rear, or had he been sure that his communications would remain intact, +the result would have been far different. + + [3] The author makes no attempt to discuss the merits of the + controversy, which grew out of this battle, between two of the + best soldiers of our army. The reader will find, in the Report + on the Conduct of the War, 1865, all the facts and arguments on + both sides, by those most competent to give them--Generals + Hooker and Sedgwick. + +The loss to the whole army, in this campaign, was over seventeen +thousand in killed and wounded.[4] Very many of these were left in the +hands of the enemy. + + [4] The following statement exhibits the loss to the various + corps in killed, wounded and missing: + + 1st, 292 + 2d, 2,025 + 3d, 4,039 + 5th, 699 + 6th, 4,925 + 11th, 2,508 + 12th, 2,883 + Cavalry, 145 + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +SECOND ENCAMPMENT AT WHITE OAK CHURCH AND THE PENNSYLVANIA CAMPAIGN. + + The army in its old position--A trip to Dixie--The wounded at + the hospitals--Introduction of army badges--Adornments of the + camps--The "Third crossing"--The Barnard mansion--Exchanging + papers--A broken lieutenant--The Pennsylvania campaign + commenced--Restriction of baggage--A severe march--An army + bathing--At Centreville--Bristow Station--March to + Maryland--General Hooker succeeded by General Meade--Position of + the army. + + +The army now turned back to its old position, encamping in line nearly +as before, only all the troops which had encamped on our left, between +the Sixth corps and Belle Plain, were placed far to the right, leaving +the Sixth corps on the left of the army, instead of being nearly in its +center. The corps occupied a line nearly a mile in rear of the old camp, +where the ground had been unoccupied, and where a growth of young pines, +and, in places, considerable groves of oak timber, afforded far more +attractive surroundings than the old quarters. + +The wounded were taken to an immense field hospital at Potomac creek, +where hospital tents sufficient to accommodate eight thousand wounded +men were erected in a locality where cool breezes could play freely +among the encampments, and where pure water could be obtained. On the +9th, many of our wounded were brought to the side of the river at +Fredericksburgh and sent over to us by the enemy, in pontoon boats, +under flags of truce. On the morning of the 10th, the surgeon of the +Seventy-seventh was ordered to proceed at once to Banks' Ford to receive +wounded officers who were to be removed from the enemy's lines. The +doctor was soon at the ford, where he found a boat and a flag of truce +at his disposal. He crossed the river and met the officer in command, +who received him courteously, but declared that he knew nothing of any +officers to come there. The surgeon addressed a note to General Wilcox, +commanding the brigade at Banks' Ford, but he knew as little about it as +the officer at the river. "There are plenty of federal officers here," +said he, "and we shall be glad to send them across to your lines at any +time when General Hooker shall apply to General Lee for them; but I know +of no arrangement of the kind now." Believing that some arrangements had +been made for the transfer of the wounded officers, but that the order +had not yet reached General Wilcox, the surgeon spent the day among the +rebels, conversing with their officers, while his boatmen, having with +them a canteen of brandy, soon made themselves very popular with the +crowd of rebel soldiers who gathered about, dressed in motley colors, +buff, blue, gray, butternut, and colors indescribable. They were all in +good humor and lively, and the hours passed pleasantly, as the men from +the two opposing armies chatted in the shade of some oak trees. Finding +little prospect of executing his peaceful mission, the surgeon obtained +permission from General Wilcox to get the remains of Colonel Van +Houghten, of the Twenty-first New Jersey regiment, who was shot at Salem +Church, and died from his wound next day. Doctor McNiel, of the +Twenty-first, with a party of men, proceeded to the place where the +colonel was buried, a mile and a half from the ford, and brought the +remains to the river and across to our own lines. On reporting at +General Hooker's head-quarters, the surgeon found that no agreement had +been concluded until late in the day for the delivery of the wounded +officers; so he had spent the day in rebeldom to little effect, except +the restoration of the body of the colonel to his friends, and leaving a +company of nurses to assist our surgeons who were already in attendance +upon our prisoners. + +Nearly all our wounded were at length returned to us, and were sent to +Potomac Creek, or to Washington. At Potomac Creek, the cooeperation of +the Sanitary Commission was of great assistance to the surgeons; and +many comforts and luxuries, the gifts of our friends at home, cheered +the hearts of the wounded and suffering heroes. Sheets, pillow cases, +handkerchiefs, with jellies and canned fruits, were distributed in +profusion. Here was the place for manifesting the overflowing interest +and noble generosity of the people of the north, and thousands blessed +them for their munificence. + +A mistaken idea prevailed among friends at home, that the agents of the +Sanitary Commission resorted to the battle-field, ministering to the +wants of the wounded, dressing the wounds, bringing the crippled from +the field, and feeding the hungry. Our illustrated papers were filled +with fine engravings, representing these acts of mercy on the +battle-field. These were pictures of the imagination. Nothing of the +sort was done. No Sanitary or Christian Commission agents frequented the +battle-field. All wounded were brought from the field by soldiers, +placed in ambulances of the government and taken to the field hospitals, +where all the wounds were dressed by surgeons or their nurses, and where +all were fed by officers selected for this special duty. The Sanitary +and Christian Commissions had a great mission. They were the +representatives of the lively interest felt by the people of the north, +for the army it had sent forth to maintain the institutions of their +country. They found abundant opportunity for accomplishing their mission +at the large hospitals after the roar of battles had passed away; but +they had nothing to do with the care of the wounded on the battle-field. + +Just before leaving camp for the campaign just closed, General Hooker +had issued an order assigning to each corps and division its badge, +which was to be worn by every officer and soldier connected with either +of the corps. The men of the Sixth corps now regarded their cross with +greater pride than had ever ancient knight looked upon the heraldry +which emblazoned his arms. It had been baptized in blood, and amid +wonderful achievements of heroism. Every member of the noble corps felt +an exulting pride in his relation to it, and regarded his badge as a +mark of great honor. + +The introduction of these badges became of great service to the army. +Every man could easily recognize the corps and division of any other one +in the army; and each corps learned to feel a pride in its own badge. + +We had seven corps in the army; First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, +Eleventh and Twelfth. The badge of the First corps was a lozenge, that +of the Second a shamrock, of the Third a diamond, of the Fifth a Maltese +cross, of the Sixth a Greek cross, the Eleventh a lunette, and of the +Twelfth a star. The badge of the First division of each corps was red, +that of the Second white, and of the Third blue. All wagons and +ambulances were marked with their appropriate badge, and the sick +soldier who fell to the rear with a pass to the ambulances, had no +difficulty in finding his own train; and quartermasters and others +connected with the trains were greatly assisted in their duties by this +ingenious device. + +The camps of all the regiments of our divisions were pleasantly located, +and great pains were taken in laying them out and in decorating them. +When regiments were not sheltered in groves, pines were transplanted in +the company streets in great profusion; and arches and bowers of the +most elaborate and elegant designs, formed of the boughs of the red +cedar and pine, exquisitely entwined with the bright green holly, formed +a most attractive and beautiful feature of our second camp at White Oak +Church. At division head-quarters, General Howe had caused to be erected +a most elegant hall of these rural materials, which was a wonder of +architectural beauty as well as exquisite taste and ingenuity. Its +alcoves, its vestibules and its arches, were marvels of elegance. Here +came officers, high in command, and brilliant dames, and passed a night +in the service of Terpsichore, while bands discoursed stirring music. + +In the camp of the Seventy-seventh, the adornments were profuse and +beautiful. At head-quarters, a palace of green arose among the trees +near our tents. For days, mule teams hauled huge loads of cedar boughs, +which were woven into massive pillars or elegantly turned arches, and +the structure rose like one of those fair bowers we read of in fairy +tales. Our surgeon and quartermaster were preparing the elegant +structure for the reception of their wives. It was almost complete, +needing only a few finishing touches, and the anxiously awaited guests +were expected on the following day; when, alas for the expectations of +men, an order came to be ready to march at daylight next morning! The +ladies, although too late to enjoy this rustic palace, arrived in time +to find the corps in line of battle, and witness fierce artillery duels +between the opposing armies. In their eagerness to watch the flight of +the shells, they sometimes manifested greater bravery than their +companions, whose experience had taught them to regard with suspicion +the shrieking missiles. + +We had passed a pleasant month at this camp, and the men were eager, +notwithstanding their comfortable quarters, for active campaigning. The +health and spirits of the soldiers of the corps had never been better, +and in spite of the failure at Chancellorsville, they felt a great deal +of confidence. So the order to move was received with pleasure, and we +turned away from our pleasant camps willingly. + +We left camp on the morning of June 5th, one of the loveliest of days, +and, taking the road we had already trod on two occasions, halted in the +valley of the Rappahannock, on the very spot where we had rested at the +first and second battles of Fredericksburgh, and prepared, for a third +time within six months, to cross the river. A correspondent of one of +the daily journals, writing from head-quarters of the army, says: +"Howe's splendid division of the fighting Sixth corps was selected for +the work of crossing, and the point for laying the bridges was just +below the mouth of Deep Run, at the identical spot where we had crossed +twice before." + +Pontoons and batteries of artillery formed long lines behind the little +ridge which runs parallel with the river, and the infantry marched and +countermarched to get in right positions. Here, behind the little ridge, +we rested, until about five o'clock in the afternoon, our men mounting +the ridge, and gazing across the river, where the enemy had turned the +rifle pits thrown up by our First division, to their own use; and, in +return, the rebels raised their heads above the breastworks, or ventured +to the river side, wondering what could be the intention of the army, so +recently driven from these grounds, in making such preparations for +another crossing. There seemed but a small force opposed to us; a strong +picket on the bank, and the reserve posted behind the breastworks, were +all that could be seen, though we well knew that the heights beyond +swarmed with opposing hosts, as they had twice before. At length the +engineers drew the pontoons to the edge of the river, the +Seventy-seventh being detailed to assist in unloading. The rebels betook +themselves to the rifle pits, and opened a brisk fire; but presently +they were glad to draw their heads behind the earthworks, for five of +our batteries, Williston's, McCartney's, Cowen's, Haines' and +McCarthey's, were run out upon the plain, and opened a fierce fire, +whole batteries firing by volleys, until the whole plain, on the further +side, was a sheet of flame from the bursting shells, and huge clouds of +dust, plowed up by the shrieking missiles, rose so as to obscure the +heights. The rebels could only load, and thrust their guns above the +earthworks, firing at random, for no man could raise his head without +coming in the way of the fiery messengers of death, which filled the +air. Still their fire, although at random, was annoying, and it was +evident that the safest method was to cross men in boats, enough to +drive the rebels from their pits, or capture them, and then build the +bridge without opposition. + +The Twenty-sixth New Jersey and Fifth Vermont regiments leaped into the +boats, quickly crossed, and, rushing from the bank, charged upon the +pits. The rebels were now, for the first time offered an opportunity for +flight; for while the artillery was filling the whole plain with +bursting shells, there remained no alternative but to hug the earth +behind the rifle pits; now that the artillery ceased, they scattered +across the plain in hot haste, before the rapid charge of our boys. The +two regiments pursued the fugitives, and many of them threw down their +arms; we captured about seventy-five prisoners; of these, thirty-six +were captured by Captain Davenport, who, with eighteen of his men, was +marching up the ravine through which passes the Deep Run, when they came +upon the rebels, whom they obliged to surrender, their captain +delivering his sword to Captain Davenport. Five or six men of the +engineers were killed, and some wounded. The Vermonters and New +Jerseymen, also, had a few men wounded. + +The Seventy-seventh had one man killed. Sergeant Rex Haines was shot +through the head. He was a brave man, and one of the best soldiers in +the regiment. He had, until that very day, been confined to the hospital +with severe illness. A few of our men, also, received slight wounds. + +The engineers proceeded at once to lay the bridges, and on the following +morning the whole division crossed. Our picket reserve made their +rendezvous at the ruins of the fine mansion which we had used for our +Second division hospital at the first battle. Now nothing but the bare +walls and heaps of rubbish marked the place where the beautiful +residence had stood. A regiment of Mississippians had occupied the +place, and had ruthlessly and willfully burned it. Yet the fine +chestnuts and broad-spreading oaks afforded as luxurious a shade as in +the palmy days when the old bachelor proprietor lounged beneath their +shadow. + +The picket line extended nearly to the railroad, and, as before, formed +a semi-circle, radiating from the pontoon bridge. The enemy had also +formed a strong picket to oppose us, and the two lines of skirmishers +were within a few yards of each other. + +It was a beautiful Sabbath, and all day long the troops lay upon the +plain, wondering what was to be done. There were the frowning batteries +of the enemy on the hills in front, apparently able to blow the whole +division into the air, and we could, with our glasses, discover great +numbers of infantry at the base of the hills, half hidden by the low +growth of pines. The main body of our army still remained in camp; only +our Sixth corps had moved. Evidently the enemy concluded that the +advance was rather one of observation than attack, and quietly awaited +our movements. Some firing was for a time kept up on the skirmish line, +and now and then a shell would come crashing through some of the houses +at the right, where our pickets were concealed; but at length, by mutual +consent, the pickets of each army watched the movements of their +opponents without molesting them. During this quasi-truce, a spirit of +sociability manifested itself, and our boys soon struck up an +acquaintance with their dangerous neighbors. At length an exchange of +papers was proposed, and upon mutual agreement of temporary amity, a +Yankee and a Johnnie would step into the open space between the two +lines, shake hands, inquire each other's regiment, trade papers and +retire. + +There came at this time, to each company of one regiment, a copy of the +New York Observer, Independent, Christian Examiner, Evangelist and other +papers, and Mr. Alvord, the agent of the Tract Society, had just been +among the men, distributing copies of the American Messenger. These were +soon collected and carried over to be exchanged for copies of the +Richmond Enquirer, Sentinel, and Examiner. The trade was not kept wholly +within the limits of literary exchange, but sugar and coffee passed into +the rebels' hands in return for plugs of tobacco. At length an order +came from division head-quarters, stopping this illicit practice. Our +boys declared that they were acting the part of colporteurs to the +barbarian rebels, and, if they had been allowed to continue the +distribution of religious papers among them, they would soon be +convinced of the error of their ways, and desist from further fighting. + +During the night of the 8th, our division was withdrawn to the north +side of the river, our place being taken by the Third division. We +retired to Stafford Heights and bivouacked. Our bivouac became our +encampment for a week. There we lay, wondering what was next to be done, +while the artillery on either side exchanged shots. The 32-pounders on +our hills sending their huge shot across to the opposite heights, and +the rebel guns replying, sometimes with shells of most improved pattern, +and at other times throwing over huge pieces of railroad iron. + +An incident of much interest to Neill's brigade occurred while we were +here. A lieutenant, belonging to the Twenty-first New Jersey regiment, +had been tried by a court-martial, and convicted of cowardice at the +battle on May 3d. The whole brigade was brought out at the hour for +evening parade, and formed in a hollow square. To the center of the +inclosure the culprit was brought. His sentence was then read to him, +which was that he be dismissed the service in disgrace. The +adjutant-general of the brigade then proceeded to execute the details of +the sentence. The sword of the cowardly officer was taken from him and +broken over his head; his shoulder-straps and buttons were then cut off, +and his pistol broken and thrown away. The sentence, and the manner of +its execution, were ordered to be published in the newspapers of the +county where the regiment was raised. A similar sentence was executed in +the Seventy-seventh regiment on the same evening. Lewis Burke, of +Company F, was convicted of cowardice at the same battle. He was brought +before the regiment, which stood in line; his sentence read, his buttons +and the blue cord on his coat cut off, and a placard marked "Coward" +hung to his back. A guard, with fixed bayonets pointing at his back, +then marched him off, the band playing "The Rogues' March." Burke went +to serve out his time at the Dry Tortugas at hard labor, without pay or +allowance. + +As we looked upon the execution of these humiliating sentences, we could +not help feeling how much better it would have been to have fallen nobly +on that field of battle, honored and lamented, than to live to be thus +degraded and despised. It had never been so forcibly impressed upon our +minds, how much better it was to die nobly than to live in disgrace. +When we thought of the noble Wheeler and his brave companions, who had +given their lives for their country on yonder heights, and then turned +to the sickening scene before us, we could but exclaim, "How are the +dead to be envied!" + +At length, on Saturday night, June 13th, we withdrew from +Fredericksburgh, and commenced the memorable Pennsylvania campaign. +There had been, for several days, indications that General Lee was +throwing his army to our right, and was crossing the Rappahannock in the +vicinity of Culpepper. At length this had become a certainty; and the +whole army was quickly moved to come up with him. All day long the +hurrying of trains, the movements of troops, the intense activity at the +railroad station, where everything was being hastily thrown into cars, +had indicated a sudden leave-taking. + +At length the trains were off, and the whole army in motion. Our own +corps being rear-guard, started at ten o'clock at night. The darkness +was intense, and a thunder shower prevailed. Our route for a long time +lay through a thick woods, where the branches of the trees, meeting over +our heads, shut out the little light that might have penetrated the +thunder clouds, and the column was shut in perfect darkness. The road +was terribly muddy, and the batteries which were trying to pass over the +same route, were frequently stuck in the mire. Our men stumbled over +stones and fallen trees, often falling beneath the feet of the horses. +Men fell over logs and stones, breaking their legs and arms. Thus we +continued the hasty and difficult march, while the rain poured in +torrents upon us. Later in the night the road became more open, and the +rain ceased. The darkness was not so black, still it was difficult to +see the road. We were passing over corduroy; some of the logs were a +foot, and others a foot and a half through. They were slippery from the +rain, and the men, heavily laden with knapsacks, guns and cartridges, +tumbled headlong, many of them going off at the side, and rolling far +down the steep embankments. A laugh from the comrades of the luckless +ones, while some one would call out, "Have you a pass to go down there?" +was the only notice taken of such accidents; and the dark column hurried +on, until at three o'clock in the morning, we halted at Potomac creek, +where we slept soundly upon the ground until morning. + +The following day was Sunday. Our corps did not march until evening; we +lay resting from the fatigues of the night before, and watching the +immense army trains hurrying by, the horses and mules lashed to their +full speed, or viewing the destruction of the great hospitals which had +been established here. + +There were here immense quantities of stores; bedding, glass and +earthenware, instruments and medicines, with cooking and other utensils +which could not, in the haste of breaking up, be transported; so they +were thrown in great heaps and burned. + +All day long the trains crowded by, four and five wagons abreast; the +drivers shouting and lashing their beasts to their greatest speed. No +one who has not seen the train of an army in motion, can form any just +conception of its magnitude, and of the difficulties attending its +movements. It was said that the train of the Army of the Potomac, +including artillery, at the time of which we speak, if placed in a +single line, the teams at the distance necessary for the march, would +extend over seventy miles. + +At Fairfax Court House, soon after this, the trains were greatly +reduced, and again at Fairfax Station; and after General Meade took +command of the army they were still further reduced. Yet, +notwithstanding all these curtailments, our trains were said to be +between thirty and forty miles long. + +How little did the impatient people, who clamored at all times, in +winter as well as summer, for an immediate "advance" of the army, +consider that this immense body must always advance with the army; that +it must always be protected; that the army on every march and at every +halt must be so disposed as to prevent the enemy from reaching it from +front, flank or rear; and that when an advance was commenced, if the +trains were to become blocked up, or stuck fast in mud, the whole army +must wait for them, no matter whether it had reached a favorable +position for a halt or not. It was no small undertaking to move an army +with such a train; yet there were many at home who thought the army +could move from one place to another with the greatest ease. + +It is true that the enemy got along with smaller trains than ours, and +it is true that the rebel army on that account was more easily moved +than our own. It was one of the disadvantages of too liberal a +government that our movements for two years were weighed down with these +cumbersome trains; and even after so long an experience of their evil it +was with strong feelings of opposition that the reduction was acquiesced +in. + +A captain or lieutenant of the line was allowed a small valise, in which +to carry his company books and his clothing; and a staff officer was but +little better off. Must this little be reduced? Surely the ammunition +and the commissary trains could suffer no diminution. The amount of +hospital supplies carried in the wagons was already limited; could it be +reduced? The people were clamoring to have wagons of the Sanitary and +Christian Commissions admitted to the hospital trains, to carry articles +which, although they were gratefully received by the soldiers, yet were +not absolutely necessary. The ambulance train was surely not too large, +and we could spare no artillery. + +Yet the train was reduced. Small as was the valise of the line officers, +it must be still smaller; little as was the baggage of the staff +officer, it must be less; and inconveniently contracted as was the size +of the mess chests, they must be still further reduced. + +Thus, through the day, we watched the hurrying trains as they swept by +with immense clatter and tumult; and the files of troops, guards to the +trains, pressing forward, amid the clouds of dust and the rattle and +noise of the wagons. As the sun sunk in the west, we gathered about a +green knoll, in the shade of a pine grove, and sung old familiar hymns; +then the chaplain made a prayer; thus was offered the evening sacrifice +for the Sabbath. Few who gathered-- + + "Where through the long drawn aisle or fretted vault, + The pealing anthem swells the note of praise," + +offered more heartfelt thanksgiving, or more earnest supplications for +future protection, than the band of veterans seated on that mossy bank, +while about them was the confusion of a great army, pressing to meet its +foe. + +At length, at nine o'clock at night, we took the road, and, joining the +mighty column, marched rapidly forward. The night was dark, and the +roads uneven, yet the men pressed forward with wonderful spirit. They +had heard during the day that Lee with his army, avoiding us on the +right, and moving with secrecy, had already eluded us, and was rapidly +making his way into Maryland, taking his route through the Shenandoah +Valley. This was enough to stimulate men whose greatest desire was to +meet their opponents in open fight, even on rebel ground. But now the +rebels were invading northern soil; Maryland, Pennsylvania, and even New +York, were threatened, and the men knew no limit to their enthusiasm. +"We can whip them on our own soil," said they. "There is no man who +cannot fight the better when it is for his own home." Such expressions +passed from lip to lip as the dark column pushed on during the whole +night. At times there would be a halt; not for rest, for the men, +expecting momentarily to move on, would stand in the ranks; then, on +again. Here and there were the camps of troops who had occupied the +extreme right of the army. Fine arbors and avenues had been erected from +the cedar boughs; these were set on fire, and the whole heavens were +aglow with the flames. Morning dawned, the march was becoming tedious. +The men were faint, and wanted rest and coffee; but there was no halt. + +Faint and weary, yet with determination, the masses of men toiled along. +At length, as the morning advanced, the heat of the sun was almost +intolerable, and the dust suffocating. Not a leaf stirred on the trees. +Vegetation drooped under the scorching rays, and the clouds of dust was +so dense, that one could not see half the length of a regiment. + +The men at length began to fall from exhaustion. One after another, with +faces burning with a glow of crimson, and panting for breath, would turn +to the surgeons of their regiments, and receive passes to the ambulances +and a draught from the surgeon's flask; but at length no more passes +could be given; the ambulances were crowded, and so many were falling on +every side, that it became useless to require or attempt to give passes, +or even for the surgeons to attempt to relieve the sufferers. + +In every corner of the rail fences, and under every tree and bush, +groups of men, with faces glowing with redness, some with streams of +perspiration rolling down their cheeks, and others with their red faces +dry and feverish, strewed the wayside and lined the hedges. Here the +color-bearer of a regiment, his color lying beside him, lay gasping for +breath; there a colonel, his horse tied to the fence, strove to fan the +air into a little life with his broad-brimmed hat. Under one little +clump of cedars might be seen an exhausted group of line officers, +captains and lieutenants, and under the next, a number of enlisted men +who could no longer keep the road. The spectacle along the roadside +became appalling. Regiments became like companies, and companies lost +their identity; men were dying with sunstroke; and still the march was +continued. This could not last much longer, for the brave men who still +held out were fast losing strength, and soon there would be no troops +able to move. At length, at nearly three o'clock, we came in sight of +the little, old, depopulated town of Dumfries. Here, to the joy of all, +we saw men filing into the fields for a halt. There was no cheer, no +expression of gladness; for the tired men, with feet blistered and raw, +worn out by seventeen hours' constant march, almost melted and +smothered, cared little for demonstrations. Throwing themselves upon the +ground, they rested for half an hour, and then, rousing long enough to +cook their coffee, they refreshed themselves with their hard tack, pork +and coffee, and were ready to sleep. Here the Vermont brigade was drawn +up in line, and some half a dozen men, skulkers, principally from the +Twenty-sixth New Jersey, were drummed out of camp, the bands of the +brigade playing "The Rogues' March." All who were participants of that +day's work, remember it as the most trying march of the Army of the +Potomac. Very grateful to the weary army was sleep that night, but, at +two o'clock in the morning, the shout passed along the line, "fall in! +fall in!" And so, without coffee, we rolled our blankets and fell into +line. But, as often happens, when the whole army is to move, some parts +must wait long before the others are out of the way. So we of the Sixth +corps waited until four o'clock, and got our coffee finally before the +rest of the column had made way for us. It was another hot, dusty day, +but not so intolerable as the day before, and about two or three o'clock +we arrived at Occoquan creek, crossing at Wolf Run Shoals. Here we had +two or three hours' rest. The men had no sooner halted than they plunged +into the stream, and the wide creek was soon alive with swarms of men +splashing and diving in the cooling element. + +It was a novel sight. An army bathing. A brigade of nine months Vermont +troops, had been stationed here during the winter. They were full +regiments, never thinned by exhausting labors, hard campaigns or the +trying ordeal of battle. They now bade farewell to their comfortable +quarters and picket duty, and joined the Grand Army on a real campaign. +Although we had already made a long march, at four o'clock we were again +on the road, and before dark we reached Fairfax Station, six miles from +Wolf Run Shoals. This was a more cheerful march than the others. The +men, refreshed by their bath, and strengthened by a good dinner and two +hours' rest, now went shouting, singing and laughing, as though marching +was but play. + +This day we heard that some part of Lee's army was in Pennsylvania! The +men were as anxious to go forward as were their commanders. The corps +bivouacked in groves on the turnpike, which led from Fairfax to +Manassas, resting for the night and the following day. Here our train +underwent a process of purging. Needless articles, and many useful ones, +which could be disposed of, were sent to the rear. The trains were to go +with smaller loads, and many teams were to be taken from them. + +We had marched, since setting out from before Fredericksburgh, through a +country, well enough by nature, but neglected, barren and depopulated. +How large a portion of this great State was in this sad condition? Its +naturally rich fields were grown up to scrub pines, mugworts and +wormwood. Its fair valleys desolate of inhabitants, or inhabited by low +white trash, as idle as ignorant. The groves and fields where we now +rested were pleasant for a bivouac, but the fields were waste land, and +the oak timber was all that seemed of any value, as far as we could see. +Yet we were now within a few miles of Washington, where articles of food +brought fabulous prices, and wood could scarcely be procured. Why were +these fine lands desolate? Was it because agriculture was unprofitable? +Surely, with Washington and Alexandria so near, and Baltimore at a short +distance farther, there should be a good market for produce. Was it +because the war had put a stop to agricultural pursuits? The scrub pines +and dwarf oaks growing upon deserted tobacco fields, where the ridges +were still plainly visible, showed that before the war indolence +prevailed. + +At five o'clock on the morning of June 19th, we were again on the march, +reaching Fairfax Court House before noon. Again our train was +overhauled, baggage reduced, and teams sent to the rear. By this time +the train began to assume more reasonable dimensions. General officers +were strictly forbidden the use of ambulances, henceforth all ambulances +were to be used for their legitimate purposes, and general officers and +their staffs were to get along with a more reasonable amount of baggage, +while regimental officers were to be allowed only the most limited +amount of transportation. A single small valise only was the extent of +baggage for each regimental officer, and a mess chest of the size of a +cracker box, was to be the allowance for all officers of a single +company. + +About Fairfax Court House was stationed a division of cavalry and some +infantry, under the command of General Stahl. These troops, like the +brigade of Vermont troops, had been employed in guarding the country +against the inroads of guerilla bands. These were now also to join the +Army of the Potomac, and their gallant conduct at Falling Waters, a few +days after, showed them to be composed of the best material. + +General Hooker, unwilling to favor General Lee, by uncovering the +capital, and wisely judging of his wary enemy's motives, instead of +pushing rapidly forward to Maryland, as Lee desired, threw the different +corps into positions, which should at once be favorable for watching his +movements, and resisting any attack. Accordingly, our own corps, turning +partly back from our line of march, on the 20th, marched towards Bristow +Station. + +We passed through Centreville, its powerful forts and redoubts +garrisoned by large regiments of men, who wore bright new uniforms, and +whose officers had red tufts upon their caps. These new uniforms were +soon to be as grimy and dusty as those of the veterans, at whom they now +gazed with so much interest, and the full regiments were soon to find +their ranks thinned by the same terrible process which had made those +passing by them only fragments of regiments. + +The works about Centreville were of most powerful character, having been +made even stronger than at the last battle of Bull Run. In the forts and +redoubts upon the commanding positions, was mounted heavy artillery, and +the long lines of trenches and breastworks, stretching far to the +flanks, and commanding declivities where musketry and artillery could +sweep an advancing force with terrible effect, rendered the position +impregnable from any direct assault. The few dilapidated houses still +remaining to mark the site of the village, presented a forlorn and +pitiful appearance. Deserted by their owners, occupied as stables and +storehouses some of them falling in ruins, and all dirty and +dilapidated, they were a mournful commentary on the ruthless destruction +which follows in the footsteps of war. Still further on, our route led +us along the Manassas Gap railroad. Here were more sad pictures of the +havoc of war. The track was torn up, the ties burnt. Every now and then, +numbers of car wheels and axles, iron bands and braces, couplings and +reaches, showed where whole trains had been burned. + +Here and there, the incombustible materials among the debris showed the +lading of particular cars. The remains of fruit cans, tin plates, +blacking boxes and glassware, told of sutlers who had disposed of their +wares at less than the usual exorbitant prices. Heaps of spikes and +handleless hammers, and iron bars, reminded us of disconcerted plans in +railroad extension, while numberless solid shot, bullets and fragments +of shells, showed where car loads of ammunition had been consumed in +harmless explosions. + +At length, after a hard day's march, we arrived at Bristow Station, +where the corps turned into the fields and bivouacked. + +The tower and wind-mill which had been used for raising water to the +tank, remained alone to show where the station had been; all the other +buildings being destroyed, except where still remained the dismantled +ruins of what had once been a hotel. + +Here, as for miles back on the road, were the remains of ruined cars and +their contents. + +The surrounding country was delightful. A mile or two south of us was a +little church in the midst of an oak grove. It is an agreeable +peculiarity with the southern people, that they are accustomed to locate +their country churches in the midst of pleasant groves, sometimes at a +distance from any residence. In this respect, they certainly exhibit +better taste than the people of most of our northern States, who have +such a propensity for setting the church on the summit of some high hill +where not a tree or shrub adorns the grounds, and the aspiring steeple +seems, like Babel, to be striving vainly to reach the heavens. + +On the morning after our arrival here, we heard the sounds of +cannonading not far off, and learned that the cavalry under General +Pleasanton were hotly engaged at Aldee and Upperville, with Stuart's +rebel cavalry, and that our forces were getting the best of the +desperate encounter, winning laurels for themselves and gaining another +of that series of victories which was destined to remove the derision in +which that arm of the service had been held, not from any previous want +of good fighting qualities on the part of our cavalry. General +Pleasanton had attacked Stuart's forces near Middleburgh, driving the +rebels in confusion through Upperville to Ashby's Gap, taking some +pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners. General Kilpatrick, +in this engagement, had exhibited fighting qualities of the first order, +riding in front of the men and leading the way when they hesitated. His +gallant conduct inspired for him the confidence and admiration of his +men. It was the commencement of a brilliant career which made him one of +the first cavalry commanders in the army. His dashing ride from the +Peninsula to Fredericksburgh, with but a handful of men, eluding the +watchfulness of the wily Stuart, had already established his talent for +bold adventure, and his conduct on this occasion proved his personal +bravery. These are the two great qualities needed for a cavalry officer, +and Kilpatrick's name at once became a tower of strength among his men. + +In this pleasant locality the corps remained, an outpost for the army, +guarding the passes from the Shenandoah, for five days. The weather was +delightful, and the men enjoyed, to the utmost, the needed rest. They +lounged in the shade of their tents or in the neighboring groves, or +strolled along the railroad track, examining curiously the ruined +remains of the trains. In a delightful spot at a distance from the +camps, almost surrounded by a grove of oak trees, the hospital tents of +our Second division were erected. To this quiet and lovely spot, where +cool breezes always played, were brought the sick and weary, and +carefully nursed. + +But General Lee despaired of inducing General Hooker to uncover the +capital, so, leaving Virginia with his whole army, he pushed toward +Pennsylvania, determined at least to draw our army as far away from +Washington as possible, and to reap rich harvests of spoils among the +overflowing granaries of the Keystone State. No sooner had the movement +of the main body of Lee's army into Maryland commenced, than General +Hooker, with his forces, commenced the pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE GETTYSBURGH CAMPAIGN. + + The rebels in Pennsylvania--Panic at Harrisburgh--Alarm at + Baltimore and Washington--Sixth corps leaves Bristow Station--A + surprise--General Meade takes command--Position of the + army--Marching through Pennsylvania--An unprecedented + march--Exciting news--Battle of Gettysburgh--Death of + Reynolds--First and Eleventh corps fall back--Second day's + battle--The battle-field--Fighting at Round Top--On the + right--The grand onset--The battle decided--Rebel and Union + wounded. + + +Meanwhile, great excitement prevailed at the north, especially in +Maryland and Pennsylvania, on account of the invasion of the rebel army. +As early as the 15th of the month, more than a thousand rebel cavalry +had reached Chambersburgh, which they had sacked. Two days before, the +battle of Winchester was closed. Ewell, with overwhelming numbers had +fallen upon General Milroy's force, which had unwisely been, by order of +somebody, thrust far away from its base, and out of the reach of +reinforcements, routing the division, and in its flight capturing its +artillery and a large portion of the infantry. + +Nothing now opposed the march of the invaders through the Shenandoah +Valley. In Harrisburgh, the excitement rose almost to a panic. All the +paintings, books, papers, and other valuable articles, were removed from +the capitol, packed in boxes and loaded into cars, ready to be sent off +at the first sign of immediate danger. The citizens formed themselves +into military companies, and worked day and night throwing up redoubts +and rifle pits about the city. Men unaccustomed to manual labor +vigorously plied the pick and the spade, and kept up their unwonted toil +with an earnestness worthy of veteran soldiers. To add to this confusion +and alarm, the trains of Milroy's division that had escaped capture were +rattling through the streets in search of a resting place. Throughout +the State of Pennsylvania business was suspended. The governor was +calling loudly for men to rush to arms in defense of their homes; and +General Couch was striving to organize the militia which presented +itself. + +Baltimore and Washington were like besieged cities. Stuart was +threatening the Baltimore and Ohio road, and bodies of rebel cavalry had +penetrated within half a dozen miles of Washington. Bells rung out the +alarm, and the affrighted citizens rushed to arms. Loyal leagues were +now of service, forming the nucleus of many an improvised company of +defenders. All these facts we learned from the newspapers, a few stray +copies of which fell within the path of the army, and from the highly +colored accounts of citizens, who, with expressions of the utmost alarm +and anxiety, related what they had heard or seen. + +On the night of the 26th of June, the Sixth corps left Bristow Station. +The darkness was intense, and a drizzling rain rendered marching +disagreeable. The march was rapid, and some of the men fell behind, and +were next day collected and marched off to Richmond, by the guerilla +parties that constantly hung upon our flanks and rear. Before daylight +we halted at Centreville. The men threw themselves upon the wet ground, +and slept for two hours, while the rain beat upon them. Then, at six +o'clock, they were again roused, by the order to be ready to move at +once. While taking our coffee, and waiting for the final order to march, +some villain, belonging to the troops stationed at Centreville, set fire +to the little Episcopal chapel that stood not far from us, and was the +only building remaining in the little village which pretended to any +appearance of modern architecture. Those vandals who follow an army, +bent on nothing but destruction, are among the unavoidable evils of war, +and even the most severe discipline is insufficient to effectually +arrest all mischief of the kind. + +Our march was a severe one for men who had been on the road all night, +and the men were glad when we bivouacked a little before dark, in a +beautiful oak grove near Drainsville. Very early next morning, +descending into the lovely valley of the Potomac, we reached Edwards' +Ferry, where troops were crossing; after a delay of one or two hours, +waiting for troops of another corps to cross the pontoon bridge, we +followed, and were in Maryland again. All day long troops were passing +over the bridges and taking their positions upon the neighboring hills, +ready for starting anew in the morning; for nearly the whole army was +crossing at this point, and as the process was necessarily slow, those +who went over first waited for those behind. + +On Sunday, we left Edwards' Ferry; marched through Poolesville and +Barnstown to Hyattstown. A halt was made at Barnstown for dinner, and +the Sixth corps left the road and occupied a pleasant valley, where the +chestnut trees afforded a grateful shade for the men. They had just +unslung knapsacks, when we were all startled by the sound of a church +bell, which seemed in our midst. The boys gazed for a moment in mute +astonishment in the direction from which the sound came, when they +discovered at a short distance from them, a little church half hidden +among the trees, and the parishioners gathering for service. When the +first surprise was over, the word passed from one to another, "It is +Sunday!" "It is Sunday!" and they set up a shout that demonstrated that +they had not forgotten to love the institutions of civilization, even +after so long an absence from a civilized country. Few who were present +at this time, will ever forget the thrill of pleasurable surprise which +we all experienced at hearing once more the sounds which so forcibly +reminded us of home. + +Some of the men attended the service. It was a Catholic church, a small +edifice which had once been white, but, by the action of the weather for +many years, it had now become brown. The seats and altar had never been +painted, and the plaster of the inner wall had, in places, fallen from +the lath. The parishioners seemed quite devout people, and the pastor a +sincere man. In his prayers he remembered the President and the +government, and he supplicated for peace. The reverend father said that, +owing to the confusion in town, there would be no sermon, but he wished +the good people to pray for sister A., who was at the point of death, +and for the repose of the soul of brother B., who was already dead. Some +of our officers engaged in a pleasant conversation with the pastor after +service. He was an agreeable, shrewd man, and professed to be a good +Unionist. + +It was at Hyattstown that we first learned that General Hooker had been +superseded, in the command of the army, by General George B. Meade. The +announcement of this unexpected change at such a time, was received with +astonishment, and by many with indignation. To deprive the leader of a +great army of his command just upon the eve of a great battle, when, by +the most brilliant marches and masterly strategy, he had thrown this +army face to face with his enemy, thwarting his designs of moving upon +the capital, without some offense of a grave character, was an act +unheard of before in the history of warfare. It seemed, from later +information regarding this extraordinary measure, that a difference had +arisen between General Hooker and his superior at Washington in regard +to the disposition of troops at Harper's Ferry, and that, each refusing +to surrender his opinion, General Hooker was relieved. His successor +demanded the same disposition on the very next day, and it was granted! + +The army was not dissatisfied with the appointment of General Meade; the +soldiers would as readily fight under Meade as under Hooker. They were +anxious to retrieve what had been lost at Chancellorsville, and would +have been glad could General Hooker have shared in the victory which +they believed they were about to achieve; but the men of the Union army +fought for their country and not for their leaders. So they at once +transferred their hopes and their obedience to the new commander. +General Meade was well known to the army as a good soldier, the brave +general who had, with his single division, dashed upon the rebels at the +first Fredericksburgh, and as the leader of a corps which behaved +gallantly at Chancellorsville. All were willing to try him, and hoped +for the best. + +The movement from Fredericksburgh had been conducted with consummate +skill and energy, and now the army was moving in several columns by +roads nearly parallel, with the twofold object of greater rapidity of +movement, and of sweeping a greater extent of country. + +The Sixth corps was now upon the extreme right, marching toward +Manchester; next, on our left, was the Twelfth corps, at Taneytown, a +little hamlet named in honor of the chief justice of the United States, +whose residence was there. At a point a dozen miles north and west of +us, was the head-quarters of the army, and the Second and Third Corps. +Further to the left, at Emmitsburgh, were the First, Fifth and Eleventh +corps. Upon either flank of this line, extending twenty miles, was +cavalry. Thus the army was guarding a great extent of country, at the +same time that the different corps were within supporting distance of +each other. + +The rebel army under General Lee, one hundred thousand strong, occupied +an equally extended line to the north and west of us, stretching from +Harrisburgh through Chambersburgh and Cashtown. + +At five o'clock, Monday morning, 28th, the corps marched again, passing +through Monroville, New