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diff --git a/38418.txt b/38418.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81fd9d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/38418.txt @@ -0,0 +1,26522 @@ +Project Gutenberg's From Manassas to Appomattox, by James Longstreet + +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: From Manassas to Appomattox + Memoirs of The Civil War in America + +Author: James Longstreet + +Release Date: December 27, 2011 [EBook #38418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: James Longstreet] + + + + + FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX + + MEMOIRS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA + + + BY JAMES LONGSTREET, + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CONFEDERATE ARMY + + + _ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES, MAPS, PORTRAITS, AND ENGRAVINGS + SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THIS WORK_ + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + 1896 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + + _All Rights reserved._ + + + ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, + U.S.A. + + + + + THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE + OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FIRST CORPS OF THE ARMY + OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA + + TO THE LIVING AND THE DEAD + + In Memory of + + THEIR BRAVE DEEDS, THEIR TOILS, THEIR TRIBULATIONS, + AND THEIR TRIUMPHS + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Immediately after the surrender of the Confederate armies engaged in the +war between the States, General Lee undertook to write of the campaigns of +the Army of Northern Virginia while under his command, and asked such +assistance as I could give in supplying reports, despatches, and letters +of his, the originals of which had been lost or destroyed. Under the +impression that they could not be put to better use, such as were then in +hand were packed and sent him. He gave up the work, and after a few years +his death made it impossible that the world should ever receive the +complete story of the Confederate campaigns in Virginia from the noble +mind that projected and controlled them. + +Possibly, had I not expected our commander to write the history of those +campaigns, I should have written it myself a decade or so earlier than I +have done. But, personally, I am not sorry that I write of the war thirty +years after its close, instead of ten or twenty. + +While I am so constituted, temperamentally, that I could view then almost +exactly as I do now the great struggle in which I bore a part, I do not +know that others, in any considerable number, might have so regarded it at +the earlier periods to which I refer. + +I believe that now, more fully than then, the public is ready to receive, +in the spirit in which it is written, the story which I present. + +It is not my purpose to philosophize upon the war, but I cannot refrain +from expressing my profound thankfulness that Providence has spared me to +such time as I can see the asperities of the great conflict softened, its +passions entering upon the sleep of oblivion, only its nobler--if less +immediate--results springing into virile and vast life. I believe there is +to-day, _because of the war_, a broader and deeper patriotism in all +Americans; that patriotism throbs the heart and pulses the being as +ardently of the South Carolinian as of the Massachusetts Puritan; that the +Liberty Bell, even now, as I write, on its Southern pilgrimage, will be as +reverently received and as devotedly loved in Atlanta and Charleston as in +Philadelphia and Boston. And to stimulate and evolve this noble sentiment +all the more, what we need is the resumption of fraternity, the hearty +restoration and cordial cultivation of neighborly, brotherly relations, +faith in Jehovah, and respect for each other; and God grant that the happy +vision that delighted the soul of the sweet singer of Israel may rest like +a benediction upon the North and the South, upon the Blue and the Gray. + +The spirit in which this work has been conceived, and in which I have +conscientiously labored to carry it out, is one of sincerity and fairness. +As an actor in, and an eyewitness of, the events of 1861-65, I have +endeavored to perform my humble share of duty in passing the materials of +history to those who may give them place in the records of the +nation,--not of the South nor of the North,--but in the history of the +United Nation. It is with such magnified view of the responsibility of +saying the truth that I have written. + +I yield to no one as a champion of the Southern soldier wherever he may +have fought and in whatever army, and I do not think I shall be charged +more now than in war-time with "underestimating the enemy." Honor to all! +If I speak with some particularity of the First Corps of the Army of +Northern Virginia, it must be ascribed in part to the affection of a +commander, and in part to my desire to relieve its brave officers and men +in the ranks from unjust aspersions. After General Lee's death, various +writers on the Southern cause combined with one accord to hold the First +Corps and its commander responsible for all adversity that befell the +army. I being under the political ban, and the political passions and +prejudices of the times running high, they had no difficulty in spreading +their misrepresentations South and North until some people, through their +mere reiteration, came to accept them as facts. I simply present the facts +concerning the First Corps in all fulness and fairness, attested by +indisputable authorities, that the public may judge between it and its +detractors. + +In the accounts of battles and movements, the official War Records supply +in a measure the place of lost papers, and afford a great mass of most +trustworthy statistics. I am under obligations to General E. P. Alexander, +General G. M. Sorrel, Colonel Osman Latrobe, Colonel J. W. Fairfax, +Colonel T. J. Goree, Colonel Erasmus Taylor, and Colonel J. C. Haskell for +many interesting suggestions. + +To Major George B. Davis and Mr. L. J. Perry, of the War Records office, I +am under obligations for invaluable assistance; as also to Mr. Alfred +Matthews, of Philadelphia, for material aid in revising the manuscript of +these memoirs. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I. + + THE ANTE-BELLUM LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. + + Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the + United States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes-- + Assignment as Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garrison at + Jefferson Barracks--Lieutenant Grant's Courtship--Annexation + of Texas--Army of Observation--Army of Occupation--Camp Life in + Texas--March to the Rio Grande--Mexican War 13 + + + CHAPTER II. + + FROM NEW MEXICO TO MANASSAS. + + The War-Cloud--The Journey Northward--Appointed + Brigadier-General--Report to General Beauregard--Assigned to + Command at the Scene of the First Conflict--Personnel of the + Confronting Forces--Description of the Field of Manassas, or + Bull Run--Beauregard and McDowell of the same West Point + Class--Battle of Blackburn's Ford--Early's Mistake--Under Fire + of Friend and Foe 29 + + + CHAPTER III. + + BATTLE OF MANASSAS, OR BULL RUN. + + Commanders on both Sides generally Veterans of the Mexican + War--General Irvin McDowell's Preconceived Plan--Johnston + reinforces Beauregard and approves his Plans--General Bernard + E. Bee--Analysis of the Fight--Superb Work of the Federal + Artillery--Christening of "Stonewall Jackson"--McDowell's + Gallant Effort to recover Lost Power--Before he was shorn of + his Artillery he was the Samson of the Field--The Rout-- + Criticism of McDowell--Tyler's Reconnoissance--Ability of the + Commanding Generals tested 42 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + THE CONFEDERATES HOVERING AROUND WASHINGTON. + + An Early War-Time Amenity--The Author invited to dine with the + Enemy--"Stove-pipe Batteries"--J. E. B. Stuart, the Famous + Cavalryman--His Bold Dash on the Federals at Lewinsville-- + Major-General G. W. Smith associated with Johnston and + Beauregard in a Council--Longstreet promoted Major-General-- + Fierce Struggle at Ball's Bluff--Dranesville a Success for the + Union Arms--McClellan given the Sobriquet of "The Young + Napoleon" 59 + + + CHAPTER V. + + ROUND ABOUT RICHMOND. + + The Defences of the Confederate Capital--Army of Northern + Virginia at Centreville--Aggressive Action--Council with the + President and Secretary of War--Mr. Davis's High Opinion of + McClellan--Operations on the Peninsula--Engagements about + Yorktown and Williamsburg--Severe Toil added to the Soldiers' + Usual Labors by a Saturated Soil 64 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. + + The Attack on Fort Magruder--Hancock occupies Two Redoubts--The + Slaughter in Early's Brigade--The Fifth North Carolina Regiment + and Twenty-Fourth Virginia mercilessly exposed--A Hard-Fought + Engagement--A Confederate Victory--McClellan not on the Field + the Greater Part of the Day--Hancock called "The Superb" by + McClellan--Johnston pays High Tribute to Longstreet 72 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + SEVEN PINES, OR FAIR OAKS. + + A New Line of Defence--Positions of the Confronting Armies-- + Fitz-John Porter--Terrific Storm on the Eve of Battle--General + Johnston's Orders to Longstreet, Smith, and Huger--Lack of + Co-operation on the Confederate Side, and Ensuing Confusion-- + Fatalities among Confederate Officers--Kearny's Action--Serious + Wounding of General Johnston at the Close of the Battle-- + Summary and Analysis of Losses 81 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + SEQUELAE OF SEVEN PINES. + + The Forces under Command of G. W. Smith after Johnston was + wounded--The Battle of the 1st--Longstreet requests + Reinforcements and a Diversion--Council held--McLaws alone + sustains Longstreet's Opposition to retiring--Severe Fighting-- + Pickett's Brave Stand--General Lee assigned to Command--He + orders the withdrawal of the Army--Criticism of General Smith-- + Confederates should not have lost the Battle--Keyes's + Corroboration 103 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + ROBERT E. LEE IN COMMAND. + + The Great General's Assignment not at first assuring to the + Army--Able as an Engineer but limited as to Field Service--He + makes the Acquaintance of his Lieutenants--Calls a Council-- + Gains Confidence by saying Nothing--"A Little Humor now and + then"--Lee Plans a Simultaneous Attack on McClellan's Front and + Rear--J. E. B. Stuart's Daring Reconnoissance around the Union + Army 112 + + + CHAPTER X. + + FIGHTING ALONG THE CHICKAHOMINY. + + Retreat--Lee's Bold Initiative--Lee and his Lieutenants + planning Battle--The Confederates' Loss at Mechanicsville-- + Gaines's Mill--A. P. Hill's Fight--Longstreet's Reserve + Division put in--McClellan's Change of Base--Savage Station-- + Longstreet engages McClellan's Main Force at Frayser's Farm (or + Glendale)--President Davis on the Field--Testimony of Federal + Generals--Fierce Bayonet Charges--"Greek meets Greek"--Capture + of General McCall--McClellan's Masterly Retreat 120 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL. + + Last Stand in the Great Retreat--Strength of McClellan's + Position--The Confederates make Poor Use of their Artillery--A + Mistake and Defeat for Lee's Army--The Campaign as a Whole a + Great Success, but it should have been far greater--McClellan's + Retreat showed him well equipped in the Science of War--Review + of the Campaign--Jackson's and Magruder's Misunderstanding-- + Moral Effect of the Gunboats on the James River--"There should + be a Gunboat in Every Family" 141 + + + CHAPTER XII. + + HALLECK AND POPE IN FEDERAL COMMAND. + + Centres of Activity gravitate towards Orange and Culpeper + Counties--Pope's Unsoldierly Preliminary Orders--Jackson's and + Pope's Encounter at Cedar Mountain--Confidence in and Esteem + for General Lee--The Confederate Commander's Plans for cutting + off Pope miscarry--Capture of Captain Fitzhugh with Important + Orders--Longstreet puts General Toombs under Arrest--General + Pope withdraws 153 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + MAKING READY FOR MANASSAS AGAIN. + + General Lee modifies his Order of March--Continuous + Skirmishing--Cavalry Commander Stuart gets into General Pope's + Head-quarters and captures his Personal Equipment--His Uniform + Coat and Hat shown along the Confederate Lines--Jackson's + Superb Flank Movement--Confederates capture Trains, Supplies, + Munitions, and Prisoners--Hooker and Ewell at Bristoe Station-- + Jackson first on the Old Field of Bull Run--Longstreet's + Command joins passing Thoroughfare Gap--Pope practically throws + Responsibility for Aggressive Action on McDowell--Preliminary + Fighting--General Pope surprised by Jackson--Pope's Orders to + Fitz-John Porter 163 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS (BULL RUN). + + Battle opened by the Federals on Jackson's Right, followed by + Kearny--Longstreet's Reconnoissance--Stuart, the Cavalry + Leader, sleeps on the Field of Battle--Pope thought at the + Close of the 29th that the Confederates were retreating--Second + Day--Fitz-John Porter struck in Flank--Longstreet takes a Hand + in the Fight late in the Day--Lee under Fire--The Federal + Retreat to Centreville--That Point turned--Pope again + dislodged--"Stonewall" Jackson's Appearance and Peculiarities-- + Killing of "Fighting Phil" Kearny--Losses--Review of the + Campaign 180 + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. + + General Lee continues Aggressive Work--From Foraged Fields of + Virginia into a Bounteous Land--Longstreet objected to the + Movement on Harper's Ferry--Lee thinks the Occasion Timely for + Proposal of Peace and Independence--Confederates singing + through the Streets of Fredericktown--McClellan's Movements-- + Cautious Marches--Lee's Lost Order handed to the Federal Chief + at Frederick 199 + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + "THE LOST ORDER"--SOUTH MOUNTAIN. + + How the Federals found the Despatch--With every Advantage + McClellan "made haste slowly"--Lee turns back to meet him at + South Mountain--Longstreet preferred that the Stand should be + made at Sharpsburg--The Battle at the Pass--Many killed-- + General Garland of the Confederate and General Reno of the + Union Side--A Future President among the Wounded--Estimate of + Forces engaged 212 + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + PRELIMINARIES OF THE GREAT BATTLE. + + Confederates retreat from South Mountain--Federals follow and + harass them--Franklin and Cobb at Crampton's Pass--A Spirited + Action--Fighting around Harper's Ferry--Its Capitulation--The + Confederates take Eleven Thousand Prisoners--Jackson rejoins + Lee--Description of the Field of Antietam--McClellan posts his + Corps--Lee's Lines advantageously placed--Hooker's Advance on + the Eve of Battle should have been resisted 227 + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM. + + Bloodiest Single Day of the War--Comparison of Casualties-- + Hooker opens the Fight against Jackson's Centre--Many Officers + among the Fallen early in the Day--McLaws and Walker in time to + meet Sumner's Advance under Sedgwick--Around Dunker Chapel-- + Richardson's Splendid Advance against the Confederate Centre + the Signal of the Bursting of another Storm--Longstreet's and + D. H. Hill's Troops stood before it--Fall of General G. B. + Anderson--General Richardson mortally wounded--Aggressive + Spirit of his Command broken--Wonderful Cannon-shot--General + D. H. Hill's Third Horse killed under him 239 + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM (CONTINUED). + + Closing Events of the Great Struggle--Burnside crosses the + Bridge he made famous--Toombs made Gallant Defence, but was + outnumbered and dislodged--The Confederate Brigades from + Harper's Ferry under A. P. Hill in Time for the Final Crisis-- + Burnside's Advance arrested by them--The Battle against + Burnside "appeared to spring from the Earth"--"Lee's old War + Horse"--The Killing of a Kinsman at the Bridge seriously + affects General D. R. Jones--The Sharp Fight at Shepherdstown-- + Confederates retreat--Casualties of the Battle--Confederate + Losses in the Campaign--Neither McClellan's Plan nor Execution + was strong 256 + + + CHAPTER XX. + + REVIEW OF THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. + + Confederate Expectations--General Lee's Salutatory to the + People of Maryland--The "Lost Despatch"--McClellan's + Movements--Turn in the Tide of War--A Miracle great as the + throwing down of the Walls of Jericho--In Contempt of the Enemy + the Confederate Army was dispersed--Harper's Ferry a + "Man-Trap"--It diverted the Army from the Main Issue--Lee and + McClellan compared and contrasted--Tribute to the Confederate + Private Soldier 279 + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + REORGANIZATION AND REST FOR BOTH ARMIES. + + The Confederates appoint Seven Lieutenant-Generals--The Army of + Northern Virginia organized in Corps--General McClellan + relieved, and General Burnside appointed Commander of the Army + of the Potomac--A Lift for the South--McClellan was growing-- + Burnside's "Three Grand Divisions"--The Campaign of the + Rappahannock--Getting Ready for Fredericksburg--Longstreet + occupies Fredericksburg--The Town called to surrender by + General Sumner--Exodus of the Inhabitants under a Threat to + shell the Town 290 + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. + + Description of the Field--Marye's Heights--Position of the + Troops of Longstreet's Command--General Jackson called down + from Orange Court-House, and Preparations made for a Determined + Stand--Signal Guns at Three o'clock in the Morning announce the + Long-Expected Battle--Burnside's Bridge-Builders thrice driven + back from their Work--The Crossing finally made by Boats-- + Federals under Hot Fire enter Fredericksburg--How they obtained + their Foothold on the West Bank of the Rappahannock--Gallant + Officers and Men--Ninety-seven killed or wounded in the Space + of Fifty Yards--General Burnside's Plan of Battle--Strength of + the Contending Forces 297 + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG (CONTINUED). + + The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of + the 13th of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General + Meade's Division of Franklin's Command makes the First + Advance--General French leads against the Confederate Left-- + Hancock follows--General Cobb killed--The Sunken Road and Stone + Wall below Marye's Hill--Desperate Advances and Determined + Repulses--Humphreys's Heroic Assault--The Stone Wall "a Sheet + of Flame"--General Jackson loses his Opportunity to advance-- + The Charge of Meade's Divisions compared with that of Pickett, + Pettigrew, and Trimble's Columns at Gettysburg--Forty Per Cent. + killed in charging Lines here, and Sixty Per Cent. at + Gettysburg--Total Losses--Peace to be declared because Gold had + gone to 200--Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia 306 + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + PREPARING FOR THE SPRING OF '63. + + Burnside's Abortive Moves--The "Mud March"--General Hooker + supersedes Burnside--The Confederates strengthen their Position + for the Winter--Longstreet ordered to Petersburg--Secretary of + War Seddon and the Author talk of General Grant and the + Confederate Situation on the Mississippi and in the West-- + Longstreet makes a Radical Proposition for Confederate + Concentration in Tennessee, thus to compel Grant to abandon + Vicksburg--The Skilful Use of Interior Lines the Only Way of + equalizing the Contest--Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee's + Brilliant Achievement--Criticism--Death of "Stonewall" + Jackson--The Resolve to march Northward--The Army reorganized + in Three Corps--Ewell and A. P. Hill appointed + Lieutenant-Generals 322 + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA. + + Plan of the Confederate March North--General Lee hoped to draw + Troops from the South and develop Important Results North of + the Potomac--He wanted Beauregard sent to support the + Movement--The Authorities in Richmond failed to comprehend--The + Value of the "Interior Lines" not appreciated--Spirited Cavalry + Fight at Brandy Station between Stuart's and Pleasonton's + Commands--Engagement of Ewell and Milroy at Winchester--The + Question of Authority for the Cavalry Movements-- + Lieutenant-Colonel Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards, British + Army, as a Guest and Observer--The Confederate Advance reaches + Pennsylvania Soil--General Lee issues Orders for a March on + Harrisburg--Municipal Authorities of York and Gettysburg + surrender to General John B. Gordon 334 + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + GETTYSBURG--FIRST DAY. + + Information of Federal Force and Positions brought by the Scout + Harrison--General Lee declines to credit it--General Longstreet + suggests a Change of Direction in Conformance with the + Revelation--General Meade had succeeded Hooker in Command Five + Days before Battle--Positions on the Eve of the First Day-- + Confederate Cavalry "not in sight"--"The Eyes of the Army" + sadly needed--A Description of the Famous Battle-field-- + Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill engage the Federals--Death of + General John F. Reynolds--The Fight on Seminary Ridge--General + Hancock in Federal Command on the Field--Concerning the Absent + Cavalry and Information given by the Scout--Conditions at the + Close of the First Day's Fight 346 + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + GETTYSBURG--SECOND DAY. + + The Confederate Commander reviews the Field and decides on Plan + of Battle--Positions on the Morning of July 2--Night March of + the Federal Sixth Corps--It was excelled by Law's Brigade of + Confederates--The Battle was opened after Mid-day--General Hood + appeals for Permission to turn the Federal Left--Failure to + make the Flanking Movement by the Confederate Right was a + Serious Mistake--Hood, in his usual Gallant Style, led his + Troops forward among the Rocks--Desperate Charges against an + Earnest Adversary--Hood wounded--General Law succeeds him in + command of the Division--"Little Round Top" an Important + Point--"The Citadel of the Field"--It was a Fight of Seventeen + Thousand Confederates against twice their Number--Quiet along + the Lines of other Confederate Commands--"A Man on the Left who + didn't care to make the Battle win"--Evidence against the + Alleged Order for "Battle at Sunrise"--The "Order" to Ewell was + Discretionary--Lee had lost his Balance 362 + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + GETTYSBURG--THIRD DAY. + + The Stroke of Arms that shook the Continent--Longstreet opposed + the Attack as planned and made--The Confederate Column of + Assault--It was weak in Numbers but strong in Spirit-- + Tremendous Artillery Combat begins the Day's Fighting--Charge + of Generals Pickett, Trimble, and Pettigrew--Armistead falls by + the Side of the Federal Guns--The Federal Cavalry Charge of + General Farnsworth--The Commander falls with Five Mortal + Wounds--Could the Assaulting Column have been safely augmented + from Longstreet's Right?--Testimony as to that Point--Where + rested the Responsibility for Disaster?--Criticism of the + Battle as a Whole--Cemetery Hill stronger than Marye's Hill at + Fredericksburg--Controverted Points--Casualties of the Three + Days' Fight--Organization of the Forces engaged 385 + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + THE WAVE ROLLS BACK. + + Confederates retreat from Gettysburg--The Federals pursue-- + Crossing the Potomac under Difficulties--Kilpatrick's Cavalry + Dash on Pettigrew's Command--General Lee thought to rest his + Army in the Valley of Virginia, but Meade followed too fast-- + Engagements that harassed the Retreat--General Lee wished to be + relieved of Command, but President Davis would not consent to + the Appointment of Joseph E. Johnston or General Beauregard 426 + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + LONGSTREET MOVES TO GEORGIA. + + The Author reverts to the Perils and Opportunities in the + West--Proposes to the Secretary of War to reinforce against + Rosecrans from the Army of Northern Virginia--Makes Plan known + to General Lee--The Move finally effected--Difficulties of + Transportation--A Roundabout Route--General Longstreet narrowly + escapes capture when seeking Bragg's Head-quarters--General + Bragg assigns Longstreet to Command of the Left--Instructions + for the Battle of Chickamauga--The Armies in Position--Federals + in Command of Generals Rosecrans, Crittenden, McCook, and + George H. Thomas 433 + + + CHAPTER XXXI. + + BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. + + Tactical Features--The Battle opened by Direct Attack on the + Federals in the Early Morning of September 20--Repeated and + Determined Front Assaults--Brigadiers Helm killed and Adams + wounded--The Union Commands lay behind Defences--Hood's + Brigades surged through the Forest against the Covered Infantry + and Artillery--Hood wounded--Longstreet suggests a Plan for + Progressive Action--Halting Tactics at High Tide of Success-- + The Confederate Left fought a Separate Battle--General Thomas + retreats--First Confederate Victory in the West, and one of the + Bloodiest Battles of the War--Forces engaged--Losses 445 + + + CHAPTER XXXII. + + FAILURE TO FOLLOW SUCCESS. + + Longstreet differs with General Bragg as to Movements of + Pursuit--The Confederates on Lookout Mountain--Federals gain + Comfortable Positions around it--Superior Officers of Bragg's + Command call for his Removal--Bragg seeks Scapegoats--President + Davis visits the Army--Tests the Temper of the Officers towards + Bragg--He offers the Command to Longstreet--He declines--His + Reasons--General Bragg ignores Signal-Service Reports and is + surprised--General Joe Hooker's Advance--Night Attack on + Lookout Mountain--Colonel Bratton's Clever Work--Review of the + Western Movement and Combination--It should have been effected + in May instead of September--Inference as to Results had the + First Proposition been promptly acted upon 461 + + + CHAPTER XXXIII. + + THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. + + General Bragg's Infatuation--General Grant in Command of the + Federal Forces--Longstreet ordered into East Tennessee--His + Plans for the Campaign--Poorly supported by his Superior-- + Foraging for Daily Rations--General Burnside's Forces--Advance + upon Knoxville--Affairs at Lenoir's and Campbell's Stations-- + Engagement near Knoxville an Artillery Combat--Reprehensible + Conduct of Officers--Allegement that One was actuated by + Jealousy--Federals retire behind their Works--Laying the + Confederate Lines about Knoxville 480 + + + CHAPTER XXXIV. + + BESIEGING KNOXVILLE. + + Closing on the Enemy's Lines--A Gallant Dash--The Federal + Positions--Fort Loudon, later called Fort Sanders--Assault of + the Fort carefully planned--General McLaws advises Delay--The + Order reiterated and emphasized--Gallant Effort by the Brigades + of Generals Wofford, Humphreys, and Bryan at the Appointed + Time--A Recall ordered, because carrying the Works was reported + impossible--General Longstreet is ordered by the President to + General Bragg's Relief--Losses during the Assault and the + Campaign 497 + + + CHAPTER XXXV. + + CUT OFF FROM EAST AND WEST. + + Impracticability of joining General Bragg--Wintering in East + Tennessee--General Longstreet given Discretionary Authority + over the Department by President Davis--Short Rations--Minor + Movements of Hide-and-Seek in the Mountains--Longstreet's + Position was of Strategic Importance--That Fact fully + appreciated by President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and + Generals Halleck and Grant--"Drive Longstreet out of East + Tennessee and keep him out"--Generals Robertson and McLaws--The + Charges against them and Action taken--Honorable Mention for + Courage and Endurance--The Army finally fares sumptuously on + the Fat Lands of the French Broad 509 + + + CHAPTER XXXVI. + + STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD. + + Longstreet again considers Relief from Service--General Grant + at Knoxville--Shoeless Soldiers leave Bloody Trails on Frozen + Roads--A Confederate Advance--Affair at Dandridge--Federals + retreat--Succession of Small Engagements--General Grant urges + General Foster's Army to the Offensive--General Foster + relieved--General Schofield in Command of Federals--General + Grant's Orders--General Halleck's Estimate of East Tennessee as + a Strategic Field--Affair of Cavalry--Advance towards + Knoxville--Longstreet's Command called back to Defensive for + Want of Cavalry 524 + + + CHAPTER XXXVII. + + LAST DAYS IN TENNESSEE. + + Longstreet's Army at Bull's Gap--U. S. Grant made + Lieutenant-General--Richmond Authorities awake to the Gravity + of the Situation--Longstreet's Proposition for Campaign-- + Approved by General Lee--Richmond Authorities fail to adopt + it--General Bragg's Plan--A Memorable and Unpleasant Council at + the Capital--Orders from President Davis--The Case of General + Law--Longstreet ordered to the Army of Northern Virginia-- + Resolutions of Thanks from Confederate Congress 542 + + + CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. + + Campaign of 1864--General Grant in the Field--Strength of the + Armies--Their Positions--Description of the Wilderness--The + Battle opened--A Brisk Day's Fighting--Longstreet's Command + faces Hancock's on the Morning of the Second Day--An + Effective Flank Movement--General Wadsworth mortally wounded-- + General Jenkins falls under Fire of Friends, and Longstreet is + seriously wounded--Carried from the Field on a Litter--Tribute + to General Jenkins--Criticism and Controversy 551 + + + CHAPTER XXXIX. + + AGAIN IN FRONT OF RICHMOND. + + Longstreet absent on Leave, nursing his Wounds--Hears of the + Death of Cavalry Leader J. E. B. Stuart--Returns to Virginia-- + Assigned to Command on the North Side of James River--Affair on + the Williamsburg Road--Lee's Apprehension of Grant's March into + Richmond--Closing Scenes of the Campaign of 1864 about the + Confederate Capital--General Benjamin F. Butler's Move against + Fort Fisher--Remote Effects on the Situation in Virginia 572 + + + CHAPTER XL. + + TALK OF PEACE. + + Second Federal Move against Fort Fisher and Wilmington Harbor-- + Confederate Disaffection--Act of Congress appointing a Supreme + Commander of the Armies--Montgomery Blair's Peace Conference-- + Longstreet has a Meeting with General Ord, Commander of the + Army of the James--Military Convention proposed--Correspondence + between General Grant and General Lee--Longstreet's Suggestions + for Measures in the Critical Juncture near the Close of the War 582 + + + CHAPTER XLI. + + BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS. + + Various Affairs of the Closing Campaign--The Massing of Grant's + Forces--Sortie against Fort Steadman--Captured but quickly + retaken--General Grant's Move around the Confederate Right-- + General Lee anticipates with Aggressive Work--Sheridan makes + Battle with his Whole Force at Five Forks--Desperate Situation + of the Confederates--Disparity of Numbers--Splendid Stand and + Battle of Generals Pickett and Ransom--Colonel Pegram mortally + wounded--W. H. F. Lee, the "Noble Son of a Noble Sire"--Corse's + Division--Pickett's Generalship--Casualties 590 + + + CHAPTER XLII. + + PETERSBURG. + + The Fierce Concerted Assault by the Federals--Death of A. P. + Hill--General Lee announces to Richmond Authorities that he + must retreat--Reception of the News by President Davis at + Church Service--Federals take Forts Gregg and Whitworth--The + Retreat harassed by Continuous Fighting--Longstreet saves High + Bridge, a Vital Point--Ewell and Others compelled to + surrender--General Mahone's Account of Interesting Scenes-- + Magnitude of the Disaster--"Is the Army dissolving?"--General + Reed mortally wounded--Panic occurs, but Order is restored-- + General Gregg and Part of his Cavalry Command captured by + Rosser and Mumford 603 + + + CHAPTER XLIII. + + APPOMATTOX. + + Some of General Lee's Officers say to him that "Further + Resistance is Hopeless"--Longstreet does not approve--General + Grant calls for Surrender--"Not yet"--The Confederate Chieftain + asks Terms--His Response to his Officers as represented by + General Pendleton--Correspondence of Generals Lee and Grant-- + Morning of April 9--General Lee rides to meet the Federal + Commander, while Longstreet forms the Last Line of Battle-- + Longstreet endeavors to recall his Chief, hearing of a Break + where the Confederate Troops could pass--Custer demands + Surrender of Longstreet--Reminded of Irregularity, and that he + was "in the Enemy's Lines"--Meeting with General Grant-- + Capitulation--Last Scenes 618 + + + CHAPTER XLIV. + + POST-BELLUM PENDANT. + + Old Friends and their Kindness--General Grant--His + Characteristic Letter of Introduction to President Johnson--In + Business in New Orleans--Political Unfriendliness--Cause of + Criticism of Military Career--Appointed Surveyor of Customs-- + The Old Nurse 632 + + + APPENDIX. + + Letters of General Robert E. Lee and General Longstreet 639 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + + General James Longstreet (1895) _Frontispiece._ + + Colonel John B. Richardson 37 + + Colonel T. J. Goree 47 + + General J. E. B. Stuart 60 + + General R. E. Lee 112 + + General Thomas J. Jackson 166 + + Battle at Thoroughfare Gap 174 + + Defeat of the Federal Troops by Longstreet's Corps (Second + Manassas) 188 + + General Lafayette McLaws 231 + + Colonel John W. Fairfax 250 + + The Battle of Antietam (Burnside's Bridge) 263 + + General James Longstreet (1862) 290 + + The Battle of Fredericksburg (from the Battery on Lee's Hill) 308 + + Colonel Osmun Latrobe 316 + + Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Lyon Fremantle 343 + + The Confederate Scout Harrison 346 + + Gettysburg (Second Day's Battle) 374 + + General E. P. Alexander 388 + + General George E. Pickett 392 + + William Blake 408 + + Retreat from Gettysburg (Accident during the Night-Crossing of the + Potomac on a Pontoon Bridge) 430 + + Colonel R. J. Moses 451 + + Battle of Chickamauga (Confederates flanking the Union Forces) 454 + + The Assault on Fort Sanders, Knoxville 506 + + General G. M. Sorrel 518 + + The Wounding of General Longstreet (Battle of the Wilderness) 564 + + Colonel Erasmus Taylor 572 + + General Charles W. Field 577 + + The Last Line of Battle (Appomattox) 624 + + Fac-simile of Letter from General R. E. Lee 638 + + + + +LIST OF MAPS. + + + PAGE + + First Battle of Bull Run 42 + + Battle of Seven Pines 96 + + Battle of Mechanicsville 124 + + Battle of Malvern Hill 142 + + Second Battle of Bull Run (Opening) 186 + + Second Battle of Bull Run (Nightfall) 196 + + Battle of Sharpsburg 246 + + Battle of Fredericksburg 298 + + Strategic Map of the Theatre of War, May, 1863 328 + + Battle of Gettysburg 362 + + Position of Confederate First Corps, Gettysburg, Third Day 399 + + Battle of Chickamauga 446 + + Confederates around Chattanooga 462 + + Siege of Knoxville 498 + + Battle of the Wilderness 556 + + Battle of Five Forks 601 + + + + +FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ANTE-BELLUM LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. + + Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the United + States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes--Assignment as + Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garrison at Jefferson + Barracks--Lieutenant Grant's Courtship--Annexation of Texas--Army of + Observation--Army of Occupation--Camp Life in Texas--March to the Rio + Grande--Mexican War. + + +I was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, on the 8th of January, +1821. On the paternal side the family was from New Jersey; on my mother's +side, from Maryland. My earliest recollections were of the Georgia side of +Savannah River, and my school-days were passed there, but the appointment +to West Point Academy was from North Alabama. My father, James Longstreet, +the oldest child of William Longstreet and Hannah Fitzrandolph, was born +in New Jersey. Other children of the marriage, Rebecca, Gilbert, Augustus +B., and William, were born in Augusta, Georgia, the adopted home. Richard +Longstreet, who came to America in 1657 and settled in Monmouth County, +New Jersey, was the progenitor of the name on this continent. It is +difficult to determine whether the name sprang from France, Germany, or +Holland. On the maternal side, Grandfather Marshall Dent was first cousin +of John Marshall, of the Supreme Court. That branch claimed to trace their +line back to the Conqueror. Marshall Dent married a Magruder, when they +migrated to Augusta, Georgia. Father married the eldest daughter, Mary +Ann. + +Grandfather William Longstreet first applied steam as a motive power, in +1787, to a small boat on the Savannah River at Augusta, and spent all of +his private means upon that idea, asked aid of his friends in Augusta and +elsewhere, had no encouragement, but, on the contrary, ridicule of his +proposition to move a boat without a pulling or other external power, and +especially did they ridicule the thought of expensive steam-boilers to be +made of iron. To obviate costly outlay for this item, he built boilers of +heavy oak timbers and strong iron bands, but the Augusta marines were +incredulous, as the following from the city papers of the times will +indicate: + + "Can you row the boat ashore, + Billy boy, Billy boy; + Can you row the boat ashore, + Gentle Billy? + Can you row the boat ashore, + Without paddle or an oar, + Billy boy?" + +Full of confidence, the inventor thought to appeal to the governor, and +his letter is still preserved in the State archives: + + "AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, September 26, 1790. + + "SIR,--I make no doubt but you have often heard of my steamboat, and + as often heard it laughed at, but in this I have only shared the fate + of other projectors, for it has uniformly been the custom of every + country to ridicule the greatest inventions until they had proved + their utility. In not reducing my scheme to active use it has been + unfortunate for me, I confess, and perhaps the people in general; but, + until very lately, I did not think that artists or material could be + had in the place sufficient. However, necessity, that grand mother of + invention, has furnished me with an idea of perfecting my plan almost + entirely of wooden material, and by such workmen as may be had here; + and, from a thorough confidence of its success, I have presumed to ask + your assistance and patronage. Should it succeed agreeably to my + expectations, I hope I shall discover that sense of duty which such + favors always merit; and should it not succeed, your reward must lay + with other unlucky adventures. + + "For me to mention all of the advantages arising from such a machine + would be tedious, and, indeed, quite unnecessary. Therefore I have + taken the liberty to state, in this plain and humble manner, my wish + and opinion, which I hope you will excuse, and I shall remain, either + with or without your approbation, + + "Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant, + + "WM. LONGSTREET. + + "GOVERNOR TELFAIR." + +He failed to secure the necessary aid, and the discovery passed into the +possession of certain New Yorkers, who found the means for practicable +application, and now steam is the goddess that enlightens the world. + +My father was a planter. From my early boyhood he conceived that he would +send me to West Point for army service, but in my twelfth year he passed +away during the cholera epidemic at Augusta. Mother moved to North Alabama +with her children, whence in my sixteenth year I made application through +a kinsman, Congressman Reuben Chapman, for appointment as cadet, received +the coveted favor, and entered with the class that was admitted in 1838. + +As cadet I had more interest in the school of the soldier, horsemanship, +sword exercise, and the outside game of foot-ball than in the academic +courses. The studies were successfully passed, however, until the third +year, when I failed in mechanics. When I came to the problem of the +pulleys, it seemed to my mind that a soldier could not find use for such +appliances, and the pulleys were passed by. At the January examination I +was called to the blackboard and given the problem of the pulleys. The +drawing from memory of recitation of classmates was good enough, but the +demonstration failed to satisfy the sages of the Academic Board. It was +the custom, however, to give those who failed in the general examination +a second hearing, after all of the classes were examined. This gave me two +days to "cram" mechanics, and particularly on pulleys. But the professors +were too wily to introduce them a second time, and took me through a +searching examination of the six months' course. The bridge was safely +passed, however, and mechanics left behind. At the June examination, the +end of the academic year, I was called to demonstrate the pulleys. The +professor thought that I had forgotten my old friend the enemy, but I +smiled, for he had become dear to me,--in waking hours and in dreams,--and +the cadet passed easily enough for a maximum mark. + +The cadets had their small joys and sometimes little troubles. On one +occasion a cadet officer reported me for disobedience of orders. As the +report was not true, I denied it and sent up witnesses of the occasion. +Dick Garnett, who fell in the assault of the 3d, at Gettysburg, was one +witness, and Cadet Baker, so handsome and lovable that he was called +Betsy, was the other. Upon overlooking the records I found the report +still there, and went to ask the superintendent if other evidence was +necessary to show that the report was not true. He was satisfied of that, +but said that the officer complained that I smiled contemptuously. As that +could only be rated as a single demerit, I asked the benefit of the smile; +but the report stands to this day, Disobedience of orders and _three_ +demerits. The cadet had his revenge, however, for the superintendent was +afterwards known as _The Punster_. + +There were sixty-two graduating members of the class of 1842, my number +being sixty. I was assigned to the Fourth United States Infantry as brevet +lieutenant, and found my company with seven others of the regiment at +Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in the autumn of 1842. + +Of the class graduating the year that we entered were G. T. Beauregard and +Irvin McDowell, who, twenty-three years later, commanded the hostile +armies on the plains of Manassas, in Virginia. Braxton Bragg and W. J. +Hardee were of the same class. + +The head man of the next class (1839) was I. I. Stevens, who resigned from +the army, and, after being the first governor of Washington Territory, +returned to military service, and fell on the sanguinary field of +Chantilly on the 1st of September, 1862. Next on the class roll was Henry +Wager Halleck, who was commander-in-chief of the United States armies from +July, 1862, to March, 1864. W. T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, of the +Union army, and R. S. Ewell, of the Confederate army, were of the same +class (1840). The class of 1841 had the largest list of officers killed in +action. Irons, Ayers, Ernst, Gantt, Morris, and Burbank were killed in the +Mexican War. N. Lyon, R. S. Garnett, J. F. Reynolds, R. B. Garnett, A. W. +Whipple, J. M. Jones, I. B. Richardson, and J. P. Garesche fell on the +fields of the late war. + +Of the class of 1842 few were killed in action, but several rose to +distinguished positions,--Newton, Eustis, Rosecrans, Lovell, Van Dorn, +Pope, Sykes, G. W. Smith, M. L. Smith, R. H. Anderson, L. McLaws, D. H. +Hill, A. P. Stewart, B. S. Alexander, N. J. T. Dana, and others. + +But the class next after us (1843) was destined to furnish the man who was +to eclipse all,--to rise to the rank of general, an office made by +Congress to honor his services; who became President of the United States, +and for a second term; who received the salutations of all the powers of +the world in his travels as a private citizen around the earth; of noble, +generous heart, a lovable character, a valued friend,--Ulysses S. Grant. + +I was fortunate in the assignment to Jefferson Barracks, for in those days +the young officers were usually sent off among the Indians or as near the +borders as they could find habitable places. In the autumn of 1842 I +reported to the company commander, Captain Bradford R. Alden, a most +exemplary man, who proved a lasting, valued friend. Eight companies of the +Third Infantry were added to the garrison during the spring of 1843, which +made garrison life and society gay for the young people and interesting +for the older classes. All of the troops were recently from service in the +swamps and Everglades of Florida, well prepared to enjoy the change from +the war-dance of the braves to the hospitable city of St. Louis; and the +graceful step of its charming belles became a joy forever. + +Of the class of 1843, Ulysses S. Grant joined the Fourth Regiment as +brevet lieutenant, and I had the pleasure to ride with him on our first +visit to Mr. Frederick Dent's home, a few miles from the garrison, where +we first met Miss Julia Dent, the charming woman who, five years later, +became Mrs. Grant. Miss Dent was a frequent visitor at the garrison balls +and hops, where Lieutenant Hoskins, who was something of a tease, would +inquire of her if she could tell where he might find "the small lieutenant +with the large epaulettes." + +In May, 1844, all of our pleasures were broken by orders sending both +regiments to Louisiana, near Fort Jessup, where with other troops we were +organized as "The Army of Observation," under General Zachary Taylor. + +In March, 1845, I was assigned as lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment, and +joined my company at St. Augustine, Florida. The soldier's life of those +days was not encouraging to those of active aspirations; but influences +were then at work that were beginning to brighten the horizon a little. +The new republic of Texas was seeking annexation with the United States, +which would endanger the peace between them and the republic of Mexico. +Annexation of Texas became the supreme question of the canvass of 1844. +James K. Polk was the nominee of the Democratic and annexation party, and +Henry Clay was on the other side as the Whig nominee. Polk was elected, +and his party prepared to signalize its triumph by annexation as soon as +it came into power; but in the last days of President Tyler's +administration, through skilful management of Secretary of State John C. +Calhoun, joint resolutions of annexation were passed by both houses of +Congress, subject to concurrence of the Congress of the new republic. +Strange as it may seem, the resolutions that added to the territory of the +United States more than the New England and Middle States combined, and +which eventually led to extension to the Pacific coast and hundreds of +miles north, only passed the lower house by twenty-two majority, and the +Senate by a majority of two. + +When the resolution was passed, the minister from Mexico to our +government, General Almonte, demanded his passports, and diplomatic +relations between the governments ceased. On July 4, 1845, the Texas +Congress accepted and ratified the resolutions of annexation by unanimous +vote, and Texas was a State of the Union. + +General Taylor's little army of observation was ordered to Corpus Christi, +Texas, and became "The Army of Occupation." All other available forces +were ordered to join him, including General Worth and his forces in +Florida. At the time there were in the line of the army eight regiments of +infantry, four of artillery, and two of dragoons, stationed along the +northern frontier from Fort Kent in the northeast of Maine to the west end +of Lake Superior, and along the western frontier from Fort Snelling to +Fort Leavenworth, and southward to Fort Jessup in Louisiana. + +By the middle of October, 1846, three thousand eight hundred and sixty men +of all arms had concentrated at Corpus Christi. Seven companies of the +Second Dragoons had marched from Fort Jessup to San Patricio on the Nueces +River, about twenty-eight miles up from Corpus Christi; the other three +companies were halted at San Antonio, Texas. Near our camps were extensive +plains well adapted to military manoeuvres, which were put to prompt use +for drill and professional instruction. There were many advantages too in +the way of amusement, game on the wild prairies and fish in the broad gulf +were plentiful, and there was the salt water for bathing. On one occasion +during the winter a violent north wind forced the waters over the beach, +in some places far enough to disturb our camps, and when they receded, +quantities of fish were found in the little puddles left behind, and +turtles more than enough to supply the army. + +The officers built a theatre, depending upon their own efforts to +reimburse them. As there was no one outside the army except two rancheros +within a hundred miles, our dramatic company was organized from among the +officers, who took both male and female characters. In farce and comedy we +did well enough, and soon collected funds to pay for the building and +incidental expenses. The house was filled every night. General Worth +always encouraging us, General Taylor sometimes, and General Twiggs +occasionally, we found ourselves in funds sufficient to send over to New +Orleans for costumes, and concluded to try tragedy. The "Moor of Venice" +was chosen, Lieutenant Theoderic Porter[1] to be the Moor, and Lieutenant +U. S. Grant to be the daughter of Brabantio. But after rehearsal Porter +protested that male heroines could not support the character nor give +sentiment to the hero, so we sent over to New Orleans and secured Mrs. +Hart, who was popular with the garrisons in Florida. Then all went well, +and life through the winter was gay. + +Formal diplomatic relations between the republics were suspended, but +quasi negotiations were continued, seeking a course by which war might be +averted. The authorities of Mexico were not averse to the settlement +according to the claims of Texas,--the Rio Grande frontier,--but the +political affairs of the country were such that they could not agree. +Excitement in the United States increased as the suspense continued. But +the authorities, having confidence in their negotiations or wishing to +precipitate matters, ordered General Taylor to march across to the Rio +Grande at Matamoras in the spring of 1846. The execution of the order +precipitated war. + +The move from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande made necessary a change of +base from St. Joseph's Island to Point Isabel and Brazos Santiago, near +the mouth of the Rio Grande. Supplies were sent by sea, under charge of +Major Munroe, with a siege train and field battery, and the army took up +its march on the 9th of March, 1846, the advance under General Twiggs, +consisting of the dragoons and Ringgold's field battery. The army was well +instructed, under good discipline, and fully prepared for field work, the +weather was fine, and the firm turf of the undulating prairies made the +march easy. Wild horses and cattle, and deer and antelope, were often seen +in the distance as they scampered away to hide themselves. On the 19th the +head of the column approached Arroyo Colorado, one hundred and thirty +miles from Corpus Christi. The arroyo was about three feet deep, of salt +water. Mexican lancers were on the southern side, and gave notice that +they had orders to resist our further advance. On the 21st the army was up +and deployed along the high banks of the arroyo, the field batteries in +position. General Worth was ordered to make the crossing, and rode at the +head of the column. We looked with confidence for a fight and the flow of +blood down the salt water before we could cross, but the Mexicans had no +artillery, and could not expose their cavalry to the fire of our +batteries; they made their formal protest, however, that the crossing +would be regarded as a declaration of war. + +On the 24th of March the column reached the road leading from Point Isabel +to Matamoras. General Taylor ordered Worth to march the greater part of +the army towards Matamoras and halt at the first good camping-ground, and +rode towards Point Isabel to meet the detachment ordered there under Major +Munroe. He found them already landed, and the Mexicans fired their little +hamlets and fled. After ordering construction of protection for his +supplies and defensive works for the troops, General Taylor returned to +the army, and rode with General Worth towards the Rio Grande. As the army +approached the river the Mexicans on the Matamoras side made some display +of forces, manned their works on that side, and prepared to resist us, +under the impression that we would cross at once. General Worth was sent +over, and was met by General La Vega, on the part of General Mejia, +commanding on that side. He was told that Mexico had not declared war, +that the American consul was in the exercise of his functions; but Worth's +request to see the consul was refused, which was denounced as a +belligerent act, and he cautioned General La Vega against passing Mexicans +to the north side of the river. + +Camps were pitched in range of the Mexican works about Matamoras, grounds +staked for constructing defensive works, and large details put out to work +on them. The Mexican forces at this time were three thousand, and they +were soon joined by two thousand more. + +Political affairs with them were confused. President Herrera was thought +to favor the claims of Texas to the Rio Grande border. General Paredes +made pronunciamento, overthrew the president's government, and had +authority as war president. He sent General Ampudia to the frontier to +take charge, but the appointment was not satisfactory on the border, and +General Arista was assigned. There was discord over there between the +authorities and the generals, while General Taylor was too far from his +government to be bothered. His army was all that he could wish, except in +numbers. + +Marauding parties came over occasionally and made trouble about the +ranches on the American side. One party killed Colonel Cross, our chief +quartermaster, on the 10th of April. Scouting parties were sent out to +look for the intruders. Lieutenant Theoderic Porter, in command of one +party, and one of his men were caught in ambush and killed. Captain +Walker, of the Texan Rangers, while out on a scout lost his camp guard of +five men, surprised and killed, and later Captains Thornton and Hardee, of +the dragoons, were met at Rancho Carricitos by a large cavalry force and +some infantry under General Torrijon, who took captive or killed the +entire party. Captains Thornton and Hardee and Lieutenant Kane were made +prisoners. The other commissioned officer of the command, George T. Mason, +of my class, refused to surrender; being a superior swordsman, he tried to +cut his way out, and was killed. This affair was taken as open war, and +General Taylor called on the governors of Texas and Louisiana--under his +authority from Washington--for volunteers of infantry and cavalry. + +The capture of Thornton and Hardee created great excitement with the +people at home. Fanning's massacre and the Alamo at San Antonio were +remembered, and it was reported of General Ampudia, who on a recent +occasion had captured a general in Yucatan, that he boiled his head in +oil. So it was thought he would give no quarter; but in a day or two we +heard from the officers that they received great kindness from their +captors, and that General Ampudia had ordered that his government should +allow them their full pay and every liberty consistent with their +safe-keeping. They declined, however, to accept pay, and were held as the +guests of Generals Arista and Ampudia. + +On the 1st of May our tents were struck, wagons parked, assembly sounded, +and the troops were under arms at three A.M., marched at four o'clock, and +bivouacked within ten miles of Point Isabel. No one was advised of the +cause of movements, but all knew that our general understood his business. +He had been informed that General Arista, with his movable forces, had +marched to Rancho de Longoreno, some leagues below us on the river, +intending to cross and cut us off from the base at Point Isabel. Major +Jacob Brown was left in charge of the works opposite Matamoras with the +Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Captain Sands's company of artillery, and +Bragg's field battery. + +By some accident provision was not made complete for Arista to make prompt +crossing of the river, and that gave General Taylor time to reach his +base, reinforce it, and draw sufficient supplies. Advised of our move by +General Mejia, at Matamoras, General Arista was thrown into doubt as to +whether our move was intended for Matamoras, and sent back part of his +forces for its defence. Finding, however, that Taylor had gone to Point +Isabel, Arista crossed the river and put his line athwart our return march +at Palo Alto. To hasten Taylor's return, he ordered General Mejia, at +Matamoras, to open his batteries on our troops at Fort Brown, and make +serious demonstrations against them. + +General Taylor started on his return on the 7th of May. We had heard the +artillery-fire upon comrades left at the forts, and were anxiously looking +for the order. It was received with cheers, and a good march was made, but +the night was awful. The mosquitoes seemed as thick as the blades of grass +on the prairie, and swarmed and buzzed in clouds, and packs of +half-famished wolves prowled and howled about us. There was no need for +the sound of reveille. The wolves and mosquitoes, and perhaps some solemn +thoughts, kept us on the _qui vive_. Arista's army was known to be in line +of battle only a few miles off. About one o'clock we halted to fill the +canteens, and marched to meet the enemy. The columns were +deployed,--Fifth Infantry on the right, Ringgold's battery, Third +Infantry, a two-gun battery of eighteen-pounders, the Fourth Infantry, +battalion of artillery acting as infantry, Duncan's field battery and +Eighth Infantry, Captains Charles May and Croghan Ker, with squadrons of +dragoons, looking to the trains; the Third and Fourth Infantry, the Third +Brigade, under Colonel John Garland. That brigade, with the Fifth +Regiment, the heavy guns, and Ringgold's, were of the right wing, General +Twiggs commanding. Other forces of the left were under Colonel William G. +Belknap, Eighth Infantry, and Duncan's Battery. + +As the lines deployed, Lieutenant J. E. Blake, of the Topographical +Engineers, dashed forward alone, made a close inspection of the enemy's +line with such lightning speed that his work was accomplished before the +enemy could comprehend his purpose, rode back and reported to the +commanding general. He was one of the heroes of the day, but his laurels +were enjoyed only a few hours. As he took his pistol off at night he threw +it upon the ground, and an accidental explosion of one of the charges gave +him a mortal wound. + +The line advanced until the puff of smoke from one of the enemy's guns +rose, and the ball bounded over the prairie, passed over our heads, and +wounded a teamster far in our rear. Our infantry was ordered down and our +artillery into practice. It was an artillery combat more than a battle, +and held until night. The Mexican cavalry made a charge against the Fifth +Regiment, and finding our front of square too strong repeated on another +front, but were repulsed. Presently the grass took fire, and the winds so +far favored us as to sweep the smoke in the enemy's faces, and when it +passed we found the Mexican line had been drawn back a little. May's +squadron was sent there, and General Taylor advanced the right of his +line, but night closed in before decisive work could be done. The armies +were near enough during the night to hear the moans of the wounded. Major +Ringgold was mortally wounded, also Captain John Page, of the Fourth +Infantry, but less than fifty of our troops were lost. + +Early the next morning a few of the Mexican troops could be seen, but when +the sun rose to light the field it was found vacant. A careful +reconnoissance revealed that the enemy was in retreat, and the dragoons +reported them in march towards our comrades at Fort Brown. + +General Taylor remained on the field a few hours to have the killed and +wounded of both sides cared for, but sent the dragoons, light infantry, +and Ringgold's battery in pursuit, the latter under Lieutenant Randolph +Ridgely. The light infantry was of two battalions, under Captain George A. +McCall and Captain C. F. Smith. The route of march was through a dense +chaparral on both sides of the road, the infantry finding their way as +best they could through the chaparral, the dragoons and Texas Rangers +moving on the road, and far off from our flanks, wherever they could find +ways of passage. The company to which I was attached was of Smith's +battalion, on the right of the road. After a considerable march the +battalion came to the body of a young Mexican woman. She had ceased to +breathe, but blood heat was still in her body, and her expression +life-like. A profusion of black hair covered her shoulders and person, the +only covering to her waist. This sad spectacle, so unlike our thoughts of +battle, unnerved us a little, but the crush through the thorny bushes soon +brought us back to thoughts of heavy work, and then came reports of +several guns and of grapeshot flying over our heads and tearing through +the wood. A reconnoissance found General Arista's army on the south bank +of a stream, Resaca de la Palma, which at this season had dried into +lagoons with intervening passes. The road crossed at a wide gap between +two extensive lagoons. The most of the enemy's artillery was near the +road, the infantry behind the lagoons, with improvised breast defences of +pack-saddles and other articles that could be found to stop musket-balls. +The lagoons were about a hundred feet wide and from two to three feet +deep. + +The position was so strong that General Arista thought it would not be +attacked. He left General La Vega in command at the road, and made his +head-quarters some distance in rear, holding his cavalry in hand to look +for any flank move, unpacked his mule-train, and turned the animals out to +graze. General Taylor received reports of our adventures and +reconnoissance when he rode up, deployed his army for battle, and ordered +it forward. In the dense chaparral it was not possible to hold the +regiments to their lines, and in places the companies were obliged to +break files to get along. All of the enemy's artillery opened, and soon +his musketry. The lines closed in to short work, even to bayonet work at +places. Lieutenant-Colonel McIntosh had a bayonet thrust through his mouth +and neck.[2] Lieutenant R. M. Cochran, Fourth Regiment, and T. L. +Chadbourne, of the Eighth, were killed; C. R. Gates and C. D. Jordan, of +the Eighth, were severely wounded. The latter, a classmate, was +overpowered and about to be slaughtered when rescued by Lieutenant George +Lincoln, of the Eighth, who slew with his sword one of the assailants. + +Finding the enemy's strong fight, in defence, by his artillery, General +Taylor ordered Captain May to charge and capture the principal battery. +The squadron was of his own and S. P. Graham's troops. The road was only +wide enough to form the dragoons in column of fours. When in the act of +springing to their work, Ridgely called, "Hold on, Charlie, till I draw +their fire," and loosed his six guns upon the battery at the road. + +The return was prompt, but General Taylor, not noting the cause of delay, +repeated the order. Ridgely's work, however, was done, and May's spurs +pressing his horses had them on the leap before the order reached his +ears. In a minute he was at the guns sabring the gunners, and wheeling +right and left got possession of the batteries. General La Vega was found +at one of his batteries trying to defend it with his sword against one of +May's dragoons, but was forced to get in between the wheels of his guns to +avoid the horse's heels as they pressed him, when his rank was recognized +and he was called to surrender. + +As May made his dash the infantry on our right was wading the lagoon. A +pause was made to dip our cups for water, which gave a moment for other +thoughts; mine went back to her whom I had left behind. I drew her +daguerreotype from my breast-pocket, had a glint of her charming smile, +and with quickened spirit mounted the bank in time to send some of the +mixed infantry troops to relieve May of his charge of the captive knight. + +As a dragoon and soldier May was splendid. He stood six feet four without +boots, wore his beard full and flowing, his dark-brown locks falling well +over his shoulders. His appearance as he sat on his black horse Tom, his +heavy sabre over General La Vega, was grand and picturesque. He was +amiable of disposition, lovable and genial in character. + +Not so grand of stature, or beard, or flowing locks, Randolph Ridgely was +as accomplished a soldier and as charming a companion,--a fitting +counterpart in spirit and dash. + +I have gone thus far into the Mexican War for the opportunity to mention +two valued friends, whose memory returning refreshes itself. Many gallant, +courageous deeds have since been witnessed, but none more interesting than +Ridgely's call for the privilege to draw upon himself the fire that was +waiting for May. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +FROM NEW MEXICO TO MANASSAS. + + The War-Cloud--The Journey Northward--Appointed + Brigadier-General--Report to General Beauregard--Assigned to Command + at the Scene of the First Conflict--Personnel of the Confronting + Forces--Description of the Field of Manassas, or Bull Run--Beauregard + and McDowell of the same West Point Class--Battle of Blackburn's + Ford--Early's Mistake--Under Fire of Friend and Foe. + + +I was stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico, as paymaster in the United +States army when the war-cloud appeared in the East. Officers of the +Northern and Southern States were anxious to see the portending storm pass +by or disperse, and on many occasions we, too, were assured, by those who +claimed to look into the future, that the statesman would yet show himself +equal to the occasion, and restore confidence among the people. Our mails +were due semi-monthly, but during winter seasons we were glad to have them +once a month, and occasionally had to be content with once in six weeks. +When mail-day came the officers usually assembled on the flat roof of the +quartermaster's office to look for the dust that in that arid climate +announced the coming mail-wagon when five or ten miles away; but affairs +continued to grow gloomy, and eventually came information of the attack +upon and capture of Fort Sumter by the Confederate forces, which put down +speculation and drew the long-dreaded line. + +A number of officers of the post called to persuade me to remain in the +Union service. Captain Gibbs, of the Mounted Rifles, was the principal +talker, and after a long but pleasant discussion, I asked him what course +he would pursue if his State should pass ordinances of secession and call +him to its defence. He confessed that he would obey the call. + +It was a sad day when we took leave of lifetime comrades and gave up a +service of twenty years. Neither Union officers nor their families made +efforts to conceal feelings of deepest regret. When we drove out from the +post, a number of officers rode with us, which only made the last farewell +more trying. + +Passing Fort Craig, on the opposite side of the Rio Grande, we pitched our +camp for the night. A sergeant of the Mounted Rifle Regiment came over to +see me, and stated that he was from Virginia, and thought that he could go +with us to his native State, and at the same time asked that several other +soldiers who wished to return to their States might go as my escort. I +explained that private soldiers could not go without authority from the +War Department; that it was different with commissioned officers, in that +the latter could resign their commissions, and when the resignations were +accepted they were independent of military authority, and could, as other +citizens, take such action as they might choose, but that he and his +comrades had enlisted for a specified term of years, and by their oaths +were bound to the term of enlistment; that I could not entertain the +proposition. + +We stayed overnight at Fort Fillmore, in pleasant meeting with old +comrades, saddened by the reflection that it was the last, and a prelude +to occurrences that must compel the ignoring of former friendships with +the acceptance of opposing service. + +Speaking of the impending struggle, I was asked as to the length of the +war, and said, "At least three years, and if it holds for five you may +begin to look for a dictator," at which Lieutenant Ryan, of the Seventh +Infantry, said, "If we are to have a dictator, I hope that you may be the +man." + +My mind was relieved by information that my resignation was accepted, to +take effect on the 1st of June. In our travel next day we crossed the line +into the State of Texas. From the gloomy forebodings of old friends, it +seemed at El Paso that we had entered into a different world. All was +enthusiasm and excitement, and songs of "Dixie and the South" were borne +upon the balmy air. But the Texas girl did not ascend to a state of +incandescent charm until the sound of the first notes of "The Bonny Blue +Flag" reached her ear. Then her feet rose in gleeful springs, her limbs +danced, her hands patted, her eyes glowed, her lips moved, though she did +not care to speak, or listen to any one. She seemed lifted in the air, +thrilled and afloat, holding to the "Single Star" in joyful hope of +Southern rights. + +Friends at El Paso persuaded me to leave my family with them to go by a +train that was to start in a few days for San Antonio, and to take the +faster route by stage for myself. + +Our travelling companions were two young men, returning to their Northern +homes. The ride of our party of four (including the driver) through the +Indian country was attended with some risk, and required vigilance, to be +assured against surprise. The constant watchfulness and possible danger +over a five-hundred-miles travel drew us near together, and in closer +communion as to our identity and future movements, and suggested to the +young men that it would be best to put themselves under my care, trusting +that I would see them safely through the Confederate lines. They were of +the laboring class, and had gone South to find employment. They were +advised to be careful, and talk but little when among strangers. Nothing +occurred to cause apprehension until we reached Richmond, Texas, where, at +supper, I asked for a glass of milk, and was told there was none. + +"What!" said one of my companions, "haven't the keows come up?" + +Signal was telegraphed under the table to be on guard. The _nom de plume_ +of the Texas bovine escaped attention, and it passed as an enjoyable +_lapsus linguae_. + +At Galveston we took a small inland sailing-craft, but were a little +apprehensive, as United States ships were reported cruising outside in +search of all vessels not flying the Stars and Stripes. Our vessel, +however, was only boarded once, and that by a large Spanish mackerel that +made a misleap, fell amidships, and served our little company with a +pleasant dinner. Aboard this little vessel I first met T. J. Goree, an +intelligent, clever Texan, who afterwards joined me at Richmond, and +served in faithful duty as my aide-de-camp from Bull Run to Appomattox +Court-House. + +At New Orleans, my companions found safe-conduct to their Northern lines, +and I journeyed on to Richmond. Relatives along the route, who heard of my +approach, met me at the stations, though none suggested a stop overnight, +or for the next train, but after affectionate salutations waved me on to +join "Jeff Davis, for Dixie and for Southern rights." + +At every station old men, women, and children assembled, clapping hands +and waving handkerchiefs to cheer the passengers on to Richmond. On +crossing the Virginia line, the feeling seemed to culminate. The windows +and doors of every farm-house and hamlet were occupied, and from them came +hearty salutations that cheered us on to Richmond. The spirit electrified +the air, and the laborers of the fields, white and black, stopped their +ploughs to lift their hats and wave us on to speedy travel. At stations +where meals were served, the proprietors, in response to offers to settle, +said, "Meals for those going on to join Jeff Davis are paid." + +On the 29th of June, 1861, I reported at the War Department at Richmond, +and asked to be assigned for service in the pay department, in which I had +recently served (for when I left the line service, under appointment as +paymaster, I had given up all aspirations of military honor, and thought +to settle down into more peaceful pursuits). On the 1st of July I +received notice of my appointment as brigadier-general, with orders to +report at Manassas Junction, to General Beauregard. + +I reported on the 2d, and was assigned to command of the First, Eleventh, +and Seventeenth Regiments of Virginia Volunteers, to be organized as a +brigade. The regiments were commanded respectively by Colonels ---- Moore, +Samuel Garland, and M. D. Corse, all active, energetic, and intelligent +officers, anxious to acquire skill in the new service in which they found +themselves. Lieutenant Frank Armstead was assigned to duty at brigade +head-quarters, as acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Peyton +T. Manning as aide-de-camp. Dr. J. S. D. Cullen, surgeon of the First +Virginia Regiment, became medical director. The regiments were stationed +at Manassas Junction. + +On the 6th they were marched out, formed as a brigade, and put through the +first lessons in evolutions of the line, and from that day to McDowell's +advance had other opportunities to learn more of the drill and of each +other. General Beauregard had previously settled upon the stream of Bull +Run as his defensive-aggressive line, and assigned his forces accordingly. +A brigade under Brigadier-General R. S. Ewell was posted at Union Mills +Ford, on the right of the Confederate lines; one under Brigadier-General +D. R. Jones at McLean's Ford; Brigadier-General Bonham's brigade was +placed on outpost duty at Fairfax Court-House with orders to retire, at +the enemy's approach, to Mitchell's Ford, and Brigadier-General P. St. +George Cocke was to hold the fords between Mitchell's and the Stone +Bridge, the latter point to be defended by a regiment and a battalion of +infantry, and a battery, under Brigadier-General N. G. Evans. + +Between Mitchell's and McLean's Fords, and about half a mile from each, is +Blackburn's Ford. The guard at that point was assigned to my command,--the +Fourth Brigade,--which was ordered to be ready, at a moment's warning, to +march to position, and prepare for battle. In the mean time I was to study +the ground and familiarize myself with the surroundings and avenues of +approach and retreat. Bull Run rises from the foot-hills of the Blue Ridge +and flows southeast through deeps and shallows into the Potomac, about +forty miles south of Alexandria. The swell of the tide-waters up to Union +Mills gives it the depth and volume of water of a river. Blackburn's Ford +is in a great bend of the river, the north bank holding the concave of the +turn. On the convex side was a strip of alluvial soil about seventy feet +wide, covered by large forest-trees and some tangled undergrowth. Outside +and extending some three hundred yards from the edge of the woodland was +an arable field upon a pretty ascending plain, beyond which was a second +growth of pine and oak. On the north bank stood a bluff of fifteen feet, +overhanging the south side and ascending towards the heights of +Centreville. Below Blackburn's Ford the bluff extended, in more or less +ragged features, far down to the southeast. Just above my position the +bluff graded down in even decline to Mitchell's Ford, the position +assigned for Bonham's brigade, the latter being on the concave of the +river, six hundred yards retired from my left and at the crossing of the +direct road between Centreville and Manassas Junction. At the Junction +well-constructed battery epaulements were prepared for defence. + +The bluff of the north bank was first designated as my most suitable +ground, and I was ordered to open the front, lay out and construct +trenches, to be concealed by green pine-boughs. The regiments were from +Richmond, Lynchburg, and Alexandria,--more familiar with the amenities of +city life than with the axe, pick, spade, or shovel. They managed, +however, to bring down as many as half a dozen spreading second-growth +pines in the course of two days' work, when General Beauregard concluded +that the advanced position of the brigade would mar his general plan, and +ordered the line to be taken along the river bank of the south side, under +the woodland, and close under the bluff, a position only approvable as +temporary under accepted rules of warfare, but this proved a favorable +exception between the raw forces of the contending armies. In addition to +the two brigades on my right, the Sixth Brigade, under Colonel Jubal A. +Early, was posted (with artillery) near the fords. As proximate but +separate commands, stood General Theo. Holmes, thirty miles off to the +right, with a brigade, a battery, and cavalry, at and about Acquia Creek, +and General J. E. Johnston, sixty miles away, over the Blue Ridge +Mountains. Holmes's should have been an outpost, but he had ranked +Beauregard in the old service, and as a point of etiquette was given a +separate command. Johnston's command should have been an outlying +contingent, but he had been assigned to the Shenandoah Valley when, +because threatened with immediate invasion, it was of first importance. +Beauregard was subsequently assigned to Manassas Junction, which, under +later developments, became the strategic point. As Johnston was his +senior, another delicate question arose, that was not solved until the +tramp of McDowell's army was heard on the Warrenton Turnpike. + +The armies preparing for the first grand conflict were commanded by West +Point graduates, both of the class of 1838,--Beauregard and McDowell. The +latter had been assigned to command of the Federal forces at Washington, +south of the Potomac, in the latter part of May, 1861. The former had +assumed command of the Confederates at Manassas Junction about the 1st of +June. + +McDowell marched on the afternoon of the 16th of July at the head of an +army of five divisions of infantry, supplemented by nine field batteries +of the regular service, one of volunteers, besides two guns operating +separately, and seven companies of regular cavalry. In his infantry +columns were eight companies of regulars and a battalion of marines, an +aggregate of thirty-five thousand men. + +Beauregard stood behind Bull Run with seven brigades, including Holmes, +who joined on the 19th, twenty-nine guns, fourteen hundred cavalry,--an +aggregate of twenty-one thousand nine hundred men, all volunteers. To this +should be added, for the battle of the 21st, reinforcements aggregating +eight thousand five hundred men, under General Johnston, making the sum of +the aggregate, thirty thousand four hundred. + +The line behind Bull Run was the best between Washington and the Rapidan +for strategy, tactics, and army supplies. + +General Beauregard gave minute instructions to his brigade commanders of +his position and general plan, which in itself was admirable. Bonham was +to retire from Fairfax Court-House, as the enemy advanced, and take his +place behind Mitchell's Ford on the Centreville and Manassas Junction +road. It was proposed that he should engage his rear-guard so as to try to +bring on the battle against him, as he approached his crossing of Bull +Run, when the brigades along the Run on his right should cross, wheel to +the left and attack on the enemy's left and rear. + +We had occasional glimpses behind the lines about Washington, through +parties who managed to evade the eyes of guards and sentinels, which told +of McDowell's work since May, and heard on the 10th of July that he was +ready to march. Most of us knew him and of his attainments, as well as of +those of Beauregard, to the credit of the latter, so that on that point we +were quite satisfied. But the backing of an organized government, and an +army led by the foremost American war-chief, that consummate +strategist, tactician, and organizer, General Scott, together with the +splendid equipment of the field batteries, and the presence of the force +of regulars of infantry, gave serious apprehension. + + +[Illustration: John B. Richardson. Captain Washington Artillery of New +Orleans; whose battery fired the first gun at Manassas, July, 1861, and +claims the last gun at Appomattox.] + + +On the 16th of July notice came that the advance of McDowell's army was +under definite orders for the next day. My brigade was at once ordered +into position at Blackburn's Ford, and all others were ordered on the +alert. Cocke's detachments were recalled from the fords between Mitchell's +and Stone Bridge, and Evans was left to hold the bridge. Bonham withdrew +from Fairfax Court-House as McDowell advanced. He retired behind the Run +at Mitchell's Ford, his vedettes following after exchanging shots with the +enemy's advance on the 18th. Early that morning a section of the +Washington Artillery was posted on a rear line behind Blackburn's Ford, +and trailed across towards the left, so as to flank fire against the +direct advance upon Bonham at Mitchell's Ford. + +At eight o'clock A.M. on the 18th, McDowell's army concentrated about +Centreville, his immediate objective being Manassas Junction. From +Centreville the Warrenton Turnpike bears off a little south of west, +crossing Bull Run at Stone Bridge (four miles). The Manassas Junction road +due south crosses at Mitchell's Ford (three miles). Other farm roads +turned to the fords above and below Mitchell's. His orders to General +Tyler, commanding the advance division, were to look well to the roads on +the direct route to Manassas Junction and _via_ the Stone Bridge, to +impress an advance upon the former, but to have care not to bring on a +general engagement. At the same time he rode towards his left to know of +the feasibility of a turning move around the Confederates' right. There +were three moves by which it was supposed he could destroy the +Confederates,--first, by turning their right; second, by direct and +forcible march to the Junction; third, by turning their left. McDowell's +orders to his leading divisions indicated that he had settled down to a +choice as to the two opposite flanking moves; but to justify either he +must first test the feasibility of the direct route. The ride to his left +disclosed rough ground, rocky heights cut by streamlets, and covered by +heavy forest tangle, as formidable to military manoeuvres of raw troops as +armed battlements. According to preconceived plans, this eliminated the +question of the flanking move by the Confederate right. + +Under the instructions, as General Tyler construed them, he followed the +Confederates to the heights of Centreville, overlooking the valley of Bull +Run, with a squadron of cavalry and two companies of infantry. From the +heights to the Run, a mile away, the field was open, and partially +disclosed the Confederate position on his right. On the left the view was +limited by a sparse growth of spreading pines. On the right was Mitchell's +Ford, on the left Blackburn's. To have a better knowledge of the latter, +he called up a brigade of infantry under General Richardson, Ayres's +battery of six field-guns, and two twenty-pound rifle guns under Benjamin. +The artillery was brought into action by the twenty-pound rifle guns, the +first shot aimed at the section of the Washington Artillery six-pounders +in rear of Blackburn's Ford, showing superior marksmanship, the ball +striking close beside the guns, and throwing the dust over the caissons +and gunners. + +It was noticed that the enemy was far beyond our range, his position +commanding, as well as his metal, so I ordered the guns withdrawn to a +place of safety, till a fairer opportunity was offered them. The guns were +limbered and off before a second shot reached them. Artillery practice of +thirty minutes was followed by an advance of infantry. The march was made +quite up to the bluff overlooking the ford, when both sides opened fire. + +The first pouring-down volleys were most startling to the new troops. +Part of my line broke and started at a run. To stop the alarm I rode with +sabre in hand for the leading files, determined to give them all that was +in the sword and my horse's heels, or stop the break. They seemed to see +as much danger in their rear as in front, and soon turned and marched back +to their places, to the evident surprise of the enemy. Heavy firing was +renewed in ten or fifteen minutes, when the Federals retired. After about +twenty minutes a second advance was made to the top of the bluff, when +another rousing fusillade followed, and continued about as long as the +first, with like result. I reinforced the front line with part of my +reserve, and, thinking to follow up my next success, called for one of the +regiments of the reserve brigade. + +Colonel Hays, of the Seventh Louisiana Regiment, was sent, but was not in +time for the next attack. He was in position for the fourth, and did his +share in that fight. After the fourth repulse I ordered the advance, and +called for the balance of the reserve brigade. The Fourth Brigade, in +their drills in evolution, had not progressed as far as the passage of +defiles. The pass at the ford was narrow, unused, and boggy. The lagoons +above and below were deep, so that the crossing was intricate and slow. +Colonel Early came in with his other regiments, formed his line behind my +front, and was asked to hurry his troops to the front line, lest the next +attack should catch him behind us, when his raw men would be sure to fire +on the line in front of them. He failed to comprehend, however, and +delayed till the next attack, when his men promptly returned fire at +anything and everything before them. I thought to stop the fire by riding +in front of his line, but found it necessary to dismount and lie under it +till the loads were discharged. With the Federals on the bluff pouring +down their fire, and Early's tremendous fire in our rear, soldiers and +officers became mixed and a little confused. Part of my men got across the +Run and partially up the bluff of the enemy's side; a body of the Union +soldiers were met at the crest, where shots were exchanged, but passing +the Run, encountering the enemy in front, and receiving fire from our +friends in rear were not reassuring, even in handling veterans. The recall +was ordered as the few of the enemy's most advanced parties joined issue +with Captain Marye of my advance. Federal prisoners were brought in with +marks of burnt powder on their faces, and Captain Marye and some of his +men of the Seventeenth, who brought them in, had their faces and clothing +soiled by like marks. At the first moment of this confusion it seemed that +a vigorous pressure by the enemy would force us back to the farther edge +of the open field, and, to reach that stronger ground, preparations were +considered, but with the aid of Colonels Garland and Corse order was +restored, the Federals were driven off, and the troops better distributed. +This was the last effort on the part of the infantry, and was followed by +the Federal batteries throwing shot and shell through the trees above our +heads. As we were under the bluff, the fire was not annoying, except +occasionally when some of the branches of the trees were torn off and +dropped among us. One shot passed far over, and dropped in the house in +which General Beauregard was about to sit down to his dinner. The +interruption so annoyed him that he sent us four six-pound and three rifle +guns of the Washington Artillery, under Captain Eshleman, to return fire +and avenge the loss of his dinner. The guns had good cover under the +bluff, by pushing them as close up as would admit of effective fire over +it; but under tactical formation the limbers and caissons were so far in +rear as to bring them under destructive fire. The men, thinking it +unsoldier-like to flinch, or complain of their exposure, worked away very +courageously till the limbers and caissons were ordered forward, on the +right and left of the guns, to safer cover. The combat lasted about an +hour, when the Federals withdrew to their ground about Centreville, to +the delight of the Confederates. After this lively affair the report came +of a threatened advance off to our right. General Beauregard recalled +Early's command to its position in that quarter. He was ordered to march +to the right, under the bluff, so that his men could not come within range +of the batteries, but he chose to march back on the road leading directly +to the rear, when the dust of his columns drew fire of a battery, and +several damaging shots were thrown among his troops. The Confederate +losses were sixty-eight; Federal, eighty-three. The effect of this little +affair was encouraging to the Confederates, and as damaging to the +Federals. By the double action of success and failure the Confederate +infantry felt themselves christened veterans. The Washington Artillery was +equally proud of its even combat against the famed batteries of United +States regulars. + +McDowell was disposed to ignore this fight as unwarranted under his +instructions, and not a necessary adjunct of his plans. His course and +that of the officers about him reduced the aggressive spirit of the +division commander to its minimum, and had some influence upon the troops +of the division. For battle at this time McDowell had 37,300[3] men and +forty-nine guns. Beauregard had 20,500[4] men and twenty-nine guns. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BATTLE OF MANASSAS, OR BULL RUN. + + Commanders on both Sides generally Veterans of the Mexican + War--General Irvin McDowell's Preconceived Plan--Johnston reinforces + Beauregard and approves his Plans--General Bernard E. Bee--Analysis of + the Fight--Superb Work of the Federal Artillery--Christening of + "Stonewall Jackson"--McDowell's Gallant Effort to recover Lost + Power--Before he was shorn of his Artillery he was the Samson of the + Field--The Rout--Criticism of McDowell--Tyler's + Reconnoissance--Ability of the Commanding Generals tested. + + +Before treating of future operations, I should note the situation of the +Confederate contingents in the Shenandoah Valley and at Acquia Creek. The +latter was ordered up to reinforce Beauregard as soon as the advance from +Washington took definite shape, and arrived as a supporting brigade to his +right on the 19th of July. At the same time orders were sent authorizing +Johnston's withdrawal from the Valley, to join with Beauregard for the +approaching conflict. The use of these contingents was duly considered by +both sides some days before the campaign was put on foot. + +Opposing Johnston in the Valley was General Robert Patterson, of +Philadelphia, a veteran of the war of 1812 and of the Mexican War, +especially distinguished in the latter by the prestige of the former +service. Johnston was a veteran of the Mexican War, who had won +distinction by progressive service and was well equipped in the science of +war. Beauregard and McDowell were also veterans of the Mexican War, of +staff service, and distinguished for intelligent action and attainments, +both remarkable for physical as well as mental power. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF BULL RUN July 21st, 1861] + + +Between Johnston and Beauregard the Blue Ridge stretched out from the +Potomac southwest far below the southern line of Virginia, cut +occasionally by narrow passes, quite defensible by small bodies of +infantry and artillery. Patterson was ordered to hold Johnston in the +Valley, while McDowell should direct his strength against Beauregard. +McDowell seems to have accepted that order as not only possible, but sure +of success, while the Confederates viewed the question from the other +side, in a reverse light, and, as will presently appear, with better +judgment. + +So far as it is possible to project a battle before reaching the field, it +seems that McDowell had concluded upon the move finally made before +setting out on his march from Washington. It was to give him an open +field, with superior numbers and appointments, and when successful was to +give him the approach to the base line of his adversary with fine +prospects of cutting off retreat. His ride to view the approaches of the +Confederate right on the morning of the 18th was made to confirm his +preconceived plan. The reconnoissance made by Tyler on the same morning +reinforced his judgment, so that the strategic part of the campaign was +concluded on that morning, except as to the means to be adopted to secrete +or mislead in his movement as long as possible, leaving, we may say, the +result to tactical operations. But tactics is time, and more decisive of +results than strategy when wisely adjusted. + +Johnston was sixty miles away from Beauregard, but the delay of three +days, for McDowell's march _via_ Sudley Springs, so reduced the distance +in time and space as to make the consolidation easy under well-organized +transportation facilities. Holmes's brigade and six-gun battery were +posted in rear of Ewell's brigade. + +General McDowell's order for battle on the 21st of July was issued on the +afternoon of the 20th, directing his First Division to march by the +Warrenton Turnpike, and make a diversion against the crossing of Bull Run +at the Stone Bridge, while the Second and Third Divisions, following on +the turnpike, were to file to the right, along the farm road, about +half-way between Centreville and the bridge, cross Bull Run at Sudley +Springs, and bear down against the Confederate rear and left; the First +Division, under Tyler, to march at two o'clock in the morning, to be +closely followed by the others under Hunter and Heintzelman; the turning +divisions, after crossing, to march down, clear the bridge, and lift Tyler +over the Run, bringing the three into compact battle order. + +General Johnston came in from the Shenandoah Valley on the 20th with the +brigades of Bee, Bartow, and Jackson. The brigades were assigned by +Beauregard, the former two in reserve near the right of Blackburn's Ford, +the latter near its left. + +Beauregard's order for battle, approved by General Johnston, was issued at +five A.M. on the 21st,--the brigades at Union Mills Ford to cross and +march by the road leading towards Centreville, and in rear of the Federal +reserve at that point; the brigades at McLean's Ford to follow the move of +those on their right, and march on a converging road towards Centreville; +those at and near Blackburn's to march in co-operative action with the +brigades on the right; the reserve brigades and troops at Mitchell's Ford +to be used as emergency called, but in the absence of special orders to +seek the most active point of battle. + +This order was only preliminary, coupled with the condition that the +troops were to be held ready to move, but to wait for the special order +for action. The brigade at Blackburn's Ford had been reinforced by the +Fifth North Carolina and Twenty-fourth Virginia Regiments, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Jones and Colonel Kemper. I crossed the Run under the +five o'clock order, adjusted the regiments to position for favorable +action, and gave instructions for their movements on the opening of the +battle. + +While waiting for the order to attack, a clever reconnoissance was made by +Colonels Terry and Lubbock, Texans, on the brigade staff, which disclosed +the march of the heavy columns of the Federals towards our left. Their +report was sent promptly to head-quarters, and after a short delay the +brigade was ordered back to its position behind the Run. + +Tyler's division moved early on the 21st towards the Stone Bridge. The +march was not rapid, but timely. His first shells went tearing through the +elements over the heads of the Confederates before six o'clock. The Second +and Third Divisions followed his column till its rear cleared the road +leading up to the ford at Sudley Springs, when they filed off on that +route. McDowell was with them, and saw them file off on their course, and +followed their march. His Fifth Division and Richardson's brigade of the +First were left in reserve at Centreville, and the Fourth Division was +left in a position rearward of them. The march of the columns over the +single track of the farm road leading up to Sudley Springs was not only +fatiguing, but so prolonged the diversion of Tyler's division at the +bridge as to expose its real intent, and cause his adversary to look +elsewhere for the important work. Viewing the zone of operations as far as +covered by the eye, Evans discovered a column of dust rising above the +forest in the vicinity of Sudley Springs. This, with the busy delay of +Tyler in front of the bridge, exposed the plans, and told of another +quarter for the approaching battle; when Evans, leaving four companies of +infantry and two pieces of artillery to defend the bridge, moved with the +rest of his command to meet the approaching columns off his left. Bearing +in mind his care of the bridge, it was necessary to occupy grounds north +of the pike. The position chosen was the plateau near the Matthews House, +about a thousand yards north of the pike, and about the same distance from +Bull Run, commanding the road by which the turning divisions of the enemy +were to approach. His artillery (two six-pound guns) was posted to his +right and left, somewhat retired. Meanwhile, Tyler's batteries maintained +their position at and below the Stone Bridge, as did those near the lower +fords. McDowell's column crossed at Sudley's Ford at nine o'clock, and +approached Evans a few minutes before ten. The leading division under +Hunter, finding Evans's command across its route, advanced the Second +Rhode Island Regiment and battery of six guns of Burnside's brigade to +open the way. Evans's infantry and artillery met the advance, and after a +severe fight drove it back[5] to the line of woodland, when Burnside, +reinforced by his other three regiments, with them advanced eight guns. +This attack was much more formidable, and pressed an hour or more before +our forces retired to the woodland. The fight, though slackened, +continued, while the brigade under Porter advanced to Burnside's support. + +Waiting some time to witness the opening of his aggressive fight towards +Centreville, Beauregard found at last that his battle order had +miscarried. While yet in doubt as to the cause of delay, his attention was +drawn to the fight opened by McDowell against Evans. This affair, +increasing in volume, drew him away from his original point and object of +observation. He reconsidered the order to attack at Centreville, and rode +for the field just opening to severe work. The brigades of Bee and +Bartow,--commanded by Bee,--and Jackson's, had been drawn towards the +left, the former two near Cocke's position, and Jackson from the right to +the left of Mitchell's Ford. They were to await orders, but were +instructed, and intrusted, in the absence of orders, to seek the place +where the fight was thickest. About twelve o'clock that splendid soldier, +Bernard E. Bee, under orders to find the point of danger, construed it +as calling him to Evans's support, and marched, without other notice than +the noise of increasing battle, with his own and Bartow's brigades and +Imboden's battery. The move against the enemy's reserve at Centreville +suspended, Colonels Terry and Lubbock, volunteer aides, crossed the Run to +make another reconnoissance of the positions about Centreville. Captain +Goree, of Texas, and Captain Sorrel, of Georgia, had also joined the +brigade staff. As Bee approached Evans he formed line upon the plateau at +the Henry House, suggesting to Evans to withdraw to that as a better field +than the advance ground held by the latter; but in deference to Evans's +care for the bridge, which involved care for the turnpike, Bee yielded, +and ordered his troops to join Evans's advance. Imboden's artillery, +however, failed to respond, remaining on the Henry plateau; leaving Bee +and Evans with two six-pounder smoothbore guns to combat the enemy's +formidable batteries of eight to twelve guns of superior metal, as well as +the accumulating superior infantry forces, Imboden's battery making a show +of practice with six-pounders at great range. The infantry crossed Young's +Branch under severe fire, and were posted on the line of Evans's battle. + + +[Illustration: Thos. J. Goree. Captain and Aide-de-Camp.] + + +Burnside was reinforced by Porter's brigade, and afterwards by a part of +Heintzelman's division. Ricketts's battery, and subsequently the battery +under Griffin, pressed their fight with renewed vigor. The batteries, +particularly active and aggressive, poured incessant fire upon the +Confederate ranks, who had no artillery to engage against them except +Imboden's, far off to the rear, and the section of Latham's howitzers. The +efforts of the Federal infantry were cleverly met and resisted, but the +havoc of those splendid batteries was too severe, particularly Griffin's, +that had an oblique fire upon the Confederates. It was the fire of this +battery that first disturbed our ranks on their left, and the increasing +pounding of that and Ricketts's eventually unsettled the line. At this +juncture two brigades of Tyler's division, with General W. T. Sherman and +General Keyes, crossed the Run at a ford some distance above the bridge +and approached the Confederate right, making more unsettled their +position. At the same time the attacking artillery and infantry followed +up their opportunity in admirable style, pushed the Confederates back, and +pursued down to the valley of Young's Branch. + +At one P.M., Colonels Terry and Lubbock returned from their reconnoissance +of the ground in front of Centreville, with a diagram showing points of +the Union lines and troops there posted. I sent it up to head-quarters, +suggesting that the brigades at the lower fords be put across the Run, and +advance against the reserves as designed by the order of the morning. +Colonel Terry returned with the suggestion approved, and we communicated +the same to the brigades at McLean's and Union Mills Fords, commanded by +officers of senior dates to myself. The brigades were prepared, however, +for concert of action. Bee, Bartow, and Evans made valorous efforts, while +withdrawing from their struggle on the Matthews plateau, to maintain the +integrity of their lines, and with some success, when General Wade Hampton +came with his brigade to their aid, checked the progress of pursuit, and +helped to lift their broken ranks to the plateau at the Henry House. The +fight assumed proportions which called for the care of both General +Johnston and General Beauregard, who, with the movements of their right +too late to relieve the pressure of the left, found it necessary to draw +their forces to the point at which the battle had been forced by the +enemy. At the same time the reserve brigades of their right were called to +the left. General Thomas J. Jackson also moved to that quarter, and +reached the rear crest of the plateau at the Henry House while yet Bee, +Bartow, Evans, and Hampton were climbing to the forward crest. Quick to +note a proper ground, Jackson deployed on the crest at the height, leaving +the open of the plateau in front. He was in time to secure the Imboden +battery before it got off the field, and put it into action. Stanard's +battery, Pendleton's, and Pelham's, and part of the Washington Artillery +were up in time to aid Jackson in his new formation and relieve our +discomfited troops rallying on his flank. As they rose on the forward +crest, Bee saw, on the farther side, Jackson's line, serene as if in +repose, affording a haven so promising of cover that he gave the +christening of "Stonewall" for the immortal Jackson. + +"There," said he, "is Jackson, standing like a stone wall." + +General Johnston and General Beauregard reached the field, and busied +themselves in getting the troops together and in lines of defence. Other +reinforcements were ordered from the right, including the reserve brigades +at McLean's and Union Mills Fords, and a number of batteries. Bee and +Evans reformed their lines upon Jackson's. After permitting Burnside's +brigade to retire for rest, McDowell pushed his battle by his strong +artillery arm, advancing against and turning the Confederate left, only +giving some little time to select positions for his batteries to plunge +more effective fire into the Confederate ranks. This time, so necessary +for McDowell's renewal, was as important to the Confederates in getting +their reinforcements of infantry and artillery in position, and proved of +even greater value in lengthening out the fight, so as to give Kirby Smith +and Elzey, just off the train from the Shenandoah Valley, time to appear +at the last moment. + +After arranging the new position of the troops about Jackson, General +Johnston rode back to the Lewis House, where he could better comprehend +the entire field, leaving Beauregard in charge of the troops engaged on +his left. McDowell gave especial care to preparing his batteries for +renewal against the Confederate left. He massed Ricketts's and Griffin's +batteries, and made their practice grand. So well executed was it that the +Confederate left was again in peril, and, seeing reinforcements +approaching towards their rear, General Johnston sent orders to the +brigades at the lower fords revoking authority given them to advance +against Centreville, and ordering their return to the south side, and the +brigade at Union Mills was ordered to reinforce the Confederate left. The +brigade at Blackburn's Ford received the recall order in ample time, but +that at McLean's,--Jones's,--being a little farther away, became partially +engaged before the recall reached it. The brigades resumed their former +position, however, without serious trouble. + +With this order came a message to me, saying that the Federals were +pressing severely on our left, and to the limit of its tension, that +reinforcements were in sight, approaching their right, which might prove +too heavy for our brave men, and force us back, for which emergency our +brigades should be held ready to cover retreat. These anxious moments were +soon relieved by the approach of General Kirby Smith's command, that had +been mistaken as reinforcements for the enemy. General Smith was wounded, +but was succeeded in command by the gallant Elzey, who by a well-timed +attack approached the rear of the massed batteries. At the same time a +brave charge on the part of Beauregard, in co-operation with this +fortunate attack of Smith and Elzey, captured the greater part of the +batteries and turned some of the guns upon the brave men who had handled +them so well. + +McDowell made a gallant effort to recover his lost power, riding with his +troops and urging them to brave efforts, but our convex line, that he was +just now pressing back upon itself, was changed. Though attenuated, it had +become concave by reinforcement, and in elliptical curve was delivering a +concentrated fire upon its adversary. Before the loss of his artillery he +was the Samson of the field; now he was not only shorn of his power, but +some of his mighty strength was transferred to his adversary, leaving him +in desperate plight and exposed to blows increasing in force and +effectiveness. Although his renewed efforts were brave, his men seemed to +have given confidence over to despair. Still a show of battle was made +until General Johnston directed the brigades of Holmes and Early to good +positions for attack, when fight was abandoned and flight ensued. + +The regulars under Sykes maintained order, and with the regular cavalry +covered the confused retreat. The Confederates in the field and +approaching at the moment were ordered in pursuit. At the same time +another order was sent the brigades at the lower fords, explaining that +the reinforcements, supposed to be Federals, proved to be Confederates, +and that the former were not only forced back, but were then in full +retreat, directing our brigades to cross again and strike the retreating +line on the turnpike. All of D. R. Jones's brigade that had crossed at +McLean's Ford under the former order had not yet returned to its position +under the order to that effect, and Ewell had gone from Union Mills Ford +to the battle on the extreme left, so that neither of them came in +position ready to take part in the pursuit. Those at Mitchell's and +Blackburn's Fords advanced, the former, under General Bonham, with orders +to strike at Cub Run, the latter at Centreville. Finding some obstruction +to his march, General Bonham kept the Centreville road, and joined the +brigade from Blackburn's, taking the lead as the ranking officer. + +Through the abandoned camps of the Federals we found their pots and +kettles over the fire, with food cooking; quarters of beef hanging on the +trees, and wagons by the roadside loaded, some with bread and general +provisions, others with ammunition. When within artillery range of the +retreating column passing through Centreville, the infantry was deployed +on the sides of the road, under cover of the forest, so as to give room +for the batteries ordered into action in the open, Bonham's brigade on the +left, the other on the right. + +As the guns were about to open, there came a message that the enemy, +instead of being in precipitate retreat, was marching around to attack the +Confederate right. With this report came orders, or reports of orders, for +the brigades to return to their positions behind the Run. I denounced the +report as absurd, claimed to know a retreat, such as was before me, and +ordered that the batteries open fire, when Major Whiting, of General +Johnston's staff, rising in his stirrups, said,-- + +"In the name of General Johnston, I order that the batteries shall not +open." + +I inquired, "Did General Johnston send you to communicate that order?" + +Whiting replied, "No; but I take the responsibility to give it." + +I claimed the privilege of responsibility under the circumstances, and +when in the act of renewing the order to fire, General Bonham rode to my +side and asked that the batteries should not open. As the ranking officer +present, this settled the question. By that time, too, it was near night. +Colonel G. W. Lay, of Johnston's staff, supported my views, +notwithstanding the protest of Major Whiting. + +Soon there came an order for the brigades to withdraw and return to their +positions behind the Run. General Bonham marched his brigade back, but, +thinking that there was a mistake somewhere, I remained in position until +the order was renewed, about ten o'clock. My brigade crossed and recrossed +the Run six times during the day and night. + +It was afterwards found that some excitable person, seeing Jones's +brigade recrossing the Run, from its advance, under previous orders, took +them for Federal troops crossing at McLean's Ford, and, rushing to +head-quarters at the Junction, reported that the Federals were crossing +below and preparing for attack against our right. And upon this report one +of the staff-officers sent orders, in the names of the Confederate chiefs, +revoking the orders for pursuit. + +From the effective service of the two guns of Latham's battery, _at short +range_, against the odds brought against them, the inference seems fair +that the Imboden battery, had it moved under Bee's orders, could have so +strengthened the position on the Matthews plateau as to hold it and give +time for them to retire and meet General Jackson on the Henry plateau. +Glorious Victory spread her generous wings alike over heroes and +delinquents. + +The losses of the Confederates in all arms were 1982. Federal losses in +all arms, 3333[6] officers and soldiers, twenty-five cannon.[7] + +On the 22d the cavalry troop of Captain Whitehead was sent forward with +Colonel Terry, volunteer aide, on a ride of observation. They picked up a +number of prisoners, and Colonel Terry cut the lanyards of the Federal +flag over the court-house at Fairfax by a shot from his six-shooter, and +sent the bunting to head-quarters. + +The plan of the Union campaign was that their army in the Valley of the +Shenandoah, under General Patterson, should stand so surely against the +Confederates in that field, under General Johnston, as to prevent the +withdrawal of the latter through the Blue Ridge, which goes to show that +the concentration was considered, and thought possible, and that McDowell +was, therefore, under some pressure to act in time to gain his battle +before Johnston could have time for his swoop from the mountains. At +Centreville on the 18th, McDowell was within five miles of his immediate +objective,--Manassas Junction,--by the route of Tyler's reconnoissance. +The Sudley Ford route involved a march of twenty miles and drew him nearer +the reach of Johnston's forces. So, if Tyler's reconnoissance proved the +route by Blackburn's Ford practicable, it was imperative on McDowell to +adopt it. If it was proved impracticable, the route by Sudley's Ford was +necessary and justified the delay. But it has been claimed that the Union +commander did not intend to have the reconnoissance, and that he could +have made his move a success by that route if he had adopted it; which, if +true, would put him in a more awkward position than his defeat. He was +right in his conclusion that the Confederates were prepared for him on +that route, but it would have been a grave error to leave the shorter, +more direct line for the circuitous route without first so testing the +former as to know if it were practicable, knowing as he did that the +Confederate left was in the air, because of leaven looked for from over +the Blue Ridge. After the trial of General Tyler on the 18th, and finding +the route closed against him, he should have given credit to the division +commander and his troops for their courageous work, but instead he +disparaged their efforts and put them under criticism. The experiment and +subsequent events go to show that the route was not practicable except for +seasoned troops. + +McDowell's first mistake was his display, and march for a grand military +picnic. The leading proverb impressed upon the minds of young soldiers of +the line by old commanders is, "Never despise your enemy." So important a +part of the soldier's creed is it, that it is enjoined upon subalterns +pursuing marauding parties of half a dozen of the aborigines. His +over-confidence led him to treat with levity the reconnoissance of General +Tyler on the 18th, as not called for under his orders, nor necessary to +justify his plans, although they involved a delay of three days, and a +circuitous march around the Confederate left. Then, he put upon his +division commander the odium of error and uncalled-for exposure of the +troops. This broke the confidence between them, and worked more or less +evil through the ranks in the after-part of the campaign. Had he +recognized the importance of the service, and encouraged the conduct of +the division commander, he would have drawn the hearts of his officers and +soldiers towards him, and toned up the war spirit and _morale_ of his men. +Tyler was right in principle, in the construction of duty, under the +orders, and in his more comprehensive view of the military zodiac. In no +other way than by testing the strength along the direct route could +McDowell justify delay, when time was power, and a long march with raw +troops in July weather was pending. + +The delay gave Beauregard greater confidence in his preconceived plan, and +brought out his order of the 21st for advance towards McDowell's reserve +at Centreville, but this miscarried, and turned to advantage for the plans +of the latter. + +Had a prompt, energetic general been in command when, on the 20th, his +order of battle was settled upon, the division under Tyler would have been +deployed in front of Stone Bridge, as soon after nightfall as darkness +could veil the march, and the divisions under Hunter and Heintzelman +following would have been stretched along the lateral road in bivouac, so +as to be prepared to cross Sudley's Ford and put in a good day's work on +the morrow. Had General Tyler's action of the 18th received proper +recognition, he would have been confident instead of doubting in his +service. McDowell's army posted as it should have been, a march at +daylight would have brought the columns to the Henry House before seven +o'clock, dislodged Evans, busied by Tyler's display at the bridge, without +a chance to fight, and brought the three divisions, reunited in gallant +style, along the turnpike with little burning of powder. Thus prepared and +organized, the compact battle-order of twenty thousand men would have been +a fearful array against Beauregard's fragmentary left, and by the events +as they passed, would have assured McDowell of victory hours before Kirby +Smith and Elzey, of the Army of the Shenandoah, came upon the field. + +Beauregard's mistake was in failing to ride promptly after his +five-o'clock order, and handling his columns while in action. As events +actually occurred, he would have been in overwhelming numbers against +McDowell's reserve and supply depot. His adversary so taken by surprise, +his raw troops would not have been difficult to conquer. + +As the experience of both commanders was limited to staff service, it is +not surprising that they failed to appreciate the importance of prompt and +vigorous manoeuvre in the hour of battle. Beauregard gave indications of a +comprehensive military mind and reserve powers that might, with experience +and thorough encouragement from the superior authorities, have developed +him into eminence as a field-marshal. His adversary seemed untoward, not +adapted to military organization or combinations. Most of his men got back +to Washington under the sheltering wings of the small bands of regulars. + +The mistake of supposing Kirby Smith's and Elzey's approaching troops to +be Union reinforcements for McDowell's right was caused by the +resemblance, at a distance, of the original Confederate flag to the colors +of Federal regiments. This mishap caused the Confederates to cast about +for a new ensign, brought out our battle-flag, led to its adoption by +General Beauregard, and afterwards by higher authority as the union shield +of the Confederate national flag. + +The supplies of subsistence, ammunition, and forage passed as we marched +through the enemy's camps towards Centreville seemed ample to carry the +Confederate army on to Washington. Had the fight been continued to that +point, the troops, in their high hopes, would have marched in terrible +effectiveness against the demoralized Federals. Gaining confidence and +vigor in their march, they could well have reached the capital with the +ranks of McDowell's men. The brigade at Blackburn's Ford (five regiments), +those at McLean's and Mitchell's Fords, all quite fresh, could have been +reinforced by all the cavalry and most of the artillery, comparatively +fresh, and later by the brigades of Holmes, Ewell, and Early. This +favorable aspect for fruitful results was all sacrificed through the +assumed authority of staff-officers who, upon false reports, gave +countermand to the orders of their chiefs. + +On the 21st a regiment and battery were discharged from the Union army, +reducing its aggregate to about 34,000. The Confederates had 31,860. +McDowell crossed Bull Run with 18,500 of his men, and engaged in battle +18,053 Confederates. + +There seem to be no data from which the precise figures can be had. These +estimates, though not strictly accurate, are justified by returns so far +as they have been officially rendered. + +The CONFEDERATE ARMY in this battle was organized as follows: + + ARMY OF THE POTOMAC (AFTERWARDS FIRST CORPS), under Brig.-Gen. G. T. + Beauregard:--_Infantry_: _First Brigade_, under Brig.-Gen. M. S. + Bonham, 11th N. C., 2d, 3d, 7th, and 8th S. C.; _Second Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. R. S. Ewell, 5th and 6th Ala., 6th La.; _Third Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. D. R. Jones, 17th and 18th Miss., 5th S. C.; _Fourth + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. James Longstreet, 5th N. C., 1st, 11th, and 17th + Va.; _Fifth Brigade_, Col. P. St. George Cocke, 1st La. Battn., 8th + Va. (seven companies), 18th, 19th, 28th, and 49th Va. (latter, three + companies); _Sixth Brigade_, Col. J. A. Early, 13th Miss., 4th S. C., + 7th and 24th Va.; _Troops not brigaded_: 7th and 8th La., Hampton + Legion, S. C., 30th Va. (cav.), Harrison's Battn. (cav.); _Independent + companies_: 10th Cav., Washington (La.) Cav.; _Artillery_: Kemper's, + Latham's, Loudoun, and Shield's batteries, Camp Pickens companies. + + ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH (JOHNSTON'S DIVISION), Brig.-Gen. Joseph E. + Johnston:--_First Brigade_, Col. T. J. Jackson, 2d, 4th, 5th, and 27th + Va., Pendleton's Batt.; _Second Brigade_, Col. F. S. Bartow, 7th, 8th, + and 9th Ga., Duncan's and Pope's Ky. Battns., Alburti's Batt.; _Third + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Barnard E. Bee, 4th Ala., 2d and 11th Miss., 1st + Tenn., Imboden's Batt.; _Fourth Brigade_, Col. A. Elzey, 1st Md. + Battn., 3d Tenn., 10th and 13th Va., Grane's Batt.; _Not brigaded_: + 1st Va. Cav., 33d Va. Inf. + +The FEDERAL ARMY, commanded by Brigadier-General Irvin McDowell, was +organized as follows: + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Daniel Tyler:--_First Brigade_, Col. E. D. + Keyes, 2d Me., 1st, 2d, and 3d Conn.; _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. R. + C. Schenck, 2d N. Y., 1st and 2d Ohio, Batt. E, 2d U. S. Art.; _Third + Brigade_, Col. W. T. Sherman, 13th, 69th, and 79th N. Y., 2d Wis., + Batt. E, 3d U. S. Art.; _Fourth Brigade_, Col. I. B. Richardson, 1st + Mass., 12th N. Y., 2d and 3d Mich., Batt. G, 1st U. S. Art., Batt. M, + 2d U. S. Art. + + SECOND DIVISION, (1) Col. David Hunter (wounded); (2) Col. Andrew + Porter:--_First Brigade_, Col. Andrew Porter, 8th (militia), 14th, and + 27th N. Y., Battn. U. S. Inf., Battn. U. S. Marines, Battn. U. S. + Cav., Batt. D, 5th U. S. Art.; _Second Brigade_, Col. A. E. Burnside, + 2d N. H., 1st and 2d R. I., 71st N. Y. + + THIRD DIVISION, Col. S. P. Heintzelman (wounded):--_First Brigade_, + Col. W. B. Franklin, 5th and 11th Mass., 1st Minn., Batt. I, 1st U. S. + Art.; _Second Brigade_, Col. O. B. Wilcox (wounded and captured), 11th + N. Y. (Fire Zouaves), 38th N. Y., 1st and 4th Mich., Batt. D, 2d U. S. + Art.; _Third Brigade_, Col. O. O. Howard, 3d, 4th, and 5th Me., 2d Vt. + + FOURTH (RESERVE) DIVISION,[8] Brig.-Gen. Theodore Runyon, 1st, 2d, 3d, + and 4th N. J. (three months), 1st, 2d, and 3d N. J., 41st N. Y. (three + years). + + FIFTH DIVISION, Col. Dixon S. Miles:--_First Brigade_,[9] Col. Louis + Blenker, 8th N. Y. (Vols.), 29th and 39th N. Y., 27th Penn., Batt. A, + 2d U. S. Art., Rookwood's N. Y. Batt.; _Second Brigade_, Col. Thomas + A. Davies, 16th, 18th, 31st, and 32d N. Y., Batt. G, 2d U. S. Art. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CONFEDERATES HOVERING AROUND WASHINGTON. + + An Early War-Time Amenity--The Author invited to dine with the + Enemy--"Stove-pipe Batteries"--J. E. B. Stuart, the Famous + Cavalryman--His Bold Dash on the Federals at + Lewinsville--Major-General G. W. Smith associated with Johnston and + Beauregard in a Council--Longstreet promoted Major-General--Fierce + Struggle at Ball's Bluff--Dranesville a Success for the Union + Arms--McClellan given the Sobriquet of "The Young Napoleon." + + +After General McDowell reached Washington my brigade was thrown forward, +first to Centreville, then to Fairfax Court-House, and later still to +Falls Church and Munson's and Mason's Hills; the cavalry, under Colonel J. +E. B. Stuart, constituting part of the command. + +We were provokingly near Washington, with orders not to attempt to advance +even to Alexandria. Well-chosen and fortified positions, with soldiers to +man them, soon guarded all approaches to the capital. We had frequent +little brushes with parties pushed out to reconnoitre. Nevertheless, we +were neither so busy nor so hostile as to prevent the reception of a +cordial invitation to a dinner-party on the other side, to be given to me +at the head-quarters of General Richardson. He was disappointed when I +refused to accept this amenity, and advised him to be more careful lest +the politicians should have him arrested for giving aid and comfort to the +enemy. He was my singularly devoted friend and admirer before the war, and +had not ceased to be conscious of old-time ties. + +The service at Falls Church, Munson's and Mason's Hills was first by my +brigade of infantry, a battery, and Stuart's cavalry. During that service +the infantry and batteries were relieved every few days, but the cavalry +was kept at the front with me. As the authorities allowed me but one +battery, and that was needed from time to time to strike out at anything +and everything that came outside the fortified lines, we collected a +number of old wagon-wheels and mounted on them stove-pipes of different +calibre, till we had formidable-looking batteries, some large enough of +calibre to threaten Alexandria, and even the National Capitol and +Executive Mansion. It is needless to add that Munson's Hill was so safe as +not to disturb our profound slumbers. This was before the Federals began +to realize all of their advantages by floating balloons above our heads. + +One of the most conspicuous and successful of our affairs occurred on the +11th of September. A brigade of the enemy's infantry, with eight pieces of +artillery and a detachment of cavalry, escorting a reconnoitring party, +advanced to Lewinsville. If they had secured and fortified a position +there they would have greatly annoyed us. Colonel Stuart, who from the +start had manifested those qualities of daring courage, tempered by +sagacity, which so admirably fitted him for outpost service, had his +pickets so far to the front that he was promptly informed of the presence +of the enemy. He was ordered, with about eight hundred infantry, a section +of Rosser's battery, and Captain Patrick's troop of cavalry, to give +battle, and so adroitly approached the enemy as to surprise him, and by a +bold dash drove him off in confusion, with some loss. + +We had a number of small affairs which served to season the troops and +teach the importance of discipline and vigilance. It was while at Falls +Church that Major-General G. W. Smith reported for duty with the Army of +Northern Virginia, and was associated with General Johnston and General +Beauregard, the three forming a council for the general direction of the +operations of the army. General McClellan had by this time been appointed +to superior command on the Federal side. + + +[Illustration: GENERAL J. E. B. STUART] + + +Despairing of receiving reinforcement to enable him to assume the +offensive, General Johnston regarded it as hazardous to hold longer the +advanced post of Munson's and Mason's Hills, drew the troops back to and +near Fairfax Court-House, and later, about the 19th of October, still +farther to Centreville, and prepared for winter quarters by strengthening +his positions and constructing huts, the line extending to Union Mills on +the right. These points were regarded as stronger in themselves and less +liable to be turned than the positions at and in advance of Fairfax +Court-House. We expected that McClellan would advance against us, but were +not disturbed. I was promoted major-general, which relieved me of the +outpost service, to which Colonel Stuart was assigned. + +The autumn and early winter were not permitted to pass without some +stirring incidents in our front. Soon after the battle of July 21, Colonel +Eppa Hunton was ordered to reoccupy Leesburg with his regiment, the Eighth +Virginia. Later, the Thirteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Mississippi +Regiments were sent to the same vicinity, and with the regiment already +there and a battery constituted the Seventh Brigade, Brigadier-General N. +G. Evans commanding. To cover a reconnoissance and an expedition to gather +supplies made by General McCall's division to Dranesville, General +McClellan ordered General C. P. Stone, commanding at Poolesville, +Maryland, to make a demonstration in force against Leesburg, and, if +practicable, to dislodge the Confederates at that place. Early in the +morning of the 21st of October four of General Stone's regiments crossed +the Potomac at Edwards's Ferry, and about the same time five other +regiments, under the immediate command of Colonel Baker, late United +States Senator from Oregon, crossed the river above at Ball's Bluff. +Leaving Colonel Barksdale with his Thirteenth Mississippi, with six pieces +of artillery as a reserve, to hold in check the force that had crossed at +Edwards's Ferry, Evans with his main force assailed the force under +Colonel Baker, and after a long and fierce struggle, under a heavy fire of +batteries on both sides of the river, drove them down the bluff to the +river, many surrendering, others plunging into the river to recross, +overcrowding and sinking the boats that had brought them over; some +drowning in the Potomac. + +Two months later, December 20, there was an affair at Dranesville which +for us was by no means so satisfactory as Evans's at Leesburg and Ball's +Bluff. It was known that food for men and horses could be found in the +vicinity of Dranesville. All of the available wagons of the army were sent +to gather and bring it in, and Colonel Stuart, with one hundred and fifty +of his cavalry, the Sumter Flying Artillery (Captain A. S. Cutts), and +four regiments of infantry detailed from different brigades, was charged +with the command of the foraging party. The infantry regiments were the +Eleventh Virginia, Colonel Samuel Garland; Tenth Alabama, Colonel Forney; +Sixth South Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel Secrest; and First Kentucky, +Colonel Thomas Taylor; the cavalry, Ransom's and Bradford's. + +General McCall, commanding the nearest Union division, happened just then +to want those supplies, or, as seems more probable, had information +through a spy of Stuart's expedition. + +He took measures to gather the supplies, or surprise and perhaps capture +or destroy Stuart's party. However that may be, when Stuart reached the +vicinity of Dranesville he found himself in the presence of General Ord, +who had under him his own brigade of five regiments of infantry, Easton's +battery, two twenty-four-pound howitzers and two twelve-pound guns, and +two squadrons of cavalry. Finding that he was anticipated, and that his +only way of saving the train was to order it back to Centreville in all +haste, Stuart decided to attack, in order to give it time to get to a +place of safety, and despatched a detachment of cavalry on the turnpike +towards Leesburg to warn the wagons to hasten back to Centreville, the +cavalry to march between them and the enemy. He ordered his artillery and +infantry to hasten to the front, and as soon as they came up assailed the +enemy vigorously, continuing the engagement until he judged that his +wagon-train had passed beyond danger; then he extricated his infantry and +artillery from the contest, with a much heavier loss than he had inflicted +on the enemy, leaving the killed and some of the wounded. It was the first +success that had attended the Union arms in that quarter, and was +magnified and enjoyed on that side. This action advanced McClellan +considerably in popular estimation and led to the bestowal upon him, by +some enthusiast, of the sobriquet "the Young Napoleon." + +During the autumn and early winter the weather had been unusually fine. +The roads and fields in that section were generally firm and in fine +condition for marching and manoeuvring armies. With the beginning of the +new year winter set in with rain and snow, alternate freezing and thawing, +until the roads and fields became seas of red mud. + +As no effort of general advance was made during the season of firm roads, +we had little apprehension of trouble after the winter rains came to make +them too heavy for artillery service. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +ROUND ABOUT RICHMOND. + + The Defences of the Confederate Capital--Army of Northern Virginia at + Centreville--Aggressive Action--Council with the President and + Secretary of War--Mr. Davis's High Opinion of McClellan--Operations on + the Peninsula--Engagements about Yorktown and Williamsburg--Severe + Toil added to the Soldiers' Usual Labors by a Saturated Soil. + + +Apropos of the attack upon Richmond, apprehended in the winter of 1861-62, +it should be borne in mind that there were four routes supposed to be +practicable for the advance of the enemy: + +1. The original route by Manassas Junction and the Orange and Alexandria +Railroad. + +2. By crossing the Potomac near Potomac Creek, thence by Fredericksburg to +Richmond. + +3. By land,--the shortest,--to go down the Potomac to the Lower +Rappahannock, landing at or near Urbana, and thence march for the +Confederate capital. + +4. By transports to Fortress Monroe, thence by the Peninsula, between the +James and York Rivers. + +General McClellan's long delay to march against General Johnston, when he +was so near and accessible at Centreville, indicated that he had no +serious thought of advancing by that route. To prepare to meet him on +either of the other routes, a line behind the Rapidan was the chosen +position. + +General Beauregard had been relieved of duty in Virginia and ordered West +with General A. S. Johnston. + +The withdrawal from Centreville was delayed some weeks, waiting for roads +that could be travelled, but was started on the 9th of March, 1862, and on +the 11th the troops were south of the Rappahannock. + +General Whiting's command from Occoquan joined General Holmes at +Fredericksburg. Generals Ewell and Early crossed by the railroad bridge +and took positions near it. General G. W. Smith's division and mine +marched by the turnpike to near Culpeper Court-House. General Stuart, with +the cavalry, remained on Bull Run until the 10th, then withdrew to +Warrenton Junction. + +During the last week of March our scouts on the Potomac reported a large +number of steamers, loaded with troops, carrying, it was estimated, about +one hundred and forty thousand men, passing down and out of the Potomac, +destined, it was supposed, for Fortress Monroe, or possibly for the coast +of North Carolina. We were not left long in doubt. By the 4th of April, +McClellan had concentrated three _corps d'armee_ between Fortress Monroe +and Newport News, on the James River. The Confederate left crossed the +Rapidan, and from Orange Court-House made connection with the troops on +the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg. About the 1st of April, Generals +Johnston and G. W. Smith were called to Richmond for conference with the +War Department, leaving me in command. On the 3d I wrote General Jackson, +in the Shenandoah Valley, proposing to join him with sufficient +reinforcements to strike the Federal force in front of him a sudden, +severe blow, and thus compel a change in the movements of McClellan's +army. I explained that the responsibility of the move could not be taken +unless I was with the detachment to give it vigor and action to meet my +views, or give time to get back behind the Rapidan in case the authorities +discovered the move and ordered its recall. + +I had been left in command on the Rapidan, but was not authorized to +assume command of the Valley district. As the commander of the district +did not care to have an officer there of higher rank, the subject was +discontinued. + +General Johnston, assigned to the Department of the Peninsula and +Norfolk, made an inspection of his new lines, and on his return +recommended that they should be abandoned. Meanwhile, his army had been +ordered to Richmond. He was invited to meet the President to discuss +military affairs, and asked General G. W. Smith and myself to go with him. +The Secretary of War and General R. E. Lee were with the President when we +met. + +It was the first time that I had been called to such august presence, to +deliberate on momentous matters, so I had nothing to say till called on. +The views intended to be offered were prefaced by saying that I knew +General McClellan; that he was a military engineer, and would move his +army by careful measurement and preparation; that he would not be ready to +advance before the 1st of May. The President interrupted, and spoke of +McClellan's high attainments and capacity in a style indicating that he +did not care to hear any one talk who did not have the same appreciation +of our great adversary. McClellan had been a special favorite with Mr. +Davis when he was Secretary of War in the Pierce administration, and he +seemed to take such reflections upon his favorites as somewhat personal. +From the hasty interruption I concluded that my opinion had only been +asked through polite recognition of my presence, not that it was wanted, +and said no more. My intention was to suggest that we leave Magruder to +look after McClellan, and march, as proposed to Jackson a few days before, +through the Valley of Virginia, cross the Potomac, threaten Washington, +and call McClellan to his own capital. + +At the time of McClellan's landing on the peninsula, the Confederate army +on that line was commanded by Major-General J. Bankhead Magruder, and +consisted of eleven thousand men of all arms. The defensive line was +pitched behind the Warwick River, a sluggish stream that rises about a +mile south of Yorktown, and flows south to its confluence with James +River. The Warwick was dammed at different points, thus flooding the +intervening low lands as far as Lee's Mills, where the river spreads into +marsh lands. The dams were defended by batteries and rifle-trenches. The +left rested at Yorktown, which was fortified by continuous earthworks, +strong water and land batteries, and rifle-trenches reaching to the right, +connecting with those behind the Warwick. Yorktown is on the right bank of +York River, which narrows at that point, with Gloucester Point on the +opposite bank. This point was also fortified, and held by a strong +garrison. On the south side of the James, General Huger held Norfolk, near +its mouth, fortified and garrisoned by about ten thousand men, while the +James River floated the Confederate vessels "Virginia" ("Merrimac"), +"Yorktown," "Jamestown," and "Teaser." + +McClellan's army, embarked from Alexandria and moved by transports to the +vicinity of Fortress Monroe, as first collected, numbered one hundred and +eight thousand of all arms, including the garrison at Fortress Monroe. + +Magruder was speedily reinforced by a detachment from Huger's army, and +afterwards by Early's brigade of Johnston's army, and after a few days by +the balance of Johnston's army, the divisions of G. W. Smith, D. H. Hill, +and Longstreet, with Stuart's cavalry, General Johnston in command. + +General McClellan advanced towards the Confederate line and made some +efforts at the dams, but it was generally understood that his plan was to +break the position by regular approaches. After allowing due time for the +completion of his battering arrangements, Johnston abandoned his line the +night of May 3 and marched back towards Richmond, ordering a corresponding +move by the troops at Norfolk; but the Confederate authorities interfered +in favor of Norfolk, giving that garrison time to withdraw its army +supplies. The divisions of G. W. Smith and D. H. Hill were ordered by the +Yorktown and Williamsburg road, Magruder's and Longstreet's by the Hampton +and Lee's Mill road, Stuart's cavalry to cover both routes. + +Anticipating this move as the possible result of operations against his +lower line, General Magruder had constructed a series of earthworks about +two miles in front of Williamsburg. The main work, Fort Magruder, was a +bastion. On either side redoubts were thrown up reaching out towards the +James and York Rivers. The peninsula is about eight miles wide at that +point. College Creek on the right flows into James River, and Queen's +Creek on the left into the York, both giving some defensive strength, +except at mill-dams, which were passable by vehicles. The redoubts on the +left of Fort Magruder commanded the dam in Queen's Creek at Sanders's +Pond, but the dam in College Creek was beyond protection from the +redoubts. + +The four redoubts on the right of Fort Magruder had commanding positions +of the fort. + +Finding the entire line of intrenchments at Yorktown empty on the morning +of May 4, McClellan ordered pursuit by his cavalry under its chief, +General Stoneman, with four batteries of horse artillery, supported by +Hooker's division on the Yorktown road and W. F. Smith's on the Hampton +road. + +They were followed on the Hampton road by General Heintzelman (Kearny's +division), Third Corps, and Couch's and Casey's divisions of Keyes's +(Fourth) Corps, Sumner's (Second) Corps on the Yorktown road. Nearing +Williamsburg, the roads converge and come together in range of field +batteries at Fort Magruder. About eight miles out from Yorktown, on the +Hampton road, Stuart, hearing of severe cavalry fight by the part of his +command on the Yorktown road, thought to ride across to the enemy's rear +and confuse his operations, but presently found a part of the enemy's +cavalry and a battery under General Emory marching in his rear by a +cross-road from the Yorktown road. He formed and charged in column of +fours, gaining temporary success, but fell upon the enemy's battery, and +found Benson prompt in getting into action, and in turn, with dismounted +troopers, drove him back, cutting his line of retreat and forcing him off +to the beach road along the James River. The march of Emory's cavalry +across to the Hampton road misled Hooker's division to the same march, and +that division, crowding the highway, caused Smith's division to diverge by +a cross-road, which led it over into the Yorktown road. These misleadings +delayed the advance on both roads. Emory followed Stuart until the latter +in turn came upon strong grounds, where pursuit became isolated and +hazardous. + +The removal of the Confederate cavalry from the Hampton road left Hooker's +march free of molestation. But not advised of the opportunity, he took the +precautions usual on such occasions. His early approach, however, hurried +the movements of the Confederate cavalry on the Yorktown road, and let the +enemy in upon us on that road before we were advised of his approach. + +General Johnston rode near the rear of his army to receive despatches from +his cavalry commander. General Stuart wrote and sent them, but his +couriers found the enemy's cavalry in the way and returned to him. The +cavalry fight on the Yorktown road was also damaging to the Confederates, +and not reported to the commanding general. + +About four P.M., General Cook's cavalry and the horse artillery under +Gibson debouched from the woodlands on the Yorktown road and began to +examine the open ground in front of the Confederate field-works. General +Johnston, who was at the rear, hurried Semmes's brigade of McLaws's +division into the nearest redoubts, and ordered McLaws to call back +another brigade. Kershaw was ordered, and Manly's battery. The battery had +to go at a run to be sure of their cover in the redoubts. Another battery +was ordered by McLaws, who rode and took command. When Kershaw got to the +fort, part of his men were deployed in the wood beyond, to his left. + +Meanwhile, the Federal cavalry was advancing, Gibson's horse artillery and +Manly's Confederate battery were in severe combat, the latter having the +benefit of gun-proof parapets. Observing the approach of cavalry near his +left, McLaws ordered two of Manly's guns into Fort Magruder, which, with +the assistance of Kershaw's infantry, drove off that column. Some cavalry, +riding near the left redoubt with little concern, were first taken for +Confederates, but the next moment were identified as Federals, when the +artillery was turned upon them, and, with the Confederate cavalry, pushed +them quite away. When the left redoubt, commanding the dam at Sanders's +Pond, was occupied by a part of Kershaw's men, McCarthy's battery came +into action, and, with the assistance of others, gave Gibson's battery, in +the open, serious trouble. McLaws ordered an advance of part of Semmes's +brigade, led by Colonel Cummings. This, with the severe artillery fire +from the redoubts and guns afield, cleared the open, leaving one of +Gibson's guns in the mud, which was secured by McCarthy's men as a trophy +of the day's work. Ten horses had been sent back to haul the piece off, +but the mud was too heavy for them. Stuart, with the troopers of his +immediate following and his section of horse artillery, crossed College +Creek near James River, and came in after the action at the redoubts. +Emory abandoned the pursuit as not feasible, and bivouacked on the route. +Cavalry rencounters of the day were reported, in which both sides claimed +success. Stuart reported Lieutenant-Colonel Wickham and four men wounded. +Of the other side, Cooke reported thirty-five killed, wounded, and +missing. Gibson reported one officer and four men wounded, and one gun +abandoned. Emory reported two killed and four wounded, and Sanders one +officer wounded. But most of the Federal losses were in the encounters at +the redoubts with the artillery and infantry. + +The enemy's cavalry reported the redoubt on the Confederate left +unoccupied, and Hancock's brigade (Smith's division) was ordered forward +to take it, but the woods through which he marched were tangled and +swampy, and delayed him until night brought him to bivouac. Meanwhile, the +Confederates who drove the cavalry from its reconnoissance had occupied +the redoubt. + +The corps commanders Sumner, Heintzelman, and Keyes and the cavalry leader +Stoneman were together that night in conference. The highways, over flats +but little above tide-water, were saturated by the spring rains, cut into +deep ruts by the haul of heavy trains, and puddled by the tramp of +infantry and cavalry. The wood and fallow lands were bogs, with occasional +quicksands, adding severest labor to the usual toils of battle. So no +plans were formed, further than to feel the way forward when there was +light to see. + +The enemy got some of our men who were worn out by the fatigue of the +siege and the heavy march of the night and day. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. + + The Attack on Fort Magruder--Hancock occupies two Redoubts--The + Slaughter in Early's Brigade--The Fifth North Carolina Regiment and + Twenty-Fourth Virginia mercilessly exposed--A Hard-Fought + Engagement--A Confederate Victory--McClellan not on the Field the + Greater Part of the Day--Hancock called "The Superb" by + McClellan--Johnston pays High Tribute to Longstreet. + + +Before quitting his trenches at Yorktown, Johnston anticipated a move of +part of McClellan's army by transports to the head of York River, to cut +his line of march towards Richmond, and conceived it important to have a +strong force at that point in time to meet and check the move. To that end +he ordered Magruder to march at two A.M. on the 5th of May with D. R. +Jones's and McLaws's divisions, to be followed by the divisions of G. W. +Smith and D. H. Hill; Longstreet's division to cover the movement of his +trains and defend Stuart's cavalry in case of severe pressure. Late in the +afternoon of the 4th I was ordered to send a brigade to the redoubts to +relieve McLaws's division. The brigades being small, I sent two, R. H. +Anderson's and Pryor's, with Macon's battery, under Lieutenant Clopton, +two guns under Captain Garrett, and two under Captain McCarthy, to report +to General Anderson, the senior brigadier. At the time it was thought that +the army would be on the march by daylight in the morning, and that the +rear-guard would closely follow; but after nightfall a down-pour of rain +came, flooding thoroughfares and by-ways, woodlands and fields, so that +parts of our trains were stalled on the ground, where they stood during +the night. It was dark when Anderson joined McLaws, who had drawn his men +together in readiness to join the advance march. Anticipating an early +march himself, Anderson occupied Fort Magruder and advanced his pickets so +as to cover with their fire the junction of the Yorktown and Hampton +roads. Heavy clouds and darkness settling down upon him, he made no effort +at a critical survey of the surroundings; while the steady rain through +the night gave signs of serious delay in the movements of the army, but he +little thought that by the delay he could be called into battle. In the +morning when time grew heavier he was advised to call in the brigades near +him, in case he should need them, and instructions were sent them to +answer his call. + +At daylight he occupied the redoubts on the right of Fort Magruder, and +two of those on the left. Two others farther on the left were not seen +through the rain, and no one had been left to tell him of them or of the +grounds. The field in his front and far off on his right was open. That in +the immediate front had been opened by felling trees. On his left were +woodland and the swampy creek. General Hooker's division of the Third +Corps came to the open on the Hampton road at seven A.M. of the 5th, and +engaged by regiments,--the First Massachusetts on his left, preceded by a +battalion of skirmishers; the Second New Hampshire on the right, in the +same order; Hancock's brigade of W. F. Smith's division of the Fourth +Corps threatening on the Yorktown road; supported by part of Davidson's +brigade and artillery. After the advance of his infantry in the slashes, +General Hooker, with the Eleventh Massachusetts and Thirty-sixth +Pennsylvania Regiments of Grover's brigade, cleared the way for +communication with the troops on the Yorktown road, and ordered Webber's +six-gun battery into action towards the front of the fallen timber. As it +burst from the wood our infantry and every gun in reach opened upon it a +fire so destructive that it was unmanned before it came into practice. +Volunteers to man the battery were called, and with the assistance of men +of Osborn's battery the guns were opened. Bramhall's battery was advanced +and put into action on the right of Webber's, when the two poured an +unceasing fire against our troops about the fort and redoubts. It was not +very destructive, however, and they thought to reserve their ammunition. + +The Fifth New Jersey Regiment, of Patterson's brigade, was added to the +guard of the batteries, and the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth were deployed +on the left in the woodland. Anderson called up Wilcox's brigade, and +ordered it to his right, reinforced it by the men of Pryor's brigade not +needed at the forts, and presently called for the brigades of A. P. Hill +and Pickett, to further support his right. + +From the swelling noise of battle I concluded that it would be well to +ride to the front, and ordered the remaining brigade (Colston's) and the +batteries of Dearing and Stribling to follow. Stuart sent his horse +artillery under Pelham into the action on the open field. + +Viewing the ground on the left, I thought it not so well protected as +Anderson conceived, and sent to D. H. Hill, who was but little advanced on +his march, for one of his brigades. Early's was sent, to whose brigade +were temporarily attached the Florida regiment and a Mississippi +battalion. Anderson had left the fort, and was busy handling the brigades +engaged in the woods on the right. Colston's was put in with the other +brigades under Anderson, who afterwards called for another regiment. The +Florida regiment and the Mississippi battalion were sent. Early, with his +brigade, was posted on the field in rear of our left. + +When it became evident that the fight was for the day, D. H. Hill was +asked to return with the balance of his division. Meanwhile, Hooker was +bracing the fight on his left. Emory reported to him with his cavalry and +light battery, but as his fight was in the wood, Emory was asked to +reconnoitre on his extreme left. The fight growing in the wood, Grover +drew off part of his brigade to reinforce against it. The Seventy-second +and Seventeenth New York Regiments of Taylor's brigade were also sent; +then the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth New York Regiments of the same +brigade; but the Confederates gained ground gradually. They were, however, +getting short of ammunition. While holding their line, some of the +regiments were permitted to retire a little to fill their cartridge-boxes +from those of the fallen of the enemy and of their comrades. This move was +misconstrued into an order to withdraw, and the line fell back a little. +But the mistake was rectified, and the ground that had been abandoned was +recovered. + +Hooker ordered the Eleventh Massachusetts and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania +Regiments to the support of the batteries, and the Second New Hampshire +Regiment to his left. Anderson, drawing his troops together near the +batteries, made a concentrated move upon them, and cleared them of the +gunners, securing four of Webber's guns and forty horses. Just then he was +reinforced by Colston's brigade, the Florida regiment, and the Mississippi +battalion. General Stuart taking it that the enemy was badly broken and in +retreat, rode up with his cavalry, insisting upon a charge and pursuit. As +he did not recognize authority except of the commander-in-chief, he was +only cautioned that the break was only of the enemy's front, that he would +find reinforcements coming up, and this he began to realize by the clearer +ring of their muskets. He speedily encountered them, but in time to get +away before meeting serious trouble. About three o'clock Kearny's division +arrived, and only a few minutes later D. H. Hill's, of the Confederates. +On the approach of Kearny's leading brigades, one regiment was detached +from Berry's to reinforce Emory's Cavalry detachment on their left. The +other regiments were deployed, the Fifth Michigan on the left of the +road, the Thirty-seventh New York on its left, along the road, one company +of the New York regiment from left to rear. Six companies of the Michigan +regiment were broken off to the rear of its right as reserve, leaving its +forward battalion partly across the road, while that in rear had two +companies on the right and two on the left of the road. Two regiments of +Birney's brigade were deployed, the Thirty-eighth on the right of, and the +Fortieth across, the road, to relieve some of Hooker's regiments. Then +Peck's brigade of Couch's division came, and was put in on the right, the +One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania and the Fifty-fifth New York on the +left, the Sixty-second New York in the wood, the Ninety-third Pennsylvania +on the left, and after a little the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania. + +Before the reinforcements arrived for Hooker's relief, Anderson had +established his advance line of skirmishers, so as to cover with their +fire Webber's guns that were abandoned. The Federal reinforcing columns +drove back his advance line, when, in turn, he reinforced, recovered the +ground, and met General Peck, who led the last reinforcing brigade. This +advance was so firm that General Peck found it necessary to put in his +last regiment, the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania, but neither our force nor +our condition of march could warrant further aggressive work of our right. +General Couch, left in command on the Federal left, posted his troops for +the night,--General Devens with the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment and +Second Rhode Island, General Palmer with two, and General Keim with three +other regiments, supporting General Peck. General Peck's ammunition being +exhausted, his brigade was relieved by six of the new regiments, and +reported that "Every preparation was made to resist a night attack."[10] +On the Confederate side, General Anderson reported his position safe to +hold until the time to withdraw for the march. About noon, General +Hancock, in command of his own and Davidson's brigades in front of our +left, started with three of his own regiments and two of Davidson's and +the six-gun battery under Lieutenant Carson in search of the unoccupied +redoubts in that quarter. He approached by the dam at Sanders's Pond, +passed the dam, and occupied one of the redoubts, leaving three companies +to guard a road crossing on the right of his line of march. He put three +companies of infantry in the redoubt and advanced his regiments and +battery to the field in front. He then found another redoubt not occupied, +and posted three other companies in it. He was reinforced by a four-gun +battery under Captain Wheeler, which he posted in rear of his line of +battle and awaited developments. When the last engagement on our right had +calmed down to exchange of desultory shots, D. H. Hill's division was +waiting to know if Anderson would need further support. Meanwhile, some of +his officers had made a reconnoissance in front of his ground, and +reported a route by which favorable attack could be made upon the Federals +at the redoubt under Hancock. + +General Johnston had arrived at my head-quarters, near Fort Magruder, when +General Hill sent to report the reconnoissance, and to ask that he be +allowed to make a move against Hancock, by Early's brigade. General +Johnston received the message, and referred the officer to me. I ordered +that the move should not be made, explaining that we were only fighting +for time to draw off our trains, that aggressive battle was necessary on +our right in order to keep the enemy back in the woodland from the open, +where, by his superior artillery and numbers, he might deploy beyond our +limits, and turn us out of position; that on our left there was no cause +for apprehension of such action, and we could not risk being drawn into +serious delay by starting new work so late in the day. Very soon General +Hill rode over to report of the opportunity: that he thought he could get +through before night, and would not be likely to involve delay of our +night march. General Johnston referred him to me. I said,-- + + "The brigade you propose to use is not in safe hands. If you will go + with it, and see that the troops are properly handled, you can make + the attack, but don't involve us so as to delay the march after + night." + +In a letter from General Hill, after the war, he wrote of the fight by +this brigade,-- + + "I cannot think of it, till this day, without horror. The slaughter of + the Fifth North Carolina Regiment was one of the most awful things I + ever saw, and it was caused by a blunder. At your request, I think, I + followed Early's brigade, following the right wing." + +General Hill was in advance of the brigade with the Fifth and Twenty-third +North Carolina Regiments, General Early in rear with the Twenty-fourth and +Thirty-eighth Virginia Regiments. General Hill ordered the advance +regiments to halt after crossing a streamlet and get under cover of the +wood till the brigade could form; but General Early, not waiting for +orders or the brigade, rode to the front of the Twenty-fourth Virginia, +and with it made the attack. The gallant McRae, of the Fifth North +Carolina, seeing the Twenty-fourth Virginia hotly engaged, dashed forward, +_nolens volens_, to its relief. The other regiments, seeing the confusion +of movements and of orders, failed to go forward. Part of my troops, on +Early's right, seeing that a fight was open on that part of the field, +started without orders to go to his relief, but found the fight lost +before they were engaged. After the brigade was collected on its first +position, General Johnston rode to his head-quarters. At dark the +Confederates were withdrawn and took up the line of march, the division +of D. H. Hill taking the rear of the column, Rains's brigade the rear of +the division. On his march, General Rains found, in a broken-down +ammunition-wagon, several loaded shells, four of them with sensitive fuse +primers, which he placed near some fallen trees, cut down as obstructions. +He afterwards heard that some of them were tramped upon by the Federal +cavalry and exploded. + +The pursuit was not active, hardly annoying. The roads were cut into deep +mud by the trains, and the side-ways by troops far out on either side, +making puddles ankle-deep in all directions, so that the march was slow +and trying, but giving almost absolute safe-conduct against pursuit, and +our men were allowed to spread their ranks in search of ground strong +enough to bear them. + +My estimate, made on the field, of the troops engaged was, Confederate, +9000; Union, 12,000. The casualties of the engagement were, Confederate, +1565 aggregate;[11] Federal, 2288 aggregate.[12] + +General McClellan was at Yorktown during the greater part of the day to +see Franklin's, Sedgwick's, and Richardson's divisions aboard the +transports for his proposed flanking and rear move up York River, but upon +receiving reports that the engagement at Williamsburg was growing serious +and not satisfactory, he rode to the battle, and called the divisions of +Sedgwick and Richardson to follow him. + +The object of the battle was to gain time to haul our trains to places of +safety. The effect, besides, was to call two of the divisions from their +flanking move to support the battle, and this so crippled that expedition +that it gave us no serious trouble. The trophies of the battle were with +the Confederates, and they claim the honor to inscribe Williamsburg upon +their battle-flags. + +The success of General Hancock in holding his position in and about the +forts with five regiments and two batteries against the assault of the +Fifth North Carolina and Twenty-fourth Virginia Regiments was given heroic +proportions by his chief, who christened him "The Superb," to relieve, it +is supposed, by the picturesque figure on his right, the discomfiture of +his left. But, reading between the lines, the highest compliment was for +the two Confederate regiments. + +In his official account, General Johnston said,-- + + "The action gradually increased in magnitude until about three + o'clock, when General Longstreet, commanding the rear, requested that + a part of Major-General Hill's troops might be sent to his aid. Upon + this I rode upon the field, but found myself compelled to be a + spectator, for General Longstreet's clear head and brave heart left no + apology for interference." + +Franklin's division was taken by transports to the mouth of Pamunkey +River, and was supported by the navy. On the 7th a brigade of Sedgwick's +division joined Franklin. On the same day, Johnston's army was collected +near Barhamville. General Whiting, with Hood's brigade and part of +Hampton's, engaged the advance of Franklin's command and forced it back. +This cleared our route of march towards Richmond, Smith's and Magruder's +divisions by the road to New Kent Court-House, Hill's and Longstreet's +nearer the Chickahominy. + +General McClellan's plans were laid according to strict rules of strategy, +but he was not quick or forcible in handling his troops. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SEVEN PINES, OR FAIR OAKS. + + A New Line of Defence--Positions of the Confronting Armies--Fitz-John + Porter--Terrific Storm on the Eve of Battle--General Johnston's Orders + to Longstreet, Smith, and Huger--Lack of Co-operation on the + Confederate Side, and Ensuing Confusion--Fatalities among Confederate + Officers--Kearny's Action--Serious Wounding of General Johnston at the + Close of the Battle--Summary and Analysis of Losses. + + +On the 9th of May the Confederate army was halted, its right near Long +Bridge of the Chickahominy River; its left and cavalry extending towards +the Pamunkey through New Kent Court-House. On the 11th the commander of +the Confederate ram "Virginia" ("Merrimac"), finding the water of James +River not sufficient to float her to the works near Richmond, scuttled and +sank the ship where she lay. + +On the 15th the Federal navy attacked our works at Chapin's and Drury's +Bluffs, but found them too strong for water batteries. That attack +suggested to General Johnston that he move nearer Richmond to be in +position to lend the batteries assistance in case of need. He crossed the +Chickahominy, his right wing at Long Bridge, his left by Bottom's Bridge, +and took position from Drury's Bluff on his right, to the Mechanicsville +turnpike, with his infantry, the cavalry extending on the left and front +to the lower Rappahannock and Fredericksburg. The right wing, D. H. Hill's +and Longstreet's divisions, under Longstreet, from James River to White +Oak Swamp; the left under G. W. Smith. Smith's division and Magruder's +command from White Oak Swamp, extending thence to the Mechanicsville pike, +with Jackson a hundred miles away in the Shenandoah Valley. + +After careful study of the works and armaments at Drury's Bluff, I +ventured the suggestion that we recross the Chickahominy at Mechanicsville +and stand behind Beaver Dam Creek, prepared against McClellan's right when +he should be ready to march towards Richmond, and call him to relieve his +flank before crossing the river. + +Although the country between McClellan's landing on the Pamunkey to the +Chickahominy was free of all obstacles on the 15th of May, the head of his +advance did not reach the banks of the latter river till the 21st. On the +16th he established his permanent depot at the White House, on the +Pamunkey, and organized two provisional army corps,--the Fifth, of +Fitz-John Porter's division, and Sykes's, under command of Porter; the +Sixth, of Franklin's and W. F. Smith's divisions, under Franklin. On the +26th the York River Railroad as far as the bridge across the Chickahominy +was repaired and in use. This, with other bridges, was speedily repaired, +and new bridges ordered built at such points as should be found necessary +to make free communication between the posts of the army. + +On the 24th parties were advanced on the Williamsburg road as far as Seven +Pines, where a spirited affair occurred between General Naglee's forces +and General Hatton's brigade, the latter withdrawing a mile and a half on +the Williamsburg road. At the same time two other parties of Federals were +sent up the left bank, one under General Davidson, of the cavalry, with +artillery and infantry supports, as far as Mechanicsville, where he +encountered and dislodged a Confederate cavalry force under Colonel B. H. +Robertson and occupied the position. The third party, under Colonel +Woodbury, the Fourth Michigan Infantry and a squadron of the Second United +States Cavalry, moved up to New Bridge, where the Fifth Louisiana, Colonel +Hunt, of Semmes's brigade, was on picket. Finding the bridge well guarded, +a party, conducted by Lieutenant Bowen, Topographical Engineers, marched +up the river, concealing their movements, crossed to the west bank, and, +passing down, surprised the Fifth Louisiana, threw it into disorder, and +gained position on the west side. + +Pleased at these successes, General McClellan sent a sensational despatch +to the President. His position thus masked, rested his right upon Beaver +Dam Creek, a stream that flows from the height between the Chickahominy +and Pamunkey Rivers south to its confluence with the former a few hundred +yards below Mechanicsville Bridge. Its banks are scarped, about six feet +high, and eight feet apart, making a strong natural ditch for defensive +works. + +On commanding ground south of the creek admirably planned field-works were +soon constructed, which made that flank unassailable. Two miles out from +the river the creek loses its value as a defensive line. From Beaver Dam +the line was extended down the river to New Bridge, where it crossed and +reached its left out to White Oak Swamp, and there found as defensible +guard as the right at Beaver Dam Creek. The swamp is about a quarter of a +mile wide at the left, and down to the Chickahominy studded with heavy +forest-trees, always wet and boggy, but readily forded by infantry, and at +places by cavalry. + +Near the middle of the line, back from New Bridge, was Stoneman's cavalry. +Fitz-John Porter's corps (Fifth) was posted at Beaver Dam Creek, +Franklin's (Sixth) two miles lower down, Sumner's (Second) near the middle +of the line, about three miles from the river. The Third and Fourth Corps +were on the south side, Kearny's division of the Third at Savage Station +of the York River Railroad, Hooker's division at White Oak Swamp Bridge, +with entrenched lines. The Fourth Corps was posted on the Williamsburg +road, Couch's division about a mile in advance of Hooker's, of the Third, +at the junction of the Nine Miles road, entrenched, and field of abatis; +Casey's division of the Third half a mile in advance of Couch's, +entrenched, and field of abatis. The point occupied by Couch's division is +known as Seven Pines. His advanced picket-guard on the Nine Miles road was +at Fair Oaks Station of the York River Railroad. + +The line, which was somewhat concave towards Richmond, was strengthened at +vulnerable points by field-works. General Sumner was senior of the corps +commanders, and in command of the right wing; General Heintzelman, the +senior of the south side, was in command of the left wing. The +Chickahominy is a hundred feet wide as far up as Mechanicsville Bridge, +but narrows above to forty and thirty. Along the line of McClellan's +deployment its course was through lowlands of tangled woods that fringe +its banks, the valley seldom more than a hundred yards wide. Artillery was +posted to command all bridges and those ordered for construction. On the +26th, General McClellan ordered General Fitz-John Porter to organize a +force to march against a Confederate outpost near Hanover Court-House. +Porter took of Morell's division three brigades,--Martindale's, +Butterfield's, and McQuade's,--Berdan's Sharp-shooters and three +batteries, two regiments of cavalry under General Emory, and Benson's +horse battery; Warren's brigade to march up the right bank of the Pamunkey +in connection with operations projected for the fighting column. Porter +was the most skilful tactician and strongest fighter in the Federal army, +thoroughly trained in his profession from boyhood, and of some experience +in field work. + +The Confederate outpost was commanded by Brigadier-General L. O'B. Branch, +six regiments of infantry, one battery, under Captain Latham, and a +cavalry regiment, under Colonel Robertson. General Branch was a brigadier +from civil life. The result of the affair was the discomfiture of General +Branch, with the loss of one gun and about seven hundred prisoners. +Losses in action, not including prisoners: Confederates, 265; Federals, +285. + +A. P. Hill was promoted to major-general, and assigned to command of a +division at that outpost and stationed at Ashland. + +On the 27th, General Johnston received information that General McDowell's +corps was at Fredericksburg, and on the march to reinforce McClellan's +right at Mechanicsville. He prepared to attack McClellan before McDowell +could reach him. To this end he withdrew Smith's division from the +Williamsburg road, relieving it by the division of D. H. Hill; withdrew +Longstreet's division from its position, and A. P. Hill's from Ashland. +The fighting column was to be under General G. W. Smith, his next in rank, +and General Whiting was assigned command of Smith's division,--the column +to consist of A. P. Hill's, Whiting's, and D. R. Jones's divisions. The +latter was posted between the Mechanicsville pike and Meadow Bridge road. +A. P. Hill was to march direct against McClellan's outpost at +Mechanicsville, Whiting to cross the river at Meadow Bridge, and D. R. +Jones at Mechanicsville, thus completing the column of attack on the east +side. + +I was to march by the Mechanicsville road to the vicinity of the bridge, +and to strike down against the Federal right, west of the river, the march +to be made during the night; D. H. Hill to post a brigade on his right on +the Charles City road to guard the field to be left by his division, as +well as the line left vacant by Longstreet's division. + +At nightfall the troops took up the march for their several assigned +positions. Before dark General Johnston called a number of his officers +together for instructions,--viz., Smith, Magruder, Stuart, and Longstreet. +When we were assembled, General Johnston announced later information: that +McDowell's line of march had been changed,--that he was going north. +Following the report of this information, General Smith proposed that the +plan for battle should be given up, in view of the very strong ground at +Beaver Dam Creek.[13] I urged that the plan laid against the concentrating +columns was made stronger by the change of direction of McDowell's column, +and should suggest more prompt and vigorous prosecution. In this Magruder +and Stuart joined me. The _pros_ and _cons_ were talked over till a late +hour, when at last General Johnston, weary of it, walked aside to a +separate seat. I took the opportunity to draw near him, and suggested that +the Federal position behind Beaver Dam Creek, so seriously objected to by +General Smith, could be turned by marching to and along the high ground +between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey Rivers; that the position of the +enemy when turned would be abandoned without a severe struggle, and give a +fair field for battle; that we should not lose the opportunity to await +another possible one. + +General Johnston replied that he was aware of all that, but found that he +had selected the wrong officer for the work. This ended the talk, and I +asked to be allowed to halt my columns as soon as possible. The other +movements were arrested, except that of A. P. Hill's division, which was +ordered to continue its march, cross the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, +and take position between the Meadow Bridge road and the Brooke turnpike. +The counter-order reinstated my command of the right wing, including D. H. +Hill's division on the Williamsburg road and extending to the York River +Railroad. Before leaving the conference, I announced that we would fight +on the Williamsburg road if we had to find the enemy through bayous. + +The order to halt the columns found Smith's division between the +Mechanicsville and Meadow Bridge roads, Longstreet's near the city at the +Nine Miles road; D. R. Jones had not moved. + +On the 29th and 30th, General D. H. Hill sent out reconnoitring parties on +the Williamsburg and Charles City roads. On the 30th he received a fair +report of Casey's intrenched camp, and the probable strength and extent of +the line of his skirmishers reaching out his left front to White Oak +Swamp. On the 29th, General Johnston wrote General Whiting, commanding +Smith's division, giving notice of a reconnoissance ordered by General +Hill, cautioning the former that his division should be drawn towards the +right, to be in better position for support of a battle of his right, and +adding,-- + + "Who knows but that in the course of the morning Longstreet's scheme + may accomplish itself? If we get into a fight here, you will have to + hurry to help us." + +The report of General D. H. Hill's reconnoissance of the 30th was +forwarded to head-quarters. I followed it, and found General Johnston +ready to talk over plans for battle. General Huger had reported with three +of his brigades, and was in camp near the outskirts of Richmond on Gillis +Creek. The plan settled upon was that the attack should be made by General +D. H. Hill's division on the Williamsburg road, supported by Longstreet's +division. Huger's division, just out of garrison duty at Norfolk, was to +march between Hill's right and the swamp against the enemy's line of +skirmishers, and move abreast of the battle; G. W. Smith's division, under +Whiting, to march by the Gaines road to Old Tavern, and move abreast of +the battle on its left. The field before Old Tavern was not carefully +covered by the enemy's skirmishers north of Fair Oaks, nor by parties in +observation. + +Experience during the discussion of the battle ordered for the 28th caused +me to doubt of effective work from the troops ordered for the left flank, +but the plan seemed so simple that it was thought impossible for any one +to go dangerously wrong; and General Johnston stated that he would be on +that road, the better to receive from his troops along the crest of the +Chickahominy information of movements of the enemy on the farther side of +the river, and to look to the co-operation of the troops on the Nine Miles +road. + +To facilitate marches, Huger's division was to have the Charles City road +to the head of White Oak Swamp, file across it and march down its northern +margin; D. H. Hill to have the Williamsburg road to the enemy's front; +Longstreet's division to march by the Nine Miles road and a lateral road +leading across the rear of General Hill on the Williamsburg road; G. W. +Smith by the Gaines road to Old Tavern on the Nine Miles road. + +The tactical handling of the battle on the Williamsburg road was left to +my care, as well as the general conduct of affairs south of the York River +Railroad, the latter line being the left of the field to which I had been +assigned, the right wing. + +While yet affairs were under consideration, a terrific storm of vivid +lightning, thunderbolts, and rain, as severe as ever known to any climate, +burst upon us, and continued through the night more or less severe. In the +first lull I rode from General Johnston's to my head-quarters, and sent +orders for early march. + +For a more comprehensive view of affairs as ordered, it may be well to +explain that General Johnston ordered Smith's division by the Gaines road, +so that, in case of delay of its march, McLaws's division, on that road +and nearer the field of proposed action, could be brought in to the left +of the battle, leaving the place of his division to be occupied by +Smith's, when the latter reached McLaws's vacated line. There was, +therefore, no reason why the orders for march should be misconstrued or +misapplied. I was with General Johnston all of the time that he was +engaged in planning and ordering the battle, heard every word and thought +expressed by him of it, and received his verbal orders; Generals Huger and +Smith his written orders. + +General Johnston's order to General Smith was: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, + "May 30, 9.15 P.M. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL G. W. SMITH: + + "GENERAL,--If nothing prevents, we will fall upon the enemy in front + of Major-General Hill (who occupies the position on the Williamsburg + road from which your troops moved to the neighborhood of Meadow + Bridge) early in the morning, as early as practicable. The + Chickahominy will be passable only at the bridge, a great advantage to + us. Please be ready to move by the Gaines road, coming as early as + possible to the point at which the road to New Bridge turns off. + Should there be cause for haste, Major-General McLaws, on your + approach, will be ordered to leave his ground for you, that he may + reinforce General Longstreet. + + "Most respectfully your obedient servant, + "J. E. JOHNSTON."[14] + +General Johnston's order for General Huger read: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, + "May 30, 1862, 8.30 P.M. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL HUGER: + + "GENERAL,--The reports of Major-General D. H. Hill give me the + impression that the enemy is in considerable strength in his front. It + seems to me necessary that we should increase our force also; for that + object I wish to concentrate the troops of your division on the + Charles City road, and to concentrate the troops of Major-General Hill + on the Williamsburg road. To do this it will be necessary for you to + move, as early in the morning as possible, to relieve the brigade of + General Hill's division now on the Charles City road. I have desired + General Hill to send you a guide. The road is the second large one + diverging to the right from the Williamsburg road. The first turns + off near the toll-gate. On reaching your position on the Charles City + road, learn at once the route to the main roads, to Richmond on your + right and left, especially those to the left, and try to find guides. + Be ready, if an action should begin on your left, to fall upon the + enemy's left flank. + + "Most respectfully your obedient servant, + "J. E. JOHNSTON. + + "P.S.--It is necessary to move very early."[15] + +The Nine Miles road takes the name from the distance by that road from +Richmond to Seven Pines. The Williamsburg road to the same point was +sometimes called the Seven Miles road, because of the distance by that +road to Seven Pines. + +As expressed and repeated in his orders, General Johnston's wish was to +have the battle pitched as early as practicable. When his orders were +issued, he was under the impression that I would be the ranking officer on +the right of the York Railroad, and would give detailed instructions to +govern the later operations of Huger's troops. + +Subsequent events seem to call for mention just here that General Smith, +instead of moving the troops by the route assigned them, marched back to +the Nine Miles road near the city, rode to Johnston's head-quarters about +six in the morning, and reported that he was with the division, but not +for the purpose of taking command from General Whiting. As General +Johnston did not care to order him back to his position as commander of +the left wing, he set himself to work to make trouble, complained that my +troops were on the Nine Miles road in the way of his march, and presently +complained that they had left that road and were over on the Williamsburg +road, and induced General Johnston to so far modify the plans as to order +three of my brigades down the Nine Miles road to the New Bridge fork. + +The order was sent by Lieutenant Washington, of Johnston's staff, who, +unused to campaigning, failed to notice that he was not riding on my line +of march, and rode into the enemy's lines. This accident gave the enemy +the first warning of approaching danger; it was misleading, however, as it +caused General Keyes to look for the attack by the Nine Miles road. + +The storms had flooded the flat lands, and the waters as they fell seemed +weary of the battle of the elements, and inclined to have a good rest on +the soft bed of sand which let them gently down to the substratum of clay; +or it may have been the purpose of kind Providence to so intermix the +upper and lower strata as to interpose serious barriers to the passing of +artillery, and thus break up the battle of men. + +My march by the Nine Miles and lateral roads leading across to the +Williamsburg road was interrupted by the flooded grounds about the head of +Gillis Creek. At the same time this creek was bank full, where it found a +channel for its flow into the James. The delay of an hour to construct a +bridge was preferred to the encounter of more serious obstacles along the +narrow lateral road, flooded by the storm. As we were earlier at the +creek, it gave us precedence over Huger's division, which had to cross +after us. The division was prepared with cooked rations, had wagons packed +at six o'clock, and rested in the rear of General Hill's at nine A.M. + +Meanwhile, General G. W. Smith's division had marched by the Nine Miles +road and was resting near the fork of the New Bridge road at Old Tavern. +Upon meeting General Huger in the morning, I gave him a succinct account +of General Johnston's plans and wishes; after which he inquired as to the +dates of our commissions, which revealed that he was the ranking officer, +when I suggested that it was only necessary for him to take command and +execute the orders. This he declined. Then it was proposed that he should +send two of his brigades across to join on the right of the column of +attack, while he could remain with his other brigade, which was to relieve +that of General Hill on the Charles City road. Though he expressed himself +satisfied with this, his manner was eloquent of discontent. The better to +harmonize, I proposed to reinforce his column by three of my brigades, to +be sent under General Wilcox, to lead or follow his division, as he might +order. Under this arrangement it seemed that concert of action was +assured. I gave especial orders to General Wilcox to have care that the +head of his column was abreast the battle when it opened, and rode forward +to join General Hill, my other three brigades advancing along the +Williamsburg road. + +Opposing and in the immediate front of General Hill was the division of +General Casey, of the Fourth (Keyes's) Corps. The division stood in an +intrenched camp across the Williamsburg road, with a pentagonal redoubt +(unfinished) on the left of his line. Half a mile in rear of Casey's +division was that of Couch, of the same corps, behind a second trenched +line, at its junction of the Nine Miles road, part of Couch's extending +along the latter road to Fair Oaks Station of the York River Railroad, and +intrenched; farther forward he had a guarded picket station. Between Couch +and Casey a skirt of wood stretched from the swamp on their left across +the Williamsburg and Nine Miles roads and the railroad. Between the +stretch of forest and Couch was an open; spreading across the roads, and +at Casey's front, was another open, though more limited, some abatis being +arranged along their front lines. These were the only cleared fields on +the south side of the railroad within two miles of Casey's picket line, +our line of march and attack. + +General D. H. Hill stood ready for battle at an early hour, waiting for +his brigade on the Charles City road. Under the delay to relieve that +brigade by one of Huger's divisions, I sent orders to General Wilcox to +pull off from column on that road and march for the position assigned him +near the head of White Oak Swamp. + +The detailed instructions for battle were that the advance should be made +in columns of brigades two on each side the Williamsburg road, preceded by +strong lines of skirmishers; the advance, approaching an open or abatis or +trench line, should reinforce the skirmish line to strong engagement, +while the lines of battle turned those obstacles by flank or oblique march +when the general advance should be resumed. As the wooded field was not +convenient for artillery use, we only held the batteries of Bondurant and +Carter ready for call. At eleven o'clock, weary of delay, General Hill +asked to let loose his signal-gun and engage, but was ordered to wait for +his absent brigade. + +The reports of the hour of opening battle are more conflicting in this +than in most battles, owing possibly to the fact that many are fixed by +the beginning of the hot battle about the trenched camp, while others are +based on the actual firing of the signal-guns. The weight of evidence +seems conclusive of the former attack at one P.M., and this would place +the firing of the signal-guns back to noon or a little after. As events +occurred, however, the hour is not of especial interest, as it is shown +that the battle was in time for a finish before night if it had been +promptly followed up. I will say, therefore, that General Hill's second +appeal to open the signal-gun was made a little before noon, and that he +stated in this appeal that his brigade from the Charles City road was +approaching, and would be with him. He was then authorized to march, but +to give instructions that the advance should be carefully conducted until +all the troops were in place, to give full force to his battle. He had +four brigades, and was ordered to advance in columns of brigades, two on +each side of the road. Garland's and G. B. Anderson's brigades in columns, +preceded by skirmishers, advanced on the left of the road at the sound of +the guns, and engaged after a short march from the starting. As Rodes's +brigade was not yet in position, some little time elapsed before the +columns on the right moved, so that Garland's column encountered more than +its share of early fight, but Rodes, supported by Rains's brigade, came +promptly to his relief, which steadied the advance. The enemy's front was +reinforced and arrested progress of our skirmishers, but a way was found +by which the enemy was turned out of position, and by and by the open +before the intrenched camp was reached. In the redoubt was a six-gun +battery, and on the right another section of two pieces. General Hill +ordered Bondurant's battery to the open into action, and presently the +battery of Captain Carter. + +Garland and G. B. Anderson had severe contention at one o'clock, but by +pushing front and flank movements got to the enemy's strong line. R. H. +Anderson's brigade was pushed up in support of their left, when a bold +move gave us the section of artillery and that end of the line. At the +same time Carter's battery was in close practice with five guns within +four hundred yards of the redoubt, and the enemy was seriously disturbed; +but General Hill was disposed to wait a little for Huger, thought to be +between him and the swamp, to get farther in; then, fearing that longer +wait might be hazardous of his opportunity, he ordered Rains's brigade +past the enemy's left, when Rodes seized the moment, rushed in, and gained +the redoubt and the battery. The officers at the battery made a brave +effort to spike their guns, but were killed in the act. So Rodes, who had +some artillerists acting as infantry, turned them with some effect upon +the troops as they retired. + +When General Hill reported that he must use Rains's brigade to march +around the redoubt, other orders were sent General Wilcox to leave General +Huger's column and march to his position on the right of General Hill's +battle, directing, in case there were serious obstacles to his march by +the Charles City road, to march over to and down the Williamsburg road. A +slip of paper was sent General Johnston reporting progress and asking +co-operation on our left. + +The battle moved bravely on. R. H. Anderson's brigade was ordered to +support its left at Fair Oaks, and Pickett's, on the railroad, was drawn +near. Hill met Casey's troops rallying, and reinforcements with them +coming to recover the lost ground, but they were forced back to the second +intrenched line (Couch's), where severe fighting ensued, but the line was +carried at two o'clock, cutting Couch with four regiments and two +companies of infantry, and Brady's six-gun battery, off at Fair Oaks +Station. Finding that he could not cut his way back to his command, Couch +stood back from the railroad and presently opened his battery fire across +our advancing lines. As he was standing directly in front of Smith's +division, we thought that he would soon be attacked and driven off. +Nevertheless, it was not prudent to leave that point on our flank +unguarded until we found Smith's division in action. The force was shut +off from our view by the thick pine wood, so that we could know nothing of +its strength, and only knew of its position from its artillery fire. We +could not attack it lest we should fall under the fire of the division in +position for that attack. Anderson's other regiments, under the gallant +Colonel M. Jenkins, were ordered into Hill's forward battle, as his troops +were worn. Jenkins soon found himself in the van, and so swiftly led on +that the discomfited troops found no opportunity to rally. Reinforcements +from the Third Corps came, but in the swampy wood Jenkins was prompt +enough to strike their heads as their retreating comrades passed. Right +and left and front he applied his beautiful tactics and pushed his battle. + +General Kearny, finding that he could not arrest the march, put Berry's +brigade off to the swamp to flank and strike it, and took part of +Jamison's brigade to follow. They got into the swamp and followed it up to +the open near the Couch intrenchment,[16] but Jenkins knew that there was +some one there to meet them, and pushed his onward battle. General Hill +ordered Rains's brigade to turn this new force, while Rodes attacked, but +the latter's men were worn, and some of them were with the advance. +Kemper's brigade was sent to support the forward battle, but General Hill +directed it to his right against Berry, in front of Rains, and it seems +that the heavy, swampy ground so obstructed operations on both sides as to +limit their work to infantry fusillades until six o'clock. + +Our battle on the Williamsburg road was in a sack. We were strong enough +to guard our flanks and push straight on, but the front was growing heavy. +It was time for Wilcox's brigades under his last order, but nothing was +heard of them. I asked General Stuart, who had joined me, if there were +obstacles to Wilcox's march between the Charles City and Williamsburg +roads. He reported that there was nothing more than swamp lands, hardly +knee-deep. He was asked for a guide, who was sent with a courier bearing +orders for them to remain with General Wilcox until he reported at my +head-quarters. + +Again I reported the cramped condition of our work, owing to the artillery +practice from beyond the railroad, and asked General Johnston to have the +division that was with him drive that force away and loose our left. This +note was ordered to be put into General Johnston's hands. He gave +peremptory commands to that effect, but the movements were so slow that he +lost patience and rode with Hood's leading brigade, pulled it on, and +ordered communication opened with my left. + + +[Illustration: FIELD OF SEVEN PINES (FAIR OAKS). POSITIONS OF TROOPS May +31st, Morning; May 31st, Night; June 1st] + + +At one o'clock, General McClellan, at his head-quarters beyond the river, +six miles away, heard the noise of battle and ordered Sumner's (Second) +corps under arms to await orders. General Sumner ordered the command under +arms, marched the divisions to their separate bridges, and put the columns +on the bridges, partly submerged, to hold them to their moorings, +anxiously awaiting authority from his chief to march to the relief of his +comrades. The bridge where Sedgwick's division stood was passable, but +Richardson's was under water waist-deep, and the flooding river rising. +Richardson waded one brigade through, but thought that he could save time +by marching up to the Sedgwick bridge, which so delayed him that he did +not reach the field until after night. + +As General Johnston rode with Hood's brigade, he saw the detachment under +General Couch marching north to find at the Adams House the road to +Grapevine Bridge, his open way of retreat. Directly he heard firing where +Couch was marching, but thought that Smith's other brigades were equal to +work that could open up there, and rode on, ordering Hood to find +communication with my left. Smith's other brigades were: Whiting's, +commanded by Colonel Law; Hampton's, Pettigrew's, and Hatton's; Whiting +commanding the division, Smith commanding the left wing. Smith quotes +Colonel Frobel, who was with him at the time,--viz.: + + "Whiting's brigade was gone; it had been ordered forward to charge the + batteries which were firing upon us. The brigade was repulsed, and in + a few minutes came streaming back through the little skirt of woods to + the left of the Nine Miles road, near the crossing. There was only a + part of a brigade in this charge. Pender soon rallied and reformed + them on the edge of the woods. General Whiting sent an order to him + to reconnoitre the batteries, and if he thought they could be taken, + to try it again. Before he could do so, some one galloped up, + shouting, 'Charge that battery!' The men hurried forward at + double-quick, but were repulsed as before."[17] + +It seems that at that moment General Sumner reached the field. He +reported: + + "On arriving on the field, I found General Couch, with four regiments + and two companies of infantry and Brady's battery. These troops were + drawn up in line near Adams's House, and there was a pause in the + battle." + +He received his orders at 2.30 P.M. and marched with Sedgwick's +division--three brigades--and Kirby's battery, and reached the ground of +Couch's work at 4.30. In less than an hour he had surveyed the ground and +placed his troops to receive battle. + +General Smith attacked with Hampton's, Pettigrew's, and Hatton's brigades. +It seems he made no use of artillery, though on the field right and left +the opportunity was fair. The troops fought bravely, as did all +Confederate soldiers. We heard the steady, rolling fire of musketry and +the boom of cannon that told of deadly work as far as the Williamsburg +road, but it did not last. General Hatton was killed, General Pettigrew +wounded and a prisoner, and General Hampton wounded. General Smith was +beaten. + +General Sumner reported: + + "I ordered the following regiments, Eighty-second New York, + Thirty-fourth New York, Fifteenth Massachusetts, Twentieth + Massachusetts, and Seventh Michigan, to move to the front and charge + bayonets. There were two fences between us and the enemy, but our men + gallantly rushed over them, and the enemy broke and fled, and this + closed the battle of Saturday."[18] + +General Smith sent to call Hood's brigade from his right, and posted it, +about dark, near Fair Oaks Station. At parting, General Hood said, "Our +people over yonder are whipped." + +General Wilcox filed his three brigades into the Williamsburg road, +followed by two of Huger's division at five o'clock. He was reminded of +his orders to be abreast of the battle, and that he was only four hours +behind it; but reported that while marching by the first order by the +Charles City road, he received orders to try the Williamsburg road; that, +marching for that road, he was called by orders to follow a guide, who +brought him back to the Charles City road. He confessed that his orders to +march with the front of battle were plain and well understood, but his +marches did not quite agree with the comprehensive view of his orders. + +Two of his regiments--the Eleventh Alabama, under Colonel Sydenham Moore, +and the Nineteenth Mississippi, under Major Mullens--were ordered to join +Kemper, turn the position of the enemy at that point, and capture or +dislodge them. With the other regiments, General Wilcox was ordered by the +Williamsburg road to report to General Hill, Pryor's brigade to follow +him, Colston's brigade to support the move under Colonel Moore. + +Armistead's and Mahone's brigades, of Huger's division, were sent to R. H. +Anderson, who was ordered to put them in his position and move his other +regiments to the front. + +Colonel Moore hurried his leading companies into the turning move against +Berry's brigade before his regiment was up, and before the Mississippi +regiment was in supporting distance, and fell mortally wounded. General +Kearny, seeing the move and other troops marching towards it, ordered his +troops out and in retreat through the swamp. He reported of it: + + "Although so critically placed, and despite the masses that gathered + on and had passed us, checked the enemy in his intent of cutting off + against the White Oak Swamp. This enabled the advanced regiments, + arrested by orders and this contest in the rear, to return from their + hitherto victorious career and retire by a remaining wood-path known + to our scouts (the saw-mill road), until they once more arrived at and + remained in the impregnable position we had left at noon at our own + fortified division camp."[19] + +He states the hour as six P.M. + +Birney's brigade of Kearny's division was ordered along the north side of +the railroad a little before night, and had several encounters with parts +of R. H. Anderson's brigade and some regiments of G. B. Anderson's. +Jenkins, nothing daunted, pushed his brave battle forward until the shades +of night settled about the wood, and flashes of dark-lanterns began to +creep through the pines in search of wounded, friend and foe. + +At seven o'clock, General Johnston ordered his troops on the field to +sleep on their lines, and be ready to renew operations in the morning, and +ordered General Smith to call up other troops of the left wing. At half +after seven he was hit by a rifle-ball, then a fragment of shell unhorsed +him, and he was borne from the field, so severely wounded that he was for +a considerable time incapacitated for duty. The command devolved +temporarily upon General G. W. Smith. General Johnston was skilled in the +art and science of war, gifted in his quick, penetrating mind and +soldierly bearing, genial and affectionate in nature, honorable and +winning in person, and confiding in his love. He drew the hearts of those +about him so close that his comrades felt that they could die for him. +Until his recovery the Confederacy experienced a serious deprivation, and +when that occurred he was no longer commander-in-chief, for General Lee +was promptly called to the post of honor. + +The brigades were so mixed up through the pines when the battle closed +that there was some delay in getting the regiments to their proper +commands, getting up supplies, and arranging for the morning. D. H. Hill's +was put in good order and in bivouac near the Casey intrenchment; those of +Longstreet between the Williamsburg road and railroad. Wilcox's brigade +took position on the right, in place of the detachment under Jenkins; +Pryor's brigade next on the left; Kemper, Anderson, and Colston near the +stage road (Williamsburg). They made blazing fires of pine-knots to dry +their clothing and blankets, and these lighted reinforcing Union troops to +their lines behind the railroad. + +The brigades of Huger's division (Armistead's and Mahone's) were near the +left. Pickett was ordered to report to General Hill at daylight, also the +batteries of Maurin, Stribling, and Watson. It was past eleven o'clock +when all things were made ready and the killed and wounded cared for; then +I rode to find the head-quarters of our new commander. + + SUMMARY OF FORCES AND LOSSES. + + Union troops engaged on the Williamsburg road, + reported by General Heintzelman, commanding + Casey's, Couch's, and Kearny's divisions 18,500 + + Hooker's division was at hand, but no part of it engaged. + + Confederates engaged on the Williamsburg road, of + D. H. Hill's division 8900[20] + + Two brigades and two regiments of Longstreet's + division 5700 + ---- 14,600 + + Two lines of intrenchments were attacked and carried, six pieces of + artillery and several thousand small-arms were captured, and the enemy + was forced back to his third line of intrenchments by night, a mile + and a half from the point of his opening. + + Sedgwick's division is not separately accounted + for, but an average of the divisions reported by + General Heintzelman will give him 6080 + + Estimate of Couch's command 2000 + ---- + + Union force against General Smith 8080 + + Smith's division, five brigades 10,500 + + But Hood's brigade was not engaged 2,100 + ------ + + Of Smith's division in action 8,400 + + Union losses on the Williamsburg road 4563 + + Confederate losses on the Williamsburg road 3515 + + Union losses on the Nine Miles road 468 + + Confederate losses on the Nine Miles road 1283 + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SEQUELAE OF SEVEN PINES. + + The Forces under Command of G. W. Smith after Johnston was + wounded--The Battle of the 1st--Longstreet requests Reinforcements and + a Diversion--Council held--McLaws alone sustains Longstreet's + Opposition to retiring--Severe Fighting--Pickett's Brave + Stand--General Lee assigned to Command--He orders the withdrawal of + the Army--Criticism of General Smith--Confederates should not have + lost the Battle--Keyes's Corroboration. + + +Major-General G. W. Smith was of the highest standing of the West Point +classes, and, like others of the Engineers, had a big name to help him in +the position to which he had been suddenly called by the incapacitation of +the Confederate commander. + +I found his head-quarters at one o'clock in the morning, reported the work +of the commands on the Williamsburg road on the 31st, and asked for part +of the troops ordered up by General Johnston, that we might resume battle +at daylight. He was disturbed by reports of pontoon bridges, said to be +under construction for the use of other reinforcements to join the enemy +from the east side, and was anxious lest the enemy might march his two +corps on the east side by the upper river and occupy Richmond. But after a +time these notions gave way, and he suggested that we could renew the +battle on the Williamsburg road, provided we would send him one of our +brigades to help hold his position and make the battle by a wheel on his +right as a pivot. + +As the commands stood, Smith's division on our left was at right angles to +the York River Railroad, facing east, his right near Fair Oaks Station. +Besides his division of ten thousand, he had Magruder's and other commands +of fresh troops near him,--twenty thousand. My left lay near Smith's +right, the line extending parallel to the railroad for a mile, facing +north; thence it broke to the rear, and covered the ground from that point +to the swamp, the return front facing the enemy's third intrenched line. +Smith's part of the field was open and fine for artillery practice. The +field fronting on the railroad was so shut in by heavy pine forest and +tangled swamp that we had no place for a single gun. D. H. Hill's division +was in reserve near the Casey encampment. + +The enemy stood: Sedgwick's division in front of Smith; Richardson's +division in column of three brigades parallel to the railroad and behind +it, prepared to attack my left; on Richardson's left was Birney's brigade +behind the railroad, and under the enemy's third intrenched line were the +balance of the Third and all of the Fourth Corps. So the plan to wheel on +Smith's right as a pivot, my right stepping out on the wheel, would have +left the Third and Fourth Corps to attack our rear as soon as we moved. + +Besides, it was evident that our new commander would do nothing, and we +must look to accident for such aid as might be drawn to us during the +battle. + +The plan proposed could only be considered under the hypothesis that +Magruder would come in as the pivotal point, and, upon having the enemy's +line fully exposed, would find the field fine for his batteries, and put +them in practice without orders from his commander, and, breaking the +enemy's line by an enfilade fire from his artillery, would come into +battle and give it cohesive power. + +I left head-quarters at three o'clock, and after an hour's repose rode to +the front to find General Hill. Wilcox's brigade was on my right on the +return front, Pryor's brigade on his left, and R. H. Anderson, Kemper, +Colston, Armistead, and Mahone occupied the line between the Williamsburg +road and the railroad. Pickett's brigade was ordered to be with General +Hill at daylight, and Maurin's, Stribling's, and Watson's batteries, of +Pickett's brigade, to take position on the right of Armistead's. + +I found General Hill before he had his breakfast, enjoying the comforts of +Casey's camp. Pickett had passed and was in search of his position, which +was soon disclosed by a fusillade from the front of Richardson's division. +A party of "bummers" from Richmond had found their way into the camp at +Fair Oaks, and were getting such things as they could put their hands on. +They were taken in the gray of the morning for Confederate troops and +fired upon. This made some confusion with our new troops, and part of them +opened fire in the wrong direction, putting two or three bullets through +General Hill's tent before he got out of it. Hood's brigade of Smith's +division, the pivotal point, came under this fire, and was immediately +withdrawn. Hood reported his position good, but his orders were to retire. + +Our cavalry had established communication with head-quarters, and gave +prompt notice of movements as they occurred. The pivot was moving to the +rear, but battle on the Williamsburg road steadily advanced, with orders +to develop the enemy's battle front through its extent along the railroad; +not to make the fancied wheel, but to expose his line to the practice of +our batteries on the Nine Miles road. + +Our infantry moved steadily, engaging French's brigade of Richardson's +division, which was led by one of Howard's regiments. French was supported +by Howard's brigade, and Howard by Meagher's, and the firing extended +along my line as far as the return front of my right. But Magruder was not +on the field to seize the opportunity for his artillery. He was nowhere +near the battle,--had not been called. General Whiting, however, saw the +opportunity so inviting, and reported to his commander at half after six +o'clock,-- + + "I am going to try a diversion for Longstreet, and have found, as + reported, a position for artillery. The enemy are in full view and in + heavy masses. I have ordered up Lee with four pieces. The musketry + firing in advance is tremendous."[21] + +General Smith had parties posted along the heights of the Chickahominy in +close observation of the movements of the enemy's forces on the east bank. +These parties reported from time to time that the enemy was moving his +forces down the east bank and crossing them over to take part in the +fight. The accounts proved false, but they continued to come to +head-quarters, and were forwarded to my command on the Williamsburg road +and gave us some concern. Failing to receive approval of his chief, +General Whiting reported at nine o'clock,-- + + "If I don't receive an answer in half an hour, I shall commence + withdrawing my forces."[22] + +The answer he received was to throw back his right and take position a +_little_ nearer to the New Bridge fork of the Nine Miles road,[23] thus +swinging the pivot farther back. General Smith complained that the enemy +was getting into the interval between our lines, but position between two +fires was not the place the enemy wanted; he could not know that Smith +wouldn't shoot. Under this long and severe infantry fight there was no +point on my part of the field upon which we could post a single gun. Part +of Armistead's new troops gave way, but the gallant brigadier maintained +his ground and soon collected his other regiments. Before this I had +reported ready, and awaiting a guide, the brigade that was to be sent over +to the Nine Miles road. At half after ten o'clock, General Smith sent word +that he had heard nothing of the brigade expected to come to his support, +and renewed his reports of the enemy crossing over and concentrating +against us on the Williamsburg road. He repeated, too, his wish to have +his cavalry keep close communication between the wings of the army. This +close communication had been established early in the morning and was +maintained through the day, and the reports of the enemy's crossing were +all false, but our new commander seemed to forget. At the same time he +wrote me,-- + + "I have directed Whiting to take close defensive relations with + Magruder. At any rate, that was absolutely necessary to enable a good + defence to be made whilst you are pivoting on Whiting's position."[24] + +Whiting's position, instead of being pivotal, began its rearward move at +the opening fire at daybreak, and continued in that line of conduct until +it reached a point of quiet. General Smith was informed that the brigade +called for by him would not be sent over; that his troops were doing +nothing, while all of mine were in severe battle, except a single brigade, +and the enemy was massing his fighting force against me; that the grounds +were so flooded that it was difficult to keep up our supply of ammunition; +that with the aid of his troops the battle would be ours. + +But just then he held a council with Generals McLaws and Whiting and Chief +Engineer Stevens, and submitted the question, "Must the troops be +withdrawn, or the attack continued?" + +All voted in favor of the former except McLaws. In a letter, since +written, he has said,-- + + "I alone urged that you be reinforced and the attack continued, and + the question was reconsidered, and I was sent to learn your + views."[25] + +Before General McLaws found me, I wrote General Smith,-- + + "Can you reinforce me? The entire enemy seems to be opposed to me. We + cannot hold out unless we get help. If we can fight together, we can + finish the work to-day, and Mac's time will be up. If I cannot get + help, I fear that I must fall back." + +General McLaws reported of his ride to my lines,-- + + "I went and found you with J. E. B. Stuart. You were in favor of + resuming the assault, and wanted five thousand men."[26] + +Nothing was sent in reply to McLaws's report, but we soon learned that the +left wing of the army was quiet and serene in defensive positions about +the New Bridge fork of the Nine Miles road. + +At the first quiet of our battle, after the left wing quit the field, I +ordered the brigades withdrawn to defensive position about the trenches at +Seven Pines, but before the order reached the front the fight was renewed +by Hooker's division upon Wilcox and Pryor, and reached out to our left +near Fair Oaks. In the heat of this, General Wilcox received the order to +retire, and in undue haste pulled his command out, assumed authority over +Pryor, and ordered him off. Pickett, the true soldier, knowing that the +order was not intended for such emergency, stood and resisted the attack. +Colston was sent to his aid, and the attack was repulsed. Immediately +after this repulse was a quiet advance upon Pickett's right. The commander +asked, "What troops are these?" "Virginians!" "Don't fire!" he ordered; +"we will capture the last one of these Virginians." Just then the +Virginians rose and opened a fearful fire that drove him back to his bushy +cover, which ended the battle of Seven Pines. Pickett was withdrawn to +position assigned for his brigade, our line of skirmishers remaining near +the enemy's during the day and night. General Wilcox reported of his +battle, when he pulled off from it, that he was doing as well as he could +wish, but General Hooker reported, "Pursuit was hopeless." + +The failure of the enemy to push the opportunity made by the precipitate +retreat of General Wilcox, and Pickett's successful resistance, told that +there was nothing in the reports of troops coming over from the east side +to take part in the battle, and we were convinced that the river was not +passable. I made an appeal for ten thousand men, that we might renew our +battle without regard to General Smith and those about him. It received no +more consideration than the appeal made through General McLaws. + +Then General Lee, having been assigned to command, came upon the field +after noon by the Nine Miles road, and, with General Smith, came over to +the Williamsburg road. A similar proposition was made General Lee, but +General Smith protested that the enemy was strongly fortified. At the time +the enemy's main battle front was behind the railroad, fronting against me +but exposed to easy enfilade fire of batteries to be posted on his right +flank on the Nine Miles road, while his front against me was covered by +the railway embankment. It is needless to add that under the fire of +batteries so posted his lines would have been broken to confusion in +twenty minutes. General Holmes marched down the Williamsburg road and +rested in wait for General Lee. Like General Huger, he held rank over me. +General Lee ordered the troops back to their former lines. Those on the +Williamsburg road were drawn back during the night, the rear-guard, +Pickett's brigade, passing the Casey works at sunrise on the 2d +unmolested. Part of Richardson's division mistook the camp at Fair Oaks +for the Casey camp, and claimed to have recovered it on the afternoon of +the 1st, but it was not until the morning of the 2d that the Casey camp +was abandoned. + +The Confederate losses in the two days' fight were 6134; the Union losses, +5031. + +It seems from Union accounts that all of our dead were not found and +buried on the afternoon of the 1st. It is possible, as our battle was in +the heavy forest and swamp tangles. + +General Smith has written a great deal about the battle of Seven Pines +during the past twenty or thirty years, in efforts to show that the +failure of success was due to want of conduct on the part of the forces on +the Williamsburg road. He claims that he was only out as a party of +observation, to prevent reinforcement of the enemy from the east side of +the river, and that he kept Sumner off of us. But he waited three hours +after the enemy's ranks and lines had been broken, instead of moving with +and finishing the battle, thus giving Sumner time to march from the east +of the river, and strike him and beat him to disorder, and change the lost +battle to success. He shows that Hill's and Longstreet's divisions could +have gained the battle unaided,--which may be true enough, but it would +have been a fruitless success, for the enemy got forces over to protect +those of the west side; whereas, the stronger battle, ordered by the four +divisions, could and would have made a complete success of it but for the +balky conduct of the divisions ordered to guard the flanks. Instead of six +hours' hard work to reach the enemy's third line, we could have captured +it in the second hour and had the field cleaned up before Sumner crossed +the river. + +General Keyes, the commander of the Fourth Corps, in his "Fifty Years' +Observations," says,-- + + "The left of my lines were all protected by the White Oak Swamp, but + the right was on ground so favorable to the approach of the enemy, and + so far from the Chickahominy, that if Johnston had attacked them an + hour or two earlier than he did, I could have made but a feeble + defence comparatively, and every man of us would have been killed, + captured, or driven into the swamp or river before assistance could + have reached us." + +General Smith lay in wait three hours after the enemy's positions were +broken and carried, giving ample time for the march of the succoring +forces. The hour of the attack was not so important as prompt and vigorous +work. If the battle had opened at sunrise, Smith would have made the same +wait, and Sumner's march would have been in time to beat him. All elements +of success were in the plan, but balky troops will mar the strongest +plans. He tries to persuade himself that he intended to join our battle on +the Williamsburg road, but there was no fight in his heart after his +maladroit encounter with Sedgwick's division on the afternoon of the 31st. +The opportunity for enfilade fire of his artillery along the enemy's +battle front, at the morning opening and all of the forenoon, was waiting +him; while reports of the enemy crossing the river, reinforcing against my +single contest, were demanding relief and aid. + +He reported sick on the 2d and left the army. When ready for duty he was +assigned about Richmond and the seaboard of North Carolina. He applied to +be restored to command of his division in the field, but the authorities +thought his services could be used better elsewhere. He resigned his +commission in the Confederate service, went to Georgia, and joined Joe +Brown's militia, where he found congenial service, better suited to his +ideas of vigorous warfare. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ROBERT E. LEE IN COMMAND. + + The Great General's Assignment not at first assuring to the Army--Able + as an Engineer but limited as to Field Service--He makes the + Acquaintance of his Lieutenants--Calls a Council--Gains Confidence by + saying Nothing--"A Little Humor now and then"--Lee plans a + Simultaneous Attack on McClellan's Front and Rear--J. E. B. Stuart's + Daring Reconnoissance around the Union Army. + + +The assignment of General Lee to command the army of Northern Virginia was +far from reconciling the troops to the loss of our beloved chief, Joseph +E. Johnston, with whom the army had been closely connected since its +earliest active life. All hearts had learned to lean upon him with +confidence, and to love him dearly. General Lee's experience in active +field work was limited to his West Virginia campaign against General +Rosecrans, which was not successful. His services on our coast defences +were known as able, and those who knew him in Mexico as one of the +principal engineers of General Scott's column, marching for the capture of +the capital of that great republic, knew that as military engineer he was +especially distinguished; but officers of the line are not apt to look to +the staff in choosing leaders of soldiers, either in tactics or strategy. +There were, therefore, some misgivings as to the power and skill for field +service of the new commander. The change was accepted, however, as a happy +relief from the existing halting policy of the late temporary commander. + + +[Illustration: R. E. Lee] + + +During the first week of his authority he called his general officers to +meet him on the Nine Miles road for a general talk. This novelty was not +reassuring, as experience had told that secrecy in war was an essential +element of success; that public discussion and secrecy were incompatible. +As he disclosed nothing, those of serious thought became hopeful, and +followed his wise example. The brigadiers talked freely, but only of the +parts of the line occupied by their brigades; and the meeting finally took +a playful turn. General Toombs's brigade was before some formidable works +under construction by General Franklin. He suggested an elevation a few +hundred yards in his rear, as a better defensive line and more comfortable +position for his men; a very good military point. This seemed strange in +General Toombs, however, as he was known to have frequent talks with his +troops, complaining of West Point men holding the army from battle, +digging and throwing up lines of sand instead of showing lines of battle, +where all could have fair fight. + +Referring to his suggestion to retire and construct a new line, General D. +H. Hill, who behind the austere presence of a major-general had a fund of +dry humor, said,-- + + "I think it may be better to advance General Toombs's brigade, till he + can bring Franklin's working parties under the fire of his short-range + arms, so that the working parties may be broken up." + +General Whiting, who was apprehensive of bayous and parallels, complained +of sickness in his command, and asked a change of position from the unfair +Fair Oaks. Though of brilliant, highly cultivated mind, the dark side of +the picture was always more imposing with him. Several of the +major-generals failed to join us till the conference was about to +disperse. All rode back to their camps little wiser than when they went, +except that they found General Lee's object was to learn of the temper of +those of his officers whom he did not know, and of the condition and tone +among their troops. He ordered his engineers over the line occupied by the +army, to rearrange its defensive construction, and to put working parties +on all points needing reinforcing. Whiting's division was broken up. +Three of the brigades were ordered to A. P. Hill's division. He was +permitted to choose two brigades that were to constitute his own command. +Besides his own, he selected Hood's brigade. With these two he was ordered +by way of Lynchburg to report to General Jackson, in the Valley district. + +General Lee was seen almost daily riding over his lines, making +suggestions to working parties and encouraging their efforts to put +sand-banks between their persons and the enemy's batteries, and they were +beginning to appreciate the value of such adjuncts. Above all, they soon +began to look eagerly for his daily rides, his pleasing yet commanding +presence, and the energy he displayed in speeding their labors. + +The day after the conference on the Nine Miles road, availing myself of +General Lee's invitation to free interchange of ideas, I rode over to his +head-quarters, and renewed my suggestion of a move against General +McClellan's right flank, which rested behind Beaver Dam Creek. The +strength of the position was explained, and mention made that, in +consequence of that strong ground, a move somewhat similar, ordered by +General Johnston for the 28th of May, was abandoned. At the same time he +was assured that a march of an hour could turn the head of the creek and +dislodge the force behind it. He received me pleasantly and gave a patient +hearing to the suggestions, without indicating approval or disapproval. A +few days after he wrote General Jackson:[27] + + "HEAD-QUARTERS, NEAR RICHMOND, VA., + "June 11, 1862. + + "BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON, + "_Commanding Valley District_: + + "GENERAL,--Your recent successes have been the cause of the liveliest + joy in this army as well as in the country. The admiration excited by + your skill and boldness has been constantly mingled with solicitude + for your situation. The practicability of reinforcing you has been the + subject of earnest consideration. It has been determined to do so at + the expense of weakening this army. Brigadier-General Lawton, with six + regiments from Georgia, is on the way to you, and Brigadier-General + Whiting, with eight veteran regiments, leaves here to-day. The object + is to enable you to crush the forces opposed to you. Leave your + enfeebled troops to watch the country and guard the passes covered by + your cavalry and artillery, and with your main body, including Ewell's + division and Lawton's and Whiting's commands, move rapidly to Ashland + by rail or otherwise, as you may find most advantageous, and sweep + down between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey, cutting up the enemy's + communications, etc., while this army attacks General McClellan in + front. He will thus, I think, be forced to come out of his + intrenchments, where he is strongly posted on the Chickahominy, and + apparently preparing to move by gradual approaches on Richmond. Keep + me advised of your movements, and, if practicable, precede your + troops, that we may confer and arrange for simultaneous attack. + + "I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + "R. E. LEE, _General_." + +The brigades under Generals Lawton and Whiting were transported as above +ordered. + +As indicated in his letter to General Jackson, General Lee's plan was a +simultaneous attack on General McClellan's army front and rear. Following +his instructions for General Jackson, on the same day he ordered his +cavalry, under General Stuart, upon a forced reconnoissance around General +McClellan's army to learn if the ground behind his army was open. + +These plans and the promptness with which they were conceived and put in +operation ought to be a sufficient refutation of the silly report that the +Confederacy had any idea of withdrawing from their capital,--a report +which, notwithstanding its unreasonable nature, was given a degree of +credence in some quarters.[28] + +Upon nearing Richmond, after leaving Yorktown, General Johnston's first +thought had been to stand on the table-lands between the Pamunkey and the +Chickahominy Rivers, on the flank of McClellan's march for Richmond, and +force him into battle. He selected ground with that view and posted his +army, where it remained some eight days, giving general and engineer +officers opportunity to ride over and learn the topographical features of +the surroundings. A prominent point was Beaver Dam Creek, which was so +noted by the officers. When Johnston proposed to recross the Chickahominy +and make battle on the 28th of May, in anticipation of McDowell's +approach, the strong ground at Beaver Dam Creek again came under +discussion and was common talk between the generals, so that the position +and its approaches became a familiar subject. Then Stuart's famous ride +had correlative relation to the same, and drew us to careful study of the +grounds. + +For the execution of his orders General Stuart took twelve hundred cavalry +and a section of Stuart's horse artillery. The command was composed of +parts of the First, Fourth, and Ninth Virginia Cavalry. The Fourth, +having no field officer on duty with it, was distributed for the +expedition between the First, Colonel Fitzhugh Lee, and the Ninth, Colonel +W. H. F. Lee commanding; also two squadrons of the Jeff Davis Legion, +Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. Martin commanding. The section of artillery was +under First Lieutenant James Breathed. + +On the night of the 12th of June he gathered his squadrons beyond the +Chickahominy, and the next day marched by the road west of the Richmond, +Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad towards Louisa Court-House, to +produce the impression, should the march be discovered, that he was going +to join General Jackson. After a march of fifteen miles, he bivouacked in +the pine forests of Hanover, near the South Anna Bridge, without light or +sound of bugle, and, throwing aside the cares of the day and thoughts of +the morrow, sunk to repose such as the soldier knows how to enjoy. An hour +before daylight he was up in readiness to move as soon as the first light +of morning revealed the line of march. Up to that moment no one of the +expedition, except the commander, knew the direction or the purpose of the +march. He called his principal officers about him and told of the object +of the ride, and impressed the necessity for secrecy, prompt and +intelligent attention to orders. At the mute signal the twelve hundred men +swung into their saddles and took the road leading to the right and rear +of McClellan's army. At Hanover Court-House a small force of the enemy's +cavalry was discovered, but they retired towards their camp, out of the +line of Stuart's ride. At Hawes's Shop a picket was driven off and several +vedettes captured. They proved to be of the Fifth United States Cavalry, +General Lee's old regiment. Between Hawes's Shop and Old Church the +advance-guard, well to the front, reported the presence of the enemy, +apparently in some force. The column pressed forward, expecting a fierce +encounter of Southern volunteers with United States regulars, but the +latter was a single troop and retreated beyond Totopotomy Creek to Old +Church, where there was a camp of four companies of the Fifth Cavalry +under Captain Royal, which made a brave stand. Captain Latane led the +first squadron, and Captain Royal received the first shock, and furiously +the combat went on, both leaders falling, Latane dead and Royal severely +wounded. The enemy fled and scattered through the woods. A number of +prisoners were taken, including several officers, and there were captured +horses, arms, equipments, and four guidons. In the enemy's camp, near Old +Church, several officers and privates were captured, a number of horses +and arms taken, and the stores and tents were burned. Here it became a +question whether to attempt to return by way of Hanover Court-House or to +press on and try to make a circuit around the entire army, and take the +chance of fording or swimming the Chickahominy beyond the enemy's extreme +left. Stuart decided that the bolder ride "was the quintessence of +prudence."[29] + +Arriving opposite Garlick's, on the Pamunkey,--one of the enemy's supply +stations,--a squadron was sent out and burned two transports with army +stores and a number of wagons. Near Tunstall's Station a wagon-train was +discovered guarded by five companies of cavalry, which manifested a +determination to stand and defend it, but they abandoned it and rode away, +leaving the train in possession of Stuart, who burned it, and, night +coming on, the country was brilliantly lighted up by its flames. After +resting a few hours at Talleysville, the ride was resumed, and the party +reached the Chickahominy at Forges Bridge at daylight. The stream was not +fordable, but, by exercise of great energy and industry, a rude +foot-bridge was laid. That part of the command near it dismounted and +walked over, swimming their horses. In a few hours the bridge was made +strong and the artillery and other mounts were passed safely over to the +Richmond side, and resumed the march for their old camp-grounds. + +This was one of the most graceful and daring rides known to military +history, and revealed valuable facts concerning the situation of the Union +forces, their operations, communications, etc. When congratulated upon his +success, General Stuart replied, with a lurking twinkle in his eye, that +he had left a general behind him. Asked as to the identity of the +unfortunate person, he said, with his joyful laugh, "General +Consternation." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FIGHTING ALONG THE CHICKAHOMINY. + + Retreat--Lee's Bold Initiative--Lee and his Lieutenants planning + Battle--The Confederates' Loss at Mechanicsville--Gaines's Mill--A. P. + Hill's Fight--Longstreet's Reserve Division put in--McClellan's Change + of Base--Savage Station--Longstreet engages McClellan's Main Force at + Frayser's Farm (or Glendale)--President Davis on the Field--Testimony + of Federal Generals--Fierce Bayonet Charges--"Greek meets + Greek"--Capture of General McCall--McClellan's Masterly Retreat. + + +The day after Stuart's return I rode over to General Lee's head-quarters +and suggested that General Jackson be withdrawn from the Valley to take +position on our left, to march against McClellan's right, and was informed +that the order for Jackson was sent when Whiting's division was detached +and sent to join him. + +Then it was that General Lee revealed the plan indicated in his +instructions of the 11th, for General Jackson to march down and attack +McClellan's rear, while he made a simultaneous attack upon his front. The +suggestion was offered that the enemy had probably destroyed the bridges +and ferries on the Pamunkey along the line of his rear, which might leave +Jackson in perilous condition if the front attack should be delayed; that +that attack must be hazardous, as the enemy was in well-fortified +positions with four army corps. After deliberation, he changed the plan +and accepted the suggestion in favor of combining his fighting columns on +the north side of the Chickahominy in echelon march against McClellan's +right flank, leaving troops in the trenches in front of McClellan to +defend in case of a move towards Richmond. + +At the first mention of this march before this conference a change of base +was spoken of by General D. H. Hill, but with our troops to be left in +the trenches, so near the flank of such a move, and our columns afield, +pressing close upon its rear, it was thought impracticable. General D. H. +Hill, in view of the possibility, preferred that our attack should be made +against the enemy's left by crossing White Oak Swamp below the enemy's +left. + +Jackson was called in advance of his command to meet the Hills and myself +at General Lee's head-quarters for conference on the execution. On the +forenoon of the 23d of June we were advised of his approach, and called to +head-quarters to meet him. He was there before us, having ridden fifty +miles by relay of horses since midnight. We were together in a few minutes +after his arrival, in General Lee's private office. The general explained +the plan briefly: Jackson to march from Ashland by heights between the +Chickahominy and Pamunkey, turning and dislodging the Federal right, thus +clearing the way for the march of troops to move on his right; A. P. Hill +to cross the upper Chickahominy and march for Mechanicsville, in echelon +to Jackson; the Mechanicsville Bridge being clear, D. H. Hill's division +and mine to cross, the former to reinforce Jackson's column, the latter to +file to the right and march down the river in right echelon to A. P. +Hill's direct march through Mechanicsville to Gaines's Mill. + +General Lee then excused himself to attend to office business, asking that +we talk the matter over for our better comprehension. + +Turning to Jackson, I said,-- + + "You have distance to overcome, and in all probability obstacles will + be thrown in the way of your march by the enemy. As your move is the + key of the campaign, you should appoint the hour at which the + connection may be made co-operative." + +He promptly responded,-- + + "The morning of the 25th." + +I expressed doubt of his meeting that hour, and suggested that it would be +better to take a little more time, as the movements of our columns could +be readily adjusted to those of his. He then appointed the morning of the +26th. + +Upon his return, report was made General Lee that the officers understood, +and would be prepared to execute the plans; that General Jackson had +appointed the morning of the 26th, when he would lead the march. Verbal +instructions were given, followed by written orders, embodying in minute +detail the plan already given in general. + +The topographical features of the ground about Beaver Dam Creek have been +given in a former chapter. Behind it battery epaulements had been +skilfully laid and constructed, as well as rifle-trenches. These were +occupied by the troops of the Fifth Corps, commanded by General Fitz-John +Porter. McCall's division had joined the Army of the Potomac, and was +assigned as part of the Fifth Corps, with the divisions of Sykes and +Morell. Two of McCall's brigades, J. F. Reynolds's and Seymour's, with +thoroughly-equipped artillery, were especially charged with the defences, +the Third Brigade, Meade's, in reserve, the other divisions in supporting +distance. McCall's advanced brigades had guards at the bridges as far as +Meadow Bridge, and a strong outpost at Mechanicsville, under orders to +retire when the strength of the enemy's advance was so developed as to +warrant their doing so. + +Three batteries, two of six guns each and one of four, manned the +epaulements at the opening of the fight. + +Before sunrise on the 26th of June the division of A. P. Hill was in +position at Meadow Bridge; his brigade, under General Branch, and +Johnson's battery, seven miles above, at Brook Turnpike Bridge; my +division and that of D. H. Hill on the heights overlooking the +Mechanicsville Bridge,--all awaiting the approach of the initial column. +Not anticipating delay, the divisions had no special cause to conceal +their presence, nor did the lay of the ground offer good cover. Morning +came, and noon passed. + +A few minutes after ten A.M., General Branch received a note informing him +that, at the hour of its writing, General Jackson's column was crossing +the Central Railroad. He assembled his command, crossed the Chickahominy, +and marched down along the route designated for his column, without +sending information to the division commander. Of his march he reported,-- + + "Interruption by the enemy, but with no other effect than to retard + without checking our march. + + "Near Crenshaw's the road on which the column commanded by + Major-General Ewell" (of Jackson's) "was advancing and that on which I + was advancing approach within one-fourth of a mile of each other. The + heads of our columns reached this point simultaneously, and, after a + short personal interview between General Ewell and myself, we + proceeded on our respective routes. + + "After dislodging the enemy from several ambuscades with only a small + loss to my command, I reached the Meadow Bridge road, when I learned + from stragglers that Major-General Hill had crossed the Chickahominy, + without opposition, with the remainder of the division and gone on to + Mechanicsville, then distant about one and a half miles. A courier + from the general soon assured me of the correctness of the + information, and, closing in my skirmishers, I made all haste to join + him at Mechanicsville. The brigade reached the field almost an hour + before sunset."[30] + +At three o'clock, General A. P. Hill, hearing nothing from Jackson or his +brigade under Branch, decided to cross the river and make his move without +reference to Jackson or Branch. He crossed and moved down against +Mechanicsville, attacked by Field's brigade, Anderson and Archer on +Field's left, Pender and Gregg on his right, and six field batteries (four +guns each). The outpost was driven in, and Hill prepared and attacked +against the front at Beaver Dam Creek. Meanwhile the Mechanicsville Bridge +had been cleared, and, after a little delay repairing breaks, D. H. +Hill's and Longstreet's divisions crossed. + +A. P. Hill's battle soon became firm, but he waited a little for Jackson +before giving it full force. Jackson came up, marched by the fight without +giving attention, and went into camp at Hundley's Corner, half a mile in +rear of the enemy's position of contention. A. P. Hill put his force in +severe battle and was repulsed. As D. H. Hill approached, he was called +into the fray by the commanding general, then by the President. He sent +Ripley's brigade and five batteries, which made the battle strong and hot +along the line. + +The most determined efforts were against the enemy's right, where General +McCall, reinforced by Kern's battery and Griffin's and Martindale's +brigades (Morell's division), Edwards's battery, and the Third Regiment of +Meade's brigade, beat off the repeated and formidable efforts of A. P. +Hill, when he essayed a column against the crossing at Ellerson's Mill, +which McCall reinforced by the Seventh Regiment of Meade's, Eastman's +battery, and before night the Fourth Michigan, Twelfth New York, and +Berdan's Sharp-shooters came in to reinforce the line and relieve +regiments exhausted of ammunition. The battle was in close conflict till +nine o'clock at night, when Hill was obliged to give over till morning. +The Federal reinforcements were not all engaged, and some that were +suffered but little; none very severely. McCall replenished ammunition and +prepared to renew the fight the next morning. + +The Federal loss in the engagement was 361 aggregate.[31] + +No especial account of the Confederate loss was made in separate report, +but it could not have been less than two thousand, and may have reached +three thousand. General D. H. Hill reported of his Forty-fourth Georgia +Regiment, the lieutenant-colonel, Estes (J. B.), wounded, and others, +aggregating 334 killed and wounded. Of his First North Carolina Regiment, +Colonel Stokes, Major Skinner, six captains, and the adjutant killed, and +133 privates killed and wounded. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE-FIELD OF MECHANICSVILLE AND BEAVER DAM CREEK. +SHOWING POSITION OF TROOPS NIGHT OF THE 26TH] + + +During the night General McClellan ordered his troops withdrawn. They +retired at daylight on the 27th, leaving a line of skirmishers to cover +their march. The skirmishers were not seriously molested, the Confederates +being satisfied that the direct assault had failed, and the flanking march +non-aggressive. Early in the morning, D. H. Hill was ordered to march to +the left to turn the position, and was on the Federal right before their +lines were well out of their trenches. He came up with Jackson and led the +march of that column from Hundley's Corner. A. P. Hill marched by the +direct route to Gaines's Mill, and Longstreet, in reserve, moved by the +route nearer the river and Dr. Gaines's house. + +D. H. Hill marched by Bethesda Church to Old Cold Harbor. He understood +the plan of campaign and promptly engaged the new position along the +Chickahominy Heights, on the enemy's right, where he found a well-posted +battery of ten guns near swamp lands commanding the only road of approach. +He ordered Bondurant's battery into action, but the combat was unequal; +the latter was forced to retire, and General Jackson ordered the division +back to selected ground parallel to a road over which he supposed that the +Federals would presently retreat. + +As my division was in reserve, it could only be used in the last +extremity. So the driving could only be made by the division of A. P. +Hill, while Jackson, with his own, Ewell's, D. H. Hill's, and Whiting's +divisions, had more than half of our moving column, organized as our +leading battle force, held in ambush for the enemy. + +The enemy was found strongly posted upon high ground over the Grapevine +Bridge, forming a semicircle, his flanks near the river. A deep and steep +chasm in front of his left divided the height upon which he stood from an +open plateau over which he must be attacked, if at all, on his left. The +side slope leading up to that position was covered by open forest, +obstructed and defended by fallen trees. On the crest were felled trees, +occasional sand-bags, piles of rails, and knapsacks. Behind these lines +were the divisions of Sykes and Morell, with bristling artillery for the +first defence, with McCall's division of infantry and a tremendous array +of artillery in reserve. Further strength was given to the position by a +stream which cut in between the two heights with deep scarped banks. His +right was covered to some extent by swamp lands and forest tangles almost +as formidable as the approach towards his left. General Fitz-John Porter +was the commander on the field. + +A. P. Hill came upon a detachment at Gaines's Mill, forced his way across +the creek, and followed to the enemy's strong position, where he promptly +engaged about the time of D. H. Hill's withdrawal. He found himself +fighting not only strong numbers, but against a very strong defensive +ground. As General D. H. Hill withdrew, General Porter prepared to follow, +but the fierce assaults of A. P. Hill told him that he must hold his +concentration. It was a little after two P.M. when A. P. Hill put all of +his force into action and pressed his battle with great zeal and courage, +but he was alone. Jackson, finding the fire of the enemy steady and +accumulating against A. P. Hill, ordered his troops forward into action. +D. H. Hill engaged again at the swamp land, and found that he must capture +the battery firing across his advance. With the aid of some of Elzey's +brigade he succeeded in this, temporarily, but Sykes doubled on him, +recovered it, and put it again into action. Parts of Ewell and Lawton, of +Jackson's, came in on D. H. Hill's right. Meanwhile, A. P. Hill had +fought to exhaustion, and found himself obliged to put his troops down to +hold his line. The enemy putting in his reserves, spliced his thinned +ranks with artillery and infantry, and fought a desperate and very gallant +battle, calling for troops from across the river. + +My division came up near A. P. Hill's rear, being the reserve, and awaited +orders. About five o'clock a messenger came from General Lee asking a +diversion by part of my troops against the enemy's left to draw off troops +from his right, so as to let our left in through his weakening lines. +Three brigades were sent to open fire and threaten their left from the +forest edge, with orders not to cross the open. These brigades engaged +steadily, and parts of them essayed to pass the field in front as their +blood grew hot, but were recalled, with orders repeated to engage +steadily, only threatening assault. The army all the while engaged in +efforts to find a point that could be forced. + +Finally, a little before sunset, General Lee sent to me to say that "all +other efforts had failed, and unless I could do something, the day was +lost."[32] Pickett's brigade and part of R. H. Anderson's had been drawn +up under the crest in rear of A. P. Hill's right, and Kemper's brigade was +near, also under cover. Upon the receipt of the last message, Pickett and +Anderson were ordered into action as assaulting columns, and Kemper called +up. Just as the brigades advanced, General Whiting burst through the woods +with his own and Hood's brigades, reported to me that he had lost sight of +his commander, General Jackson, in the forest, and asked me to put him +into battle. He was ordered to form for assault, and to follow on the left +of Pickett's and Anderson's columns, then in motion, as the columns of +direction. As my troops reached the crest under which they had rested +they came under the full blaze of the battle, but Pickett and Anderson +were comparatively fresh, and dashed through the open and down the slope +before the fire had time to thin their ranks. The steep descent of the +hither slope from its crest soon took them below the fire of the +batteries, and A. P. Hill's severe fight had so thinned the enemy's +infantry lines of men and ammunition that their fire grew weaker. +Whiting's brigade, sore under its recent disastrous effort in the battle +of Seven Pines, drifted from my left towards the woodland, but Hood, with +his Fourth Texas Regiment and Eighteenth Georgia, obliqued to the right +behind that brigade and closed the interval towards Anderson's left, +leaving his other regiments, the First and Fifth Texas, on Whiting's left. +Hood clambered over the deep ravine with his two regiments and maintained +position with the assaulting columns, while the balance of Whiting's +division followed in close echelon. As the advanced lines of Pickett, +Anderson, and Hood reached and crowned the stronghold of the enemy, +Anderson and Pickett moved up in pursuit of the broken lines, and were +almost in possession of their massed reserve artillery--had it under easy +musketry range--when a dash of cavalry admonished them that their ranks, +while in order for following the infantry lines, were not in proper form +to receive a charge of cavalry. They concentrated well enough to pour a +repelling fire into the troopers, but the delay had made time for the +retreating infantry to open the field for the reserve batteries, and, +night growing apace, they returned to the line of their trophies and used +the captured guns against their late owners. + +General Whiting asked for another brigade of Jackson's that had reported +to me, and turned his forces against the enemy's line on our left. The +divisions of Ewell and D. H. Hill advancing at the same time, the general +break seemed almost simultaneous, and was claimed by all. + +The messages from General Lee were so marked by their prompt and +successful execution that, in reporting of the battle, it occurred to me +that they could be better noted in his report than in mine, but he adopted +the claim of a general and simultaneous break along the line. + +A letter from General Porter, written since the war, assures the writer +that his guns had become so foul from steady protracted fire that his men +had difficulty in ramming their cartridges to the gun-chambers, and that +in some instances it could only be accomplished by putting the rammers +against trees and hammering them down. + +The position was too strong to leave room to doubt that it was only the +thinning fire, as the battle progressed, that made it assailable; besides, +the repulse of A. P. Hill's repeated, desperate assaults forcibly +testified to the fact. It was, nevertheless, a splendid charge, by +peerless soldiers. When the cavalry came upon us our lines were just thin +enough for a splendid charge upon artillery, but too thin to venture +against a formidable cavalry. Five thousand prisoners were turned over to +General Lee's provost-guard, a number of batteries and many thousand +small-arms to the Ordnance Department, by my command. The Confederate +commanders, except A. P. Hill, claimed credit for the first breach in +General Porter's lines, but the solid ranks of prisoners delivered to the +general provost-guard, and the several batteries captured and turned in to +the Ordnance Department, show the breach to have been made by the columns +of Anderson, Pickett, and Hood's two regiments. The troops of the gallant +A. P. Hill, that did as much and effective fighting as any, received +little of the credit properly due them. It was their long and steady fight +that thinned the Federal ranks and caused them to so foul their guns that +they were out of order when the final struggle came. + +Early on the 28th my advance, reaching the river, found the bridges +destroyed and the enemy concentrating on the other side. Under the +impression that the enemy must reopen connection with his base on the +Pamunkey, General Lee sent Stuart's cavalry and part of Jackson's command +(Ewell's) to interpose on that line. They cut the line at Despatch +Station, where Ewell's division was halted. Stuart, following down towards +the depot on the Pamunkey till he approached the White House, cut off a +large detachment of cavalry and horse artillery under General Stoneman +that retreated down the Peninsula. At night Stuart rested his command, +finding supplies of forage and provisions abandoned by the enemy. At the +same time fires were seen along the line of supplies, and houses in +flames. On the 29th he followed towards the depot, still in flames. + + "The command was now entirely out of rations and the horses without + forage. I had relied on the enemy at the White House to supply me with + those essentials, and I was not disappointed, in spite of their + efforts to destroy everything. Provisions and delicacies of every + description lay in heaps, and men regaled themselves on fruits of the + tropics as well as the substantials of the land. Large quantities of + forage were left also."[33] + +On the 28th, Major Meade and Lieutenant Johnson's engineers were sent from +my head-quarters to learn of the enemy's operations or movements. Early on +the 29th they made their way across the Chickahominy, into the grounds and +works of the enemy just left vacant, and sent the first account of the +enemy's move on his change of base. The conflagrations of the day before +told of speedy change of position in some direction, but this was the +first information we had from a reliable source. Their report was sent to +General Lee. While planning and ordering pursuit, he received a similar +report from General Magruder, coupled with the statement that he was +preparing to attack one of the enemy's forts. + +General Jackson was ordered to follow on the enemy's rear with his column, +including the division of D. H. Hill, crossing the river at Grapevine +Bridge, Magruder to join pursuit along the direct line of retreat, Huger +to strike at the enemy's flank; meanwhile, Ransom's brigade had joined +Huger's division. My division was to cross with A. P. Hill's at New +Bridge, march back near Richmond, across to and down the Darbytown road to +interpose between the enemy and James River. Stuart was directed to +operate against the enemy's left or rear, or front, as best he could. + +All the commands, being in waiting, marched at the first moment of their +orders. + +Jackson was long delayed repairing Grapevine Bridge. He probably knew that +the river was fordable at that season, but preferred to pass his men over +dry-shod. + +General D. H. Hill, of that column, reported,-- + + "Scouts from Hood's brigade and the Third Alabama (Rodes's brigade) + succeeded in crossing, and my pioneer corps under Captain Smith, of + the Engineers, repaired Grapevine Bridge on the 29th, and we crossed + over at three o'clock that night."[34] + +On the 28th the Seventh and Eighth Georgia Regiments were sent out a +little before night to ascertain the probable movements of the enemy, and +encountered part of W. F. Smith's division, Sixth Corps, meeting the +Forty-ninth Pennsylvania and Thirty-third New York Regiments. Colonel +Lamar and Lieutenant-Colonel Towers and Adjutant Harper, of the Eighth +Georgia Regiment, fell into the enemy's hands, and twenty-nine others of +the Seventh and Eighth Regiments were taken prisoners. Just as this affair +was well begun a recall of the regiments was ordered; hence the number of +casualties. About the same hour a cavalry affair at Despatch Station +occurred which resulted to the credit of the Confederates. + +At night General McClellan called his corps commanders to head-quarters +and announced his plan for change of base to the James River. The Fourth +Corps had been ordered to prepare the route of crossing at White Oak +Swamp, and pass over to defend it. The Fifth and Slocum's division of the +Sixth were to follow at night of the 28th. The Second, Third, and Smith's +division of the Sixth Corps were to defend the crossing against pursuit; +the Fourth, continuing its move, was to stand at Turkey Bridge, defending +the approach from Richmond by the river road; the Fifth to stand at +Malvern Hill, with McCall's division across the Long Bridge road, and +Slocum's across the Charles City road, defending the avenues of approach +from Richmond. On the 29th, Magruder in pursuit came upon Sumner's +(Second) corps at Allen's Farm, and, after a spirited affair, found Sumner +too strong for him. After his success, Sumner retired to Savage Station, +where he joined Franklin with his division under Smith. The Third Corps +(Heintzelman's), under misconception of orders, or misleading of +staff-officers, followed the marching corps across the swamp, leaving the +Second and Smith's division of the Sixth as the only defending forces. At +Savage Station, Magruder came upon them and again joined battle, but his +force was not equal to the occasion. The commander of his left (D. R. +Jones), realizing the importance of action and the necessity for +additional troops, called upon General Jackson to co-operate on his left, +but Jackson reported that he had other important duties to perform. The +affair, therefore, against odds was too strong for Magruder, so that he +was forced back without important results for the Confederates, the +Federals making safe passage of the crossing and gaining position to +defend against pursuit in that quarter. + +On the 29th, General Holmes marched down the James River road to New +Market with part of Colonel Daniel's brigade and two batteries, and +General J. G. Walker's brigade and two batteries, and was there reinforced +by part of General Wise's brigade and two batteries, in co-operative +position to my division and that of A. P. Hill, on the Darbytown and Long +Bridge roads. + +On his night march along the Long Bridge road, Fitz-John Porter got on the +wrong end and rubbed up against my outpost, but recognized his adversary +in time to recover his route and avert a night collision. He posted +McCall's division in front of Charles City cross-roads; his divisions +under Morell and Sykes at Malvern Hill, and Warren's brigade, near the +Fourth Corps, on the river routes from Richmond. As the divisions of the +Third Corps arrived they were posted,--Kearny between the Charles City and +Long Bridge roads, on McCall's right; Hooker in front of the Quaker road, +on McCall's left; Sedgwick's division, Sumner's corps, behind McCall. + +Before noon of the 30th, Jackson's column encountered Franklin, defending +the principal crossing of White Oak Swamp by the divisions of Richardson +and W. F. Smith and Naglee's brigade. About the same time my command +marched down the Long Bridge road and encountered the main force of +McClellan's army posted at the Charles City cross-roads (Frayser's Farm, +or Glendale). My division was deployed across the Long Bridge road in +front of the divisions of McCall and Kearny, holding the division of A. P. +Hill at rest in the rear, except the brigade under Branch, which was +posted off to my right and rear to guard against Hooker's division, +standing behind the Quaker road, in threatening position on my right +flank. The ground along the front of McCall and Kearny was a dark forest, +with occasional heavy tangles, as was the ground in front of Hooker. The +front of Slocum, along the Charles City road, was something similar, but +offering some better opportunities for artillery practice and infantry +tactics. + +As Jackson and Franklin engaged in artillery combat, my division advanced +under desultory fire of skirmishers to close position for battle, awaiting +nearer approach of Jackson and signal of approach of our troops on the +Charles City road. In the wait the skirmish-lines were more or less +active, and an occasional shot came from one of the Federal batteries. + +During the combat between Jackson and Franklin, Sedgwick's brigades under +Dana and Sully were sent back to reinforce at the crossing, but upon the +opening of the engagement at Frayser's Farm they were brought back on the +double-quick. + +After a time reports of cannon fire came from the direction of Charles +City road, signalling, as we supposed, the approach of Huger's column. To +this I ordered one of our batteries to return salutation. The senior +brigadier of the division, R. H. Anderson, was assigned to immediate +supervision of my front line, leaving his brigade under Colonel M. +Jenkins. While awaiting the nearer approach of Jackson or the swelling +volume of Huger's fire, the President, General Lee, and General A. P. +Hill, with their staffs and followers, rode forward near my line and +joined me in a little clearing of about three acres, curtained by dense +pine forests. All parties engaged in pleasant talk and anticipations of +the result of a combination supposed to be complete and prepared for +concentrating battle,--Jackson attacking in the rear, Huger on the right +flank, A. P. Hill and myself standing in front. Very soon we were +disturbed by a few shells tearing and screaming through the forests over +our heads, and presently one or two burst in our midst, wounding a courier +and killing and wounding several horses. The little opening was speedily +cleared of the distinguished group that graced its meagre soil, and it was +left to more humble, active combatants. + +Near the battery from which the shots came was R. H. Anderson's brigade, +in which Colonel Jenkins had a battalion of practised sharp-shooters. I +sent orders for Jenkins to silence the battery, under the impression that +our wait was understood, and that the sharp-shooters would be pushed +forward till they could pick off the gunners, thus ridding us of that +annoyance; but the gallant Jenkins, only too anxious for a dash at a +battery, charged and captured it, thus precipitating battle. The troops +right and left going in, in the same spirit, McCall's fire and the forest +tangle thinned our ranks as the lines neared each other, and the battle +staggered both sides, but, after a formidable struggle, the Confederates +won the ground, and Randol's gallant battery. Sedgwick's division +reinforced the front and crowded back the Confederate right, while +Kearny's, reinforced by Slocum, pushed severely against my left, and then +part of Hooker's division came against my right. Thus the aggressive +battle became defensive, but we held most of the ground gained from +McCall. + +In his official account, General Heintzelman said,-- + + "In less than an hour General McCall's division gave way. General + Hooker, being on his left, by moving to the right repulsed the rebels + in the handsomest manner and with great slaughter. General Sumner, who + was with General Sedgwick, in McCall's rear, also greatly aided with + his artillery and infantry in driving back the enemy. They now renewed + the attack with vigor on Kearny's left, and were again repulsed with + heavy loss. The attack continued until some time after night. + + "This attack commenced at four P.M. and was pushed by heavy masses + with the utmost determination and vigor. Captain Thompson's battery, + directed with great skill, firing double charges, swept them back. The + whole open space, two hundred paces wide, was filled with the enemy. + Each repulse brought fresh troops. + + "Seeing that the enemy was giving way, I returned to the forks of the + road, where I received a call from General Kearny for aid. Knowing + that all of General Sedgwick's troops were unavailable, I was glad to + avail myself of the kind offer of General Slocum to send the New + Jersey brigade of his division to General Kearny's aid. I rode out + far enough on the Charles City road to see that we had nothing to fear + from that direction."[35] + +General McCall reported,-- + + "I had ridden into the regiment to endeavor to check them, but with + only partial success. It was my fortune to witness one of the fiercest + bayonet charges that ever occurred on this continent. Bayonet wounds, + mortal and slight, were given and received. I saw skulls smashed by + the butts of muskets, and every effort made by either party in this + life-and-death struggle proving indeed that here Greek had met Greek. + The Seventh Regiment was at this time on the right of the Fourth, and + was too closely engaged with a force also of great superiority in + numbers to lend any assistance to the gallant few of the Fourth who + were struggling at their side. In fine, these few men, some seventy or + eighty, were borne bodily off among the rebels, and when they reached + a gap in the fence walked through it, while the enemy, intent on + pursuing those in front of them, passed on without noticing them. + + "It was at this moment, on witnessing this scene, I keenly felt the + want of reinforcements. I had not a single regiment left to send to + the support of those so overpowered. There was no running, but my + division, reduced by the furious battles to less than six thousand, + had to contend with the divisions of Longstreet and A. P. Hill + (considered two of the strongest and best among many of the + Confederate army, numbering that day eighteen or twenty thousand men), + and it was reluctantly compelled to give way before heavier force + accumulated upon them. My right was, as I say, literally forced off + the ground by the weight simply of the enemy's column." + +His account is incorrect in the estimate of numbers and the two divisions. +Hill was not put in until a later hour, and encountered the troops of +Kearny and Slocum. Hill's orders were to hold the line gained until +Jackson and Huger approached, to warrant more aggressive battle. + +Magruder's march had been directed to succor Holmes. In his official +account, General Holmes wrote of parts of his cavalry and artillery, +"whose conduct was shameful in the extreme." He reported his casualties: + + "Daniel's brigade, 2 killed, 22 wounded; Walker's brigade, 12 wounded; + artillery, 15 wounded. + + "The strength of the enemy's position and their imposing numbers were + such that to attempt an attack upon them with my small force, + unsupported, would have been perfect madness; for to have done this + would have required a march of over three-quarters of a mile up a + steep hill destitute of cover. I accordingly withdrew about nine P.M. + to a position somewhat in advance of that occupied in the + morning."[36] + +In his account of the fight, General Kearny wrote,-- + + "At four P.M. the attack commenced on my line with a determination and + vigor, and in such masses, as I had never witnessed. Thompson's + battery, directed with great skill, literally swept the slightly + falling open space with the completest execution, and, mowing them + down by ranks, would cause the survivors to momentarily halt; but, + almost instantly after, increased masses came up, and the wave bore + on.... + + "In concluding my report of this battle, one of the most desperate of + the war, the one most fatal, if lost, I am proud to give my thanks and + to include in the glory of my own division the First New Jersey + Brigade, General Taylor, who held McCall's deserted ground, and + General Caldwell."[37] + +A. P. Hill's division was held at rest several hours after the battle was +pitched (Branch's brigade on guard on my right retired, and Gregg's on my +left). Under our plan, that Huger was to assault the Federal right and +Jackson the rear, the battle joined; Hill was to be put in fresh to crown +it. As night approached without indications of attack from either of those +columns, Hill was advanced to relieve the pressure against my worn troops. +At the first dash he again grasped and held Randol's battery, that had +been the source of contention from the first onset. Field's brigade pushed +on through the enemy's line, and, supported by Pender's and Branch's, +drove back reinforcements coming to their succor from one of Sedgwick's +brigades; pushed Caldwell's off to Kearny's position, where, with the +additional aid of part of Slocum's division, Kearny succeeded in +recovering his own ground and in putting Caldwell's brigade into part of +McCall's original right, leaving the Confederates holding part of McCall's +first line, Field's brigade some little distance in advance of it. Archer +and Branch, on Field's right, made strong that part of it. Gregg's brigade +on the left made little progress beyond holding most of the ground taken +by the first assault. The battle thus braced held its full and swelling +volume on both sides. My right, thinned by the heavy fighting and tangled +forest, found a way around the left of the contention, then gravitating +towards its centre. In this effort Hooker's division came against its +right flank. By change of front a clever fight was made, but Branch's +brigade, ordered for service at that point, had been withdrawn by General +Hill to support his centre, so that Hooker pushed us off into closed ranks +along our line in rear and back; but his gallant onset was checked and +failed of progress. General Hooker claimed that he threw Longstreet over +on Kearny, but General McCall said that by a little stretch of the +hyperbole he could have said that he threw Longstreet over the moon. To +establish his centre, Hill sent in J. R. Anderson's brigade astride the +Long Bridge road, which held the battle till the near approach of night, +when McCall, in his last desperate effort to reinforce and recover his +lost ground, was caught in the dark of twilight and invited to ride to my +head-quarters. Friends near him discovered his dilemma in time to avert +their own capture, and aggressive battle ceased. The artillery combat, +with occasional exchanges of shots, held till an hour after the beat of +tattoo. + +It was the Forty-seventh Virginia Regiment that caught and invited General +McCall to quarter with the Confederates. Although his gallant division had +been forced from the fight, the brave head and heart of the general were +not fallen till he found himself on his lonely ride. He was more tenacious +of his battle than any one who came within my experience during the war, +if I except D. H. Hill at Sharpsburg. + +In years gone by I had known him in pleasant army service, part of the +time as a brevet lieutenant of his company. When the name was announced, +and as he dismounted, I approached to offer my hand and such amenities as +were admissible under the circumstances, but he drew up with haughty mien, +which forbade nearer approach, so that the courtesies were concluded by +the offer of staff-officers to escort him to the city of Richmond. + +It was during this affair that General Holmes's division advanced against +the Federals at Turkey Bridge with a six-gun field battery and engaged, +and was met by the fire of thirty field guns and the gunboat batteries, +which drove him to confusion, abandoning two guns. Earlier in the day, +Magruder's column had been ordered by a long detour to support the fight +at Frayser's Farm, but the trouble encountered by Holmes's division seemed +serious, and caused the Confederate commander to divert Magruder's march +to support that point, through which a resolute advance might endanger our +rear at Frayser's Farm. After night Magruder was called to relieve the +troops on the front of my line. His march during the day was delayed by +his mistaken guide. + +The Confederates claimed as trophies of the battle ten pieces of +artillery, some prisoners, and most of the field from which McCall's +division had been dislodged. Holmes's division lost two guns in the affair +at Turkey Bridge, but other Confederates secured and afterwards made +better use of them. + +During this eventful day the Federals were anxiously pushing their trains +to cover on the river, and before noon of July 1 all, except those of +ammunition necessary for immediate use, had safely passed the field +selected for their Malvern Hill battle. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL. + + Last Stand in the Great Retreat--Strength of McClellan's Position--The + Confederates make Poor Use of their Artillery--A Mistake and Defeat + for Lee's Army--The Campaign as a Whole a Great Success, but it should + have been far greater--McClellan's Retreat showed him well equipped in + the Science of War--Review of the Campaign--Jackson's and Magruder's + Misunderstanding--Moral Effect of the Gunboats on the James + River--"There should be a Gunboat in Every Family." + + +At Malvern Hill, hardly a league away from Frayser's, now left to silence +save for the moans of the unfortunate fallen, and standing south of the +line to Turkey Bridge, was Fitz-John Porter with the reserve artillery +massed, supported by the divisions of Sykes and Morell on the left and +Couch's on the right, from the Crew House to J. W. Binford's. The field +had been carefully selected and as judiciously guarded by well-posted +commands, holding the only way left which gave hope of successful passage +to cover under the gunboats. During the night of the 30th of June and +early morn of the 1st of July this position was reinforced by the +retreating Federals,--first by the Second and Third Corps, McCall's +division of the Fifth, and W. F. Smith's of the Sixth, and later by other +troops. Among the trains moving for the river was one of ten siege guns +under Colonel Tyler. These were dropped in Porter's rear and put in +battery, giving them a sweep of the avenues of approach and extensive rake +of the woodlands, and a great number of lighter batteries bristled upon +the brow and down the slopes of the hill. On either flank the plateau was +somewhat guarded by ravines and tangled marsh lands, while the front +approach was over ascending slopes, so broken as to make advancing +artillery combat slow and hazardous. + +Early on the 1st, the columns under Huger, Jackson, and Magruder met at +the Charles City cross-roads, but the enemy had given up that position and +marched away, leaving to them the abandoned forest land. The +disappointment of the Confederate commander in the failure of combination +ordered for the 30th was noted by those who were near him, while the +composure with which it was borne indicated the grander elements of his +character, and drew those who knew his plans and purposes closer to him. + +Jackson was ordered to follow on the direct line of the enemy's retreat; +Huger and Magruder marched to co-operate on his right; Longstreet's and A. +P. Hill's divisions were held in reserve. General Lee rode near Jackson's +column to view the army on that front. Feeling unwell and much fatigued, +he called me to temporary service near him. As he rode to the left, he +ordered me, with the columns of Huger and Magruder, to make reconnoissance +of the enemy's new position in that quarter, and to report of the +feasibility of aggressive battle. + +I found some difference between General Lee's maps and General Magruder's +guides, but my authority was only for a reconnoissance, and posting the +divisions. An elevated point was found off the enemy's left front, as high +as the plateau upon which his army stood, from which a fair view was had +of his position and down along his front and the open as far as Jackson's +field, the latter just filing in by his batteries on much lower but open +ground. + +Profound silence rested upon the field. Jackson's batteries, yet a little +beyond the point of range, marched to their places as quietly as if taking +positions for review. Porter's field seemed as little concerned at the +developments along his flank and front, indicating that there was to be no +waste of ammunition on that July day. His guns could not be counted, but +blocking them off by batteries there seemed to be eighty on his front, +besides the siege battery in rear. His guns were all trailed to +Jackson's front, thus presenting a flank towards the high point upon which +I stood. From the crest at this little ridge the ground dropped off +sharply some eighteen inches or two feet to a lower terrace, forming a +natural parapet and terre-plein for forty or sixty guns, massed. The +spacious open along Jackson's front appeared to offer a field for play of +a hundred or more guns, and although his lower ground was not inviting of +combat even by a hundred guns, it was yet judged that advancing combat by +eighty or a hundred guns, in combination with the forty-gun battery of +position, might justify assault, and the tremendous game at issue called +for adventure. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL] + + +I thought it probable that Porter's batteries, under the cross-fire of the +Confederates thus posted on his left and front, could be thrown into +disorder, and thus make way for combined assaults of the infantry. I so +reported, and General Lee ordered disposition accordingly, sending the +pioneer corps out to cut a road for the right batteries of position. + +I suggested position to Magruder for his division, but he insisted that +the Quaker road was not correctly located on General Lee's maps, so I left +that part of the order to be looked after by General Lee's recognized +staff. General Chilton, chief of staff, was then sent by General Lee to +assist General Magruder in posting the troops, and I was ordered back to +locate the batteries. + +But eight guns came in proper time and were posted. These General Magruder +proposed to supplement by thirty of his own under Colonel S. D. Lee, to be +reinforced by the others as they came up. With this understanding I +returned to head-quarters, made my report, and was permitted to go back to +my command proper. + +The most convenient point for observing the effect of the artillery fire +was occupied by General Armistead's brigade. That officer was designated +by General Lee to give notice, if the combat was successful, by advancing +his brigade, under the shouts of infantry charge, as the signal for +general assault. + +The eight guns for the right battery were all that got into position on +time, and Jackson failed to open fire by advancing all of the batteries +along his front, so that the practice from those quarters was not forcibly +executed. When the eight guns finally opened, Porter shifted his aim from +his proper front, which Jackson failed to combat, and put in the fire of +forty guns against the eight-gun battery of our right. The gunboat +batteries also came into that practice, but it was found that they damaged +friends almost as much as the enemy, and were ordered to discontinue. +Jackson's cross-fire, feeble at best and at long range, was finally drawn +off by other batteries far on the enemy's right, so that the eight guns +were soon piled a heterogeneous mass of caissons, guns, limbers, and +horses. Some other batteries got into action at the same point, eight or +ten at a time, but suffered like disaster. + +So the plan for battle and order of the day were given over by the +Confederate commander, who sent for me to ride with him over to his left +in search of a route by which the enemy's right might be turned. This +seemed feasible under the hasty reconnoissance, and he ordered the +reserves on that move. As we started on the march the noise of battle +reached us and the march was arrested. Under the impression that his +officers realized the failure and abandonment of his original plan, +General Lee failed to issue orders specifically recalling the appointed +battle. + +It seems that just as the troops marched to the left under the last order, +information was received by some of the officers at the front that the +enemy was getting away from us. + +To ascertain as to this matter, and anxious to atone for lost +opportunities of the day before, part of the troops near our right moved +forward, and soon encountered the enemy's infantry, as well as the +formidable artillery. This impact burst into the noise of battle, and was +taken as the signal for assault under the original order of the day. From +the right to the left, as far as and including D. H. Hill's division, the +Confederates attacked in splendid style, making repeated brave charges, +but they were as firmly met by the enemy, and their dead and wounded were +mingled on the same lines. The Confederate ranks thinning rapidly, +Magruder called on me for reinforcements, and Jackson was sent to +reinforce D. H. Hill's left, but night closed in upon us before the +reinforcements could get into action. + +As the order for battle had been given about noon, and had been abandoned +some hours before the opening, upon receiving Magruder's call, I supposed +the conflict had been brought on by the enemy to force our right back and +better clear the route of his retreat. I ordered A. P. Hill direct to +Magruder, and my own division for support on our extreme right. The result +of the battle was a repulse of the Confederates along the entire line and +the sacrifice of several thousand brave officers and men, though some of +our troops held ground nearer the enemy than at the onset of the battle. +During the night the enemy resumed his march for the river, leaving his +dead, some of his wounded, and exhibiting other marks of the precipitate +character of his retreat. + +Stuart's cavalry had been recalled from north of the Chickahominy on the +30th to join us on the south side, and reached Jackson's left Tuesday +night after the battle. + +The morning of the 2d opened heavy and oppressive. The storm front of +bursting cannon and bristling bayonets was changed to a wide sweep of +heavy clouds that covered the dead that had grappled and fallen together +on Malvern Hill. The enemy was gone, and reached his lodgement at +Harrison's Landing on James River, the old seat of that family which has +given our country two Presidents. Jackson stood on the direct route of +the enemy's retreat, and was ordered to follow it; Magruder's and Huger's +commands to follow Jackson. General Lee rode with them. D. H. Hill's +division was left to care for the wounded and dead of Malvern Hill. To +obviate pressure upon a single track, the reserve divisions were ordered +by Nance's Store, but the heavy clouds soon began to let down a pelting +rain that became more severe and delayed all movements. + +The reports of Jackson and Stuart of the operations of the 3d are +conflicting. The former claimed that he was near the landing on the +morning of the 3d, and advanced his line of skirmishers. The latter +reported that he found during the night of the 2d a fine position on +Erlington Heights, from which the enemy could be shelled out of his new +position by artillery; that he occupied and held that position by a +squadron and howitzer until driven from it by the enemy at two o'clock in +the afternoon of the 3d; that he reported of that position to Generals Lee +and Jackson during the night of the 2d. Other accounts go with that of +Stuart. It seems that the "foot cavalry"[38] and the reserve divisions met +at the landing late in the afternoon of the 3d. The troops from the Valley +district had not been engaged in the battles of the march except that of +Gaines's Mill. + +At daylight of the 4th I rode to the front, and ordered General Jackson to +drive in the enemy's skirmishers and prepare to attack. D. R. Jones's +division of Magruder's command, coming up, was ordered on Jackson's left, +A. P. Hill's on his right; my own division to support Jackson's direct +move for Erlington Heights. After pushing the skirmish line back, Jackson +reported his troops not in condition for the work, and asked delay until +the commanding general was up. As General Lee was reported near, attack +was delayed, and a note was sent asking him to ride forward as soon as +convenient. He rode up in about half an hour, and, after mature +deliberation, decided that the attack should not be made. He reinforced +his cavalry and horse artillery by a number of his choicest field +batteries, and ordered General Stuart to use them against the enemy's +transports on the lower James. This expedition did some damage, but the +superior batteries of the gun-boats, convoys of the transports, enabled +them to maintain safe-conduct along the line of supplies and +reinforcements. On the 8th he withdrew his army to points more convenient +to supplies, and towards the open highway to Washington City. + +Passing in critical review the events of the campaign, they fail to +disclose a flaw as it was projected by the Confederate chief. It even +opened up grander possibilities than came within his most hopeful +anticipations at the period of projection. + +The Union commander left his Fifth Corps engaged at Beaver Dam Creek while +Jackson's column marched by it as far as Hundley's Corner and went into +camp. The object and instructions of Jackson's advanced echelon were to +have him file in against any force that he might pass and attack it in +flank and rear. If, instead of going into camp at Hundley's Corner on the +afternoon of the 26th of June, he had filed to his right behind the Fifth +Corps, he would have had it surrounded by fifty thousand men beyond the +reach of succor. + +He was troubled by conflicting orders. The general order for the campaign +and verbal instructions were intended to supersede all others, but General +Lee's letter of the 11th was not recalled, so he marched with the two +orders in his pocket, which made not a little trouble. + +Before Jackson's army was called from the Valley, it was reinforced and +organized for our working column. On the morning of the 27th of June it +was further augmented by the division under D. H. Hill and Stuart's +cavalry. His line of march during the day led him around Porter's position +near Gaines's Mill to the enemy's right, the most favorable point for +attack. He partially engaged by D. H. Hill's division, then withdrew it, +and posted his troops in a position selected to catch the Federals in +their flight from A. P. Hill's division. Finally, when Porter's defence +developed too much strength for A. P. Hill, he deployed into line of +battle from left to right, overspreading the enemy's entire front. + +On the morning of the 28th of June, General Lee thought to draw McClellan +out from his works, force him to defend his base on the Pamunkey, and to +so cripple him on his retreat as to warrant strong detachments from his +army in the direction of Washington, and thus force him to defend his own +capital. + +Before marching to the opening of the campaign, he ordered a detachment of +cavalry to the south side of White Oak Swamp, under careful watch for the +enemy's movements by vedettes, even as far as Chickahominy River, so that +on the night of the 27th he had a cordon of troops and vedettes extending +completely around McClellan's army. Notwithstanding precautions so +carefully laid, McClellan started to march for his new base on the night +of the 27th, continued his preparations and movements through the day and +night of the 28th, and the first reliable information of the move towards +James River came from Major Meade and Lieutenant Johnson, engineers. The +information, though coming from a source least looked for, was more than +gratifying to General Lee, for he thought the enemy had essayed a move not +practicable; that General McClellan's army was in his power and must be +our prize, never to reach the new base. + +Just as he was mapping out orders of pursuit, a staff-officer of General +Magruder's came from the other side of the river to report the Federal +army in retreat, and that General Magruder was preparing to assault the +fort in his immediate front. General Lee said,-- + + "My compliments to General Magruder, and ask him not to hurt my young + friends, Major Meade and Lieutenant Johnson, who are occupying that + fort." + +Uniformly military, but courteous in his bearing, it was very rare that he +became facetious when on parade service, but anticipations that General +McClellan was soon to be his prisoner excused the giving way to impulse +born of this unexpected adventure. + +Within an hour his troops on the east side were on the march for their +crossings of the Chickahominy. He then rode across, gave orders to General +Magruder, rode with him some distance, and repeated the orders before +leaving him. + +Following up the rear-guard, General Magruder came upon it in force at +Savage Station. The Second Corps and Franklin's division under W. F. Smith +of the Sixth, under General Sumner, were posted there to cover the +retreat. Magruder planned battling with his own six brigades against their +front, two brigades of Huger's division to come on the enemy's left down +the Williamsburg road, Jackson's twelve or fifteen brigades to attack +their right. But when Magruder thought his arrangements complete, he +received a message from General Huger "that his brigades would be +withdrawn."[39] + +Then other information not anticipated came to him,--viz., that General +Jones, commanding on Magruder's left, called for co-operation in that +quarter. General Jackson sent word in reply that "he had other important +duty to perform." + +Referring to Jackson's orders of the 29th, General Lee wrote General +Magruder: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, + "June 29, 1862. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL J. B. MAGRUDER, + "_Commanding Division_: + + "GENERAL,--I regret much that you have made so little progress to-day + in pursuit of the enemy. In order to reap the fruits of our victory + the pursuit should be most vigorous. I must urge you, then, again to + press on his rear rapidly and steadily. We must lose no time, or he + will escape us entirely. + + "Very respectfully yours, etc., + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_. + + "P.S.--Since the order was written, I learn from Major Taylor that you + are under the impression that General Jackson has been ordered not to + support you. On the contrary, he has been directed to do so, and to + push the pursuit vigorously."[40] + +Sumner, besides his greater force, having some advantage from the +earthworks previously constructed, repulsed Magruder's attack, and the +affair of cross-purposes failed of effect. + +If Jackson could have joined against the right of Sumner with his +brigades, the latter could have been dislodged, the Confederates passing +the swamp with him, which would have marked the beginning of the end. The +occasion was especially propitious, for Heintzelman's corps, that had been +designated as part of the rear-guard with Sumner and Franklin, through +some misconception had marched over the swamp, to camp near Charles City +cross-roads, leaving easy work for Jackson and Magruder. + +When, on the forenoon of the 30th, Jackson found his way across the swamp +blocked by Franklin, he had time to march to the head of and across it to +the Charles City road in season for the engagement contemplated at +Frayser's Farm, the distance being about four miles. General Wright, of +Huger's division, marched his brigade from the head of the swamp to +Jackson's line at the bridge, and returned, making several halts and +crossings to reconnoitre. + +But little remains to be said of the engagements at Frayser's Farm and +Malvern Hill. The former was a halting failure of combination of forces; +the latter an accident resulting from the armies standing close abreast +many hours. Malvern Hill left out, the two armies would have mingled their +lines between that and Westover during the 3d and 4th of July. + +The failure of concert of action by the Confederates should not discount +the conduct of McClellan's masterly retreat. In the emergency he showed +himself well equipped in the science of war, and prepared to cross swords +with his able adversary. At the opening of the campaign he had in hand one +hundred and five thousand men. General Lee's returns were not accurately +made, but a fair estimate puts his numbers between eighty and eighty-five +thousand. + +The losses of the campaign were, on the Union side, 15,249; on the +Confederate side, greater; in the absence of complete returns, it is fair +to say that they were from 18,000 to 19,000. Up to the time of Malvern +Hill the casualties were about equally divided between the two armies, but +in that battle the Confederates lost not far from 5000 men, and the +Federals not more than one-third that number. + +Upon reaching the gunboats, General McClellan's power was about doubled. +Although fire from the gun-boats was not very effective against a land +battle, the moral effect of fighting batteries that could not be reached +was most powerful. It was reported on the Confederate side that General +McClellan, on boarding one of the boats, where he spent most of the day of +battle, said, "There should be a gunboat in every family." + +Some critics say that McClellan should have taken Richmond during the +campaign. The great Napoleon would have done so after the disaster at +Malvern Hill with his regularly organized army of veterans. They say, too, +that Lee should have captured McClellan and his army. So thought General +Lee, but some of his leaders were working at cross-purposes, and did not +have that close attention that the times called for. + +We may now consider the probable result of the plan mapped out and ordered +by General Lee in his letter of June 11th to General Jackson had it been +followed,--_i.e._, Jackson to march down the right bank of the Pamunkey +with his troops from the Valley district and attack McClellan's rear east +of the Chickahominy, while Lee attacked from the Richmond side with his +army. On the Richmond side, McClellan had four army corps, well fortified, +supported by his powerful artillery. The battle of Gaines's Mill, where +the troops from the Valley were reinforced by four of Lee's choice +divisions and most of his cavalry,--more than doubling Jackson's +column,--may be significant of the result of Jackson's attack on that side +if it had been made as ordered. The battle of Malvern Hill, from an open +field, may tell the result of an attack upon the four corps in their +fortified position had the attack been made upon them from the Richmond +front. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +HALLECK AND POPE IN FEDERAL COMMAND. + + Centres of Activity gravitate towards Orange and Culpeper + Counties--Pope's Unsoldierly Preliminary Orders--Jackson's and Pope's + Encounter at Cedar Mountain--Confidence in and Esteem for General + Lee--The Confederate Commander's Plans for cutting off Pope + miscarry--Capture of Captain Fitzhugh with Important + Orders--Longstreet puts General Toombs under Arrest--General Pope + withdraws. + + +The Federals had by this time organized the "Army of Virginia" from the +independent forces in the State,--the First Corps under General Sigel, the +Second under General Banks, the Third under General McDowell, commanded by +Major-General John Pope, brought from the West for that object and +appointed June 26. This army reported July 31, 46,858 strong, for field +service. + +On the 23d of July, General H. W. Halleck assumed command of the Federal +armies as general-in-chief, by order of the President of July 11. + +The quiet of General McClellan's army at Harrison's Landing assured +General Lee of his opportunity for attention to the movements of the army +under General Pope, working towards Richmond by the Orange and Alexandria +Railway. On the 13th of July he ordered General Jackson, with his own and +Ewell's division, to Gordonsville, to have a watch upon the Federal force +operating in that quarter, promising reinforcements as soon as occasion +should call for them. Stuart was at Hanover Court-House, in observation +towards Fredericksburg, and Robertson's cavalry was ordered to Jackson, to +reinforce his cavalry under Colonel Munford. + +To engage attention pending these movements, General D. H. Hill, in +command on the south side of the James, was ordered to have all of his +artillery on that side available put in battery on the banks of the river +against McClellan's camps on the north side and his transports on the +water. + +General Pope immediately displayed bold front as a diversion, seeking to +draw General Lee away from McClellan. + +So General Lee sent General A. P. Hill with his division to reinforce +Jackson, with orders to the latter to strike out for the enemy in his +front. + +The threatening attitude of the Confederates at Gordonsville caused +apprehension at Washington, and induced the authorities to consider the +withdrawal of McClellan's army to reinforce the army under Pope. + +Upon receipt of an intimation to that effect, General McClellan ordered a +strong force under General Hooker to advance in threatening move against +General Lee on the 4th of August. Hooker marched on the 5th, and occupied +the ground of the battle of Malvern Hill. General Lee ordered the +divisions of McLaws, D. R. Jones, that under Ripley (D. H. Hill's), and my +own to march against Hooker. It was night when our troops were posted, and +before daylight of the next morning Hooker had marched back to his camp at +Harrison's Landing. + +Just here, as a digression from following the operations of the armies of +Lee and Pope, it should be remarked that the latter, by injudicious and +unsoldierly attitude assumed at the outstart of his campaign, intensely +incensed the people of Virginia and the South generally, the Confederate +army to a man, and probably to a considerable degree discomfited the most +considerate and thoughtful of his own officers and the authorities behind +him. The exigencies of war did not demand some of the harsh measures that +he promulgated,--such, for instance, as his notorious "General Orders No. +11" and several other of his pronunciamentos: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, + "WASHINGTON, JULY 23, 1862. + + "GENERAL ORDERS NO. 11.