Market, Ridgeville and Mount Airy Station, +halting for the night at Sam's creek. As the corps passed through +Westminster on the following day, the people welcomed us with +demonstrations of joy, which were all the more earnest, as the rebel +cavalry had, but two hours before, taken a hasty leave of them. At night +we were at Manchester, at least twenty miles from the left of the army, +and between the line of march of the enemy and Baltimore. We rested here +until evening of the next day. The plot was thickening, and the hostile +forces were moving cautiously, each watching the movements of the other, +and each ready to seize any opportunity for rushing upon its enemy to +destroy it. Thus far our marches had been of most fatiguing character. +We had, in the last four days, passed over one hundred miles of road. It +is to be remembered that these marches were made under burning suns, and +that each soldier carried with him his gun, knapsack, haversack, +containing five days' provisions, and forty rounds of cartridges. The +men had kept up wonderfully during this trying campaign, but the great +march of all, in which this magnificent corps was to outdo all that was +ever recorded of wonderful marches, was yet in store for it. + +We waited at Manchester until evening. The inhabitants were well +supplied with rye whisky, and it must be confessed that soldiers have a +way of finding out the existence of that luxury, and of supplying +themselves with it; and as the men of the old Sixth corps were in no +respect behind their comrades of the other corps, many of our brave +fellows became, long before dark, considerably inebriated. + +At nine o'clock in the evening of the 1st of July, we were on the road, +but it was eleven before we were fairly under headway. Those who during +the day had indulged so freely in the rye whisky of the farmers, as to +disable them from marching or even standing in line, were quietly thrown +into the clumps of bushes by the roadside, and left to be gathered up by +cavalry squads that were scouring the country for stragglers. Those that +were left by our own provost-guards were picked up by rebel scouts. + +The column now pushed rapidly on; all night the weary march was kept up. +A halt of ten minutes for breakfast, and then on again. Now we heard +that a part of the army, the First corps, had already engaged the enemy +at Gettysburgh, with doubtful issue, and that its commander, General +Reynolds, was killed. + +New ardor was now kindled in the breasts of the men of the Sixth corps +at these tidings, and they pressed forward at a pace unusual, even for +them. The day was bright, the sun pouring scalding rays from a cloudless +sky. The men strove hard to keep in the ranks, for few in that corps +were willing to be left behind in a fight. + +Yet some gave out from exhaustion, but even these, at a slower pace, +followed the rapidly moving column. + +At the houses on the roadsides, the citizens, their wives and daughters, +were bringing water, from which the soldiers filled their canteens as +they passed. At Littletown we saw citizens bringing the wounded from the +field in their carriages, and many wounded soldiers who could walk were +making their way to the village. The marching was more rapid. Our +friends were waiting for us. Soon we saw above the valley that lay +before us, clouds of smoke and the white puffs of bursting shells. As +yet we could distinguish little of the sound of battle, but those small +fleecy clouds which appeared so suddenly, flashing forked lightning, +told us of work ahead. It was five o'clock when the Sixth corps arrived +on the battle-field, having made an unprecedented march of thirty-four +miles! We halted in reserve, not to rest, but to wait a few moments +until our place should be assigned us in front. We had more marching to +do! Four miles more of marching and countermarching that night, made +thirty-eight miles in a single day. Such marching as had been done by +the Sixth corps since leaving Bristow Station, is unparalleled in the +history of armies. + +The roar of battle was terrific. On our left, where rose a hill covered +with timber on the top and side, a fearful struggle seemed in progress, +and the roll of musketry and the rapid discharge of artillery was almost +deafening. + +Let us now turn back and review the operations of the First and the +Eleventh corps since yesterday morning. We give it as it was related to +us by members of the First and Eleventh corps. General Buford, +commanding the cavalry on the left flank of the army, had advanced north +of the town of Gettysburgh, and had fallen in with large bodies of +cavalry, supported by infantry. He became hotly engaged with this force, +and at once reported the information to General Meade that he had found +the enemy in large force. General Reynolds, who, with the First corps +had by this time reached Marsh creek, within easy striking distance of +Gettysburgh, was directed to urge his troops forward to Gettysburgh as +rapidly as possible. The corps pushed on, and reaching Gettysburgh, +filed through the town, leaving it to the rear. General Buford was found +fiercely struggling to maintain his position against the infantry of the +enemy. At once, General Reynolds proceeded to select a position for his +line of battle. Without a moment's hesitation, the corps was deployed; +the division of Wadsworth, leading the van, was in position; a battery +which had been brought to the front was slowly forced back, but the +gallant Wadsworth, bringing more infantry into line, arrested the +retreat, and in turn forced back the hostile forces, who were now found +to be in large numbers. It was at this time that General Reynolds, +riding forward with a few members of his staff, to inspect the field +with the view of bringing the rest of his troops into favorable +position, was shot through the neck, the enemy having, at the moment, +opened a full volley of musketry. The noble commander, feeling the +wound, turned to his soldiers and shouted, "Forward men! for God's sake, +forward!" and fell, dying, into the arms of one of his companions. + +This sad loss only fired the hearts of the soldiers to more desperate +determination, and they rushed into line upon the run, burning to avenge +their beloved leader. General Doubleday, of the Second division of the +corps, was next in rank, and took command. The encounter was sharp, and +the rebels were giving way. Three hundred prisoners were brought in, and +the corps was put into position to hold its ground. The force of the +enemy now engaged, proved to be the corps of General A. P. Hill, and the +prisoners declared that the rest of the confederate army was close at +hand. A column of the enemy now moved toward the left of our line, +debouching from a piece of woods, and occupying a close proximity to our +forces. Volley after volley was poured into the advancing column, +without avail, except to stretch many of its men upon the ground, +wounded and dying. + +At length the brigades of Doubleday's own division were ordered to +charge upon the obstinate line. They obeyed with alacrity, their cheers +and shouts ringing above the roar of musketry. The rebels gave way +before this impetuous charge, and several hundred more prisoners were +brought in. + +Thus far the First corps was victorious, but its ranks were becoming +terribly thinned. + +In the meantime, General Howard, with the Eleventh corps, was hastening +to the assistance of the First. Just before receiving his fatal wound, +General Reynolds had sent a messenger to Howard, who, with his corps, +was ten miles behind, to hasten forward as rapidly as possible. + +The men of that corps were burning to wipe out the unfortunate record of +Chancellorsville, and the roar of artillery before them, inspired vigor +in their movements and urged them forward; but the noise of the battle +was heard by others. + +Ewell, with his confederates, was but three miles off; and while the +Unionists looked for the coming of help, a fresh corps reinforced the +rebels. But the opposing forces were, for the time, willing to allow a +lull in the battle. So, from ten o'clock until half-past two the First +corps held the enemy at bay. By this time a division of the Eleventh +corps was on the ground and another on the other side of Gettysburgh. +General Howard took command. The Union reinforcements were just +arriving; those of the rebels had already taken their position, and were +ready for a desperate charge. + +Suddenly, rushing from the cover of the woods in which they had +debouched from the York road, the old corps of Stonewall Jackson, now +under Ewell, charged, with yells, down upon the Eleventh. The Germans, +this time stood their ground, returning with spirit, the volleys of +their old antagonists. + +On the left, Hill was also charging fiercely upon the First corps, and +the sturdy divisions of Wadsworth and Cutler were almost destroyed. + +The rebel line now overlapped that of the Union forces on either flank, +and the two corps under Howard were in danger of being surrounded by the +greater numbers of their adversaries. The lines began to waver under the +fearful storm of lead and iron, and the order was given to fall back. +The lines retired in good order until they reached the town. There, in +passing through the streets, the Germans became confused and alarmed, +and the retreat of the corps became a rout. Twelve hundred were taken +prisoners in the streets. The First corps maintained its line of battle +and held its foe at a distance in spite of the deadly fire which was +decimating its ranks. The heroic Wadsworth cheered and encouraged his +men by his own noble example, while the messengers of death shrieked +thickly about him. On the right of the corps, Hill had already forced +back the line, and now the Eleventh corps having left him, both flanks +of his division were exposed. It was useless to protract the hopeless +struggle, and these sturdy troops also fell back, retiring slowly and +firmly, while the rebels, flushed with victory, were pouring into front +and flank the most deadly fire. It was a moment of vital importance to +our army and our cause. A rout of these two corps, while the remaining +two-thirds of the army was separated in columns far distant from each +other, must insure the destruction of each column in detail, and give to +the rebels undisputed sway throughout the north. But the christian hero, +whose empty sleeve testified of hard fought fields before, was still +sufficient for the crisis. Halting the retreating divisions as they +reached the line of hills upon the south side of the town, and selecting +a ridge called Cemetery Hill for his second line of battle, he reformed +his disordered ranks, and planting batteries so as to sweep the +declivity in front and on right and left, awaited the onset of the +victorious hosts. On they came, until half through the town, when, from +the whole line of guns on the crest, burst a murderous fire, from which +the assailants staggered in consternation. + +The tide was turned; for now a part of Hancock's Second corps was coming +up, and in half an hour the rebels retired, and the one-armed general +was master of the situation. But the day had been a fearful one for the +two corps. + +The First corps had lost its general, loved and admired for his bravery. +Hundreds from the ranks of the corps, lay beyond the village stretched +in death. Of those who went into the fight in the morning, but one-half +remained. + +The havoc was almost as fearful in the Eleventh corps. Hundreds had been +killed and a greater number captured. Yet there was no faltering among +those veterans, and when, toward evening, the Third and Twelfth corps +arrived upon the field, their confidence and hope rose, and all now +believed that our army was yet destined to achieve a grand victory. + +No further demonstrations were made on either side that night. Each +party was gathering its strength for the grand conflict. Late in the +evening General Meade arrived on the field, and with General Howard +proceeded to inspect the ground, and make arrangements for posting the +troops of the army. + +The Eleventh corps was still to occupy Cemetery Hill, just opposite the +town. Upon a knoll to the right of the Eleventh corps was the First +corps, and still farther, and forming the extreme right of the army, was +the Twelfth corps, General Slocum. On the left of Cemetery Hill, +occupying the extension of the ridge and a prominent hill, Round Top, +the Third corps, General Sickles, was posted, and the Second corps, +General Hancock. The Fifth corps was to be held in reserve until the +arrival of the Sixth corps. Thus through the night, the two armies lay +upon their arms, each watching the other, to wake to a contest more +fearful than the last. + +At daylight Thursday morning, July 2d, the rebel skirmishers opened fire +upon parts of our lines of pickets, but there was little betokening any +general engagement. Occasionally a few of the skirmishers of the enemy, +would make a charge upon parts of our line forcing back the pickets, but +a gun from some one of our batteries would hastily send them to the rear +again. Doubtless it was for the purpose of disclosing the positions of +our batteries, that their dashes were made. Thus the day wore on until +four o'clock. + +General Sickles, with the Third corps, had moved out beyond the general +line of battle nearly a mile, and had come upon the advance of the +enemy, where Longstreet, with one-third of the rebel army, was +concentrating his forces against the left flank, with the hope of +turning it and seizing the ridge. + +The battle opened at once. Seven batteries of artillery opened upon +front and flank of the exposed corps, and large bodies of infantry in +column by division. The corps withstood the shock heroically, and was +soon strengthened by troops from the Second corps. Our artillery now +opened upon the rebels from the ridge, and hurled destruction upon them. +The valley was filled with bursting missiles, and the smoke rolled up in +huge columns. It was at this stage of the great battle that the Sixth +corps arrived on the ground, after its unparalleled march, and the Fifth +corps was at once ordered into the fight. For an hour the Sixth corps +was the reserve of the army, but even this reserve was soon called into +action. + +The writer, while our corps waited for orders, rode along the front, +from where the Second and Third corps were engaged in their deadly +struggle with the enemy, across Cemetery Ridge and to the hill where, on +the right of the line, Slocum had established his head-quarters, and he +will attempt to describe the field as he saw it. + +To form a correct idea of the position of the armies, one should imagine +two ranges of hills, between which was the valley and the village of +Gettysburgh. + +These ridges are nearly parallel, and are from a mile to a mile and a +half asunder. Their course is not a direct line but curving. The ridge +on which our forces are posted, bend outward and backward, so that the +line is in the form of a half circle, fronting from the center, while +the rebels were forced to occupy an exterior line facing towards the +center. + +At Gettysburgh several roads converge, first, on the right is the +Baltimore turnpike, next is the road to Taneytown, and further to the +left is the Emmitsburgh road. These all meet at Cemetery Hill, which is +the key to the whole situation. + +Cemetery Hill is in the center of a range of hills running south and +west from Gettysburgh, and considerably in front of the others. Standing +upon its summit, the spectator looks down upon the village, a little to +his right and upon the long declivity stretching between the crest and +the town. + +The crest of this ridge is bristling with batteries, which are so +arranged as to sweep the declivity, the valley below, and the opposite +range of hills. Here, by the side of the Baltimore pike, General Howard +has his head-quarters, and just in front lie long lines of infantry, who +wear the crescent badge, which distinguishes the Eleventh corps. + +Stretching to the left and rear, Cemetery Ridge gradually diminishes in +elevation, until it reaches an abrupt peak which rises considerably +above the other hills of the range. This is Round Top. It is covered +with timber at its summit, its sides are rugged, and, toward the enemy, +quite steep. On the north slope of Round Top, the Second and Third corps +are maintaining the unequal struggle with one-third of the rebel army. +The roar of musketry is awful beyond description, and the whole valley +trembles with the thunder of the artillery. On the right of Cemetery +Ridge is another elevation, Slocum's Hill, where the commander of the +Twelfth corps sits among the huge fragments of rock, watching his own +and the enemy's line in his front, and where is another battery, which +from time to time is sending its screaming messengers to the hills +beyond or across a little stream which winds along the right of his +position. + +In rear of Slocum's Hill is a little whitewashed cottage, surrounded by +a picket fence. There are two or three wall tents in the yard, and many +horses are tied to the fence. This is the head-quarters of the army. +From this point General Meade is directing all the movements of the +Union forces. + +It will be seen that our troops could be sent from one point to another +of the line, easily and quickly, while the rebels, who occupied the +exterior of the circle, must make long circuits in order to reinforce +one part of the field with troops from another. For the first time since +Malvern Hill, our forces had the advantage of position. + +The rebel lines which had so fiercely attacked the Third corps, steadily +advanced, pouring destruction before them, while the two corps, unable +to resist the weight of the advancing columns, steadily fell back. At +the moment that the Sixth corps reached the field, the Fifth were +rushing to the assistance of the wavering lines on Round Top. + +It was a glorious spectacle, as the veteran wearers of the St. Andrew's +cross rushed along the rear of the peak and among the rocks, at +double-quick, and then suddenly moving by the flank, formed in line of +battle. Through the woods and down the slope they rush, fall upon the +advancing columns, and check their progress. The Union line now advance +upon the rebels, who fall back more. Shot and shells pour in a fearful +storm from the rebel batteries, sweeping the slope of Round Top and the +crest of Cemetery Hill. Here, near Howard's quarters, a train of +ambulances and army wagons attract the fire of the enemy, and the +bursting shells soon send them hurrying through the narrow defile in the +rocks through which the road passes, panic stricken. For more than two +hours the desperate battle rages on the left, while the right, except +that on either side artillery belches forth its thunders, is quiet. The +Sixth corps, the only reserve of the army, is also put into the line on +the left; only one brigade, Neill's, is sent to the right to reinforce +Slocum, who has also sent a great portion of his corps to the left, and +against whom the rebels are now charging. The doubtful contest ceases as +darkness gathers over the battle-field, leaving the rebels still in +possession of some of the ground occupied by Sickles' corps at four +o'clock. + +Both armies again lay upon their arms, waiting for daylight, by which to +renew the contest. The losses in the Second and Third corps had been +fearful, and scarcely less were those of the Fifth. From our own Sixth +corps, there were many killed and wounded, but compared with these +others, the loss was slight. General Sickles had been wounded early in +the fight, and suffered amputation of a leg. The morning of July 3d +dawned brightly, and at once the rattle of musketry told of the renewal +of strife. On the right, where Slocum with a single division of his own +troops and our Third brigade of Howe's division, Sixth corps, held the +long line, an attempt was made to retake the rifle pits which the rebels +had captured yesterday. The rebels in turn charged furiously. They had +possession of some of our pits, and now they hoped to turn our flank and +rout the army; but the small force replied to the desperate charge of +the whole of Ewell's corps with the most stubborn resistance. Charge +after charge was made, but to no avail. At length Neill's brigade passed +far to the right of the rebel line, and poured an enfilading volley into +the gray-coats. They, supposing that a heavy force had got on their +flank withdrew, when our forces charging in turn, drove them with great +loss from the rifle pits, which were held during the remainder of the +engagement in spite of repeated efforts to dislodge our forces. By noon +quiet prevailed along the whole line, except that now and then a shot +from some of our batteries screamed across the valley, but eliciting no +reply. The rebel lines could be seen moving here and there as if +preparing for a desperate struggle. The men at our batteries declared +that so completely had they got the range of the other crests that the +rebels dare not open a piece. Little did they imagine that more than a +hundred guns were concentrating just behind the little strip of woods +below them. + +This unwonted silence continued until about one o'clock, when suddenly, +as though pandemonium had broken loose, the air was filled with the +shrieks, screams, howls and clangor of bursting shells. The sky was +filled with smoke, amid which flames darted in every direction, and the +valley and hills quaked with the thunders of artillery. Never on this +continent had been heard such cannonading as this. For two hours this +storm of shell and shot raged in all its fury. At the first opening of +the storm, parts of our line were forced back, but they quickly advanced +again. Horses and men fell together, mangled and torn by the screaming +missiles. In some of our batteries every horse was destroyed, and the +men drew back the pieces by hand to save them from capture. One hundred +and twenty-five guns were concentrated against our left center, which +continued for two hours to belch forth death and destruction. At length, +when it was supposed that our guns were silenced, and our infantry +confused by the fearful cannonade, came the expected charge of infantry. +Longstreet's corps, massed, with Picket's division in front, rushed +forward with the well known yells, which rang above the clangor of +musketry and artillery, and threw themselves with utmost fury upon the +Union lines. Our men had waited the onset with unflinching courage, and +now poured into the assailants a most murderous fire, which hurled them +back and strewed the ground with their dead and dying. Again, with the +fierceness of desperation, they rush forward, and again are met with the +same deadly reception. Hundreds from the attacking columns, in order to +escape the certain doom, threw down their arms and came in as prisoners. +The tide of battle lulled for a time. + +Again artillery did its work alone, until about four o'clock, when the +last desperate charge was made, the grand effort which was to sweep the +Union lines in confusion, or result in the total defeat of the rebel +army. + +The heavy masses swept up as before, with the desperation of madness. +They advanced until they were fairly on our lines, and, at some points, +actually pushed them back. Then they were met with enfilading fires, +from which the carnage exceeded all that had been before. Nearly the +whole of Picket's division, finding itself unable to retreat through the +fiery storm, was captured, and the remaining divisions reeled back in +confusion, leaving the ground literally covered with dead. + +This decided the fate of the battle. The enemy had staked all upon this +last desperate charge, and had been hurled back in confusion and with +enormous losses. + +No pursuit was attempted, but, although the rebels were not at once +driven from their position, they had suffered a terrible defeat, and +they must retreat with all speed to their defenses in Virginia, or +submit to the destruction of their army. Our wounded were collected in +great numbers in and about the field hospitals, which were composed +chiefly of hospital tents, some farm house with its large barns, serving +as a nucleus for each. To these, thousands of our brave comrades were +brought with mangled limbs, torn bodies or bleeding heads, yet, +notwithstanding their terrible wounds, exhibiting their accustomed +heroism. Long trains of ambulances were bringing in crowds of poor +fellows with arms or legs torn to shreds, yet who never uttered a word +of complaint, and who, indeed, appeared cheerful, and some even gay. + +In this respect there was the greatest contrast between the wounded of +the Union and the rebel armies. A Union soldier, if so severely wounded +that he could by no possibility assume a cheerful countenance, would +shut his teeth close together and say nothing. While a rebel, if he +could boast of only a flesh wound, would whine and cry like a sick +child. One unaccustomed to such scenes as can only be witnessed about a +field hospital in time of battle, would be filled with astonishment at +the stoical bravery manifested by the northern troops. If one had passed +along where our men were lying in rows, he would only now and then have +heard a groan escape from some poor fellow who had received a bullet +through the abdomen or some such fatal and painful wound. But let a +group of wounded rebels be placed in some part of the hospital, and +their groans were heart-rending. This contrast is not overdrawn. Every +surgeon who has had opportunities to observe the difference in the +bearing of wounded men of the two armies, can testify to the greater +heroism of the northern soldier at such times. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PURSUIT OF LEE'S ARMY. + + Scenes of the field of Gettysburgh--The rebel hospitals--The + sightless rebel soldier boy--The Sixth corps at + Fairfield--"Hurrah for the Union"--Kilpatrick's handiwork--At + Waynesboro'--On picket--A division of militia--The Vermonters at + Funkstown--The army at Funkstown--Meade's failure to attack--New + York riots--Return to Virginia. + + +The battle was over and the invading army which had suffered such a +crushing defeat, had only to gather up its shattered remnants and +hastily retrace its steps southward. We were in no condition to renew +immediate hostilities. Every man and every gun had been brought into +service. Never before had all of our army been fought at once. At +Gettysburgh, every man of the infantry reserve, and every gun of the +reserve artillery had been brought into action. The men were exhausted +by their tedious marches and hard fighting, while our ammunition was +well nigh spent. + +During the night of the 4th of July, Lee's army retreated, and on the +morning of the 5th, our Sixth corps, Sedgwick's cavalry as the corps was +called, was sent in pursuit on the Fairfield road. The battle-field was +horrible. Dead men were thickly strewed over the fields with their faces +blackened, and eyes starting from their sockets; and upturned, swollen +horses lay, sometimes in groups of six or eight, showing where some +battery had suffered fearfully. As we passed the scene of the conflict +on the left, at the foot of Round Top, was a scene more than usually +hideous. Blackened ruins marked the spot where, on the morning of the +third, stood a large barn. It had been used as a hospital. It had taken +fire from the shells of the hostile batteries, and had quickly burned to +the ground. Those of the wounded not able to help themselves were +destroyed by the flames, which in a moment spread through the straw and +dry material of the building. The crisped and blackened limbs, heads and +other portions of bodies lying half consumed among the heaps of ruins +and ashes, made up one of the most ghastly pictures ever witnessed, even +on the field of battle. But we passed these direful scenes to meet with +others of less shocking but still sad character. Every house and barn +from Gettysburgh to Fairfield was a hospital; and about most of the +large barns, numbers of dilapidated hospital tents served to increase +the accommodations for the wounded. + +All of the worst cases were left in these hospitals, the number being +estimated, by the rebel surgeons in charge, at no less than fifteen +thousand. Never had we witnessed such sad scenes as we were passing +through to-day. The confederate surgeons were doing what they could for +their wounded, but they were destitute of medicines and surgical +appliances, and even food sufficient to supply those in their charge. At +one of these barns some of our officers stopped, and as they passed +among the gray-clad sufferers who were lying in rows upon the barn +floors, one, a boy apparently not more than sixteen years of age, +attracted the notice of one of the company, a surgeon. The lad looked +more like a delicate girl than a soldier; his hair fell from his fair +forehead in long flaxen curls upon his pillow of straw, some of them +matted with blood; his cheek was rosy, and his soft white hand told of a +youth spent amid more tender scenes than those of the camp. A piece of +linen laid across his face covered a ghastly wound where a ball had +passed through his face, and had torn both his eyes from their sockets. + +The surgeon spoke a kind word to the youth, who stretched out his hand, +saying, "Come near me, I want to touch you." The doctor stooped over +him, and the boy, pressing his hand in his own, said, "You are a friend, +are you not?" "Yes, I am a friend to all the unfortunate." "But are you +not a confederate?" "No." The boy clung to the hand of the surgeon in +silence for a moment, and then said slowly, "I did not think a federal +would speak so kindly to me; your voice sounds like that of a friend, +and your hand feels like one; will you not stay with me?" When the other +told him that he must follow his command, he replied: "Oh! I shall never +hear any one speak so kindly to me again; my mother lives in North +Carolina, but she will not see me. Can you not stay?" The doctor was far +from being a rebel sympathizer, yet he turned away from the poor boy, +with a sad face and a deep drawn sigh, to join the moving column. + +Early next morning we passed through the somewhat dilapidated village of +Fairfield. Our advance threw a few shells down the street, scattering a +body of cavalry, which had been left in town, and killing some of the +horses attached to their battery. A mile beyond the town the South +Mountain range rose in our front, the road running through a narrow +pass. Here the rear guard of the rebel army was strongly posted. Neill's +and the Jersey brigade advanced against the rebel skirmishers, but after +losing some six or eight men they were ordered to halt. General Sedgwick +deeming the position too strong to assault with his corps from the +front, reported to General Meade that the pass was very strong, and one +in which a small force of the enemy could hold in check for a +considerable time, a force much larger than its own. The main body of +the army, therefore, was moved around their flank by way of Frederick; +while Neill's brigade, with Colonel McIntosh's brigade of cavalry and +two light batteries, all under command of General Neill, were made to +form a flying division to harass the enemy in the rear. + +Our march over the mountain that day was by a wild, romantic route, than +which none more charming could be asked by tourist in search of nature's +wildest moods. Before each little log house by the roadside would stand +a wondering group, astonished at seeing such multitudes of men in those +secluded regions, where scarcely a dozen travelers usually passed in a +week. At one place, as the column was passing a cottage half hidden by +sunflowers and flowering beans, those at the head of the column were +heard cheering heartily; and, as we advanced, other voices took up the +cheer, exciting the curiosity of those behind. In the midst of the +noise, sounded a shrill voice; and as we approached, we saw, sitting +upon the fence in front of the cottage, a little boy, about four years +old, his face flushed with excitement, his flaxen hair flying in the +wind, as he was waving his little hat, and with childlike indistinctness +shouting in his shrill tones, "Hurrah for 'e Union! Hurrah for 'e +Union!" + +Soon those in the rear of the line heard those ahead shouting again, and +another shrill voice was heard between the cheers of the men. There by +the roadside stood an old man, over whom more than eighty years had +passed, with voice indistinct with the tremor of age, all excited as the +little boy had been, his hair tossed about by the breeze, as with hat +swinging he too was shouting, "Hurrah for the Union! Hurrah for the +Union!" And the cheers of the multitude again rang in response to the +old man's shout. We could but note the similarity and the disparity. One +vaguely dreamed of those blessings which the other had fully realized, +and for which he had struggled; and the same shout was lifted up by +those two children--the one of four, and the other of fourscore--the one +with the flaxen curls of childhood, and the other with the white locks +of age--the one voice with the shrill treble of infancy, and the other +with the high-keyed tones of decrepitude. Those people, who had seen the +rebel army pass a few hours before, now felt the value of the Union. + +On the summit of the mountain we passed Monterey Springs, a charming +summer retreat, where the Pennsylvanians resort to indulge in the sports +of trout-fishing and deer-hunting. Passing down the western slope of the +mountain, the handiwork of Kilpatrick was strewed along the roadside for +miles. As the battle of Gettysburgh drew to a close, and General Meade +knew that Lee must retreat toward Virginia, he had sent the dashing +Kilpatrick with his brigade of cavalry to harass the rebels in their +flight. Reaching these mountains, the cavalry had come upon a long rebel +train of wagons and ambulances, hastening with all speed, with their +lading of stolen goods and provisions and their wounded men, towards the +Potomac. With shouts and cheers the horsemen dashed from the cover of +the woods, upon the flying train, shot the leading horses and mules, +captured the drivers and remaining animals, appropriated the stolen +goods to their own use, and burned the wagons. Now, as we marched down +the forest road, the wildness of the scene was heightened by the remains +of the ruined wagons which lined the wayside, some burned, some with the +wheels disabled by cutting the spokes, others tumbled off the steep +embankment. For more than three miles, these remnants of the rebel +trains met our view. + +It was near the middle of the afternoon when the column, the army under +General Neill, descended into the beautiful Cumberland valley, and +arrived at the village of Waynesboro. The people gave our little army a +joyous reception, and we encamped at a little distance from the village. +One regiment, the Seventy-seventh, was sent on picket on the banks of +the Antietam creek, and so pleasant was the duty that the regiment +petitioned to be allowed to remain until the army moved, to which +request General Neill very graciously assented. Our picketing on the +Antietam became one of the bright sports in the history of our +campaigning. We were a mile in advance of the other troops, and the +picket line was two miles long, so that we were not at all crowded. The +weather was fine, the country delightful, and the people kind and +hospitable. The most friendly relations sprang up at once between the +people and the soldiers, the inhabitants supplying the boys with +luxuries, and taking them into their houses as welcome guests, the +soldiers on their part guarding the people against the depredations of +stragglers and militia. + +The grain was ripe for the harvest, and the farmers were short of help; +but the boys laid aside their guns, and swung the cradle and the scythe +with a zest that showed that they worked with a good will. Day after day +the boys of the Seventy-seventh reaped and bound in the fields, while +the good ladies worked day and night to make bread and cakes for the +veterans, who had so long been accustomed to diet on pork and hard tack. +Soft bread, milk, poultry and the staple luxury of Pennsylvania, apple +butter, was a glorious improvement on the usual bill of camp fare, and +kind sympathizing Union people were much better calculated to render our +stay among them agreeable, than the bitter rebels among whom we had so +long been. + +The left wing of our extended picket line was under command of Major +Babcock, who, with the line officers of his part of the picket, +established head-quarters at the house of a miller, whose comfortable +rooms and well filled larder afforded substantial inducements to our +friends; but the great attractions at the miller's house were doubtless +the three charming daughters, whose merry faces and bewitching eyes +rejoiced the hearts of our gay major and his associates. Word came to +the right of the line that our friends on the left were in the enjoyment +of far more than the usual allowance of pleasure for men on picket, and +thither started the colonel and the doctor, and our friend, Colonel +Connor, of the Seventh Maine, to investigate the matter. Riding through +a lovely region, now rising to the summit of some gentle eminence, from +whence they could look away upon the surrounding country, its rich +fields of grain ready for the harvest, its charming groves of oak, and +its neat farm houses, making up a most delightful landscape, now +descending into some green valley where babbling brooks danced over +pebbly beds, and now reining up to listen to the complaint of some +cottagers, who said that "the militia were robbing them of their pigs +and their poultry, and but for the old soldiers, who were perfect +gentlemen, they would be stripped of everything they had;" now fording +the bright waters of the Antietam, and anon halting to converse with +some group of men who were reclining beneath the shadow of some clump of +chestnuts or oaks, doing picket duty as amateurs, the party at length +arrived at the miller's house, nestled in a pleasant grove by the side +of the beautiful river. Here was the major, and here were the happy line +officers, and here was the main reserve of the left wing of the picket, +all exhibiting the most abundant good humor. Here, also, they found our +chaplain, and Chaplain Osborn, of the Forty-third New York. It was +evident, at a glance, that the reports of gay soldiering which had +reached the right of the line were in no way exaggerated. The miller +took the horses, and the party was ushered into the house, when the good +lady and her merry daughters welcomed them heartily. The miller brought +out his best wines and his biggest apples. The ladies were smiling, the +wines were good, and the apples delicious, and the hearts of the +soldiers were gladdened. The ladies retired, leaving the gentlemen in +possession of the airy sitting-room. They sung Old Hundred, and +Coronation, and Lenox, and Cambridge. Now our friend, Colonel Connor, +would lead off in a rollicking soldiers' song; then our chaplain would +follow with "Benny Havens, Oh!" and all would join in the chorus. +Chaplain Osborn, of the Forty-third, could tell a good story, and relish +a glass of wine; and so they passed a happy hour, singing and chatting, +till called to dinner, where the long table was loaded from the +abundance of the miller's stores. Dinner over, the company strolled +among the fruit trees and along the banks of the river; but at length, +as an end must come to all pleasures, our party, who had left the right +of the line in the morning, galloped back to their quarters, satisfied +that picket duty was not necessarily the most vexatious in the service. + +The Forty-ninth was provost guard for the town, and a merry time the men +had of it. Here in the principal hotel, General Neill established his +head-quarters, and in regal style amid flowers and fruits he received +the homage of the citizens and soldiers. The remaining regiments of the +brigade were stationed in a lovely grove half way between the town and +the picket line. They lounged in the shade of their beautiful camp, or +strolled to the village or to the picket line on the Antietam. They +purchased from the people fruit and bread, apple butter and other +luxuries, enjoying a pleasant respite from labors, while the Forty-ninth +guarded the town and the Seventy-seventh the river. But notwithstanding +all the pleasures of this bright episode in our campaign, the boys were +not without a source of annoyance. + +Soon after our arrival at Waynesboro, we were joined by a large division +of New York and Pennsylvania militia, under our old commander General W. +F. Smith, who still held a prominent place in the affections of the +boys. The militia was composed mostly of young gentlemen who had left +their places behind the counter or at the desk, for the double purpose +of lending their aid to their country in its hour of need, and of +enjoying a month of what they hoped would be amateur soldiering. + +On the evening of their arrival, they were all complaining bitterly of +the terrible marches they had endured, and swore they would shoot the +general if they ever got into a fight. They had marched all the way from +Harrisburgh, to which point they had been brought in cars, at the rate +of from eight to fifteen miles a day! In addition to the severe marches, +they had been subjected to great privations; many of them had not tasted +any _butter_ for more than a week, and nearly all declared that they had +absolutely nothing to eat for several days. The writer, who listened to +these grievous complaints from some who had been his friends in civil +life, pointed to their trains of wagons loaded with boxes of hard bread. +"What," replied the militia-men, "You don't expect us to eat that hard +tack do you?" + +These regiments of militia were undisciplined and unaccustomed to the +hard fare of the soldier's life, and the majority of the men took to +plundering the inhabitants of the neighboring country, and perpetrating +other depredations equally dishonorable in the eyes of the old soldiers. +As the veterans constituted the picket and the guard of the town, and +were intrusted to guard many of the houses of the citizens outside of +the village, they found great annoyance in attempting to resist the +incursions of the militia, and rather frequent collisions resulted, in +which the old soldiers usually got the best of the encounter. + +The citizens very soon learned to look upon the veterans as their +friends and their protectors, while they regarded with dread any squad +of soldiers that might approach, if they were clad in new uniforms. + +But, on the 11th of July, we drew in our picket line, the brigade +assembled, and at dark the troops, veterans and militia, were fording +the Antietam, the water nearly to their waists. We marched rapidly all +night, halting at a place called Leytirsburgh. At daylight next morning, +we were again marching. The day was extremely hot, and large numbers of +the men fell by the wayside from sun-stroke. At Smithville we fell in +with the First corps, which was moving towards Hagerstown, and the +hearts of the men were gladdened by the sight of the old familiar flags +of the Army of the Potomac. We had been absent from the main body of the +army for a week, and it seemed now as though we had fallen in with old +friends from whom we had been long separated. Falling in the rear of the +First corps, we marched toward Hagerstown. At 2 o'clock a most terrific +thunder-storm arose, such as had never overtaken our army, even in +Virginia. Huge black clouds rose from the north and from the west and +south, and meeting overhead poured down great volumes of water, until +the road through which we were marching, and which was bordered by high +banks on either side, was filled with a mad torrent which reached to the +knees, and in places to the waists of the men. At sunset we reached +Funkstown, where the main body of our corps was in line of battle, +having yesterday met the rebels and driven them more than a mile. Our +friends of the Vermont brigade had, as usual, given a good account of +themselves; and the head-boards of pine, here and there among the trees, +showed that the victory had not been gained without a struggle. + +In marching from Boonsboro towards Funkstown, the Vermont brigade in +advance of the corps, the little stream, Beaver Creek, was passed, and +General Howe found Buford's cavalry in his advance holding a strong +position against the skirmishers of the rebel infantry. At General +Buford's request, General Howe sought and obtained permission to send +the Vermont brigade to relieve the cavalry. Colonel Lewis with his Fifth +Vermont and part of the Second, and Colonel Barney with the Sixth +regiment, at once deployed as skirmishers, forming their line two miles +long. The Third and Fourth regiments were supporting a battery, and the +balance of the Second was held in reserve. They saw the rebel infantry +approach a strip of woods in front, and at once advanced and occupied it +themselves. Against this long thin line of skirmishers, the rebels +opened a severe fire of artillery and musketry, and advanced to drive +the skirmishers from their position; but the brave mountaineers never +dreaming that a Sixth corps skirmish line could not hold a rebel line of +battle, resolutely refused to leave and sent the presumptious rebel line +of battle to the rear in confusion; not, however, until Colonel +Stoughton with the Fourth and Colonel Seaver with the Third, came +forward to the support of the Fifth and Sixth. Again, the rebels, +disgusted at being repulsed by a skirmish line, came up in several lines +of battle and charged upon the Vermonters and they again went to the +rear in confusion. A third charge was made against the obstinate +skirmish line, and a third time the attack was broken. Meanwhile a +strong force attempting to cross the Antietam and come in on the flank, +was repelled by the Second Vermont. + +The gallant brigade had repelled Anderson's brigade, of seven large +regiments, from its front, and another from its flank. + +An instance of a skirmish line, a mile and a half from any support, +resisting repeated attacks of troops in line of battle, is rarely found +in the history of armies. + +The men used from sixty to eighty rounds of cartridge, and when the +first supply was exhausted, a fresh one was brought to the front on +stretchers. + +The victory cost the brigade a loss of nine men killed and fifty-nine +wounded, while the enemy lost more than two hundred men. + +The men of Neill's brigade were rejoiced to find themselves once more +with the glorious old corps, and when their brigade flag, bearing the +insignia of the Greek cross, was once more thrown to the breeze, it was +greeted with vociferous cheers. Brisk skirmishing was going on along the +line, and frequent charges were made by our Union pickets upon the rebel +line, which usually resulted in the capture of a greater or less number +of the enemy's pickets. All things indicated a great battle on the +morrow. The two armies were facing each other in a line in front of +Hagerstown, near a hamlet called Funkstown, the line of battle extending +several miles. The rebels had occupied the higher grounds, and had +thrown up strong earthworks to dispute our progress. Night came on with +rain, and all expected to be roused early by the sound of battle. But +morning came and passed, and the day wore on with little activity on our +part. Here and there skirmishers kept up a rattle of musketry, but no +general engagement came on. Much as the veterans, who knew too well the +risks of battle, usually dreaded a general engagement, this time there +seemed a universal desire, on the part of the men, now to strike a blow +which should destroy their adversaries before they should be able to +cross the river again. + +Deserters and prisoners from the rebel army represented it in a +deplorable condition; and the men of the ranks in our army believed that +this was the grand opportunity for striking a final blow. And +notwithstanding the assertion of general officers that the Potomac was +so swollen as to prevent the crossing of the rebel army, there were few +privates in our ranks who were not ready to declare that, unless we gave +battle at once, the prey would surely escape. Thus, as the day wore on, +great dissatisfaction was expressed all along the ranks--men openly and +freely cursing the hesitancy which held them back, as they believed, +from a certain victory. So, when they arose on the morning of the 14th, +to find that there was no enemy in our front, they were more incensed +than surprised. There was certainly a very general ill-feeling pervading +our army at this easy escape of the rebel army, which even the glorious +news of Vicksburg and Port Hudson failed to pacify. + +Brisk firing in the vicinity of the Potomac, however, warned us that +there were still rebels enough left on the north side of the river to +offer some resistance. We learned, late in the day, that the firing was +caused by a brilliant charge of Kilpatrick's cavalry upon the rear guard +of the rebels at Falling Waters, where they captured several hundreds of +prisoners; thus adding one more brilliant success to their many daring +achievements during this campaign. Marching until nightfall, we reached +Williamsport, and encamped very near the spot that had been our +resting-place on a former occasion, nearly a year before. + +Why General Lee and his army were allowed to cross the Potomac +unmolested, we do not attempt to explain; nor do we condemn the +determination of General Meade not to give battle. When men of such +well-known military ability and bravery as General Sedgwick advise +against a movement, it may be well to hesitate; yet it will doubtless be +the verdict of history, that the hesitancy of General Meade at this time +was his great mistake. + +A hard march on the 15th brought the Sixth corps to Boonsboro, where our +Second division encamped on precisely the same ground that we had +occupied on the 31st of October last. Neill's brigade made the march at +a breakneck pace, leaving the Vermonters far to the rear, who declared +that the recent associations of the former with the cavalry had +transformed them into a flying brigade. While resting here, a large body +of rebel prisoners was marched past. They were mostly those who had been +captured by Kilpatrick's men at Falling Waters. The rebels were hungry +and destitute of rations. Our men at once divided their rations of hard +bread and coffee with them, who, officers and all, declared that it was +the best meal they had enjoyed for several days, and expressed +themselves greatly pleased with the generosity of their guardians. + +Notwithstanding our glorious success at Gettysburgh, and the good news +from the west, we were now hearing news that made our hearts sick, and +caused the cheeks of the New York soldiers to burn for the disgrace of +their native State. It was a source of the deepest mortification to the +brave New Yorkers, to feel that their own State and the great metropolis +had been outraged by the most disgraceful riot that had ever stained the +annals of any State or city in the Union, all for the purpose of +overawing the government in its efforts to subdue the rebellion. Our +companions from other States, with the generosity that characterizes +soldiers, never derided us with this disgrace, but alluded to the riot +as an uprising of foreigners, who had for the moment overpowered the +native element. Even the fact that the governor of that great State had, +in the midst of these terrible scenes, addressed the miscreants as his +"friends," was alluded to with a delicacy that won our hearts. + +It was one of the pleasant indications of a union of hearts as well as +of States, that the soldiers of our sister States looked upon these +riots in the light of a general calamity, rather than a disgrace to a +particular State. + +Crossing the South Mountain range, from Boonsboro to Middletown, the +Sixth corps reached Petersville, three or four miles north of Berlin, +where the army was to cross the Potomac. Here, nearly the whole army was +crowded into a space of not more than three miles, all waiting for the +orders to cross. The men were universally eager to push forward, and the +necessary delay caused by crossing the men and material of so large an +army seemed to them a wearisome expenditure of time. While waiting here, +the Second division was honored by the presence of several ladies, wives +of officers of different regiments, who had been waiting in Washington +an opportunity of visiting their husbands, and had met them here. As a +memento of this brief visit, the Seventy-seventh New York received from +the wife of the surgeon the gift of a pair of beautiful guidons, which +the regiment boasted were unequaled in the army. The design was a white +cross, the badge of our division, upon a ground of deep blue silk. In +the center of the cross were wrought the figures "77." These beautiful +guidons were carried by the regiment until its final discharge from the +service, when, with the old banner, the tattered national flag, and the +magnificent new flag which was presented afterward by the ladies of +Saratoga, they were presented to the State of New York, on the Fourth of +July, 1865, in the presence of General Grant and a great concourse of +illustrious men. + +On Sunday, the 19th, the Sixth corps crossed the pontoon bridge to +Virginia, the bands playing "O carry me back." As usual, while the corps +was crossing a bridge or passing a difficult place, General Sedgwick +stood at the farther end of the bridge preventing confusion and hurrying +up teams which might obstruct the way. We climbed the rocky defile, and, +at four o'clock, found ourselves well on the Virginia side of the +Potomac. On our march we passed through the little village of +Lovettsville, and, much to the surprise of all, the doors and windows of +the dwellings were filled with ladies, whose hair and dresses were +decked with ribbons of red, white and blue, and scores of Union flags +waved a welcome to our soldiers. Such a sight had not greeted us before +in Dixie, and it was most refreshing to witness such a demonstration of +loyalty in Virginia. + +The corps encamped about ten miles from the river, near a beautiful +clear stream of water, which was very soon filled with bathers. Here +orders came for each regiment in the army to send, to the State in which +the regiment was raised, a certain number of commissioned officers and +enlisted men for recruiting duty. + +The march on the 20th was slow and through groves and pleasant meadows. +Twelve miles were made, and we halted for the night and the next day. +Wednesday we passed through Union town and Snickersville, reaching the +base of Cobbler's mountain, a high spur from the Blue Ridge, not far +from Ashby's Gap. Thursday the Sixth corps proceeded to Ashby's Gap, +and, halting there for a few hours in a most delightful valley, again +started southward. Vines of the trailing blackberry covered the ground, +and the delicious fruit grew in such profusion that the men enjoyed a +continual feast. Never had we, in our wanderings in the south, found +such an abundance of fruit, and the effect upon the health of the men +was marvelous. By the time that we reached Warrenton the occupation of +the surgeons was almost gone. At no time, perhaps, in the history of the +Army of the Potomac, did the medical reports exhibit a more general +state of health than during our stay in the vicinity of Warrenton. + +Thus, marching along at the foot of Blue Ridge, now turning aside to +enter some mountain pass, and again proceeding on the general course, +the army, on the 25th of July, reached the vicinity of Warrenton, our +Sixth corps occupying a line from Warrenton to Waterloo, the scene of +some of the early engagements of General Pope's army at the first rebel +invasion. The First division was stationed in and about Warrenton; the +Jersey brigade being provost guard of the town, where the gentlemanly +conduct of the men, and the strict order preserved in the town, won for +them the good opinions of the town's people, as well as of army +officers. The Third division was in the rear of the other two divisions, +and guarding the flank. The Second division encamped about an old +Baptist church, which, inclosed by a thick growth of trees, large and +small, had been, before the war, the only house of worship for miles +around. No paint had ever stained its seats or casings, and no steeple +from its roof had ever pointed toward heaven. The pulpit, the white +folks' seats and the black folks' seats, were all in ruins now. The +Rappahannock river was but a half a mile distant, and the +Seventy-seventh and Fifth Vermont were sent to perform picket duty along +its banks. On the following day the camps of the two regiments were +moved to the vicinity of the river, in front of the remainder of the +division, and we were ordered to perform picket duty while the division +remained in its present camp. The camp of the Fifth Vermont was +established a fourth of a mile from that of the Seventy-seventh, its +lines joining ours on the left. On the bank of the river just below our +camp, was the residence of Mr. Hart and a grist-mill; hence the place +was called "Hart's Mills." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +CAMPS AT WARRENTON, THE CENTREVILLE CAMPAIGN AND THE BATTLE OF +RAPPAHANNOCK STATION. + + Camp at Hart's Mills--A ride to the Sulphur Springs--Contrabands + going north--The Vermonters go to New York--Jersey Brigade at + Warrenton--The Sixth corps at Cedar Mountain--Retreat to + Centreville--Battle of Bristoe Station--Advance to + Warrenton--Battle of Rappahannock Station--Flight of Lee's army. + + + +The camp at Hart's Mills was truly a pleasant one. It was situated in +the midst of a most delightful oak grove, on a projecting hill, around +whose base the Rappahannock coursed in a beautiful curve. Along its +banks was our picket line. Westward the view extended over a charming +valley to the Blue Ridge, some ten miles away; and at evening, when the +sun sank behind those fine hills, tinging them and the clouds with +gorgeous colors, the prospect was truly delightful. The village of +Warrenton was some four miles distant, and the celebrated Warrenton +Sulphur Springs about three miles down the river. + +Under the direction of Chaplain Fox, a place in the grove was selected, +a speaker's stand was erected, surrounded by rows of log seats, and here +services were held on the Sabbath; and on other days of the week there +were other regimental gatherings, which the men greatly enjoyed. At +evening, the place would be lighted by Chinese lanterns of various +colors, hung among the boughs of the oak trees, giving to the grove a +most romantic appearance. + +On one evening the regiment, with many invited guests from the division, +assembled in this lovely spot and listened to speeches from several +gentlemen of eloquence, the brigade band lending the aid of fine music +to the evening's entertainment. + +Thus pleasantly passed the time of the two regiments--the +Seventy-seventh and Fifth Vermont--in doing picket duty for the Second +division, along the banks of the Rappahannock. Our friends of the Fifth +Vermont were, in addition to the pleasant location of their camp and +their easy picket duty, favored with the presence of the wives of some +of their officers. A ride to the Sulphur Springs was always a pleasant +pastime; and we recall with pleasure one of these excursions. A small +party, including one of these ladies, enjoying a morning's drive, turned +their horses' heads towards the Springs. A merry gallop across three +miles of delightful country, through pleasant groves and over rolling +meadows, fording clear sparkling streams and leaping fences, brought the +party to the former Saratoga of the south. + +The morning had been cool and cloudy, but as our friends reached the +little settlement the clouds were breaking away, and the sun began to +pour blazing rays upon them. They secured their horses and walked into +the grounds, in the midst of which General Birney, commanding a division +of the Third corps, had established his head-quarters; and as it was +then the dinner hour, the general and his staff were gathered around the +board under the shade of the chestnut trees, while a band discoursed +sweet music for the benefit of those at table. + +Oak, chestnut and ailanthus trees form a rich and grateful shade for the +grounds, which dip so as to form a kind of basin, in the center of which +rises the cupola which covers the spring. As we step down into the +inclosure of the cupola, indeed as we approach it at a distance, a +strong sulphurous odor is perceived; but there is a delightful coolness +as we sit down upon the benches which are placed around the area of the +cupola. Several Vermont officers greeted our friends as they approached, +offering the odorous drink to the lady. There are two springs or vats +within the cupola, each inclosed by marble sides; and the water stands +so high that we may dip it ourselves, thus dispensing with the necessity +of the "dippers," such as take our dimes at Saratoga. + +A glass of the sparkling fluid was presented to our lady friend, who +raised it to her lips, and then turning her face away, with an +expression of infinite disgust, and saying, with a good deal of energy, +"I don't want any," handed back the glass. The gentlemen endeavored to +convince her that the water was good; but even after adding a little +fine brandy, she could not be induced to quaff the liquid, which she +declared carried with it such powerful suggestions of unserviceable +eggs. + +Our friends lingered about the grounds for some hours, enjoying the cool +shade and examining the old buildings, the principal one of which was +originally a fine structure, but it had been burned the year before by +our soldiers. The massive columns and high walls were still suggestive +of the hilarious old times when the chivalry used to congregate here in +all its glory. Encircling the grounds was a row of long one and two +story buildings, most of them painted yellow. These were divided into +small apartments which had been used as lodging rooms. There were a +dozen or more of these buildings, all dilapidated by age rather than +suffering from the ruthless usage of war. They inclosed the grove which +occupied ten or twelve acres of land. + +Except the circle of buildings immediately surrounding the grove and +springs, there were but very few dwellings in the neighborhood, those +evidently intended for the purpose of receiving summer boarders. It was +said that about five hundred boarders used to spend the summer here +every year, and double that number of visitors took rooms at Warrenton, +a mile and a half distant, from which place they rode to the springs +morning and evening to quaff the odorous fluid, or to stroll about the +groves. The new White Sulphur Springs in the Shenandoah Valley had, for +some years past, diverted the patronage from the Warrenton springs, and +thither, at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, great numbers of +fashionable southerners had resorted. + +It was evidently a blessing that this resort had been despoiled by war. +It sadly needed renovating and modernizing, and so long as the old +buildings stood, no southerner had the enterprise to pull them down and +replace them with better ones. A few thousands of dollars in the hands +of an enterprising Yankee would soon make this one of the most +delightful resorts in the southern states. + +One of the characteristic features of our picket duty on the +Rappahannock, was the great number of contrabands who came through our +lines. + +Squads of gray-headed old negroes, young negro women and children, +carrying in bundles all their worldly store, constantly applied for +permission to enter the lines on their way to the north. The cavalry who +scouted in front on the south side of the river, returned with wagons +loaded with little darkies, whose mothers and elder sisters and +grandsires trudged along on foot. All wagons going to Warrenton without +other lading were filled with these refugees from slavery, old and +young, some black, some olive and some white; some with black curly +wool, some with wavy black hair, and some with brown ringlets. + +Our northern soldiers had, by this time, begun to look upon slavery in +its true light. They had also learned that the negroes were their +friends. It required a long schooling to teach them this lesson, but it +was thoroughly learned at last. We heard now no jeering and hooting when +a negro or wagon load of negroes went by. The soldiers treated them with +the greatest kindness, and aided them in every way to get off to the +north. + +While our boys did not hesitate long to take from the white inhabitants +any articles that they thought they were in need of, it was considered +an act of outrageous meanness to take a chicken or any other property +from the negro people. + +While passing through Orleans, on our way to the present camp, a great +many slave children were standing along the streets watching us. Many of +these children were nearly white. The attention of one our captains, who +was one of the last relics among us of that class of men who were loyal +to their country but despised the negro, was fixed upon a beautiful +child of olive complexion and wavy hair, who stood gazing in innocent +wonder at the passing column. The child was indeed a picture of +unadorned beauty, in her long coarse garment of "negro cloth." The +captain turned to a staff officer and as a tear stole down his rough +cheek at the thought of the degradation of the beautiful child, he +exclaimed, "Isn't it horrible." + +It is hardly necessary to say that the captain's sentiments from that +moment underwent a radical change, and ever after there were none more +ready to afford assistance to the needy refugees, than our generous but +hitherto prejudiced captain. + +Many of these colored refugees had the greatest faith in what they +deemed the promises of the Bible. There was an almost universal faith in +the ultimate overthrow of the south by the north, and this belief was +founded in most cases upon their supposed Bible promises. + +[Illustration: "WHAT'LL OLE MISSUS DO NOW?"] + +One of these people, a gray-haired negro, bent with age and leaning +heavily upon his staff, who hoped to spend the evening of his life in +freedom, said to the writer: "Our massas tell us dat dey goin to whip de +Yankees and dat Jeff. Davis will rule de norf. But we knowd it warnt so +cause de Bible don't say so. De Bible says that de souf shall prevail +for a time and den de norf shall rise up and obertrow dem." + +Where the old man found this strange prophecy he did not say, but many +of the slaves declared this to be Bible truth and all asserted it in the +same way.[5] + + [5] Since the above paragraph was in print, a friend has called + my attention to the passage in Daniel, chap. xi, verses 13-15, + as the probable origin of this belief among the negroes. He + further assures me that he is informed that the negroes in North + Carolina entertained the same belief. + +Among those who were thus fleeing from bondage, were two fine boys, each +about twelve years of age and from the same plantation. Each gave his +name as John, and as they were both remarkably bright little fellows, +they were at once adopted into our head-quarters family. Their sprightly +manners, their ready wit and their kindly good nature soon brought them +into general favor. We were very early one morning startled by an +extraordinary commotion in front of head-quarters, where the two Johns +stood swinging their hats, leaping and dancing in most fantastic manner, +and screaming at the top of their voices the wildest exclamations of +delight. Looking in the direction to which their attention was turned, +we saw a group of eight or ten negro women and small children +accompanied by an aged colored patriarch. One of the Johns suddenly +forgetting his ecstacy of delight, rolling up the whites of his eyes and +holding his hands above his head, exclaimed with impressive gravity, "Oh +my Lor a massa! What'l ole missus do now?" + +The party consisted of the mothers and younger brothers and sisters of +the two boys with their grandfather. Forgetting for a moment their joy +at the escape of their friends from slavery, the boys were overpowered +with the vision of "ole missus" left desolate, without a slave to +minister to her many wants. + +On the morning of the 6th of August, we were astonished to find the camp +of our neighbors of the Fifth Vermont deserted, and their picket line +occupied by a regiment from the Third division. The surprise was still +greater when we learned that the whole of the Second brigade had been +ordered to New York city to guard against any resistance which might be +offered to the enforcement of the draft. The order had reached the +brigade after midnight, and at three o'clock it was on its way to the +north. Thus the Third brigade was now all that was left of the Second +division of the Sixth corps. Up to this time General Howe had kept the +division, except the two regiments on picket, hard at work at division +drills. It is safe to say that no division in the army performed more +labor in drills than Howe's during the time that it was under command of +that officer. The whole division was encamped in one of those charming +localities which make this part of Virginia more beautiful than almost +any other, and aside from the continual round of drills, the time passed +most agreeably. The Jersey boys here spent the time in pleasant +alternation of guard duties and social enjoyments; a part of the time +being devoted to military affairs, and a much greater part spent in +agreeable attentions to the winning young ladies of Warrenton. + +But, like every other brief respite for the army of the Potomac, this +was destined to come to an end. On the 15th of September the army moved +toward Culpepper, which was reached on the 16th; the Sixth corps taking +position at a place called Stonehouse Mountain, three miles west of +Culpepper. + +Here we remained three weeks; the camps were by no means so delightful +as those about Warrenton and Waterloo, and the weather was becoming +quite cold, so that our three weeks stay at Stonehouse Mountain had +little about it to make us desire to make it longer. Some pleasing +incidents, however, relieved the monotony of our stay at this place, the +presentation of an elegant sword to Colonel French, by the line officers +of the Seventy-seventh, was the first. The presentation was followed by +festivity and merriment, and in the evening our friends of the Seventh +Maine, forming a torchlight procession, marched to the camp of the +Seventy-seventh to congratulate the colonel and line officers upon the +mutual trust and confidence existing between them. The next was the +return of the Vermont brigade from New York. The Third brigade was drawn +up in line to receive our returning comrades, and with much ceremony +welcomed them back to the division. It must be acknowledged that both +brigades would have been better pleased with the unrestrained welcome +which would have been expressed in cheers than by the formal military +salute. + +On Monday, October 5th, the Sixth corps marched to Cedar Mountain on the +Rapidan, the scene of General Banks' conflict with Jackson. The First +corps was already stationed in the vicinity of Raccoon Ford, and the two +corps now occupied a line of five or six miles along the bend of the +river, holding the roads to Culpepper and Stevensburgh. The two corps +were thus thrown out ten miles in front of the main army, having little +communication with the rear. Few wagons were allowed to follow us, and +those were ordered to the rear under a strong escort. On Friday, the +11th, the signal officers stationed on the summit of Cedar Mountain, +while watching the rebel signals, read the message sent by their flags: +"I am at James City. J. E. B. S." Thus it was known that Stuart was +making for our rear, and as long trains of wagons had also been +discovered moving in the direction of James City, it became evident that +Lee was endeavoring to throw his whole army in the rear of our own. +General Meade determined to draw the rebel army back if possible; +accordingly the Sixth and First corps were ordered to build extensive +fires and be in readiness to march at a moment's notice. On the +following morning, Buford, with a division of cavalry, appeared at +Germania Ford, some twelve miles below us, while our infantry advanced +as though about to cross at Raccoon Ford and the fords in front of the +Sixth corps. The ruse of threatening to cross the river by the two +corps, succeeded in calling the rebel infantry back to check our +advance; and at night, after building large fires, the two corps hastily +withdrew toward Culpepper, which we reached at daylight, after a severe +march. After a brief halt for breakfast, the corps, with the whole of +the infantry, was on its way toward Brandy Station, leaving the cavalry +force under Pleasanton to cover the retreat. A rapid march, in which the +army moved in several parallel columns, brought the infantry all safe +across the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station. But the cavalry were +not allowed to retreat without some hard fighting. Their guns could be +heard by us during the afternoon, and toward evening the firing became +more rapid and nearer. Indeed, the rebels advanced almost to the banks +of the river. + +Gregg, with a brigade of cavalry, was overtaken by a considerable force +of the enemy, near Jefferson, early in the day, and after a severe +engagement of two hours, fell back, crossing the river at Sulphur +Springs. + +Kilpatrick with his brigade, following the trail of the infantry, and +designing to form a union with Gregg, found, on passing Brandy Station, +that his way was blocked by a whole division of rebel cavalry, which had +slipped in between him and the rear of the infantry. Halting for a +moment to take a single glance at the situation of affairs, the dashing +general shouted to his men, "Boys, there are the cusses!" Then, +springing to the head of the column, he led his men to such a charge as +has rarely been witnessed even in our cavalry service. + +The road was strongly guarded by three regiments of cavalry in solid +column, flanked on either side by a regiment in line. Directly upon this +strongly posted force, the gallant general and his brave fellows rushed +with shouts and oaths, and sabre thrusts, trampling down everything in +their way. Unable to withstand this impetuous and unexpected onset, the +rebels gave way, allowing the Union brigade to pass between their broken +ranks. Dead men and horses lay thickly scattered upon the ground when +the victorious brigade left the field to join the infantry at the river. + +Thus, hotly pursued, General Meade determined to offer battle to the +pursuing army, making the Rappahannock his immediate base of operations. +Accordingly, early the following morning, a large portion of the +infantry and artillery was countermarched across the river, where, +within a mile of the stream, the line of battle was formed, and we +waited the onset of the enemy until past noon. Then, Buford's cavalry +having engaged the enemy in front, three corps, the Second, Fifth and +Sixth, commenced to advance in line of battle. It was a grand spectacle. +During two years of service we had not seen its like. Our line of battle +stretched across the vast plain, nearly three miles in length, straight +as the flight of an arrow. At each flank were several battalions _in +echelon_. In the rear of the center of each wing of the line, was a +heavy reserve in solid square, and, following in the rear of each +square, a large column, stretching back to the river and across the +pontoon bridges to the farther side of the stream. + +Thus the line of battle moved forward across the plain, never for a +moment losing its perfect form. Brisk cannonading and musketry were kept +up by the cavalry in front, and the army earnestly hoped that General +Lee might accept our challenge to an open field fight, but the rebel +general was too wary to accept battle on such equal terms, and pushed on +toward Sulphur Springs, hoping to reach Centreville before us. + +Our line of battle halted at dark, at Brandy Station. But there was no +time to be lost; resting there until eleven o'clock, we were ordered to +retrace our steps to the river; this time not in line of battle, but in +all haste. The night was dark, and the troops had already made long +marches; so when they reached and crossed the river at daylight, they +were fairly worn out. An hour for sleep and breakfast was allowed, the +railroad bridge was blown up, and again we were on a grand race +northward. + +It was a great medley; baggage wagons, pontoons, ambulances, artillery +and troops, all thrown together in splendid confusion. Drivers cursing, +cannon rattling, soldiers singing and shouting, horses racing, and all +that sublime confusion which can never be seen except in a hasty but +well directed retreat of a vast army. + +We passed Warrenton Junction and Bealton Station, and at eight o'clock +halted near Kettle Run, having marched more than thirty miles within +twenty-four hours. + +We had not long to rest, for at daylight, October 14th, we were again on +the road, making quick time. We passed our old camp at Bristoe, and the +familiar scenes at Manassas Junction, and crossed Bull Run at Blackman's +Ford. We reached Centreville at three P.M. The booming of cannon in the +rear, the huge clouds of smoke, and the heavy rattle of musketry, told +us there was hot work on the ground we had lately passed over; and as we +formed in line of battle in front of Centreville, the soldiers said, +"Here is the third Bull Run, but this time the run will be on the other +side." + +To the Second corps had been assigned the duty of guarding the rear of +the army. About twelve o'clock, as the rear of that corps was crossing +Broad Run, a wide and muddy stream at Bristoe Station, the rebel corps +of A. P. Hill suddenly appeared from the cover of the woods in the +vicinity, and, running out a battery, opened a severe fire of artillery +and musketry upon the column, which was in a degree of confusion, owing +to the difficult crossing of the stream. + +In a moment order was restored, and the troops so placed as to defy the +advance of the enemy. + +The rebels, finding that their attack upon the advance was fruitless, +now turned their attention to the rear division, which was advancing +toward the run. Opening upon the column a fierce cannonade and a storm +of bullets, they hoped to throw the division into confusion, but again +they were disappointed. After a severe fight, the rebels were forced to +flee across the run in great disorder, leaving in the hands of the +Second corps five pieces of artillery, two stands of colors, and four +hundred and fifty prisoners. Such was the battle of Bristoe Station. + +At dark that evening the Sixth corps moved to Chantilly, where we rested +for the night. Next morning we took a new and stronger position, where +we waited, listening to the roar of cannon where the cavalry was +contending with the advance of the enemy, and wondering how soon our own +turn would come. Suddenly, at three o'clock, the doubts seemed to be +removed. An officer came dashing along the line, with the order to +"Strip for the fray! the enemy are coming down upon us!" The men stood +to arms, and again we waited for the attack, but none was made: our +cavalry had arrested the advance of the enemy. At night the firing died +away, and we pitched our tents and slept undisturbed. + +In the afternoon of the 16th, the Seventy-seventh being on picket, a +horseman suddenly rushed in front of the head-quarter tents, saying that +the left of our picket line was attacked. It proved that a body of rebel +cavalry had discovered some wagons outside the picket line, and had made +a dash upon them. Our boys drove them back in haste, but the line was +strengthened in the expectation of a more important demonstration. This, +however, was the last we saw of the rebels on our part of the line. + +Lee, finding himself too late to occupy the works around Centreville +before us, and hopeless of the success of any flank movement, turned his +army again towards the Rappahannock. + +On the following morning, October 17th, our army started in pursuit, the +rain falling upon us in torrents, rendering the mud deep and the +marching hard. We halted that night at Gainesville, marched the next day +through New Baltimore, and reached Warrenton at night. On our march we +had passed the bodies of many of our cavalrymen, who had been killed in +the constant skirmishes which had been going on since our advance. Near +New Baltimore, where Kilpatrick's brigade had been forced back, the +bodies of his men lay scattered along the roadside, nearly all of them +stripped of their clothing by the rebels. + +The army encamped in the vicinity of Warrenton; the Sixth corps +occupying a pleasant ridge just in front of the town. Here we remained a +fortnight. + +Our first week at Warrenton was anything but agreeable. The cold +northwest winds swept through our camps, carrying chilly discomfort +everywhere. The men shivered over their log fires; but while the fitful +wind drove the smoke and fire into their faces, it froze their backs. At +our head-quarters, as we drew closely about our fire, dreading equally +the chilly winds and the provoking clouds of smoke, one of the party, +perhaps reading for the amusement of the others from a volume of Saxe's +poems, a stranger, had one chanced to drop in among us, would have +imagined that Saxe must have written most grievous tales of woe, and +that our hearts and eyes were all melted by the sad stories. At length, +having suffered these disagreeable exposures for a week, the men of the +corps fell to work to erect comfortable quarters, and thinking that the +present camp might possibly become winter quarters, they made for +themselves much more comfortable huts than had served them in their +winter's camp at White Oak Church. Generals Neill and Grant reviewed +their brigades, and then Generals Howe and Wright reviewed their +divisions, and last of all, General Sedgwick had a grand review of the +whole corps, which was a very splendid affair. + +The weather became again mild and agreeable. Pontoons were arriving and +there were many indications that we must soon leave our comfortable +quarters. At length, at ten o'clock at night, November 6th, came the +order, "Reveille at half-past four; move at daylight." So good-bye, fine +quarters and comfortable fire-places, we must be off. + +We were in line and commenced moving from camp at daylight, November +7th. We marched rapidly, taking the road to Rappahannock Station. The +Sixth and Fifth corps only had taken this road, the remaining corps +were, however, either on the move or under orders to move, the Third +corps having taken the road to Ely's Ford, and the others following. +General Sedgwick was placed in command of the Fifth and Sixth corps, +while General Meade accompanied the left wing. + +At noon we halted within a mile of the Station, and the corps was +immediately thrown into line of battle. The men were allowed to rest on +their arms for an hour or two, wondering what was to come. + +In front of us was a line of low hills, stretching parallel with our +line of battle, and on the slope toward us, and within pistol shot of +us, were rebel cavalry pickets, sitting upon their horses and facing us +with the coolest impudence; but not a shot was fired at them. We had not +rested here long before we heard the booming of cannon on our left, +where, three miles down the river, the Third corps had already engaged +the enemy. At length the order came to move forward. The Second +division, under General Howe, held the right, the Third brigade +constituting its front line, the Vermont brigade its second, the +Forty-third New York as skirmishers. On the left, was the First +division, the Sixth Maine on the skirmish line, the Second and Third +brigades in the advance, the New Jersey brigade in the reserve; and in +the center the Third division, under General Terry. + +In this order the corps pushed forward up the hills, the rebel horsemen +whirling and flying before our advance. As our skirmishers gained the +summit of the hills, the rebel infantry delivered their fire upon them, +but the brave boys of the Forty-third and of the Sixth Maine pushed on, +never halting or wavering for a moment, driving the enemy before them +until they had pushed the rebel skirmishers close upon their line of +battle. + +The First division at once became hotly engaged, the rebels disputing +the advance with unavailing obstinacy. That noble division bore the +brunt of the battle. While the Second and Third divisions behaved with +great gallantry, doing all that was required of them, and doing it with +that fighting joy so characteristic of the whole corps, the First +division, from its position, was called upon to perform unusual feats of +valor. As General Sedgwick was that day in command of the right wing of +the army, General Wright, of the First division, commanded the corps, +and General Russell, the brave, unassuming and beloved commander of the +Third brigade, commanded the division. + +The skirmishers of our Second division, the Forty-third New York, pushed +gallantly forward, their brave Colonel Baker riding rapidly from one end +of the line to the other, his white horse making a prominent mark for +the rebels. The line of battle of the whole corps followed closely upon +the skirmishers. As we reached the summit of the hills, a grand panorama +of the battle opened before us. The whole battle-field could be seen at +a single glance; a rare occurrence. On one side were the eminences +occupied by our own line of battle, and on the other, a line of hills of +equal elevation, covered with swarms of rebels. Between the two ranges +of hills, stretched a plain one-fourth of a mile wide and from one to +two miles long, which was occupied by the skirmishers of the opposing +forces. + +The rebels were posted in strong positions behind extensive earthworks, +forts, redoubts and rifle pits; and their artillery was posted so as to +sweep the plain and the sloping grounds confronting them. Their gray +lines of infantry were pouring out from behind the earthworks to meet us +at the edge of the plain. + +As our line of battle appeared on the crest of the hills, the rebel +batteries opened a terrific fire upon us. The air was filled with the +shriekings of these fearful projectiles, which exploded with startling +frequency above our heads and just behind us; but, fortunately, the +rebels aimed high, and many of the shells ploughed the ground in our +rear or burst about our hospitals. The First division was pressing +toward the rebel works at double quick, under a terrible fire of +musketry and artillery, the boys with the red crosses pushing everything +before them. They neared the rebel works, and the skirmishers along the +whole line threw themselves upon the ground waiting for the line of +battle to come up. The rebel skirmishers did the same. Each moment the +scene became more exciting. Rebel infantry crowded the opposite side of +the plain, the slopes of the hills and the rifle pits. The whole line +was ablaze with the fire of musketry, and the roar of battle constantly +increased. + +At length, toward evening, the rebels having been driven back to the +cover of their rifle pits, the Third brigade of the First division, +consisting of the Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, the Forty-ninth and +One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania, regiments whose fame already +stood high in the army, was ordered forward. + +First the Maine and Wisconsin regiments rushed forward, the intrepid +Russell riding at the very front. At his order to "charge," the two +regiments quickened their pace to a run, and, with bayonets fixed, +without ever stopping to fire a gun, the gallant fellows ran forward. +They seized the fort, but the rebels rallied and drove them out. Again +they charged; a hand to hand encounter followed. The boys leaped over +into the fort, using their muskets for clubs, and, when the work was too +close for that, dropping their guns and pommeling their adversaries with +their fists. The general had sent back for the remaining regiments of +the brigade, but, in the ten minutes that elapsed before the +Pennsylvanians could come up on a run, half the men of the Sixth Maine, +and nearly as many of the Wisconsin regiment, had fallen. The whole +brigade leaped over the embankments, capturing hundreds of the rebels. + +Not less gallant was the charge of the Second brigade, led by the young, +ambitious Colonel Upton. His regiments were the One Hundred and +Twenty-first New York, his own, the Fifth Maine, and the Ninety-fifth +and Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania. The brigade occupied the left of the +Sixth corps, joining the Fifth corps. Under cover of the growing +darkness, the courageous Upton led the One Hundred and Twenty-first New +York and Fifth Maine within a few yards of the rebel rifle pits, when +the order to charge was given. Instantly the rifle pits were ablaze, and +a destructive volley was poured into the two regiments. Another moment +and the Union boys were leaping into the rifle pits, sweeping everything +before them. All this while not a shot had been fired by Upton's men, +but, charging with the bayonet, they carried all before them. + +The confederates took to their heels, and attempted to flee to the other +side of the river, but their pontoon bridge was in possession of our +troops, and hundreds of panic-stricken rebels leaped into the rapid +stream and attempted to swim across. Some succeeded, but many were +drowned in the attempt. Sixteen hundred prisoners, eight pieces of +artillery, four battle-flags, and more than two thousand stand of small +arms, were the trophies of this splendid victory. + +The credit of this brilliant success belongs mainly to the First +division; yet the Second and Third divisions, while less actively +engaged, performed their part with alacrity and bravery, and the many +dead and wounded from these two divisions attested the severity of the +fight along their portions of the line. The loss to the corps, in killed +and wounded, was about three hundred, among whom were many choice +spirits. The commander of the Fifth Wisconsin, Captain Walker, was +killed. Captain Ordway succeeded to the command. He leaped upon the +parapet, and fell dead inside the rebel fort. + +All this time the Third corps was actively engaged at Kelly's Ford, +three miles to our left. It had found the rebels strongly posted on the +opposite side of the river, well protected by forts and rifle pits. The +artillery of the corps was taken to the river side and brought to bear +upon the rebel works. At length a storming party was selected and massed +on the banks. At the word, the brave fellows plunged into the stream, +and rushing across, charged the strong works of the rebels with great +fury. The occupants were obliged to flee, but five hundred of them were +left as prisoners. + +Owing to the depth and force of the stream between the works the Sixth +corps had taken, and those still occupied by the rebels on the other +side, it was impossible to push our victory further that night. The +confederates, finding our troops in possession of their pontoon bridge, +had set it on fire at the end still held by them; thus all pursuit was +for the time cut off. But on the following morning the rebels had +retreated, leaving us to rebuild the bridge and cross at our leisure. + +Without further delay we pushed on toward Brandy Station, which we +reached toward evening, the cavalry having preceded us. + +The whole of Lee's army, except the forces stationed at Rappahannock +Station and Kelly's Ford, had been encamped in the vicinity of Brandy +Station, and their recently deserted camps, where they had erected +comfortable huts and made many other preparations for a winter's stay, +showed that their hasty leave was entirely unexpected to them. In many +instances officers had forgotten to take their valises and trunks with +them, and Union soldiers strutted about in the garb of rebel brigadiers +and colonels. + +It was said, by the rebel prisoners taken by the cavalry, that while the +fights were in progress on the Rappahannock, General Lee was holding a +grand review of his army, when suddenly the information reached him that +the Yankees were coming. The review was broken off, and there was +hurrying of regiments to their respective camps, each regiment, +independently of its division or brigade, making hot haste for its own +quarters. Baggage was quickly thrown into wagons, and a general stampede +toward the Rapidan commenced at once. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ARMY AT BRANDY STATION. + + Encampment at Brandy Station--The Mine Run campaign--Crossing + the Rapidan--Battle of Locust Grove--The army on Mine Run--The + order of battle--The army withdraws--Back at Brandy + Station--Reconnoissance to Madison Court House--Ladies in + camp--Chapel tents. + + +The Sixth corps went into camp on the right of the army, two miles from +Brandy Station. We occupied land belonging to John Minor Botts. Mr. +Botts boasted that he owned six hundred miles of fence when we came upon +his possessions. He could not say that when we had been there a week! +His fences were burned, and his forests cut down; and it was generally +known that our chief quarter-master was paying him immense sums of money +for the wood used by our army. + +At the end of a week it became pretty evident that our stay at Brandy +Station might be of considerable duration, possibly for the winter. +Accordingly, the men proceeded once more to build houses for the winter; +and never, since we had been in service, had they constructed so +comfortable quarters as they now built. All about us were the rebel +camps, in which they had vainly hoped to spend the winter; and these +furnished timbers already hewn, fine stones ready for use in making +chimneys, and hewn saplings ready prepared for bunks. The Sixth corps +was encamped in a fine forest, which should have furnished not only +great abundance of timber for use about the quarters, but for fuel for +the winter; but owing to the wasteful manner in which the wood was at +first used in building log fires in the open air, the forest melted away +before the men had fairly concluded that there was any necessity for +using it economically. + +Preparations were hurried forward for another advance. The railroad, +which had been destroyed by the rebels at the time of the raid to +Centreville, from the Rappahannock to Bristoe Station, was to be +rebuilt, and the bridge across the Rappahannock, which we had ourselves +destroyed, was to be replaced, before the army could safely undertake +another advance. It is one of the mysteries which people who have never +been connected with a great army have greatest difficulty in +comprehending, that an army advancing into such a country as we were now +threatening, must have ample and easy communications with its base of +supplies. Could such people for a moment realize the vast amount of +material consumed by such an army as ours, the mystery might be solved. +To attempt to advance into a desert country without first either +providing a supply for many days, or opening ready communications with +our base of supplies, would have been suicidal. General Sherman might +lead his army through a fertile country, where the ravages of war had +not appeared, and, by sweeping across a territory forty miles wide, +collect abundant supplies for his men; but our army was now to march +into a wilderness where even a regiment could not find subsistence. The +newspapers at the north that condemned the delay at Brandy Station, and +sneered at the idea that the army needed a base of supplies, simply +exhibited their profound ignorance of the first principles of +campaigning. + +By the 25th the road was completed as far as Brandy Station, the bridge +rebuilt, and a large amount of supplies brought up; and the army was +ordered to move at an early hour on the 26th. + +The hour for moving was assigned each corps, and the order in which it +was to march, that no delay or confusion might occur. The Third corps +was to start as soon as daylight, and the Sixth was to follow it. + +Our Sixth corps was moving at sunrise, the hour designated, toward +Brandy Station. Presently the head of the column halted in the midst of +the camps of the Third corps, which were yet undisturbed. According to +the order for marching, the Third corps was to precede the Sixth, and +should have been out of camp before we arrived, but as yet not a tent +was struck nor a wagon loaded, and most of the men were asleep in their +quarters. The Sixth corps was obliged to halt and stand in the mud for +hours, waiting for the delinquent corps to get out of the way. Here was +the first blunder of the new campaign. + +At length at eleven o'clock we moved again, taking the road to the +Rapidan. Our march was slow and tedious, and instead of reaching the +river at noon as was expected, and as General Meade's orders +contemplated, the head of the Third corps only reached the river at +Jacobs' Ford long after dark, and here again a delay was occasioned by a +mistake of the engineers, who had not brought a sufficient number of +boats to this point to complete the pontoon bridge; a part of the bridge +had therefore to be extemporized out of poles. + +The road for several miles was merely a narrow passage cut through the +forest; a dense growth of stunted pines and tangled bushes, filling up +the space between the trees of larger growth. Our corps moved along very +slowly, halting for a moment, then advancing one or two rods, then +standing still again for perhaps several minutes, and again moving +forward for a few steps. This became very tedious. The men were faint +and weary, and withal discouraged. They were neither advancing nor +resting. + +From one end of the column of the Sixth corps to the other, through the +miles of forest the shout, coffee! coffee! passed from one regiment to +another, until there could be heard nothing but the vociferous demand +for coffee. At eleven o'clock at night the order "ten minutes rest for +coffee," passed down the line and was received with shouts of approval. +Instantly the roadside was illuminated with thousands of little fires, +over which the soldiers were cooking their favorite beverage. + +We crossed the Rapidan at Jacobs' Ford at midnight, leaving Upton's +brigade on the north side as rear-guard, and in another hour the men had +thrown themselves upon the ground without waiting to erect shelter +tents, and were sleeping soundly notwithstanding the severity of the +cold. The Fifth and First corps had crossed at Culpepper Ford and the +Second corps at Germania Ford about noon, and were in the positions +assigned them. + +The position assigned to the Third and Sixth corps was not reached. +These corps were ordered to proceed to Robertson's Tavern, a point some +seven miles beyond the ford, but the night was far advanced, the men +exhausted and the country little known, so these two corps did not seize +this very important point as directed. Of course the responsibility for +this delay was not with the Sixth corps or its commander, who was +directed to follow the Third. + +Next morning the Third corps commenced the advance, and we of the Sixth +were drawn out in line of march to follow; but it became evident that +the advance was not unobstructed. Sharp picket firing and the occasional +booming of cannon revealed to us the fact that that corps had fallen in +with the enemy. Thus the day passed; the Sixth corps resting quietly, +while the Third was skirmishing with the enemy in front, until about +three o'clock, when the firing increased and there was evidently a +severe engagement in front. + +The First and Second divisions of the Sixth corps were now hurried along +the narrow and winding path to the support of the Third corps--our Third +division being left near the river to cover the bridges and trains. That +corps was now fiercely engaged. The sulphurous smoke filled the woods, +and the roar of musketry became so general, and the forest echoed and +reechoed the sound, so that it lost the rattling usually heard, and +became a smooth, uniform roll. Our corps at once took its position in +line of battle, so as to support the Third corps and protect the +interval between the Third and Second corps, with Ellmaker's brigade on +the right, and Neill's and Upton's on the left, while the Vermonters and +Torbert's Jersey brigade were held in reserve; but the corps was not +called into action. The dense growth of young timber completely obscured +all view of the operations at a little distance, and, indeed, rebel +scouting parties were able to hang close upon our flanks, and even +penetrate our lines, protected from view and from pursuit by the tangled +forest. + +On our right, the Second corps also encountered a force of the enemy, +and became engaged in the vicinity of Robertson's Tavern. They succeeded +in driving the rebel force, which was small, back to the cover of the +wilderness. Gregg, also, with his cavalry, became engaged, but drove the +rebels back. + +It now appeared that the fight of the Third corps was brought on by a +blunder. General French, in attempting to lead his corps to Robertson's +Tavern, had mistaken the road, and, by bearing too far to the west, had +encountered Ewell's corps, which was hastening to intercept our +progress. The rebels made repeated charges upon the corps, but were each +time repulsed, and under cover of the night they fell back, leaving +their dead on the ground. The loss to the Third corps was between three +and four hundred; that of the rebels, judging from the dead left upon +the ground, must have been greater. + +While the fight was in progress, General Sedgwick and his staff +dismounted and were reclining about a large tree, when the attention of +all was directed to two soldiers who were approaching, bearing between +them a stretcher on which lay a wounded man. As the men approached +within a few rods of the place where the general and his staff were, a +solid cannon shot came shrieking along, striking both of the stretcher +bearers. Both fell to the ground--the one behind fatally wounded, the +other dead. But the man upon the stretcher leaped up and ran away as +fast as his legs could carry him, never stopping to look behind at his +unfortunate companions. Shocking as was the occurrence, neither the +general nor the members of his staff could suppress a laugh at the +speedy restoration of the man who was being borne disabled from the +field. + +The two corps moved during the night to Robertson's Tavern, the +destination which they should have reached twenty-four hours before. + +The unexpected encounter with the rebels in the Wilderness had hindered +the two corps thus long, and as might have been expected the time was +not left unimproved by General Lee. On moving in the morning on the road +to Orange Court House, Lee's whole army was found strongly posted along +the banks of a muddy stream called Mine Run. Our army was brought into +position on the north side of the stream, and arrangements commenced for +a general assault. Sharp picket firing and the occasional roar of +artillery, warned us that we were on the eve of a great battle. A cold +storm of rain rendered the situation cheerless and uncomfortable, but +the excitement of getting into position, regiments and brigades marching +from one part of the line to another, now approaching where the bullets +of the rebel skirmishers whistled about them, and then withdrawing a +little to the rear, kept up the spirits of the men notwithstanding the +tedious storm. + +The greater part of the lines of both armies were in the midst of +forests. Between the two lines and in the midst of a deep valley, was +the little stream Mine Run, bordered on each side by marshes in which +were luxuriant growths of reed grasses. The marshes and slopes on either +side were thickly set with low pines and scrub oaks, offering +concealment to both parties. + +Darkness closed over the two armies, neither of which was yet prepared +for battle. The night was spent by both parties in throwing up +earthworks, and the morning revealed several strong lines of rifle pits +on the rebel side of the stream, one commanding another so that in case +they should be driven from one the next would afford an equally strong +or even stronger position. + +Thus the two armies remained during Sunday. General Meade still waiting +to perfect his arrangements. + +During the day the disposition of the line was completed. General Warren +with his Second corps occupied the extreme left of the line. His +position fronted a very strong position of the enemy, where the hills +rose abruptly to the rear. This being considered by far the strongest +portion of the enemy's line. Warren was supported by the Fifth corps, +two divisions of the Third corps, and the Third division of the Sixth +corps, under General Terry. In the center was the First and Fifth corps, +and, forming the right, were the two remaining divisions of the Sixth +corps and what was left of the Third. Our Second division constituted +the extreme right of the line; the Third brigade the right of the +division; and the Seventy-seventh New York the right of the brigade. + +At two A.M., the Sixth corps and the division of the Third, covered by +the woods, moved about two miles to a position on the left flank of the +enemy. The dense thicket and a gentle eminence concealed the corps from +the view of the rebels, who were but a few yards distant; and in order +to insure secresy, orders were issued that the men should avoid all +noise, as far as possible, and refrain from lighting fires. + +It was arranged that the grand attack should be made on Monday; and +early in the evening the commanders of corps were summoned to General +Meade's head-quarters, where the plan of the battle was laid before +them. + +At a given signal, very early in the morning, General Warren with his +strong force was to press forward on the right of the rebel line. At the +same time forces in the center were to open a fierce fire upon the +enemy, while the Sixth corps, at the same moment, was to rush from its +concealed position and turn the left flank of Lee's army. + +The commanders of the divisions of the Sixth corps summoned the +commanders of brigades and regiments, and communicated to them also the +plan of the battle, and assigned to each his part. + +The night was bitter cold, and the men of our corps were without fires. +It was vain to attempt to sleep, and the men spent the night in leaping +and running in efforts to keep warm. + +No one doubted that the morning was to bring on one of the most terrific +struggles in the history of warfare. No man knew what was to be his own +fate, but each seemed braced for the conflict. It was a glorious +moonlight, and the stars looked down in beauty from the cold skies upon +the strange scene. Thus all waited for the day. + +The morning dawned; and soon after daylight the signal gun for the grand +attack was heard near the center of the line, and an active cannonade +commenced there. + +In a short time the order came for the commencement of the movement on +the right. The men were ordered to fall in; they were faced to the +right, to move a little farther in that direction before making the +direct assault; they stood, with their muskets on their shoulders, their +hearts beating violently in anticipation of the onset to be made in +another moment, when an aide rode hastily to General Howe with +directions to suspend the movement! + +Warren, on advancing his line of skirmishers, and viewing the strong +works thrown up by the enemy during the night, had sent word that he +could not carry the position before him. And General Meade had ordered +the whole movement to be discontinued for the time. + +Never before, in the history of our army, had such elaborate +preparations been made for an attack. Every commander and every man knew +exactly the part he was expected to take in the great encounter, and +each had prepared himself for it. At the hospitals everything was in a +state of perfect readiness. Hospital tents were all up, beds for the +wounded prepared, operating tables were in readiness, basins and pails +stood filled with water, lint and dressings were laid out upon the +tables, and surgical instruments spread out ready for the grasp of the +surgeon. + +All day the men remained suffering with cold, their hunger but partially +satisfied with hard bread without coffee. It was a day of discomfort and +suffering long to be remembered. It chanced that the hard bread issued +to our division was old and very wormy. It was, in some cases, difficult +for a man to know whether his diet was to be considered principally +animal or vegetable. Our General, Neill, sat with his staff munching +some of these crackers of doubtful character, when he was handed one +unusually animated. The general broke the cracker, examined it for a +moment, and, handing it back to the servant, said, "Jim, give us one +that hasn't so many worms in it." Many of the men who were on the picket +line that day and the night before, were found, when the relief came +around, dead at their posts, frozen. + +During the night of December 1st and 2d, the army withdrew from Mine +Run. The pickets were directed to build fires and keep up a show of +force. Our Seventy-seventh being that night on the picket line, formed +the rear of the rear-guard of the army on its retreat. It was three +o'clock in the morning of December 2d when the picket line was silently +withdrawn. After a rapid march, it crossed the pontoon bridge at +Germania Ford at ten o'clock. Scarcely had the troops crossed the +bridge, when the cavalry of the enemy made its appearance on the south +side of the river. The Seventy-seventh New York, the Third Vermont and a +battery of artillery were directed to remain and guard the ford, while +the remainder of the army continued the march to the old camps. Next +morning the two regiments and the battery started for Brandy Station, +and that night slept in their old quarters. + +It was now evident that we were in permanent winter quarters. It is not +our purpose to discuss the merits of this fruitless campaign, but it may +not be out of place to recall some of the facts relating to it. The +orders for marching on the 26th, were issued to all the corps commanders +on the evening previous, indicating the time for leaving camp. The Sixth +corps was to follow the Third, yet when the Sixth corps reached the camp +of that corps, there were no signs of moving. Several hours were thus +lost on the start. General French declared that the order to move did +not reach him on the previous evening, yet he knew that the movement was +expected that day. As the result of this and other delays, two corps did +not reach the position assigned them on the 26th. + +When, on the morning of the 27th, General French moved his corps again, +he took the wrong road, and thus brought on a premature engagement, +which caused another delay of twenty-four hours. By this time Lee had +ample opportunity to concentrate his whole army in a strong position on +Mine Run. Had General Meade's orders been promptly obeyed, Lee could +have offered no opposition to us at that point, and must have accepted +battle much nearer Richmond. + +Our campaigns for 1863 were now finished; the last two of these had +certainly been remarkable episodes in the fortunes of our stout-hearted +army. In October, the rebel army had followed us from the Rapidan to the +defenses of Washington, and in turn we had pursued the confederates back +to the Rapidan, all without a battle of any magnitude. Now, in November, +our whole army had crossed the river and confronted the rebel army face +to face for days, and again we were back in our old camps without an +engagement, except the fight of the Third corps, and some skirmishing on +the part of others. + +During the month of December, general orders were issued from the war +department offering to soldiers of the army, who had already served two +years, and who had still a year or less to serve, large bounties, a +release from the term of their former enlistment and thirty-five days' +furlough, as inducements for them to reenlist for three years from that +time. Much excitement was created by the order throughout the army, and +thousands accepted it, nearly all claiming that they cared little for +the large bounties, but that the thirty-five days' furlough was the +great inducement. + +The only military movement of the winter was Kilpatrick's great raid +upon Richmond, in which the lamented Dahlgren lost his life. + +Simultaneous with this great raid, General Custer, with a division of +cavalry, made a movement on Charlottesville, and the Sixth corps was +ordered to move in that direction as support to the cavalry. On +Saturday, February 27th, the corps, leaving its camp and sick in charge +of a small guard, marched through Culpepper and proceeded to James City, +a Virginia city of two or three houses, where the bivouac for the night +was made. Next morning the corps marched slowly to Robertson's River, +within three miles of Madison Court House, the New Jersey brigade alone +crossing the river and proceeding as far as the latter village. Here the +corps lay all the following day, and as the weather was pleasant, the +men passed the time in sports and games, but at evening a cold storm of +rain set in, continuing all night and the next day, to the great +discomfort of all. Custer's cavalry returned at evening of the 1st of +March, looking in a sorry plight from their long ride in the mud. +Reveille sounded at five o'clock on the morning of March 2d, and at +seven the corps turned toward the old camp, at which it arrived, after a +severe march through the mud, at sunset the same day. + +There were, connected with our camp near Brandy Station, many pleasant +remembrances; and notwithstanding a few severe experiences, this was the +most cheerful winter we had passed in camp. One agreeable feature of +this encampment was the great number of ladies, wives of officers, who +spent the winter with their husbands. On every fine day great numbers of +ladies might be seen riding about the camps and over the desolate +fields, and their presence added greatly to the brilliancy of the +frequent reviews. + +Great taste was displayed by many officers in fitting up their tents and +quarters for the reception of their wives. The tents were usually +inclosed by high walls of evergreens, woven with much skill, and fine +arches and exquisite designs beautified the entrances to these happy +retreats. The Christian Commission, among other good things which it did +for the soldiers, and, indeed, this was among the best, made +arrangements by which it loaned to nearly every brigade in the army, a +large canvas, to be used as a roof for a brigade chapel. These chapels +were built of logs and covered with the canvas, and were in many cases +large enough to hold three hundred people. Here religious services were +held, not only on Sunday, but also on week day evenings. A deep +religious interest prevailed in many of the brigades, and great numbers +of soldiers professed to have met with a change of heart. In our Third +brigade, this religious interest was unusually great; a religious +organization was formed within the Seventy-seventh, and Chaplain Fox +baptized eleven members of the regiment in Hazel river. A course of +literary lectures was also delivered in the chapel of our Third brigade, +and Washington's birthday was celebrated in it with appropriate +ceremonies and addresses. The chapel tent was also a reading room, +where, owing to the energy of Chaplain Fox, all the principal papers, +secular and religious, literary, military, pictorial, agricultural and +scientific, were furnished; and these were a great source both of +pleasure and profit to the men. + +[Illustration: CHURCH CALL.] + +Our corps was reviewed by General Grant; by the Russian admiral and +suite, who for the amusement of the soldiers, performed some most +ludicrous feats in horsemanship; and by a body of English officers. +Never had such general good health prevailed among our camps, and never +were the men so well contented or in so good spirits. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. + + Preparing to leave camp--General Grant in command--The last + advance across the Rapidan--The battle-ground--Battle of the + Wilderness--Noble fight of Getty's division--Hancock's fight on + the left--Rickett's division driven back--The ground + retaken--The wounded--Duties of the surgeons--The noble dead. + + +Many pleasant recollections cluster around the old camp at Brandy +Station, which will never be effaced from the memory of the soldiers of +the Army of the Potomac. + +But at length preparations were commenced for opening the spring +campaign, and one of the first orders, looking toward the breaking up of +our camps, was one directing that our lady friends should take their +departure, then another to send all superfluous camp equipage to the +rear. + +Our army had been reorganized, its five corps being consolidated into +three. The three divisions of the First corps were transferred to the +Fifth, retaining their corps badges. Two divisions of the Third were +assigned to the Second, preserving their badges, while the Third +division, Third corps, was transferred permanently to the Sixth corps, +and became the Third division of that corps. Our old Third division was +broken up, the brigades of Wheaton and Eustis being transferred to the +Second division, and Shaler's brigade to the First. Our corps, as +reorganized, consisted of three divisions, comprising eleven +brigades.[6] + + [6] The corps, as reorganized, was commanded as follows: + + Major-General John Sedgwick commanding the corps. + + First division, Brigadier-General H. G. Wright, commanding. + First brigade, Colonel W. H. Penrose; Second brigade, Colonel E. + Upton; Third brigade, Brigadier-General D. A. Russell; Fourth + brigade, Brigadier-General A. Shaler. + + Second division, Brigadier-General George W. Getty, commanding. + First brigade, Brigadier-General Frank Wheaton; Second brigade, + Colonel L. A. Grant; Third brigade, Brigadier-General Thomas H. + Neill; Fourth brigade, Brigadier-General L. A. Eustis. + + Third division, Brigadier-General James B. Ricketts, commanding. + First brigade, Brigadier-General W. H. Morris; Second brigade, + Brigadier-General Truman Seymour; Third brigade, Colonel + Keiffer. + +During the winter, congress, recognizing the great ability of General +Grant, had conferred upon that officer the rank of Lieutenant-General, +giving him, under the President, command of all the armies of the United +States. General Grant at once proceeded to adopt a plan for harmonious +movements of all the armies. General Sherman, in the west, was directed +to push vigorously southward, penetrating the enemy's country as far as +possible, and prevent reinforcements being sent to Lee's army in the +east. General Butler, on the Peninsula, was to advance on Richmond, +taking Petersburgh, and, if possible, Richmond itself, while the Army of +the Potomac was to attack Lee's army in the front, and force it back +upon Richmond or destroy it. + +These cooeperative movements having been all arranged, each commander of +an army or department informed not only of the part which he was +expected to perform himself, but what all were expected to do, the Army +of the Potomac was ready to move. General Grant had established his +head-quarters with that army. + +At length the order for moving came. On the morning of the 4th of May, +reveille was sounded at half-past two o'clock, and at half-past four the +Sixth corps moved, taking the road to Germania Ford. + +It was a lovely day, and all nature seemed rejoicing at the advent of +spring. Flowers strewed the wayside, and the warble of the blue bird, +and the lively song of the sparrow, were heard in the groves and hedges. + +The distance from our camps to Germania Ford was sixteen miles. This +distance we marched rapidly, and long before sunset we had crossed the +ford on pontoon bridges and marched to a point three miles south of the +river, where we bivouacked for the night. + +The Second corps, at an earlier hour, had crossed at Ely's Ford, and had +reached a position near the old Chancellorsville battle-field, and the +Fifth corps had led the way across Germania Ford. + +The infantry had been preceded by the cavalry divisions of Gregg and +Wilson, under Sheridan. They had fallen in with a small picket force +which, after exchanging a few shots, had beat a hasty retreat. + +Before night the army and the greater part of our trains had effected a +crossing without opposition; and, doubtless, much to the surprise and +chagrin of General Lee, we were holding strong positions, from which it +would hardly be possible to force us. + +Except slight skirmishes in front of Hancock's Second corps, there was +no fighting on the fourth of May. At seven o'clock on the morning of the +fifth, the Sixth corps moved southward about two miles on the Wilderness +plank road. Here the corps rested until eleven o'clock, while artillery +and cavalry passed along the road in a continuous column. At eleven +o'clock the corps faced to the front, and advanced into the woods which +skirted the road. + +The Sixth corps now occupied the extreme right of the line, General +Warren's Fifth corps the center, and Hancock's Second corps was on the +left, near Chancellorsville. Between Warren and Hancock was an +unoccupied space--a point of vital importance to our line. Thither +General Getty, with the First, Second and Fourth brigades of our Second +division, was sent to hold the ground till Hancock, who was ordered to +come up, should arrive. Our Third brigade being all that was left of the +Second division, it was assigned to the First division. General Meade's +head-quarters were just in rear of the Fifth corps. The wood through +which our line was now moving was a thick growth of oak and walnut, +densely filled with a smaller growth of pines and other brushwood; and +in many places so thickly was this undergrowth interwoven among the +large trees, that one could not see five yards in front of the line. +Yet, as we pushed on, with as good a line as possible, the thick tangle +in a measure disappeared, and the woods were more open. Still, in the +most favorable places, the thicket was so close as to make it impossible +to manage artillery or cavalry, and, indeed, infantry found great +difficulty in advancing, and at length we were again in the midst of the +thick undergrowth. + +Warren's corps, on our left, was already fighting, and forcing the enemy +to retire from his front, when our own corps struck the rebel +skirmishers, who steadily fell back, disputing the ground. As our line +advanced, it would suddenly come upon a line of gray-coated rebels, +lying upon the ground, covered with dried leaves, and concealed by the +chapparal, when the rebels would rise, deliver a murderous fire, and +retire. + +We thus advanced through this interminable forest more than a mile and a +half, driving the rebel skirmishers before us, when we came upon their +line of battle, which refused to retire. + +Neill's brigade and the New Jersey brigade were in the first line of +battle, at the foot of a slope, and in the rear of these two brigades +were Russell's, Upton's and Shaler's. On the left of the First division +were Seymour's and Keiffer's brigades, General Morris with his brigade +remaining on the right. + +The enemy now charged upon our lines, making a desperate effort to turn +our right flank, but without avail. Again and again the rebels in +columns rushed with the greatest fury upon the two brigades in front, +without being able to move them from their position. At half-past three +o'clock our sufferings had been so great that General Sedgwick sent a +messenger to General Burnside, who had now crossed his corps at Germania +Ford, with a request that he would send a division to our assistance. + +The assistance was promised, but an order from General Grant made other +disposition of the division, and what remained of the noble old Sixth +corps was left to hold its position alone. At four, or a little later, +the rebels retired, leaving many of their dead upon the ground, whom +they were unable to remove. In these encounters the Seventh Maine and +Sixty-first Pennsylvania regiments of Neill's brigade, who were on the +right flank, received the heaviest onsets, and suffered most severely. +At one time the Maine regiment found itself flanked by a brigade of +rebels. Changing front the gallant regiment charged to the rear and +scattered its opponents in confusion. The opposing lines were upon the +two slopes of a ravine, through which ran a strip of level marshy +ground, densely wooded like the rest of the wilderness. The confederates +now commenced to strengthen the position on their side of the ravine, +felling timber and covering it with earth. The woods resounded with the +strokes of their axes, as the busy workmen plied their labor within +three hundred yards, and in some places less than one hundred yards of +our line, yet so dense was the thicket that they were entirely concealed +from our view. + +Meanwhile the battle had raged furiously along the whole line. The +rattle of musketry would swell into a full continuous roar as the +simultaneous discharge of ten thousand guns mingled in one grand +concert, and then after a few minutes, become more interrupted, +resembling the crash of some huge king of the forest when felled by the +stroke of the woodman's axe. Then would be heard the wild yells which +always told of a rebel charge, and again the volleys would become more +terrible and the broken, crashing tones would swell into one continuous +roll of sound, which presently would be interrupted by the vigorous +manly cheers of the northern soldiers, so different from the shrill yell +of the rebels, and which indicated a repulse of their enemies. Now and +then the monotony of the muskets was broken by a few discharges of +artillery, which seemed to come in as a double bass in this concert of +death, but so impenetrable was the forest that little use was made of +artillery, and the work of destruction was carried on with the rifles. + +Warren's corps, first engaged, had nobly withstood the fierce assaults +upon the center of the line, and had even advanced considerably. +Hancock's command was also hotly engaged. In the commencement of the +battle, three brigades of the Second division, the First, Second and +Fourth, with our commander, General Getty, were taken from the Sixth +corps and sent to the right of Warren's corps, to seize and hold the +intersection of the Brock road and the Orange county turnpike, a point +of vital importance, and which, as Hancock's corps was still far to the +left near Chancellorsville, was entirely exposed. Toward this point Hill +was hastening his rebel corps down the turnpike, with the design of +interposing between Hancock and the main army. No sooner had the +division reached the crossing of the two roads than the First brigade, +General Wheaton's, became hotly engaged with Hill's corps, which was +coming down the road driving some of our cavalry before it. The Vermont +brigade quickly formed on the left of the plank road, and the Fourth +brigade on the right of the First. The engagement became general at +once, and each brigade was suffering heavy losses. The men hugged the +ground closely, firing as rapidly as possible. + +Hancock's corps was advancing from the left, but thus far the division +was holding the ground alone. An attack by the three brigades was +ordered, and the line was considerably advanced. Again the men hugged +the ground, the rebels doing the same. + +Thus, holding the ground against vastly superior numbers, the division +sustained the weight of the rebel attacks until long after noon, when +some of Hancock's regiments came to its support. With the heroic valor +for which the division was so well known throughout the army, it +withstood the force of the rebels until its lines were terribly thinned. +The First brigade had held the ground with desperate valor, and our +friends, the Vermonters, fought with that gallantry which always +characterized the sons of the Green Mountain State. Their noblest men +were falling thickly, yet they held the road. + +As Hancock joined his corps on the left of Getty's division, he ordered +a charge along the whole line, and again the carnage became fearful. For +two hours the struggle continued, and when the sounds of battle became +less, and as darkness finally came over the wilderness, it brought a +season of respite to the hard fought divisions. + +A thousand brave men of the Vermont brigade, and nearly as many of +Wheaton's brigade, with hundreds from the Fourth brigade, had fallen +upon that bloody field. + +In the evening the contest was renewed, especially along the line of the +Sixth corps, and the dark woods were lighted with the flame from the +mouths of tens of thousands of muskets. + +Charges and counter-charges followed each other in quick succession, and +the rebel yell and northern cheer were heard alternately, but no decided +advantage was gained by either party. At two o'clock at night the battle +died away, but there was no rest for the weary soldiers after the +fatiguing duties of the day. Each man sat with musket in hand during the +wearisome hours of the night, prepared for an onset of the enemy. +Skirmishing was kept up during the entire night, and at times the +musketry would break out in full volleys, which rolled along the +opposing lines until they seemed vast sheets of flame. + +The position of the two armies on the morning of the 6th was +substantially that of the day before; the Sixth corps on the right, its +rear on Wilderness Run near the old Wilderness Tavern, the Fifth corps +next on its left, and the Second corps with three brigades of the Second +division Sixth corps, on the left; the line extending about five miles. +Besides these corps, General Burnside was bringing his troops into the +line. + +Between the two armies lay hundreds of dead and dying men whom neither +army could remove, and over whose bodies the fight must be renewed. + +The battle was opened at daylight by a fierce charge of the enemy on the +Sixth corps, and soon it raged along the whole line. The volleys of +musketry echoed and reechoed through the forests like peals of thunder, +and the battle surged to and fro, now one party charging, and now the +other, the interval between the two armies being fought over in many +places as many as five times, leaving the ground covered with dead and +wounded. Those of the wounded able to crawl, reached one or the other +line, but the groans of others, who could not move, lent an additional +horror to the terrible scene whenever there was a lull in the battle. At +ten o'clock the roar of battle ceased, and from that time until five +P.M., it was comparatively quiet in front of the Sixth corps, but from +the left where Hancock's corps and Getty's braves were nobly battling, +the war of musketry was incessant. There, Hancock had formed his troops +in several lines of battle, and advanced them upon the plank road. +Getty's troops, their ranks having been so terribly shattered the day +before, were allowed to form in the rear. The attack was commenced, but +presently the enemy came down in terrible fury upon Hancock's lines. One +after another was swept away, leaving no Union troops in front of Getty. +Now the exulting rebels came with stunning force against the Sixth corps +men. They had prepared breastworks of logs and decayed wood, and against +these light defenses the rebels charged, but only to meet with a deadly +repulse. Again and again the charge was renewed, and as often the brave +men who had seen nearly three thousand of their comrades fall on the day +before, sent the confederates back from the road. At length, the +divisions on the right and left of Getty having fallen back to the Brock +road, the division was forced to fall back to the road also, but only +after exhibiting a steadiness and valor rarely equaled by any troops. + +The road was held, in spite of every effort of the enemy to take it; but +the noble soldier and patriotic gentleman, General Wadsworth, lost his +life while striving to rally his division to hold the ground against the +confederates. + +Although the storm of battle had abated in our front, the rebels had +stationed sharpshooters in the trees and other advantageous positions, +who kept up an incessant and annoying fire, and now and then a shell +from a rebel battery would drop into our ranks. By these, the corps lost +many men. + +Until the evening of the 6th, our Third brigade of the Second division, +and the New Jersey brigade of the First division of the Sixth corps, had +occupied the right of the line of battle along the base of our slope of +the ravine. Other portions of the First division, and the Third +division, occupying a position in our rear, on the summit of the slope, +had been engaged during the day in throwing up earthworks. At 5 P.M., +the two advance brigades received orders to fall back to the cover of +these breastworks. + +For thirty hours the Sixth corps, stripped of three brigades of its +veteran troops, weary from fighting and fasting, had been patiently +waiting for the relief promised it long ago, and steadily holding its +ground until half of the advance brigades and almost half of the corps +was destroyed. + +Thirty hours before, General Sedgwick had sent word that the rebels were +trying to turn our flank, and begged that support might be sent; but no +support had come. These breastworks had been prepared to give the +exhausted corps a little protection, that they might, by falling back to +their cover, occupy a stronger and less exposed position. + +Soon after five o'clock, the brigades commenced falling back to these +works. The rebels discovered the movement, and thought it was a retreat. +They were evidently already prepared for a desperate assault upon our +flank; and now that there seemed a retreat, there was no longer any +hesitation. Cheer after cheer arose from the rebel ranks, and, in +fifteen minutes after, their yells were mingled with terrific volleys of +musketry, as they poured in overwhelming numbers upon our flanks. + +A brief description of the position will explain the nature of the +movement, which lost to the Sixth corps the position it had held for a +day and a half. + +When the brigades which had occupied the base of the slope fell back to +the breastworks, the line of battle was arranged thus: on the extreme +right was the Third division--a division but a few days before joined to +the corps--a division composed mostly of new troops who had never before +faced an enemy, and none of them had ever had any connection with the +already historic fame of that glorious corps. Next on the left was the +First division, and joining this division on the left was our own Third +brigade of the Second division. + +The assault of the rebels fell upon the green troops of the Third +division, who, seized with consternation, fled in confusion without +attempting resistance. General Seymour whose gallant conduct up to this +time had won for him the admiration of all, made desperate attempts to +rally his panic-stricken brigade and refused to go to the rear with +them. While thus striving vainly to restore order to his shattered +command, rushing to the front and attempting by his own manner to +inspire courage in his men, he was surrounded by the enemy and captured. +He had but just returned from the rebel prisons where he had been since +the unfortunate battle of Olustee. + +The hasty flight of the Third division opened the flank and rear of the +First division to the charge of the rebels, who now rushed on with +redoubled fury and with demoniac yells, carrying everything before them. +The First division fell back, but not in the disorder and confusion of +the other. General Shaler, with a large part of his brigade, which held +that part of the line joining the Third division, was captured while +vainly striving to resist the onset of the rebel forces. + +The regiments of our Third brigade were forced from the rifle pits, +leaving the Seventy-seventh regiment and a part of the Forty-third alone +contending the ground, exposed to a galling fire on front, flank and +rear. The gallant regiments remained in the breastworks, pouring their +fire into the enemy's ranks until ordered to withdraw, to save +themselves from capture. + +The right wing, if not the whole army, was now in danger. It was at such +times that the great spirit of the noble Sedgwick rose to the control of +events. It seemed to require adversity to bring out all the grand +qualities of his nature. We had witnessed his imperturbable bravery and +determination on the retreat to Banks' Ford, his unsurpassed heroism at +Antietam, when he kept the field after he was thrice wounded, was +familiar to the nation, and now we were to see another manifestation of +his indomitable courage. + +Rushing here and there, regardless of personal safety, he faced the +disordered mass of fugitives of the Third division, and with threats and +entreaties prevailed upon them to halt; then turning to the veterans of +the First division, he shouted to them to remember the honor of the old +Sixth corps. That was an irresistible appeal, and the ranks of the First +division and of our Third brigade were formed along the turnpike, which +was at right angles to our former position. The corps now charged upon +the exultant foe, and forced them back until our breastworks were +recaptured; but our flank was too much exposed, and again the enemy +charged upon our front and flank, forcing the corps to wheel back to the +turnpike, where it had first rallied. + +General Sedgwick now ordered another charge, and bravely the men rushed +forward, ready to obey any order from the revered lips of "_Uncle +John_." The enemy was again forced back, and again the corps occupied +the breastworks. It was now dark, but the roar of musketry mingled with +the deep toned artillery shook the ground, and the dense forest was +lighted by the scores of thousands of flashing rifles which sent death +to unseen foes. + +The corps had not recovered its line of works without sacrifice, for the +ground in our rear was covered with our fallen comrades, while many more +had been captured by the enemy. But we were now able to hold the ground. +The temporary disorder had arisen, and had been mostly confined to the +new troops, and even these, when rallied from their momentary confusion, +had fought with heroic valor. Although, for a time, forced back by the +surprise of the rebel onset, the old troops of the corps had shown no +want of courage. _The Sixth corps proper had not lost its pristine +glory._ Something of a panic had been created among the teamsters in the +rear, and before dark the trains were hurrying toward Chancellorsville. + +Leaving the excitement of the battle, let us now turn where the results +of this carnage are seen in their sober reality. While we stand in line +of battle we see little of the frightful havoc of war. The wounded drop +about us, but, except those left on disputed ground and unable to crawl +away, they are carried instantly to the rear. The groans and cries of +the wounded and dying, of which we so often read as filling up the grand +discord of sounds on the battle-field, are things scarcely known in +actual war. Rarely, as in the present battles, wounded men, unable to +get away, are left between the lines in such numbers that, when the +musketry dies away, their groans become heart-rending. But this is not +usual. + +But at the field hospitals, the work of destruction is seen in all its +horrors. There, wounded men by thousands are brought together, filling +the tents and stretched upon every available spot of ground for many +rods around. Surgeons, with never tiring energy, are ministering to +their wants, giving them food, dressing their wounds or standing at the +operating table removing the shattered fragments of limbs. Men wounded +in every conceivable way, men with mutilated bodies, with shattered +limbs and broken heads, men enduring their injuries with heroic +patience, and men giving way to violent grief, men stoically +indifferent, and men bravely rejoicing that it is _only a leg_. To all +these the surgeons are to give such relief as lies in their power, a +task the very thoughts of which would overcome physicians at home, but +upon which the army surgeon enters with as much coolness and confidence +as though he could do it all at once. He has learned to do what he can. +Contenting himself with working day and night without respite, and often +without food, until, by unremitting but quiet toil, the wants of all are +relieved. No class of men in the army perform so great labors with so +little credit as the surgeons. + +Lest the author should be accused of undue partiality for his own staff, +he will quote the words of an unprejudiced witness, who, in speaking of +the labor, the anxiety and the responsibility imposed upon the surgeons +after a great battle, says: + +"The devotion, the solicitude, the unceasing efforts to remedy the +defects of the situation, the untiring attentions to the wounded, upon +their part, were so marked as to be apparent to all who visited the +hospitals. It must be remembered that these same officers had endured +the privations and fatigues of the long forced marches with the rest of +the army; they had shared its dangers, for one medical officer from each +regiment follows it into battle, and is liable to the accidents of war, +as has been repeatedly and fatally the case; that its field hospitals +are often, from the changes of the line of battle, brought under fire of +the enemy, and that while in this situation these surgeons are called +upon to exercise the calmest judgment, to perform the most critical and +serious operations, and this quickly and continuously. The battle +ceasing, their labors continue. While other officers are sleeping, +renewing their strength for further efforts, the medical are still +toiling. They have to improvise hospitals from the rudest materials, are +obliged to 'make bricks without straw,' to surmount seeming +impossibilities. The work is unending both by day and night, the anxiety +is constant, and the strain upon both the physical and mental faculties +unceasing. Thus, after this battle, operators had to be held up while +performing the operations, and fainted from exhaustion the operation +finished. One completed his labors to be seized with partial paralysis, +the penalty of his over exertion. + +"While his duties are as arduous, his exposure as great, and the +mortality from disease and injury as large as among other staff officers +of similar rank, the surgeon has no prospect of promotion, of a brevet +or an honorable mention, to stimulate him. His duties are performed +quietly, unostentatiously. He does his duty for his country's sake, for +the sake of humanity."[7] + + [7] J. H. Douglass, Assistant Secretary Sanitary Commission. + +The labors of the medical officers had never been so great as at these +battles. Thousands of wounded men were stretched in and about the +several field hospitals, and long trains of ambulances, loaded with more +bleeding victims, were constantly bringing in new subjects of care. + +The hospitals of the Sixth corps were located, that of the First +division about a large house near the turnpike, in rear of the position +of the division; that of the Third division was near by, and the +hospital of our Second division was placed on the banks of Wilderness +Run, near the old gold mine, and within a few rods of General Meade's +head-quarters. The hospitals of the Fifth corps were also within a short +distance, on the left. + +At the hospital of our Second division, the scene was one of activity +and sadness. Never had so many of our choice spirits been brought to the +rear, and never had the division been bereft of so many of its brightest +ornaments by death. + +All the hospital tents belonging to the division were filled to +overflowing with the unfortunate victims of the battle. There, all the +space between the different rows of tents, and for many yards in front +and rear, was covered with others, for whom there was no room under the +canvas, and, finally, long rows of them were laid upon the ground at a +little distance from the hospitals as close as they could lie, covering +many rods of ground. + +In the operating tents, the surgeons assigned to the duty of performing +operations plied their work without rest from the time the battle +commenced until its close, day and night, while dressers, and those +whose duty it was to supply the wounded with food, were untiring in +their zeal. + +At midnight of the 6th, the operators were directed to cease their work. +Ambulances and army wagons in great numbers were loaded with the +wounded, and the whole train, accompanied by the surgeons, moved toward +Chancellorsville, taking the turnpike along the rear of the army. But, +with all the ambulances and army wagons at command, hundreds of these +unfortunate heroes were left behind; and as it was known that our line +of battle was to fall back within a few hours, preparations were made +for their care when they should fall into the hands of the enemy. Four +assistant surgeons from each division, a number of hospital tents, a +supply of hard bread and beef, with dressings and instruments, were left +behind; and with sad hearts, their companions bade them farewell. Like +preparations were made by the other corps, for those of the wounded who +must be left to their fate. The long train bearing the wounded reached +the left of the old battle-field of Chancellorsville toward morning, and +at once the labor of reestablishing the hospitals commenced. Tents were +erected, the ambulances unloaded, and the surgeons, already worn out by +forty hours of incessant toil, resumed their work. + +When the Sixth corps reoccupied the breastworks at dark on the 6th, it +was desirable that the right flank should be protected by old and +reliable troops. Neill's Third brigade was assigned to that position, +the Seventy-seventh being upon the extreme right, the Sixty-first +Pennsylvania thrown out at right angles to protect the rear. On the left +of the Seventy-seventh was the Forty-ninth New York, the Seventh Maine +was next, then the One Hundred and Twenty-second, and the Forty-third +New York was on the left of the brigade. + +All was now quiet. No sound was heard except now and then the suppressed +tones of officers in command. The stars shone through the openings among +the trees upon a long line of dusky forms lying close behind the +sheltering breastworks, as silent as death but ready at an instant to +pour out a storm of destruction. A row of bayonets projected over the +breastworks; an abattis of steel awaiting the momentarily expected onset +of the enemy. + +At ten o'clock the low tones of command of the rebel officers were heard +as they urged their men against our rear and flank. Colonel Smith of the +Sixty-first Pennsylvania, ordered his men to lie down, for they had no +breastworks, and to reserve their fire. Nearer and nearer came the dark +line, until within twenty feet of the recumbent Pennsylvanians, but not +a sound from them. Still nearer the rebel line approached, to within a +distance of ten feet, when the sharp command rang out, "_Fire_;" and +rising the Pennsylvanians delivered a withering fire into the rebel +ranks that sent them reeling back into the darkness from whence they +came; but a line of prostrate forms where the fire from our line had met +the advancing column, told of its terrible execution. Twenty minutes +after this repulse they advanced silently but in stronger force, +directly in front of our breastworks. They advanced slowly and in +silence until within a few feet of the Union line, when with wild yells +they leaped forward, some even mounting the breastworks. But a sheet of +flame instantly flashed along the whole line of our works; the +astonished rebels wavered for a moment and then beat a hasty retreat, +relinquishing with this last desperate effort the attempt to drive back +the old Sixth corps. + +Scarcely a man of the Union force was injured by this charge, but the +dead and wounded from the rebel ranks literally covered the ground. +There was no help for them. Our men were unable even to take care of +their own wounded which lay scattered through the woods in the rear. So +the rebel wounded lay between the two armies, making the night hideous +with their groans. + +The battle of the 6th was now at an end, neither party having gained any +decided advantage. + +At midnight the Sixth corps fell back upon the plank road to the +vicinity of the old gold mine mill, where our hospitals had been. +Intrenchments were thrown up and the position was held without much +annoyance from the rebels all the next day. The whole line of the army +remained quiet on the 7th, only a few skirmishes along different parts +of the line, relieving the monotony of the day. + +The two days of fighting had told fearfully upon our ranks. Our +regiments which a few hours before were well filled, were now but +fragments of regiments; and our hearts were weighed down with heavy +grief when we thought of the many grand spirits who had left us forever +since we crossed the Rapidan. + +We thought of the young colonel of the Forty-third, Wilson, beloved and +admired throughout the corps. His death was a heavy blow to us all. We +should miss his soldierly presence on the parade; his winning pleasantry +in our social circles; we were no longer to enjoy his beautiful example +of unswerving christian morality. His manly form was no longer to be our +pride, and his heroic valor would never again be manifest on the field +of battle. + +Major Fryer had received his mortal hurt. Fryer was young and gallant; +his handsome form and brilliant eye were in fine harmony with those of +his friend and superior. "In their lives they were beautiful, and in +their death they were not divided." + +Captain Hickmot, too, of the Forty-ninth was among the slain. Surely +death loves a shining mark, and with what terrible precision had he +chosen his victims. Hickmot's bright eye was glazed in death. His gayety +was hushed forever. We remembered now his hearty laugh, his friendly +words and his purity of character, and knew that they were ours only in +memory. + +Wallace of the Forty-third and Terry of the Forty-ninth, too, were gone. +Colonel Ryerson, the gallant commander of the Tenth New Jersey, was +mortally wounded. + +In the Seventy-seventh we had lost Craig; a youth of rare qualities and +of stern patriotism. + +The Vermont brigade had lost many of its brightest ornaments. Colonel +Barney of the Sixth was one of Vermont's best men. A kind yet faithful +commander in camp, gallant and fearless on the field. He was the highest +type of a man; a christian gentleman. Colonel Stone had been killed +instantly on the 5th. His urbane manners were remembered by all who +frequented our division head-quarters, and his bravery had endeared him +to his men. Colonel Tyler, too, of the Second was among the mortally +wounded, and all felt his loss deeply. + +Captains Bixby, of the Second, Bartlett and Buck, of the Third, +Carpenter and Farr, of the Fourth, Ormsbee and Hurlburt, of the Fifth, +and Bird and Randall, of the Sixth--all men of bravery and patriotism, +all beloved as companions and valued as officers--were among the dead or +dying. But among Vermont's fallen sons was no more ardent patriot or +gallant soldier than Captain George D. Davenport, of the Fifth. His +manly bearing, his brilliant intellect, his ready wit, his social +virtues and his well known bravery, combined to render him a favorite +officer in his brigade, while to those who were bound to him by the ties +of fellowship, his disinterested love and noble generosity rendered his +friendship of inestimable value. + +These were a few among the many noble names of fallen heroes. Never were +grander men sacrificed for a noble cause than they. + +General Getty and General Morris and Colonel Keiffer were among the +wounded, and we had lost General Shaler and General Seymour, captured by +the enemy. + +General Neill succeeded to the command of the Second division, and +Colonel Bidwell assumed the command vacated by General Neill. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +SPOTTSYLVANIA. + + Moving by the flank--The wounded abandoned--The Fifth Corps at + Spottsylvania--Arrival of the Sixth Corps--Getting into + line--Death of Sedgwick--General Wright in command--Battle of + the 10th of May--Upton's splendid charge--Battle at "the + angle"--Another flank movement. + + +By this time General Grant, finding the rebel position too strong to +force in front, and finding, by reconnoissance, that the enemy had +fallen back to strong works where he awaited attack, determined to throw +the army between Lee's army and Richmond, and accordingly ordered the +first of that wonderful series of flank movements that have become the +admiration of the world. The Fifth and Sixth corps withdrew with secrecy +from the line held by them, and falling into the rear of the rest of the +army, marched rapidly from the right to the left flank toward +Spottsylvania. The Sixth corps, taking the Chancellorsville road, +reached the old battle-field at daylight, and halted for breakfast near +the ruins of the historic Chancellor House. The Fifth corps taking a +more direct road to Spottsylvania, and being unencumbered with the +train, marched rapidly and reached Piney Branch Church, a little hamlet +in the midst of the woods, about five miles north of Spottsylvania Court +House, at nine o'clock in the morning. These two corps were quickly +followed by the Ninth and Second corps, leaving the old wilderness field +entirely in the hands of the enemy. + +Another of those distressful necessities of war occurred on withdrawing +from the Wilderness. Wounded men of the Fifth and Sixth corps had +already been left on the site of the hospitals near the old gold mine +mills, and now hundreds more from every corps were abandoned for want of +sufficient transportation. Let it not be thought that the Army of the +Potomac was deficient in ambulances. Our hospital train was immense, yet +insufficient for such an emergency as the present. To have provided a +train sufficient for such a time, would have been to incumber the army +with an enormous establishment, which would so interfere with its +movements as to defeat the very object in view. The present was one of +those terrible but unavoidable contingencies which must sometimes occur +in war. + +Trains had returned and brought away some of the wounded left at the old +gold mine, but many were still there; and now, again, as we loaded +ambulances and army wagons to their utmost capacity, making a train of +many miles in extent, some two hundred of the wounded of our Sixth corps +were left upon the ground. It was, indeed, a sickening thought that +these noble fellows, who had nobly fallen in their country's cause, must +be abandoned to the enemy, many of them, perhaps the majority of them, +to die in their hands. All communication with their friends at home +hopelessly cut off, and with no expectation of any but the roughest +treatment from their enemies, it was a sad prospect for the unfortunate +ones. Medical officers from each corps were directed to remain and care +for those thus left behind, and a limited supply of rations and +medicines were also left. Surgeon Phillips, of the Third Vermont, and +Assistant Surgeon Thompson, of the Seventy-seventh New York, were the +detail to remain behind from the Second division. They stayed with our +wounded among the rebels for several weeks, faithfully ministering to +their wants, until nearly all had been removed to Richmond, when, one +day, learning that those remaining were to be sent south on the +following day, they made their escape by night. By traveling throughout +the night and hiding in the woods by day, they made their way across the +Rapidan, and finally reached Washington in safety. + +The Fifth corps, having taken the most direct road to Spottsylvania, +arrived at Piney Branch Church at nine o'clock on the morning of the +8th, where the infantry skirmishers of the enemy were encountered. +Gregg's division of cavalry had been for some time engaged with the +rebel cavalry; but the cavalry had not discovered the infantry of the +enemy before the approach of the Fifth corps. Two divisions of the Fifth +corps were at once formed in line of battle, Bartlett's brigade of +Griffin's division being sent ahead as skirmishers. As the corps +advanced, the skirmishers of the enemy steadily withdrew, until they +reached a large clearing, called Alsop's Farm, along the rear of which +ran a small stream, the river Ny, about three miles north of +Spottsylvania. Here the enemy was formed in force, with a line of strong +earthworks. An attack was ordered, and bravely Warren's men advanced +against the breastworks of the enemy; but their efforts to drive the +rebels were unavailing. The field was composed of a succession of +ridges, dotted here and there with clumps of pines and oaks, while the +country in rear, through which the corps had already pressed the +opposing skirmishers, was a wilderness of trees. The rebels had their +artillery well posted, and they hurled a fierce storm of shells among +the advancing lines, arresting their advance. The enemy in turn charged +upon the Fifth corps, but the Union boys fought with desperation, +repelling every charge and holding their ground. Our troops behaved +magnificently, yet they were unable to push their advance further. + +It was now evident that Lee, anticipating Grant's strategy, had set +about thwarting it. As soon as our troops were withdrawn from Wilderness +Run, Lee had hastened Ewell's corps and a part of Longstreet's on an +inner road to Spottsylvania, and these troops now confronted us and +disputed our advance. + +Such was the situation when the Sixth corps arrived on the field at two +o'clock in the afternoon. The day had been the most sultry of the +season, and many of the men, overcome by the intensity of the heat, and +exhausted by the constant fighting and marching since the morning of the +4th, had fallen by the wayside. The corps halted for about two hours, +and was then ordered to the front to the assistance of Warren's corps, +which was again hotly engaged with the enemy. We pressed forward along a +narrow road leading through a thick growth of timber, until we came +where the Fifth corps was contending the ground. The corps was drawn up +in line of battle, but did not at once commence an attack. + +Before us the ground was rolling and partially wooded, admirably adapted +for defensive warfare. A wooded ravine, at a little distance from our +front, concealed a rebel line of battle, and in our rear, were dense +woods extending to the road along which our line was formed. These woods +were on fire, and the hot blasts of air which swept over us, together +with the burning heat of the sun, rendered our position a very +uncomfortable one. Before long, however, the corps was ordered to the +left, and took its position in the woods on the left of Warren's corps. +Our Second division was formed in three lines with the view of attacking +the enemy. + +Soon after dark all things being ready, the division moved forward to +the attack, but after some desperate fighting on the part of both the +Fifth corps and our own division, finding the enemy too strongly posted, +the attack was relinquished. + +Toward midnight some changes of position were ordered, but, in the +darkness, regiments lost their brigades, and wandered about in the woods +until daylight, some narrowly escaping capture within the lines of the +enemy. + +There was little hard fighting on Monday the 9th, though skirmishing was +briskly kept up along the whole line throughout the day. Our line of +battle was now extended from northwest to southeast with Hancock's +Second corps on the right, Warren's Fifth corps on the right center, +Sedgwick's Sixth corps on the left center, and Burnside's Ninth corps on +the extreme left. Our Second division was formed in a clearing on the +side of a hill which sloped gradually until it reached a swamp, which, +however, turned and passed through our line at our left. About three +hundred yards in front of us was a strip of woods one-fourth of a mile +wide, and beyond the woods an open field where the rebel forces were +posted behind formidable earthworks. Just in our rear and on the crest +of the hill, our batteries were posted so as to fire over our heads. On +our right was a dense forest where the Fifth corps were posted, and on +our left Burnside's troops occupied a more open country. + +The whole line of the army was strengthened with breastworks of rails +and logs, which the men procured in many cases from almost under the +rebel guns, while the heavy mist of the morning concealed them from the +view of their enemies. Over the logs and rails earth was thrown in +quantity sufficient to protect the men from the shot and shell of the +enemy. + +Although there was little fighting on the 9th, it was a sad day for the +Sixth corps and for the army; for on that day our corps lost its beloved +commander, and the army a most distinguished soldier. + +General Sedgwick, while standing behind an outer line of works, +personally superintending and directing, as was his custom, the posting +of a battery of artillery at an angle which he regarded as of great +importance, was shot through the head by a rebel sharpshooter, and died +instantly. The ball had entered his head just below the left eye, and +passed out at the back of the head. + +Never had such a gloom rested upon the whole army on account of the +death of one man as came over it when the heavy tidings passed along the +lines that General Sedgwick was killed. + +Major-General John Sedgwick, who had so long been identified with the +Sixth corps, was a native of Connecticut. He graduated at West Point on +the 30th of June, 1837, and was at once assigned to the Second +artillery, as second-lieutenant. In 1839, he was promoted to +first-lieutenant. He served in Mexico, and was brevetted captain for +gallant and meritorious conduct, in the battles of Contreras and +Cherubusco. He was soon afterward brevetted major for gallant conduct, +and greatly distinguished himself in the attack on Cosino gate, Mexico +city. In 1845 he was made major of the First United States Cavalry, and +served in Texas until the breaking out of the rebellion. In March, 1861, +he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, Second United States Cavalry; +and in April promoted to the colonelcy of the Fourth Cavalry. He was +made a brigadier-general of volunteers in August, 1861, and assigned to +the command of a brigade in the Army of the Potomac. + +He was afterward assigned to the command of the Third division, Second +corps, then under General Sumner. He participated in the siege of +Yorktown, and greatly distinguished himself in many battles on the +Peninsula. He was particularly noted at the battle of Fair Oaks, +Savage's Station, and Glendale. His division was one of the few +divisions of the Army of the Potomac that rendered any assistance to +General Pope in his unfortunate campaign. + +At Antietam he led his men repeatedly against the rebels, and was as +often forced back, until the ground over which his division had fought +was covered with dead. He was thrice wounded, but refused to be carried +from the field until faintness from loss of blood obliged him to +relinquish his command. + +In December, 1862, he was nominated by the President a major-general of +volunteers, and was confirmed in March, 1863, with rank from the 31st of +May, 1862. + +In January following his promotion, he was assigned to the command of +the Ninth corps, and, on the 5th of February, was transferred to the +command of the Sixth corps, relieving General Smith, who was assigned to +the Ninth corps. + +Soon after taking command of our corps, the famous charge upon +Fredericksburgh Heights was made, in which both the corps and its +commander acquired lasting renown. General Sedgwick was especially +commended by General Meade for the manner in which he handled his corps +at Rappahannock Station, and, in General Meade's absence, he was several +times in command of the army. He was, on several occasions, offered the +supreme command of the army, but his excessive modesty forbade him to +accept so important a command. + +No soldier was more beloved by the army or honored by the country than +this noble general. His corps regarded him as a father, and his great +military abilities made his judgment, in all critical emergencies, +sought after by his superior as well as his fellows. The command of the +Sixth corps now devolved upon General Wright, who had long been well +known in the corps as the commander of our First division, and who held +the command of the corps from this time until it was disbanded in the +autumn of 1865. + +Monday night passed quietly. An occasional volley on the picket line +would rouse us to arms, but there was no general assault, and the tired +soldiers would throw themselves again upon the ground to catch a few +moments more of rest. + +Our position on Tuesday morning, May 10th, was the same as it had been +the day previous. During the lull of battle on the 9th, both armies had +gathered their strength and perfected their plans for a renewal of the +contest, on a scale of magnificence seldom if ever witnessed by any army +before. This was destined to be a day of most fearful carnage, and +desperate attempts on the part of each antagonist to crush the other by +the weight of its terrible charges. + +Active skirmishing commenced along different portions of the line early +in the morning, and continued to grow more and more general until the +rattle of the skirmishers' rifles grew into the reverberating roll of +battle. From one end of the long line to the other the tide of battle +surged, the musketry continually increasing in volume, until it seemed +one continuous peal of thunder. During all the battles in the +Wilderness, artillery had been useless, except when here and there a +section could be brought in to command the roadway; but now all the +artillery on both sides was brought into the work. It was the terrible +cannonading of Malvern Hill with the fierce musketry of Gaines' Mills +combined, that seemed fairly to shake the earth and skies. Never during +the war had the two armies made such gigantic struggles for the +destruction of each other. + +At first the heavy assaults were made against the right wing--Hancock's +and Warren's corps sustaining the principal shock of the enemy's +repeated charges. Massing their forces against particular points of the +line held by these two corps, the rebel generals would hurl their gray +legions like an avalanche against our breastworks, hoping by the very +momentum of the charge to break through our lines; but a most withering +storm of leaden and iron hail would set the mass wavering, and finally +send it back to the cover of the woods and earthworks in confusion, +leaving the ground covered at each time with an additional layer of +their dead. In turn, the men of the Fifth and Second corps would charge +upon their adversaries, and in turn they too would be forced to seek +shelter behind their rifle pits. Thus the tide of battle along the right +of the line rolled to and fro, while the horrid din of musketry and +artillery rose and swelled as the storm grew fiercer. + +Meanwhile the Sixth and Ninth corps were quietly awaiting events, and it +was not until six o'clock in the afternoon that the Sixth corps was +called into action. Then it was to make one of the most notable charges +on record. + +At five o'clock the men of the corps were ordered to unsling knapsacks +and divest themselves of every incumbrance preparatory to a charge. +Colonel Upton commanding the Second brigade of the First division, was +directed to take twelve picked regiments from the corps and lead them in +a charge against the right center of the rebel line. The regiments which +shared the dearly purchased honor of this magnificent charge were, in +the first line, the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, the Fifth +Maine, the Ninety-sixth and One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania; in +the second line the Seventy-seventh and Forty-third New York, the Fifth +Wisconsin, Sixth Maine and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania; and in the third +line, the Second, Fifth and Sixth Vermont. It was indeed an honor to be +selected for this duty, but it was an honor to be paid for at the cost +of fearful peril. + +The twelve regiments assembled on the open space in front of our works, +then silently entered the strip of woods which was between our line and +that of the rebels. Passing through to the further edge of the woods, +the twelve regiments were formed in columns of three lines, each line +consisting of four regiments. + +The regiments of the Second division, not included in the charging +column, formed in the rear, to act as support, but did not advance to +the charge. + +As the regiments took their places, they threw themselves upon the +ground, and all orders were given in suppressed tones, for the rebels +were but a hundred yards distant, in the open field, and the minies of +their skirmishers were whistling among the trees and brushwood. + +The other corps of the army were prepared, in case this charging party +succeeded in breaking the enemy's line, to rush in and turn the success +into a rout of the rebels. Generals Meade, Hancock, Warren and Burnside +stationed themselves on eminences, from which they could watch the +success of the perilous enterprise. + +At six o'clock all things were ready, and the artillery from the +eminences in our rear opened a terrific fire, sending the shells howling +and shrieking over the heads of the charging column, and plunging into +the works of the enemy. This was the signal for the attack, and Colonel +Upton's clear voice rang out, "_Attention, battalions! Forward, +double-quick!_ Charge!" and in an instant every man was on his feet, +and, with tremendous cheers, which were answered by the wild yells of +the rebels, the column rushed from the cover of the woods. Quick as +lightning, a sheet of flame burst from the rebel line, and the leaden +hail swept the ground over which the column was advancing, while the +canister from the artillery came crashing through our ranks at every +step, and scores and hundreds of our brave fellows fell, literally +covering the ground. But, nothing daunted, the noble fellows rushed upon +the defenses, leaping over the ditch in front, and mounting the +breastworks. The rebels made a determined resistance, and a hand to hand +fight ensued, until, with their bayonets, our men had filled the rifle +pits with bleeding rebels. About two thousand of the survivors of the +struggle surrendered, and were immediately marched to the rear, under +guard. + +Without halting for breath, the impetuous column rushed toward the +second line of works, which was equally as strong as the first. The +resistance here was less stubborn than at the first line, yet the gray +occupants of the rifle pits refused to fly, until forced back at the +point of the bayonet. + +Our ranks were now fearfully thinned, yet the brave fellows passed on to +the third line of defenses which was also captured. + +It was but a shattered remnant of that noble column that rushed from the +woods against the hostile works, that reached this advanced point, and +now, finding that reenforcements were reaching the enemy, while our +column was every moment melting away, a retreat was ordered. + +There was not even time to bring away the six pieces of artillery which +we had captured; they were filled with sods and abandoned. + +What remained of the twelve regiments retreated to the cover of our +rifle pits, leaving the dead and most of the wounded in the enemy's +hands. + +The corps lost, in this charge, some of its ablest men. In the First +brigade of the Second division Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, of the +Sixty-second New York, was killed. Captain Carpenter, of the +Seventy-seventh, one of its first and best officers, and Lieutenant +Lyon, a young officer of great bravery, were killed in the interior line +of works, and many other noble fellows of that regiment were left on +that fatal field. The regiment crossed the Rapidan six days before with +over five hundred men, and now, after this charge, less than ninety men +were left, and this is but an example of the losses to most of the +regiments in that division. + +The noise of the battle gradually died away as night threw her mantle +over the fearful scene of carnage, and both armies were glad of a +respite from their severe labors. + +The 11th of May passed in making new arrangements and in sending the +thousands of wounded to Fredericksburgh. Immense trains of ambulances +and army wagons freighted with the mangled forms of wounded men were +running day and night to Fredericksburgh, and returning with supplies. + +Skirmishing was kept up along the line, but no general engagement was +brought on. During the night the Second corps, General Hancock, silently +withdrew from the position it had occupied on the right of the line, and +marching along in the rear of the army occupied a position between the +Sixth and Ninth corps, which was not before occupied. With great caution +and silence preparations were made for a desperate attack upon that part +of the enemy's line fronting this position. This line made here a sharp +angle and by seizing this angle, it was hoped to turn the right flank of +Lee's army. Between the position of the Second corps and the rebel +works, the ground was covered with pines and underbrush, and as it +neared the defenses ascended abruptly to a considerable height. + +As soon as the gray light of the morning began to streak through the +mists, all was in readiness for the charge, and with strictest orders of +silence the corps in mass advanced rapidly across the field, the thick +fog concealing the movement. As the column neared the rifle pits a storm +of bullets met it; but charging impetuously up the hill and over the +works, the rebels, surprised and overpowered, gave way; those who could +escaping to the second line in the rear, though thousands were obliged +to surrender on the spot, so complete had been the surprise. The +victorious column now pushed on toward the second line of works, but +here, the enemy by this time fully prepared for the attack, the +resistance became more stubborn. The battle now raged with greatest +fury. The Sixth corps was withdrawn from its position, leaving a strong +picket line to guard its front, and marching along the rear of its works +joined in the attack with the Second corps. The works taken by Hancock's +corps, were occupied by the men of the Sixth corps, and the enemy +commenced the most desperate efforts to retake them. Forming their +troops in heavy columns they hurled them against our line with +tremendous force. Russell's division held the center of the line of the +corps at a point known as "the angle." This was the key to the whole +position. Our forces held the rebel works from the left as far as this +"angle," and the rebels still held the rest of the line. Whoever could +hold "the angle" would be the victors; for with the angle, either party +could possess themselves of the whole line of works. Hence the desperate +efforts to drive us from this position. The First division being unable +to maintain the position alone, the Second division was sent to its aid. +And now, as the boys of the Second division took their places in the +front, the battle became a hand to hand combat. A breastwork of logs +separated the combatants. Our men would reach over this partition and +discharge their muskets in the face of the enemy, and in return would +receive the fire of the rebels at the same close range. Finally, the men +began to use their muskets as clubs and then rails were used. The men +were willing thus to fight from behind the breastworks, but to rise up +and attempt a charge in the face of an enemy so near at hand and so +strong in numbers required unusual bravery. Yet they did charge and they +drove the rebels back and held the angle themselves. It was in one of +these charges that the gallant Major Ellis of the Forty-ninth New York, +was shot with a ramrod through the arm and in the side, from the effects +of which he afterwards died. The trees in front of the position held by +the Sixth corps during this remarkable struggle, were literally cut to +pieces by bullets. Even trees more than a foot in diameter, were cut off +by the constant action of bullets. A section of one of these was, and +doubtless still is, in Washington, with a card attached stating that the +tree was cut down in front of the position of the Second corps. Our +gallant brothers of that corps won undying honors on that glorious day, +but it was the long-continued, fearful musketry battle between the Sixth +corps and the enemy which cut down those trees. We have no desire to +detract from the well-deserved honors of the brave men of the Second +corps, but this is a simple matter of justice. The conflict became more +and more bloody, and soon the Fifth corps was also engaged, and at ten +o'clock the battle rolled along the whole line. The terrible fighting +continued till eleven o'clock, when there was a lull in the musketry, +but the artillery continued its work of destruction. Thus the second +line of works was taken, but not without fearful loss to both armies. +Our corps had fought at close range for eight hours. Behind the works +the rebel dead were lying literally piled one upon another, and wounded +men were groaning under the weight of bodies of their dead companions. +The loss to the rebels in prisoners and guns was also great. + +Major-General Edward Johnson with his whole division, General Stewart, a +brigade from Early's division and a whole regiment, including in all +between three and four thousand prisoners and between thirty and forty +guns, were the trophies of this glorious but bloody morning's work. +These captures were nearly all made by the Second corps in the first +assault in the morning. + +The losses to the Sixth corps were great, but far less than on the 12th. +The Seventy-seventh lost one of its finest officers. Captain O. P. Rugg +was shot in the breast and died while being carried to the hospital. The +captain was a young man of great promise, of genial and lively +temperament and greatly beloved by his regiment. He had been married but +a few months before his death, and had parted from his bride at Elmira +just before the spring campaign opened. + +The corps remained near the scene of action during the next day. +Reconnoissances were made, and another attempt was made on the 14th to +turn the right flank of the enemy. The Sixth corps, at three o'clock on +the morning of that day, moved off to the left of our line about two +miles and encamped about the Anderson House, but our pickets soon found +the enemy in force in our front, and no attempt was made to bring on an +engagement. The time passed quietly along the line, only occasionally +the roar of artillery kept up something of excitement of battle. On the +night of the 17th, the Sixth corps moved back to the scene of the battle +of the 12th. At daylight three corps moved forward to attack the enemy's +line. The Second corps forming the center of the line, the Sixth corps +the right, and the Ninth corps the left. The first line of rifle pits +were those which had been abandoned by us on the 12th. These were filled +with rebel skirmishers, who readily gave way, leaving the works in our +hands. + +Our line of battle advanced till it confronted the second line of the +rebel works. This was a strong line behind a thick impenetrable abattis +and held by a powerful force. The three corps pressed this formidable +line, and a sharp engagement ensued, but without advantage to our +forces, and it was concluded that an attempt to dislodge the enemy could +only result in a fearful waste of life. Accordingly the troops were +quietly withdrawn, though submitted to a galling fire, having lost in +the morning's work about eight hundred men. + +In the afternoon the enemy attacked the Fifth corps on the left, but was +driven back. The same afternoon the Sixth corps returned to the vicinity +of the Anderson House, from which it had started on the evening +previous; and orders were issued to be ready to march toward the North +Anna. + +General Grant, deeming it impracticable to make any further attempt to +carry the rebel position at Spottsylvania by direct assault, had +determined upon another flank movement; and his preparations were made +for moving around the left flank of the enemy during the night of the +19th, and seizing a position on the North Anna. But late in the +afternoon of the 19th, Ewell's rebel corps made a fierce assault upon +the right of our line. Our forces gave the rebels a warm reception, and +forced them back to the cover of their earthworks. + +On the 20th, Aaron B. Quincy, a young soldier, beloved by all who knew +him, was shot through the breast, and died in a few minutes. His +faithful Christian character, his undoubted bravery, and his ardent +patriotism, had endeared him to all. + +On the night of the 21st, the flank movement was commenced. Withdrawing +in silence, and first throwing the right corps in rear of the rest of +the army and to its left, as at the Wilderness, the troops marched +rapidly all night, halting for a few moments for breath once or twice, +and then pressing forward again. During the next forenoon a halt of some +hours occurred at Quincy Station, near the house where Stonewall Jackson +died the year before. Then the march was renewed and continued till +dark. + +The Fifth and Sixth corps reached the banks of the North Anna on the +evening of the 23d, and was soon followed by the Second and Ninth corps. +Again the enemy, aware of our intentions, and having the shortest line, +confronted us, and disputed the crossing; but, after considerable +artillery practice, the Fifth corps succeeded in throwing their pontoon +bridges and obtaining a position on the south bank. The enemy now +attacked the corps with great vigor, but were repulsed with equal +slaughter. The Sixth corps followed at four o'clock in the morning, and +a little later the Second and Ninth corps also joined us. Strong +breastworks were thrown up, and parties were sent to the front to +reconnoiter the position. + +A further advance of a few miles was made on the 25th, but finding the +enemy in a stronger position than he had occupied either in the +Wilderness or at Spottsylvania, General Grant determined again to +withdraw and try his favorite flank movement. Accordingly, on the night +of the 26th, the army was withdrawn to the north bank of the river. The +night was very dark, and the mud deep. Several days' rain had rendered +the roads, proverbial for their mud, almost impassable; but heeding no +difficulties, the army followed without hesitation wherever our great +leader directed. The Sixth corps, with two divisions of cavalry under +Sheridan, who had now rejoined the army from his great raid on which he +had started from Spottsylvania, took the advance. On Saturday, the 28th, +the corps and the cavalry divisions, after a good deal of hard fighting, +crossed the Pamunkey river, at Hanovertown. The cavalry, at once +advancing several miles beyond the river, encountered a large force of +rebel cavalry, which was driven back. The army encamped at Hanovertown, +stretching from the river several miles southward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE HOSPITALS AT FREDERICKSBURGH. + + The journey from the battle-field--Sufferings of the wounded--A + surgeon's letters--Rebel hatred--Assistance from the north--A + father in search of his boy--The wounded sent to Washington. + + +Let us turn now from the field of battle to Fredericksburgh, that great +depot for wounded men. + +It will be recollected that, from Piney Branch church, the trains, with +the wounded from the Wilderness, were sent to Fredericksburgh. Over a +rough road, nearly fifteen miles, these unfortunate men, with shattered +or amputated limbs, with shots through the lungs or head or abdomen, +suffering the most excruciating pain from every jar or jolt of the +ambulance or wagon, crowded as closely as they could be packed, were to +be transported. Already they had been carted about over many miles of +hard road, most of them having been carried from the old gold mine to +Chancellorsville, and now again loaded and brought to Spottsylvania. +They were worn out with fatigue and suffering, and yet there was much +misery in store for them. Slowly the immense train labored over the +rough road, now corduroy, now the remains of a worn out plank road, and +anon a series of ruts and mud holes, until, at three o'clock on the +morning of the 9th of May, the head of the train arrived in +Fredericksburgh. + +The train had been preceded by some three hundred men who were wounded +but able to walk. Mayor Slaughter and other rebel citizens surrounded +these unarmed men, made them prisoners and delivered them to some rebel +cavalry, who took them to Richmond. + +The process of unloading the wounded at once commenced; all the churches +and other public buildings were first seized and filled. Negroes who +could be found in town were pressed into the work, yet, with all the +help that could be obtained, it was a slow process. All night and all +the next day the work went on. The churches were filled first, then +warehouses and stores, and then private houses, until the town was +literally one immense hospital. + +The surgeons were too much engaged in transferring the men from the +wagons to the houses to find time that day to dress many wounds, and +many an unfortunate soldier whose stump of an arm or leg had not been +dressed since the first day of the fighting, became the victim of +gangrene, which set in as the result of this unavoidable want of care. +No sooner were the men removed from the ambulances than surgeons and +nurses addressed themselves with all the strength that remained to them +to relieve the immediate wants of the sufferers. Never before had such +herculean labors been thrown upon so small a body of men, yet nobly did +they accomplish the task. All the buildings in town were full of wounded +men, the walks were covered with them, and long trains of ambulances +were filling the streets with more. Yet to relieve the wants of all +these thousands of suffering men not more than forty surgeons had been +sent from the field. + +It was one grand funeral; men were dropping away on every side. Large +numbers of nurses were detailed as burial parties, and these plied their +work day after day with hardly time for their needed rest. + +Surgeons were completely worn out, and many of them, had to be sent to +Washington, fairly broken down with their labors. + +The following extract from a letter of a surgeon at Fredericksburgh to +his wife, written on the 11th, may convey something of an idea of the +experience of the medical officers during those terrible days. He says: +"We are almost worked to death; my feet are terribly swollen; yet we +cannot rest for there are so many poor fellows who are suffering. All +day yesterday I worked at the operating table. That was the fourth day +that I had worked at those terrible operations since the battle +commenced, and I have also worked at the tables two whole nights and +part of another. Oh! it is awful. It does not seem as though I could +take a knife in my hand to-day, yet there are a hundred cases of +amputations waiting for me. Poor fellows come and beg almost on their +knees for the first chance to have an arm taken off. It is a scene of +horror such as I never saw. God forbid that I should ever see another." + +Again, the same officer writing a day or two later, says, "It is +fearful. I see so many grand men dropping one by one. They are my +acquaintances and my friends. They look to me for help, and I have to +turn away heartsick at my want of ability to relieve their sufferings. +Captain Walker of the Seventh Maine is dying to-night. He is a noble +good man, and he looks in my face and pleads for help. Adjutant Hessy +and Lieutenant Hooper of the same regiment died last night. All were my +friends, and all thought that I could save them. General Sedgwick is +dead, and General Getty and General Torbert are my patients.... Mrs. +Lewis has just come; what a blessing her presence will be to the +colonel, who bears the loss of his arm so bravely. Colonel Barney of the +Sixth Vermont died yesterday, and Major Fryer of the Forty-third is +dying. The major says, 'Doctor, can nothing be done?' Major Dudley lies +in the room where I am writing, seriously wounded.... I have to-day sent +sixty officers of the Sixth corps to Washington.... Oh! can I ever write +anything beside these mournful details? Hundreds of ambulances are +coming into town now, and it is almost midnight. So they come every +night." + +For a time it was almost impossible to obtain sufficient supplies either +of food or dressings. Everything that could be spared from the field had +been sent, but in the field they were still fighting terrible battles, +and there was little to spare. Food was obtained in very limited +quantities in town, and men went to the houses of citizens and demanded +sheets, which were torn into bandages. + +But large supplies were sent from Washington by the government in a few +days, so that all necessary articles were furnished in abundance, with a +profusion of lemons, oranges and canned fruit. The Sanitary Commission +was also on hand with large supplies of delicacies, which were joyfully +received by the wounded heroes, who not only relished the luxuries, but +remembered that they were the gifts of friends at home, who had not +forgotten the soldiers. + +Many of the people of Fredericksburgh exhibited the most malignant spite +against the "Yankee wounded;" but others, while they claimed no sympathy +with our cause, showed themselves friends of humanity, and rendered us +all the assistance in their power. No men, except negroes and white men +unfit for military duty, were left in town, but the women were bitter +rebels. Some of them made fierce opposition to the use of their houses +as hospitals, but they were occupied notwithstanding their +remonstrances. + +At one fine mansion a surgeon rang the door bell, and in a moment saw +the door open just enough to show the nose and a pair of small twinkling +eyes of what was evidently a portly women. "What do you want?" snarled +out the female defender of the premises. "We want to come and see if we +can place a few wounded officers in this house." "You can't come in +here!" shouted the woman slamming the door together. A few knocks +induced her again to open the door two or three inches. "Madam, we must +come in here; we shall do you no harm." "You can't come here; I am a +lone widow." "But I assure you no harm is intended you." Again the door +was closed, and again at the summons was opened. "Madam, it will be much +better for you to allow us to enter than for me to direct these men to +force the door; but we must enter." The woman now threw the door wide +open and rushing into the yard with as much alacrity as her enormous +proportions would admit, threw her arms out and whirled about like a +reversed spinning top shouting for help. She was again assured that no +harm was intended her, but that unless she chose to show us the house we +should be obliged to go alone. Concluding that wisdom was the better +part of valor, she proceeded to show us the rooms. + +At another mansion, one of the finest in Fredericksburgh, a red-haired +woman thrust her head out of the side window, in answer to the ring of +the door bell: + +"What do you want here?" + +"We wish to place some wounded officers in this house." + +"You can't bring any officers nor anybody else to this house. I'm all +alone. I hope you have more honor than to come and disturb defenseless, +unprotected women." + +"Have you no husband?" + +"Yes, thank God, he's a colonel in the confederate service." + +"Well, if your husband was at home, where he ought to be, you would not +be a defenseless woman." + +The woman refused to unbolt the door, in spite of all persuasion, but +while she railed at the "detestable Yankees," a soldier climbed in at a +window in the rear, and unbolted the door. Her splendid rooms and fine +mattresses furnished lodgings for twenty wounded officers. Day after +day, the gloom of death hung over the town. Hundreds of our brave +fellows were dying. Some of the finest officers of our army were daily +yielding to the destroyer. + +Among the severe losses to the Sixth corps were, Colonel Barney, of the +Sixth Vermont, who had been shot through the head. He died on the 10th. +He was one of the noblest of the sons of Vermont, a pattern of a brave +soldier and Christian gentleman, respected for his ability as a +commander, and loved for his social virtues; he was lamented by the +whole corps. Major Fryer, of the Forty-third New York, one of the most +promising young officers in the corps, died on the 12th, from wounds +through the left arm and lungs. Captain Walker and Adjutant Hesse, of +the Seventh Maine, and Lieutenants Hooper and Vining, of the same +regiment, all died within a few hours of each other. Lieutenants +Follensbee and Cook, of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, and Captain +Kirkbride, of the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania, were also among +those who died. Major Dudley, of the Fifth Vermont, after suffering +untold agony for many days, finally yielded, and died in the embraces of +his youthful wife, who had arrived in Fredericksburgh just in time to be +present during his last hours. The major had gone into the fight sick +with a fever, but his determined bravery forbade him to remain quiet. +Receiving a severe wound while thus depressed by disease, he gradually +sunk, until his brave spirit took its departure. + +These were a few of the sad, sad scenes, which brought sorrow to our +hearts day after day, of the hospitals at Fredericksburgh. + +Physicians and nurses from civil life came to our assistance in large +numbers. Some were earnest men, wholly devoted to the object of +relieving the distress which they saw on every side. Others had come for +selfish purposes. + +Physicians who had never performed an important surgical operation came +armed with amputating cases, and seemed to think that there was but one +thing to be done, _to operate_ as they said. + +Distressed fathers and brothers wandered about the town, in search of +information regarding some son or friend who had been wounded, or +perhaps, as they feared, killed. + +The following is but an example of many sad incidents of this kind: H. +A. Bowers, of the Seventy-seventh New York, a young man much beloved and +respected in his regiment, was wounded through the chest on the 5th of +May, and with the other wounded brought to Fredericksburgh. His father, +who resided in Albany, received the intelligence that his son was +dangerously wounded, and hastened to Fredericksburgh in search of him. +He arrived at that immense hospital, and at once commenced his inquiries +after his soldier boy. Failing to learn anything of him, except the +assurance that he had been placed in the ambulances, he sought out the +quartermaster of the Seventy-seventh, who was with the army train just +out of town. The quartermaster readily lent his aid in the search, and +both at once sought the surgeon of that regiment for information, but +he, having the care of a multitude, could tell them nothing of the +object of their search. Thousands of wounded men were here, filling the +city, but, thus far, the important duties of relieving their immediate +necessities had occupied the attention of surgeons and attendants to the +exclusion of everything else; and no record or register had been made by +which a particular wounded man might be found. Unless some friend or +acquaintance could direct to his place, the search was often long. The +nurses were instructed to afford the anxious father every assistance in +finding his son. Two more long weary days were spent in the fruitless +search, when word was sent to the father that his boy might be found in +a certain church. Overjoyed at the thought that at last his search was +to be crowned with success, he hastened to the place. Who shall attempt +to tell the anguish of that father, when, on reaching the hospital, he +found that his son had expired half an hour before! + +At length, by the 26th of May, all the wounded men were sent by +transports to Washington, and the hospitals broken up. The surgeons, +escorted by a squadron of cavalry, crossed the country by way of Bowling +Green, and, after a three days' journey, rejoined the army at Hanover. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +COAL HARBOR. + + At Hanover Court House--The Eighteenth corps joins the Army of + the Potomac--The armies meet at Coal Harbor--Battle of June + 1st--Battle of June 3d--Terrible exposure--The army strikes for + Petersburgh--Charles City Court House--A centenarian--Review of + the overland campaign. + + +Early on the morning of the 30th, the army was again moving, advancing +with heavy skirmishing toward Hanover Court House. Remaining here some +hours the column retraced its steps a short distance, the rebels +meanwhile opening a severe artillery fire upon our hospital trains. + +Toward evening the enemy attacked our left vigorously but were repulsed, +and an attack was in turn made by our own troops which resulted in +forcing the rebels from a part of their intrenchments. Except some +changes of position and ascertaining that of the enemy, our army lay +quietly confronting the rebels during the 31st, but on the 1st of June +we were again on the road marching toward Coal Harbor. The march was a +hard one. The day was sultry, and the dust, ankle deep, raised in clouds +by the column, was almost suffocating. It filled the air and hung upon +the leaves of the trees like snow. Seldom had our men experienced so +severe a march. As we neared Coal Harbor our Sixth corps in advance, we +fell in with the column of General Smith's command, the Eighteenth and +Tenth corps. It was a relief to the old soldiers of the Army of the +Potomac to see these full regiments, and they felt that with such large +reinforcements our success must now be insured. It was also a source of +much gratification to the old Second division to meet again our friends +Generals Smith and Brooks, whose names were so intimately connected with +the division, and who still held a large place in the affections of the +men. + +These two corps were a part of General Butler's command, which had +advanced up the Peninsula as far as Bermuda Hundreds, but were unable to +make further progress. General Grant had, therefore, directed General +Butler to send them forward by way of transports to White House Landing, +to join the Army of the Potomac. They reached us tired and almost +discouraged by their unusual march of nearly sixteen miles, their trains +and baggage being left behind. + +In the afternoon we had fallen in with ambulances returning with wounded +cavalrymen, and learned from them that Sheridan had engaged the rebel +cavalry at Coal Harbor early in the morning, and that he was now +fighting both infantry and cavalry. Toward that point the troops pushed +on rapidly, reaching the cavalry line at about four o'clock. The men +halted a few moments, and then were ordered to fall in and advance +against the enemy. Skirmishers, as usual, had advanced and prepared the +way for the lines of infantry and the artillery. The shots of the +skirmishers had become more and more frequent, till the sharp rattle of +musketry told of the actual presence of the enemy. The artillery of the +Sixth corps was at once run out, and a brisk fire opened upon the +rebels, who replied with their guns, but with less vigor than that +exhibited by our own. The commands of Wright and Smith were at once +formed in line of battle, our Sixth corps on the left in line, Rickett's +Third division holding the right of the line, Russell's the center, and +Neill's Second division the extreme left of the whole line. On our right +was Smith's command in single line. + +In front of our line was an open space two-thirds of a mile in width, +beyond which was a strip of pine woods. In these woods the enemy had +intrenched, and was holding the position in strong force. Lee, again +anticipating the design of Grant, had sent Longstreet's corps and other +troops to occupy Coal Harbor, and now, with their rear resting upon the +Chickahominy, at this point a shallow and easily forded stream, the +rebels occupied a strong position between our advance and Richmond. + +The order for the charge was given, and these two commands, weary and +exhausted, the veterans of the Sixth corps from many days and nights of +most severe labor, and both corps by the tedious march of the day, +dashed impetuously across the ploughed field with shouts and cheers, +making for the rebel works. + +The storm of battle seemed suddenly to have broken without the usual +warning. It was less than an hour since the Union troops had arrived on +the field, and already a most bloody struggle was in progress. Volleys +rang out upon the evening air, crashing louder and still louder. The +First and Third divisions of the Sixth corps, in heavy columns, rushed +across the field, cleared the abattis, and seized the rebel works, while +the Second division, on the left, discovering a strong force of the +enemy planting a battery on our flank, engaged them and forced them +back. Smith's command, also, by a desperate charge, seized nearly the +whole line in the front, that on the extreme right, in front of Brooks' +command, alone remaining in the hands of the rebels. The whole line +thundered with the incessant volleys of musketry, and the shot and shell +of the artillery shrieked and howled like spirits of evil. The sun was +sinking, red, in the west, and the clouds of dust and smoke almost +obscured the terrible scene. Hundreds of our brave fellows were falling +on every side, and stretcher bearers were actively engaged in removing +the wounded from the field. The First division, after a stubborn +resistance of a few minutes, was forced to give up the line of works it +had captured and fall back; only the Third division held its ground. The +others had advanced as far, but the ground was unfavorable, and in spite +of most determined efforts to hold the line, they were forced to swing +back. + +This was the first experience of Smith's command in a great battle, and +well did his men earn the confidence of the veterans who fought by their +side. Their courage and impetuosity were the subjects of admiration of +the boys of the old Sixth corps, who declared that Baldy Smith could +make any troops fight like veterans. + +The gallantry shown by our Third division in taking and holding the +enemy's works, was acknowledged with true soldierly generosity by the +other divisions of our corps, who thus far had not regarded the new +division as their peer. + +As darkness came on, the conflict still raged, and sheets of flame +rolled from one end of the line to the other as the discomfited rebels +strove desperately to regain their lost ground. But as the sound of +battle died away at nine o'clock, the advantages gained by us were still +held, and our men set to work to strengthen the works they had captured +from the enemy and to throw up new ones. Again and again the rebels +rushed against the Union line hoping to regain their lost ground, but +without success. The battle, although of brief duration, had been a most +sanguinary one. The loss to the Sixth corps was about two hundred killed +and nine hundred and sixty wounded, while the Eighteenth corps lost one +hundred and twenty-five killed and six hundred and fifty wounded. + +Meanwhile the Second, Fifth and Ninth corps were holding the position +occupied by them the day before, and against these corps most desperate +assaults were repeatedly made by the enemy, but they were as often +repulsed with great slaughter. + +The movement at Coal Harbor, while it had not succeeded in forcing the +enemy across the Chickahominy, had secured our communications with White +House Landing, which now became, after two years, for the second time, +the base of supplies for the Army of the Potomac. General Grant now +determined to renew the attempt to dislodge the rebels on the following +day. + +Accordingly, after the fashion of all the movements of the army, the +Second corps, which now occupied the extreme right of the line, withdrew +during the night, and falling behind the other corps, marched rapidly to +the left and took position in that flank on the road leading from +Dispatch Station to Coal Harbor. The corps did not secure this position +without considerable fighting, and it was not in condition to take part +in the expected advance until the afternoon. Then a most violent thunder +shower set in, putting a stop to all movements for the remainder of the +day. + +The men of the Sixth and Eighteenth corps, tired and worn out from +marching, fighting, and the hard night's work in throwing up +intrenchments, had spent the early part of the day in quietly watching +the enemy, or lounging behind the breastworks, glad of an opportunity +for rest. + +Orders were now given for a simultaneous attack along the whole line, to +take place at half-past four on the morning of the 3d. Our line of +battle extended from Coal Harbor to Tolopotamy creek, in the following +order, from left to right: Second, Sixth, Eighteenth, Fifth, and Ninth. +This line was nearly parallel with the Chickahominy, and from a mile and +a half to two miles north of it. + +The rebels had not left the day unimproved, in concentrating their +troops and strengthening their works. They now held three lines of +breastworks, all of great strength; the first occupied by their skirmish +lines, the others by strong lines of battle. Between the two armies the +ground was low and swampy, while the positions occupied by both were +sandy plains. + +At half-past six on the morning of the 3d, our army was astir; and the +skirmishers, leaving the cover of the rifle pits, were advancing. +Presently they fell in with the skirmishers of the enemy, and the sharp +cracking of rifles betokened the storm of battle. + +As soon as the skirmishers were engaged, our artillery opened upon the +rebel works, and the conflict now commenced in earnest. Amid the +deafening volleys of musketry, the thunders of the artillery, and the +wild yells of battle, our brave fellows pressed rapidly across the space +between the hostile lines of works, and the whole Union force was thrown +against the rebel breastworks almost simultaneously. But the works were +too strong, the abattis too troublesome, and the rebel forces too +numerous. Their line could not be taken. + +The vigorous and gallant assault made by the Sixth corps, resulted in +carrying the first line, where the rebel skirmishers had been posted, +and our troops got within two hundred and fifty yards of the main works, +but Martindale's division of Smith's corps, which advanced with the +Sixth corps, and on our right, found the task before it too great; the +troops of that division became disarranged and were repulsed. Although +General Smith, who was always up to the front, made several attempts to +relieve Martindale's division, it failed to take the rifle pits. + +The right flank of the Sixth corps, thus exposed, the whole corps was +forced to fall back. + +Thus this grand assault, in which General Grant hoped to force his enemy +across the Chickahominy, failed with immense loss to us and +comparatively little to the confederate army, which as usual was +defended by earthworks, while our men advancing to the charge were +unprotected. But our brave fellows were to have their revenge. + +The battle was over, and again the occupants of the opposing lines of +defenses watched each other, the quiet being only disturbed by the +occasional shots of sharpshooters. Darkness closed over the plains of +Coal Harbor, and even the sharpshooters desisted from their work. The +stars shed a mild light upon the two armies which had so lately been +engaged in fierce conflict, each now securely resting behind its line of +earthworks, and the plain which lay between them, which the hurricane of +battle had so lately swept, was as still as though the noise of war had +never been heard there. + +Suddenly, at eight o'clock, the rebels in front of our Sixth corps and +of the Second corps, leaped over their works and rushed with a yell +toward our lines. At the same time their artillery opened upon us. The +course of their shells was marked by long curves of fire upon the dark +sky, while the flashes of the guns and bursting missiles made a sublime +display of pyrotechnics. + +On came the charging column, against the left of the Sixth and the right +of the Second corps; but nothing pleased our brave boys more than to see +their enemies come out from the cover of their works to fight. + +It had, during all these long days of battles, been ours to charge well +defended earthworks almost invariably; and whenever the rebels chose to +assume the offensive, our men were glad to show them the difference +between being the assailants and the assailed. + +Now the rebels came on with determination, but their attack was met by +volley after volley of musketry aimed for effect; and our well directed +fire of artillery made great gaps in the advancing lines. The attack was +nobly repulsed, and many grey-coated soldiers who advanced to the +charge, were left by their retreating comrades, dead between the two +lines, while others were ordered in as prisoners. The rebels returned to +their place, and again all was still. From this time we had no more +battles at Coal Harbor, yet we daily lost many men by the shots of the +sharpshooters who were perched in trees, and who kept up a fire at every +moving thing which showed itself within our lines. + +Never before had our army been in a position where there was such +constant danger as at Coal Harbor. Men in the front line dared not leave +the cover of the breastworks except in the darkness of night, and even +then the movement of a company to the rear might bring on a storm of +shells. High breastworks were thrown up at all angles with the main +line, and deep trenches were dug, in which the men might pass to and +from the front without being observed. Even with all these extraordinary +precautions, no man was safe in venturing to go to the rear by daylight. +If a soldier collected the canteens of his companions and started to the +rear for water, he was obliged to crawl along the trenches with the +utmost secrecy, and even then he was liable to be shot. Not a day +passed, even when there was no battle, in which scores of men were not +killed or brought to the hospitals with severe wounds. + +The whole plain occupied by our army was dug over. Far to the rear the +men had intrenched themselves. General officers had their tents erected +in deep excavations surrounded by embankments of earth, and special duty +men had each prepared for themselves burrows in the ground, many of +which were creditable specimens of engineering. One was reminded, in +riding over the plain, of the colonies of prairie dogs with their +burrows and mounds. Although we had but two days' actual fighting at +Coal Harbor, our losses were more than thirteen thousand men, while the +rebels suffered comparatively small losses. + +Thus the army lay upon the burning sands of that arid plain, the greater +part of the line without the friendly shelter of a tree, weary, yet not +discouraged; grimy and dirty, and choked with dust, yet uttering no +words of complaint, for twelve days. + +Troops commenced moving toward the rear on the morning of the 11th of +July, and it became known that we were to make no more attempts to force +the formidable position. General Grant had ordered another flank +movement, this time to the James river. Preparations for withdrawing +went on actively on the 10th and 11th; all the wounded were sent to the +White House, and the long trains of forage, ammunition and commissary +supplies which had been allowed to come far toward the front, began to +pass to the rear. On the 12th, Smith's corps was ordered to the White +House, thence to embark to City Point, while the remainder of the army +was to cross the Chickahominy far to the right of the rebel position, +and march to the James river. + +At three o'clock in the afternoon, the long hospital train of the Sixth +corps moved out toward the left a few miles and halted for the corps, +which withdrew from the works after dark, and marched with great +rapidity toward the left. The other corps also withdrew from their +positions, and the whole army moved off down the Chickahominy, the +Second corps in advance. The march was kept up all night, a short halt +only being allowed in the morning near Dispatch Station. Then the column +pressed on again, the men almost suffocated with the dust, which hung +over the column like a huge cloud; no halt was made at noon, and the +men, deprived of their coffee, choked with dust, and burned with heat, +marched wearily toward night. The sun was sinking in the west, tinging +the clouds with purple, and crowning the distant hills with gold, when +we crossed the historic Chickahominy. Two years before we had crossed +the same stream not far from this very spot. Through how many +vicissitudes of army life had we passed since that time. The stream was +not wide, and its banks were well defined where we crossed. Indeed, at +this point, there was nothing in the appearance of the stream that would +convey any idea of the difficulties which it had once presented to the +Union army. The corps bivouacked on high grounds a mile from the river, +glad to rest from the toiling march. + +We were early astir on the morning of the 14th; taking our line of march +through a delightful section of country where the comfortable farm +houses and fine residences presented a striking contrast with the +desolations to which we had become accustomed. As we began to descend +from the high lands toward the plain, on which stands the little cluster +of houses called, in southern fashion, Charles City, we beheld, in the +distance, the James river, lying in all its loveliness, spreading widely +between its banks. A magnificent prospect opened before us. The river in +the distance bordered by green fields, one undulating slope four or five +miles wide, and twice as long, presenting a scene of surpassing beauty. +There were large fields of grain already yellow and nearly ripe for the +harvest, green meadows lay in the beautiful valleys, the gentle breeze +dallied with the tassels of the long rows of corn, which gave rich +promise of an abundant harvest; fine groves upon the hillside, in the +valleys and on the plain, gave a charming diversity to the scene, and +the old mansions, embosomed in vines and trees, and surrounded by +colonies of outhouses, reminded us of the ease and comfort which had +reigned here before the ravages of war had desolated Virginia. To the +right was Charles City, almost hidden by trees, a little town, in +prosperous days, the home of a few hundred people, now almost deserted. + +In the vicinity of Charles City we halted a little before noon. The +Second corps, which was in the advance, had already reached the James at +Wilcox's Landing, and was preparing to cross. The men of our corps were +delighted with the opportunity of once more spreading their tents over +clean grassy turf, and each quickly pitched his shelter tent preparatory +to a refreshing rest. + +Within two miles of our camp was the residence of the late ex-president, +John Tyler, which was visited by many of our officers. It was a charming +spot, with everything about it to please the eye of a lover of the +beautiful. But except the grounds immediately surrounding the house, +everything was in the wildness of nature. + +The house was stripped of almost everything. The cabinet was carried +off. The large library had lost many of its choicest volumes, while the +remainder, with heaps of letters, lay thrown in wild confusion about the +floor. The pile of sheet music which had been left on the piano by the +family, had been culled over and nearly all taken away. In fact such a +sad scene of destruction was rare, even in the track of a great army. + +On the morning of the 15th, the corps moved to the river side, where it +remained while other troops were crossing by ferry and on an immensely +long pontoon bridge. The river was full of shipping, the forests of +masts making strange contrasts with the native forests on the river +banks. + +Near the crossing was a superb old mansion, the residence of a rebel +general, surrounded by its little village of negro cabins. Here many +officers of the corps resorted, to spend the time in walking among the +grand old trees, or to stroll through the garden, admiring the elegant +and rare exotics which adorned the grounds. Here was the magnolia +grandiflora in full bloom, its immense cup-like flowers filling the +whole place with delightful fragrance, and the American agave, also +loaded with a profusion of elegant flowers; roses of the most rare and +superb varieties, jasmines, honeysuckles, clematis, spice woods, and a +great variety of other choice plants, were also in lavish abundance. +There were locust trees of enormous size, and everything that was +inanimate filled us with surprise and delight. But, within the mansion, +we were met with the accustomed bitterness and want of civility. Among +the slaves on the premises was a white-haired negro, who was one hundred +and eight years old. His wife, who lived upon a neighboring plantation, +was one hundred and four years of age. When asked his age by the boys, +he was accustomed to answer, "Well, massa, I'se going on _two hundred_ +now." The old fellow manifested no sympathy for the cause of his master, +and even he sighed for freedom. When asked of what value freedom could +be to him now, he answered, impatiently, "Well, massa, isn't a hundred +and eight years long enough to be a slave?" + +The army, which had thus fought its way at fearful cost from the Rapidan +to the James, was now to change its base, and threaten the rebel capital +from the south. Petersburgh was now the objective point, and this was +regarded as the door to Richmond. + +Our army had, during the period of a little more than a month, fought +the most extraordinary series of battles, and executed some of the most +remarkable movements on record. Never was heroic valor exhibited on a +grander scale than had been manifested by the Army of the Potomac +throughout this long struggle, in which every man's life seemed doomed. +The stubborn perseverance of the general was equaled by the persistent +determination of his soldiers. Day after day they had been called upon +to assault earthworks of formidable character, defended by veteran +troops; and it was usually the case that they had seen, as the only +fruits of their daring, almost reckless, charges, the ground in front of +the hostile intrenchments strewed with the lifeless bodies of their +comrades, while the enemy still held the coveted line of works. + +The battle of the Wilderness was a strange, deadly struggle, which no +man could see. A battle in which both armies were hidden in thickets and +forests, impenetrable to vision, each making gigantic efforts for the +overthrow and destruction of the other. It had resulted in no decisive +advantage to either party. Lee was as ready to meet us at Spottsylvania +as he had been in the Wilderness, and Grant was determined in his attack +along the Ny, as though he had met with no repulse on Wilderness Run. +The soldiers, too, of each army were as ready at Spottsylvania to test +their relative valor as they had been in the Wilderness. + +At Spottsylvania we had lost thousands of our best men, and hundreds of +our ablest officers in futile attempts to drive our enemy from +impregnable positions; yet, notwithstanding all our losses, and our +hitherto unsuccessful assaults, our men rushed against the strong +defenses at Coal Harbor with as much resolution and fortitude as though +they had met with no reverses. + +From the Rapidan to the Chickahominy the advance had been almost a +continuous battle, in which our army fought at a disadvantage. The men +had for more than a month engaged the enemy in mortal combat by day and +made fatiguing marches by night only to find themselves again face to +face with the enemy in the morning. Sixty thousand of our comrades were +either killed, wounded or missing. Of these more than thirteen thousand +had been lost at Coal Harbor, about thirty-two thousand in the +Wilderness, and nearly fifteen thousand at Spottsylvania and on the +North Anna. + +It is true that our enemy had suffered great losses, yet not half as +many rebels as Union men had fallen. At Coal Harbor the disproportion +was much greater than elsewhere. There the rebel loss had not been +one-tenth as great as our own. Notwithstanding our frequent repulses, +and despite the fact that our road was continually blocked by an army +behind powerful defenses, our march had been straight on toward the goal +of our ambition, the rebel capital. + +From the crossing of the Rapidan to the halt at Coal Harbor, in all our +battles and all our flank movements, we had not swerved from the direct +line to Richmond; and now, with unimpaired vigor and still relentless +determination, the Army of the Potomac, and the imperturbable leader of +the Union armies, were ready to undertake the capture of Richmond, by +way of Petersburgh, fully assured that their illustrious valor and never +failing courage must sooner or later meet with their award. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +PETERSBURGH. + + The march to Petersburgh--Smith's successes--The battle of June + 18th--The Sixth and Second corps sent to the left--Rebels + penetrate the line--Progress of the siege--Sixth corps proceeds + to Reams' Station--Kautz's and Wilson's raids. + + +At sunset on the 16th, the Sixth corps gathered upon the banks of the +James river, and while the First and Third divisions embarked on +steamers for City Point, the Second division crossed on the pontoon +bridge. The division marched all night toward Petersburgh, from which +direction we had heard cannonading all day. The column moved rapidly, +leaving scores of stragglers, who quietly rolled themselves in their +blankets and lay down behind the hedges to sleep till morning. The +following day was sultry, and the dust was very annoying. The men were +weary from want of sleep, and the march was a severe one; but at sunset +the division arrived at our lines before Petersburgh. Smith's corps had +preceded us, and by assaulting the rebel position on the evening of the +16th, had carried the lines northeast of the town for a distance of over +two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery and three +hundred prisoners. General Smith was then reinforced by Hancock's corps, +which had just arrived by land, but no further advance was made that +night. This neglect to take advantage of the absence of any large force +of rebels in the works about Petersburgh was severely censured by +General Grant, who could not understand why General Smith, now +reinforced by a large corps, had not at once taken possession of the +town. The day that the Second division, Sixth corps, arrived in front of +Petersburgh, the two divisions of that corps which had taken transports +up the river, were ordered to reinforce General Butler at Bermuda +Hundreds, where his command had gained some advantages, which were, +however, lost before night. All the corps having got up, attacks upon +the rebel positions were renewed on the 17th and 18th. The attack on the +17th was made by Smith's command, and resulted in the loss of a few men, +when the lines were withdrawn. + +Our Second division now relieved Brooks' division of the Eighteenth +corps on the front line, the Seventy-seventh taking possession of a +powerful redoubt, the other regiments taking their places in close +proximity. The Vermont brigade was placed in rifle pits, as was also the +First brigade. In order to secure unity of action, General Neill, +commanding the division, was directed to receive orders from General +Martindale of the Eighteenth corps. + +Standing in the redoubt occupied by the Seventy-seventh, which was upon +a high bluff, and commanded a fine prospect of the surrounding country, +we could trace the line of defenses which had already been captured, and +those yet in the hands of the enemy. The defenses of Petersburgh +consisted of a line of strong earthworks, in the form of a semicircle. +Immense redoubts, like the one we now occupied, were placed at frequent +intervals, upon commanding positions, and these were connected by a line +of rifle pits and high breastworks. At all advantageous points, also, +were well constructed rifle pits, in front (now in rear) of the main +works. Smith's corps had captured eleven of these forts and redoubts in +the first assault, and they were now occupied by our forces, and the +strong works which were intended for the defense of the town now +bristled with cannon pointing toward it. + +The line of powerful forts and breastworks commenced about two and a +half miles below Petersburgh, on the Appomattox, and, circling the city, +terminated two or three miles above. + +Before us stretched the valley of the Appomattox in all its beauty, the +level plain between us and the river clothed in the verdure of summer, +the green fields of corn yet untrodden by the troops of either side. +Below the heights, stretching far to the right and left, was the line of +rifle pits now occupied by our men, and beyond these could be traced the +outlines of the new works which the rebels were throwing up. Still +beyond all these, the spires of Petersburgh towered grandly, and by the +help of a glass the streets and houses were distinctly visible. + +On the 18th, another advance was made by the divisions of Smith's corps, +a part of the Second corps, and our own Second division. Smith's troops +advanced spiritedly across the plain, facing a withering fire of grape +and canister, but were unable to come up to the rebel works. + +They were ordered to lie down, and at once every man commenced to throw +up a little mound of earth in front of him, using his cup or plate, or +even his hands or jack-knife, in place of a spade. + +Under this destructive fire the troops were forced to remain for some +time, but they at length retired, having lost several hundred of their +number. Neill's division was on the left of Smith's troops, and did not +advance as far. Our losses were therefore slight. + +Owing to some unfortunate misunderstanding, the surgeons of the +Eighteenth corps were ordered to the right of the line to establish +field hospitals; consequently, when the wounded of that corps began to +come in, there were none of their surgeons at hand. The surgeons of our +own division, however, quickly proceeded to establish a hospital for +them, in which they were all received and cared for, their wounds +dressed, the shattered limbs removed, and all their wants attended to. +The medical officers of the Eighteenth corps expressed their warmest +gratitude for this act of kindness on the part of the Sixth corps +surgeons, this being the second time that we had found an opportunity of +assisting them in an emergency. + +Our lines were daily drawn more closely around Petersburgh, but no other +general action was brought on for some time. There was constant firing +of artillery from both sides, and now and then the rattle of musketry +would pass along the lines. + +On the 22d, Colonel Bidwell's brigade occupied the front line of rifle +pits. The sun was shining brightly, and our men, unprotected by shelter, +were striving to pass the time with as little discomfort as possible. A +group of men of the Seventy-seventh were behind the breastwork, +stretched out upon the sand, resting upon their elbows and amusing each +other with jokes, when a shell came shrieking into their midst. Its +explosion threw them in every direction. One went high in the air and +fell twenty feet from the spot where he was lying when the shell +exploded. Strange to tell, not a man was killed, yet three had each a +leg crushed to jelly, and two others were seriously wounded. The three +whose legs were crushed were Sergeant James Barnes, James Lawrence, and +James Allen, all of company A. The poor fellows were taken to the field +hospital completely prostrated from the shock, cold sweat stood upon +their pallid brows, and life seemed but to flicker before going out. The +surgeons were making haste to load the wounded and sick into ambulances +to send to City Point, for we were ordered to march at a moment's +notice. "You can do nothing for those men," said the wide awake, +enterprising Doctor Hall, who was superintending the loading of the +ambulances, as he saw the surgeon who had charge of the operations +prepare to remove the mangled members. "Better put them into ambulances +and let them have a chance for their lives! There is no time now to wait +for operations." "How long will it take you to load your ambulances, +doctor?" "Twenty minutes, at least." "Then I will have the men ready for +you." The surgeon gave to each of the unfortunate ones a glass of +brandy, then administered his chloroform, and in less than thirty +minutes had amputated the limbs, dressed the stumps, and placed the men +in ambulances. They were taken at once to City Point, where they were +placed together. Their cases excited great interest among the attendants +in the hospital and the visitors, for each had lost a leg just above the +knee, the name of each was James, they were all from one company, all +wounded by a single shell, and all as cheerful as were ever wounded men. +They were afterward removed to Washington and again placed side by side, +and here, also, they were subjects of great interest to visitors. The +writer has frequently heard the case of the three Jameses related by +persons in different States, who never mistrusted that they were men of +his own regiment. The boys are each well now, each walks with his +artificial limb, and each is a worthy member of society. + +General Grant, finding that his expectation of taking Petersburgh by +surprise had failed, prepared for a systematic investment of the town. +Accordingly, the Sixth and Second corps were directed to proceed to the +left of the present line, so as to envelop the town, and also with the +view of striking the Weldon railroad, and thus cutting off an important +source of supplies for the rebel army. + +On the 21st of May, the two corps marching in the rear of the rest of +the army went into position on the left flank, the Second corps on the +west of the Jerusalem plank road, and the Sixth to the left and rear of +that corps, its line nearly at right angles with that of the Second +corps. The cavalry divisions of Wilson and Kautz were, at the same time, +ordered to proceed still farther to the left, and, cutting the Weldon +road, continue the march across the country, until they should strike +the Southside railroad, which they were directed to destroy. + +On the morning of the 22d, General Birney, who, during the temporary +absence of General Hancock, was in command of the Second corps, was +directed to move his corps forward, so as to press upon the left flank +of the enemy. This he proceeded to do, without giving notice of his +intention to General Wright. The result of the movement was to leave a +wide gap between the Second and Sixth corps. + +To the great surprise of the Third division of our corps, which was just +getting into position, the rebels advanced in strong force upon the +flank and rear. A sharp skirmish occurred, in which that division and a +part of the Second division lost some prisoners; but the principal loss +fell upon the Second corps, for that corps, having thrown its left far +in advance, was greatly exposed. The principal attack fell upon Barlow's +division, which occupied the left. That division was driven in confusion +upon the other divisions of the corps. The whole corps was forced back, +but after some spirited fighting the rebels were forced back, carrying +with them a battery belonging to the Second corps, and more than two +thousand prisoners. From our own corps they had captured about six +hundred men and a stand of colors. + +The responsibility for this unfortunate surprise rests with the +commander of the Second corps; for General Wright, being entirely +ignorant of any design to advance that corps, had, of course, made no +disposition to keep the line intact. The men of the Third division did +all that men could do under the circumstances, and are entitled to much +credit for the repulse which they gave the enemy. + +From that day, except that at times the roar of artillery shook the +earth for miles about, we remained quiet until the 29th of June. The +light sandy soil soon became reduced to powder, and the continual +passing of mules and army wagons raised huge clouds of dust, which +completely enveloped the army. At sunset this cloud would settle down +and become so dense that one could not see objects twenty yards from +him. The heat was almost intolerable, yet the health of the men was +better than usual for the summer months. + +The surgeons had their hospitals neatly fitted up, and nurses and +attendants took great pride in adorning the hospital tents with the +boughs of the magnolia and other beautiful shrubs and flowers. The +government and the agents of the Sanitary Commission supplied us +liberally with lemons and vegetables, so, notwithstanding the intense +heat, and the constant watchfulness of the men behind the earthworks, +there was comparatively little illness. + +In the afternoon of the 29th of June orders came for the Sixth corps to +march at once to Reams' Station, far to the left, where the cavalry of +Kautz and Wilson, which had been on an extensive raid, was expected to +arrive. At four o'clock we left camp, marched all the remainder of the +day and all night. We found ourselves in the morning at Reams' Station, +on the Weldon Railroad. The men at once commenced tearing up the track +and burning the ties. Thus they toiled all the morning, but no cavalry +made its appearance. Late in the day the corps retraced their steps, and +arrived that night within two and a half miles of the position we had +left the day before. We made our bivouac on the Jerusalem plank road, +and in the morning rejoined the main army before Petersburgh and resumed +our old position. + +The story of the great raid of Kautz and Wilson, which we now learned in +detail, was one of thrilling interest, full of wild adventure, untold +hardship and great peril. The two divisions had penetrated far to the +rear of Lee's army, had destroyed miles of the Weldon railroad, and +then, reaching the Southside road, the great artery for the supply of +the rebel army, had torn up the track and burned the ties for dozens of +miles. In their return they had fallen in with the cavalry of the enemy, +and, when near Reams' Station, had come upon a strong force of cavalry +and infantry. An engagement ensued, which resulted in the Union cavalry +being driven, and hundreds from the immense throng of colored refugees, +which was following the cavalry towards the Union lines, were ridden +down by the rebel cavalry and killed. The cavalry at length succeeded in +reaching our lines by making a circuit farther south, and many of the +negroes also succeeded in escaping from rebeldom. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +SIXTH CORPS TRANSFERRED TO WASHINGTON--BATTLE OF FORT STEVENS. + + The Shenandoah Valley--Hunter's advance to Lynchburgh--The + retreat--Rebels advance into Maryland--Battle of Monocacy--Sixth + corps goes to Washington--Battle of Fort Stevens. + + +The Shenandoah Valley, which had been the scene of such varied fortunes +to our army during the war, again became a field of great interest. + +Simultaneous with the opening of the spring campaign by the army of the +Potomac, General Sigel, who then commanded in the valley, commenced to +move his army. On the 15th of May he met the enemy at New Market, and +was defeated. He withdrew his army to Harper's Ferry, where, by order of +General Grant, who was dissatisfied with his management, he was relieved +of his command by General Hunter. + +General Hunter at once resumed offensive operations, moved up the valley +and encountered the enemy at Piedmont and routed him, capturing fifteen +hundred prisoners, three pieces of artillery and three thousand stand of +small arms. He then pursued the routed army to Lynchburgh, which place +he invested. To meet this movement of Hunter, Lee had sent General Early +with his corps to the assistance of the rebel garrison. This force +arrived just before the Union army came up. General Hunter, finding that +he was confronted by a large force, his ammunition being nearly +exhausted, the difficulties of transporting over so long a march +sufficient ordnance stores being very great, he determined to withdraw +without risking a battle. His want of ammunition forced him to make his +retreat by that route which would afford most natural obstacles to +pursuit and attack of the enemy. Accordingly, instead of retiring +directly down the Shenandoah, he drew his forces off through the Kanawha +Valley, leaving the Shenandoah open to the rebel army. The march of +Hunter's men through the Kanawha, harassed by the enemy and destitute of +food, was one of great severity. The rebels finding the Shenandoah open +to them, at once pushed northward with a view of ravaging Maryland and +Pennsylvania, and, if possible, entering Washington. + +Owing to the great difficulties encountered by General Hunter's army, in +reaching Harper's Ferry in time to oppose Early, it became necessary to +send other troops to meet the invading force. Accordingly, about the 1st +of July, the Third division of our Sixth corps, under command of General +Ricketts, was sent to Baltimore, and from thence marched toward +Frederick, Maryland, where, on the banks of the Monocacy near the +railroad bridge, the enemy was encountered. The Union forces consisted +of the division from the Sixth corps, and a few thousand green troops +collected about Baltimore, all under command of General Wallace. The +force of Early greatly outnumbered those of the Union general, and after +a hard fought battle our men were driven back. Although General Wallace +had met with defeat, he had succeeded in arresting the progress of the +invasion for a time, and enabled the remainder of our corps and a +division of the Nineteenth corps to reach Washington in advance of the +rebels. + +Such was the state of affairs in Maryland, when, on the evening of the +9th July, the First and Second divisions of the Sixth corps were ordered +to march to City Point at once. The order came at nine o'clock, and +without delay the troops were in motion. We had become too much +accustomed to sudden movements, to require long preparations for +breaking up camp. The march of fourteen miles to City Point made during +the night, was far more tolerable than it could have been by day. For +although the roads were composed of dry beds of dust, in which the men +sank almost ankle deep at every step, and the cloud which rose as the +column moved along filled their throats and eyes and nostrils, yet they +were not forced to endure the misery of a long march under a burning +sun, such as for many days past had scorched these sandy plains. + +It was daylight when the Sixth corps reached the James river at City +Point, and the process of embarking commenced at once. Before noon the +two divisions, with the horses and baggage, were on board transports, +which were in readiness when we arrived. The staff of Bidwell's brigade, +with the Seventy-seventh and part of the Forty-ninth New York, with the +brigade band, where on board the steamer Escort. We had also on board a +hundred horses. + +Great satisfaction was felt by all at the prospect of leaving the region +whose natural desolation was heightened by the devastation of war, and +going to a country of plenty, with which so many pleasant remembrances +were associated. Each man breathed more freely as the steamer swung out +upon the river, and our brigade band sounded a good-bye to the scenes of +our recent labors and privations. + +Our fleet was soon steaming down the river, passing scenes of interest, +many of which were intimately connected with the memories of other +campaigns. There was Harrison's Landing, the camping ground of two years +ago, the last one on the Peninsula, where our Union army crowded +together on the banks of the James, sweltering beneath the oppressive +heat of a southern sun; Fort Powhattan, where we had crossed the river +on pontoons a month ago; the iron-clad Atlanta, once a rebel ram, now +doing service in the Union cause; the ancient settlement of Jamestown; +the three-turreted monitor Roanoke; Sewell's Point; Hampton, the scene +of our earliest Peninsula experience; the bay at Newport News, made +famous by the conflict of the Monitor and Merrimac, the masts of the +Cumberland still towering above the waters of the bay as monuments of +the wonderful contest; the old haunts of the Teaser, which had so +unceremoniously introduced herself to our division; and, as evening came +on, we passed Fortress Monroe, where the many lights of the fleet gave +the harbor the appearance of a city in the waves. + +The wind was blowing freshly when we rounded Old Point Comfort, and our +little steamer ploughed the white caps bravely. We made good time, and +found ourselves the next morning steaming up the Potomac. Aquia creek +was passed, recalling to mind the encampment at White Oak Church; Mount +Vernon claimed its tribute of thought, and at two o'clock we touched the +wharf at the foot of Sixth street, Washington. The rest of the two +divisions had already reached the wharves, and there, too, were some +immense sea steamers, crowded with troops of the Nineteenth corps, +fortunately just arrived from New Orleans. + +The process of disembarking occupied but little time. President Lincoln +stood upon the wharf chatting familiarly with the veterans, and now and +then, as if in compliment to them, biting at a piece of hard tack which +he held in his hand. + +The column was formed and we marched up Seventh street, past the +Smithsonian Institute, the Patent Office and the Post Office, meeting on +our way many old friends, and hearing the people who crowded upon the +sidewalks exclaiming, "It is the old Sixth corps!" "Those are the men +who took Marye's Heights!" "The danger is over now!" We had never before +realized the hold which the corps had upon the affection of the people. +Washington, an hour before was in a panic; now as the people saw the +veterans wearing the badge of the Greek cross marching through their +streets, the excitement subsided and confidence prevailed. + +Thus we made our way to the north of the city, the sound of cannonading +in our front stimulating and hastening the steps of the men. Families, +with a few of their choicest articles of household furniture loaded into +wagons, were hastening to the city, reporting that their houses were +burned, or that they had made their escape leaving the greater part of +their goods to the mercy of the rebels. + +We reached a fine grove in rear of Fort De Russey and made our bivouac +for the night. + +Now we learned the true position of affairs. Early, having defeated the +small force under General Wallace, pushed on toward Washington, carrying +destruction in the path of his army. His cavalry reached Rockville, a +little town twelve miles north of Washington, on the 10th, detachments +having destroyed portions of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, seized +trains of cars, in one of which was General Franklin, formerly commander +of the Sixth corps, who was made a prisoner, but who managed to escape, +and now, as we reached Washington, his advance was knocking at the +defenses of that city. The forts were manned by a small force of heavy +artillery, hundred days' men, and detachments of the Invalid corps; and, +as we reached the rear of the defenses, regiments composed of clerks and +employees of the quartermaster's department, with convalescents from the +hospitals, marched past us to take their places on the front. These +hasty levies were placed in the forts for the night, to be replaced by +veteran troops in the morning. + +July 12th came bright and glorious. The First brigade of our Second +division, and our sharpshooters, were on picket in front of Fort +Stevens; the Second and Third brigades still enjoying the delightful +shade of the groves in rear of Fort De Russey. From the parapets of Fort +Stevens could be seen the lines of rebel skirmishers, from whose rifles +the white puffs of smoke rose as they discharged their pieces at our +pickets. The valley beyond the fort presented a scene of surpassing +loveliness, with its rich green meadows, its fields of waving corn, its +orchards and its groves. To the right was Fort Slocum, and on the left +Fort De Russey. + +The residence of Hon. Montgomery Blair was within the line occupied by +the confederates, and we heard that the fine mansion had been the scene +of plunder and destruction, in revenge, as the rebels declared, for +havoc wrought by our troops in Virginia. + +The principal force of the enemy seemed to be in front of Fort Stevens, +and here it was determined to give them battle. The barracks just in +rear of the fort were converted into a hospital for our Second division, +and all preparations were made for receiving our wounded men. + +Four o'clock came, but, except that the rebel skirmishers were sending +their bullets whizzing over the fort, all was quiet. President Lincoln +and his wife drove up to the barracks, unattended, except by their +coachman, the superbly mounted squadron of cavalry, whose duty it was to +attend upon his excellency, being left far behind. The carriage stopped +at the door of the hospital, and the President and his affable lady +entered into familiar conversation with the surgeon in charge, praising +the deeds of the old Sixth corps, complimenting the appearance of its +veterans, and declaring that they, as well as the people of the country, +appreciated the achievements of the wearers of the Greek cross. + +Thus, for nearly an hour, they chatted of various things, when General +Wright and his staff arrived on the ground, accompanied by several +ladies and gentlemen from the city. + +All now repaired to the fort, and presently the portly form of Colonel +Bidwell, followed by his Third brigade, was seen approaching. The brave +colonel and his brave brigade marched past the fort into the valley +beyond, the President, the members of his cabinet and the ladies +praising the hardy, soldierly bearing of the men as they passed. They +formed in two lines of battle, in rear of the skirmish line of the first +brigade, the Seventy-seventh on the right of the line, then the Seventh +Maine, and then the Forty-ninth. The Forty-third New York, Sixty-first +Pennsylvania, and One Hundred and Twenty-second New York forming the +second line. The advance line was in charge of Colonel French. + +According to preconcerted arrangements, Colonel Bidwell was to signify +to General Wright, who remained in the fort, his readiness for the +attack by a signal from the new flag of the Seventy-seventh, which had +not yet been baptized in battle; then the great guns in the fort were to +open a storm of shells upon the rebel position, especially upon a house +behind which and in which numbers of rebels had all day found refuge; +then General Wright was to signal from the fort the command to advance +and the brigade was to rush to the charge. + +Thus, with a perfect understanding on the part of all concerned, the +brigade took its place. + +The flag of the Seventy-seventh waved the signal of readiness, the heavy +ordnance in the fort sent volley after volley of thirty-two pound shells +howling over the heads of our men into the midst of the rebels, and +through the house where so many of them had found shelter, and then at +the command of Sedgwick's "man of iron," the brave fellows started +eagerly forward. They reached and passed the skirmishers, and the white +puffs of smoke and the sharp crack from their rifles became more and +more frequent, first the rattle of an active skirmish, and then the +continuous roar of a musketry battle. + +In magnificent order and with light steps they ran forward, up the +ascent, through the orchard, through the little grove on the right, over +the rail fence, up to the road, making straight for the first objective +point, the frame house in front. The rebels at first stood their ground, +then gave way before the impetuous charge. + +The President, the members of his cabinet and the ladies, as well as the +military officers in the fort, and the crowd of soldiers and citizens, +who had gathered about it to witness the fight, watched with breathless +interest the gallant advance as our boys pushed forward, keeping their +line of battle perfect, except when now and then some regiment having +the advantage of ground, in its eagerness got a little in advance of +others, until they saw the rebels take to flight. Then the crowd at the +fort rent the air with exultant cheers, and as the boys reached the +house, the people were wild with excitement, shouting and clapping their +hands, leaping and dancing with joy. + +But the rebels did not yield without resistance. They met our men +bravely, and though forced to seek safety in flight, turned and poured +their volleys into the ranks of the pursuers. + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF FORT STEVENS.] + +Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, commanding the Forty-ninth, a brave man, who +had never shrunk from danger, and who had shared all the varied fortunes +of the brigade since its organization, fell mortally wounded. Colonel +Visscher, of the Forty-third, who had but lately succeeded the beloved +Wilson, was killed. Major Jones, commanding the Seventh Maine, was also +among the slain; and Major Crosby, commanding the Sixty-first +Pennsylvania, who had but just recovered from the bad wound he received +in the Wilderness, was taken to the hospital, where the surgeon removed +his left arm from the shoulder. Colonel French, of the Seventy-seventh, +was injured, but not seriously. The commanding officer of every regiment +in the brigade was either killed or wounded. + +The fight had lasted but a few minutes, when the stream of bleeding, +mangled ones, began to come to the rear. Men, leaning upon the shoulders +of comrades, or borne painfully on stretchers, the pallor of their +countenances rendered more ghastly by the thick dust which had settled +upon them, were brought into the hospitals by scores, where the medical +officers, ever active in administering relief to their companions, were +hard at work binding up ghastly wounds, administering stimulants, coffee +and food, or resorting to the hard necessity of amputation. + +At the summit of the ascent, the confederates were strengthened by their +second line of battle, and here they made a stout resistance; but even +this position they were forced to abandon in haste, and as darkness +closed in upon the scene, our men were left as victors in possession of +the ground lately occupied by the rebels, having driven their +adversaries more than a mile. + +The Vermont brigade now came to the relief of the boys who had so +gallantly won the field, and the Third brigade returned at midnight to +the bivouac it had left in the morning. But not all returned. Many of +those brave fellows who went with such alacrity into the battle, had +fallen to rise no more. In the orchard, in the road, about the frame +house and upon the summit, where the rebels had made so determined a +resistance, their forms were stretched upon the green sward and in the +dusty road, stiff and cold. Many more