[41] + + "Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, and detached commands + will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citizens within + their lines or within their reach in rear of their respective + stations. + + "Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United + States, and will furnish sufficient security for its observance, shall + be permitted to remain at their homes and pursue in good faith their + accustomed avocations. Those who refuse shall be conducted south + beyond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that if found + again anywhere within our lines, or at any point in rear, they will be + considered spies, and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law. + + "If any person, having taken the oath of allegiance as above + specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and his + property seized and applied to the public use. + + "All communication with any person whatever living within the lines of + the enemy is positively prohibited, except through the military + authorities and in the manner specified by military law; and any + person concerned in writing or in carrying letters or messages in any + other way will be considered and treated as a spy within the lines of + the United States army. + + "By command of Major-General Pope. + + "GEO. D. RUGGLES, + "_Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Chief of Staff_." + +This was a measure of unnecessary severity towards non-combatants, and had +an unsalutary effect. When men volunteer to fight in their country's cause +they should be credited with faith in its righteousness, and with +expectations of meeting soldiers worthy of their mettle. Appeals to turn +their strength against women and children and non-combatants are offensive +to manhood, demoralizing in influence, and more likely to aggravate and +prolong war spirit than to open ways of order and amity. Besides, such +orders indicate a flaw in the armor of the author. + +General Scott set an example worthy of eternal emulation. In his march +through Mexico he was as strict in the requirement of order and protection +for non-combatants as he could have been in marching through his own civil +communities. The result was speedy peace, respect from all the people, +admiration and affection from many. + +When A. P. Hill's division joined General Jackson at Gordonsville, General +Pope's army was posted,--the First Corps (Sigel's) at Sperryville, the +Second (Banks's) at Culpeper Court-House, the Third (McDowell's), one +division near Culpeper Court-House, and one at Fredericksburg--these two +under Ricketts and King respectively; his cavalry under Buford, Bayard, +and Hatch along the Rapidan from the Blue Ridge to Fredericksburg. + +The point held by his left was thought essential by the Washington +authorities as holding the way for reinforcements from McClellan's army on +the James to join in the contemplated march by General Pope's route to +Richmond. + +On the 2d of August, Jackson sent part of his cavalry forward as far as +Orange Court-House, under Colonel W. E. Jones, who encountered at that +point a formidable cavalry guard of the enemy, when a spirited affair +occurred, creditable alike to both sides. This was followed up, on the +8th, by the advance of Jackson's entire force, his own division under +Winder leading, Ewell's and A. P. Hill's following. + +General Pope's outpost at Cedar Run, held by cavalry and Crawford's +brigade of infantry, had meantime been reinforced by the balance of the +Second Corps under Banks, and Ricketts's division put in supporting +position of the advance post. + +On the 9th, Jackson advanced and found the enemy in strong position at +Cedar Run. His division under Ewell was posted on the northeast slope of +Slaughter Mountain, his own division under Winder formed to the left. The +engagement was pitched and soon became severe. While yet posting his +troops, Winder was mortally struck by a fragment of shell. Banks, gaining +confidence in his battle, moved forward to closer and severe fight and +held it an hour, at points putting Jackson's troops in disorder. Jackson, +reinforced by A. P. Hill's brigades, recovered his lost ground, advanced +and renewed attack, drove the enemy back, engaged against reinforcements +of Ricketts's division, continued the fight till near midnight, then +reorganized for battle away from the immediate front of the enemy, where +he awaited next day. During the evening of the 9th, Pope received his +First Corps under Sigel and called up McDowell's division, under King, +from Fredericksburg. On the 10th both armies remained quiet. On the 11th a +flag of truce was sent in asking for time to bury the dead, which Jackson +granted, and extended to a late hour of the day. King's division coming +up, Pope decided to engage again on the 12th, but Jackson, having +information of the extent of reinforcements, decided to withdraw during +the night. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF SLAUGHTER MOUNTAIN. August 9th, 1862] + + +The loss was severe on both sides,--Jackson's, 1276, including his most +promising brigadier, Winder; Pope's, 2381, including three brigadiers, two +wounded and one taken prisoner. + +After drawing King's division to his field, General Pope had about +thirty-six thousand present for service. Jackson's reports as to these +forces were such that he accepted the advice of prudence and retired to +stronger ground on the right bank of the Rapidan. + +In the battle of the 9th the troops engaged were, according to official +return of July 31,[42]-- + + Second Corps (Banks's), artillery and infantry 14,567 + + Ricketts's division, half of Third Corps, artillery + and infantry 9,287 + ------ + Total 23,854 + +The absence of Lawton's brigade and one from Jackson's division reduced +his force to something less than eighteen thousand. The troops engaged in +battle, however, were not far from equal, Jackson probably the stronger. + +That this was only a partial success--coming on the heels of the cruel +orders of the Federal commander--was gratifying to the Confederates, and +encouraging as well. + +Inaction of the Army of the Potomac gave General Lee opportunity for +movement of his troops towards Washington and the army under General Pope. +On the 15th I was ordered to Gordonsville by the Central Railroad with ten +brigades. Two others under Hood at Hanover Junction were ordered to join +me. + +Before despatching my corps, General Lee expressed his thought to advance +the right column and cavalry by the lower fords of the Rapidan, the left +by the fords above the railroad bridge, but left the question open, with +orders to me to work on it. + +The brigades that moved with me were D. R. Jones's, Kemper's, Pickett's, +Pryor's, Jenkins's, Featherston's, Wilcox's, Toombs's, Evans's, and +Drayton's. Hood's and Whiting's joined us near Gordonsville, Hood +commanding the demi-division,--his own and Whiting's brigades. + +It may be well to write just here that experience during the seven days +about Richmond established between General Lee and his first lieutenant +relations of confidence and esteem, official and personal, which ripened +into stronger ties as the mutations of war bore heavier upon us. He always +invited the views of the latter in moves of strategy and general policy, +not so much for the purpose of having his own views approved and confirmed +as to get new light, or channels for new thought, and was more pleased +when he found something that gave him new strength than with efforts to +evade his questions by compliments. When oppressed by severe study, he +sometimes sent for me to say that he had applied himself so closely to a +matter that he found his ideas running around in a circle, and was in need +of help to find a tangent. Our personal relations remained as sincere +after the war until politics came between us in 1867. + +General Pope was industriously increasing his strength. The Ninth Corps, +General Burnside, had been ordered to Fredericksburg _via_ Acquia Creek, +and a division under General Reno of eight thousand of that corps reported +to the commander at Culpeper Court-House on the 14th. Besides +reinforcements called to support him from General McClellan's army, Pope +was authorized to call to his aid the greater part of the army in West +Virginia under General Cox. + +After reaching Gordonsville and learning something of the position of the +armies, and more of the features of the country, it occurred to me that a +move against General Pope's right would give us vantage-ground for battle +and pursuit, besides the inviting foot-hills of the Blue Ridge for +strategy, and this preference was expressed to General Lee.[43] He joined +us on the 15th, and the brigades, including those under Hood, were +advanced to position for a general march. He thought it better to strike +in between General Pope's left and the reinforcements that could join him +from Fredericksburg than to adopt the proposition to move his army by the +upper fords of the Rapidan and strike down upon the enemy's right, and +decided to throw his right wing forward by the Raccoon Ford, and his left +by the Somerville Ford, the latter above the railroad,--Fitzhugh Lee and +Robertson's cavalry with his right, and T. T. Munford's with the left +wing; General Stuart with the column on the right. + +My command marched on the 16th to position for crossing by the lower +fords. Jackson was in position for the upper crossings. As all of the +cavalry was not up, General Lee ordered his march for the 18th, to give +time for the arrival of General Stuart and his marching troopers. + +Leaving the cavalry on the march, under General Fitzhugh Lee, with +instructions to camp on the plank-road opposite Raccoon Ford on the 17th, +General Stuart rode on the cars to General Lee's head-quarters, received +his orders, and rode out on the plank-road to join his command under +Fitzhugh Lee, then due. The latter, however, "by failure to comply with +instructions," as his commander expressed it subsequently, lost a day in a +roundabout ride, which so jaded his horses that another day was sacrificed +to give them rest. As if this were not sufficient misfortune, Captain +Fitzhugh (General J. E. B. Stuart's adjutant) was captured, and, as a +crowning disaster, the despatch of the Confederate commander giving +instructions for the march of his army as ordered for the 18th was lost. +The despatch was taken to General Pope, who, thus advised by accident, +immediately set about retiring from Culpeper to the east bank of the +Rappahannock. General Pope reported that + + "The cavalry expedition sent out on the 16th in the direction of + Louisa Court-House captured the adjutant-general of General Stuart, + and was very near capturing that officer himself. Among the papers + taken was an autograph letter of General Robert E. Lee to General + Stuart, dated Gordonsville, August 15, which made manifest to me the + position and force of the army, and their determination to overwhelm + the army under my command before it could be reinforced by any portion + of the Army of the Potomac."[44] + +Thus on that day Pope put his army in retreat by the several crossings of +the Rappahannock to its strong camps of the north side, leaving his +cavalry in observation. + +As Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry failed to get to position on my right on the +17th, I ordered two regiments of infantry to be posted as guard on the +road to Raccoon Ford until the cavalry could relieve them. The detail fell +upon Toombs's brigade. As we were to be in wait during the 17th, General +Toombs rode off that morning to visit an old Congressional friend, and was +absent when the order was received at his brigade head-quarters. The +detail was filled by his next in rank, Colonel H. L. Benning, and duly +posted. On his return, General Toombs rode upon his picket, claimed that +his troops should not have been moved except by orders through himself, +and ordered the detail back to their camps. Upon learning of General +Stuart's mishap, and the ride of the Federal cavalry by Raccoon Ford, I +sent to inquire how the cavalry happened to escape my picket-guard. +Finding that the troops had been ordered off by General Toombs, the chief +of staff was directed to put on his sword and sash and order him under +arrest. Afterwards he was ordered to the rear, to confine himself to the +limits of Gordonsville. + +In addition to Reno's command, Stevens's division of the Ninth Corps +joined General Pope on the 15th. On the 17th, Reno sent out a party of two +hundred and fifty men and captured Jackson's signal-station on Clarke's +Mountain; and it appears from the official report of this occurrence that +the Federals were misinformed as to our position, and that up to the +receipt of the captured despatch, General Pope knew nothing of the arrival +of the troops of my command. + +On the 18th report came from Clarke's Mountain of unusual stir in the +Federal commands about Culpeper Court-House, and General Lee sent for me +to ride with him to the mountain to observe the movements. From the summit +we had a fair view of many points, and the camp-flags, as they opened +their folds to the fitful breezes, seemed to mark places of rest. Changing +our glasses to the right and left and rear, the white tops of army wagons +were seen moving. Half an hour's close watch revealed that the move was +for the Rappahannock River. Changing the field of view to the bivouacs, +they seemed serenely quiet, under cover from the noonday August sun. As we +were there to learn from personal observation, our vigilance was prolonged +until the wagons rolled down the declivities of the Rappahannock. Then, +turning again to view the bivouacs, a stir was seen at all points. Little +clouds of dust arose which marked the tramp of soldiers, and these +presently began to swell into dense columns along the rearward lines. +Watching without comment till the clouds grew thinner and thinner as they +approached the river and melted into the bright haze of the afternoon sun, +General Lee finally put away his glasses, and with a deeply-drawn breath, +expressive at once of disappointment and resignation, said, "General, we +little thought that the enemy would turn his back upon us thus early in +the campaign." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MAKING READY FOR MANASSAS AGAIN. + + General Lee modifies his Order of March--Continuous + Skirmishing--Cavalry Commander Stuart gets into General Pope's + Head-quarters and captures his Personal Equipment--His Uniform Coat + and Hat shown along the Confederate Lines--Jackson's Superb Flank + Movement--Confederates capture Trains, Supplies, Munitions, and + Prisoners--Hooker and Ewell at Bristoe Station--Jackson first on the + Old Field of Bull Run--Longstreet's Command joins passing Thoroughfare + Gap--Pope practically throws Responsibility for Aggressive Action on + McDowell--Preliminary Fighting--General Pope surprised by + Jackson--Pope's Orders to Fitz-John Porter. + + +Under the retrograde of the Union army, General Lee so modified his order +of march as to meet the new conditions. On the 20th of August the march +was made, the right wing to the vicinity of Kelly's Ford on the +Rappahannock River, the left to the railroad bridge and fords above. At +Kelly's Ford it seemed possible to force a crossing. As we were preparing +for it, an order came reporting the upper crossings too well defended, and +calling for the right wing to march to that point, while the left marched +up in search of more favorable points. As we were leaving Kelly's the +enemy made a dash to cross, and engaged some of the brigades in a sharp +fight, intending to delay our movements, but the main column marched on, +while this affair was still in progress. By mutual consent the fight +subsided, both parties joined their proper commands and proceeded on their +upward march, each on its own side of the stream. At Beverley's Ford, +Stuart's cavalry under Rosser crossed and made a lodgement on the east +bank, but the near approach of the enemy's column threatening, before the +infantry could get up in support, made necessary the abandonment of the +ground, and the left wing continued to feel along higher up for a +crossing. Passing up, Trimble's brigade was left at Beverley's as guard to +Jackson's rear. The enemy, conceiving an opportunity, crossed at Freeman's +Ford and attacked Trimble. Meanwhile, a detachment had been called for +from the right wing. Hood, with his own and Whiting's brigade, was +ordered, and was in time to join in Trimble's fight, which ended in +repulse of the adventurous force. + +The east banks of the Rappahannock lifted quite above those occupied by +the Confederates, giving advantageous position to the Union artillery +fire, and offering no point above Kelly's Ford to force a crossing. + +When the left wing marched from Rappahannock Bridge, the enemy crossed a +considerable force to the west bank, and covered it with a number of +superior batteries well posted on the east side. To dislodge that force I +put a number of batteries into action, including the Washington Artillery, +and, later, part of the reserved battalion under Colonel S. D. Lee. The +combat consumed much of the day of the 23d, when the enemy withdrew from +that bank and burned some of the dwellings as he left. + +Riding along the line of batteries during the combat, we passed a +soldier-lad weeping over his brother, who had just been killed; just then +a shell came screaming by, exploded, and dashed its fragments into the +ground near enough to dust us a little. "Dad drat those Yankees!" he said; +"if I had known that they were going to throw such things as that at a +fellow, I would have stayed in Texas." He had travelled a thousand miles +to volunteer in the same company with his brother. + +Assured of the transfer of McClellan's forces from the James, General Lee +called up the divisions of Generals D. H. Hill, McLaws, the half division +under J. G. Walker, and Hampton's cavalry from Richmond. Anderson's +division was marching from Orange Court-House as our reserve force. + +On the 22d, Munford's cavalry reported the Warrenton road open as far as +the vicinity of General Pope's head-quarters. General Stuart was ordered +over, with parts of his brigades, to investigate and make trouble in the +enemy's rear. He crossed at Waterloo and Hunt's Mill with fifteen hundred +troopers and Pelham's horse artillery, and rode to Warrenton. Passing +through, he directed his ride towards Catlett's Station to first burn the +bridge over Cedar Creek. + +Before reaching Catlett's a severe storm burst upon him, bogging the roads +and flooding the streams behind him. The heavy roads delayed his artillery +so that it was after night when he approached Catlett's. He caught a +picket-guard and got into a camp about General Pope's head-quarters, took +a number of prisoners, some camp property, and, meeting an old +acquaintance and friend in a colored man, who conducted him to General +Pope's tents, he found one of the general's uniform coats, a hat, a number +of official despatches, a large amount of United States currency, much of +the general's personal equipments, and one of the members of his staff, +Major Goulding. He made several attempts to fire the bridge near +Catlett's, but the heavy rains put out all fires that could be started, +when he sought axes to cut it away. By this time the troops about the +camps rallied and opened severe fire against him, but with little damage. +The heavy rainfall admonished him to forego further operations and return +to the army while yet there was a chance to cross Cedar Creek and the +Rappahannock before the tides came down. On the night of the 23d he +reached Sulphur Springs, where he met General Jackson's troops trying to +make comfortable lodgement on the east bank, passed over, and resumed +position outside General Lee's left. The despatch-book of General Pope +gave information of his troops and his anxiety for reinforcements, besides +mention of those that had joined him, but General Stuart's especial +pleasure and pride were manifested over the possession of the uniform coat +and hat of General Pope. Stuart rode along the line showing them, and +proclaiming that he was satisfied with the exchange that made even his +loss at Verdierville before the march; but the despatch lost at +Verdierville was the tremendous blow that could not be overestimated. + +All of the 23d was spent in severe artillery combat. General Jackson had +gained the east bank at Warrenton (Sulphur Springs) crossing, and there +seemed a fair prospect of making a permanent lodgement, but the tides from +the severe storm of the day and night previous were coming down in +torrents, threatening floods at all of the fords. + +On the 22d, Pope had formed a plan of concentrating his forces to cross +and attack Lee's right by the lower fords, but the freshet had shut him +off in that quarter; so he turned to the detachment of Jackson, on the +east side, just cut off from support. Marching up the river bank, Jackson +succeeded in so reinforcing his detachment as to defend it to an upper +crossing till it found safe footing on the west bank. The high water cut +off all operations by direct moves on the 24th. Meanwhile, General Pope +had received the divisions of Kearny and Reynolds from McClellan's army, +forty-five hundred and twenty-five hundred respectively. + +About this time a letter came to head-quarters of the right wing from +General Toombs, expressing regret at his unfortunate mistake in relieving +his troops from picket service, and asking to be released from arrest, +that he might have the opportunity to show in the approaching conflicts +his deep interest in the cause. The adjutant-general was instructed to say +in reply that the chief of corps was pleased to know that the malefeasance +was from want of experience, not intentional breach of authority, and that +he would be more than welcome back by the general and the troops of his +brigade. + + +[Illustration: GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON (STONEWALL).] + + +On the 25th, Jackson was ordered to pull away from our main force with the +left wing, march by the crossings of the upper tributaries through +Thoroughfare Gap, and strike the railway in the enemy's rear at Manassas +Junction, his supply depot. Stuart's cavalry was ordered to follow during +the night. + +By a rapid march Jackson crossed the fords of the upper streams and made +his bivouac near Salem. Forcing his march on the 26th, he passed +Thoroughfare Gap to Gainesville, where Stuart joined him with all of his +cavalry. From Gainesville he inclined to the right for Bristoe Station, +the cavalry holding the curtain between his column and Pope's. A little +after sunset he reached the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, a march of +thirty miles. Approaching the station, trains were heard on the rails. +General Ewell divided his force and took two points on the rails, so as to +cut off the trains. Munford's cavalry assisted in the job. Two trains and +a number of prisoners were taken, the greater part of the detachment at +the station making safe retreat. His plans against General Lee's right cut +off by the high water, General Pope extended his right, under Sigel, +Banks, and Reno, in search of Jackson up the river, who meanwhile had +spirited himself away looking towards Pope's rear. I was left on the river +bank in front, the reserve infantry, R. H. Anderson's division, and +artillery near at hand. + +Although the night of the 26th was very dark, and his troops were severely +worn, to be sure of his opportunity, Jackson sent a detachment to Manassas +Junction (seven miles). The gallant Trimble, with five hundred of his men, +volunteered for the service, and set out at once on the march. Stuart was +afterwards ordered to join Trimble with his cavalry, and as ranking +officer to command the operations of the entire force. The infantry +advanced and attacked the enemy as soon as it could be formed for work, +captured three hundred prisoners, an eight-gun battery complete, and +immense quantities of army supplies. + +Feeling the main force of his adversary in his front awaiting opportunity, +General Pope became anxious about his left and rear, and was further +hampered by instructions from the Washington authorities to hold his +Fredericksburg connections and "fight like the devil." (It may have been +fortunate for the Confederates that he was not instructed to _fight like +Jackson_.) On the 23d he was informed of strong reinforcements to reach +him at Warrenton Junction on the next day, and that larger forces would be +shipped him on the 24th, to join him on the 25th. + +Nevertheless, he began to realize, as he felt Jackson's march to his +right, that he must abandon the line of the Rappahannock and attend on the +movements of that command gone astray by the mountains. He concentrated +the Army of Virginia, to which Reynolds's division had been assigned, at +and near Warrenton under McDowell; Reno east of Warrenton about three +miles, on the turnpike; Porter's (Fifth) corps near Bealton, ordered to +join Reno, and Heintzelman's (Third) corps, ten thousand strong, at +Warrenton Junction. The Sixth (Franklin's) Corps, ten thousand strong, +Army of the Potomac, was at Alexandria awaiting transportation, as were +the divisions of Sturgis, ten thousand, and Cox, seven thousand,--the +latter from West Virginia. General Pope asked to have Franklin's corps +march by the Warrenton turnpike to join him, and sent instructions to +different parties to see that the guards in his rear were strengthened; +that at Manassas Junction by a division. + +Under assurances from Washington of the prompt arrival of forces from that +quarter, he looked for the approach of Franklin as far as Gainesville, +marching by the Warrenton turnpike, and a division to reinforce the +command at Manassas Junction, so that when Jackson cut in on his rear and +captured the detachment at the Junction, he was not a little surprised. He +was in position for grand tactics, however, midway between the right and +left wings of his adversary's forces, that in his rear worn by severe +marches and some fighting, that in his front behind a river, the crossings +of which were difficult, and the lines of march to bring the distant wings +to co-operation over routes that could be defended by small commands. + +Communication with Washington being severed, the forces at and near +Alexandria were thrown in the dark. To move by rail they were liable to +run into the wrong camps, and the rapid change by water to the new +position left them short of land transportation. + +Pope stood on the evening of the 27th: McDowell's corps, including +Reynolds's division, 15,500; Sigel's corps, 9000; Banks's, 5000; Reno's, +7000; Heintzelman's and Porter's corps, 18,000,--in all 54,500 men, with +4000 cavalry; Platt's brigade, Sturgis's division, which joined him on the +26th, not included. In his rear was Jackson, 20,000; in front on the +Rappahannock was my 25,000; R. H. Anderson's reserve division, 5000; +total, 50,000, with 3000 of cavalry under Stuart. + +On the 26th I moved up to and crossed at Hinson's Mill Ford, leaving +Anderson's division on the Warrenton Sulphur Springs route. + +On the 27th, Jackson marched at daylight to Manassas Junction with his own +division, under Taliaferro, and A. P. Hill's, leaving Ewell's at Bristoe +Station, with orders to withdraw if severely pressed. Approaching the +Junction, a cavalry regiment came in, threatening attack, and was driven +off by Colonel Baylor's regiment. A field battery came from the direction +of Centreville, and tried to make trouble at long range, but was driven +off by superior numbers. Then a brigade of infantry under General Taylor, +of New Jersey, just landed from the cars from Alexandria, advanced and +made a desperate effort to recover the lost position and equipage at +Manassas Junction. Field's, Archer's, Pender's, and Thomas's brigades, +moving towards the railroad bridge, met Taylor's command and engaged it, +at the same time moving towards its rear, threatening to cut off its +retreat. It was driven back after a fierce struggle, General Taylor, +commanding, mortally wounded. Part of the Kanawha division under General +Scammon was ordered to its support, but was only in time to assist in its +retreat. Reporting this affair, General Jackson said,-- + + "The advance was made with great spirit and determination, and under a + leader worthy of a better cause." + +The spoils were then quietly divided, such as could be consumed or hauled +off, and the balance given to the torch. + +I marched from the Rappahannock, following on Jackson's trail, and camped +at White Plains. The march during the day was delayed about an hour by a +large force of cavalry which showed itself on my right front. As I had no +cavalry, a little time was spent in learning of its import and following. + +General Pope ordered McDowell, with his own corps, including Reynolds's +division and Sigel's corps, to march so as to be at Gainesville at +nightfall; Reno's corps and Kearny's division of the Third to Greenwich to +support McDowell. He rode with Hooker's division of the Third along the +route by the railroad for Bristoe Station, ordered Porter's Fifth Corps to +remain at Warrenton Junction till relieved by Banks's corps, then to push +on towards Gainesville, Banks to follow by the railroad route. + +In the afternoon, Hooker encountered Ewell at Bristoe Station, where the +divisions engaged in a severe fight, which was handsomely maintained till +after night. Ewell, under his orders, withdrew to join Jackson. The +conduct of the affair was about equally creditable to the commands. + +After this affair, General Pope so far modified his order of the day as to +call Porter to him by direct route, to march at one A.M. and join him at +daylight. Kearny's division was ordered for Bristoe Station, Reno's corps +for Manassas Junction, and McDowell, from Gainesville, was ordered to +swing around to his right and march, guided by the Manassas Gap Railroad, +to Manassas Junction. + +Ewell made his way along the railroad to Jackson in time to refresh his +men on the good things of the captures and for several hours of sleep. +Fitzhugh Lee, with three regiments of cavalry, was ordered on to Fairfax +Court-House and along the railroad towards Alexandria to cut off rail +connection. + +General McClellan reached Alexandria, Virginia, on the 27th. On the 28th, +Jackson was first to move at 12.20 A.M. He applied the torch to the stores +of provisions, and marched with his division, under Taliaferro, by the New +Market Sudley Springs road across the Warrenton turnpike, and pitched +bivouac on a line from near Groveton, towards Sudley Mills, on the field +of first Manassas, at daylight. + +At one A.M., A. P. Hill marched from Manassas Junction, crossed Bull Run, +and halted at Centreville. Ewell followed at daylight towards Centreville, +crossed Bull Run, marched up some distance, recrossed, and joined Jackson, +forming on Taliaferro's left. After the morning fires of the bivouac +burned out, Jackson's position could not be seen except upon near +approach. He was hid away under the cuts and embankments of an unfinished +railroad. + +The road upon which Porter marched was crowded during the night, so that +he and his officers thought that they would make better time and be in +better condition by marching at three A.M. He reached Bristoe at ten A.M., +Kearny at eight, and Reno in due season. But it was late in the morning +when McDowell was ready to march, and later in the day when his left +swung out on the march to the Junction. + +At twelve o'clock, General Pope reached Manassas Junction. Misled by the +movements of A. P. Hill and Ewell, he ordered Reno's corps and Kearny's +and Hooker's divisions of the Third to Centreville, in search of Jackson, +while the latter was little more than a league from him, resting quietly +in his hiding-place, and his detached divisions had doubled on their +courses and were marching to join him. McDowell, having information of my +approach, delayed his march, detaching Ricketts's division to hold me in +check at Thoroughfare Gap. + +The first passage at arms of the day was between part of Stuart's cavalry, +supported by B. T. Johnson's infantry, and Meade's brigade of McDowell's +command. As the latter swung around for his march to the Junction, the +brigade approached Jackson's right. A detachment was pushed out against +Meade, and some artillery practice followed. The Confederates retired, but +reported no loss. Under the impression that the force encountered was some +cavalry rear-guard or reconnoitring party, McDowell resumed his march "as +soon as the killed and wounded were cared for." + +The noise made by this affair caused Sigel to countermarch his corps, and +otherwise delayed the march of McDowell's entire forces, while it gave no +inconvenience to the Confederates further than a change of front of part +of Jackson's command to receive battle, not intended, by his adversary. +Jackson changed his front, but finding the direction of the enemy changed +so as to march away from him, he took the move for a general retreat, made +report of it to A. P. Hill, who was yet north of Bull Run, and ordered him +to intercept the retreat by manning the lower fords of Bull Run. The order +was received at ten A.M., but General Hill had intercepted despatches of +General Pope giving notice of his preparation for battle at Manassas the +next day, and thought it better to march on and join Jackson. He filed +into line on Jackson's left about noon. + +General Jackson was right. If General Hill had moved as ordered, he would +have met detachments ordered by General Pope to Centreville, and held them +back to the south side until Jackson could join him to hold the line. The +natural sequence of Confederate operations was position to intercept +General Pope's return to Washington. The scenes were shifting and inviting +of adventure, and the marches should have followed them. General Hill was +justified by the circumstances that influenced his march. + +When General Pope reached the Junction with Heintzelman's and Reno's +corps, the game was on other fields. As the last of the Confederate +columns had hied away towards Centreville, he ordered thither those corps, +and called up the Fifth to join him. He then changed the orders of +McDowell's column, directing it towards Centreville, to mass his cavalry, +and find Jackson, and presently (at two P.M.) so far modified these as to +direct McDowell to use his own judgment, and give him the benefit of his +views, as he knew the country better, but ordered that he should not go +farther towards Manassas Junction. These instructions were urgent, with +assurances that McDowell's moves should be supported by other columns. Had +these been promptly executed, McDowell's entire force should have +encountered Jackson before four o'clock, but McDowell did not find +Jackson. As his division, under King, marched along the turnpike a little +before night, Jackson saw and engaged it in battle, as we shall see. + +The head of my column reached Thoroughfare Gap early in the afternoon. +Reports from General Jackson were that he was resting quietly on the flank +of the enemy, and between him and Washington. Parties from the Gap +reported it clear, and the Confederate commander called a rest for the +night, but D. R. Jones's division was ordered on to occupy the Gap. + +As we approached it, officers riding to the front returned reporting the +enemy coming in heavy columns on the other side. Jones was ordered to halt +his division till he could advance his skirmishers. The Ninth Georgia +Regiment, G. T. Anderson's brigade, was sent and followed at proper +distance by the division. The skirmishers met the enemy's pickets in the +Gap, drove them off, and followed till they in turn were met by a strong +force and pushed back. The enemy's leading brigade reached the plateau +running along the eastern side of the mountain, which, with his batteries +and infantry, gave him command at that end. Anderson reinforced his Ninth +by the First, then by his other regiments on the mountain-side, to the +left of the Gap, and advanced till arrested by the impenetrable tangle of +the mountain undergrowth. + +The Gap is a pass cut through Bull Run Mountain for the flow of a +streamlet, through Occoquan Creek, to the waters of the Potomac. Its mean +width is eighty yards. Its faces of basaltic rock rise in vertical ascent +from one hundred to three hundred feet, relieved hither and thither by +wild ivy, creeping through their fissures and from the tops of boulders in +picturesque drapery. It was in the midst of this bold and beautiful +scenery, in this narrow gorge where the Indians had doubtless often +contested ages ago, that the seasoned soldiers of our civilized armies now +battled for right of way. + +Finding his passage over the mountain by the left side of the Gap blocked +by the mountain tangle, Jones called up Toombs's brigade, under command of +Colonel Benning, and ordered it over the mountain obstacle by the south +side. Drayton's brigade was held in rear. By the time the troops were so +disposed, Ricketts's division was well deployed along the plateau on the +east. + +Benning put Major Waddell, with the Twentieth Georgia, on the +mountain-side as skirmishers, and strengthened it by another under Colonel +Holmes, in double time, to gain the crest on that side. The Twentieth +gained the crest while the Federals were yet about eighty yards below on +their side. The Georgians knew how to maintain their advantage, and their +fire arrested farther advance of the enemy, when, after a spirited +fusillade, reinforcements joined them in good season, and extended the +line and held it, driving back the second assaulting force and following +down the eastern slope. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE AT THOROUGHFARE GAP.] + + +As soon as the fire of the Federal batteries opened, Hood was ordered with +his two brigades to cross the mountain on the north side of the Gap away +by a cattle-trail, and three other brigades were despatched under General +Wilcox to Hopewell Pass, about three miles north of Thoroughfare Gap. + +Advancing his men, selected for their long-range rifles, Benning drove off +a battery seeking position to play upon the mountain slope and eastern end +of the gorge, and moved forward under cover of a ravine until he gained a +flank fire upon the enemy's batteries. This, with the march of Wilcox +through Hopewell Pass and the crossing of one of Hood's brigades, gave the +Confederates commanding position, and Ricketts withdrew in time to escape +disaster. + +About six o'clock McDowell put his troops on the countermarch, Sigel's +corps and Reynolds's division back by the New Market road for its crossing +of the Warrenton turnpike, and King's division of his own corps down the +turnpike. A. P. Hill's and Ewell's divisions, returning from the north of +Bull Run, hardly had time for rest, when the march of King's division was +reported. About the same time the divisions that had been ordered by Pope +to Centreville reached that point, driving off some Confederate cavalry +loitering along the way. + +As King's division was marching by, Jackson thought to come out from his +lurking-place to learn the meaning of the march. The direction of the move +again impressed him that Pope was retreating, and that his escape to the +north side of Bull Run would put his army in a position of safety before +General Lee could join him. It was late, the sun had set, but Jackson was +moved to prompt action, as the only means of arresting and holding Pope +for General Lee's arrival. He was in plain view of the white smoke of the +rifles of my infantry as they climbed over Bull Run Mountain, seven miles +away, and in hearing of our artillery as the boom of the big guns, +resounding along the rock-faced cliffs, gathered volume to offer +salutations and greetings for the union of comrades and commands. He +changed the front of his right division, and, noting the movement of +Sigel's troops along the New Market road, called out Ewell with his +brigades under Lawton and Trimble, and in addition to the artillery of +these commands used the horse artillery under Pelham. As formed, this new +line was broadside against the turnpike, his left a little way from +Groveton. + +The ground upon which the action occurred had been passed an hour before +by the division commander, General Hatch, who saw no indication of the +presence of a foe. As the division marched, the column was made up of the +brigades of Hatch, Gibbon, Doubleday, and Patrick. The action fell against +the brigade commanded by General Gibbon, who, taking it for a cavalry +annoyance to cover retreat, opened against it, and essayed aggressive +fight, till he found himself engaged against a formidable force of +infantry and artillery. He was assisted by part of Doubleday's brigade, +and asked for other assistance, which failed to reach him, till night came +and ended the contest. His fight was desperate and courageous against +odds, but he held it and his line till dark. His loss was seven hundred +and fifty-one, including Colonel O'Connor and Major May, mortally wounded, +with many other officers with lighter hurts.[45] + +General Doubleday joined the fight with his brigade, and reported his loss +nearly half of the troops engaged. General Gibbon called it "a +surprise."[46] And well he might, after his division commander had just +passed over the route and failed to find any indication of the lurking +foe. + +General Jackson reported, "The conflict here was firm and sanguinary." He +fails to give his number lost, but acknowledges his severe loss in the +division commanders, General Ewell losing a leg, and Taliaferro severely +wounded. + +During the night the Federal commander reported to his subordinates that +McDowell had "intercepted the retreat of Jackson, and ordered +concentration of the army against him,"[47] whereas it was, of course, +Jackson who had intercepted McDowell's march. He seems to have been under +the impression that he was about to capture Jackson, and inclined to lead +his subordinates to the same opinion. + +Of the time, Major Edward Pye reported,-- + + "We were sent forward towards evening to pursue the enemy, who were + said to be retreating. Found the enemy, but did not see them retreat. + A deadly fire from three sides welcomed and drove us back."[48] + +After night Gibbon held his front by a line of skirmishers, and withdrew +his command to a place of rest. At one A.M. the division was withdrawn and +marched back to Manassas. Ricketts, finding himself in isolated position +at Gainesville, left at daylight and marched to Bristoe. Jackson moved his +forces at daylight, and re-established his line behind the unfinished +railroad, his own division under General Stark, Ewell's under General +Lawton, with A. P. Hill on his left. + +General Pope's orders for the night directed the march of Kearny's +division from Centreville by the turnpike at one A.M., to reinforce the +troops against Jackson; the other division of Heintzelman's corps +(Hooker's) to march by the same route at daylight, and to be followed by +the corps under Reno. These orders were urgent, and directed that the +commands should move promptly, leaving fragments behind if all could not +be got together in time; Kearny to attack at daylight, to be supported by +Hooker. + +McDowell's operations of the afternoon left Sigel's corps and Reynolds's +division in the vicinity of the field of King's fight. General Pope's +orders were given under the impression that King's division was still +occupying the ground of the late conflict, and that Ricketts's division +was not far away; but these divisions had been removed to points before +mentioned, though special instructions had been sent McDowell and King to +hold the position "at all hazards, to prevent the retreat of Jackson," +with assurances that at daylight in the morning the entire force from +Centreville and Manassas Junction should be up and in prompt co-operation. + +But McDowell had probably learned that Jackson had no thought of +retreating, and King had found that his ground was not tenable. The order +intended for King failed to reach him. + +Before he was advised of the withdrawal of King's division, General Pope +sent orders to General Porter directing movements for the 29th, informing +him of the orders of Kearny and Hooker, and directing Porter to move at +daylight towards Centreville, for position in co-operation of the +projected battle, and ordering Reno to march for the battle by the +Warrenton turnpike. Under the orders, Porter marched towards Centreville, +and Reno towards the field for battle. Kearny deferred his march till +daylight, and was followed by Hooker's division at convenient marching +distance. Reno's column followed the march of the latter. + +As soon as advised of the withdrawal of King's division from the ground of +the 28th, General Pope sent as substitutes for his orders of the early +morning that General Porter should push forward with his corps and King's +division of McDowell's command to Gainesville, to co-operate with his +movements along the Warrenton turnpike.[49] This order was received by +Porter at 9.30 A.M.,[50] but General McDowell joined this column, and as +ranking officer objected to the transfer of his division under King to +other authority, which brought out the joint order to McDowell and Porter +to have their joint commands execute the move towards Gainesville. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS (BULL RUN). + + Battle opened by the Federals on Jackson's Right, followed by + Kearny--Longstreet's Reconnoissance--Stuart, the Cavalry Leader, + sleeps on the Field of Battle--Pope thought at the Close of the 29th + that the Confederates were retreating--Second Day--Fitz-John Porter + struck in Flank--Longstreet takes a Hand in the Fight late in the + Day--Lee under Fire--The Federal Retreat to Centreville--That Point + turned--Pope again dislodged--"Stonewall" Jackson's Appearance and + Peculiarities--Killing of "Fighting Phil" Kearny--Losses--Review of + the Campaign. + + +General Pope at daylight sent orders to General Sigel's corps, with +Reynolds's division, to attack as soon as it was light enough to see, and +bring the enemy to a stand if possible. At the same time orders were sent +Heintzelman and Reno for their corps to hurry along the turnpike and join +on the right of Sigel. The batteries opened in an irregular combat on the +left, centre, and right a little after eight o'clock, and drew from +Jackson a monotonous but resolute response. And thus early upon the 29th +of August was begun the second battle upon this classic and fateful field. + +I marched at daylight and filed to the left at Gainesville at nine +o'clock. As the head of the column approached Gainesville the fire of +artillery became more lively, and its volume swelled to proportions +indicating near approach to battle. The men involuntarily quickened step, +filed down the turnpike, and in twenty minutes came upon the battle as it +began to press upon Jackson's right, their left battery partially turning +his right. His battle, as before stated, stood upon its original line of +the unfinished railroad. + +As my columns approached, the batteries of the leading brigades were +thrown forward to ground of superior sweep. This display and the deploy of +the infantry were so threatening to the enemy's left batteries that he +thought prudent to change the front of that end of his line more to his +left and rear. Hood's two brigades were deployed across the turnpike at +right angles, supported by the brigade under Evans. A battery advanced on +their right to good position and put in some clever work, which caused the +enemy to rectify all that end of his line. Kemper deployed two of his +brigades, supported by the third, on the right of Hood. The three brigades +under Wilcox were posted in rear of Hood and Evans, and in close +supporting distance. On Hood's left and near Jackson's right was open +field, of commanding position. This was selected by Colonel Walton, of the +Washington Artillery, for his battalion, and he brought it bounding into +position as soon as called. The division under D. R. Jones was deployed in +the order of the others, but was broken off to the rear, across the +Manassas Gap Railroad, to guard against forces of the enemy reported in +the direction of Manassas Junction and Bristoe. As formed, my line made an +obtuse angle forward of Jackson's, till it approached Manassas Gap +Railroad, where D. R. Jones's division was broken in echelon to the rear. +At twelve o'clock we were formed for battle. + +About eleven o'clock, Hooker's division filed to the right from the +turnpike, to reinforce the Federal right under Kearny, who, with Sigel's +corps and Reynolds's division, were engaged in a desultory affair against +Jackson's left, chiefly of artillery. + +R. H. Anderson's division marched at daylight along the Warrenton turnpike +for Gainesville. + +When I reported my troops in order for battle, General Lee was inclined to +engage as soon as practicable, but did not order. All troops that he could +hope to have were up except R. H. Anderson's division, which was near +enough to come in when the battle was in progress. I asked him to be +allowed to make a reconnoissance of the enemy's ground, and along his +left. After an hour's work, mounted and afoot, under the August sun, I +returned and reported adversely as to attack, especially in view of the +easy approach of the troops reported at Manassas against my right in the +event of severe contention. We knew of Ricketts's division in that +quarter, and of a considerable force at Manassas Junction, which indicated +one corps. + +At two o'clock Kearny made an earnest opening against Jackson's left, but +no information of battle reached us on the right. He made severe battle by +his division, and with some success, but was checked by Jackson's +movements to meet him. General Stevens supported his battle, but his +numbers were not equal to the occasion. General Sigel joined in the +affair, and part of General Hooker's division, making a gallant fight, but +little progress. General Grover's brigade made a gallant charge, but a +single brigade was a trifle, and it met with only partial success, and was +obliged to retire with heavy loss of killed and wounded,--four hundred and +eighty-four. + +At one time the enemy broke through the line, cutting off the extreme left +brigade, and gained position on the railroad cut; but Jackson and A. P. +Hill reinforced against that attack, and were in time to push it back and +recover the lost ground. + +Their attacks were too much in detail to hold even the ground gained, but +they held firmly to the battle and their line until after night, when they +withdrew to await orders for the next day. + +Though this fight opened at two o'clock, and was fiercely contested till +near night, no account of it came from head-quarters to my command, nor +did General Jackson think to send word of it. General Lee, not entirely +satisfied with the report of my reconnoissance, was thinking of sending +some of the engineers for more critical survey of his right front, when +his chief of cavalry sent to inform him of the approach of a formidable +column of infantry and artillery threatening his right. Wilcox's division +was changed to supporting position of our right, under Jones, and I rode +to look at this new force, its strength, and the ground of its approach. +It was the column of McDowell's and Porter's corps, marching under the +joint order. Porter's corps in advance deployed Morell's division, and +ordered Butterfield's brigade, preceded by a regiment of skirmishers, to +advance on their right, Sykes's division to support Morell. As this was in +process of execution, McDowell, whose corps was in rear, rode to the front +and objected to the plan and attack so far from the main force. + +A few shots were exchanged, when all became quiet again. We saw nothing of +McDowell's corps, and our cavalry had not been able to get far enough +towards their rear to know of its presence or force. He afterwards drew +off from Porter's column and marched by the Sudley Springs road to join +the main force on the turnpike. I rode back and reported to General Lee +that the column was hardly strong enough to mean aggressive work from that +quarter, and at the same time reported a dust along the New Market road +which seemed to indicate movement of other troops from Manassas. + +General Stuart rode up, making similar report, and asked for orders. As +our chief was not ready with his orders at the moment, Stuart was asked to +wait. The latter threw himself on the grass, put a large stone under his +head, asked the general to have him called when his orders were ready for +him, and went sound asleep. + +Our chief now returned to his first plan of attack by his right down the +turnpike. Though more than anxious to meet his wishes, and anticipating +his orders, I suggested, as the day was far spent, that a reconnoissance +in force be made at nightfall to the immediate front of the enemy, and if +an opening was found for an entering wedge, that we have all things in +readiness at daylight for a good day's work. After a moment's hesitation +he assented, and orders were given for the advance at early twilight. + +This gave General Stuart half an hour _siesta_. When called, he sprang to +his feet, received his orders, swung into his saddle, and at a lope, +singing, "If you want to have a good time, jine the cavalry," his +banjo-player, Sweeny, on the jump behind him, rode to his troopers. + +Wilcox was recalled and ordered to march in support of Hood and Evans when +they advanced on the reconnoissance. It so happened that our advance had +been anticipated by an order to move from the enemy's side against us. +They attacked along the turnpike by King's division about sunset. + +To the Confederates, who had been searching for an opportunity during the +greater part of the day, and were about to march through the approaching +darkness to find it, this was an agreeable surprise. Relieved of that +irksome toil, and ready for work, they jumped at the presence, to welcome +in countercharge the enemy's coming. A fierce struggle of thirty minutes +gave them advantage which they followed through the dark to the base of +the high ground held by bayonets and batteries innumerable as compared +with their limited ranks. Their task accomplished, they were halted at +nine o'clock to await the morrow. One cannon, a number of flags, and a few +prisoners were taken. + +Generals Wilcox and Hood were ordered to carefully examine the position of +the enemy and report of the feasibility of attack at daylight. They came +to corps head-quarters a little before twelve o'clock, and made separate +reports, both against attack, with minute items of their conclusions. Hood +was ordered to have the carriage of the captured gun cut up and left, and +both were ordered to withdraw their commands to their first positions. + +Meanwhile, General Pope had sent orders to General Porter, dated 4.30 +P.M., to attack upon my right flank, but the order was not received until +it was too late for battle, and the force was not strong enough, and a +fight at that hour might have been more unfortunate than the fights by +detail on their right. If it had been sent to General McDowell before he +left, the two corps, if he could have been induced to go in, might have +given serious trouble. The field on their left was favorable for tactics, +but on Porter's front it was rough, and R. H. Anderson's division was in +striking distance of their left, if that effort had been made. + +Anderson marched in the dark as far as Hood's front before reporting for +position, and was ordered back to Gainesville. + +The 4.30 order was issued under the impression that my troops, or the +greater part of them, were still at Thoroughfare Gap, and General Pope +said, in his official report,-- + + "I believe, in fact I am positive, that at five o'clock in the + afternoon of the 29th, General Porter had in his front no considerable + body of the enemy. I believed then, as I am very sure now, that it was + easily practicable for him to have turned the right flank of Jackson + and to have fallen upon his rear; that if he had done so, we should + have gained a decisive victory over the army under Jackson before he + could have been joined by any of the forces of Longstreet."[51] + +After night, Porter's column marched by its right to follow the route of +McDowell. + +The morning of the 30th broke fair, and for the Federal commander bright +with anticipations for the day. He wired the Washington authorities of +success, that "the enemy was retreating to the mountains," and told of his +preparations for pursuit. It seems that he took my reconnoissance for a +fight, and my withdrawal for retreat, also interpreting reports from the +right as very favorable. He reported,-- + + "General Hooker estimated the loss of the enemy as at least two to + one, and General Kearny as at least three to one." + +He construed the operations of the night of the 29th and the reports of +the morning of the 30th as indications of retreat of the Confederates. +Prisoners captured during the night, paroled and returning to him, so +reported on the morning of the 30th, and his general officers had +impressions of the Confederate left that confirmed the other accounts, and +convinced him that we were in retreat. + +The forces threatening our right the day before having marched around +towards the turnpike, D. R. Jones's division was advanced to position near +Kemper's right. Colonel S. D. Lee's artillery battalion was advanced to +relieve the Washington Artillery, making our line complete, in battle +front. + +About one o'clock in the afternoon, General Pope ordered attack against +Jackson's front by the corps under General Porter, supported by King's +division, Heintzelman and Reno to move forward and attack Jackson's left, +to turn it and strike down against the flank, Ricketts's division in +support of it; but Ricketts was recalled and put near the turnpike, to +support that part of Porter's field. + +During the early part of this severe battle not a gun was fired by my +troops, except occasional shots from S. D. Lee's batteries of reserve +artillery, and less frequent shots from one or two of my other batteries. + +Developments appearing unfavorable for a general engagement, General Lee +had settled upon a move by Sudley Springs, to cross Bull Run during the +night and try to again reach Pope's rear, this time with his army. + + +[Illustration: SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. POSITION OF TROOPS AS THE BATTLE +ENGAGED Aug. 30th, 1862] + + +About three P.M. I rode to the front to prepare to make a diversion a +little before dark, to cover the plan proposed for our night march. As I +rode, batteries resting on the sides of the turnpike thought that battle +was at hand, and called their officers and men to stand to their guns and +horses. Passing by and beyond my lines, a message came from General +Jackson reporting his lines heavily pressed, and asking to be +reinforced. Riding forward a few rods to an open, which gave a view of +Jackson's field, I came in sight of Porter's battle, piling up against +Jackson's right, centre, and left. At the same time an order came from +General Lee for a division to be sent General Jackson. Porter's masses +were in almost direct line from the point at which I stood, and in +enfilade fire. It was evident that they could not stand fifteen minutes +under the fire of batteries planted at that point, while a division +marching back and across the field to aid Jackson could not reach him in +an hour, more time probably than he could stand under the heavy weights +then bearing down upon him. Boldness was prudence! Prompt work by the wing +and batteries could relieve the battle. Reinforcements might not be in +time, so I called for my nearest batteries. Ready, anticipating call, they +sprang to their places and drove at speed, saw the opportunity before it +could be pointed out, and went into action. The first fire was by +Chapman's battery, followed in rolling practice by Boyce's and Reilly's. +Almost immediately the wounded began to drop off from Porter's ranks; the +number seemed to increase with every shot; the masses began to waver, +swinging back and forth, showing signs of discomfiture along the left and +left centre. + +In ten or fifteen minutes it crumbled into disorder and turned towards the +rear. Although the batteries seemed to hasten the movements of the +discomfited, the fire was less effective upon broken ranks, which gave +them courage, and they made brave efforts to rally; but as the new lines +formed they had to breast against Jackson's standing line, and make a new +and favorable target for the batteries, which again drove them to +disruption and retreat. Not satisfied, they made a third effort to rally +and fight the battle through, but by that time they had fallen back far +enough to open the field to the fire of S. D. Lee's artillery battalion. +As the line began to take shape, this fearful fire was added to that +under which they had tried so ineffectually to fight. The combination tore +the line to pieces, and as it broke the third time the charge was ordered. +The heavy fumes of gunpowder hanging about our ranks, as stimulating as +sparkling wine, charged the atmosphere with the light and splendor of +battle. Time was culminating under a flowing tide. The noble horses took +the spirit of the riders sitting lightly in their saddles. As orders were +given, the staff, their limbs already closed to the horses' flanks, +pressed their spurs, but the electric current overleaped their speedy +strides, and twenty-five thousand braves moved in line as by a single +impulse. My old horse, appreciating the importance of corps head-quarters, +envious of the spread of his comrades as they measured the green, yet +anxious to maintain his _role_, moved up and down his limited space in +lofty bounds, resolved to cover in the air the space allotted his more +fortunate comrades on the plain. + +Leaving the broken ranks for Jackson, our fight was made against the lines +near my front. As the plain along Hood's front was more favorable for the +tread of soldiers, he was ordered, as the column of direction, to push for +the plateau at the Henry House, in order to cut off retreat at the +crossings by Young's Branch. Wilcox was called to support and cover Hood's +left, but he lost sight of two of his brigades,--Featherston's and +Pryor's,--and only gave the aid of his single brigade. Kemper and Jones +were pushed on with Hood's right, Evans in Hood's direct support. The +batteries were advanced as rapidly as fields were opened to them, +Stribling's, J. B. Richardson's, Eshleman's, and Rogers's having fairest +field for progress. + +At the first sound of the charge, General Lee sent to revoke his call in +favor of Jackson, asked me to push the battle, ordered R. H. Anderson's +division up, and rode himself to join me. + + +[Illustration: DEFEAT OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS BY LONGSTREET'S CORPS, SECOND +MANASSAS.] + + +In the fulness of the battle, General Toombs rode up on his iron-gray +under sweat and spur, his hat off, and asked for his command. He was told +that a courier was about to start with an order for the division +commander, and would guide him. He asked to be the bearer of the order, +received it, and with the guide rode to find his post in the battle. The +meeting of the brigade and its commander was more than joyful. + +Jackson failed to pull up even on the left, which gave opportunity for +some of the enemy's batteries to turn their fire across the right wing in +enfilade, as we advanced, and the enemy strongly reinforced against us +from troops drawn from Jackson's front, but we being on the jump, the fire +of the batteries was not effective. It was severely threatening upon +General Lee, however, who would ride under it, notwithstanding appeals to +avoid it, until I thought to ride through a ravine, and thus throw a +traverse between him and the fire. He sent orders to Jackson to advance +and drive off or capture the batteries standing in his front and firing +across our line, but it was not in season to relieve us. Hood's aggressive +force was well spent when his troops approached the Chinn House, but R. H. +Anderson was up and put in to reinforce and relieve his battle. + +General Pope drew Ricketts's division from his right to brace his left, +then Reno's command to aid in checking our march, but its progress, +furiously resisted, was steady, though much delayed. Piatt's brigade was +also put against us. This made time for Porter to gather his forces. His +regulars of Sykes's division, particularly, made desperate resistance, +that could only be overcome by our overreaching lines threatening their +rear. + +When the last guns were fired the thickening twilight concealed the lines +of friend and foe, so that the danger of friend firing against friend +became imminent. The hill of the Henry House was reached in good time, +but darkness coming on earlier because of thickening clouds hovering over +us, and a gentle fall of rain closely following, the plateau was shut off +from view, and its ascent only found by groping through the darkening +rainfall. As long as the enemy held the plateau, he covered the line of +retreat by the turnpike and the bridge at Young's Branch. As he retired, +heavy darkness gave safe-conduct to such of his columns as could find +their way through the weird mists. + +Captain William H. Powell, of the Fourth Regular Infantry, wrote of his +experience,-- + + "As we filed from the battle-field into the turnpike leading over the + stone bridge, we came upon a group of mounted officers, one of whom + wore a peculiar style of hat which had been seen on the field that + day, and which had been the occasion of a great deal of comment in the + ranks. As we passed these officers, the one with the peculiar hat + called out in a loud voice,-- + + "'What troops are those?' + + "'The regulars,' answered somebody. + + "'Second Division, Fifth Corps,' replied another. + + "'God bless them! they saved the army,' added the officer. + + "Subsequently we learned that he was General Irvin McDowell. + + "As we neared the bridge we came upon confusion. Men singly and in + detachments were mingled with sutlers' wagons, artillery caissons, + supply wagons, and ambulances, each striving to get ahead of the + other. Vehicles rushed through organized bodies and broke the columns + into fragments. Little detachments gathered by the road-side after + crossing the bridge, crying out to members of their regiments as a + guide to scattered comrades. And what a night it was! Dark, gloomy, + and beclouded by the volumes of smoke which had risen from the + battle-field."[52] + +At six o'clock, General Pope received report of the Sixth Corps, that had +marched from Alexandria under General Franklin to the vicinity of +Centreville, and ordered the several commands to concentrate about that +hamlet during the night. The Second Corps from the Army of the Potomac +under General Sumner also joined him at Centreville. + +But for the dropping off of two of Wilcox's brigades from close connection +with the right wing, and the deflection of Drayton's brigade, which was +taken off by some unauthorized and unknown person from my right to the +support of cavalry, it is possible that my working column could have +gained the plateau of the Henry House before it was dark. Or if Jackson +had been fresh enough to pull up even with us, he could have retained the +commands under Reno and Sykes's regulars in his front, which could have +given us safe sweep to the plateau, an hour before sundown, and in sight +of great possibilities. + +By morning of the 31st everything off the turnpike was nasty and soggy. +Stuart's cavalry, followed by Pryor's brigade, were ordered across the Run +at Stone Bridge as a diversion, while we were trying another move to reach +the enemy's rear. The Confederates had worked all of the winter before, +fortifying this new position, just taken by Pope at Centreville. Direct +pursuit by the turnpike against these fortifications would therefore be +fruitless. + +General Jackson was called to head-quarters early in the morning. Upon +receiving General Lee's orders to cross Bull Run at Sudley's and march by +Little River turnpike to intercept the enemy's march, he said, "Good!" and +away he went, without another word, or even a smile. + +Though the suggestion of a smile always hung about his features, it was +commonly said that it never fully developed, with a single exception, +during his military career, though some claim there were other occasions +on which it ripened, and those very near him say that he always smiled at +the mention of the names of the Federal leaders whom he was accustomed to +encounter over in the Valley behind the Blue Ridge. Standing, he was a +graceful figure, five feet ten inches in height, with brown wavy hair, +full beard, and regular features. At first glance his gentle expression +repelled the idea of his severe piety, the full beard concealing the lower +features, which had they been revealed would have marked the character of +the man who claimed "his first duty to God, and his next to Jackson and +General Lee." Mounted, his figure was not so imposing as that of the bold +dragoon, Charley May, on Black Tom. He had a habit of raising his right +hand, riding or sitting, which some of his followers were wont to construe +into invocation for Divine aid, but they do not claim to know whether the +prayers were for the slain, or for the success of other fields. The fact +is, he received a shot in that hand at the First Bull Run, which left the +hand under partial paralysis and the circulation through it imperfect. To +relieve the pressure and assist the circulation he sometimes raised his +arm. + +I was ordered to look after the dead and those whose misfortune it was to +be wounded, till Jackson could have time to stretch out on his new march, +then to follow him, leaving the work to details and to General D. H. +Hill's division, just coming in from Richmond. + +After giving orders for the day, General Lee rode out towards Centreville +for personal observation, halted, and dismounted at a point which seemed +safe from danger or observation. Suddenly alarm was given of "The enemy's +cavalry!" The group dispersed in hot haste to have the heels of their +animals under them. The rush and confusion frightened the general's horse, +so that he pulled him violently to the ground, severely spraining his +right wrist, besides breaking some of the bones of the hand. + +On reaching his head-quarters, Jackson ordered the assembly sounded, +mounted his horse, and marched for the Sudley Springs crossing. He cleared +the way in time for my column to reach that point at dark, the head of +his own column tapping Little River turnpike. The march was over a +single-track country road, bad enough on the south side of the river, much +worn through a post-oak forest over quicksand subsoil on the north side. +If Jackson had been followed by an enemy whose march he wished to baffle, +his gun-carriages could not have made deeper cuts through the mud and +quicksand. + +Stuart was ordered over to the Little River turnpike, and advanced to the +vicinity of Ox Hill and Fairfax Court-House. He made some interesting +captures and reports of movements by the enemy. He slept near their lines, +north of the turnpike, east of Chantilly. + +The Little River and Warrenton turnpikes converge and join as they near +Fairfax Court-House. At vulnerable points on the latter, General Pope +posted parts of his command to cover his rearward march. At Ox Hill +(Chantilly) were stationed Heintzelman's and Reno's corps, the divisions +of Hooker, Kearny, Stevens, and Reno. + +Early on the 1st of September the Confederates resumed their march. +Jackson reached Ox Hill late in the afternoon, and deployed by +inversion,--A. P. Hill's division on his right, Ewell's under Lawton next, +his own under Stuart on his left, on the right of the road. On the left of +the road were Stuart's cavalry and the artillery. Two of Hill's brigades +were thrown out to find the enemy, and were soon met by his advance in +search of Jackson, which made a furious attack, driving back the +Confederate brigades in some disorder. Stevens, appreciating the crisis as +momentous, thought it necessary to follow the opportunity by aggressive +battle, in order to hold Jackson away from the Warrenton turnpike. Kearny, +always ready to second any courageous move, joined in the daring battle. +At the critical moment the rain and thunder-storm burst with great +violence upon the combatants, the high wind beating the storm in the faces +of the Confederates. So firm was the unexpected battle that part of +Jackson's line yielded to the onslaught. At one moment his artillery +seemed in danger. Stevens was killed when the storm of battle, as well as +that of the elements, began to quiet down. Stuart's cavalry drew near +Jackson's left during the progress of the battle. As I rode up and met +General Jackson, I remarked upon the number of his men going to the rear: + +"General, your men don't appear to work well to-day." + +"No," he replied, "but I hope it will prove a victory in the morning." + +His troops were relieved as mine came up, to give them a respite till +morning. While my reliefs were going around, General Philip Kearny rode to +the line in search of his division. Finding himself in the presence of +Confederates, he wheeled his horse and put spurs, preferring the danger of +musket-balls to humiliating surrender. Several challenges called, but not +heeded, were followed by the ring of half a dozen muskets, when he fell +mortally hurt, and so perished one of the most gallant and dashing of the +Union generals. + + "September 2, 1862. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN POPE, + "_United States Army_: + + "SIR,--The body of General Philip Kearny was brought from the field + last night, and he was reported dead. I send it forward under a flag + of truce, thinking the possession of his remains may be a consolation + to his family. + + "I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, + + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_."[53] + +The rain so concealed the fight in its last struggles that the troops +escaped before we were aware that it had been abandoned. + +As both Federal division commanders fell, the accounts fail to do justice +to their fight. Stevens in his short career gave evidence of courage, +judgment, skill, and genius not far below his illustrious antagonist. + +During the fight Stuart had parties out seeking information, and early on +the second had his troopers in the saddle in pursuit. The army, ready to +move, awaited reports of the cavalry, which came from time to time, as +they followed on the line of retreat. From Fairfax Court-House came the +report that the enemy's rear had passed in rapid retreat quite out of +reach, approaching the fortifications of Alexandria and Washington City. +Arms were ordered stacked, and a good rest was given the troops. Stuart's +cavalry pursued and engaged the retreating army. + +In the afternoon the First Corps started on the march _via_ Dranesville +for Leesburg and the Potomac River, followed on the third by the Second. + +The results to the Confederates of the several engagements about Manassas +Plains were seven thousand prisoners, two thousand of the enemy's wounded, +thirty pieces of artillery, many thousand small-arms picked up from the +field, and many colors, besides the captures made at Manassas Junction by +General Jackson.[54] + +A fair estimate of forces engaged: + + Federal army, aggregate 63,000 + Confederates 53,500 + +Losses between Rappahannock River and Washington: + + Federals, aggregate. 15,000 + Confederates 10,000 + +The figures are given in round numbers, as the safest approximate +estimate, but the records now accessible give accurate details of losses +in each command about the same as these. + +And so it came to pass that from Cedar Run and Bull Run we had the term +_All Run_. It is due to the gallant Sumner and his brave corps, however, +to say that they so covered the last as to save disgraceful retreat. + +A cursory review of the campaign reveals the pleasure ride of General +Fitzhugh Lee by Louisa Court-House as most unseasonable. He lost the +fruits of our summer's work, and lost the Southern cause. Proud Troy was +laid in ashes. His orders were to meet his commander on the afternoon of +the 17th, on the plank-road near Raccoon Ford, and upon this appointment +was based General Lee's order of march for the 18th. If the march had been +made as appointed, General Lee would have encountered the army of General +Pope upon weak ground from Robertson River to near Raccoon Ford of the +Rapidan, and thus our march would have been so expedited that we could +have reached Alexandria and Washington before the landing of the first +detachment of the Army of the Potomac at Alexandria on the 24th. The +artillery and infantry were called to amend the delinquency by severe +marches and battles. + +It would have been possible to make good the lost time, but the despatch +lost in the Stuart escapade was handed to General Pope that morning (the +18th), and gave him notice of our plans and orders. The delay thus brought +about gave time for him to quit his weaker ground and retire to strong +defensive heights behind the Rappahannock River, where he held us in check +five days. + +Referring to the solid move proposed before opening the campaign by the +upper Rapidan to strike Pope's right, it may be said that it was not so +dependent upon the cavalry that was marching behind us. That used by +Jackson in his battle of the 9th was enough for immediate use. Jackson +could have passed the upper Rapidan on the 16th, and followed by the +right wing in time to strike Pope's right on the 17th in solid phalanx, +_when time was mightier than cannon-balls_. After losing eight days +between Orange Court-House and the Rappahannock, we found at last that we +must adopt the move by our left to get around the strong ground of the +Rappahannock, _and the move must now be made by detachments, not so +approved of the usages of war_. I was west of the Rappahannock when the +command should have been at Washington City. + + +[Illustration: SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. POSITION OF TROOPS AT NIGHTFALL +Aug. 30th, 1862] + + +The conduct of General Pope's army after his receipt of the captured +despatch was good, especially his plans and orders for the 27th and 28th. +The error was his failure to ride with his working columns on the 28th, to +look after and conduct their operations. He left them in the hands of the +officer who lost the first battle of Manassas. His orders of the 28th for +General McDowell to change direction and march for Centreville were +received at 3.15 P.M. Had they been promptly executed, the commands, +King's division, Sigel's corps, and Reynolds's division, should have found +Jackson by four o'clock. As it was, only the brigades of Gibbon and +Doubleday were found passing by Jackson's position after sunset, when he +advanced against them in battle. He reported it "sanguinary." With the +entire division of King and that of Reynolds, with Sigel's corps, it is +possible that Pope's campaign would have brought other important results. +On the 29th he was still away from the active part of his field, and in +consequence failed to have correct advice of the time of my arrival, and +quite ignored the column under R. H. Anderson approaching on the Warrenton +turnpike. On the 30th he was misled by reports of his officers and others +to believe that the Confederates were in retreat, and planned his +movements upon false premises. + +Jackson's march to Bristoe and Manassas Junction was hazardous, or seemed +so, but in view of his peculiar talent for such work (the captured +despatch of General Pope giving information of his affairs), and Lee's +skill, it seemed the only way open for progressive manoeuvre. The strength +of the move lay in the time it gave us to make issue before all of the +Army of the Potomac could unite with the army under General Pope. His game +of hide-and-seek about Bull Bun, Centreville, and Manassas Plains was +grand, but marred in completeness by the failure of General A. P. Hill to +meet his orders for the afternoon of the 28th. As a leader he was fine; as +a wheel-horse, he was not always just to himself. He was fond of the +picturesque. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. + + General Lee continues Aggressive Work--From Foraged Fields of Virginia + into a Bounteous Land--Longstreet objected to the Movement on Harper's + Ferry--Lee thinks the Occasion Timely for Proposal of Peace and + Independence--Confederates singing through the Streets of + Fredericktown--McClellan's Movements--Cautious Marches--Lee's Lost + Order handed to the Federal Chief at Frederick. + + "There is a tide in the affairs of men, + Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; + Omitted, all the voyage of their life + Is bound in shallows, and in miseries. + On such a full sea are we now afloat." + + +As our columns approached Leesburg, "Maryland, my Maryland" was in the +air, and on the lips of every man from General Lee down to the youngest +drummer. Our chief could have safely ordered the ranks to break in +Virginia and assemble in Fredericktown. All that they would ask was a +thirty minutes' plunge in the Potomac to remove some of the surplus dust, +before they encountered the smiles of the winsome lasses of Maryland. Yet +he expressed doubt of trusting so far from home solely to untried and +unknown resources for food-supplies. Receiving his anxious expressions +really as appeals for reinforcement of his unexpressed wish, but warm to +brave the venture, I related my Mexican War experiences with Worth's +division, marching around the city of Monterey on two days' rations of +roasting-ears and green oranges, and said that it seemed to me that we +could trust the fields of Maryland, laden with ripening corn and fruit, to +do as much as those of Mexico; that we could in fact subsist on the +bounty of the fields until we could open communication with our organized +base of supplies. + +As factors in the problem, important as Lee's masterly science and +Jackson's great skill, stood the fortitude and prowess of the Confederate +soldiers, and their faith in the friendship and generosity of their +countrymen. Hungry, sparsely clad, worn with continuous bivouac and battle +since the 26th of June, proud of their record from the First to the honors +of the Second Manassas, their cheery smiles and elastic step told better +than words of anticipations of welcome from friends in Maryland, and of +new fields of honor for their solid ranks,--of the day when they should be +masters of the field and of a new-born republic. + +Though a losing battle, the Union armies had made a splendid fight at +Second Manassas. The stand at Ox Hill was severe; severe till the march of +retreat, so that the Army of Northern Virginia should have held in +profound respect its formidable adversary, seasoned by many bloody fields. + +The policy of the Richmond government was defensive rather than aggressive +warfare, but the situation called for action, and there was but one +opening,--across the Potomac. General Lee decided to follow his success in +its natural leading, and so reported to the Richmond authorities. + +He was not so well equipped as an army of invasion should be, but the many +friends in Maryland and the fields on the north side of the Potomac were +more inviting than those of Virginia, so freely foraged. He knew from +events of the past that his army was equal to the service to which he +thought to call it, and ripe for the adventure; that he could march into +Maryland and remain until the season for the enemy's return into Virginia +for autumn or winter work had passed, improve his transportation supplies, +and the clothing of his army, and do that, if not more, for relief of our +Southern fields and limited means, besides giving his army and cause a +moral influence of great effect at home and abroad. He decided to make his +march by the most direct route from Chantilly, where he had last fought, +to the Potomac, and so crossed by the fords near Leesburg. Marching by +this route, he thought to cut off a formidable force of Union troops at +Winchester, at Martinsburg, and a strong garrison occupying the fortified +position at Harper's Ferry. + +To summarize the situation, we were obliged to go into Maryland or retreat +to points more convenient to supplies and the protection of Richmond. + +At Leesburg Lee learned that the Union troops in the Valley had left +Winchester, and sent back orders to have the crippled and feeble soldiers +wending their way to the army march through the Valley to join us in +Maryland. Trains of supplies were ordered to move by the same route. + +On the 5th and 6th the columns crossed the Potomac by the fords near +Leesburg. Stuart's cavalry, coming up from the line near Alexandria and +the Long Bridge, passed to front and right flank of the army. General +McLaws's division, General J. G. Walker, with two brigades of his +division, and General Hampton's cavalry brigade, including Colonel Baker's +North Carolina regiment, joined us on the march. On the 7th our infantry +and artillery commands came together near Frederick City. + +Riding together before we reached Frederick, the sound of artillery fire +came from the direction of Point of Rocks and Harper's Ferry, from which +General Lee inferred that the enemy was concentrating his forces from the +Valley, for defence at Harper's Ferry, and proposed to me to organize +forces to surround and capture the works and the garrison. + +I thought it a venture not worth the game, and suggested, as we were in +the enemy's country and presence, that he would be advised of any move +that we made in a few hours after it was set on foot; that the Union army, +though beaten, was not disorganized; that we knew a number of their +officers who could put it in order and march against us, if they found us +exposed, and make serious trouble before the capture could be +accomplished; that our men were worn by very severe and protracted +service, and in need of repose; that as long as we had them in hand we +were masters of the situation, but dispersed into many fragments, our +strength must be greatly reduced. As the subject was not continued, I +supposed that it was a mere expression of passing thought, until, the day +after we reached Frederick, upon going over to head-quarters, I found the +front of the general's tent closed and tied. Upon inquiring of a member of +the staff, I was told that he was inside with General Jackson. As I had +not been called, I turned to go away, when General Lee, recognizing my +voice, called me in. The plan had been arranged. Jackson, with his three +divisions, was to recross the Potomac by the fords above Harper's Ferry, +march _via_ Martinsburg to Bolivar Heights; McLaws's division by +Crampton's Gap to Maryland Heights; J. G. Walker's division to recross at +Cheek's Ford and occupy Loudoun Heights, these heights overlooking the +positions of the garrison of Harper's Ferry; D. H. Hill's division to +march by the National road over South Mountain at Turner's Gap, and halt +at the western base, to guard trains, intercept fugitives from Harper's +Ferry, and support the cavalry, if needed; the cavalry to face the enemy +and embarrass his movements. I was to march over the mountain by Turner's +Gap to Hagerstown. + +As their minds were settled firmly upon the enterprise, I offered no +opposition further than to ask that the order be so modified as to allow +me to send R. H. Anderson's division with McLaws and to halt my own column +near the point designated for bivouac of General D. H. Hill's command. +These suggestions were accepted, and the order[55] so framed was issued. + +It may be well to digress from my narrative for a moment just here to +remark that General Lee's confidence in the strength of his army, the +situation of affairs, and the value of the moral effect upon the country, +North and South, was made fully manifest by the nature of the campaign he +had just entered upon, especially that portion of it directed against +Harper's Ferry, which, as events were soon to prove, weakened the +effectiveness of his army in the main issue, which happened to be +Antietam. + +In another and a very different way, and with even greater plainness, his +high estimate of opportunity and favoring condition of circumstances +existing at the time was indicated to the authorities, though of course +not at that time made public. This was his deliberate and urgent advice to +President Davis to join him and be prepared to make a proposal for peace +and independence from the head of a conquering army. Fresh from the Second +Manassas, and already entered upon the fateful Maryland campaign, he wrote +the President this important letter: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS NEAR FREDERICKTOWN, MD., + "September 8, 1862. + + "HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS, + "_President of the Confederate States, Richmond, Va._: + + "MR. PRESIDENT,--The present position of affairs, in my opinion, + places it in the power of the government of the Confederate States to + propose with propriety to that of the United States the recognition of + our independence. For more than a year both sections of the country + have been devastated by hostilities which have brought sorrow and + suffering upon thousands of homes, without advancing the objects which + our enemies proposed to themselves in beginning the contest. Such a + proposition, coming from us at this time, could in no way be regarded + as suing for peace; but, being made when it is in our power to inflict + injury upon our adversary, would show conclusively to the world that + our sole object is the establishment of our independence and the + attainment of an honorable peace. The rejection of this offer would + prove to the country that the responsibility of the continuance of the + war does not rest upon us, but that the party in power in the United + States elect to prosecute it for purposes of their own. The proposal + of peace would enable the people of the United States to determine at + their coming elections whether they will support those who favor a + prolongation of the war, or those who wish to bring it to a + termination, which can but be productive of good to both parties + without affecting the honor of either. + + "I have the honor to be, with great respect, + + "Your obedient servant, + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_."[56] + +And now I return to my narrative. + +General Walker's division was on detached service at the time of the +order, trying to cut the canal. He marched, however, at the appointed +time, found Cheek's Ford under the severe fire of the enemy's batteries, +and marched on up the left bank as far as the Point of Rocks, where he +crossed and rested on the 11th. On the 12th he marched to and bivouacked +at Hillsboro'; on the 13th, to the foot of the Blue Ridge and occupied +Loudoun Heights by a detachment under Colonel Cooke. + +Not satisfied with the organization of McLaws's column, I asked and +obtained permission on the 10th to strengthen it by three other +brigades,--Wilcox's, under Colonel Alfred Cumming; Featherston's, and +Pryor's, which were attached to R. H. Anderson's division. + +The different columns from Frederick marched as ordered, except in the +change authorized for Anderson's division. It was a rollicking march, the +Confederates playing and singing, as they marched through the streets of +Frederick, "The Girl I left behind me." + +Jackson recrossed the Potomac on the 11th, at Light's Ford, ordered A. P. +Hill's division by the turnpike to Martinsburg, his own and Ewell's +northwest to North Mountain Depot to intercept troops that might retreat +in that direction from Martinsburg. General White, commanding the Union +troops, abandoned Martinsburg the night of the 11th, having timely advice +of Jackson's movements, and retreated to Harper's Ferry. On the 12th, +Jackson's troops came together at Martinsburg, found some stores of bacon +and bread rations, and marched on the 13th for Harper's Ferry, where he +found the Union troops in battle array along Bolivar Heights. + +I marched across South Mountain at Turner's Pass, and bivouacked near its +western base. General Lee ordered my move continued to Hagerstown. The +plans of the Confederates, as blocked out, anticipated the surrender of +Harper's Ferry on Friday, the 12th, or Saturday, the 13th, at latest. The +change of my position from Boonsborough to Hagerstown further misled our +cavalry commander and the commanders of the divisions at Boonsborough and +Harper's Ferry into a feeling of security that there could be no +threatening by the army from Washington. + +D. H. Hill's division crossed by Turner's Gap and halted near +Boonsborough. McLaws took the left-hand road, marched through +Burkittsville, and halted for the night at the east base of the mountain, +near Crampton's and Brownsville Passes. + +Near Crampton's Pass on the west the mountain unfolds into two parallel +ridges, the eastern, the general range of South Mountain, the western, Elk +Ridge, opening out Pleasant Valley, about three miles from crest to crest. + +Crampton's is the northern of the two passes, and about eight miles south +of Turner's. One mile south of Crampton is the Brownsville Pass, and four +miles from that the river pass, which cuts in between the Blue Ridge of +Virginia and South Mountain of Maryland. Through the river pass the +Baltimore and Ohio Railway, the canal, and the Fredericktown turnpike +reach out to the west, and at the pass is the little town of Riverton. +Between Riverton and Harper's Ferry was the hamlet Sandy Hook, occupied by +about fifteen hundred Federal troops. Two roads wind through Pleasant +Valley, one close under South Mountain, the other hugging the foot-hills +of Elk Ridge,--the latter rugged, little used. + +Harper's Ferry, against which Lee's new movement was directed, nestles at +the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, on the Virginia side, +under the towering cliffs of Maryland or Cumberland Heights. At Harper's +Ferry the river cuts in so close under Maryland Heights that they stand +almost perpendicularly over it. The crowded space between the heights and +the river, filled by the railway, canal, and turnpike, was made by +blastings from the southern extremities of Maryland Heights. Under the +precipice the railroad bridge crosses the Potomac, and a pontoon bridge +was laid a few yards above it. + +McLaws marched over into Pleasant Valley on the 11th, through Brownsville +Pass, near which and over Elk Ridge a road passes through Solomon's Gap of +Elk Ridge. From the top of this gap is a rugged way along the ridge +leading down to its southern projections and limits, by which infantry +only could find foothold. That southern point is called Maryland Heights. +Two brigades--Kershaw's and Barksdale's--under General Kershaw were +ordered to ascend Elk Ridge, march along its summit, driving off +opposition, and capture the enemy's position on the heights. General +Semmes was left near the pass, over which the troops had marched with his +own and Mahone's brigades, the latter under Colonel Parham with orders to +send a brigade to the top of Solomon's Gap to cover Kershaw's rear. +General Wright, of Anderson's division, was ordered with his brigade and +two pieces of artillery along the crest ridge of South Mountain to its +projection over Riverton. General Cobb was ordered with his brigade along +the base of Elk Ridge, to be abreast of Kershaw's column. With the balance +of his command, General McLaws moved down the Valley by the South Mountain +road, connecting his march, by signal, with General Kershaw's. Kershaw +soon met a strong force of skirmishers, which was steadily pushed back +till night. General Wright, without serious opposition, reached the end of +the mountain, when R. H. Anderson sent another brigade--Pryor's--to occupy +Weverton. On the 13th, Kershaw renewed his fight against very strong +positions, forced his way across two abatis, along a rugged plateau, +dropping off on both sides, in rocky cliffs of forty or fifty feet, +encountered breastworks of logs and boulders, struggled in a severe fight, +captured the position, the enemy's signal station, and at four P.M. gained +possession of the entire hold. Cobb's brigade was advanced, and took +possession of Sandy Hook without serious opposition. The column near South +Mountain was advanced to complete the grasp against the enemy at Harper's +Ferry. Up to this hour General McLaws had heard nothing direct from +Generals Jackson and Walker, though from the direction of the former +sounds of artillery reached him, and later a courier told that Jackson +thought his leading division would approach at two o'clock that afternoon. +During the day heavy cannonading was heard towards the east and northeast, +and rumors reached McLaws of the advance of the enemy from Frederick, but +the signal-parties and cavalry failed to discover movements, so the firing +was not credited as of significance. The morning of the 14th was occupied +in cutting a road for his artillery up to the point overlooking Harper's +Ferry, and at two P.M. Captains Read and Carlton had their best guns in +position over the town. But during these progressions the Confederates on +other fields had been called to more serious work. + +General McClellan, moving his columns out from the vicinity of Washington +City on the 5th, made slow and very cautious marches to save fatigue of +his men and at the same time cover the capital against unforeseen +contingency; so slow and cautious was the march that he only covered forty +or fifty miles in seven days. On the 12th his head-quarters were at +Urbana, where he received the following telegram from President Lincoln: + + "Governor Curtin telegraphs me, 'I have advices that Jackson is + crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, and probably the whole rebel + army will be drawn from Maryland.'" + +The President added,-- + + "Receiving nothing from Harper's Ferry or Martinsburg to-day, and + positive information from Wheeling that the line is cut, corroborates + the idea that the enemy is recrossing the Potomac. Please do not let + him get off without being hurt."[57] + +Elsewhere General McClellan has written of the 12th: + + "During these movements I had not imposed long marches on the columns. + The absolute necessity of refitting and giving some little rest to the + troops worn down by previous long-continued marches and severe + fighting, together with the uncertainty as to the actual position, + strength, and intentions of the enemy, rendered it incumbent upon me + to move slowly and cautiously until the head-quarters reached Urbana, + where I first obtained reliable information that the enemy's object + was to move upon Harper's Ferry and the Cumberland Valley, and not + upon Washington and Baltimore." + +His army was organized: Right wing, under General Burnside: First and +Ninth Corps; the Kanawha Division, under General J. D. Cox, was assigned +with the Ninth Corps about the 8th instant. + +Centre column: Second and Twelfth Corps, under General Sumner. + +Left wing: Sixth Corps and Couch's division of the Fourth under General +Franklin; Sykes's division, Fifth Corps, independent.[58] + +Besides the despatches of the 11th and 12th, his cavalry under General +Pleasonton, which was vigilant and pushing, sent frequent reports of his +steady progress. In the afternoon Pleasonton and the Ninth Corps under +General Reno entered Fredericktown. This advance, by the National road, +threatened to cut off two of Stuart's cavalry regiments left at the +Monocacy Bridge. To detain the enemy till these were withdrawn, the +outpost on that road was reinforced. Hampton retired his cavalry beyond +Frederick and posted his artillery to cover the line of march, where he +was soon attacked by a formidable force. To make safe the retreat of the +brigade, a cavalry charge was ordered, under Colonel Butler, Lieutenant +Meaghan's squadron leading. Colonel Moore, of the Twenty-eighth Ohio +Cavalry, and a number of other prisoners were captured. This so detained +the enemy as to give safe withdrawal for the brigade to Middletown, +leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Martin's cavalry and two guns on guard at the +gap of the Catoctin range of mountains. + +Before withdrawing from Frederick on the 12th, General Stuart sent orders +for the brigade under General Fitzhugh Lee to move around the right of the +Union army and ascertain the meaning and strength of its march. + +Following his orders of the 12th, General Pleasonton detached a cavalry +brigade on the 13th and section of artillery under Colonel McReynolds to +follow Fitzhugh Lee, and Rush's Lancers were sent to Jefferson for General +Franklin's column. With his main force he pursued the Confederates towards +Turner's Pass of South Mountain. Midway between Frederick and South +Mountain, running parallel, is a lesser range, Catoctin, where he +encountered Stuart's rear-guard. After a severe affair he secured the +pass, moved on, and encountered a second force near Middletown. Reinforced +by Gibson's battery, he attacked and forced the way to a third stand. This +in turn was forced back and into the mountain at Turner's Pass. + +On that day McClellan's columns marched: Ninth Corps, to and near +Middletown, eight miles; First Corps, to the Monocacy, eight miles; +Twelfth Corps, to Frederick, nine miles; Second Corps, to Frederick, eight +miles; Sixth Corps, to Buckeystown, seven miles; Couch's division, to +Licksville, six miles; Sykes's division, to Frederick, eight miles. + +At Frederick, General Lee's special order No. 191 was handed to General +McClellan at his head-quarters with his centre (Sumner's) column. + +How lost and how found we shall presently see, and see that by the +mischance and accident the Federal commander came in possession of +information that gave a spur, and great advantage, to his somewhat +demoralized army. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +"THE LOST ORDER"--SOUTH MOUNTAIN. + + How the Federals found the Despatch--With every Advantage McClellan + "made haste slowly"--Lee turns back to meet him at South + Mountain--Longstreet preferred that the Stand should be made at + Sharpsburg--The Battle at the Pass--Many killed--General Garland of + the Confederate and General Reno of the Union side--A future President + among the wounded--Estimate of Forces engaged. + + +The strange losing and stranger finding of Lee's "General Order No. 191," +commonly referred to as "the lost despatch," which he had issued September +9 for the movement of his army, made a difference in our Maryland campaign +for better or for worse. + +Before this tell-tale slip of paper found its way to McClellan's +head-quarters he was well advised by his cavalry, and by despatches wired +him from east and west, of the movements of Lee's army, and later, on that +eventful 13th day of September, he received more valuable information, +even to a complete revelation of his adversary's plans and purpose, such +as no other commander, in the history of war, has had at a time so +momentous. So well satisfied was he that he was master of the military +zodiac that he despatched the Washington authorities of Lee's "gross +mistake" and exposure to severe penalties. There was not a point upon +which he wanted further information nor a plea for a moment of delay. His +army was moving rapidly; all that he wished for was that the plans of the +enemy would not be changed. The only change that occurred in the plans was +the delay of their execution, which worked to his greater advantage. By +following the operations of the armies through the complications of the +campaign we may form better judgment of the work of the commanders in +finding ways through its intricacies: of the efforts of one to grasp the +envied crown so haplessly tendered; of the other in seeking refuge that +might cover catastrophe involved in the complexity of misconceived plans. + +The copy of the order that was lost was sent by General Jackson to General +D. H. Hill under the impression that Hill's division was part of his +command, but the division had not been so assigned, and that copy of the +order was not delivered at Hill's head-quarters, but had been put to other +use. The order sent to General Hill from general head-quarters was +carefully preserved. + +When the Federals marched into Frederick, just left by the Confederates, +General Sumner's column went into camp about noon, and it was then that +the despatch was found by Colonel Silas Colgrove, who took it to division +head-quarters, whence it was quickly sent to the Federal commander. + +General McClellan reported to General Halleck that the lost order had been +handed him in the evening, but it is evident that he had it at the time of +his noonday despatch to the President, from his reference to the facts it +exposed. + +It is possible that it was at first suspected as a _ruse de guerre_, and +that a little time was necessary to convince McClellan of its genuineness, +which may account for the difference between the hinted information in his +despatch to General Halleck and the confident statement made at noonday to +the President. + +Some of the Confederates were a little surprised that a matter of such +magnitude was intrusted to pen-and-ink despatches. The copy sent me was +carefully read, then used as some persons use a little cut of tobacco, to +be assured that others could not have the benefit of its contents. + +It has been in evidence that the copy that was lost had been used as a +wrapper for three fragrant Confederate cigars in the interim between its +importance when issued by the Confederate chief and its greater importance +when found by the Federals. + +General Halleck thought the capital in imminent peril before he heard from +McClellan on the 13th, as shown on that day by a despatch to General +McClellan: + + "The capture of this place will throw us back six months, if it should + not destroy us." + +But later, the "lost despatch" having turned up at head-quarters of +General McClellan, that commander apprised the authorities of the true +condition of affairs in the following: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS, FREDERICK, September 13, 1862, 12 M. + ("Received 2.35 A.M., September 14.) + + "TO THE PRESIDENT: + + "I have the whole rebel force in front of me, but am confident, and no + time shall be lost. I have a difficult task to perform, but with God's + blessing will accomplish it. I think Lee has made a gross mistake, and + that he will be severely punished for it. The army is in motion as + rapidly as possible. I hope for a great success if the plans of the + rebels remain unchanged. We have possession of Catoctin. I have all + the plans of the rebels, and will catch them in their own trap if my + men are equal to the emergency. I now feel that I can count on them as + of old. All forces of Pennsylvania should be placed to co-operate at + Chambersburg. My respects to Mrs. Lincoln. Received most + enthusiastically by the ladies. Will send you trophies. All well, and + with God's blessing will accomplish it. + + "GEO. B. MCCLELLAN." + + + "FREDERICK CITY, MD., September 13, 1862, 11 P.M. + ("Received 1 P.M., September 14.) + + "MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief_: + + "An order from General R. E. Lee, addressed to General D. H. Hill, + which has accidentally come into my hands this evening,--the + authenticity of which is unquestionable,--discloses some of the plans + of the enemy, and shows most conclusively that the main rebel army is + now before us, including Longstreet's, Jackson's, the two Hills's, + McLaws's, Walker's, R. H. Anderson's, and Hood's commands. That army + was ordered to march on the 10th, and to attack and capture our forces + at Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg yesterday, by surrounding them with + such a heavy force that they conceived it impossible they could + escape. They were also ordered to take possession of the Baltimore and + Ohio Railroad; afterwards to concentrate again at Boonsborough or + Hagerstown. That this was the plan of campaign on the 9th is confirmed + by the fact that heavy firing has been heard in the direction of + Harper's Ferry this afternoon, and the columns took the roads + specified in the order. It may, therefore, in my judgment, be regarded + as certain that this rebel army, which I have good reasons for + believing amounts to 120,000 men or more, and know to be commanded by + Lee in person, intended to attempt penetrating Pennsylvania. The + officers told their friends here that they were going to Harrisburg + and Philadelphia. My advance has pushed forward to-day and overtaken + the enemy on the Middletown and Harper's Ferry roads, and several + slight engagements have taken place, in which our troops have driven + the enemy from their position. A train of wagons, about three-quarters + of a mile long, was destroyed to-day by the rebels in their flight. We + took over fifty prisoners. This army marches forward early to-morrow + morning, and will make forced marches, to endeavor to relieve Colonel + Miles, but I fear, unless he makes a stout resistance, we may be too + late. + + "A report came in just this moment that Miles was attacked to-day, and + repulsed the enemy, but I do not know what credit to attach to the + statement. I shall do everything in my power to save Miles if he still + holds out. Portions of Burnside's and Franklin's corps move forward + this evening. + + "I have received your despatch of ten A.M. You will perceive, from + what I have stated, that there is but little probability of the enemy + being in much force south of the Potomac. I do not, by any means, wish + to be understood as undervaluing the importance of holding Washington. + It is of great consequence, but upon the success of this army the fate + of the nation depends. It was for this reason that I said everything + else should be made subordinate to placing this army in proper + condition to meet the large rebel force in our front. Unless General + Lee has changed his plans, I expect a severe general engagement + to-morrow. I feel confident that there is now no rebel force + immediately threatening Washington or Baltimore, but that I have the + mass of their troops to contend with, and they outnumber me when + united. + + "GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, + "_Major-General_."[59] + +With the knowledge afforded by securing Lee's "lost order" the passes of +the South Mountain became important points. If he could force them, +McClellan might fall on the divided columns of the Confederates and reach +Harper's Ferry in time to save its garrison; but Lee received intelligence +of his only moderate forward movement, and, without knowing then how it +came to be made, recalled a force to make resistance, and, so +supplementing or complementing by his rapid moves the Federal commander's +slowness, saved his campaign from the disastrous failure that threatened +it. + +General McClellan claimed to have been more vigorous in pursuit after he +received the "lost despatch," but events do not support the claim. He had +time after the despatch was handed him to march his army to the foot of +South Mountain before night, but gave no orders, except his letter to +General Franklin calling for vigorous action, which was afterwards +tempered by caution to wait for developments at Turner's Pass. He gave no +intimation of the despatch to his cavalry leader, who should have been the +first to be advised of the points in his possession. General Pleasonton +had pushed the Confederate cavalry back into the mountains long before +night of the 13th under his instructions of the 12th. Had he been informed +of the points known by his chief in the afternoon, he would have occupied +South Mountain at Turner's Pass before any of the Confederate infantry was +there or apprised of his approach. General McClellan's orders for the 14th +were dated,-- + + "13th, 6.45 P.M., Couch to move to Jefferson with his whole division, + and join Franklin. + + "13th, 8.45 P.M., Sumner to move at seven A.M. + + "13th, 11.30 P.M., Hooker to march at daylight to Middletown. + + "13th, 11.30 P.M., Sykes to move at six A.M., after Hooker on the + Middletown and Hagerstown road. + + "14th, one A.M., artillery reserve to follow Sykes closely. + + "14th, nine A.M., Sumner ordered to take the Shockstown road to + Middletown. + + "Franklin's corps at Buckeystown to march for Burkittsville."[60] + +He wrote General Franklin at 6.20 P.M., giving the substance of +information of the despatch, but not mentioning when or how he came by it, +and ordered him to march for the mountain pass at Crampton's Gap, to seize +the pass if it was not strongly guarded, and march for Rohrersville, to +cut off the command under McLaws about Maryland Heights, capture it, and +relieve the garrison at Harper's Ferry, and return to co-operate in +capturing the balance of the Confederate army north of the Potomac; but, +in case the gap was occupied by a strong force, to await operations +against it until he heard the engagement of the army moving upon Turner's +Pass. He wrote General Franklin that General Pleasonton had cleared the +field east of the mountain of Confederate cavalry. After relieving +Harper's Ferry, Franklin was to destroy bridges and guard against crossing +of the Confederates to the north side, his idea being to cut the +Confederate army in two and capture or break it up in detail. His appeal +was urgent for the best work that a general could exercise. The division +under General Couch was ordered to General Franklin, without waiting for +all of its forces to join. This is the only order of the records that +indicates unusual action on the part of the Union commander, and General +Franklin's evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the War shows +that his orders of the 13th were so modified on the 14th as to direct his +wait for Couch's division to join him, and the division joined him after +nightfall. + +The divisions of the Ninth Corps reached Middletown on the 13th, under the +orders of the 12th, issued before the lost despatch was found, one of them +supporting Pleasonton's cavalry; but Rodman's, under misconception of +orders, marched back towards Frederick. + +South Mountain range, standing between the armies, courses across Maryland +northeast and southwest. Its average height is one thousand feet; its +rugged passes give it strong military features. The pass at Turner drops +off about four hundred feet. About a mile south of this the old Sharpsburg +road crosses at a greater elevation through rugged windings; a fork of +this road, on the mountain-side, makes a second way over below Fox's Pass, +while another turns to the right and leads back into the turnpike at the +summit, or Mountain House. + +On the north side of the turnpike a road leads off to the right, called +the old Hagerstown road, which winds its course through a valley between a +spur and the mountain, and courses back to the turnpike along the top. A +more rugged route than this opens a way to the mountain-top by a route +nearer the pike. + +General Pleasonton, not advised of the lost despatch, did not push for a +careful reconnoissance on the 13th. At the same time, General Stuart, +forced back into the mountains, finding his cavalry unserviceable, advised +General D. H. Hill of severe pressure, called for a brigade of infantry, +ordered Hampton's cavalry down to Crampton's Pass to assist Robertson's +brigade, Colonel Munford commanding, leaving the Jeff Davis Legion, under +Colonel Martin, Colonel Rosser with another cavalry detachment, and +Stuart's horse artillery to occupy the passes by the old Sharpsburg road. +Colquitt's brigade of infantry reported to him under his call. After +posting it near the east base of the mountain to hold the pass, he rode to +join his other cavalry detachments down at Crampton's Pass. He only knew +of two brigades of infantry pressing him back, and so reported. His +cavalry, ordered around the Union right under General Fitzhugh Lee, for +information of the force in his front, had failed to make report. General +Hill ordered two brigades, Garland's and Colquitt's, into the pass to +report to Stuart, and drew his other three near the foot of the mountain. +Garland's brigade filed to the right after ascending the mountain, and +halted near the turnpike. Colquitt's brigade took its position across the +turnpike and down towards the base of the mountain, Lane's batteries at +the summit. + +It seems that up to the night of the 13th most of the Confederates were +looking with confidence to the surrender at Harper's Ferry on the 13th, to +be promptly followed by a move farther west, not thinking it possible that +a great struggle at and along the range of South Mountain was impending; +that even on the 14th our cavalry leader thought to continue his +retrograde that day. General Hill's attention was given more to his +instructions to prevent the escape of fugitives from Harper's Ferry than +to trouble along his front, as the instructions covered more especially +that duty, while information from the cavalry gave no indication of +serious trouble from the front. + +A little after dark of the 13th, General Lee received, through a scout, +information of the advance of the Union forces to the foot of South +Mountain in solid ranks. Later information confirmed this report, giving +the estimated strength at ninety thousand. General Lee still held to the +thought that he had ample time. He sent for me, and I found him over his +map. He told of the reports, and asked my views. I thought it too late to +march on the 14th and properly man the pass at Turner's, and expressed +preference for concentrating D. H. Hill's and my own force behind the +Antietam at Sharpsburg, where we could get together in season to make a +strong defensive fight, and at the same time check McClellan's march +towards Harper's Ferry, in case he thought to relieve the beleaguered +garrison by that route, forcing him to first remove the obstacle on his +flank. He preferred to make the stand at Turner's Pass, and ordered the +troops to march next morning, ordering a brigade left at Hagerstown to +guard the trains. No warning was sent McLaws to prepare to defend his +rear, either by the commanding general or by the chief of cavalry. The +hallucination that McClellan was not capable of serious work seemed to +pervade our army, even to this moment of dreadful threatening. + +After retiring to my couch, reflecting upon affairs, my mind was so +disturbed that I could not rest. As I studied, the perils seemed to grow, +till at last I made a light and wrote to tell General Lee of my troubled +thoughts, and appealed again for immediate concentration at Sharpsburg. To +this no answer came, but it relieved my mind and gave me some rest. + +At daylight in the morning the column marched (eight brigades with the +artillery), leaving Toombs's brigade. A regiment of G. T. Anderson's that +had been on guard all night was not relieved in time to join the march, +and remained with Toombs. The day was hot and the roads dry and beaten +into impalpable powder, that rose in clouds of dust from under our feet as +we marched. + +Before sunrise of the 14th, General Hill rode to the top of the mountain +to view the front to which his brigade had been called the day before. As +he rode he received a message from General Stuart, informing him that he +had sent his main cavalry force to Crampton's Pass, and was then _en +route_ to join it. He found Garland's brigade at the summit, near the +Mountain House, on the right of the road, and Colquitt's well advanced +down the east side. He withdrew the latter to the summit, and posted two +regiments on the north side of the pike behind stone walls, the others on +the south side under cover of a woodland. Upon learning of the approaches +to his position, he ordered the brigade under G. B. Anderson and one of +Ripley's regiments up, leaving Rodes's brigade and the balance of Ripley's +to watch for refugees from Harper's Ferry. + +While he was withdrawing and posting Colquitt's brigade, General +Pleasonton was marching by the road three-fourths of a mile south, feeling +his way towards Fox's Gap, with the brigade of infantry under Colonel +Scammon. Co-operating with this advance, Pleasonton used his cavalry along +the turnpike. His batteries were put in action near the foot of the +mountain, except one section of McMullen's under Lieutenant Crome, which +advanced with the infantry. The battle was thus opened by General +Pleasonton and General Cox without orders, and without information of the +lost despatch. The latter had the foresight to support this move with his +brigade under Colonel Crook. Batteries of twenty-pound Parrott guns were +posted near the foot of the mountain in fine position to open upon the +Confederates at the summit. + +After posting Colquitt's brigade, General Hill rode off to his right to +examine the approach to Fox's Gap, near the point held by Rosser's cavalry +and horse artillery. As he passed near the gap he heard noise of troops +working their way towards him, and soon artillery opened fire across the +gap over his head. He hurried back and sent Garland's brigade, with +Bondurant's battery, to meet the approaching enemy. Garland made +connection with Rosser's detachment and engaged in severe skirmish, +arresting the progress of Scammon's brigade till the coming of Crook's, +when Cox gave new force to his fight, and after a severe contest, in which +Garland fell, the division advanced in a gallant charge, which broke the +ranks of the brigade, discomfited by the loss of its gallant leader, part +of it breaking in confusion down the mountain, the left withdrawing +towards the turnpike. G. B. Anderson's brigade was in time to check this +success and hold for reinforcements. Ripley's brigade, called up later, +came, but passed to the right and beyond the fight. General Hill had +posted two batteries on the summit north of the turnpike, which had a +destructive cross fire on Cox as he made his fight, and part of Colquitt's +right regiments were put in, in aid of G. B. Anderson's men. About two +P.M., General Cox was reinforced by the division under General Wilcox, and +a little after three o'clock by Sturgis's division, the corps commander, +General Reno, taking command with his last division under Rodman. + +As Sturgis's division came into the fight, the head of my column reached +the top of the pass, where the brigades of G. T. Anderson and Drayton, +under General D. R. Jones, filed to the right to meet the battle, and soon +after General Hood with two brigades. The last reinforcement braced the +Confederate fight to a successful stand, and held it till after night in +hot contest, in which many brave soldiers and valuable officers were lost +on both sides. + +The fight was between eight brigades on the Union side, with a detachment +of cavalry and superior artillery attachments, against two of D. H. Hill's +and four of my brigades, with Rosser's detachment of cavalry and +artillery. Ripley's brigade of Hill's division marched for the fight, but +lost its direction and failed to engage. The Confederate batteries made +handsome combat, but were of inferior metal and munitions. Numerically, +the Union brigades were stronger than the Confederates, mine having lost +more than half its numbers by the wayside, from exhaustion under its +forced march. It seems that several brigades failed to connect closely +with the action. Ripley's, on the Confederate side, General Hill said, +"didn't pull a trigger." G. T. Anderson claimed that some of his +skirmishers pulled a few triggers, while Harland's Union brigade of +Rodman's division seems to have had little use for its guns. Lieutenant +Crome brought a section of McMullen's battery up in close connection with +Cox's advance, put it in, and held it in gallant action till his gunners +were reduced to the minimum of working force, when he took the place of +cannoneer and fought till mortally wounded. + +On the Union side the officers had their time to organize and place their +battle, and showed skill in their work. The Confederates had to meet the +battle, as it was called, after its opening, on Rosser's detachment. The +lamented Garland, equal to any emergency, was quick enough to get his fine +brigade in, and made excellent battle, till his men, discouraged by the +loss of their chief, were overcome by the gallant assault under Cox. +General Reno, on the Union side, an officer of high character and +attainments, was killed about seven o'clock P.M. Among the Union wounded +was Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes; afterwards President of the United +States. + +The pass by the lower trail, old Sharpsburg road, was opened by this +fight, but the Confederates standing so close upon it made it necessary +that they should be dislodged before it could be utilized. + +The First Corps marched from the Monocacy at daylight and approached the +mountain at one P.M. General Hooker had three divisions, under Generals +Hatch, Ricketts, and Meade. General Hatch had four brigades, Generals +Ricketts and Meade three each, with full artillery appointments. At two +o'clock, General Hooker was ordered north of the turnpike to make a +diversion in favor of the troops operating on the south side under General +Reno. Meade's division was marched, followed by Hatch's and +Ricketts's,--Meade's on the right, Hatch on Meade's left, Ricketts in +reserve. Meade's division was deployed along the foot-hills. A cavalry +regiment under Colonel Williams, First Massachusetts, was sent to the far +right in observation. Meade's advance was followed by Hatch and Ricketts. + +General Hill's only available force to meet this formidable move was his +brigade under General Rodes. He ordered Rodes to his left to a prominent +position about a mile off which commanded that part of the field. Cutts's +battalion of artillery had been posted on the left of the turnpike, to +cover by its fire the route just assigned for Hooker's march. The weight +of the attack fell upon Rodes's brigade, and was handsomely received. +Evans's brigade, fortunately, came up, and was sent to General Hill, who +ordered it out to connect with Rodes's right. Before making close +connection it became engaged, and operated near Rodes's right, connecting +with his fight and dropping back as the troops on his left were gradually +forced from point to point. + +As the brigades under Generals Kemper, Garnett, and Colonel Walker +(Jenkins's brigade) approached the mountain, a report reached general +head-quarters that the enemy was forcing his way down the mountain by the +old Sharpsburg road. To meet this General Lee ordered those brigades to +the right, and they marched a mile and more down a rugged way along the +base of the mountain before the report was found to be erroneous, when the +brigades were ordered back to make their way to the pike and to the top of +the mountain in double time. General Rodes had five regiments, one of +which he left to partially cover the wide opening between his position and +the turnpike. In view of the great force approaching to attack him his +fight seemed almost hopeless, but he handled his troops with skill, and +delayed the enemy, with the little help that finally came, till night, +breaking from time to time as he was forced nearer our centre at the +turnpike. + +Gibbon's brigade had been called from Hooker's corps, and was ordered up +the mountain by the direct route as the corps engaged in its fight farther +off on the right. + +A spur of the mountain trends towards the east, opening a valley between +it and the mountain. Through this valley and over the rising ground +Meade's division advanced and made successful attack as he encountered the +Confederates. Cooper's battery marched, and assisted in the several +attacks as they were pushed up the mountain slope. The ground was very +rough, and the Confederates worked hard to make it too rough, but the +divisions, with their strong lines of skirmishers, made progress. Rodes +made an effort to turn the right of the advancing divisions, but Hooker +put out a brigade from Hatch's division, which pushed off the feeble +effort, and Rodes lost his first position. + +It was near night when the brigades under Generals Kemper and Garnett and +Colonel Walker returned from their march down the foot of the mountain and +reached the top. They were put in as they arrived to try to cover the +right of Rodes and Evans and fill the intervening space to the turnpike. +As they marched, the men dropped along the road, as rapidly as if under +severe skirmish. So manifest was it that nature was exhausted, that no one +urged them to get up and try to keep their ranks. As the brigades were led +to places along the line, the divisions of Hatch and Ricketts were +advancing; the former, in range, caught the brigades under fire before +their lines were formed. At the same time Meade's division was forcing +Rodes and Evans from their positions, back towards the turnpike. + +General McClellan claimed fifteen hundred prisoners taken by his troops, +and that our loss in killed and wounded was greater than his own, which +was fifteen hundred. He estimated the forces as about equal, thirty +thousand each. General D. H. Hill does not admit that the Confederates had +more than nine thousand. + +Several efforts have been made to correctly report the numerical strength +of my column, some erroneously including the brigades detached with R. H. +Anderson's, and others the brigade of General Toombs and the regiment of +G. T. Anderson's brigade, that were left at Hagerstown. General Hill +concedes reluctantly that four thousand of my men came to his support in +detachments, but does not know how to estimate the loss. Considering the +severe forced march, the five brigades that made direct ascent of the +mountain were in good order. The three that marched south of the turnpike, +along a narrow mountain trail part of the way, through woodlands and over +boulders, returning, then up the mountain, the last march at double time, +were thinned to skeletons of three or four hundred men to a brigade when +they reached the Mountain House. That they succeeded in covering enough of +the position to conceal our retreat after night is sufficient encomium of +their valorous spirit. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +PRELIMINARIES OF THE GREAT BATTLE. + + Confederates retreat from South Mountain--Federals follow and harass + them--Franklin and Cobb at Crampton's Pass--A spirited + Action--Fighting around Harper's Ferry--Its Capitulation--The + Confederates take Eleven Thousand Prisoners--Jackson rejoins + Lee--Description of the Field of Antietam--McClellan posts his + Corps--Lee's Lines advantageously placed--Hooker's Advance on the Eve + of Battle should have been resisted. + + +At first sight of the situation, as I rode up the mountain-side, it became +evident that we were not in time nor in sufficient force to secure our +holding at Turner's Gap, and a note was sent General Lee to prepare his +mind for disappointment, and give time for arrangements for retreat. + +After nightfall General Hill and I rode down to head-quarters to make +report. General Lee inquired of the prospects for continuing the fight. I +called upon General Hill to demonstrate the situation, positions and +forces. He explained that the enemy was in great force with commanding +positions on both flanks, which would give a cross-fire for his batteries, +in good range on our front, making the cramped position of the +Confederates at the Mountain House untenable. His explanation was too +forcible to admit of further deliberation. General Lee ordered withdrawal +of the commands to Keedysville, and on the march changed the order, making +Sharpsburg the point of assembly. General Hill's troops were first +withdrawn, and when under way, the other brigades followed and were +relieved by General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on the mountain at three +o'clock in the morning, Hood's two brigades, with G. T. Anderson's, as +rear-guard. + +General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry was ordered to cover our march, but +Pleasonton pushed upon him so severely with part of the Eighth Illinois +Cavalry and Tidball's battery that he was forced off from our line through +Boonsborough and found his way to the Potomac off the rear of General +Lee's left, leaving his killed and wounded and losing two pieces of +artillery. Otherwise our march was not disturbed. In addition to his +regular complement of artillery, General D. H. Hill had the battalion +under Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. Cutts. The batteries were assigned +positions near the ridge under the crest, where they could best cover the +fields on the farther side of the stream. A few minutes after our lines +were manned, information came of the capitulation of Harper's Ferry, and +of the withdrawal of the troops to the Virginia side of the Potomac. + +General Toombs's brigade joined us early on the 15th, and was posted over +the Burnside Bridge. He was subsequently ordered to detach two regiments, +as guard for trains near Williamsport. + +As long as the armies were linked to Harper's Ferry, the heights in front +of Sharpsburg offered a formidable defensive line, and in view of possible +operations from Harper's Ferry, through the river pass, east of South +Mountain, formed a beautiful point of strategic diversion. But when it +transpired that Harper's Ferry was surrendered and the position was not to +be utilized, that the troops there were to join us by a march on the south +side, its charms were changed to perplexities. The threatening attitude +towards the enemy's rear vanished, his line of communication was open and +free of further care, and his army, relieved of entanglements, was at +liberty to cross the Antietam by the upper fords and bridges, and approach +from vantage-ground General Lee's left. At the same time the Federal left +was reasonably secured from aggression by cramped and rugged ground along +the Confederate right. Thus the altered circumstances changed all of the +features of the position in favor of the Federals. + +Approaching Crampton's Gap on the morning of the 14th, Hampton's cavalry +encountered the enemy's and made a dashing charge, which opened his way to +Munford's, both parties losing valuable officers and men. When General +Stuart rode up, he saw nothing seriously threatening, and ordered Hampton +south to the river pass; thinking that there might be something more +important at that point, he rode himself to Maryland Heights to see +General McLaws, and to witness the operations at Harper's Ferry, posting +Colonel Munford with two regiments of cavalry, two regiments of Mahone's +brigade under Colonel Parham, part of the Tenth Georgia Infantry, Chew's +battery of four guns, and a section of navy howitzers, to guard the pass. +The infantry regiments were posted behind stone walls at the base of the +mountain, the cavalry dismounted on the flanks acting as sharp-shooters. + +At noon General Franklin marched through Burkittsville with his leading +division under General Slocum, holding the division under General W. F. +Smith in reserve. His orders were to wait until Couch's division joined +him, but he judged that the wait might be more favorable to the other +side. Slocum deployed his brigades, Bartlett's, Newton's, and Torbert's, +from right to left, posted Wolcott's battery of six guns on his left and +rear, and followed the advance of his skirmish line, the right brigade +leading. When the Confederate position was well developed, the skirmishers +were retired, and the order to assault followed,--the right regiments of +Newton's brigade supporting Bartlett's assault, the regiments on the left +supporting Torbert's. The Confederates made a bold effort to hold, but the +attack was too well organized and too cleverly pushed to leave the matter +long in doubt. Their flanks, being severely crowded upon, soon began to +drop off, when a sweeping charge of Slocum's line gained the position. +The brigades of General Brooks and Colonel Irwin of General Smith's +division were advanced to Slocum's left and joined in pursuit, which was +so rapid that the Confederates were not able to rally a good line; the +entire mountain was abandoned to the Federals, and the pursuit ended. Some +four hundred prisoners, seven hundred stand of arms, and one gun were +their trophies in this affair. General Franklin's total loss was five +hundred and thirty-three.[61] + +General McLaws had ordered General Cobb's brigade and the other regiments +of Mahone's to reinforce the troops at the gap, but they only came up as +the Federals were making their sweeping charge, and were driven back with +their discomfited comrades. General Semmes's brigade at the Brownsville +Pass, a mile south, with five or six guns, attempted to relieve their +comrades, but the range was too great for effective work. That McLaws was +not prepared for the sudden onslaught is evident from the assurances made +him by the cavalry commander. His orders for Cobb were severe enough, but +Franklin was too prompt to allow Cobb to get to work. Upon hearing the +noise of battle, he followed his orders, riding with General Stuart, but +the game was played before he could take part in it. Night came and gave +him time to organize his forces for the next day. Had the defenders been +posted at the crest of the mountain it is probable they could have delayed +the assaulting forces until reinforced. But cavalry commanders do not +always post artillery and infantry to greatest advantage. + +General Cobb made worthy effort to arrest the retreat and reorganize the +forces, but was not able to fix a rallying-point till after the pass was +lost and the troops were well out of fire of the pursuers. General Semmes +came to his aid, with his staff, but could accomplish nothing until he +drew two of his regiments from Brownsville Pass and established them with +a battery as a rallying-point. General McLaws reformed his line about a +mile and a half south of the lost gap, and drew all of his force not +necessary to the bombardment at Harper's Ferry to that line during the +night. + + +[Illustration: Lafayette McLaws. Commanding First Division, First Army +Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.] + + +Under cover of the night, Lieutenant-Colonel H. Davis, at the head of the +Union cavalry, left Harper's Ferry, crossed the Potomac, marched up the +left bank, through Sharpsburg, and made good his escape, capturing some +forty or fifty Confederate wagons as they were moving south from +Hagerstown. + +We left McLaws in possession of Maryland Heights, on the 14th, with his +best guns planted against the garrison at Harper's Ferry. The Potomac +River was between his and Jackson's and Walker's forces, and the +Shenandoah divided Jackson's and Walker's commands. Walker posted his +division to defend against the escape from Harper's Ferry, and planted +three Parrott guns of Captain French's battery and two rifle pieces of +Captain Branch's on Loudoun Heights, having effective fire along Bolivar +Heights. General Jackson sent word to McLaws and Walker that the batteries +were not to open till all were ready, but the latter, hearing the +engagement along South Mountain drawing nearer, and becoming impatient +lest delay should prove fatal, ordered his guns to open against the +batteries along Bolivar Heights, and silenced those under range. + +General Jackson ordered A. P. Hill's division along the left bank of the +Shenandoah to turn the enemy's left, the division under Lawton down the +turnpike in support of Hill, and his own division to threaten against the +enemy's right. Hill's division did its work in good style, securing +eligible positions on the enemy's left and left rear of Bolivar Heights, +and planted a number of batteries upon them during the night; and Jackson +had some of his best guns passed over the Shenandoah to commanding points +near the base of Loudoun Heights. At daylight Lawton's command moved up +close to the enemy. At the same time the batteries of Hill's division +opened fire, and a little later all the batteries, including those of +McLaws and Walker. The signal ordered for the storming columns was to be +the cessation of artillery fire. In about one hour the enemy's fire +ceased, when Jackson commanded silence upon his side. Pender's brigade +started, when the enemy opened again with his artillery. The batteries of +Pegram and Crenshaw dashed forward and renewed rapid fire, when the signal +of distress was raised. + +Colonel D. H. Miles, the Federal commander at Harper's Ferry, was mortally +wounded, and the actual surrender was made by General White, who gave up +eleven thousand prisoners, thirteen thousand small-arms, seventy-two +cannon, quantities of quartermaster's stores and of subsistence.[62] + +General Franklin had posted his division under General Couch at +Rohrersville on the morning of the 15th, and proceeded to examine McLaws's +line established the night before across Pleasant Valley. He found the +Confederates strongly posted covering the valley, their flanks against the +mountain-side. Before he could organize for attack the firing at Harper's +Ferry ceased, indicating surrender of that garrison and leaving the troops +operating there free to march against him. He prepared, therefore, for +that eventuality. + +The "lost order" directed the commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and +Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they had been detached, +to join the main body of the army at Boonsborough or Hagerstown. Under the +order and the changed condition of affairs, they were expected, in case of +early capitulation at Harper's Ferry, to march up the +Rohrersville-Boonsborough road against McClellan's left. There were in +those columns twenty-six of General Lee's forty brigades, equipped with a +fair apportionment of artillery and cavalry. So it seemed to be possible +that Jackson would order McLaws and Walker up the Rohrersville road, and +move with his own corps through the river pass east of South Mountain, +against McClellan's rear, as the speedier means of relief to General Lee's +forces. But prudence would have gone with the bolder move of his entire +command east of the mountain against McClellan's rear, with a fair field +for strategy and tactics. This move would have disturbed McClellan's plans +on the afternoon of the 15th, while there seemed little hope that +McClellan would delay his attack until Jackson could join us, marching by +the south side. + +The field, and extreme of conditions, were more encouraging of results +than was Napoleon's work at Arcola. + +General Jackson judged it better to join us by the south side, marched +promptly with two of his divisions (leaving A. P. Hill with six brigades +to receive the surrender and captured property), then ordered Walker's and +McLaws's troops to follow his march. With his report of surrender of the +garrison he sent advice of his march by the south side to join us. + +At daylight on the 15th the head of General Lee's column reached the +Antietam. General D. H. Hill, in advance, crossed and filed into position +to the left of the Boonsborough turnpike, G. B. Anderson on his right, +Garland's brigade under Colonel McRae, Ripley, and Colquitt, Rodes in rear +near Sharpsburg, my command on his right. The two brigades under Hood were +on my right, Kemper, Drayton, Jenkins (under Colonel Walker), Washington +Artillery, on the ridge near the turnpike, and S. D. Lee's artillery. +Pickett's brigade (under Garnett) was in a second line, G. T. Anderson's +brigade in rear of the battalions, Evans's brigade on the north side of +the turnpike; Toombs's brigade joined and was posted at bridge No. 3 +(Burnside Bridge). As the battalions of artillery attached to the +divisions were all that could find places, General Lee sent the reserve +artillery under General Pendleton across the Potomac. + +As soon as advised of the surrender and Jackson's march by the south side, +my brigades under Hood were moved to the extreme left of the line, taking +the division of General D. H. Hill within my limits, while three of S. D. +Lee's batteries were sent in support of Hood's brigades. The pursuit +ordered by General McClellan was the First, Second, and Twelfth Corps by +the Boonsborough turnpike, the Ninth Corps and Sykes's division of the +Fifth by the old Sharpsburg road;[63] the Ninth and Fifth to reinforce +Franklin by the Rohrersville road, or move to Sharpsburg. + +About two o'clock in the afternoon the advance of the Union army came in +sight. General Porter had passed the Ninth Corps with his division under +Sykes and joined Richardson's division of the Second. These divisions +deployed on the right and left of the turnpike and posted their batteries, +which drew on a desultory fire of artillery, continuing until night. The +morning of the 16th opened as the evening of the previous day closed, +except for the arrival of the remainder of the Union troops. The Ninth +Corps took post at the lower bridge opposite the Confederate right, the +First, the other divisions of the Second, and the Twelfth Corps resting +nearer Keedysville. The display of their finely appointed batteries was +imposing, as seen from Sharpsburg Heights. + +Before maturing his plans, General McClellan had to make a careful +reconnoissance, and to know of the disposition to be made of the +Confederate forces from Harper's Ferry. + +Of the latter point he was informed, if not assured, before he posted the +Ninth Corps. Four batteries of twenty-pound Parrotts were planted on the +height overlooking the Antietam on their right; on the crest near the +Burnside Bridge, Weed's three-inch guns and Benjamin's twenty-pound +Parrotts. At intervals between those were posted some ten or more +batteries, and the practice became more lively as the day wore on, till, +observing the unequal combat, I ordered the Confederates to hold their +ammunition, and the batteries of the other side, seeming to approve the +order, slackened their fire. + +The Antietam, hardly worthy the name river, is a sluggish stream coming +down from Pennsylvania heights in a flow a little west of south till it +nears the Potomac, when it bends westward to its confluence. It is spanned +by four stone bridges,--at the Williamsport turnpike, the +Boonsborough-Sharpsburg turnpike, the Rohrersville turnpike, and another +near its mouth. The third was afterwards known as the Burnside Bridge. +From the north suburbs of Sharpsburg the Hagerstown turnpike leads north a +little west two miles, when it turns east of north to the vanishing point +of operations. A mile and a half from Sharpsburg on the west of this road +is the Dunker chapel, near the southern border of a woodland, which +spreads northward half a mile, then a quarter or more westward. East of +the pike were open fields of corn and fruit, with occasional woodlands of +ten or twenty acres, as far as the stream, where some heavier forests +cumbered the river banks. General Lee's line stood on the Sharpsburg +Heights, his right a mile southeast of the village, the line extending +parallel with the Hagerstown turnpike, three miles from his right, the +left curved backward towards the rear, and towards the great eastern bend +of the Potomac, near which were the cavalry and horse artillery. Along the +broken line were occasional ridges of limestone cropping out in such shape +as to give partial cover to infantry lying under them. Single batteries +were posted along the line, or under the crest of the heights, and the +battalions of the Washington Artillery, Cutts's, and S. D. Lee's. + +In forming his forces for the battle, General McClellan divided his right +wing, posted the Ninth Corps on his left, at the Burnside Bridge, under +General Cox, and assigned the First Corps, under General Hooker, for his +right flank. General Burnside was retained on his left. The plan was to +make the main attack against the Confederate left, or to make that a +diversion in favor of the main attack, and to follow success by his +reserve. + +At two P.M. of the 16th, Hooker's First Corps crossed the Antietam at the +bridge near Keedysville and a nearby ford, and marched against my left +brigades, Generals Meade, Ricketts, and Doubleday commanding the +divisions, battalions, and batteries of field artillery. The sharp +skirmish that ensued was one of the marked preliminaries of the great +battle; but the Federals gained nothing by it except an advanced position, +which was of little benefit and disclosed their purpose. + +General Jackson was up from Harper's Ferry with Ewell's division and his +own, under Generals Lawton and Jones. They were ordered out to General +Lee's left, and took post west of the Hagerstown turnpike, the right of +his line resting on my left, under Hood, Winder's and Jones's brigades on +the front, Starke's and Taliaferro's on the second line, Early's brigade +of Ewell's division on the left of Jackson's division, with Hays's brigade +for a second; Lawton's and Trimble's brigades were left at rest near the +chapel; Poague's battery on Jackson's front; five other batteries prepared +for action. Following Jackson's march to the left, General J. G. Walker +came up with his two brigades, and was posted on my extreme right in the +position left vacant by the change of Hood's brigades. + +General Hooker was joined, as he marched that afternoon, by his chief, who +rode with him some little distance conversing of pending affairs. It +subsequently transpired that Hooker thought the afternoon's work ordered +for his corps (thirteen thousand) so far from support extremely +venturesome, and he was right. Jackson was up and in position with two +divisions well on the flank of the attack to be made by Hooker. Hood with +S. D. Lee's batteries received Hooker's attack, and arrested its progress +for the day. If Jackson could have been put into this fight, and also the +brigades under J. G. Walker, Hooker's command could have been fought out, +if not crushed, before the afternoon went out. He was beyond support for +the day, and the posting along the Antietam was such--we will soon see--as +to prevent effective diversion in his favor. Events that followed +authorize the claim for this combination, that it would have so disturbed +the plans of General McClellan as to give us one or two days more for +concentration, and under that preparation we could have given him more +serious trouble. + +Hood's skirmish line was out to be driven, or drawn in, but throughout the +severe engagement his line of battle was not seriously disturbed. After +night General Jackson sent the brigades of Trimble and Lawton, under +General Lawton, to replace Hood's men, who were ordered to replenish +ammunition, and, after getting food, to resume their places on my right. +Preparing for battle, General Jackson sent the brigade under General Early +to support Stuart's cavalry and horse artillery, and Lawton drew his +brigade, under General Hays, to support his others on the right of +Jackson's division. + +General Mansfield crossed during the night with the Twelfth Corps and took +position supporting General Hooker's command, with the divisions of +Generals A. S. Williams and George S. Greene, and field batteries. + +A light rain began to fall at nine o'clock. The troops along either line +were near enough to hear voices from the other side, and several spats +occurred during the night between the pickets, increasing in one instance +to exchange of many shots; but for the most part there was silence or only +the soft, smothered sound of the summer rain over all that field on which +was to break in the morning the storm of lead and iron. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM. + + Bloodiest Single Day of the War--Comparison of Casualties--Hooker + opens the Fight against Jackson's Centre--Many Officers among the + Fallen early in the Day--McLaws and Walker in time to meet Sumner's + Advance under Sedgwick--Around Dunker Chapel--Richardson's splendid + Advance against the Confederate Centre the Signal of the bursting of + another Storm--Longstreet's and D. H. Hill's Troops stood before + it--Fall of General G. B. Anderson--General Richardson mortally + wounded--Aggressive Spirit of his Command broken--Wonderful + Cannon-shot--General D. H. Hill's Third Horse killed under him. + + +The field that I have described--the field lying along the Antietam and +including in its scope the little town of Sharpsburg--was destined to pass +into history as the scene of the bloodiest single day of fighting of the +war, and that 17th of September was to become memorable as the day of +greatest carnage in the campaigns between the North and South. + +Gettysburg was the greatest battle of the war, but it was for three days, +and its total of casualties on either side, terrible as it was, should be +one-third larger to make the average per diem equal to the losses at +Sharpsburg. Viewed by the measure of losses, Antietam was the fourth +battle of the war, Spottsylvania and the Wilderness, as well as +Gettysburg, exceeding it in number of killed and wounded, but each of +these dragged its tragedy through several days. + +Taking Confederate losses in killed and wounded as the criterion of +magnitude in battles, the Seven Days' Battle (following McClellan's +retreat), Gettysburg, and Chickamauga exceeded Sharpsburg, but each of +these occupied several days, and on no single day in any one of them was +there such carnage as in this fierce struggle. + +The Confederates lost in killed and wounded in the Seven Days' Battle +19,739,--more, it will be observed, than at Gettysburg (15,298), though +the total loss, including 5150 captured or missing, at the latter, brought +the figures up to those of the former (20,614), in which the captured or +missing were only 875. Our killed and wounded at Chickamauga were 16,986, +but that was in two days' battle, while at Chancellorsville in three days +the killed and wounded were 10,746. It is impossible to make the +comparison with absolute exactness for the Confederate side, for the +reason that our losses are given for the entire campaign in Maryland, +instead of separately for the single great battle and several minor +engagements. Thus computed they were 12,187.[64] But nearly all of these +are known to have been losses at Sharpsburg, and, making proper deductions +for the casualties in other actions of the campaign, the Confederate loss +in this single day's fighting was still in excess of that at the _three +days' fight_ at Chancellorsville (10,746), and for the single day far +larger proportionally than in the two days at Chickamauga, three days at +Gettysburg, or seven days on the bloody Chickahominy. + +But the sanguinary character of this battle is most strikingly exhibited +by a comparison of the accurate figures of the Federal losses, returned +specifically for the day. These show a total killed and wounded of 11,657 +(or, including the captured and missing, 12,410), as contrasted with +17,567 killed and wounded in _three_ days at Gettysburg, 16,141 in _eight_ +days at Spottsylvania, and 14,283 in the _three_ days at the Wilderness, +while the _three_ and _two_ days' fighting respectively at +Chancellorsville and Chickamauga were actually productive of less loss +than this battle of _one_ day. The exceeding losses of this battle are +further shown by the fact that of the 11,657 Federals stricken on the +field, the great number of 2108 were actually slain,--more than two-thirds +of the number killed in three days at Gettysburg (3070). And this +tremendous tumult of carnage was entirely compassed in the brief hours +from dawn to four o'clock in the afternoon. + +At three o'clock in the morning of the 17th firing along the picket lines +of the confronting and expectant armies became quite frequent, and before +daylight the batteries began to plough the fields in front of them, +feeling, as it were, for the ranks of men whose destruction was better +suited to their ugly purpose. + +As the dawn came, the fire spread along both lines from left to right, +across the Antietam and back again, and the thunder of the big guns became +continuous and increased to mighty volume. To this was presently added the +sharper rattling of musketry, and the surge of mingling sound sweeping up +and down the field was multiplied and confused by the reverberations from +the rocks and hills. And in this great tumult of sound, which shook the +air and seemed to shatter the cliffs and ledges above the Antietam, bodies +of the facing foes were pushed forward to closer work, and soon added the +clash of steel to the thunderous crash of cannon-shots. + +The first impact came from Hooker's right division under Doubleday, led by +the choice brigade under Gibbon. It was deployed across the turnpike and +struck the centre of Jackson's division, when close engagement was +strengthened by the brigades of Patrick, Phelps, and part of Hofmann's, +Ricketts's division, engaged in close connection along Lawton's front. +Hooker supported his battle by his division under Meade, which called into +action three of D. H. Hill's brigades,--Ripley's, Colquitt's, and McRae's. +Hartsuff, the leading spirit of Ricketts's division, was the first general +officer to fall severely hurt, and later fell the commander of the corps, +wounded also. General Starke, commanding Jackson's division, was killed. +At six o'clock the Twelfth Corps came in, when General Lawton called for +Hood's brigades, "and all the help he could bring." Hood's and G. T. +Anderson's brigades were put in, and the brigades from my right, under J. +G. Walker, marched promptly in response to this call. + +The weight of Mansfield's fight forced Jackson back into the middle wood +at the Dunker chapel, and D. H. Hill's brigades to closer lines. Hood was +in season to brace them, and hold the line as he found it. In this fight +the corps commander, General Mansfield, fell, mortally wounded, which took +from that corps some of its aggressive power. + +Jackson, worn down and exhausted of ammunition, withdrew his divisions at +seven A.M., except Early's brigade, that was with the cavalry. This he +called back to vacant ground on Hood's left. Two detachments, one under +Colonel Grigsby, of Virginia, the other under Colonel Stafford, of +Louisiana, remained on the wooded ground off from the left of Jackson's +position. One of the regiments of Early's brigade was left with the +cavalry. Stuart retired to position corresponding to the line of Jackson's +broken front. The brigade under G. T. Anderson joined on Hood's right, and +the brigades under J. G. Walker coming up took place on Hood's left, +Walker leaving two regiments to fill a vacant place between Anderson's +brigade and Hood's right. Walker, Hood, and D. H. Hill attacked against +the Twelfth Corps; worn by its fight against Jackson, it was driven back +as far as the post-and-rail fence in the east open, where they were +checked. They were outside of the line, their left in the air and exposed +to the fire of a thirty-gun battery posted at long range on the Hagerstown +road by General Doubleday. Their left was withdrawn, and the line +rectified, when Greene's brigade of the Twelfth resumed position in the +northeast angle of the wood, which it held until Sedgwick's division came +in bold march. + +In these fights offensive and defensive the artillery battalions under +Lieutenant-Colonel S. D. Lee and Major Frobel were in active combat, the +former from the first shot made before daylight. They had been severely +worked, and were nearly exhausted of ammunition. The Washington Artillery +was called on for a battery to assist them, and some of the guns of that +battalion were sent for ammunition. Miller's battery of four Napoleon guns +came. + +As Jackson withdrew, General Hooker's corps retired to a point on the +Hagerstown road about three-quarters of a mile north of the battle-ground, +where General Doubleday established his thirty-gun battery. Jackson's and +Hooker's men had fought to exhaustion, and the battle of the Twelfth +Corps, taken up and continued by Mansfield, had taken defensive relations, +its chief mortally wounded. + +Generals Lawton, Ripley, and J. R. Jones were severely wounded, and +Colonel Douglas, commanding Lawton's brigade, killed. A third of the men +of Lawton's, Hays's, and Trimble's brigades were reported killed or +wounded. Four of the field officers of Colquitt's brigade were killed, +five were wounded, the tenth and last contused by a shell. All of +Jackson's and D. H. Hill's troops engaged suffered proportionally. Hood's, +Walker's, and G. T. Anderson's, though longer engaged, did not lose so +severely. + +General Hooker's aggregate of loss was 2590; General Mansfield's, 1746. + +The Federal batteries, of position, on the east side were more or less +busy during the engagement, having occasional opportunities for a raking +fire on the troops along Jackson's line and my left. The horse artillery +under Stuart was strengthening to the Confederate left, and had +occasional opportunities for destructive fire across the Union right when +coming into action. + +Although the battle along the line of contention had become defensive, +there were threatening movements on the Boonsborough pike by Sykes's +division and the horse artillery under Pleasonton, and Burnside was busy +at his bridge, working to find his way across. + +At the close of the Walker-Hood-Hill affair, Hood found his line making a +large angle with the line of the latter, which was rectified, drawing in +the angle. Early's regiments were in the wood between Walker and the +cavalry, and the detachments under Colonels Grigsby and Stafford in the +wood some distance in advance of Early's left. + +The line thus organized was thin and worn by severe attrition. The men +were losing strength and the ammunition getting low. Some gathered +cartridges from their fallen comrades and distributed them as far as they +would go, others went for fresh supplies. + +McLaws's column came up at nine o'clock. He reported at General Lee's +head-quarters, where he was ordered at rest, and afterwards reported to +me, with General Lee's orders for his own division, and asked the +disposition to be made of R. H. Anderson's. He was ordered to send the +latter to report to General D. H. Hill. + +Coincident with these arrivals, heavy columns of Federal infantry and +artillery were seen crossing the Antietam. Morell's division of the Fifth +Corps was up and relieved Richardson's of the Second, which had been in +our front since its arrival on the 15th. Richardson's following the march +of the troops by the upper crossing advised us that the next engagement +would be by the Second Corps, under General Sumner; Sedgwick's division +was in the lead as they marched. Our left centre was almost exhausted of +men and ammunition. The divisions of French and Richardson followed in +left echelon to Sedgwick. Hood's brigades had retired for fresh supply of +ammunition, leaving the guard to Walker's two brigades, G. T. Anderson's +brigade on Walker's right, part of Early's brigade on Walker's left, and +the regiments under Colonels Grigsby and Stafford off the left front. +McLaws's division was called for, and on the march under conduct of Major +Taylor of general head-quarters staff. + +At sight of Sumner's march, General Early rode from the field in search, +as he reported, of reinforcements. His regiments naturally waited on the +directions of the leader. + +General Sumner rode with his leading division under General Sedgwick, to +find the battle. Sedgwick marched in column of brigades, Gorman, Dana, and +Howard. There was no officer on the Union side in charge of the field, the +other corps commanders having been killed or wounded. General Sumner +testified,-- + + "On going upon the field I found that General Hooker's corps had been + dispersed and routed. I passed him some distance in the rear, where he + had been carried wounded, but I saw nothing of his corps at all, as I + was advancing with my command on the field. There were some troops + lying down on the left which I took to belong to Mansfield's command. + In the mean time General Mansfield had been killed, and a portion of + his corps (formerly Banks's) had also been thrown into confusion."[65] + +He passed Greene's brigade of the Twelfth, and marched through the wood, +leaving the Dunker chapel on his left. + +As McLaws approached, General Hood was sent to give him careful +instructions of the posture, of the grounds, and the impending crisis. He +marched with his brigades,--Cobb's, Kershaw's, Semmes's, and Barksdale's. +The leading brigade filed to the right, before the approaching march. +Kershaw's leading regiment filed into line as Sedgwick's column approached +the south side of the Dunker chapel wood,--the latter on a diagonal +march,--while Kershaw's regiment was in fair front against it. The +regiment opened prompt fire, and the other regiments came into line in +double time, opening fire by company as they came to the front. The other +brigades came into line by companies, and forward into line by regiments. +Armistead's brigade had been drawn from R. H. Anderson's column to +reinforce McLaws. + + +[Illustration: Relative positions of McLaws and other Confederates and +Sedgwick at their opening.] + + +Sedgwick's diagonal march exposed his left to a scattering fire from +Walker's left brigade under M. Ransom, but he kept his steady march while +Walker increased his fire. McLaws increasing his fire staggered the march +of Sedgwick, and presently arrested it. The regiments under Colonels +Stafford and Grigsby, coming from their lurking-places, opened fire on +Sedgwick's right rear. At McLaws's opening Sedgwick essayed to form line +of battle; the increasing fire on his right and left rear, with the +terrible fire in front, was confusing, but the troops were eager to return +the fire they found pouring into their lines from three-quarters of a +circle. To counter the rear fire of Walker, General Sumner ordered the +rear brigade to face about. The troops, taking this to mean a rearward +march, proceeded to execute it without awaiting further orders, which was +soon followed by the other brigades. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG] + + +McLaws and Walker, pushing their success, were joined by G. T. Anderson's, +the brigades of D. H. Hill's left, and those of R. H. Anderson's division, +making strong battle through the woodland and open to the post-and-rail +fence and to the Roulette House, where they encountered Sumner's division +under French, and parts of the Twelfth Corps rallied on that part of the +field. This contention was firm and wasting on both sides, but held with +persevering courage until Richardson's reserve, under Brooke, was put +against Hill's right and broke the Confederate line back to the woodlands +south of the chapel, where Early's regiments had formed a rallying line. + +When Hill's right was struck and pressed so severely, Rodes's brigade, the +reserve of his division, was ordered out to support his right. The brigade +advanced in good strong battle, but General Rodes reported that he could +not move his Sixth Alabama Regiment in time, notwithstanding his personal +efforts; that with the support of that regiment the battle line of the +Confederates could have waited other supports. + +General Sumner was eager in riding with his leading division. He was +always anxious to get in in time to use all of his power, and thought +others like himself. Had he formed the corps into lines of divisions, in +close echelon, and moved as a corps, he would have marched through and +opened the way for Porter's command at bridge No. 2, and Pleasonton's +cavalry, and for Burnside at the third bridge, and forced the battle back +to the river bank. + +He was criticised for his opposition to Franklin's proposed attack, but +the chances are even that he was right. The stir among Franklin's troops +was observed from a dead angle of our lines, and preparations were made to +meet it. General Jackson was marching back to us, and it is possible that +the attack might have resulted in mingling our troops with Franklin's down +on the banks of the Antietam. + +After this fight the artillery battalions of S. D. Lee and Frobel, quite +out of ammunition, retired to replenish. The battery of Napoleons was +reduced to one section, that short of ammunition and working hands. + +General Hill rallied the greater part of G. B. Anderson's and Rodes's +brigades in the sunken road. Some of Ripley's men came together near +Miller's guns at the Hagerstown pike. General R. H. Anderson and his next +in rank, General Wright, were wounded. The next officer, General Pryor, +not advised of his new authority, the brigades assembled at points most +suited to their convenience, in rear of D. H. Hill's brigades. + +But time was up. Confederate affairs were not encouraging. Our men were +all leg-weary and heavy to handle, while McClellan, with his tens of +thousands, whom he had marched in healthful exercise the past two weeks, +was finding and pounding us from left to right under converging fire of +his batteries east and west of the Antietam. + +The signal of the approaching storm was the bursting of Richardson's +command, augmented by parts of French's division, through the field of +corn, hardly ruffled by the affair at the Roulette House, spreading its +grand march against our centre. They came in brave style, in full +appreciation of the work in hand, marched better than on drill, unfolded +banners making gay their gallant step. + +The Fifth Corps and Pleasonton's cavalry were in active preparation to +cross at the second bridge and join on Richardson's left, and Burnside at +the third bridge was pressing his claim for a passage against our right. + +I had posted G. T. Anderson's brigade behind a stone fence near the +Hagerstown pike, about the safest spot to be found on the field of +Sharpsburg,--a dead angle, so to speak. The batteries on the field north +and the long-range thirty-gun battery of General Doubleday were playing +their fire down the pike, taking their aim by the direction of the road, +where they stood. This brought their fire into the field about one hundred +yards in rear of Anderson's line. As the fire came from an enfilade +direction, the troops assumed that they were under enfilade fire, and +General Anderson changed position without reporting. General D. H. Hill +got hold of him and moved him to the Boonsborough pike to defend against +Sykes's and Pleasonton's forces, advancing in that quarter. Thus, when +Richardson's march approached its objective, the Confederates had Boyce's +battery, well out in the corn-field, facing the march; Miller's section of +Napoleons in the centre, and a single battery at McLaws's rear, with +fragments of scattered brigades along the pike, and the Twenty-seventh +North Carolina Regiment to hold the left centre, besides the brigades in +the sunken road, and the brigades of R. H. Anderson's division awaiting +the bloody struggle. They received the severe attack in firm holding for a +long half-hour, the enemy pressing closer at intervals, until an order of +General Rodes's was misconstrued and part of his brigade under +Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, of the Sixth Alabama Regiment, was forced to +the rear, and marched off, informing others that that was the order. + +General G. B. Anderson fell mortally wounded. The enemy pressed in on his +outer flank and called for surrender of the forces cut off and outflanked. +Meagher's brigade was retired to replenish ammunition, and Barlow swung to +his right and came against our fragments about Miller's guns, standing +near his flank. Miller had two guns, the others off for a supply of +ammunition. Cooke's Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment was well +organized, but short of ammunition; fragments of Ripley's brigade and some +others were on the turnpike; Miller was short of hands and ammunition, +even for two guns; McLaws's division and the other part of Walker's were +in front of threatenings of parts of French's division and of troops +rallying on their front, and the Sixth Corps was up and coming against +them, so that it seemed hazardous to call them off and leave an open way. +Our line was throbbing at every point, so that I dared not call on General +Lee for help. Sergeant Ellis thought that he could bring up ammunition if +he was authorized to order it. He was authorized, and rode for and brought +it. I held the horses of some of my staff who helped to man the guns as +cannoneers. + +As the attacking forces drew nearer, Colonel Cooke reported his ammunition +exhausted. He was ordered to hold on with the bayonet, and sent in return +that he would "hold till ice forms in regions where it was never known," +or words to that effect. As Richardson advanced through the corn he cut +off the battery under Boyce, so that it was obliged to retire to save +itself, and as Barlow came upon our centre, the battery on our left was +for a time thrown out of fire lest they might injure friend as much as +foe. Barlow marched in steady good ranks, and the remnants before him rose +to the emergency. They seemed to forget that they had known fatigue; the +guns were played with life, and the brave spirits manning them claimed +that they were there to hold or to go down with the guns. + +As our shots rattled against the armored ranks, Colonel Fairfax clapped +his hands and ran for other charges. The mood of the gunners to a man was +one of quiet but unflinching resolve to stand to the last gun. Captain +Miller charged and double-charged with spherical case and canister until +his guns at the discharge leaped in the air from ten to twelve inches. + + +[Illustration: John W. Fairfax. Assistant Adjutant and Inspector-General, +First Corps.] + + +When the crest was reached, the rush that was expected to sweep us away +paused,--the Confederates became hopeful. Soon the advancing ranks lay +behind the crest, and presently drew nearer Richardson's part of the line, +then mounting the crest over the Piper House. This latter point, once +established, must cut and break the Confederate position as effectually as +our centre just saved. He occupied the Piper House with two regiments +under Colonel Brooke in advance of his line along the crest, and called up +some of his batteries. + +The Confederates meanwhile were collecting other batteries and infantry in +defence, when a shot from one of our batteries brought Richardson down, +mortally wounded. His taking-off broke the aggressive spirit of the +division and reduced its fight to the defensive. The regiments at the +Piper House found their position thus advanced too much exposed, and +withdrew to the stronger line of the crest. General Meagher's brigade came +up with ammunition replenished. General Hancock was despatched to take +command of the division. In the midst of the tragedy, as Richardson +approached the east crest, there was a moment of amusement when General +Hill, with about fifty men and a battle-flag, ran to gain a vantage-point +for flank fire against Richardson's left. Colonel Ross, observing the move +and appreciating the opportunity, charged with two regiments for the same +and secured it. General Hill claimed (and rightly) that it had effect in +giving the impression that there were other forces coming to support him. + +Another regiment came to the relief of the Twenty-seventh, under Cooke. +The movement of troops in that quarter was construed by the enemy as a +threatened flank move against Richardson, which caused some little delay +in his march. Though the Confederates had but fragments here and there, +the enemy were kept busy and watchful lest they should come upon another +surprise move. + +The Confederates were surprised but much relieved when they found this +affair reduced to the defensive, and assumed that every missile they sent +must have found one or more victims. But accounts of the other side make +clear that the result was due to accidental artillery shots that cut down +Colonel Barlow, the aggressive spirit of Richardson's right column, and +General Richardson himself at his culminating moment. Barlow fell from a +case- or canister-shot, as did Richardson. All the Union accounts refer to +a battery on their right throwing shell, and the "two brass guns in front +throwing case and canister," and this latter was the only artillery at +work against them at the time of Barlow's fall. When Barlow's command drew +nearer the division the brass guns were turned upon Richardson, but at the +moment of his taking-off another battery was in action on his left. +General D. H. Hill thought that Carter's battery was in time to divide the +honor of the last shot with the section of Napoleons under Miller. + +Orders were given General Pleasonton, at the second bridge, to be ready to +enter the battle as soon as the attack by Richardson should open the way. +To meet these orders skirmishers were advanced, and Tidball's battery, by +piece, using canister, to drive back the Confederate sharp-shooters. The +Fifth Corps (General Porter's) was ordered to be ready for like service. + +When Richardson swung his line up along the crest at the Piper House, +Pleasonton advanced troopers and batteries, crossed the bridge at a gallop +by the Fifth Regular Cavalry, Farnsworth's brigade, Rush's brigade, two +regiments of the Fifth Brigade under B. F. Davis, and the batteries of +Tidball, Robertson, Hains, and Gibson. The batteries were put into action +under the line of skirmishers, that were reinforced by Sykes's division of +the Fifth and Tenth Infantry under Lieutenant Poland. + +General Hill seized a musket and by example speedily collected a number of +men, who joined him in reinforcing the line threatened by this heavy +display. The parts of brigades under General Pryor, Colonels Cummings, +Posey, and G. T. Anderson afterwards got up to help the brigade of Evans +already there. By these, with the batteries of Squires, Gardner, and +Richardson, this threatening demonstration was checked. Then it was +reinforced by the batteries of Randol, Kusserow, and Van Reed, and the +Fourth United States Infantry, Captain Dryer; the first battalion of the +Twelfth, Captain Blount; second battalion of the Twelfth, Captain +Anderson; first battalion of the Fourteenth, Captain Brown, and second +battalion of the Fourteenth, Captain McKibbin, of Sykes's division; the +batteries posted to command the field, right and left, to cover Sumner's +and Burnside's fronts, as soon as they could rise to the plateau. S. D. +Lee's batteries were back on the crest, replenished of ammunition, while +the Union batteries were on low ground, near the river. A very clever +well-organized advance was made, but their advantages of position and the +tenacious hold of the Confederates, even after the attack reached the +crest, enabled them to drive back the assaulting forces. The horse +batteries went back to positions on the west side after replenishing with +ammunition, except Gibson's, which was put in defensive attitude on the +east. Pleasonton, with a comprehensive view of the opportunity, called for +additional force, but two of Morell's brigades had been ordered by the +upper crossing to Sumner's relief, and a detachment had been sent to +assist Burnside, which reduced the Fifth Corps to the minimum of force +necessary to the service to which it was assigned; not equal to the +aggressive fight to which it was invited. But for the breaking up of +Richardson's aggression, this last advance could have gained the field. + +The Third Brigade of the Second Division, Sixth Corps, made an erratic +march across part of the field, the Seventh Maine Regiment leading, and +retired like a meteor that loses its own fire. + +A little after one o'clock this and other parts of the line, except at the +Burnside Bridge, settled down to defensive. Burnside was still hard at +work in search of a practical line of advance, Toombs standing manfully +against him. + +During the lull, after the rencounter of Walker's, Hill's, and Hood's +divisions against Mansfield's last fight, General Lee and myself, riding +together under the crest of General D. H. Hill's part of the line, were +joined by the latter. We were presently called to the crest to observe +movements going on in the Union lines. The two former dismounted and +walked to the crest; General Hill, a little out of strength and thinking a +single horseman not likely to draw the enemy's fire, rode. As we reached +the crest I asked him to ride a little apart, as he would likely draw fire +upon the group. While viewing the field a puff of white smoke was seen to +burst from a cannon's mouth about a mile off. I remarked, "There is a shot +for General Hill," and, looking towards him, saw his horse drop on his +knees. Both forelegs were cut off just below the knees. The dropping +forward of the poor animal so elevated his croup that it was not an easy +matter for one not an expert horseman to dismount _a la militaire_. To add +to the dilemma, there was a rubber coat with other wraps strapped to the +cantle of the saddle. Failing in his attempt to dismount, I suggested that +he throw his leg forward over the pommel. This gave him easy and graceful +dismount. This was the third horse shot under him during the day, and the +shot was one of the best I ever witnessed. An equally good one was made by +a Confederate at Yorktown. An officer of the Topographical Engineers +walked into the open, in front of our lines, fixed his plane table and +seated himself to make a map of the Confederate works. A non-commissioned +officer, without orders, adjusted his gun, carefully aimed it, and fired. +At the report of the gun all eyes were turned to see the occasion of it, +and then to observe the object, when the shell was seen to explode as if +in the hands of the officer. It had been dropped squarely upon the +drawing-table, and Lieutenant Wagner was mortally wounded.[66] Of the +first shot, Major Alfred A. Woodhull, under date of June 8, 1886, wrote,-- + + "On the 17th of September, 1862, I was standing in Weed's battery, + whose position is correctly given in the map, when a man on, I think, + a gray horse, appeared about a mile in front of us, and footmen were + recognized near. Captain Weed, who was a remarkable artillerist, + himself sighted and fired the gun at the horse, which was struck." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM (CONTINUED). + + Closing Events of the Great Struggle--Burnside crosses the Bridge he + made famous--Toombs made Gallant Defence, but was outnumbered and + dislodged--The Confederate Brigades from Harper's Ferry under A. P. + Hill in Time for the Final Crisis--Burnside's Advance arrested by + them--The Battle against Burnside "appeared to spring from the + Earth"--"Lee's old War Horse"--The Killing of a Kinsman at the Bridge + seriously affects General D. R. Jones--The Sharp Fight at + Shepherdstown--Confederates retreat--Casualties of the + Battle--Confederate Losses in the Campaign--Neither McClellan's Plan + nor Execution was strong. + + +At one or two points near our centre were dead angles into which I rode +from time to time for closer observation of the enemy when his active +aggression was suspended. General Burnside was busy at his crossing, but +no report of progress had been sent me. One of my rides towards the Dunker +chapel revealed efforts of the enemy to renew his work on that part of the +field. Our troops were ordered to be ready to receive it. Its +non-aggression suggested an opportunity for the Confederates, and I +ordered McLaws and Walker to prepare to assault. Hood was back in position +with his brigades, and Jackson was reported on his way, all in full supply +of ammunition. It seemed probable that by concealing our movements under +cover of the wood from the massed batteries of Doubleday's artillery on +the north, and the batteries of position on the east, we could draw our +columns so near to the enemy in front before our move could be known that +we would have but a few rods to march before we could mingle our ranks +with those of the enemy; that our columns massed and in goodly numbers, +pressing severely upon a single point, would give the enemy much trouble, +and might cut him in two, and break up his battle arrangements at the +lower bridge; but just then General Jackson reported, with authority from +General Lee, that he with the cavalry was ordered to march around and turn +the entire position of the enemy by his right flank, and strike at his +rear. He found that the march would be long and extremely hazardous, and +abandoned his orders. So it appears that counsels were divided on both +sides, General McClellan disapproving the attack proposed by Franklin, and +General Lee preferring a flank move. + +Of the proposed attack from the Union side, General Franklin reported,-- + + "Slocum's division arrived on the field about eleven o'clock. + Immediately after its arrival two of his brigades (Newton's and + Torbert's) were formed in column of attack to carry the wood in the + immediate vicinity of the White Church. The other brigade (Bartlett's) + had been ordered by General Sumner to keep near his right. As this + brigade was to form the reserve for the column of attack, I waited + until it came up. About the same time General Sumner arrived on the + spot and directed the attack to be postponed, and the enemy at once + proceeded to fill the wood with infantry, and planted a battery there + which opened a severe fire upon us. Shortly afterwards the commanding + general came to the position, and decided that it would not be prudent + to make the attack, our position on the right being then considerably + in advance of what it had been in the morning."[67] + +General McClellan claimed that his batteries on the east side dispersed a +column marching in the afternoon to reinforce against General Sumner. This +was probably Jackson's command marching to their position on the line. The +fire only hurried the march of the troops to the front, where they resumed +their position. + +We left General Toombs defending the crossing at the Burnside Bridge, with +the Second, Twentieth, and Fiftieth Georgia Regiments, and a company of +Jenkins's brigade of South Carolina troops, against the Ninth Corps, +commanded by General J. D. Cox, General Burnside, the commander of the +right wing present, commanding. Toombs had in his line of infantry five +hundred and fifty men part way up the swell of Sharpsburg Heights. Behind +him he posted Eubank's battery, and overlooking were J. B. Richardson's +and Eshleman's to rake the bridge; others near. The road on the Union side +leading to the bridge runs parallel to the river about three hundred yards +before it reaches the bridge, and turns up-stream after crossing. On the +parallel to this line of march on the Confederate side Toombs posted his +infantry, the South Carolina company in a marginal woodland above the +bridge. Above and near the bridge was a fording-place for infantry; a +thousand yards below was a practicable ford for infantry and artillery, by +a country road. Toombs's orders were, when dislodged, to retire south so +as to open the field of fire to all the troops on the heights behind him, +the fire of his batteries to be concentrated upon the bridge, and his +infantry arranged for a like converging fire. The ravines cutting the +swells of the foot-hills gave him fair ground for retreat when he found +his position no longer tenable. He was to so manoeuvre as to have a flank +fire on the advancing columns, and gradually encircle so as to join his +division after passing the crest. + +Early in the morning, General Burnside had been ordered to prepare the +Ninth Corps for attack at the bridge, but to await further orders. At +eight o'clock orders were sent to carry the bridge, gain possession of the +heights, and to advance along their crest upon Sharpsburg and its rear. +The order was repeated, and, finally, losing patience, General McClellan +sent the inspector-general (Colonel Sackett) + + "To deliver to General Burnside my positive order to push forward his + troops without a moment's delay, and if necessary to carry the bridge + at the point of the bayonet, and I ordered Colonel Sackett to remain + with General Burnside and see that the order was promptly + executed."[68] + +Upon receipt of the first order General Burnside advanced his troops, +General Crook's brigade, supported by General Sturgis's division, to the +bridge and ford just above it. These were preceded by the Eleventh +Connecticut Regiment as skirmishers under Colonel Kingsbury, who essayed +crossing by the upper ford, but after severe skirmish Colonel Kingsbury +was killed and the effort failed. The division under General Rodman +supported by Scammon's brigade (commanded by Colonel Ewing) moved towards +the lower ford. Colonel Scammon, commanding the Kanawha division, moved +with this column. + +Wilcox's division was in rear of Sturgis, in reserve, and near the left of +Benjamin's battery. Clark's and Durell's batteries were posted on the +right. One section of Simmonds's battery was with Crook's brigade, the +other with Benjamin's battery. Dahlgren's boat-howitzers covered the ford +at Rodman's crossing. The last order was received at ten o'clock. The line +of skirmishers advanced and engaged across the river. Crook's brigade +marched for the bridge. After a severe engagement of some hours, General +Crook posted two of Simmonds's guns in position to cover the bridge, and +after some little time General Sturgis's division approached the bridge, +led by Naglee's brigade. The Second Brigade, General Ferrero, was posted a +little in reserve. The Second Maryland, Colonel Duryea, and Sixth New +Hampshire Regiments were ordered forward in double time with bayonets +fixed to carry the bridge. They made a gallant, dashing charge, crowding +the bridge almost to its western _debouche_, but the fire concentrated a +storm that stunned their ranks, thinned and cut them down until they were +forced to retire. General Burnside repeated the order to force the way at +all hazards. Arrangements were made, and when concluded the Fifty-first +New York and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Regiments were sent. They found a +route better covered from the Confederate fire than that of the first +column while marching for the bridge. + +By a dashing charge on double time they passed it under exulting hurrahs +and most gallant work, and gained the west bank. The crossing by Rodman's +division at the lower ford made our position at the bridge untenable, and +General Toombs was prepared to retire the moment the west bank was gained +in his rear. + +Union troops were hurried over, and organized for advance over Sharpsburg +Heights, but Sturgis's division had suffered, and, the ammunition getting +low, it was found necessary to replace it by the division under General +Wilcox, and Sturgis was ordered to hold position near the bridge in +reserve. The brigades under Rodman made their crossing sooner, and waited +a little for those at the bridge. As soon as the latter formed on the west +bank, Rodman drew nearer. He was supported by the Scammon brigade of the +Kanawha division, the brigade under General Crook to move with the troops +from the bridge. + +Clark's, Durell's, Cook's, Muhlenberg's, and part of Simmonds's batteries +crossed with the infantry. About four o'clock the troops were over and +advanced under very severe fire of artillery and infantry, increasing in +force as they ascended the heights, but the march was continued in bold, +admirable style, the troops engaging in steady, brave fight as they +marched. Overreaching my right, they forced it back, breaking off Jones's +right brigades under Drayton, Kemper, and Garnett. Toombs, working his way +to the rear, managed to encircle the advancing column and join the other +brigades under D. R. Jones as they were forced back. Jones used some of +them in organizing a stand on the flank of the Union columns. Toombs was +joined in his rearward move by his regiments that had been sent off as +train guards, by a battalion of the Eleventh Georgia under Major Little, +and sent the regiments with him to replenish ammunition. Meanwhile, steady +advancing battle was made by the Federals. + +Batteries from all parts of our field drove to General Lee, as well as +detachments of infantry, including some with fresh wounds from the morning +battle, but the battle moved bravely on. + +When General Lee found that General Jackson had left six of his brigades +under General A. P. Hill to receive the property and garrison surrendered +at Harper's Ferry, he sent orders for them to join him, and by magic spell +had them on the field to meet the final crisis. He ordered two of them +guided by Captain Latrobe to guard against approach of other forces that +might come against him by bridge No. 4, Pender's and Brockenbrough's, and +threw Branch's, Gregg's and Archer's against the fore-front of the battle, +while Toombs's, Kemper's, and Garnett's engaged against its right. +McIntosh's battery, sent in advance by A. P. Hill, was overrun and +captured. Pegram's and Crenshaw's batteries were put in with Hill's three +brigades. The Washington Artillery, S. D. Lee's, and Frobel's found places +for parts of their batteries, ammunition replenished. D. H. Hill found +opportunity to put in parts of his artillery under Elliott, Boyce, Carter, +and Maurin. Toombs's absent regiments returned, as he made his way around +to the enemy's right, and joined the right of General D. R. Jones. The +strong battle concentrating against General Burnside seemed to spring from +the earth as his march bore him farther from the river. Outflanked and +staggered by the gallant attack of A. P. Hill's brigades, his advance was +arrested. + +The contention about the heights and suburbs of Sharpsburg was anxiously +held. General Cox, reinforced by his reserve under General Sturgis, +handled well his left against A. P. Hill; but, assailed in front and on +his flank by concentrating fires that were crushing, he found it necessary +to recover his lines and withdraw. A. P. Hill's brigades, Toombs and +Kemper, followed. They recovered McIntosh's battery and the ground that +had been lost on the right before the slow advancing night dropped her +mantle upon this field of seldom equalled strife. + +When the Ninth Corps dropped back under the crest they had so bravely won, +the battle of Sharpsburg virtually ended, though the fire between the +lines was continued till nine o'clock. The field made classic by a +struggle of eighteen hours, too fearful to contemplate, was yet cumbered +by the dead and wounded. After the firing ceased, parties from both sides, +by mutual consent, went in search of fallen comrades. + +After riding along the lines, giving instructions for the night and +morning, I rode for general head-quarters to make report, but was delayed +somewhat, finding wounded men hidden away under stone walls and in fence +corners, not yet looked after, and afterwards in assisting a family whose +home had been fired by a shell, so that all the other officers had +arrived, made their reports, and were lounging about on the sod, when I +rode up. General Lee walked up as I dismounted, threw his hands upon my +shoulders, and hailed me with, "Here is my old war-horse at last!" + +One of those peculiarly painful personal experiences which are innumerable +in war, but seldom get into print (save in fiction), came under my +observation in this battle. Colonel H. W. Kingsbury, who was killed while +gallantly leading the Eleventh Connecticut Regiment at the ford near the +Burnside Bridge, was a brother-in-law of General D. R. Jones, who +commanded the Confederates immediately opposing him. His taking-off was a +severe blow to Jones, and one from which he never recovered. His health +had not been strong for some time. He asked leave of absence shortly +after this occurrence, and, gradually but hopelessly sinking, in a few +months passed over to the silent majority to join his fallen kinsman. + + +[Illustration: ANTIETAM. THE FIGHT AT BURNSIDE'S BRIDGE.] + + +A few shots were exchanged early on the 18th, but a kindly feeling seemed +to take possession of the troops, as they were not ordered into action, +and excuses were passed between the lines for looking after wounded +comrades, which resulted in a _quasi_ truce for the day. + +The Burnside battle may be likened to that contemplated for Fitz-John +Porter under his 4.30 order at the Second Manassas. The latter, however, +had the smaller force, while Burnside's numbers were greater. + +In the afternoon General Lee was advised of new arrivals in General +McClellan's army, and, thinking the few stragglers who came up to swell +his own ranks were not sufficient to justify him in renewing the battle on +the 19th, ordered his trains back, and after night marched his troops +across the Potomac at the ford near Shepherdstown. + +General Stuart was ordered to cross ahead of the general move, recross the +Potomac at Williamsport, and stand guard to the rear of the columns in +case of danger to their crossing. The road being clear at nine o'clock, +the army marched; the First Corps, in advance, crossed about two A.M. on +the 19th, awaited to guard the crossing, and at daylight was deployed on +the south side. A. P. Hill's division covered the retreat of the army, and +the cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee was to follow, relieving lines of picket +guards and helping the feeble footmen. The rear of the Confederate column +crossed into Virginia at ten A.M., unmolested. As the pursuit was not +threatening, General Lee ordered his army to continue the march to proper +points of bivouac, holding the artillery reserve under General Pendleton +and an infantry detail of the brigades of Armistead and Lawton, commanded +by Colonels Hodges and Lamar, as guard at the ford. General Pendleton +posted some thirty guns in position for converging fire at the ford, and +put a line of skirmishers near it, holding the infantry reserve and eleven +guns at the rear. + +About noon the Union cavalry appeared on the other bank. The batteries of +Gibson, Tidball, and Robertson were put in action, but relieved about two +o'clock by artillery of the Fifth Corps. After a severe combat the Fourth +Michigan Regiment and parts of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania +and Eighteenth and Twenty-second Massachusetts were ordered over under +General Griffin. They forced the passage under artillery and infantry +fire, scaled the heights, and got possession of five guns of different +batteries and a number of small-arms, when, night approaching, the +detachment was recalled. + +General Pendleton reported the result to general head-quarters, and +General Lee ordered General Jackson to send his nearest division back to +the ford early in the morning. + +A. P. Hill's division was ordered. He was fortunate in approaching the +ford (Boteler's) before the Federals had crossed all of their advancing +column; formed his brigades in two lines and advanced to attack. General +Porter, upon the report of this advance, found that his troops could not +get position on the south bank in time to meet this threatening, ordered +the troops withdrawn to cover about the canal and adjacent heights, and +succeeded in getting most of his men safely back. + +General Hill deployed the brigades of Gregg, Thomas, and Pender as his +front line, under command of General Gregg. Lane's (Branch's brigade), +Archer's, and Brockenbrough's brigades were of his second line, commanded +by General Archer. In this order the division advanced and engaged in a +severe struggle. Finding the fight on his front heavy, General Pender +called to General Archer for support, and the latter, moving by his left, +brought his brigade on Pender's left, when the advance was pushed to +successful issue. The One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Regiment was +thrown into confusion and suffered heavy loss. One of the guns lost the +day before was recovered and two hundred prisoners taken. The losses were +between two hundred and fifty and three hundred on each side, the Federals +losing about twenty more than the Confederates. The Confederate accounts +of this affair were overdrawn, but they were reassuring after the severe +experience about South Mountain and Sharpsburg. + +The Army of Northern Virginia was then marched to the vicinity of +Martinsburg, where it remained in repose for several days, then retired to +the vicinity of Winchester. The Army of the Potomac concentrated about +Harper's Ferry, refitting its supplies and transportation. + +We may say of the battle of Sharpsburg that the Confederates foiled every +attack that was made, and brought the Army of the Potomac to a stand at +night, yet the Federal commander scored a success that was startling. + +The commander of the Army of the Potomac reported his strength as 87,164. +His estimate of the strength of the Army of Northern Virginia was 97,445. +The Confederate commander estimated his own strength for battle at 37,000, +and that of his adversary at 90,000. + +The Confederates fought all of their men that were on the field, except +two brigades of A. P. Hill's division and some of their field batteries. + +Of the Federals, the Fifth Corps, except about one brigade of infantry, +was not in action; and the Sixth Corps, except Irwin's brigade, seems to +have had little serious work. + +It is generally conceded that the Federals, in addition to advantage of +numbers, had their organizations in hand, were better fed and clothed, and +better prepared, therefore, to muster a larger portion of their number for +battle. + +The casualties of the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, in the +engagements at South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, Maryland Heights, Harper's +Ferry, and Sharpsburg, as tabulated in the official report, were 7508.[69] +Neither General Jackson's report nor General D. H. Hill's furnishes a +detailed account of casualties. The former gives aggregate figures 2438, +the latter 3241,--making a grand aggregate of 13,187.[70] None of these +reports include the losses of the cavalry command, nor is there a report +of them found among the Records. + +The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated at and near Fredericktown on +the 9th of September, 1862, numbered a trifle over 61,000, all arms. +General Lee's estimate of his troops engaged at Sharpsburg was 37,000. +This may not include his cavalry arm, conceding which, his force on the +field should have been about 41,000. Estimating the cavalry loss at 500, +our losses of battle should be 13,687, which leaves 20,000 to be accounted +for as lost by severe continuous labor and marches. This, added to the +losses in action, makes a grand total of 33,687 lost in the Maryland +campaign. The losses from overwork were only temporary. Most of them were +back in the ranks within fifteen days after the return to Virginia. But +all of these large figures are trifles compared to the lamentable loss of +the fruits of devoted service from the Chickahominy campaign to the +Potomac. + +The casualties of the Union side, reported by official count, were 12,410. + +The best tactical moves at Antietam were made by Generals McLaws, A. P. +Hill, Gibbon, and Patrick, and Colonels Barlow and Cross. Generals D. H. +Hill and Hood were like game-cocks, fighting as long as they could stand, +engaging again as soon as strong enough to rise. General Toombs and +Colonel Benning performed very clever work at the Burnside Bridge. Of +Colonel Cooke, the Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment, Captain Miller, +Sergeant Ellis, and their men of the Washington Artillery, General Lee +said, "They were heroic." + +General McClellan's plan of the battle was not strong, the handling and +execution were less so. Battles by the extreme right and left, divided by +a river, gave us the benefit of interior lines, and it was that that saved +the Confederate army, for it became manifest early in the day that his +reserves were held at the bridge No. 2, which gave us freer use of our +inner lines. + +Following is a condensed but accurate presentation of the organization of +the contending armies in the battle of Sharpsburg and the Maryland +campaign:[71] + + ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE COMMANDING. + + LONGSTREET'S CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET. + + MCLAWS'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Lafayette McLaws:--_Kershaw's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. J. B. Kershaw; 2d S. C., Col. John D. Kennedy; 3d S. C., + Col. James D. Nance; 7th S. C., Col. D. Wyatt Aiken and Capt. John S. + Hard; 8th S. C., Lieut.-Col. A. J. Hoole. _Cobb's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Howell Cobb, Lieut.-Col. C. C. Sanders, Lieut.-Col. William MacRae; + 16th and 24th Ga., Cobb's (Ga.) Legion, 15th N. C. _Semmes's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Paul J. Semmes; 10th Ga., Capt. P. H. Loud; 53d Ga., + Lieut.-Col. Thomas Sloan and Capt. S. W. Marshborne; 15th Va., Capts. + E. M. Morrison and E. J. Willis; 32d Va., Col. E. B. Montague. + _Barksdale's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William Barksdale; 13th Miss., + Lieut.-Col. Kennon McElroy; 17th Miss., Lieut.-Col. John C. Fiser; + 18th Miss., Maj. J. C. Campbell and Lieut.-Col. William H. Luse; 21st + Miss., Capt. John Sims and Col. Benjamin G. Humphreys. _Artillery_, + Maj. S. P. Hamilton, Col. H. C. Cabell; Manly's (N. C.) battery, Capt. + B. C. Manly; Pulaski (Ga.) Art., Capt. J. P. W. Read; Richmond + (Fayette) Art., Capt. M. C. Macon; Richmond Howitzers (1st Co.), Capt. + E. S. McCarthy; Troup (Ga.) Art., Capt. H. H. Carlton. + + ANDERSON'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson:--_Wilcox's + Brigade_, Col. Alfred Cumming; 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Ala. _Mahone's + Brigade_, Col. William A. Parham; 6th, 12th, 16th, 41st, and 61st Va. + _Featherston's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Winfield S. Featherston, Col. + Carnot Posey; 12th Miss., 16th Miss., Capt. A. M. Feltus; 19th Miss., + 2d Miss. Battn. _Armistead's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Lewis A. Armistead, + Col. J. G. Hodges; 9th, 14th, 38th, 53d, and 57th Va. _Pryor's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Roger A. Pryor; 14th Ala., 2d and 8th Fla., 3d + Va. _Wright's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Wright; 44th Ala., 3d, 22d, + and 48th Ga. _Artillery_, Maj. John S. Saunders; Donaldsonville (La.) + Art. (Maurin's battery), Huger's (Va.) battery, Moorman's (Va.) + battery, Thompson's (Grimes's) (Va.) battery. + + JONES'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. David R. Jones:--_Toombs's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Robert Toombs, Col. Henry L. Benning; 2d Ga., Lieut.-Col. + William R. Holmes and Major Skidmore Harris; 15th Ga., Col. W. T. + Millican; 17th Ga., Capt. J. A. McGregor; 20th Ga., Col. J. B. + Cumming. _Drayton's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Thomas F. Drayton; 50th Ga., + Lieut.-Col. F. Kearse; 51st Ga., 15th S. C., Col. W. D. De Saussure. + _Pickett's Brigade_, Col. Eppa Hunton, Brig.-Gen. R. B. Garnett; 8th + Va., Col. Eppa Hunton; 18th Va., Maj. George C. Cabell; 19th Va., Col. + J. B. Strange, Lieut. W. N. Wood, and Capt. J. L. Cochran; 28th Va., + Capt. Wingfield; 56th Va., Col. William D. Stuart and Capt. McPhail. + _Kemper's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. L. Kemper; 1st, 7th, 11th, 17th, and + 24th Va. _Jenkins's Brigade_, Col. Joseph Walker; 1st S. C. (Vols.), + Lieut.-Col. D. Livingston; 2d S. C. Rifles, 5th S. C., Capt. T. C. + Beckham; 6th S. C., Lieut.-Col. J. M. Steedman, Capt. E. B. Cantey; + 4th S. C. (Battn.), Palmetto (S. C.) Sharp-shooters. _Anderson's + Brigade_, Col. George T. Anderson; 1st Ga. (Regulars), Col. W. J. + Magill; 7th, 8th, and 9th Ga.; 11th Ga., Maj. F. H. Little. + _Artillery_, Fauquier (Va.) Art. (Stribling's battery),[72] Loudoun + (Va.) Art. (Rogers's battery),[72] Turner (Va.) Art. (Leake's + battery),[72] Wise (Va.) Art. (J. S. Brown's battery). + + WALKER'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John G. Walker:--_Walker's Brigade_, + Col. Van H. Manning, Col. E. D. Hall; 3d Ark., Capt. John W. Reedy; + 27th N. C., Col. J. R. Cooke; 46th N. C., Col. E. D. Hall; 48th N. C., + Col. R. C. Hill; 30th Va., French's (Va.) battery, Capt, Thomas B. + French. _Ransom's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr.; 24th N. C., + Lieut.-Col. John L. Harris; 25th N. C., Col. H. M. Rutledge; 35th N. + C., Col. M. W. Ransom; 49th N. C., Lieut.-Col. Lee M. McAfee; Branch's + Field Art. (Va.), Capt. Branch. + + HOOD'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John B. Hood:--_Hood's Brigade_, Col. W. + T. Wofford; 18th Ga., Lieut.-Col. S. Z. Ruff; Hampton (S. C.) Legion, + Lieut.-Col. M. W. Gary; 1st Tex., Lieut.-Col. P. A. Work; 4th Tex., + Lieut.-Col. B. F. Carter; 5th Tex., Capt. I. N. M. Turner. _Law's + Brigade_, Col. E. M. Law; 4th Ala., Lieut.-Col. O. K. McLemore; 2d + Miss., Col. J. M. Stone; 11th Miss., Col. P. F. Liddell; 6th N. C., + Maj. Robert F. Webb. _Artillery_, Maj. B. W. Frobel; German Art. (S. + C.), Capt. W. K. Bachman; Palmetto Art. (S. C.), Capt. H. R. Garden; + Rowan Art. (N. C.), Capt. James Reilly. + + EVANS'S BRIGADE, Brig.-Gen. Nathan G. Evans, Col. P. F. Stevens;[73] + 17th S. C., Col. F. W. McMaster; 18th S. C., Col. W. H. Wallace; 22d + S. C., Lieut.-Col. T. C. Watkins and Maj. M. Hilton; 23d S. C., Capt. + S. A. Durham and Lieut. E. R. White; Holcombe (S. C.) Legion, Col. P. + F. Stevens; Macbeth (S. C.) Art., Capt. R. Boyce. + + ARTILLERY:--_Washington (La.) Artillery_, Col. J. B. Walton; 1st Co., + Capt. C. W. Squires; 2d Co., Capt. J. B. Richardson; 3d Co., Capt. M. + B. Miller; 4th Co., Capt. B. F. Eshleman. _Lee's Battalion_, Col. S. + D. Lee; Ashland (Va.) Art., Capt. P. Woolfolk, Jr.; Bedford (Va.) + Art., Capt. T. C. Jordan; Brooks (S. C.) Art., Lieut. William Elliott; + Eubank's (Va.) battery, Capt. J. L. Eubank; Madison (La.) Light Art., + Capt. G. V. Moody; Parker's (Va.) battery, Capt. W. W. Parker. + + + JACKSON'S CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. + + EWELL'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Lawton, Brig.-Gen. Jubal A. + Early:--_Lawton's Brigade_, Col. M. Douglass, Maj. J. H. Lowe, Col. + John H. Lamar; 13th and 26th Ga., 31st Ga., Lieut.-Col. J. T. Crowder; + 38th, 60th, and 61st Ga. _Early's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Jubal A. Early, + Col. William Smith; 13th Va., Capt. F. V. Winston; 25th, 31st, and + 44th Va.; 49th Va., Col. William Smith; 52d Va., Col. M. G. Harman; + 58th Va. _Trimble's Brigade_, Col. James A. Walker; 15th Ala., Capt. + I. B. Feagin; 12th Ga., Capt. Rogers; 21st Ga., Maj. Thomas C. Glover; + 21st N. C., Capt. Miller; 1st N. C. Battn.[74] _Hays's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Harry T. Hays; 5th La., 6th La., Col. H. B. Strong; 7th, + 8th, and 14th La. _Artillery_,[75] Maj. A. R. Courtney; + Charlottesville (Va.) Art. (Carrington's battery), Chesapeake (Md.) + Art. (Brown's battery), Courtney (Va.) Art. (Latimer's battery), + Johnson's (Va.) battery, La. Guard Art. (D'Aquin's battery), 1st Md. + Batt. (Dement's battery), Staunton (Va.) Art. (Balthis's battery). + + HILL'S LIGHT DIVISION, Maj. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill:--_Branch's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. L. O'B. Branch, Col. James H. Lane; 7th N. C., 18th N. C., + Lieut.-Col. Purdie; 28th, 33d, and 37th N. C. _Gregg's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Maxcy Gregg; 1st S. C. (provisional army), Maj. E. McCrady, + Jr., Col. D. H. Hamilton; 1st S. C. Rifles, Lieut.-Col. James M. + Perrin; 12th S. C., Col. Dixon Barnes, Lieut.-Col. C. Jones, and Maj. + W. H. McCorkle; 13th S. C., Col. O. E. Edwards; 14th S. C., + Lieut.-Col. W. D. Simpson. _Field's Brigade_, Col. Brockenbrough; + 40th, 47th, and 55th Va., 22d Va. Battn. _Archer's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. J. J. Archer, Col. Peter Turney; 5th Ala. Battn., Captain + Hooper; 19th Ga., Maj. J. H. Neal and Capt. F. M. Johnston; 1st Tenn. + (provisional army), Col. Peter Turney; 7th Tenn., Maj. S. G. Shepard + and Lieut. G. A. Howard; 14th Tenn., Lieut.-Col. J. W. Lockert. + _Pender's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William D. Pender, Col. R. H. Brewer; + 16th N. C., Lieut.-Col. Stowe; 22d N. C., Maj. C. C. Cole; 34th and + 38th N. C. _Thomas's Brigade_, Col. Edward L. Thomas; 14th Ga., Col. + R. W. Folsom; 35th Ga., 45th Ga., Maj. W. L. Grice; 49th Ga., + Lieut.-Col. S. M. Manning. _Artillery_,[76] Maj. R. L. Walker; Branch + (N. C.) Art. (A. C. Latham's battery), Crenshaw's (Va.) battery, + Fredericksburg (Va.) Art. (Braxton's battery), Letcher (Va.) Art. + (Davidson's battery), Middlesex (Va.) Art. (Fleet's battery), Pee Dee + (S. C.) Art. (McIntosh's battery), Purcell (Va.) Art. (Pegram's + battery). + + JACKSON'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John R. Jones, Brig.-Gen. W. E. Starke, + Col. A. J. Grigsby:--_Winder's Brigade_, Col. A. J. Grigsby, + Lieut.-Col. R. D. Gardner (4th Va.), Maj. H. J. Williams; 2d Va., + Capt. R. T. Colston; 4th Va., Lieut.-Col. R. D. Gardner; 5th Va., Maj. + H. J. Williams; 27th Va., Capt. F. C. Wilson; 33d Va., Capt. Golladay + and Lieut. Walton. _Taliaferro's Brigade_, Col. E. T. H. Warren, Col. + J. W. Jackson, Col. J. L. Sheffield; 47th and 48th Ala., 10th, 23d, + and 37th Va. _Jones's Brigade_, Col. B. T. Johnson, Brig.-Gen. J. R. + Jones, Capt, J. E. Penn, Capt. A. C. Page, Capt. R. W. Withers; 21st + Va., Capt. A. C. Page; 42d Va., Capt. R. W. Withers; 48th Va., Capt. + Chandler; 1st Va. Battn., Lieut. C. A. Davidson. _Starke's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. William E. Starke, Col. L. A. Stafford, Col. E. Pendleton; + 1st La., Lieut.-Col. M. Nolan; 2d La., Col. J. M. Williams; 9th La., + 10th La., Capt. H. D. Monier; 15th La., Coppens's (La.) battalion. + _Artillery_, Maj. L. M. Shumaker; Alleghany (Va.) Art. (Carpenter's + battery), Brockenbrough's (Md.) battery, Danville (Va.) Art. + (Wooding's battery), Hampden (Va.) Art. (Caskie's battery), Lee (Va.) + Batt. (Raines's), Rockbridge (Va.) Art. (Poague's battery). + + HILL'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Daniel H. Hill:--_Ripley's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Roswell S. Ripley, Col. George Doles; 4th Ga., Col. George + Doles; 44th Ga., Capt. Key; 1st N. C., Lieut.-Col. H. A. Brown; 3d N. + C., Col. William L. De Rosset. _Rodes's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. R. E. + Rodes; 3d Ala., Col. C. A. Battle; 5th Ala., Maj. E. L. Hobson; 6th + Ala., Col. J. B. Gordon; 12th Ala., Col. B. B. Gayle and Lieut.-Col. + S. B. Pickens; 26th Ala., Col. E. A. O'Neal. _Garland's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Samuel Garland, Jr., Col. D. K. McRae; 5th N. C., Col. D. + K. McRae and Capt. T. M. Garrett; 12th N. C., Capt. S. Snow; 13th N. + C., Lieut.-Col. Thomas Ruffin, Jr.; 20th N. C., Col. Alfred Iverson; + 23d N. C., Col. D. H. Christie. _Anderson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + George B. Anderson, Col. R. T. Bennett; 2d N. C., Col. C. C. Tew and + Capt. G. M. Roberts; 4th N. C., Col. Bryan Grimes and Capts. W. T. + Marsh and D. P. Latham; 14th N. C., Col. R. T. Bennett; 30th N. C., + Col. F. M. Parker and Maj. W. W. Sillers. _Colquitt's Brigade_, Col. + A. H. Colquitt; 13th Ala., Col. B. D. Fry; 6th Ga., Lieut.-Col. J. M. + Newton; 23d Ga., Col. W. P. Barclay; 27th Ga., Col. L. B. Smith; 28th + Ga., Maj. T. Graybill and Capt. N. J. Garrison. _Artillery_,[77] Maj. + Pierson; Hardaway's (Ala.) battery, Capt. R. A. Hardaway; Jeff Davis + (Ala.) Art., Capt. J. W. Bondurant; Jones's (Va.) battery, Capt. + William B. Jones; King William (Va.) Art., Capt. T. H. Carter. + + RESERVE ARTILLERY, Brig.-Gen. William N. Pendleton:--_Brown's + Battalion_,[78] Col. J. Thompson Brown; Powhatan Art. (Dance's + battery), Richmond Howitzers, 2d Co. (Watson's battery), Richmond + Howitzers, 3d Co. (Smith's battery), Salem Art. (Hupp's battery), + Williamsburg Art. (Coke's battery). _Cutts's Battalion_,[79] + Lieut.-Col. A. S. Cutts; Blackshears's (Ga.) battery, Irwin (Ga.) Art. + (Lane's battery), Lloyd's (N. C.) battery, Patterson's (Ga.) battery, + Ross's (Ga.) battery. _Jones's Battalion_,[79] Maj. H. P. Jones. + Morris (Va.) Art. (R. C. M. Page's battery), Orange (Va.) Art. + (Peyton's battery), Turner's (Va.) battery, Wimbish's (Va.) battery. + _Nelson's Battalion_, Maj. William Nelson; Amherst (Va.) Art. + (Kirkpatrick's battery), Fluvanna (Va.) Art. (Ancell's battery), + Huckstep's (Va.) battery, Johnson's (Va.) battery, Milledge (Ga.) Art. + (Milledge's battery). _Miscellaneous_, Cutshaw's (Va.) battery, Dixie + (Va.) Art. (Chapman's battery), Magruder (Va.) Art. (T. J. Page, + Jr.'s, battery), Rice's (Va.) battery, Capt. W. H. Rice; Thomas's + (Va.) Art. (E. J. Anderson's battery).[80] + + CAVALRY, Maj.-Gen. James E. B. Stuart:--_Hampton's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Wade Hampton; 1st N. C., Col. L. S. Baker; 2d S. C., Col. + M. C. Butler; 10th Va., Cobb's (Ga.) Legion, Lieut.-Col. P. M. B. + Young; Jeff Davis Legion, Lieut.-Col. W. T. Martin. _Lee's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Fitzhugh Lee; 1st Va., Lieut.-Col. L. Tiernan Brien; 3d + Va., Lieut.-Col. John T. Thornton; 4th Va., Col. William C. Wickham; + 5th Va., Col. T. L. Rosser; 9th Va. _Robertson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + B. H. Robertson, Col. Thomas T. Munford; 2d Va., Col. T. T. Munford + and Lieut.-Col. Burks; 6th Va.; 7th Va., Capt. S. B. Myers; 12th Va., + Col. A. W. Harman; 17th Va. Battn. + + HORSE ARTILLERY, Capt. John Pelham:--Chew's (Va.) battery, Hart's (S. + C.) battery, Pelham's (Va.) battery. + + + ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,[81] MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, U. S. + ARMY. + + GENERAL HEAD-QUARTERS:--_Escort_, Capt. James B. McIntyre; Independent + Company Oneida (N. Y.) Cav., Capt. Daniel P. Mann; 4th U. S. Cav., Co. + A, Lieut. Thomas H. McCormick; 4th U. S. Cav., Co. E, Capt. James B. + McIntyre. _Regular Engineer Battalion_, Capt. James C. Duane. _Provost + Guard_, Maj. William H. Wood. 2d U. S. Cav., Cos. E, F, H, and K, + Capt. George A. Gordon; 8th U. S. Inf., Cos. A, D, F, and G, Capt. + Royal T. Frank; 19th U. S. Inf., Co. G, Capt. Edmund L. Smith; 19th U. + S. Inf., Co. H, Capt. Henry S. Welton. _Head-quarters Guard_, Maj. + Granville O. Haller; 93d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Benjamin C. Butler. + _Quartermaster's Guard_, 1st U. S. Cav., Cos. B, C, H, and I, Capt. + Marcus A. Reno. + + + FIRST ARMY CORPS,[82] (1) MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER,[83] (2) + BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. _Escort_, 2d N. Y. Cav., Cos. A, B, + I, and K, Capt. John E. Naylor. + + FIRST DIVISION, (1) Brig.-Gen. Rufus King,[84] (2) Brig.-Gen. John P. + Hatch,[85] (3) Brig.-Gen. Abner Doubleday:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Walter Phelps, Jr.; 22d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. John McKie, Jr.; 24th N. + Y., Capt. John D. O'Brian; 30th N. Y., Col. William M. Searing; 84th + N. Y. (14th Militia), Maj. William H. de Bovoise; 2d U. S. + Sharp-shooters, Col. Henry A. V. Post. _Second Brigade_, (1) + Brig.-Gen. Abner Doubleday, (2) Col. William P. Wainwright,[83] (3) + Lieut.-Col. J. William Hofmann; 7th Ind., Maj. Ira G. Grover; 76th N. + Y., Col. William P. Wainwright, Capt. John W. Young; 95th N. Y., Maj. + Edward Pye; 56th Pa., Lieut.-Col. J. William Hofmann, Capt. Frederick + Williams. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Marsena R. Patrick; 21st N. Y., + Col. William F. Rogers; 23d N. Y., Col. Henry C. Hoffman; 35th N. Y., + Col. Newton B. Lord; 80th N. Y. (20th Militia), Lieut.-Col. Theodore + B. Gates. _Fourth Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon; 19th Ind., Col. + Solomon Meredith, Lieut.-Col. Alois O. Bachman, Capt. William W. + Dudley; 2d Wis., Col. Lucius Fairchild, Lieut.-Col. Thomas S. Allen; + 6th Wis., Lieut.-Col. Edward S. Bragg, Maj. Rufus R. Dawes; 7th Wis., + Capt. John B. Callis. _Artillery_, Capt. J. Albert Monroe; N. H. + Light, First Batt., Lieut. Frederick M. Edgell; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. + D, Capt. J. Albert Monroe; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. L, Capt. John A. + Reynolds; 4th U. S., Batt. B, Capt. Joseph B. Campbell, Lieut. James + Stewart. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. James B. Ricketts:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Abram Duryea; 97th N. Y., Maj. Charles Northrup; 104th N. + Y., Maj. Lewis C. Skinner; 105th N. Y., Col. Howard Carroll; 107th + Pa., Capt. James Mac Thomson. _Second Brigade_, (1) Col. William A. + Christian, (2) Col. Peter Lyle; 26th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Richard H. + Richardson; 94th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Calvin Littlefield; 88th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. George W. Gile, Capt. Henry R. Myers; 90th Pa., Col. Peter + Lyle, Lieut.