had come to the hospital severely +injured, maimed for life or mortally wounded. + +The little brigade, numbering only a thousand men when it went into +action, had lost two hundred and fifty of its number. + +During the night the raiders made their escape toward Rockville. The +prisoners left in our hands told us that they had anticipated an easy +victory in front of Washington, believing that the forts were defended +only by convalescents and quartermaster's men, and, when they saw the +white crosses of the old Sixth corps, they were seized with +consternation. They now understood that the city was guarded by veterans +who had acquired, in the rebel army, a disagreeable reputation. + +While the battle was in progress, President Lincoln stood upon the +parapet of the fort watching, with eager interest, the scene before him. +Bullets came whistling around, and one severely wounded a surgeon who +stood within three feet of the President. Mrs. Lincoln entreated him to +leave the fort, but he refused; he, however, accepted the advice of +General Wright to descend from the parapet and watch the battle from a +less exposed position. + +Cavalry was sent in the morning to ascertain the direction of the flight +of the enemy, but the infantry remained quietly awaiting events. + +We gathered our dead comrades from the field where they had fallen, and +gave them the rude burial of soldiers on the common near Fort Stevens. +None of those high in authority, who had come out to see them give up +their lives for their country, were present to pay the last honors to +the dead heroes. No officer of state, no lady of wealth, no citizen of +Washington was there; but we laid them in their graves within sight of +the capital, without coffins, with only their gory garments and their +blankets around them. With the rude tenderness of soldiers, we covered +them in the earth; we marked their names with our pencils on the little +head-boards of pine, and turned sadly away to other scenes. + +But though no concourse of citizens followed the patriots to their +humble resting place, though no bands wailed the solemn dirge, and no +casket but the earth inclosed their remains, their deeds were not +forgotten. Their memory was enshrined in the hearts of the people; and +after a few weeks their remains were exhumed from their scattered +graves, they were placed together in a little inclosure on the sunny +slope in front of the fort, and a beautiful monument tells the story of +their noble sacrifice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. + + The Sixth and Nineteenth corps follow the enemy--Crossing the + Potomac--Averill's fight at Snicker's Gap--Return of the Sixth + corps to Washington--March back to Harper's Ferry--Return to + Maryland--Death of Major Ellis--General Sheridan assigned to + command--Back in the Valley--Charlestown--John Mosher--March to + Fisher Hill--Return to Charlestown--Fight at Charlestown. + + +At one o'clock the column of the Sixth corps moved away from Fort +Stevens, marching through the little village of Tanleytown, following in +pursuit of the rebels. We moved rapidly till ten o'clock, then halted, +much fatigued, at Potomac Cross Roads. At five o'clock, next morning, we +were once more on our way, and after a march of twelve hours through a +pleasant country, we made our bivouac at Poolsville, having marched +thirty-six miles since leaving Fort Stevens. Our Sixth corps, with the +two divisions of the Nineteenth corps, now constituted a new army, under +command of General Wright, General Getty having command of the Sixth +corps. At Poolsville we lay all day, waiting for our small cavalry force +to find out the course which Early's army had taken, but on Saturday +morning, the 16th, we were moving at daylight. We marched toward the +Potomac, which we forded near the scene of Ball's Bluff slaughter. The +spectacle at the ford was novel and exciting. The stream was wide, but +not more than two or three feet deep. The bottom was rough and stony, +and the current was strong. For nearly a mile up and down the river the +brigades were crossing; the stream filled with infantry wading with +difficult steps over the uneven bottom, mounted officers carefully +guiding their horses lest they should stumble, trains of artillery and +wagons slowly toiling through, and groups of pack animals scarcely able +to keep their footing under their huge burdens. The laugh of hundreds +sounded up and down the river, as some unfortunate footman, slipping +from a smooth stone, would, for a moment, disappear beneath the surface +of the river, or as some overloaded mule or pack horse, losing his +footing, would precipitate his load, and peradventure the small negro +boy, who, in order to secure a dry passage across the ford, had perched +himself on the top of the bags and bundles, into the rushing waters. + +The troops gathered upon the southern bank of the river, and the +infantry proceeded to empty the water from their boots and shoes, and to +wring it from their stockings. This short task over, the march was +resumed. + +Passing through a section where some very interesting conglomerate rocks +attracted the attention of those scientifically inclined, we left the +little town of Leesburgh behind, and at eight o'clock in the morning +encamped in a ploughed field, tired and hungry, and, it must be +confessed, a little dissatisfied at the idea of sleeping on ploughed +ground while fresh meadows were on every side of us. In this bivouac we +spent the Sabbath, and services were held by the chaplains in the +various brigades. + +Early Monday morning the march was resumed, our little army passing +through the delightful hill scenery of Loudon county, and through the +diminutive villages of Hamilton and Purcellville. As the afternoon +advanced, we found ourselves toiling up the ascent of the Blue Ridge, +pleasant farm houses and fine orchards greeting our sight on either side +of the road. Darkness was upon us before we passed through Snicker's +Gap, a deep gorge in the mountains, through which winds a rough, unkept +road; and by the moonlight we spread our blankets for another night's +rest. + +The morning revealed the lovely Shenandoah Valley spread out before us, +its river lying at our feet. + +The troops of the "Army of Virginia," under Averill, had engaged the +enemy with doubtful success before our arrival. Indeed, the troops on +both sides seemed to have become demoralized. The rebels were +retreating, and Averill's men had made their way back to the east side +of the river in such hot haste as to leave some of their flags floating +in the stream. + +We remained during the 19th in apparent uncertainty as to what course to +pursue, whether to give chase to the enemy, who it was now supposed had +made good his retreat up the valley, or to return to Washington. But an +order from General Grant, directing General Wright to get back to +Washington at once with the Sixth corps, that the troops might be at +once returned to the Army of the Potomac before Early could reinforce +Lee, determined our course, and at night we were again passing through +Snicker's Gap, the infantry and teams crowded together in the narrow +defile to the great inconvenience of the footmen and annoyance of the +artillerymen and teamsters. Marching rapidly all night and the next day, +halting only a short time for coffee in the morning and at noon, we +retraced our steps to Leesburgh, then following the turnpike we reached +and passed Drainsville, and halted near Difficult creek. July 23d, the +corps marched through Lewinsville and Langley, passed Camp Griffin, the +memory of which was indissolubly connected with our first winter in the +service, crossed Chain bridge and went in camp near Tanleytown, five +miles out from Washington. + +Transports were waiting on the Potomac to convey us to City Point, but +as matters in the valley still seemed unsettled, the corps remained at +Tanleytown, and on the 25th, it became certain that Early with his army +was again moving down the valley, threatening Maryland and Pennsylvania. +The Sixth corps received orders to move at once toward Harper's Ferry, +but by some delay it was noon of the 26th when it turned back from +Tanleytown toward the scene of our future brilliant operations. + +The day on which the corps moved had been hot, and many of the men, +weary with long marches, had been forced to fall out, but, most of all, +bad whisky from Washington had demoralized great numbers, and these, +with the sick and weary, made up a great crowd of stragglers. The task, +which was assigned to the rear-guard, the Seventy-seventh New York, of +urging these inebriated and discouraged ones toward their commands, was +not an easy or agreeable one. The corps made all haste in the direction +of Frederick, which city it reached on the 28th, crossing the field of +General Wallace's battle with Early. + +Without halting at Frederick, except to get our coffee near Monocacy +creek, we pushed on to Jefferson, getting into camp at midnight. The +next day we marched through Knoxville, Newton and Sandy Hook, through +that wonderful gorge in the mountains at Harper's Ferry, and arrived at +evening footsore and weary at Halltown, four miles south of Harper's +Ferry. Then, next day we were ordered back again. The whole command +poured into the deep valley at Harper's Ferry, the day was sultry even +for that locality, not a breath of air seemed to be stirring, and the +high mountains on every side reflected the heat and kept off the breeze. +Into this hot, dusty inclosure among the hills, the whole army poured, +and as there was only a single pontoon bridge to serve as an outlet, +there was of course great delay. Horses stood harnessed to the cannon or +under the saddle, the sweat literally pouring off their sides like rain, +while men panted for breath and seemed almost on the point of +suffocation. It was late in the night when our corps was all over the +bridge, and the march was continued without rest during the whole night +and all next day till we arrived again near Frederick City, where we had +a night and a day of rest. We now learned that the cause of our sudden +countermarch was the raid of Early's cavalry, who had burned the city of +Chambersburgh, and caused much destruction of property elsewhere. + +By this time the Sixth corps was, in army parlance, "about played out." +Even our famous marches on the Gettysburgh campaign were eclipsed by +this perpetual series of forced marches for nearly a month. The men were +very much worn from their campaigns before leaving Petersburgh, but now +we had had a month of traveling, night and day. + +Hardly were the troops settled in camp for a night of rest, before the +bugle called them to go again. Now when we marched, horses would drop +down by dozens along the road, unable to rise again. Their riders would +strip them of their saddles, and leave the worn out steeds to their +fate. If, by chance, one of these deserted horses, after a few hours of +rest, could muster strength to rise to his feet, he was doomed to be +seized by some drummer boy, or other wight of the "bummer" tribe, +mounted and rode till his strength again failed. Then the dismounted +bummer would coolly remove his hempen bridle, shoulder his drum, and +seek for another steed. For two or three days past the weather had been +excessively hot, and men could be seen lying all along the roadside, as +we marched, suffering from sunstroke. + +Wednesday, August 3d, the Sixth corps marched to Buckeystown, a little +village on the Monocacy, about five miles south of Frederick. + +The different brigades of the corps were scattered about on the +hillsides which bounded the pleasant valley of the Monocacy, where pure +fresh air was in abundance, and the men gladly availed themselves of the +privilege of bathing in the delightfully clear waters of the river. For +a distance of nearly two miles the river was filled with bathers at all +hours, except in the hottest part of the day and in the night, and even +then some might be seen enjoying the luxury of the bath. + +At Buckeystown we remained two days, in the enjoyment of a pleasant +bivouac; yet, as though no place was free from evil, an event occurred +here afflictive to our brigade and to the corps. + +Among the most energetic and brave officers of our Third brigade, was +Major Ellis, of the Forty-ninth New York. He had been wounded at +Spottsylvania while leading a charge against the enemy at the terrible +"angle." A ramrod had passed through his left arm, and bruised the chest +near the heart. He was taken to Fredericksburgh, from whence he went to +Washington, and thence home. Returning to his command before he had +fully recovered, he was advised by medical officers not to attempt any +severe duty. But being detailed to the staff of General Russell, +commanding the First division, he at once resumed active military +duties. On these recent marches, the major, weary of inaction, had taken +command of a body of men who acted as additional provost-guard to the +division. + +In this position he had exhibited his usual energy, though it was +thought by some he executed his duties with too great severity. Ever +since receiving his wound, he had complained of severe neuralgic pains +in the region of the heart. Except that this pain was slightly more +acute than usual, the major retired to his tent on the night of the 3d, +in his accustomed health. + +In the morning he sent his servant from the tent for a moment, and when +the man returned the major was dead. An autopsy was made by the writer +of these pages, in the presence of about twenty of his professional +brethren. A sharp splinter of bone from one of the ribs was found with +its acute point piercing vital organs. + +The funeral display was the most imposing ever witnessed in any corps of +the Army of the Potomac. We had seen military pageants on a large scale, +but nothing to compare with this in its solemn sublimity. + +The remains were laid in state in a large tent near General Russell's +head-quarters, wrapped in a silken flag, and the tent itself was draped +with the Stars and Stripes. Presently the major's regiment, the +Forty-ninth New York, came as mourners, unarmed, and formed in two ranks +facing each other near the tent. Then the chaplain of the Forty-ninth, +led in a short religious service, very appropriate and very impressive, +while the whole of the First division was being formed in two parallel +lines facing each other, and about eighty paces apart. The service over, +a regiment of heavy artillery came to act as escort. The remains, +inclosed in a rude coffin, wrapped in the flag under which he had so +often fought, were placed in an ambulance, and the funeral cortege began +its slow march through the long lines of sunbrowned veterans who stood +on either side. First in the procession was the escort, the muskets of +the men reversed, preceded by a band playing a solemn dirge. Then the +ambulance with the remains, the major's hat, coat and sword lying upon +the coffin; then his riderless horse, saddled and bridled, and led by a +servant; then the regiment as mourners; and finally General Russell and +the staff of the First division with the division flag, and the staffs +of the three brigades of the division, and our Third brigade, Second +division, each with its flag, with a large concourse of officers, +personal friends of him whose remains were thus honored. + +As the cortege proceeded with slow steps between the lines of soldiers, +they stood with arms presented, and the colors of the regiments drooped +as the procession passed. Thus attended the remains were conveyed to the +railroad station, three miles distant, where they were placed on board a +train for Washington. + +Lieutenant-General Grant visited our army on the 5th of August, and, in +consultation with General Hunter, determined upon a course for our +future operations. So quietly was this visit of the Commander-in-Chief +of the armies made, that very few in our little army knew of the +presence of General Grant. + +Among other things determined upon at this time was a change of +commanders. General Hunter, who had commanded the "Army of the +Shenandoah," with credit to himself and honor to our arms, was to be +relieved, and General Philip S. Sheridan, who had, since the +commencement of the spring campaign, commanded the cavalry corps of the +Army of the Potomac, was to take command of all the forces operating +against Early. The department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna +and the Middle Department, were to constitute the "Middle Military +Division," to be under the command of General Sheridan. To this middle +military division the Sixth corps was temporarily assigned. This was a +new era in the history of that corps. Hitherto it had been, from the +beginning, connected with the noble Army of the Potomac. Its history and +its fame were inseparably connected with the history of that army, and +when the corps had come to the rescue of the capital, it came as a +detachment of the Army of the Potomac. Now, for the first time, the +corps was to be identified with another army. But great as was the fame +and honor which the corps had, by noble deeds, won for itself, it was +now, by heroic achievements in the new field, to crown itself with +glories even more dazzling than those in its proudest days in the old +army. + +We were ordered, on the evening of the 5th, to march immediately. The +troops of the Sixth corps proceeded at once to Monocacy Junction, where +they took cars for Harper's Ferry. The quartermasters, and hospital +trains followed rapidly by the wagon roads. + +Troops and trains reached the heights beyond Harper's Ferry at night, +and on the following morning the line of battle was established at +Halltown. + +General Sheridan now assumed command. We knew little of him except that +he had very successfully commanded the cavalry of the Army of the +Potomac for the last three months, but we were satisfied that General +Grant trusted to his generalship, and we had already learned enough of +General Grant's knowledge of human nature to place confidence in the +general of his choice. + +One thing pleased us at the start. Our new general was visible to the +soldiers of his command; wherever we went he was with the column, +inhaling the dust, leaving the road for the teams, never a day or two +days behind the rest of the army, but always riding by the side of the +men. His watchful care of the details of the march, his interest in the +progress of the trains, and the ready faculty with which he brought +order out of confusion when the roads became blockaded, reminded us of +our lamented Sedgwick. Another feature of the new administration pleased +us. When the head-quarter tents of the commander of the Middle Military +Division were pitched, there was one wall tent, one wedge tent and two +flies. This modest array of shelter for the general and his staff was in +happy contrast with the good old times in the Army of the Potomac, when +more than eighty six-mule teams were required to haul the baggage for +head-quarters of the army. + +At Halltown we remained for a few days, gaining what we so much needed, +rest. The air was delightfully cool and refreshing, and it seemed as +though each particular breath was laden with health and strength. + +We were rejoiced to see some of our Army of the Potomac cavalry joining +us, and our army began to assume dimensions which filled us with +confidence. We had now the Sixth corps, General Wright, two divisions of +the Nineteenth corps under General Emory, and Hunter's "Army of +Virginia," usually called the Eighth corps, under command of General +Crook. Our cavalry consisted of Averill's force which had been in the +valley, and we were now receiving two divisions from the Army of the +Potomac, one in command of General Torbert, the other of General Wilson. +The cavalry force was soon afterward organized, with General Torbert in +command of the whole force, and Generals Custer, Averill and Merritt, +each in command of a division. + +On the tenth of the month we commenced our march up the Shenandoah +Valley. No sooner had the sun made its appearance above the Blue Ridge +than we found the day to be most intensely hot. Soldiers were falling +along the roadside in great numbers overcome with the heat, and what +added to the hardships of the day's journey was the want of water. The +turnpike along which we marched was parallel with a fine stream of water +on either side, but the water was so far distant as to be useless to the +soldiers. Yet there were a few springs and wells at some distance from +the road which supplied those who could leave the column. + +We passed through Charlestown, the scene of the trial and execution of +John Brown. There was the court house to which he was brought on his +couch to receive his trial for treason, and there the jail in which he +spent his last days, and from which he was led to execution. How had all +things changed! The people who stood about the gallows of John Brown, +and gnashed their teeth in their bitter hatred, were now themselves +guilty of treason. The court house was in ruins, and the jail was but a +shell of tottering walls. The town also had suffered fearful ravages +from war, and now a Union army was marching through its streets, every +band and every drum corps playing the stirring but to southern ears +hateful air, "John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave," and we +may anticipate our narrative to say that whenever our army or any part +of it had occasion to pass through this town, the bands always struck up +this air, as if to taunt the inhabitants with the memory of their +victim, and played it from one limit of the town to the other. So John +Brown was revenged! + +The Shenandoah Valley has been often called the "Garden of Virginia," +and truly it is a lovely valley, yet as we marched along we could see +but little cultivation. The groves of oak were delightful. Teams with +wagons might be driven anywhere among them. But the fields were mostly +desolate. Here and there a field of corn promised a medium crop if left +to ripen untrodden by our army, but there was no luxuriance of +vegetation. The mountains, the Blue Ridge on one side and the North +mountains on the other, rose abruptly from the valley in parallel lines, +and looked as though a race of Titans had been at war, and had thrown up +these long ridges as breastworks for opposing forces. + +A little beyond Charlestown was a lovely meadow, lying between two +groves of oak. At the further end of the meadow was a neat white +cottage, where there seemed more comfort than we had seen elsewhere in +the valley. The place was away from the direct line of march, and partly +concealed by the groves. + +Those who left the column were furnished by the family with pure sweet +water from a well, which the family asserted was sunk by order of +General Braddock. Such places were so rare that our men and animals +suffered from thirst. Few who were on that march will forget a spring +which we passed near the close of that day's march. A large white frame +house stood upon an elevation, surrounded by trees, and at foot of the +elevation, a large spring, under the shade of a huge willow, and +surrounded by other trees. The water gushed out from a fissure in the +rock, clear as crystal, and in such volume that a large brook was formed +at once. Over the spring was the usual "spring house." Soldiers filled +this building, covered the great rocks, crowded the grove, and for many +yards around a dense mass of men pressed to get near the tempting +fountain, all eager to fill their cups and canteens, and hasten on with +the column. No one can know with what delight the soldiers quaffed the +sparkling fluid from their sooty coffee pots, who has not suffered the +torture of extreme thirst. + +We halted near Clifton, and resumed our march on the following morning, +to suffer, if possible, more from heat and thirst than ever. At night we +bivouacked near Opequan creek. We threw ourselves upon the grassy sward, +with the beautiful canopy of heaven with its mottled clouds and +twinkling stars and flying meteors, for our tent. For many of us, this +was the only tent we had slept under since leaving Petersburgh, and we +were satisfied with it. The air was purer and the breeze fresher than +when we were inclosed by canvas. + +Again, on the morning of the 12th, we were marching. We passed through +the villages of Newtown and Middletown, and halted at night on the banks +of Cedar creek. + +We were startled in the morning by the announcement of the death of a +good soldier. John Mosher had marched with the column the day before, +but owing to the overpowering heat was obliged to fall a little behind. +Toward evening, finding himself too much exhausted to walk further, he +applied for and obtained permission to ride in an ambulance of the First +division. During the night he was found to be dying. The kind hearted +surgeon in charge of the hospital of the First division, Dr. Crehore, +and one of his assistants, spent some hours with him, using every means +to restore him, but without avail. He died before morning. A letter in +his pocket told his name and regiment. We made a grave near Cedar creek, +and a few of his comrades stood around it while he was lowered to his +bed of earth, wrapped in his blanket. The chaplain offered a brief +prayer; his fellows in arms fired a parting salute, and we left him to +sleep in the valley where, a few weeks later, some of his companions +were to rest by his side. + +On the 13th all the troops were across on the south side of Cedar creek. +The pickets of our Second division occupied one end of the village of +Strasburgh, while those of the enemy held the other. We were sure that +we must fight here, and we were not unwilling. Our cavalry was scouting +on the flanks, skirmishing with rebel cavalry and searching for a way to +outflank Early's army. The rebels held a position of great strength, and +to make a direct assault would be to run a great risk of a repulse. The +walls of the valley, the Blue Ridge and the North Mountains, came close +together here, and, to render the position stronger, Fisher Hill, a +commanding eminence, a prominent object in the landscape, to be seen +from one end of the valley to the other, rose directly in our front and +obstructed our passage. Upon the declivities of this hill the enemy had +planted batteries so as to command our approach from any direction. + +We remained gazing at this strong position till nightfall, and then +recrossed the river, and made our position strong for defense. General +Sheridan had been instructed by General Grant not to bring on a general +engagement unless it was forced upon him. General Grant regarded our +army rather as one of defense than for offensive operations. Should we +suffer defeat, the capital and the rich fields of Pennsylvania and +Maryland would again be open to the rebels. So we were to watch their +movements and hold them in check, but we were not to risk a battle with +them. + +Meanwhile, the ubiquitous Mosby was at work in our rear, at Berryville, +with a band of guerrillas. He had made a bold dash upon a long train, +belonging principally to the cavalry, and guarded by almost a brigade of +hundred days' men; had dispersed the inexperienced guard, which was +scattered along the road for miles; had captured the mules, and burned +the wagons and supplies. Seventy-five wagons had fallen a prey to the +adventurous bandit, while the hundred days' men had made good their +escape. Old men, women and children, joined in the work of destruction, +setting fire to the wagons, and carrying off whatever articles they +could easily remove from them. Prisoners whom they captured were +murdered, either by Mosby's band, or by the more merciless citizens, and +left unburied. + +This raid upon our communications led General Sheridan to fear a more +general advance of the rebels beyond the mountains, with a view of +coming with force upon our rear. + +So, on the evening of Tuesday, the 16th, the army marched northward down +the valley again. All night and all the next day the weary march was +kept up. We went through Winchester, where the rebel women came out by +hundreds to rejoice at our retreat, and halted on the banks of the +Opequan for the night. Then, when the morning came, we were off again, +and, after a severe march, formed in line of battle a mile south of +Charlestown. + +The Jersey brigade, under Colonel Penrose, was left as rear-guard and +support to the cavalry on the retreat. At Winchester the brigade, +flanked by cavalry, made a stand. The enemy came down upon the brigade +in large force, handled it roughly, and sent the Jersey boys through the +town in confusion. Their resistance had been all that could have been +asked; but the brigade, staunch as it was, was not enough for the force +that came against it. + +Our Sixth corps guarded the turnpike leading from Harper's Ferry to +Winchester. On the left of the pike, facing southward, was our Second +division, and on the right our First division. + +The Eighth corps held the center of the line, and the Nineteenth corps +the left, its flank resting on Berryville. + +On Sunday morning, the 21st of August, our cavalry was driven back upon +the infantry, and we suddenly discovered the enemy coming down upon the +Sixth corps in three heavy columns. With scarcely any warning we found +shells pitching into our camp among the standing tents, and bullets +whistling among the trees that afforded us shelter from the sun. + +The corps was quickly in line, the tents struck and everything in +fighting trim. Our boys received the onset of the rebels with cool +bravery, giving them back volley for volley. The fight was kept up for +several hours, the Eighth corps being but slightly engaged, and the +Nineteenth corps not at all. Our Second division, Sixth corps, receiving +the weight of the attack. Our men threw up breastworks along the front, +and at length the Vermont brigade was ordered to charge upon the enemy. +The charge was executed with the usual brilliancy and fighting joy of +that brigade and the confederates were glad to leave us in undisputed +possession of the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. + + Encampment at Berryville--Leaving camp--The advance--Taking + position--Advance and retreat--Death of Russell--"I know they'll + run"--Reminiscences--At the hospitals--A regiment going + home--"Why don't he come." + + +The rebels were repulsed; but as our position at Charlestown was one +that might easily be flanked, our army fell back during the night to the +strong position at Halltown, where defensive works were thrown up, and +again we awaited the advance of the enemy; but except some skirmishing +on the left of the line, no attack was ventured by Early; and after two +or three days he withdrew to the vicinity of Winchester, and established +his line along the west bank of Opequan creek, so as to cover the three +roads leading from Martinsburgh, from Harper's Ferry and from Berryville +to Winchester. We followed and established our line on the east side of +the creek, and some miles from it, at Berryville. + +Our encampment at Berryville was one of the most delightful of our +resting places, even in the Shenandoah Valley. We passed the days +pleasantly, strolling or riding among the groves of black walnut, +visiting among the various regiments, amusing ourselves with chess and +books. Nothing occurred to interrupt these pleasant pastimes and the +monotony of picket duty until the 13th of September, when the Second +division was directed to make a reconnoissance to the Opequan. We +marched to the creek very early in the morning, found the enemy in +force, lost a few men by the shells from the rebel batteries, and +returned to camp. + +On the 15th our army was visited by Lieutenant-General Grant. The story +of his visit we give in his own words: + +"I left City Point on the 15th to visit him (General Sheridan), at his +head-quarters, to decide, after conference with him, what should be +done. I met him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how +each army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and +expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but two +words of instruction necessary--_Go in!_ ... I may here add that the +result was such that I have never since deemed it necessary to visit +General Sheridan before giving him orders." + +Thus the two armies lay face to face, with the stream and a narrow strip +of country between them, either able to bring on an engagement at any +time. The quiet was broken on the morning of the 19th, when we advanced +to win the first of that series of brilliant victories which startled +Europe and America; which gave to our little army an enviable renown +among the armies of the Union, and established the reputation of our +chief as one of the foremost generals of the age. + +Early had taken the initiative. On Sunday the 18th, he had sent General +Gordon's division toward Martinsburgh, with orders to drive out the +Union forces, and destroy the government property. Gordon was met by +Averill's cavalry and driven back to Drakesville. Sheridan, discovering +the mistake made by Early in separating his forces, was quick to avail +himself of the advantage of his enemy's blunder. Orders were issued to +move at once, but, for some reason, several hours elapsed before the +army was ready. + +We left our pleasant camps at Berryville, at two o'clock Monday morning, +the Sixth corps in advance, moving in two columns, one on either side of +the road, the ammunition wagons, artillery and ambulances taking the +pike. The Third brigade, Second division, led the infantry. The +Nineteenth corps followed the Sixth, marching in similar order, its +infantry in the fields and its artillery and wagons on the pike, while +Crook's Kanawha corps moved further to the south, with orders to connect +with the Sixth corps at Opequan creek. Two divisions of cavalry, under +Merritt and Averill, were directed to amuse the enemy near Bunker's +Hill, and draw the attention of the rebel generals in that direction as +much as possible. It was the design of General Sheridan thus to amuse +the enemy on the left while he should march his army up the Berryville +and Winchester pike, strike the right flank of Early's army, and by a +sudden and unexpected attack, to get in the rear and cut off the retreat +of the rebel forces. By one of those inexplicable mistakes, which +sometimes upset the plans of our generals, this design was not fully +realized, and had General Sheridan been less determined and less +dashing, he might have abandoned the idea of attacking Early at all. + +At five o'clock Wilson's cavalry had crossed the creek before us, having +dispersed the pickets of the enemy, driving them back to their line of +field works, and then, by a dashing charge, had leaped their horses over +the breastworks of the first line of defenses, and routed the rebels, +capturing about fifty of their number. + +Immediately after this gallant exploit of the cavalry, the Sixth corps +crossed the creek and advanced on the turnpike about a mile, where the +enemy was found in force. As we moved along, through the deep ravine, +following the pike, we were warned of the active work we might expect in +front, as we saw cavalrymen coming to the rear, some leading their +wounded horses, others with their heads bound in bloody handkerchiefs, +some with arms hanging in slings, others borne on litters. Here by the +roadside might be seen the prostrate, lifeless form of some soldier of +the Union; there, where a silvery brook babbled along across the pike, +on its grassy banks, and beneath the shadow of a large tree, was +gathered a little group of boys in blue, performing the last acts of +kindness to a comrade in whom the vital spark was almost extinguished, +and a surgeon bending over the dying soldier striving to render less +painful the few lingering moments of life. + +We moved up a steep ascent and formed in line of battle in a cornfield; +the Third brigade on the left, the First in the center, and the +Vermonters on the right; then on the left of the Second division the +Third division got into position, and the First division came up in the +rear as reserve. Our artillery was brought into position and a vigorous +shelling commenced on both sides. + +The Sixth corps was now ready for a charge upon the enemy, but it was +discovered that, by some misconception of orders, the Nineteenth corps, +which should have been on the ground, was left far behind. Orders were +dispatched to hasten it to the field of action, but two hours, precious +hours to that army, elapsed before it was in position. + +Those two hours of delay enabled Early to strengthen his right; to throw +up strong earthworks, and bring Gordon's division on the run, to his +assistance. We had been fortunate only in seizing the position on the +west side of the stream, or the battle would, from this delay, have been +worse for us. + +Merritt and Averill, by skillfully maneuvering their troops in front of +Bunker's Hill, had enabled us to seize this advantage. + +The Nineteenth corps was formed on the right of the Sixth, in four lines +of battle; Wilson's cavalry was on our left. It was eleven o'clock when +the advance was sounded. In our front were undulating fields, traversed +by deep ravines, almost stripped of timber, except where the rebels had +formed their line of battle in a belt of woods that skirted the +turnpike. It was an imposing spectacle to watch that line of battle, +stretching three miles across the fields, as it moved toward the rebel +lines, the men as composed as though on parade, the line straight and +compact, the various division, brigade and regimental flags floating +gaily in the sunlight. Away in our front we could see Winchester; its +gleaming spires and shining roofs, bright with the warm glow of mid-day, +and we proudly felt that before night it would be ours. Onward, through +the cornfields and over the grassy knolls, now descending into a ravine +and now rising upon the open plain, where the rebel artillery swept with +terrible effect, the long line pressed forward, regardless of the +destructive fire that constantly thinned our ranks. At every step +forward, men were dropping, dropping; some dead, some mortally hurt, and +some with slight wounds. Now on this side, now on that they fell; still +the line swept forward, leaving the ground behind it covered with the +victims. + +Thus we pushed onward, the rebels falling back, desperately disputing +every step, when a murderous fire, from batteries which the enemy had +skillfully placed, suddenly swept our right with fearful slaughter. + +Thus far all had gone well. Now our hearts were sick as we looked far to +the right and saw the Nineteenth corps and our Third division falling +back, back, back, the grape and canister of the hostile cannon crashing +through the now disordered ranks, and the exulting rebels following with +wild yells of victory. + +The retreat of the troops on the right of the Second division left its +flank, held by the Vermonters, exposed, and they, too, were forced to +fall behind the Third brigade, which still held its ground, the fire in +its front being at the moment less severe. Our batteries were rushed +forward, and the gallant First division, the noble Russell at its head, +came bravely up to the rescue. + +As the noble soldier brought his division into position a cannon ball +swept him from his horse--dead. A great spirit had fallen, and in a +moment we were made an army of mourners. "I have lost my captain," said +Sheridan, as the work of the day closed. + +We all remembered the modest, almost bashful, demeanor of the fallen +general among his friends, and his glorious heroism in the presence of +his enemies, and many tears moistened the brown cheeks of rough soldiers +as they thought of the loss of one of our best beloved leaders. + +But, notwithstanding the loss of their hero, the brave division pushed +straight on. Nothing could withstand them; and now, joined by the other +troops of the corps, the boys with the red crosses press on, and as the +peals of musketry and artillery roll through those valleys, it tells of +victory for the Union. The lost ground is regained, and now the fire in +front of the Sixth corps slackens. + +We rested, throwing ourselves on the ground, waiting for orders. Some of +the men, fatigued from the early march and severe morning's work, slept; +while others regaled themselves from their well filled haversacks; and +many gathered in groups to talk over the doings of the morning, and to +speak of those who had been stretched upon the sod, who had fallen with +their faces to the foe. + +We were waiting for Crook's corps. It had halted on the eastern bank of +the river as reserve for the army. Now it was brought forward at quick +pace and placed, a part on the right of the Nineteenth corps, where the +rebels could be seen massing troops on their left, with a view of +turning our right flank, the other part in rear of the Nineteenth corps. +Averill and Merritt, too, were with the army, and our whole force was +together. It was nearly three o'clock when Crook's forces were brought +into position. His right was in a thick forest, and against him were +heavy columns of rebels. + +At length we, of the Sixth corps, heard rapid firing away on the right +of the forest. All was attention. Every man stood to his arms ready to +advance. Sheridan came to our part of the line. His face all aglow with +excitement, the perspiration rolling down his forehead, his famous black +steed spotted with white foam, a single orderly at his back. He rode +straight to General Getty, exclaiming, "General, I have put Torbert on +the right, and told him to give 'em h--l, and he is doing it. Crook, +too, is on the right and giving it to them. Press them, General, they'll +run!" and then, using one of those phrases sometimes employed in the +army to give additional force to language, he shouted again, "_Press +them, General, I know they'll run!_" And then the shout that went up +from the men drowned all the other noise of the battle. + +We did press them, and they did run. Over the long stretch of open +plain, down into the deep hollow, up again and over the rolling ground, +past the white farm house, on we went. The rebels would run, then +reaching a commanding position, they would turn their artillery upon us +and sweep our line with iron hail. On our left was Wilson, with the +cavalry charging through the growing corn, the sabres gleaming in the +sunlight, the iron scabbards clanging against iron spurs, the horses +dashing madly forward in seeming disorder, but all rushing, like an +avalanche, against the right wing of the enemy. Now the retreat became a +rout. The cheers of the Union boys rose strong and clear above the roar +of artillery and the harsh rattle of musketry, and Early's scattered and +demoralized divisions were rushing through Winchester in consternation +and unutterable confusion. Frightened teamsters were lashing their +animals through the streets in greatest alarm; riderless horses were +galloping here and there, and pack mules were on a general stampede. +Some streets became entirely blocked up by the disordered mass, and even +footmen could not press through; a squad of cavalry coming to one of +these obstructions leaped from their horses and made their escape on +foot. Our cavalry, taking advantage of the confusion, rushed among the +panic stricken fugitives and gathered hundreds of them; captured fifteen +battle-flags and five guns. + +The remnants of the rebel army collected some miles beyond the town, and +reformed; but after a short rest made haste to get farther up the +valley. As we advanced we found the mountains full of fugitives, and in +the town were thousands of their wounded. + +The infantry halted upon the high grounds at the borders of the town, +leaving the cavalry to follow up the pursuit of the flying foe; and as +Generals Sheridan, Wright, Emory and Crook rode along our front, we made +the welkin ring with lusty cheers. Glorious leaders of a victorious +army! + +At our feet was Winchester, the scene of Washington's early military +experience. Here he was stationed during the French war, and shared in +the perilous sentinelship of the frontier. For then the valley was +ravaged by French and Indians, and fearful massacres were of frequent +occurrence; and when Washington demanded of Governor Dinwiddie +reinforcements, and was refused, he offered to resign; and when the +governor could not allow him to resign he sent him men. + +Here, on the ground occupied by the Seventy-seventh New York regiment, +near the ruins of an old church, was the grave of General Daniel Morgan, +the hero of Quebec and Saratoga, the friend of Washington. A plain +marble tablet, broken across, now covered the grave, with a simple +inscription, his name and the date of his death, 1802. + +In the cemetery, still north, we saw, as we passed, the resting place of +Thomas, Earl of Fairfax; a great tory in his day, and the owner of +immense tracts of land in this part of Virginia, and from whom Fairfax +county took its name. + +The sun had sunk to his golden rest behind the wall of hills on our left +when we arrived at the outskirts of Winchester; and, as darkness set in, +the infantry of our victorious army stretched themselves upon the ground +to sleep. It had been a hard day's work, and the men were faint. It +required no unusual inducements to woo the angel of sleep. + +If the day had been an active one on the field, it had been no less so +in the hospitals. First, early in the morning, came ambulance loads of +men with white crosses; they were from the Third brigade, Second +division, all from the Seventy-seventh New York. Then came others from +the Forty-ninth New York, from the Seventh Maine, and from the One +Hundred and Twenty-second and Forty-third New York. Then came men from +the Vermont brigade, and from our First brigade, and soon the hospitals +of the Third division began to be filled. Then, last of all, came the +men of the red crosses, bleeding and mangled. Surgeons worked all day +and all night. There was no rest as long as a wounded man was uncared +for. Yet, when morning came, and the medical officers were ordered +forward with the army, there was much to do, and faithful men were left +to finish the needful task. Next morning Winchester was full of rebel +wounded and rebel prisoners. Five thousand men in gray were under guard +in the court house yard and other public places, and Colonel Edwards' +brigade of the First division was left to take care of the prisoners and +the town. Many brave men had fallen. Russell was gone; the gallant Upton +was wounded; Colonel Elright, of the Third division, was dead, and many, +many brave boys were lying with their blackened faces to the sun, a slip +of paper or a letter envelope pinned to the breast of each to tell the +buriers his name and regiment. + +[Illustration: "WHY DON'T HE COME?"] + +The term of service of one of our regiments, the Fourth Vermont, had +expired, and on the day after the battle the small remnant of the +regiment, a company of about forty men, under command of Colonel Foster, +started for Harper's Ferry, on their return home. They had suffered +heavily, and they left many of their brave comrades dead upon the +battle-field, or suffering in the hospitals. How had those noble boys, +whose lives had, at the very expiration of their three years of toil, +danger and privations, been given for their country, rejoiced at the +prospect of a speedy reunion with the loved ones at home. How had they +written, even the day before the battle, "we are going home!" and then +how had the loving ones, away among the beautiful green hills of +Vermont, exulted at the thought that now, after three long years of +suspense and anxiety, the danger and toil were over. And we can picture +to our thoughts the mother who watches with eager interest the smoking +train as it dashes along at the base of the old hills, wondering if her +patriot son will not come to-day; but instead, a letter comes with the +heavy news, a great battle has been fought and her son lies in the +Valley; or, on the banks of the sunny Champlain, some young sister or +lover gazes from the window of the cottage among the trees, at the +steamer as it glides over the surface of the beautiful lake and touches +at the wharf near by. But her soldier boy is not on board, and she +watches in vain to see his familiar form coming toward the cottage. She +sadly leans her head upon her hand and sighs, "Why don't he come?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +FISHER HILL. + + March up the valley--Strasburgh--The army confronting Fisher + Hill--The flank movement--Flight of Early--The + pursuit--Guerrilla warfare--Southern refugees--Starting for + Washington--Return to Cedar creek. + + +We started very early in the morning in pursuit of Early's defeated +army, which it was supposed would halt at the strong position at +Strasburgh. On the battle-field which we left, the lifeless bodies of +many of our men were awaiting the office of the burial parties. They +lay, not in thick clusters, but here and there over a great extent of +ground, showing that they had fallen while the lines were in motion; but +in places, six or eight mangled bodies would lie in close proximity, +showing the fatal effects of some well directed shell. + +In Winchester were nearly five thousand prisoners, and more were +constantly coming in, and hundreds of rebel wounded were being cared for +by sympathizing friends and confederate surgeons. + +We reached the vicinity of Strasburgh, the Sixth corps in advance, at +three o'clock on the 20th, and, as we expected, found the rebels +awaiting us in a position, which the citizens of the valley assured us +could be held by Early's army against one hundred thousand men. The +position was indeed a formidable one, but nothing daunted our spirited +leader set about devising a way of taking it. + +At Strasburgh the two chains of mountains, the Blue Ridge and the +Alleghanies, approach each other, making the valley quite narrow. As if +to interpose an impassable barrier to the advance of an army, a +mountain, Fisher Hill, stretches across from the Blue Ridge to the +branch of the Alleghanies called the North Mountains. At the foot of +this mountain, on the north, is the village of Strasburgh, and still +north of Strasburgh Cedar creek runs almost directly across the valley. +We took possession of the northern part of the village of Strasburgh, +the Union pickets occupying one part of the town, and the rebels the +other. The night passed with little of interest. + +On the morning of the 21st squads of rebel prisoners were coming in to +army head-quarters, and as brigade after brigade of cavalry passed, each +carrying a large number of confederate flags at the head of the column, +it looked as though our cavalry had adopted the confederate banner and +had paraded in gala day splendor. + +The mists and fogs melted away, and we discovered that our enemy, lately +routed and disorganized, now with confidence confronted us and awaited +our advance. During the night the mountain had been the scene of busy +labors, and now, breastworks of earth and stones, and lines of +troublesome abattis, rendered the position, so strong by nature, +apparently too formidable for any army to attempt to force. But, +notwithstanding the brilliant success at Winchester, neither the rebel +army nor our own fully appreciated the fertile resources of our gallant +leader. Starting with his staff early in the day, he rode from one end +of the picket line to the other, carefully noting the character of the +ground. + +To attempt to storm those heights, now strengthened with earthworks and +bristling with cannon, would be presumptuous; but away on the right +seemed the vulnerable point of the enemy's line. Returning to his +quarters, Sheridan determined at once upon his plan of attack. The +Nineteenth corps was thrown farther to the left, and our Sixth corps +occupied the position in the center, facing now to the south. Crook's +corps was thrown well to the right, where the North Mountain formed a +precipitous wall for the valley. All day the sharp crack of the +skirmishers' rifles, and the ring of the pioneers' axes were heard as +the two lines faced each other, each watching the movements of the +other, and each actively engaged in felling trees from which breastworks +were made. + +During the night Crook's corps and our Third division were toiling along +the side of the mountain unseen and unexpected by the rebels. All night +and the following morning these two commands labored to drag artillery +along the precipitous mountain side, executing every movement in silence +and with utmost secrecy. The Nineteenth corps and the First and Second +divisions of the Sixth were all this time keeping up a show of +determination to attack in front. + +At length, just as the sun was sinking behind the mountain barrier, a +wild shout was heard from the hillside where Crook's corps and our Third +division were rushing down from the cover of the forest, upon the flank +and rear of the astonished confederates. The shout was taken up by the +troops in front, and at the same time the two remaining divisions of the +Sixth corps and the Nineteenth corps advanced against the rebel front. +Completely surprised by the movement on the flank, the rear of the rebel +army was quickly thrown into a panic. Still resistance was kept up along +the front. Steadily the troops of Wright and Emory pressed forward, the +rebel gunners firing their shells over the heads of our men, our line +advancing over ditches and fences, over fallen trees and stone walls, +each man his own commander and each pressing eagerly forward. In the +foremost line rode Phil Sheridan, the men cheering him lustily as they +pressed hastily forward. "Let us take the guns," shouted the men; and +forward at double-quick they rushed. The panic in the rear had by this +time reached the front, and the whole rebel army was rushing in +unutterable confusion and rout, up the valley. They left with us sixteen +guns, of which Bidwell's brigade captured six. We gathered up the +prisoners, and they numbered eleven hundred.[8] The hill was strewed +with small arms, and cannon and caissons met our view wherever we +passed. + + [8] The prisoners taken thus far, at Winchester and Fisher Hill, + including the wounded, numbered more than seven thousand. The + absurdity and falsity of Early's statement, that his effective + force at Winchester amounted to only eight thousand five hundred + men, is readily seen. The rebel surgeons at Mount Jackson, and + the citizens, while claiming that we outnumbered Early's forces, + acknowledged that he retreated from Winchester with more than + twenty thousand men. + +We had lost, as the cost of this brilliant victory, less than forty men +in the army; and the confederate loss in killed and wounded was scarcely +greater. + +We followed the routed army through Mount Jackson, where were large +hospitals, occupied by wounded confederates, and attended by confederate +surgeons; then pressed on to New Market, keeping up a running fight with +the rear-guard of the rebel army. + +On the 25th we reached Harrisonburgh, a village more than sixty miles +above Winchester. + +Our march had been a grand triumphal pursuit of a routed enemy. Never +had we marched with such light hearts; and, though each day had found us +pursuing rapidly from dawn till dark, the men seemed to endure the +fatigue with wonderful patience. Our column, as it swept up the valley, +was a spectacle of rare beauty. Never had we, in all our campaigns, seen +anything to compare with the appearance of this victorious little army. +The smooth, wide turnpike was occupied by the artillery, ambulances and +baggage wagons moving in double file. The infantry marched in several +parallel columns on either side of the pike, and a line of cavalry, +followed by a skirmish line of infantry, led the way. Cavalry, too, hung +on either flank, and scouted the country. It was intensely exciting to +watch the steady progress of the advancing skirmishers. Now, as they +reached the base of some sloping eminence, the rebel skirmishers would +confront them; then, as they advanced, never halting nor slackening +their pace, the confederates would surrender the ground, to appear in +our front on the next commanding ground. So we marched up the valley--a +grand excursion--skirmishing only enough to maintain a constant state of +pleasant excitement. + +At Harrisonburgh we remained until the 29th, then marched farther up the +valley to Mount Crawford, while the cavalry penetrated as far as +Staunton. The rebel army was broken up and demoralized, yet considerable +force was in the vicinity of Lynchburgh, and Early devoted himself to +reorganizing it. + +Guerrilla warfare was a favorite resort of the rebels in the Shenandoah +Valley, and many of our men were murdered in cold blood by the cowardly +villains who lurked about our camps by day as harmless farmers, and +murdered our men at night dressed in confederate uniform. Among those +who lost their lives by this cowardly species of warfare, were Surgeon +Ochenslayer, Medical Inspector of our army; Colonel Tolles, Chief +Quartermaster, and Captain Meigs, son of the Quartermaster-General, U. +S. A. + +We fell back from Mount Crawford to Harrisonburgh, burning barns, mills +and granaries, driving before us cattle and sheep, and bringing white +and black refugees without number. From Harrisonburgh we again fell +back, retracing our steps through New Market, Mount Jackson and +Woodstock, and encamped on the evening of the 8th of October on the +north bank of Cedar creek. Each day as we marched, dark columns of smoke +rose from numberless conflagrations in our rear and on either flank, +where the cavalry was at work carrying out the edict of destruction of +the valley. A certain number of mills with the grain contained, a +specified number of wheat-stacks and granaries, and cattle and sheep +sufficient for the wants of the people of the valley were saved; all +other mills, barns, stacks and granaries were burned, and all other +cattle and sheep driven away. Seventy mills, with the flour and grain, +and over two thousand barns filled with wheat, hay and farming +implements were thus committed to the flames, and seven thousand cattle +and sheep were either driven off or killed and issued to the men. This +destruction, cruel as it seemed, was fully justified as a matter of +military necessity. For so long as a rebel army could subsist in the +valley, so long a large force must remain to guard the frontier of +Maryland. + +Hundreds of refugees accompanied us from Staunton, Mount Crawford and +Harrisonburgh: Unionists who had endured persecution until it was no +longer endurable, and who now left houses and farms to find relief in +the north from their sufferings for loyalty; and negroes who sought +freedom from their ancient bondage. + +Among the latter class was a group which had followed the cavalry from +Staunton, and which now took a place in our Sixth corps hospital train, +which attracted universal attention. The party rode in one of the huge +Virginia wagons, so familiar to those who have spent much time in those +parts, and consisted of an aged colored woman, probably more than ninety +years old, one or two younger women, a black man of fifty, who was a +cripple, a boy of twelve or fifteen years, and a very large number of +small children, varying in hue from jet black to dark brunette. The load +was drawn by four broken down, spavined animals, the crippled man riding +one of the horses of the rear span, the boy one of the leaders. The +soldiers manifested great interest in this curious load of refugees, and +freely divided with them their hard tack and coffee. The writer of these +pages, reining his horse to the side of the vehicle, addressed the aged +negress, "Well, aunty, are all those your children?" "Lor, no massa, +dey's only eighteen ob 'em." Doubtless she designed to say that there +were only eighteen of the children, not that "only eighteen" were her +own. + +As our army neared Fisher Hill the cavalry of the enemy became annoying +to our rear-guard. General Sheridan said to General Torbert, that the +annoyance must be stopped at once. Accordingly Custer and his horsemen +lay in wait for the rebel cavalry, attacked them, drove them away beyond +Mount Jackson, and took eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred +prisoners from them. They gave us no more trouble at that time. + +Monday, October 10th, the Sixth corps, leaving the Eighth and Nineteenth +guarding the line of Cedar creek, turned toward the left and proceeded +to Front Royal. The Seventy-seventh was made provost guard of the town, +and the brigades were stationed along the mountain passes. Here, in the +enjoyment of lovely weather, pleasant associations, a bountiful supply +of lamb and honey, and untold quantities of grapes of delicious flavor, +the corps remained several days, and the men even flattered themselves +that in the enjoyment of these luxuries they were to pass the winter. +But, as usual with bright anticipations, these were suddenly dispelled +by the order to march, on the morning of the 13th, toward Ashby's Gap. + +[Illustration: "GOING NORF."] + +From the direction of our march it was evident that we were on the road +to Washington, and rumor had it that we were to be shipped at once for +Petersburgh. We reached the bank of the Shenandoah, where we expected to +cross to the gap; the corps was massed by the river side, and the men +looked dismally into the cold, dark waters, and shivered at the thought +of wading through the stream whose waters would reach nearly to their +necks. But while we waited to get ready for crossing, a courier came to +General Wright with a message from Sheridan to return to his army in +haste. We heard that Longstreet's corps had reinforced Early, and that +an attack had been made, but with no important result. We turned about, +encamped for the night among the hills, started again at three o'clock +in the morning, and joined the army again on Cedar creek, in the +afternoon of the 14th, where we remained in the enjoyment of undisturbed +quiet for several days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK. + + Position of the Union forces on Cedar creek--Demonstrations by + Early--The morning of October 19th--Eighth corps + straggling--Nineteenth corps routed--The Sixth corps to the + rescue--Death of General Bidwell--The Sixth corps holds the + enemy--General Wright prepares for another attack--Arrival of + Sheridan--The charge--The rout--Guns, wagons and prisoners--The + victors in camp. + + +Our army was thus resting in apparent security along the banks of Cedar +creek. The men were amusing themselves in visiting the numerous caverns +in the vicinity, strolling among the pleasant groves or wandering by the +shady borders of the stream. Sheridan had left the army and returned to +Washington for a day or two, to make arrangements for his future +movements, and General Wright had temporary command of the army. + +Our infantry force was arranged from left to right along the creek, +first, on the left of the turnpike, General Crook's "Army of Virginia," +or as it was more generally known, the Eighth corps, holding the left +flank, facing eastward and southward; then, the Nineteenth corps, +holding the pike and facing toward the south, its line occupying high +bluffs which overhung the creek. On the right of the Nineteenth corps, +and almost at right angles with it, was the Sixth corps, its line +extending far toward the north. The corps faced the stream, looking +directly west. The divisions of the corps were posted, on the right the +Second, in the center the First, and on the left the Third division. + +On the flanks of the infantry, cavalry was posted; Custer on the right +of the Sixth corps, and Averill's division, now under Colonel Powell, on +the left of the infantry line, near Front Royal. Our line thus extended +from North Mountain, on the right, almost to Front Royal, on the left, +following nearly the course of Cedar creek, and that part of the north +branch of the Shenandoah which crosses the valley at right angles. + +The enemy had been trying our line at various points, during the last +two or three days, and in one instance had captured or dispersed a small +squad of cavalry on the right, and captured some signaling instruments. +These demonstrations were little heeded; our line had been posted by +General Sheridan, and these slight attacks seemed of little account. In +Early's army, however, they were considered of more weighty import. That +army had recently been reinforced by Longstreet's corps of sixteen +thousand men, and the immediate defeat, and, if possible, destruction, +of Sheridan's army was regarded, by both General Lee and the authorities +at Richmond, as absolutely necessary to the safety of Lee's army. Hence +every preparation had been made for a most determined attack, and these +lighter demonstrations had been made to ascertain the exact position of +our troops. + +When, at two o'clock, on the morning of the nineteenth of October, we +heard rapid firing where Custer, with his horsemen, held the right, and +on the left, where Averill's cavalry was posted, we turned over in our +blankets and said, "The cavalry is having a brush," and went to sleep +again. And then, at a later hour, at four o'clock in the morning, when +we of the Sixth corps heard brisk picket firing in front of the Eighth +and Nineteenth corps, we were scarcely aroused from our slumbers, for we +thought it to be a mere picket skirmish, in which none but those +directly engaged had any particular interest. But when the firing became +general along the whole line of these two corps, and we saw hundreds of +men going with hasty steps and lengthy strides to the rear, we were at +length aroused to the truth that a battle was really in progress. + +From a Sixth corps point of view, the scene was at first extremely +ludicrous, we did not know and could not have believed at that time that +the flank of our army was turned, and that the enemy was actually in +possession of the camps of one whole corps; and when we saw stragglers +filling the fields, taking rapid strides toward the rear, scarce any two +of them going together, some without hats, others destitute of coats or +boots, a few with guns, many wearing the shoulder straps of officers, +all bent on getting a good way to the rear, never stopping to answer a +question or explain what was going on at the front, the spectacle was to +us of the Sixth corps one of infinite amusement. None of these hundreds +and thousands of stragglers were so undignified as to run, but such +walking was never seen before. None of them deigned to look to the right +or left, they were bent only upon getting as far on the road to +Winchester as possible. + +At length the truth flashed upon us. More than half of our army was +already beaten and routed, while the remainder had been in ignorance of +the fact that anything serious was transpiring. Now the rebels were +pouring down toward the Winchester and Strasburgh turnpike, sending a +perfect shower of bullets whistling about the vicinity of the +head-quarters of the army, into the Sixth corps hospital camp and into +the trains, which were by this time joining in the stampede. + +Staff officers now came riding furiously through the camps of the Sixth +corps, with orders to fall in at once, and proceed at double-quick to +the left. + +We may now turn back and trace the cause of this unexpected state of +affairs. Early had, without doubt, assured himself of the exact position +of our army through information conveyed by spies, who were able to +comprehend the whole situation. He then prepared for a bold and sudden +movement, which should take by surprise one flank of our army. Kershaw's +rebel division advanced along the sides of the mountains, and, at +midnight, crossed the north branch of the Shenandoah, still observing +the most complete silence. Even the canteens of the soldiers had been +left behind lest the sound of them should betray the movement. + +The whole division over, it was massed on the left of General Crook's +command. A dense fog enveloped the whole surrounding country, and so +thick was it that no man could see an object a few feet from him. Under +the cover of this fog, the rebels succeeded in quietly capturing a large +part of the picket force and nothing now interposed between the rebels +and General Crook's camps. Toward these they hastened, and so complete +was the surprise, that the men of the Eighth corps were, for the most +part, quietly sleeping in their tents. The few who had got into the +breastworks were subjected to a fierce fire in the flank, and were soon +forced to abandon the line. The rebels seized the Union batteries along +that part of the line, and turned them upon the camps of the Nineteenth +corps, and at the same time a rebel line of battle advanced against that +corps from the front. The confusion became every moment greater. +Daylight was just merging from night, the thick mists hung like an +impenetrable veil over the field, and the men of the Nineteenth corps +were unable to tell whence came all this storm of missiles; but, +trailing their guns in the direction from which the shells seemed to +come, the gunners worked their pieces at random. A general stampede was +commenced. The men of the Eighth corps were mostly fugitives; and those +who strove to keep in line were forced back. Both the fugitives and the +disordered line of battle, were rushing through the camps of the +Nineteenth corps. The officers of that corps were, with shouts and wild +gesticulations, striving to collect their disordered commands, but with +little success. Riderless horses were galloping here and there, cows, +with which the army was well supplied, were bellowing, mules were +braying, bullets whistling and shells howling. The Eighth corps having +left the way clear, the rebels came down upon the Nineteenth, which gave +way and was doubled upon the Sixth corps, but although thrown into +confusion it was not in the panic with which the Eighth corps yielded +the ground. + +It was at this critical moment that the warning was given to the Sixth +corps. General Wright being in command of the army, the corps was in +charge of General Ricketts. He at once faced the corps to the rear, and +moved it over the plain in face of the advancing hosts of the enemy. +General Ricketts was wounded very early in the engagement of the corps, +and the command fell upon General Getty. + +The Second division held the left of the new line, the First the center, +and the Third the right. Bidwell's brigade was the left brigade of the +Second division, the Vermonters held the center, and Warner's First +brigade the right. The Second division was posted in the edge of an open +oak grove. General Grant, of the Vermont brigade, was in charge. + +We now awaited the onset of the victorious columns, which were driving +the shattered and disorganized fragments of the Eighth and Nineteenth +corps, beaten and discouraged, wildly through our well formed ranks to +the rear. + +The hope of the nation now rested with those heroes of many bloody +fields. Now that peerless band of veterans, the wearers of the Greek +cross, whose fame was already among the choicest treasures of American +history, was to show to the country and the world, an exhibition of +valor which should tower above all the grand achievements of the war. + +The corps, numbering less than twelve thousand men, now confronted +Early's whole army of more than thirty thousand men, who, flushed with +victory, already bringing to bear against us the twenty-one guns which +they had just captured from the two broken corps, rushed upon our lines +with those wild, exultant yells, the terror of which can never be +conceived by those who have not heard them on the field. + +With fearless impetuosity the rebel army moved up the gentle rise of +ground in front of the Sixth corps, and the attack, from one end of the +line to the other, was simultaneous. It was like the clash of steel to +steel. The astonished columns were checked. They had found an immovable +obstacle to their march of victory. + +The Second division, on the left, nearest the pike, had received the +most severe shock of the attack, while Bidwell's brigade, which held the +extreme left, and the key to the pike, had sustained the attack of the +whole of Kershaw's rebel division, which came up in compact order to +within very close range. The gallant brigade received the onset with +full volleys, which caused the right of the rebel line to stagger back, +and the whole line was, almost at the same moment, repulsed by the +corps. The cavalry on our flank--and never braver men than the cavalry +of our little army mounted saddles--were doing their best to protect the +pike leading to Winchester, and it was the great aim of both the cavalry +and the single organized corps of infantry to hold this pike; for on +this depended the safety of the whole army, and more, of our cause. + +The rebels checked, General Bidwell ordered his brigade to charge. +Rising from their places in the little graveyard and the grove, the +brigade rushed forward, the rebels breaking and running in confusion +down the declivity which they had but just ascended with such +confidence, and across the little stream. But the rebel artillery sent +our men back to their places, to the shelter of the roll of ground. The +charge cost us dearly. Major Brower, of the One hundred and +twenty-second New York, lost his life. Captain Lennon, of the +Seventy-seventh, was mortally wounded, Lieutenant Tabor was killed. +Captain Taylor, commanding the Sixty-first Pennsylvania, was also +killed, and many other valuable lives were lost, but the most severe +blow to the brigade and the corps, was the loss of our gallant General +Bidwell. He fell, while bravely directing the charge, with a frightful +shell wound. He was at once borne to an ambulance. The general sent one +of his staff for the writer of these pages. When he reached the +general's ambulance, the wounded man said: "Doctor, I suppose there is +no hope of recovery." When told that there was none he exclaimed, "Oh, +my poor wife!" Then after a moment he said, "Doctor, see that my record +is right at home. Tell them I died at my post doing my duty." A few +hours of intense suffering and the brave man was relieved by death. + +The fall of General Bidwell left Colonel French, of the Seventy-seventh, +in command of the brigade. The line was quickly reformed in the position +from which the charge was made, and again the rebels came on with cheers +and yells. They were as bravely met as before, and a second +counter-charge sent them again in disorder across the creek, leaving the +ground covered with their dead and wounded. The greatest shock of the +second charge of the rebels had fallen upon our Third brigade, and nobly +had it been met. A third time Early's forces came on; this time with +less spirit. His men now knew the troops they had to contend with. They +had been informed that the Sixth corps had been sent to Washington, on +its way to Petersburgh. Now they discovered the mistake, and all of +Early's authority was insufficient to bring them up to a spirited +charge. We had repulsed them three times with terrible damage to their +ranks, as well as sad loss to our own. But now we looked toward the +right, and we saw rebels passing around our flank, and the Third and +First divisions falling back. We were but twelve thousand. They were +thirty thousand, and their line far overlapped ours. When Early could +not drive us he went round us. And now it was necessary to take another +position, which should protect the road to Winchester, and General +Wright directed General Getty to fall back, with his corps, to a more +commanding position, unless he saw good reason for desiring to hold his +present position. So the order was given to take the new position. + +_The Sixth corps was not driven back._ It had thrice repulsed the most +desperate charges of the whole rebel army, and now that the rebels were +turning our flank, it was necessary to interpose an organized force, and +there was no organized troops except the cavalry. + +Certain erudite historians, who have sent broadcast over our land, +compilations of newspaper paragraphs under the sounding titles of +historians of the rebellion, powerful gentlemen, who, from their +comfortable quarters in northern homes, watched our battles from afar, +quiet citizens whose sensibilities were never shocked by the sight of a +battle-field, and whose nerves can hardly withstand the shock of fire +crackers on the morning of a Fourth of July, have gravely informed their +readers that our whole army, including the Sixth corps, was driven +pell-mell six miles to the rear; and one of these grave historians very +quietly assures those who have leisure to peruse his queer accumulations +of absurdities, that we were driven all the way to Winchester, a +distance of more than twenty miles. For the comfort and encouragement of +these historians, so prolific of martial literature, and so barren of +any ideas of military movements, it is conceded that their accounts of +this battle are quite as correct as any which they are accustomed to +give to the public. + +We took position just north of Middletown, which was about two miles in +the rear of the position held by the Second division of our corps early +in the morning. We went back quietly and in good order, a single +regiment, the Second Vermont, holding without difficulty the position we +abandoned. We carried with us all our wounded, all our shelter tents and +all our personal property of every description, and the rebels did not +dare to attack us. When we had taken our new position in the same order +that we had formed in the morning, the Second division on the left, the +First in the center, and the Third on the right, other troops also took +position in the line. The cavalry, which had never for a moment +faltered, took position, Custer on the right, Merritt on the left and +the Nineteenth corps, which had now succeeded in restoring order to its +broken ranks, was massed on the right and rear of the Sixth. + +With this new line of battle in the strong position we now held, General +Wright determined that not only should the retreat stop here, but that +the rebels should be driven back across Cedar creek. Their career of +victory was ended. The grand old Sixth corps, directed by our own loved +General Getty, had turned the fortunes of the day. It was now ten +o'clock; far away in the rear was heard cheer after cheer. What was the +cause? Were reinforcements coming? Yes, Phil Sheridan was coming, and he +was a host. He had ridden from Winchester at amazing speed, and now, as +he passed the long trains of ambulances in which were the hundreds of +bleeding victims of the morning's work, the wounded men whose shattered +limbs or mangled bodies attested that they had not run away, raised +themselves and cheered with wild enthusiasm the hero of the valley. On +he rode; most of his staff left far to the rear, his famous war-horse +covered with foam and dirt, cheered at every step by hundreds of men in +whom new courage was now kindled. Dashing along the pike, he came upon +the line of battle. "What troops are those?" shouted Sheridan. "The +Sixth corps," was the response from a hundred voices. "We are all +right," said Sheridan, as he swung his old hat and dashed along the line +toward the right. "Never mind, boys, we'll whip them yet; we'll whip +them yet! We shall sleep in our old quarters to-night!" were the +encouraging words of the chief as he rode along, while the men threw +their hats high in air, leaped and danced and cheered in wildest joy. + +Sheridan at once completed the arrangements already commenced and nearly +finished by General Wright. The men of the Sixth corps meanwhile busied +themselves in cooking their morning meal. + +None but soldiers can realize the contending emotions we experienced as +we waited for the development of the new arrangements. We had, with the +pride which none but soldiers can feel, regained for northern troops the +prestige for brilliant achievements and open field fighting in this +valley, so often, in times past, the scene of humiliation to our arms. +Were we now, notwithstanding all our brilliant successes and our proud +consciousness of superiority, to see our prestige fade in an hour? +Sheridan said, "No;" and we trusted him. Had Sheridan never reached the +field, General Wright would have led us against the foe, whose ardor was +already lost after the repeated repulses from the single corps. But +there was a charm about the real commander of the army, and his +opportune arrival inspired fresh hope and zeal in the breasts of all. +Even a considerable portion of the Eighth corps was collected and placed +on the left of the Sixth, and then, with cavalry on either flank, Custer +on the right and Merritt on the left, we were ready to assume the +offensive. + +Thus, all things being arranged, we were prepared to test the question +whether our army was to fall back to Winchester beaten and humiliated or +return to our old camps. + +At one o'clock, the rebels advanced against the right of our line, but +were repulsed. A brisk fire of artillery was for a time kept up, but +even this died away and nothing but the scattering fire of skirmishers +was heard. + +Early had, without doubt, now relinquished the idea of any further +offensive operations, and he as little thought that any were designed on +our part. The rebels quietly proceed to bring their baggage wagons and +ambulances across the river, and they set themselves about fitting up +our camps for their own use. + +At three o'clock, Sheridan gave the order to move; wheeling from right +to left, as a gate swings upon its hinges. The Third division on the +right of our corps became for a moment embarrassed in passing through a +strip of woods, the First division moved slowly but firmly, gaining a +strong position. The Second division also advanced, but it was ordered +to go very slowly, and this was far more difficult than to rush quickly +over the ground. Yet the division obeyed the order and forced the rebels +to fall back. In front of the First and Second brigades was a stone +wall. This they seized and were at once partially sheltered; but there +was no such protection for the Third brigade. In its front was a meadow +and a gradually inclined plane, and behind a wall which skirted the +crest, was the rebel line. Between that line and ours, in a hollow, +stood a brick mill, from the windows of which the enemy's sharpshooters +picked off our men. The galling fire from the line of battle, and the +fatal shots of the sharpshooters in the mill, made it impossible to +advance slowly, and the line fell back. Our best men were falling fast. +The color-sergeant of the Seventy-seventh fell dead; another sergeant +seized the flag and fell. Adjutant Gilbert Thomas, a youth of rare +beauty and surpassing bravery, seized the fallen flag; he cried, +"forward, men!" and fell dead with the staff grasped in his hand. + +"I cannot take my brigade over that field, slowly," said Colonel French; +"then go quickly," responded General Getty. The word was given, and with +a bound and a shout the noble brigade went across the field, quickly +driving the confederates from their strong position. + +By this time the right of the army had started the rebels, and their +whole line was giving way. The three divisions of the Sixth corps +bounded forward, and commenced the wildest race that had ever been +witnessed even in that valley so famous for the flight of beaten armies. +The rebel lines were completely broken, and now in utmost confusion, +every man was going in greatest haste toward Cedar creek. Our men, with +wild enthusiasm, with shouts and cheers, regardless of order or +formation, joined in the hot pursuit. There was our mortal enemy, who +had but a few hours since driven us unceremoniously from our camps, now +beaten, routed, broken, bent on nothing but the most rapid flight. We +had not forgotten our humiliation of the morning, and the thought of it +gave fleetness to the feet of our pursuers. + +From the point where we broke the rebel ranks to the crossing of Cedar +creek, was three miles, an open plain. Over this plain and down the pike +the panic-stricken army was flying, while our soldiers, without ever +stopping to load their pieces, were charging tardy batteries with empty +muskets, seizing prisoners by scores and hundreds, every Union soldier +his own commander, bent on nothing but the destruction of the flying +foe. As we reached Cedar creek, the pursuit was given over to the +cavalry. The gallant Custer, now in his wild joy, could be heard +shouting to his impetuous men, "Charge them! Charge them!" and then we +could hear words, hard to print, but which added startling emphasis to +the commands. + +Crossing the river, he came upon the pike, crowded with men and cannon, +caissons and ambulances, wagons and pack animals. With one mighty sweep, +forty-five pieces of artillery, many wagons and ambulances, and hundreds +of prisoners, were taken. Merritt, too, captured seven guns, many +battle-flags, and prisoners without number. Indeed, the prisoners could +not be numbered, for there were not enough of the cavalry to guard them, +and as soon as they had thrown down their arms they were passed to the +rear, and in the darkness hundreds of them escaped to the mountains. +Through the darkness the cavalry kept up the pursuit until Mount Jackson +was passed. + +The infantry returned to the camps, and as we took our old places, +cheers made the welkin ring; and then as we heard constantly of new +trophies, the wild huzzahs rang from one end of our army to the other. +Such wild joy has rarely been felt by an army. What cared the men of the +Nineteenth corps that they were forced to lie upon the ground without +tents or blankets? Our army was victorious and our honor saved. + +The moon shining brightly over the battle-field revealed the camps of +the living side by side with the resting places of the dead. All the way +from Middletown to Cedar creek the debris of battle was scattered over +the fields. Here and there were seen the remains of our comrades of the +morning, their lifeless bodies stripped by vandal rebels of almost every +garment. They lay like specters in the pale moonlight; here, still in +death, under a cluster of bushes, was stretched a group; there, by the +side of a wall, a row of inanimate bodies marked a spot where brave men +had fallen at their posts; in the ravine where the little creek wound +its way, and beneath the boughs of the chestnut trees of the grove, many +slept their last sleep. Among our camps, the spades of the pioneers were +heard as they hollowed out the shallow graves; and as we threw ourselves +upon the ground to rest, we mourned for our comrades, and we rejoiced +for our victory. + +Sad, sad it was to think of the noble ones who had left us. Never again +were we to see the form of the great-hearted Bidwell at the head of his +brigade. We remembered his heroic bravery in all the terrible fights of +those bloody days, from the Rapidan to Petersburgh; we thought of him +when, at Winchester and Fisher Hill, he directed the movements of his +brigade with such consummate coolness and skill; we remembered his +cordial smile and friendly words, and then we thought of his heroism in +the morning, and our hearts were heavy to think that he was gone. + +Adjutant Thomas, too, had left us; our noble, beautiful boy. Could he +have died a grander death had he been spared longer? Could his last +words have been better chosen had he expired in the embrace of loved +ones at home? "Forward, men; forward!" Were they not grand dying words? +Rest, brother; thy death was as grand as thy life was lovely. + +Lennon's bright eye must soon close forever. We should never again hear +his hearty laugh or listen to his sparkling wit. He had fallen as a hero +falls, and his life had been the life of a hero and patriot. Belding and +Tabor, too, brave captains of brave men, each had fallen in advance of +his friends. + +Major Brower of the One Hundred and Twenty-second, Captain Taylor, +commanding the Sixty-first Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel Kohler of +the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania and Major Borman of the Fifteenth New +Jersey, all brave and competent officers, were lost to our corps; while +among the wounded were General Ricketts, Colonel Penrose, commander of +the New Jersey brigade, Colonel Dwight of the One Hundred and +Twenty-second, Captain Orr of Bidwell's staff, and Lieutenant Mitchell +of the Seventh Maine. + +Our army remained along Cedar creek for several days, the cavalry only +scouting up the valley in search of remnants of Early's shattered army. +Then, we fell back to the vicinity of Winchester, where our men built +comfortable quarters, and here we remained until General Grant called us +back to Petersburgh. Many of the regiments in the meantime were mustered +out of the service as regiments, the recruits and reenlisted men +remaining as battalions with the name of the original regiments, except +the substitution of the battalion for the regiment. Among other +regiments whose time expired was the one whose early career formed the +subject of the first chapters of this narrative, and whose honorable and +indeed brilliant course we have never lost sight of. The returning +veterans left camp on the 19th of November, leaving two hundred and +fifty men still to represent the organization. We will not pause to +speak of the parting of those so long companions in arms, of the trip +homeward or of the brilliant reception and magnificent entertainment +extended by the patriotic citizens of Saratoga to the veterans of a +hundred battles. These were fitting testimonials of appreciation of the +service of patriot soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE FINAL CAMPAIGN. + + Sixth corps returns to Petersburgh--Condition of the + corps--Sheridan joins the grand army--Capture of Fort + Steadman--The last grand charge--The pursuit of Lee's + army--Tributes to the Sixth corps--Disbanding. + + +On the 9th of December, the Sixth corps was recalled to Petersburgh. We +need not describe the journey to Washington, nor the steamboat ride to +City Point; the scenes along this route have already been described. + +We took our position on the Weldon railroad, erected more comfortable +huts than we had ever built before, our sick were placed in hospitals +fitted up with great taste, and everything which the government or our +friends at home, through the agencies of Sanitary and Christian +Commissions, could do for their comfort was gladly done. + +During our absence in the Shenandoah Valley, the army under General +Grant had been making steady progress in the siege of Petersburgh, and +our war-worn brothers of the other corps showed upon their faces the +marks of overwork. We were in fresh vigor. We had marched through a +blooming valley literally abounding in milk and honey. The fruits of the +vine, the orchard and the fold had been ours, and our camps had been in +green fields and pleasant groves, we had marched over wide roads, and +through rolling meadows, and we had fought in the open field. We +returned to our old comrades, proud of our own achievements, and of the +praise we had won from the nation. We could point to the valley, and to +the memory of Early's army, now no more; and we proudly claimed that it +had been ours to rid the country of one of the most troublesome of the +rebel columns. + +Now that we were again in the trenches, we felt a confidence in our own +valor which made our corps eminently fitted for the last grand duty, the +crowning act in the glorious history of this superb corps, the breaking +asunder of Lee's lines at Petersburgh, and as the result, the overthrow +of the rebellion. + +Grant's army had, during our absence, extended the line much farther to +the west and south. When we left for Washington, our line extended only +a little beyond the Jerusalem plank road. Now, it crossed the Weldon +railroad, and reached Hatcher's Run, nearly eight miles from the +position occupied by us when we left the lines. The military railroad, +too, had been constructed, and now all supplies were brought from City +Point to the rear of our camps by rail cars. + +The famous mine had exploded, and with it the project of taking +Petersburgh by surprise. Events of importance had transpired on the +north of the James, and the Dutch Gap canal was in progress. Yet, Lee's +army held us at arm's length, and Petersburgh was still to be taken. + +In the latter part of February, our friend, Sheridan, was ordered to +leave the valley with his superb body of horsemen, and cross the country +through Lynchburgh, destroy Lee's communications with the west, pass +through Danville and join Sherman in his grand march to the sea. But the +James river, swollen by heavy rains, forbade a crossing, and Sheridan, +nowise disconcerted, turned the heads of his horses toward the White +House, and after many adventures, having wrought much mischief in the +rear of the rebel army, he joined Grant's army before Petersburgh, on +the 26th of March. The result was better than though he had been able to +accomplish the original design. + +Now, the Army of the Potomac was one again. The Sixth corps, and +Sheridan with his cavalry, were important elements in that grand army; +and now, as the glorious spring-time was drying the depths of the mud, +and opening the way for a fresh campaign, we were in most superb +condition to administer the last blows to the already tottering fabric +of the rebellion. + +We need not dwell long upon the particulars of this final campaign. + +Lee took the initiative. Knowing that it would be impossible to hold his +present line much longer, he determined to retreat to Danville; but +wishing to cover his retreat by a bold movement in front, he sent a +strong column to attack Fort Steadman, a point toward the right of the +line where the two opposing lines were very close. The fort was guarded +by troops of the Ninth corps. The attack was made very early on the +morning of the 25th of March, and resulted in the complete surprise and +capture of the fort and of many of the men of the Ninth corps. It was a +short-lived triumph; the work taken was commanded by the guns of other +forts on either flank, and the enfilading guns with strong bodies of +infantry soon compelled a retreat of the enemy. + +Meanwhile the opportunity had not been lost by General Meade for +advancing his line on the left. The Sixth corps was to do the work. The +Third brigade, Second division was sent forward to take and hold the +rebel picket line near the Squirrel Level road, for the double purpose +of withdrawing the attention of the enemy, and of advancing our line for +future operations. The brigade gallantly executed the order, and, +notwithstanding the rebels brought nine pieces of artillery to bear upon +it, and sent reinforcements to the point, the ground was held. Colonel +Dwight of the One Hundred and Twenty-second was killed; Captain Oakley +and Lieutenant Pierce lost their lives, and many others of the brigade +were killed or wounded. + +The 29th of March was the day fixed for the opening of the grand final +campaign. The Twenty-fourth corps relieved the Second and Fifth corps +from the intrenchments in front of Petersburgh, and these two corps were +loose to join Sheridan in an expedition on our left with the view of +turning the enemy's right flank. + +Leaving camp early on the morning of the 29th, the two corps and the +cavalry proceeded to the southwest, crossed Hatcher's Run, and marched +toward Dinwiddie Court House, the infantry reaching the Quaker road, the +cavalry continuing the march to Dinwiddie. We had now an unbroken line +from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie Court House. The corps were posted from +right to left, as follows: Ninth, Sixth, Twenty-fourth, Second, Fifth, +and on the left of all, Sheridan with the cavalry. + +On the morning of the 30th, the infantry and cavalry on the left were +ready for the grand blow upon the flank and rear of the enemy, but a +heavy rain storm set in, rendering the roads impracticable, and except +some maneuvering to get nearer the enemy's position, no movements were +made. On the following day, the rebels made a fierce onset upon the +corps of Warren, but failed to dislodge him. April 1st, Sheridan, with +infantry and cavalry, engaged the rebels at a place called Five Forks, a +position of vital importance to the enemy. + +While Sheridan was thus dealing heavy blows upon the flank, we in front +were preparing for a general advance. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE SIXTH CORPS, WHICH BROKE THE REBEL LINES, +April 2, 1865.] + +The position occupied by the Sixth corps formed a salient, the angle +approaching very near the rebel line. Here, in front of Fort Welch and +Fort Fisher, the corps was massed in columns of brigades in _echelon_, +forming a mighty wedge, which should rive the frame-work of the +confederacy. + +The corps was formed in the rear of the picket line; the Third brigade, +Second division, being the point of the wedge. On the right of that +brigade was the First brigade of the same division, and on the left, the +Vermont brigade. The First division of three brigades was in _echelon_ +by brigades on the right of the Second, and the Third of two large +brigades also in _echelon_. Each brigade was in column of battalions. +Axemen were ready to be sent forward to remove abattis, and Captain +Adams had twenty cannoneers ready to man captured guns. Every commanding +officer of battalions was informed what he was expected to do, and thus +all was in readiness. + +At half-past four in the morning of April 2d, the signal gun from Fort +Fisher sounded the advance. Without wavering, through the darkness, the +wedge which was to split the confederacy was driven home. + +The abattis was past, the breastworks mounted, the works were our own. +Thousands of prisoners, many stands of colors and many guns were our +trophies, while many of our friends, dead or wounded, was the price of +our glory. The rebel line was broken, and now the troops of Ord, and +those of the Ninth corps pressed on after us. Humphries, too, of the +Second corps, hearing of our splendid success, stormed the works in his +front away on the left and carried them. The confederate army gathered +close around Petersburgh, but we followed closely. We will not stop to +tell all the splendid achievements of that glorious day. + +That night our corps rested on the Appomattox, just above Petersburgh, +and General Grant, of the Vermont brigade, had his head-quarters in the +house which General Lee had occupied all winter, and had left only a few +hours before. During the night Lee made his escape with his army. He had +already sent word to Richmond that he was to retreat, and the fatal +message reached Davis while in church. + +We all joined in the pursuit next morning. The Second and Sixth corps +hastening to the help of Sheridan, who was following hard after the +flying army. We confronted Lee at Jetersville, and on the morning of the +6th we moved up to attack, but there was no army to attack. Why need we +tell of the forced march that followed; of the gallant fight at Sailor's +creek, where we whipped Lee's army; of the wild joy of the surrender? +These are all too well known to repeat, and the details would be +tiresome. + +The grand old Sixth corps, the pride of the army and the delight of the +nation, had crowned all its former record of glory by breaking the +famous "backbone" of the rebellion, and all that follows is tame. + +General Grant did us the credit to say, "General Wright penetrated the +lines with his whole corps, sweeping everything before him, and to his +left, toward Hatcher's run, capturing many guns and several thousand +prisoners." + +General Meade, too, says: "Major-General Wright attacked at four A.M., +carrying everything before him, taking possession of the enemy's strong +line of works, and capturing many guns and prisoners. After carrying the +enemy's lines in his front, and reaching the Boydtown plank road, +Major-General Wright turned to his left and swept down the enemy's line +of intrenchments till near Hatcher's run, where, meeting the head of the +Twenty-fourth corps, General Wright retraced his steps and advanced on +the Boydtown plank road toward Petersburgh, encountering the enemy in an +inner line of works immediately around the city." + +The march and halt at Danville, the rapid journey through +Fredericksburgh to Alexandria, the separate review of the corps under +the scorching rays of one of the hottest days ever known even in +Washington, when hundreds of our men fell down from sunstroke and +exhaustion, the return to camp and the disbanding, finish the story of +the grandest corps that ever faced a foe. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Years in the Sixth Corps, by +George T. 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