-Col. William A. Leech. _Third Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. + George L. Hartsuff,[83] (2) Col. Richard Coulter; 16th Me.,[86] Col. + Asa W. Wildes; 12th Mass., Maj. Elisha Burbank, Capt. Benjamin F. + Cook; 13th Mass., Maj. J. Parker Gould; 83d N. Y. (9th Militia), + Lieut.-Col. William Atterbury; 11th Pa., Col. Richard Coulter, Capt. + David M. Cook. _Artillery_, 1st Pa. Light, Batt. F, Capt. Ezra W. + Matthews; Pa. Light, Batt. C, Capt. James Thompson. + + THIRD DIVISION, (1) Brig.-Gen. George G. Meade, (2) Brig.-Gen. Truman + Seymour:--_First Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. Truman Seymour, (2) Col. R. + Biddle Roberts; 1st Pa. Reserves, Col. R. Biddle Roberts, Capt. + William C. Talley; 2d Pa. Reserves, Capt. James N. Byrnes; 5th Pa. + Reserves, Col. Joseph W. Fisher; 6th Pa. Reserves, Col. William + Sinclair; 13th Pa. Reserves (1st Rifles), Col. Hugh W. McNeil, Capt. + Dennis McGee. _Second Brigade_, Col. Albert L. Magilton; 3d Pa. + Reserves, Lieut.-Col. John Clark; 4th Pa. Reserves, Maj. John Nyce; + 7th Pa. Reserves, Col. Henry C. Bolinger, Major Chauncey M. Lyman; 8th + Pa. Reserves, Maj. Silas M. Baily. _Third Brigade_, (1) Col. Thomas F. + Gallagher,[87] (2) Lieut.-Col. Robert Anderson; 9th Pa. Reserves, + Lieut.-Col. Robert Anderson, Capt. Samuel B. Dick; 10th Pa. Reserves, + Lieut.-Col. Adoniram J. Warner, Capt. Jonathan P. Smith; 11th Pa. + Reserves, Lieut.-Col. Samuel M. Jackson; 12th Pa. Reserves, Capt. + Richard Gustin. _Artillery_, 1st Pa. Light, Batt. A, Lieut. John G. + Simpson; 1st Pa. Light, Batt. B, Capt, James H. Cooper; 1st Pa. Light, + Batt. G,[88] Lieut. Frank P. Amsden; 5th U. S., Batt. C, Capt. Dunbar + R. Ransom. + + + SECOND ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL EDWIN V. SUMNER. _Escort_, 6th N. Y. + Cav., Co. D, Capt. Henry W. Lyon; 6th N. Y. Cav., Co. K, Capt. Riley + Johnson. + + FIRST DIVISION, (1) Maj.-Gen. Israel B. Richardson,[89] (2) Brig.-Gen. + John C. Caldwell, (3) Brig.-Gen. Winfield S. Hancock; _First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. John C. Caldwell; 5th N. H., Col. Edward E. Cross; 7th N. + Y., Capt. Charles Brestel; 61st and 64th N. Y., Col. Francis C. + Barlow, Lieut.-Col. Nelson A. Miles; 81st Pa., Maj. H. Boyd McKeen. + _Second Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. Thomas F. Meagher, (2) Col. John + Burke; 29th Mass., Lieut.-Col. Joseph H. Barnes; 63d N. Y., Col. John + Burke, Lieut.-Col. Henry Fowler, Maj. Richard C. Bentley, Capt. Joseph + O'Neill; 69th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. James Kelly, Maj. James Cavanagh; + 88th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Patrick Kelly. _Third Brigade_, Col. John R. + Brooke; 2d Del., Capt. David L. Stricker; 52d N. Y., Col. Paul Frank; + 57th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Philip J. Parisen, Maj. Alford B. Chapman; + 66th N. Y., Capt. Julius Wehle, Lieut.-Col. James H. Bull; 53d Pa., + Lieut.-Col. Richards McMichael. _Artillery_, 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. B, + Capt. Rufus D. Pettit; 4th U. S., Batts. A and C, Lieut. Evan Thomas. + + SECOND DIVISION, (1) Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick,[89] (2) Brig.-Gen. + Oliver O. Howard:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Willis A. Gorman; 15th + Mass., Lieut.-Col. John W. Kimball; 1st Minn., Col. Alfred Sully; 34th + N. Y., Col. James A. Suiter; 82d N. Y. (2d Militia), Col. Henry W. + Hudson; Mass. Sharp-shooters, 1st Co., Capt. John Saunders; Minn. + Sharp-shooters, 2d Co., Capt. William F. Russell. _Second Brigade_, + (1) Brig.-Gen. Oliver O. Howard, (2) Col. Joshua T. Owen, (3) Col. De + Witt C. Baxter; 69th Pa., Col. Joshua T. Owen; 71st Pa., Col. Isaac J. + Wistar, Lieut. Richard P. Smith (adjutant), Capt. Enoch E. Lewis; 72d + Pa., Col. De Witt C. Baxter; 106th Pa., Col. Turner G. Morehead. + _Third Brigade_, (1) Brig-.Gen. Napoleon J. T. Dana,[89] (2) Col. + Norman J. Hall; 19th Mass., Col. Edward W. Hinks, Lieut.-Col. Arthur + F. Devereux; 20th Mass., Col. William R. Lee; 7th Mich., Col. Norman + J. Hall, Capt. Charles J. Hunt; 42d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. George N. + Bomford, Maj. James E. Mallon; 59th N. Y., Col. William L. Tidball. + _Artillery_, 1st R. I. Light, Batt. A, Capt. John A. Tompkins; 1st U. + S., Batt. I, Lieut. George A. Woodruff. + + THIRD DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. William H. French:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Nathan Kimball; 14th Ind., Col. William Harrow; 8th Ohio, + Lieut.-Col. Franklin Sawyer; 132d Pa., Col. Richard A. Oakford, + Lieut.-Col. Vincent M. Wilcox; 7th W. Va., Col. Joseph Snider. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Dwight Morris; 14th Conn., Lieut.-Col. Sanford H. + Perkins; 108th N. Y., Col. Oliver H. Palmer; 130th Pa., Col. Henry I. + Zinn. _Third Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. Max Weber,[90] (2) Col. John W. + Andrews; 1st Del., Col. John W. Andrews, Lieut.-Col. Oliver H. + Hopkinson; 5th Md., Maj. Leopold Blumenberg, Capt. E. F. M. Faehtz; + 4th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. John D. McGregor. _Unattached Artillery_, 1st + N. Y. Light, Batt. G, Capt. John D. Frank; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. B, + Capt. John G. Hazard; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. G, Capt. Charles D. Owen. + + + FOURTH ARMY CORPS. + + FIRST DIVISION,[91] Maj.-Gen. Darius N. Couch:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Charles Devens, Jr.; 7th Mass., Col. David A. Russell; 10th + Mass., Col. Henry L. Eustis; 36th N. Y., Col. William H. Browne; 2d R. + I., Col. Frank Wheaton. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Albion P. Howe; + 62d N. Y., Col. David J. Nevin; 93d Pa., Col. James M. McCarter; 98th + Pa., Col. John F. Ballier; 102d Pa., Col. Thomas A. Rowley; 139th + Pa.,[92] Col. Frank H. Collier. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. John + Cochrane; 65th N. Y., Col. Alexander Shaler; 67th N. Y., Col. Julius + W. Adams; 122d N. Y., Col. Silas Titus; 23d Pa., Col. Thomas H. Neill; + 61st Pa., Col. George C. Spear; 82d Pa., Col. David H. Williams. + _Artillery_, N. Y. Light, 3d Batt.,[93] Capt. William Stuart; 1st Pa. + Light, Batt. C, Capt, Jeremiah McCarthy; 1st Pa. Light, Batt. D, Capt. + Michael Hall, 2d U. S., Batt. G, Lieut. John H. Butler. + + + FIFTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL FITZ-JOHN PORTER. _Escort_, 1st Maine + Cavalry (detachment), Capt. George J. Summat. + + FIRST DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. George W. Morell:--_First Brigade_, Col. + James Barnes; 2d Me., Col. Charles W. Roberts; 18th Mass., Lieut.-Col. + Joseph Hayes; 22d Mass., Lieut.-Col. William S. Tilton; 1st Mich., + Capt. Emory W. Belton; 13th N. Y., Col. Elisha G. Marshall; 25th N. + Y., Col. Charles A. Johnson; 118th Pa., Col. Charles M. Prevost; Mass. + Sharp-shooters, 2d Co., Capt. Lewis E. Wentworth. _Second Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin; 2d D. of C., Col. Charles M. Alexander; + 9th Mass., Col. Patrick R. Guiney; 32d Mass., Col. Francis J. Parker; + 4th Mich., Col. Jonathan W. Childs; 14th N. Y., Col. James McQuade; + 62d Pa., Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer. _Third Brigade_, Col. T. B. W. + Stockton; 20th Me., Col. Adelbert Ames; 16th Mich., Lieut.-Col. + Norval E. Welch; 12th N. Y., Capt. William Huson; 17th N. Y., + Lieut.-Col. Nelson B. Bartram; 44th N. Y., Maj. Freeman Conner; 83d + Pa., Capt. Orpheus S. Woodward; Mich. Sharp-shooters, Brady's co., + Lieut. Jonas H. Titus, Jr. _Artillery_, Mass. Light, Batt. C, Capt, + Augustus P. Martin; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. C, Capt. Richard Waterman; + 5th U. S., Batt. D, Lieut. Charles E. Hazlett. _Sharp-shooters_, 1st + U. S., Capt. John B. Isler. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. George Sykes:--_First Brigade_, + Lieut.-Col. Robert C. Buchanan; 3d U. S., Capt. John D. Wilkins; 4th + U. S., Capt. Hiram Dryer; 12th U. S., 1st Battn., Capt. Matthew M. + Blunt; 12th U. S., 2d Battn., Capt. Thomas M. Anderson; 14th U. S., + 1st Battn., Capt. W. Harvey Brown; 14th U. S., 2d Battn., Capt. David + B. McKibbin. _Second Brigade_, Maj. Charles S. Lovell; 1st and 6th U. + S., Capt. Levi C. Bootes; 2d and 10th U. S., Capt. John S. Poland; + 11th U. S., Capt. DeL. Floyd-Jones; 17th U. S., Maj. George L. + Andrews. _Third Brigade_, Col. Gouverneur K. Warren; 5th N. Y., Capt. + Cleveland Winslow; 19th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. John W. Marshall. + _Artillery_, 1st U. S., Batts. E and G, Lieut. Alanson M. Randol; 5th + U. S., Batt. I, Capt. Stephen H. Weed; 5th U. S., Batt. K, Lieut. + William E. Van Reed. + + THIRD DIVISION,[94] Brig.-Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Erastus B. Tyler; 91st Pa., Col. Edgar M. Gregory; 126th + Pa., Col. James G. Elder; 129th Pa., Col. Jacob G. Frick; 134th Pa., + Col. Matthew S. Quay. _Second Brigade_, Col. Peter H. Allabach; 123d + Pa., Col. John B. Clark; 131st Pa., Lieut.-Col. William B. Shaut; 133d + Pa., Col. Franklin B. Speakman; 155th Pa., Col. Edward J. Allen. + _Artillery_, Capt. Lucius N. Robinson; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. C, Capt. + Almont Barnes; 1st Ohio Light, Batt. L, Capt. Lucius N. Robinson. + _Artillery Reserve_, Lieut.-Col. William Hays; 1st Battn. N. Y. Light, + Batt. A, Lieut. Bernhard Wever; 1st Battn. N. Y. Light, Batt. B, + Lieut. Alfred von Kleiser; 1st Battn. N. Y. Light, Batt. C, Capt. + Robert Langner; 1st Battn. N. Y. Light, Batt. D, Capt. Charles + Kusserow; N. Y. Light, 5th Batt., Capt. Elijah D. Taft; 1st U. S., + Batt. K, Capt. William M. Graham; 4th U. S., Batt. G, Lieut. Marcus P. + Miller. + + + SIXTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. FRANKLIN. _Escort_, 6th Pa. + Cav., Cos. B and G, Capt. Henry P. Muirheid. + + FIRST DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Henry W. Slocum:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Alfred T. A. Torbert; 1st N. J., Lieut.-Col. Mark W. Collet; 2d N. J., + Col. Samuel L. Buck; 3d N. J., Col. Henry W. Brown; 4th N. J., Col. + William B. Hatch. _Second Brigade_, Col. Joseph J. Bartlett; 5th Me., + Col. Nathaniel J. Jackson; 16th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Joel J. Seaver; + 27th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Alexander D. Adams; 96th Pa., Col. Henry L. + Cake. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. John Newton; 18th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. + George R. Myers; 31st N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Francis E. Pinto; 32d N. Y., + Col. Roderick Matheson; Maj. George F. Lemon; 95th Pa., Col. Gustavus + W. Town. _Artillery_, Capt. Emory Upton; Md. Light, Batt. A, Capt. + John W. Wolcott; Mass. Light, Batt. A, Capt. Josiah Porter; N. J. + Light, Batt. A, Capt. William Hexamer; 2d U. S., Batt. D, Lieut. + Edward B. Williston. + + SECOND DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. William F. Smith:--_First Brigade_, (1) + Brig.-Gen. Winfield S. Hancock,[95] (2) Col. Amasa Cobb; 6th Me., Col. + Hiram Burnham; 43d N. Y., Maj. John Wilson; 49th Pa., Lieut.-Col. + William Brisbane; 137th Pa., Col. Henry M. Bossert; 5th Wis., Col. + Amasa Cobb. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. W. T. H. Brooks; 2d Vt., Maj. + James H. Walbridge; 3d Vt., Col. Breed N. Hyde; 4th Vt., Lieut.-Col. + Charles B. Stoughton; 5th Vt., Col. Lewis A. Grant; 6th Vt., Maj. + Oscar L. Tuttle. _Third Brigade_, Col. William H. Irwin; 7th Me., Maj. + Thomas W. Hyde; 20th N. Y., Col. Ernest von Vegesack; 33d N. Y., + Lieut.-Col. Joseph W. Corning; 49th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. William C. + Alberger, Maj. George W. Johnson; 77th N. Y., Capt. Nathan S. Babcock. + _Artillery_, Capt. Romeyn B. Ayres; Md. Light, Batt. B, Lieut. + Theodore J. Vanneman; N. Y. Light, 1st Batt., Capt. Andrew Cowan; 5th + U. S., Batt. F, Lieut. Leonard Martin. + + + NINTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE,[96] MAJOR-GENERAL + JESSE L. RENO,[97] BRIGADIER-GENERAL JACOB D. COX. _Escort_, 1st Me. + Cav., Co. G, Capt. Zebulon B. Blethen. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Orlando B. Willcox:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Benjamin C. Christ; 28th Mass., Capt. Andrew P. Carraher; 17th Mich., + Col. William H. Withington; 79th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. David Morrison; + 50th Pa., Maj. Edward Overton, Capt. William H. Diehl. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Thomas Welsh; 8th Mich., Lieut.-Col. Frank Graves, Maj. + Ralph Ely; 46th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Joseph Gerhart; 45th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. John I. Curtin; 100th Pa., Col. David A. Leckey. + _Artillery_, Mass. Light, 8th Batt., Capt. Asa M. Cook; 2d U. S., + Batt. E, Lieut. Samuel N. Benjamin. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. James Naglee; 2d Md., Lieut.-Col. J. Eugene Duryea; 6th N. + H., Col. Simon G. Griffin; 9th N. H., Col. Enoch Q. Fellows; 48th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. Joshua K. Sigfried. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Edward + Ferrero; 21st Mass., Col. William S. Clark; 35th Mass., Col. Edward A. + Wild, Lieut.-Col. Sumner Carruth; 51st N. Y., Col. Robert B. Potter; + 51st Pa., Col. John F. Hartranft. _Artillery_, Pa. Light, Batt. D, + Capt. John W. Durell; 4th U. S., Batt. E, Capt. Joseph C. Clark, Jr. + + THIRD DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Isaac P. Rodman:[98]--_First Brigade_, Col. + Harrison S. Fairchild; 9th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Edgar A. Kimball; 89th + N. Y., Maj. Edward Jardine; 103d N. Y., Maj. Benjamin Ringold. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Edward Harland; 8th Conn., Lieut.-Col. Hiram Appelman, + Maj. John E. Ward; 11th Conn., Col. Henry W. Kingsbury; 16th Conn., + Col. Francis Beach; 4th R. I., Col. William H. P. Steere, Lieut.-Col. + Joseph B. Curtis. _Artillery_, 5th U. S., Batt. A, Lieut. Charles P. + Muhlenberg. + + KANAWHA DIVISION, (1) Brig.-Gen. Jacob D. Cox, (2) Col. Eliakim P. + Scammon. _First Brigade_, (1) Col. Eliakim P. Scammon, (2) Col. Hugh + Ewing; 12th Ohio, Col. Carr B. White; 23d Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Rutherford + B. Hayes, Maj. James M. Comly; 30th Ohio, Col. Hugh Ewing, Lieut.-Col. + Theodore Jones, Maj. George H. Hildt; Ohio Light Art., 1st Batt., + Capt. James R. McMullin; Gilmore's co. W. Va. Cav., Lieut. James + Abraham; Harrison's co. W. Va. Cav., Lieut. Dennis Delaney. _Second + Brigade_, Col. George Crook; 11th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Augustus H. + Coleman, Maj. Lyman J. Jackson; 28th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Gottfried + Becker; 36th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Melvin Clarke; Schambeck's co. Chicago + Dragoons, Capt. Frederick Schambeck; Ky. Light Art., Simmonds's + battery, Capt. Seth J. Simmonds. _Unattached_, 6th N. Y. Cav. (8 + cos.), Col. Thomas C. Devin; Ohio Cav., 3d Ind. Co., Lieut. Jonas + Seamen; 3d U. S. Art., Batts. L and M, Capt. John Edwards, Jr. + + + TWELFTH ARMY CORPS,[99] (1) MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH K. F. MANSFIELD,[100] + (2) BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALPHEUS S. WILLIAMS. _Escort_, 1st Mich. Cav., + Co. L, Capt. Melvin Brewer. + + FIRST DIVISION, (1) Brig.-Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, (2) Brig.-Gen. + Samuel W. Crawford,[101] (3) Brig.-Gen. George H. Gordon. _First + Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford, (2) Col. Joseph F. Knipe; + 5th Conn., Capt. Henry W. Daboll; 10th Me., Col. George L. Beal; 28th + N. Y., Capt. William H. H. Mapes; 46th Pa., Col. Joseph F. Knipe, + Lieut.-Col. James L. Selfridge; 124th Pa., Col. Joseph W. Hawley, Maj. + Isaac L. Haldeman; 125th Pa., Col. Jacob Higgins; 128th Pa., Col. + Samuel Croasdale, Lieut.-Col. William W. Hamersly, Maj. Joel B. + Wanner. _Third Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. George H. Gordon, (2) Col. + Thomas H. Ruger; 27th Ind., Col. Silas Colgrove; 2d Mass., Col. George + L. Andrews; 13th N. J., Col. Ezra A. Carman; 107th N. Y., Col. R. B. + Van Valkenburgh; Zouaves d'Afrique,[102] Pa.; 3d Wis., Col. Thomas H. + Ruger. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. George S. Greene:--_First Brigade_, (1) + Lieut.-Col. Hector Tyndale,[99] (2) Maj. Orrin J. Crane; 5th Ohio, + Maj. John Collins; 7th Ohio, Maj. Orrin J. Crane, Capt. Frederick A. + Seymour; 29th Ohio,[103] Lieut. Theron S. Winship; 66th Ohio, + Lieut.-Col. Eugene Powell; 28th Pa., Maj. Ario Pardee, Jr. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Henry J. Stainrook; 3d Md., Lieut.-Col. Joseph M. + Sudsburg; 102d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. James C. Lane; 109th Pa.,[104] + Capt. George E. Seymour; 111th Pa., Maj. Thomas M. Walker. _Third + Brigade_, (1) Col. William B. Goodrich,[105] (2) Lieut.-Col. Jonathan + Austin; 3d Del., Maj. Arthur Maginnis; Purnell Legion, Md., + Lieut.-Col. Benjamin L. Simpson; 60th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Charles R. + Brundage; 78th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Jonathan Austin, Capt. Henry R. + Stagg. _Artillery_, Capt. Clermont L. Best; Me. Light, 4th Batt., + Capt. O'Neil W. Robinson; Me. Light, 6th Batt., Capt. Freeman + McGilvery; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. M., Capt. George W. Cothran; N. Y. + Light, 10th Batt., Capt. John T. Bruen; Pa. Light, Batt. E, Capt. + Joseph M. Knap; Pa. Light, Batt. F, Capt. Robert B. Hampton; 4th U. + S., Batt. F, Lieut. Edward D. Muhlenberg. + + CAVALRY DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Alfred Pleasonton:--_First Brigade_, Maj. + Charles J. Whiting; 5th U. S., Capt. Joseph H. McArthur; 6th U. S., + Capt. William P. Sanders. _Second Brigade_, Col. John F. Farnsworth; + 8th Ill., Maj. William H. Medill; 3d Ind., Maj. George H. Chapman; 1st + Mass., Capt. Casper Crowninshield; 8th Pa., Capt. Peter Keenan. _Third + Brigade_, Col. Richard H. Rush; 4th Pa., Col. James H. Childs, + Lieut.-Col. James K. Kerr; 6th Pa., Lieut.-Col. C. Ross Smith. _Fourth + Brigade_, Col. Andrew T. McReynolds; 1st N. Y., Maj. Alonzo W. Adams; + 12th Pa., Major James A. Congdon. _Fifth Brigade_, Col. Benj. F. + Davis; 8th N. Y., Col. Benjamin F. Davis; 3d Pa., Lieut.-Col. Samuel + W. Owen. _Artillery_, 2d U. S., Batt. A, Capt. John C. Tidball; 2d U. + S., Batts. B and L, Capt. James M. Robertson; 2d U. S., Batt. M, + Lieut. Peter C. Hains; 3d U. S., Batts. C and G, Capt. Horatio G. + Gibson. _Unattached_, 1st Me. Cav.,[106] Col. Samuel H. Allen; 15th + Pa. Cav. (detachment), Col. William J. Palmer. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +REVIEW OF THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. + + Confederate Expectations--General Lee's Salutatory to the People of + Maryland--The "Lost Despatch"--McClellan's Movements--Turn in the Tide + of War--A Miracle great as the throwing down of the Walls of + Jericho--In Contempt of the Enemy the Confederate Army was + dispersed--Harper's Ferry a "Man-Trap"--It diverted the Army from the + Main Issue--Lee and McClellan compared and contrasted--Tribute to the + Confederate Private Soldier. + + +For conveying to the reader a comprehensive view of the military zodiac at +the time we crossed the quiet Potomac, the 5th day of September, 1862, and +an understanding of the logical sequence of the events following, +something should be added here to the plain narrative of occurrences, and +so I undertake a review of the Maryland campaign. + +The Army of Northern Virginia was afield without a foe. Its once grand +adversary, discomfited under two commanders, had crept into cover of the +bulwarks about the national capital. The commercial, social, and blood +ties of Maryland inclined her people to the Southern cause. A little way +north of the Potomac were inviting fields of food and supplies more +plentiful than on the southern side; and the fields for march and +manoeuvre, strategy and tactics, were even more inviting than the broad +fields of grain and comfortable pasture-lands. Propitious also was the +prospect of swelling our ranks by Maryland recruits. + +At the head of the army of sixty thousand men encouraged, matured, and +disciplined by victory stood the Confederate chief, challenging on its own +soil the army that had marched to conquer the Southern capital. On the 7th +he pitched his bivouac about Frederick City. On the 8th he made his +salutatory to the people in these words: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, + "NEAR FREDERICKTOWN, MD., September 8, 1862. + + "TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND: + + "It is right that you should know the purpose that brought the army + under my command within the limits of your State, so far as that + purpose concerns yourselves. The people of the Confederate States have + long watched with the deepest sympathy the wrongs and outrages that + have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the + States of the South by the strongest social, political, and commercial + ties. They have seen with profound indignation their sister State + deprived of every right and reduced to the condition of a conquered + province. Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in + violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been + arrested and imprisoned upon no charge and contrary to all forms of + law. The faithful and manly protest against this outrage made by the + venerable and illustrious Marylander, to whom in better days no + citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated with scorn and + contempt; the government of your chief city has been usurped by armed + strangers; your legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest + of its members; freedom of the press and of speech has been + suppressed; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree + of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by a + military commission for what they may dare to speak. Believing that + the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such + a government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in + throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the + inalienable rights of freemen, and to restore independence and + sovereignty to your State. In obedience to this wish, our army has + come among you, and is prepared to assist you with the power of its + arms in regaining the rights of which you have been despoiled. + + "This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission, so far as you are + concerned. No constraint upon your free will is intended; no + intimidation will be allowed within the limits of this army, at least. + Marylanders shall once more enjoy their ancient freedom of thought and + speech. We know no enemies among you, and will protect all, of every + opinion. It is for you to decide your destiny freely and without + constraint. This army will respect your choice, whatever it may be; + and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your + natural position among them, they will only welcome you when you come + of your own free will. + + "R. E. LEE, + "_General, Commanding_." + +At this very time the recently displaced commander, General McClellan, +reinstated in command, was marching for an opportunity to recover his good +name, and the Union cavalry was active and aggressive in work against the +Confederates at Poolesville. + +On the 9th the Confederate commander organized his plans for the +surrounding and capture of Harper's Ferry, and put his army in motion on +the 10th. Close upon the heels of the march followed the Army of the +Potomac, only twenty-five miles behind the rear of the Confederate army, +with the cavalry of the armies in contact. The march of the former was as +cautious as that of the latter was venturesome. On the 10th the Union +commander was informed of the march of J. G. Walker's brigades up the +river from Cheek's Ford. On the 11th his signal service reported the camp +across the river at Point of Rocks. On the 12th, at Urbana, he was +informed of the combination against Harper's Ferry, and the march towards +the Cumberland Valley, and ordered pressing pursuit to force the +Confederates to a stand. Under that order General Pleasonton, the Federal +cavalry leader, hurried his troops and cleared the way to South Mountain +on the 13th. From day to day the Confederates marched their dispersing +columns, from day to day the Union columns converged in easy, cautious +marches. At noon of the 13th, General Lee's order distributing his forces +and a despatch from the Governor of Pennsylvania were handed General +McClellan,--the former the celebrated "lost despatch," given on a previous +page,--the latter reading as follows: + + "HARRISBURG, PA., September 13, 1862. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: + + "When may we expect General Reynolds here? Services needed + immediately. Longstreet's division is said to have reached Hagerstown + last night. Jackson crossed the Potomac at Williamsport to capture + Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry. We are assembling militia rapidly at + Chambersburg. Can we do anything to aid your movements? + + "A. G. CURTIN, + "_Governor of Pennsylvania_." + +This told of the change of march of my brigades from Turner's Pass to +Hagerstown, and, with the "lost despatch," revealed that Hill's five +brigades were the only troops at the former place. + +The same afternoon General McClellan's signal service despatched him that +the Union signal station on Maryland Heights had gone down. General Lee's +signals failed to connect, so that General McClellan was better informed +of the progress of the Confederate movements than was the Confederate +commander. That afternoon the Union army was in hand for battle. The +Confederates were dispersed and divided by rivers, and drifting thirty and +forty and fifty miles apart. Under similar circumstances General Scott, or +General Taylor, or General Worth would have put the columns at the base of +South Mountain before night, and would have passed the unguarded gaps +before the sun's rays of next morning could have lighted their eastern +slopes. + +The Union commander claims to have ordered more vigorous pursuit after the +"lost despatch" was handed him, but there is nothing to support the claim +except his call on General Franklin, and in that he only ordered +preparation at Crampton's to await events at Turner's Pass. + +General Pleasonton was at Turner's Pass on the afternoon of the 13th, and +made a reconnoissance of the ways leading up the east side of the +mountain. He was not informed of the despatches received by his chief, +nor had he any information of Confederate movements except such as he had +gleaned in closely following their rear. At daylight of the 14th he led +General Cox and the Ninth Corps to attack, and in this manner the battle +was opened. + +His orders to call the Confederates to a stand did not anticipate the +provocation of a general engagement, but a wait for his chief, who rode up +about one o'clock. He thought that he was battling against seventeen +brigades, while there were but five; and, had the battle been held in wait +for McClellan, his well-known habit of careful reconnoissance would have +consumed the balance of the day. His last orders for General Franklin +directed a wait for Couch's division, which joined him at eight o'clock in +the evening. It is difficult to find that a quicker move was given the +Union army in consequence of the "lost despatch;" but one may rather +concede General Hill's claim, that in consequence of that despatch the +Union army was so delayed as to give the Confederates time to make their +way back to the soil of "Old Virginia." Without it, the main column of the +Union forces could have marched through Crampton's Pass, and relieved +Harper's Ferry on the 14th, but, guided by it, their commander found it +important to first guard against the seventeen brigades that should be at +Turner's Pass, on the right rear of a column, moving against Crampton's. + +The razing of the walls of Jericho by encircling marches of priests and +soldiers, at the signal of long-drawn blasts of sacred horns and shouts of +the multitude, was scarcely a greater miracle than the transformation of +the conquering army of the South into a horde of disordered fugitives +before an army that two weeks earlier was flying to cover under its +homeward ramparts. + +Providence helps those who can avail themselves of His tender care, but +permits those who will to turn from Him to their own arrogance. That His +gracious hand was with the Confederates in their struggles on the +Chickahominy, and even through the errors of the Bull Run campaign, cannot +be questioned. When, however, in self-confidence, they lost sight of His +helping hand, and in contempt of the enemy dispersed the army, they were +given up to the reward of vainglory. That the disaster was not +overwhelming they have to thank the plodding methods of the Union +commander. With as much faith as Captain Joshua, his success would have +been as complete. + +But for the proper solution of the campaign we must turn again to the +condition of the Confederate army when it crossed into Maryland. It was +then all that its leaders could ask, and its claim as master of the field +was established, but it was worn by severe marches and battles, and in +need of rest. Its record before and after shows that, held in hand and +refreshed by easy marchings and comfortable supplies, it would have been +prepared to maintain its supremacy. The first necessity was a little time +to refresh, while the grand object was to draw the enemy from his +intrenched lines to free and open battle. These facts carefully observed, +the Confederate army would have been assured of its claim and prestige. + +In the confusion about Washington incident to the Bull Run campaign, +General McClellan was ordered to receive the retreating columns and post +them to defend and hold their fortified lines. He had not emerged from the +clouds that hung about his untoward campaign in Virginia, but, familiar +with the provisions that had been made for defence, he was most available +for the service. He had hardly posted the troops and arranged the garrison +when he found that the Confederates, instead of moving against his +fortifications, had turned the head of their columns north, and were +marching to invade Union territory. He was quick to discover his +opportunity, and, after posting guards for the works about the capital, +assumed command of the army and took the field, lest another commander +should be assigned. His clouded fame and assumption of authority committed +him to early aggressive work. He had nothing to lose, but the world to +gain, and that upon the field of battle. + +All that the Confederates had to do was to hold the army in hand and draw +the enemy to a field wide enough for manoeuvre; then call him to his +battle. It is possible that ragged affairs about the mountain passes might +have given him safe retreat to his capital, leaving the army of the South +afield, a free lance. + +It had been arranged that the Southern President should join the troops, +and from the head of his victorious army call for recognition. Maryland +would have put out some of her resources, and her gallant youth would have +helped swell the Southern ranks,--the twenty thousand soldiers who had +dropped from the Confederate ranks during the severe marches of the summer +would have been with us. Volunteers from all parts of the South would have +come, swimming the Potomac to find their President and his field-marshal, +while Union troops would have been called from Kentucky and Tennessee, and +would have left easy march for the Confederate armies of the West to the +Ohio River. + +Even though the Confederates were not successful, the fall elections were +against the Federal administration. With the Southern armies victorious, +the results of the contest at the polls would have been so pronounced as +to have called for recognition of the Confederacy. + +General McClellan wrote General Halleck of the effect, in case of defeat +of his army,-- + + "But if we should be so unfortunate as to meet with defeat, our + country is at their mercy." + +So much has been said and written about Harper's Ferry and the surrender +of the garrison, that it seems difficult to pass it without notice. In +more than one report General McClellan mentioned it as a "shameful" +surrender. He had disapproved the position as false, and asked if it could +not be given up. Colonel Miles, the commander, who gave his life in its +defence, was acting under the following order from the department +commander,--viz.: + + "BALTIMORE, September 5, 1862. + + "COLONEL MILES, HARPER'S FERRY: + + "The position on the heights ought to enable you to punish the enemy + passing up the road in the direction of Harper's Ferry. Have your wits + about you, and do all you can to annoy the rebels should they advance + on you. Activity, energy, and decision must be used. You will not + abandon Harper's Ferry without defending it to the last extremity. + + "JOHN E. WOOL, + "_Major-General_."[107] + +The simple truth is, it was defended to the last extremity. The nearer the +approach of the succoring army, the more imperative would have been the +demand for action on the part of the Confederate columns, and had battle +been forced it could not possibly have resulted in any save one +way,--Confederate victory, and an overwhelming one at that. + +The position was denounced as a "man-trap," and so it proved to Colonel +Miles and his eleven thousand troops, but it was in fact a far more +formidable trap for the Confederates, who to seize it sacrificed the +fruits of heavy war,--victory in the main battle of the campaign,--and +were forced to draw their crippled ranks to homeward defence. General +Jackson wanted it till he got possession; then gave it up. General +McClellan wanted to give it up before it was taken. After it had been +taken and given up, he reoccupied it. It was left severely alone in the +Gettysburg campaign,--an admission by both sides of its uselessness as a +_point d'appui_. + +A word in closing about the chiefs opposed in this great campaign. General +Lee and General McClellan were both graduates of the United States +Military Academy at West Point. The former took the second honor of the +class of 1829, the latter the second honor of the class of 1846. Their +service in the United States army was as military engineers. In 1854 they +were both selected by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis for promotion to +the new cavalry regiments as lieutenant-colonel and captain respectively. +Their early opportunities, social and educational, were superior. They +studiously improved them in youth, and applied them with diligence in +after-life. Aspirations leading to the higher walks of social and +professional life seem to have been alike controlling forces in the +character and career of each. They were not unmindful that physical +development was important in support of mental improvement. In moral tone +and habits they may be called exemplars. In his service, General Lee's +pride was duty to his government and to the army under his command. He +loved admiration of the outside world, but these duties better. General +McClellan's ambition was not so limited. + +In stature General Lee stood five feet ten inches, was of well-developed +muscular figure, as trim as a youth, and weighed one hundred and seventy +pounds. In features he was a model of manly beauty. His teeth were of +ivory whiteness; his mouth handsome and expressive of frankness, kindness, +and generosity. His nose and chin were full, regular, strong, and gave his +face force and character. 'Twas seldom that he allowed his mind to wander +to the days of his childhood, and talk of his father and his early +associates, but when he did, he was far more charming than he thought. As +a commander he was much of the Wellington "Up-and-at-'em" style. He found +it hard, the enemy in sight, to withhold his blows. With McClellan it was +more difficult to strike than to march for the enemy. + +General McClellan was of short, stout figure, but was of soldierly +presence, graceful, and handsome-featured. + +In their mounts neither of the great commanders lost anything of his +admirable presence. Both were masters of the science but not of the art of +war. Lee was successful in Virginia; McClellan in Maryland. + +Unjust criticism has been passed upon the Confederate soldiers in the +Maryland campaign, based principally upon the great number of absentees. +To those who have spent their lives near the ranks of soldiers and learned +from experience that there is a limit to physical endurance, explanation +is not called for; to those who look upon the soldier as a machine, not +even needing oil to facilitate motive power, I will say, try to put +yourselves in the soldiers' places. Another point to be noted was, that in +the Confederate ranks there were thousands of soldiers who had been +wounded once, twice, and in some instances three times, who in any other +service would have been on the pension-rolls at their comfortable homes. + +Sickness and weakness that creep into an army from irregular food, +collected in the stress of march, were no trifling impediments to the +maintenance of our ranks in vigorous form. + +When, in mature judgment, the historian builds monuments of words for the +leaders of the campaign in Maryland, there will be flowers left for the +private soldiers, and for the private soldiers' graves. + +The full significance of Sharpsburg to the Federal authorities lay in the +fact that they needed a victory on which to issue the Emancipation +Proclamation, which President Lincoln had prepared two months before and +had held in abeyance under advice of members of his Cabinet until the +Union arms should win a success. Although this battle was by no means so +complete a victory as the President wished, and he was sorely vexed with +General McClellan for not pushing it to completion, it was made the most +of as a victory, and his Emancipation Proclamation was issued on the 22d +of September, five days after the battle. This was one of the decisive +political events of the war, and at once put the great struggle outwardly +and openly upon the basis where it had before only rested by tacit and +covert understanding. If the Southern army had been carefully held in +hand, refreshed by easy marches and comfortable supplies, the proclamation +could not have found its place in history. On the other hand, the Southern +President would have been in Maryland at the head of his army with his +manifesto for peace and independence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +REORGANIZATION AND REST FOR BOTH ARMIES. + + The Confederates appoint Seven Lieutenant-Generals--The Army of + Northern Virginia organized in Corps--General McClellan relieved, and + General Burnside appointed Commander of the Army of the Potomac--A + Lift for the South--McClellan was growing--Burnside's "Three Grand + Divisions"--The Campaign of the Rappahannock--Getting Ready for + Fredericksburg--Longstreet occupies Fredericksburg--The Town called to + surrender by General Sumner--Exodus of the Inhabitants under a Threat + to shell the Town. + + +Under an act not long before passed by the Confederate Congress +authorizing the appointment of seven lieutenant-generals, the authorities +at Richmond about this time sent commissions to Lieutenant-Generals +Longstreet, Polk, Holmes, Hardee, E. K. Smith, Jackson, and Pemberton, and +made appointments of a number of major-generals. Under these appointments +General Lee organized the Army of Northern Virginia into corps +substantially as it subsequently fought the battle of Fredericksburg.[108] + +The Confederate army rested along the lines between the Potomac and +Winchester till late in October. On the 8th, General Stuart was ordered +across to ride around the Union army, then resting about Sharpsburg and +Harper's Ferry. His ride caused some excitement among the Union troops, +and he got safely to the south side with the loss of a few men slightly +wounded, on the 12th. On the 26th, General McClellan marched south and +crossed the Potomac east of the Blue Ridge. Jackson was assigned the duty +of guarding the passes. I marched south, corresponding with the march of +the Army of the Potomac. A division crossed at Ashby's Gap to +Upperville to look for the head of McClellan's army. He bore farther +eastward and marched for Warrenton, where he halted on the 5th of +November. The division was withdrawn from Upperville and marched for +Culpeper Court-House, arriving at that point at the same time as +McClellan's at Warrenton,--W. H. F. Lee's cavalry the day before me. Soon +after the return to Culpeper Court-House, Evans's brigade was relieved of +duty with the First Corps and ordered south. Hood had a brush with a +cavalry force at Manassas Gap, and part of McLaws's division a similar +experience at the east end of Chester Gap. + + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET (1862).] + + +I reached Culpeper Court-House with the divisions of McLaws, R. H. +Anderson, and Pickett. Hood's division was ordered behind Robertson River, +and Ransom to Madison Court-House, General Jackson with the Second Corps +remaining in the Shenandoah Valley, except one division at Chester Gap of +the Blue Ridge. + +The Washington authorities issued orders on the 5th of November relieving +General McClellan of, and assigning General Burnside to, command of the +Army of the Potomac. On the 9th the army was put under General Burnside, +in due form. + +When informed of the change, General Lee expressed regret, as he thought +that McClellan could be relied upon to conform to the strictest rules of +science in the conduct of war. He had been McClellan's preceptor, they had +served together in the engineer corps, and our chief thought that he +thoroughly understood the displaced commander. The change was a good lift +for the South, however; McClellan was growing, was likely to exhibit far +greater powers than he had yet shown, and could not have given us +opportunity to recover the morale lost at Sharpsburg, as did Burnside and +Hooker. + +General Burnside, soon after assuming command, and while waiting at +Warrenton, made a radical change in the organization of the army by +consolidating the corps into three "Grand Divisions" as follows: + + THE RIGHT GRAND DIVISION, GENERAL SUMNER COMMANDING.--Second Army + Corps, General D. W. Couch; Ninth Army Corps, General O. B. Wilcox. + + CENTRE GRAND DIVISION, GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER COMMANDING.--Third Army + Corps, General George Stoneman; Fifth Army Corps, General Daniel + Butterfield. + + LEFT GRAND DIVISION, GENERAL W. B. FRANKLIN COMMANDING.--First Army + Corps, General J. F. Reynolds; Sixth Army Corps, General W. F. Smith. + + CAVALRY DIVISION.--General Alfred Pleasonton. + + Artillery, siege, and field batteries, 370 guns, General Henry J. + Hunt, Chief. + +At the time of the change of commanders the Confederates were looking for +a Federal move north of Culpeper Court-House, and were surveying the +ground behind Robertson River for a point of concentration of the two +wings to meet that move. + +General Burnside, however, promptly planned operations on other lines. He +submitted to President Lincoln his proposition to display some force in +the direction of Gordonsville as a diversion, while with his main army he +would march south, cross the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, and reach by +a surprise march ground nearer Richmond than the holdings of the +Confederates. This was approved by the President with the suggestion that +its success depended upon prompt execution. + +On the 15th light began to break upon the Confederates, revealing a move +south from Warrenton, but it was not regarded as a radical change from the +Orange and Alexandria Railroad line of advance. A battery of artillery was +sent with a regiment of infantry to reinforce the Confederate outpost at +Fredericksburg under Colonel Ball. + +On the 17th information came that the Right Grand Division under General +Sumner had marched south, leaving the railroad, and General W. H. F. +Lee's cavalry was ordered to Fredericksburg. + +The next morning I marched with two divisions, McLaws's and Ransom's, the +former for Fredericksburg, the latter towards the North Anna. The same +day, General Lee ordered a forced reconnoissance by his cavalry to +Warrenton, found that the Union army was all on the march towards +Fredericksburg, and ordered my other divisions to follow on the 19th. + +At the first disclosure he was inclined to move for a position behind the +North Anna, as at that time the position behind Fredericksburg appeared a +little awkward for the Confederates, but, taking into careful +consideration the position of the Union army on the Stafford side, the +former appeared the less faulty of the two. Defence behind the Anna would +have been stronger, but the advantage of the enemy's attack would also +have been enhanced there. Then, too, anticipation of the effect of +surprising the enemy in their intended surprise had some influence in +favor of Fredericksburg. + +The Burnside march was somewhat of the Horace Greeley "On-to-Richmond" +_nolens-volens_ style, which, if allowed to run on long enough, sometimes +gains headway that is troublesome. + +General Sumner reached Falmouth on the 17th, and proposed to cross, but +his advance was met and forced back by Colonel Ball's command. + +I rode with the leading division for Fredericksburg, and was on the +heights on the 19th. My head-quarters were there when General Sumner +called upon the civil authorities to surrender the city by the following +communication: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, + "November 21, 1862. + + "MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF FREDERICKSBURG: + + "GENTLEMEN,--Under cover of the houses of your city shots have been + fired upon the troops of my command. Your mills and manufactories are + furnishing provisions and the material for clothing for armed bodies + in rebellion against the government of the United States. Your + railroads and other means of transportation are removing supplies to + the depots of such troops. This condition of things must terminate, + and, by direction of General Burnside, I accordingly demand the + surrender of the city into my hands, as the representative of the + government of the United States, at or before five o'clock this + afternoon. + + "Failing an affirmative reply to this demand by the hour indicated, + sixteen hours will be permitted to elapse for the removal from the + city of women and children, the sick and wounded and aged, etc., which + period having expired, I shall proceed to shell the town. Upon + obtaining possession of the city, every necessary means will be taken + to preserve order and secure the protective operation of the laws and + policy of the United States government. + + "I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "E. V. SUMNER, + "_Bvt. Maj.-Gen. U. S. Army, commanding Right Grand + Division_."[109] + +The officers who received the call, by consent of General Patrick, who +delivered it, referred the paper to my head-quarters. I asked the civil +authorities to reply that the city would not be used for the purposes +complained of, but that neither the town nor the south side of the river +could be occupied by the Union army except by force of arms. + +General Sumner ordered two batteries into position commanding the town, +but in a few hours received the following reply from the mayor: + + "MAYOR'S OFFICE, + "FREDERICKSBURG, November 21, 1862. + + "BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL E. V. SUMNER, + "_Commanding U. S. Army_: + + "SIR,--I have received, at 4.40 o'clock this afternoon, your + communication of this date. In it you state that, under cover of the + houses of this town, shots have been fired upon the troops of your + command; that our mills and manufactories are furnishing provisions + and the material for clothing for armed bodies in rebellion against + the government of the United States; that our railroads and other + means of transportation are removing supplies to the depots of such + troops; that this condition of things must terminate; that, by command + of Major-General Burnside, you demand the surrender of this town into + your hands, as the representative of the government of the United + States, at or before five o'clock this afternoon; that, failing an + affirmative reply to this demand by the time indicated, sixteen hours + will be permitted to elapse for the removal from the town of the women + and children, the sick, wounded, and aged, which period having + elapsed, you will proceed to shell the town. + + "In reply I have to say that this communication did not reach me in + time to convene the Council for its consideration, and to furnish a + reply by the hour indicated (five P.M.). It was sent to me through the + hands of the commanding officer of the Confederate States near this + town, to whom it was first delivered, by consent of General Patrick, + who bore it from you, as I am informed, and I am authorized by the + commander of the Confederate army to say that there was no delay in + passing it through his hands to me. + + "In regard to the matters complained of by you, the firing of shot + upon your troops occurred upon the northern suburbs of the town, and + was the act of the military officer commanding the Confederate forces + near here, for which matter (neither) the citizens nor civil + authorities of this town are responsible. In regard to the other + matters of complaint, I am authorized by the latter officer to say + that the condition of things therein complained of shall no longer + exist; that your troops shall not be fired on from this town; that the + mills and manufactories here will not furnish any further supplies of + provisions or material for clothing for the Confederate troops, nor + will the railroads or other means of transportation here convey + supplies from the town to the depots of said troops. + + "Outside of the town the civil authorities of Fredericksburg have no + control, but I am assured by the military authorities of the + Confederate army near here that nothing will be done by them to + infringe the conditions herein named as to matters within the town. + But the latter authorities inform us that, while their troops will not + occupy the town, they will not permit yours to do so. + + "You must be aware that there will not be more than three or four + hours of daylight within the sixteen hours given by you for the + removal of the sick and wounded, the women and children, the aged and + infirm, from this place; and I have to inform you that, while there is + no railroad transportation accessible to the town, because of the + interruption thereof by your batteries, all other means of + transportation within the town are so limited as to render the removal + of the classes of persons spoken of within the time indicated as an + utter impossibility. + + "I have convened the Council, which will remain in session awaiting + any further communications you may have to make. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "M. SLAUGHTER, + "_Mayor_." + +To this General Sumner responded the same day,-- + + "MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA.: + + "Your letter of this afternoon is at hand, and, in consideration of + your pledges that the acts complained of shall cease, and that your + town shall not be occupied by any of the enemy's forces, and your + assertion that a lack of transportation renders it impossible to + remove the women, children, sick, wounded, and aged, I am authorized + to say to you that our batteries will not open upon your town at the + hour designated. + + "General Patrick will meet a committee or representative from your + town to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock, at the Lacy House. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "E. V. SUMNER, + "_Brevet Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Division_." + +As the inference from the correspondence was that the shelling was only +postponed, the people were advised to move with their valuables to some +place of safety as soon as possible. Without complaint, those who could, +packed their precious effects and moved beyond reach of the threatened +storm, but many preferred to remain and encounter the dangers rather than +to leave their homes and valuables. The fortitude with which they bore +their trials quickened the minds of the soldiers who were there to defend +them. One train leaving with women and children was fired upon, making +some confusion and dismay among them, but the two or three shells did no +other mischief, and the firing ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. + + Description of the Field--Marye's Heights--Position of the Troops of + Longstreet's Command--General Jackson called down from Orange + Court-House, and Preparations made for a Determined Stand--Signal Guns + at Three o'Clock in the Morning announce the Long-Expected + Battle--Burnside's Bridge-Builders thrice driven back from their + Work--The Crossing finally made by Boats--Federals under Hot Fire + enter Fredericksburg--How they obtained their Foothold on the West + Bank of the Rappahannock--Gallant Officers and Men--Ninety-seven + killed or wounded in the Space of Fifty Yards--General Burnside's Plan + of Battle--Strength of the Contending Forces. + + +McLaws's division of my corps was posted on the heights in rear of the +city, one brigade in the sunken road in front of the Marye mansion, the +others extending across the Telegraph road through the wood of Lee's Hill. +As the other divisions of the corps came up they were posted, R. H. +Anderson on Taylor's Hill; Ransom in reserve, near corps head-quarters; +Pickett in the wood, in rear of McLaws's right; Hood at Hamilton's +Crossing. + +The Federal Grand Divisions under Franklin and Hooker marched on the 18th +of November, and on the 19th pitched their camps, the former at Stafford +Court-House, and the latter at Hartwood, each about ten miles from +Falmouth. A mile and a half above Fredericksburg the Rappahannock cuts +through a range of hills, which courses on the north side in a +southeasterly direction, nearly parallel, and close to its margin. This +range (Stafford Heights) was occupied by the enemy for his batteries of +position, one hundred and forty-seven siege guns and long-range field +batteries. These heights not only command those of the west, but the +entire field and flats opened by the spreading out of the range on the +west side. At points, however, they stand so close beside the river that +the guns on their crest could not be so depressed as to plunge their fire +to the water. The heights are cut at points by streamlets and ravines +leading into the river, and level up gradually as they approach nearer to +the Potomac on its west slope, and towards the sea on the south. The city +of Fredericksburg nestles under those heights on the opposite bank. McLaws +had a brigade on picket service, extending its guard up and down the banks +of the river, in connection with details from R. H. Anderson's division +above and Hood's below, the latter meeting Stuart's cavalry vedettes lower +down. + +At the west end of the ridge where the river cuts through is Taylor's Hill +(the Confederate left), which stands at its highest on a level with +Stafford Heights. From that point the heights on the south side spread, +unfolding a valley about a mile in width, affording a fine view of the +city, of the arable fields, and the heights as they recede to the +vanishing limits of sight. Next below Taylor's is Marye's Hill, rising to +half the elevation of the neighboring heights and dropping back, leaving a +plateau of half a mile, and then swelling to the usual altitude of the +range. On the plateau is the Marye mansion. Along its base is a sunken +road, with retaining walls on either side. That on the east is just +breast-high for a man, and just the height convenient for infantry defence +and fire. From the top of the breast-work the ground recedes gradually +till near the canal, when it drops off three or four feet, leaving space +near the canal of a rod or two of level ground. The north end of the +sunken road cuts into the plank or Gordonsville road, which is an +extension of Hanover Street from near the heart of the town. At the south +end it enters the Telegraph road, extending out from the town limits and +up over the third, or Telegraph Hill, called, in its bloody baptismal, +"Lee's Hill." An unfinished railroad lies along the Telegraph road as far +as the highlands. The Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad lies nearly +parallel with the river four miles, and then turns south through the +highlands. The old stage road from the city runs about half-way between +the river and the railroad four miles, when it turns southwest and crosses +the railroad at Hamilton's Crossing. The hamlet of Falmouth, on the north +side of the river, was in front of the right centre of the Federal +position, half a mile from Fredericksburg. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. Dec. 13th, 1862] + + +General Jackson, advised of General Burnside's move to Fredericksburg, +drew his corps east of the Blue Ridge as far as Orange Court-House. + +Before the end of November it became evident that Fredericksburg was to be +our winter station and the scene of a severe battle before it could be +relieved. General Lee advised the citizens who still remained in the place +(and some who had returned) to remove their effects. Those who had friends +found comfortable places of rest, but many took the little that they could +get away with, and made their homes in the deep forest till the storm +could pass. Still, none complained of the severe ordeal which they were +called upon to endure. + +Towards the latter part of the month General Jackson was called down and +assigned position on the right near Hamilton's Crossing and the +Massaponax. He objected to the position, preferring the North Anna, but +General Lee had already weighed the matter, and had decided in favor of +Fredericksburg. Hood's division, relieved at Hamilton's Crossing, was +drawn to my right and stretched across the valley of Deep Run, a little to +the rear of Jackson's left and McLaws's right. + +Batteries of position were assigned from the reserve artillery along the +heights, with orders to cover the guns, by epaulements or pitting them. +The work was progressing while the guns were held under cover remote from +the enemy's better appointed artillery until the positions were covered by +solid banks or good pits. The small field pieces were removed for safety +to convenient points for field service in case opportunity called for +them. The Confederates had three hundred and six guns, including two +thirty-pound Parrotts of Richmond make. These were covered by epaulements +on Lee's Hill. + +On the 1st of December the batteries of reserve artillery were relieved +from the First Corps by those of the Washington and Alexander's artillery. +Orders were given to examine all lines of approach, and to measure +particularly the distance of the crossings of the canal on the Plank and +Telegraph roads; to inspect and improve the parapets and pits along the +front, and to traverse all batteries not securely covered against the +batteries opposite Taylor's Hill, and others within range of our lines, +and McLaws was directed to open signal line with his brigade and guards +along the river bank. + +The day after Jackson joined us several gun-boats were reported in the +lower river at Port Royal. D. H. Hill's division was detached with several +select batteries to watch and guard at that point against a crossing, +should it be attempted, and to engage and try the metal of the gun-boats. +After some little practice the boats drew off and dropped down-stream; but +Hill's division was left near the point in observation with W. H. F. Lee's +cavalry. The brigade of cavalry under General Hampton kept careful watch +of the fords of the upper Rappahannock. To guard against further +encroachments of the gun-boats, a battery was intrenched on the river bank +under direction of Major T. M. R. Talcot, of the general staff. At the +river, sharp-shooters, by concealing themselves in the ravines and pits, +could escape artillery fire and lie in secure readiness to attack parties +engaged in laying bridges. After driving off working parties they were to +seek cover till again needed. By such practice they were to delay the +bridge-builders till the commands had time to assemble at their points of +rendezvous. The narrow, deep bed of the stream, a mile away from any +point of the Confederate lines where batteries could be planted, and +covered as it was by the guns of Stafford Heights, prevented the thought +of successful resistance to laying bridges at any point from Falmouth to +the extreme left of the Federal line; but the strong ground upon which the +Confederates were to accept battle offset the uncomfortable feeling in +regard to the crossing of the river. + +General Burnside made some show of disposition to cross fourteen miles +below, at Skinker's Neck, but that was under guard of D. H. Hill's +division, and he saw that his purpose could not be effected. The plan +which he finally adopted was to span the river by bridges near the centre +and lower limits of the city, and two others a mile below the latter, and +just below the mouth of Deep Run, the Right Grand Division to cross by the +upper and second bridges, the Left Grand Division by the lower bridges, +and the Centre Grand Division to be in position near the others to +reinforce their battle. + +The stir and excitement about the enemy's camps on the 10th of December, +as well as the reports of scouts, gave notice that important movements +were pending. Notice was given the commands, and the batteries were +ordered to have their animals in harness an hour before daylight of the +next morning, and to continue to hitch up daily at that hour until further +orders. + +At three o'clock on the morning of the 11th the deep boom of a cannon +aroused both armies, and a second gun was recognized as the signal for +battle. In a few minutes the commands were on the march for their +positions. Orders were sent to call D. H. Hill's division and all of the +Second Corps to their ground along the woodland over Hamilton's Crossing. + +Barksdale's brigade of Mississippians was on picket duty in Fredericksburg +at the time; the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Regiments, with the Eighth +Florida, of R. H. Anderson's division, were on the river line; the other +regiments of the brigade and the Third Georgia, of R. H. Anderson's, in +reserve. + +The first noise made by the enemy's bridge-builders was understood by the +picket guards, as was all of their early work of construction, but a heavy +mist along the water concealed them from view until their work upon the +bridge was well advanced. As soon as the forms of the workmen could be +discerned the skirmishers opened fire, which was speedily answered from +the other side in efforts to draw the fire from the bridge-builders, but +the Confederates limited their attention to the builders till they were +driven off, when they ceased firing. Another effort to lay the bridge met +a like result. Then a third received the same stormy repulse, when it +seemed that all the cannon within a mile of the town turned their +concentrating fire of shot and shell upon the buildings of the devoted +city, tearing, crushing, bursting, burning their walls with angry +desperation that must have been gratifying to spirits deep down below. + +Under the failures to lay the bridge, General Hunt suggested that the +pontoon-boats be filled with infantrymen, rushed across and landed on the +other bank until a sufficient force was in position to protect the +bridge-builders. Barksdale had been notified before noon that the army was +in position, and that he could withdraw his troops at any moment, but he +preferred his little fight in Fredericksburg. At four o'clock, when the +landing was made by the boats, he thought the city safe against artillery +practice, and was pleased to hold till night could cover his withdrawal. + +Colonel Norman J. Hall, of the Seventh Michigan Regiment, commanded the +troops working for a foothold on the west bank. After the several attempts +to have the bridge built, he accepted General Hunt's proposition to load +the boats and have the men push across. Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter, +commanding the regiment, volunteered to lead the party. Captain Weymouth, +of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, proposed to support the move. Under +signal for artillery fire to cease, the command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Baxter pushed across. Under the best fire the pickets could bring to bear +only one man was killed and Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter and several men were +wounded. The party of seventy were rushed up the bank, gained position, +captured some prisoners, and were soon reinforced. The enemy's fire over +the west bank was so sweeping that Barksdale could not reinforce at the +point of landing. The Nineteenth Massachusetts was deployed to the right, +and the Seventh Michigan to the left. The Twenty-eighth Massachusetts +reinforced them. The Twelfth and Fifty-ninth New York and One Hundred and +Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiments joined the command in the city. +Colonel Hall found that he must prepare for some fighting, and speedily, +as night was coming on. He sent to the rear to ask for time to prepare and +make his fight to suit him, but was hurried on by the division pushing +forward to get across the bridge, with orders to secure the streets at all +hazards. The Seventh Michigan and Nineteenth Massachusetts had been +brought to a stand, when the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts was rushed +forward in gallant style. Colonel Hall reported, "Platoon after platoon +were swept away, but the head of the column did not falter. Ninety-seven +officers and men were killed or wounded in the space of about fifty +yards." The eastern part of the town was occupied, and at a late hour of +the night the Confederates retired. + +As Barksdale's brigade withdrew, he was relieved at the sunken road by the +Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth Georgia Regiments and Cobb's Georgia Legion, +General T. R. R. Cobb in command. + +The Third Grand Division had no severe work in laying the bridges below +Deep Run, and were ready for co-operation some hours in advance of the +right. + +The Federals occupied the 12th in moving the Right Grand Division into the +city by the upper bridges, and the Left Grand Division by the bridges +below Deep Creek. One hundred and four guns crossed with the right, one +hundred and twenty with the left. The Centre Grand Division was held in +reserve. Two divisions of the Third Corps were sent to the lower bridges +during the night to support the battle of the left, and were ordered over +on the 13th. + +The plan of battle by the Federal commander, in brief, was to drive the +Confederate right back into the highlands and follow that success by +attacking the Confederate left by his Right Grand Division. + +The _beginning_ only of this plan was carried out. The Left Grand Division +having duly crossed the river at the lower bridges on the 12th,--the Sixth +Corps and Bayard's brigade of cavalry, then the First Corps,--the Sixth +deployed two divisions, supported by the third, parallel to the old +Richmond road; the First formed at right angles to the Sixth, its right on +the left of the Sixth, its left on the river, two divisions on the front +line, one in support. The cavalry was sent out to reconnoitre. The entire +field of the command was an open plain between the highlands and the +river, traversed by the old Richmond road, which had well-formed +embankments and ditches on both sides. + +The Federal troops of their left divisions were in full view of the +heights (Lee's Hill) occupied by the Confederates; those of the right were +concealed by the buildings of Fredericksburg and under the river banks, +and their bridges were under the steep also. The two brigades on the right +of the Sixth Corps were to the right of Deep Run; the others, of the First +and Sixth Corps, on the left. The batteries of the corps were under +authority of corps commanders. There were but few shots exchanged during +the 12th, and these not of great damage. + +On the Confederate side the First Corps (Longstreet's) was in position +from Taylor's Hill across Deep Run Bottom. The Second Corps was in mass +about the wooded heights at Hamilton's Crossing. His cavalry and horse +artillery were on his right in the Massaponax Valley. General R. Ransom's +division was posted in rear of the left of Marye's Hill; his Twenty-fourth +North Carolina Regiment was advanced to the left of Cobb's line in the +sunken road. His brigade under Colonel Cooke was deployed as +sharp-shooters on the crest of the hill. He was especially charged with +looking after the left of Cobb's line. In front of this line and about six +hundred yards from it was a canal, or large wet ditch, about four hundred +yards out from the city limits. The crossings at the Plank and Telegraph +roads had been bridged, and the bridges were ordered wrecked, but were +only partially destroyed, the string-pieces being left in place. The corps +in position, the Confederate commander prepared to stand and receive +battle. + +In concluding this account of the confronting armies on the eve of battle, +let us glance at their relative strength as expressed in numbers. + +The Army of the Potomac, as reported by General Burnside, had on December +10 an "aggregate present for duty" of 132,017[110] officers and men (not +including cavalry). The Army of Northern Virginia was reported by General +Lee on the same date to have had an aggregate of 69,391[111] (not +including cavalry). + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG (CONTINUED). + + The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of the 13th + of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General Meade's Division of + Franklin's Command makes the First Advance--General French leads + against the Confederate Left--Hancock follows--General Cobb + killed--The Sunken Road and Stone Wall below Marye's Hill--Desperate + Advances and Determined Repulses--Humphreys's Heroic Assault--The + Stone Wall "a Sheet of Flame"--General Jackson loses his Opportunity + to advance--The Charge of Meade's Divisions compared with that of + Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble's Columns at Gettysburg--Forty Per + Cent. killed in charging Lines here, and Sixty Per Cent. at + Gettysburg--Total Losses--Peace to be declared because Gold had gone + to 200--Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia. + + +On the morning of the 13th of December the confronting armies, which were +destined that day to clash in one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war, +stood completely veiled from each other's sight by an impenetrable mist. +The entire Confederate army was now for the first time upon the field, for +General Jackson had during the night brought up his scattered divisions +from down the river. + +Before daylight I rode to view my line and troops from right to left. +Hood's division on the right was found on the alert, as was the enemy near +that point. The voices of the Union officers as they gave their commands +were carried to us with almost startling clearness by the heavy fog that +covered the field and surroundings. So heavy was this fog that nothing +could be seen at a distance of ten or twelve rods, and yet so distinctly +were the voices of the officers brought to us that they seemed quite near +at hand, and General Hood was looking for assaulting columns against his +front. He was told that such move would put the enemy's column in a +_cul-de-sac_, and therefore his position was in no danger of attack; that +the attack would be aimed against Jackson's front; that in case it broke +through there he should swing around to his right and take the attacking +forces in reverse; that Pickett's division would be ordered to a +corresponding move on his left, with the batteries of the two divisions in +the plain off the left; that my front would be attacked, but it was safely +posted, and not likely to need other than the troops on that ground. +Pickett's command was under arms, expecting orders. They were given +instructions similar to those just mentioned for Hood. The divisions of +McLaws, Ransom, and R. H. Anderson were in readiness, as were all the +batteries. But the fog, nothing abated, hung so heavy that not a sight for +a cannon-shot was open till a late hour of the morning. + +The front of the Second Corps was occupied by A. P. Hill's division, the +brigades of Archer, Lane, and Pender on the first line; those of Thomas, +Gregg, and Brockenbrough on the second. A third line was occupied by +Taliaferro's and Early's divisions. D. H. Hill's division was off to the +rear of the right. Lieutenant-Colonel Walker posted a fourteen-gun battery +of the division artillery on A. P. Hill's right, and two other field +batteries on the plain on his left. Stuart's horse artillery and cavalry +were on the plain on the right, in the valley of the Massaponax, +supporting the Second Corps. + +About 7.45 in the morning General Hardie, of Burnside's staff, reported to +General Franklin that his orders would reach him in a few minutes by the +hands of an aide-de-camp. Hardie was ordered to remain near General +Franklin's head-quarters. At eight o'clock the order came, and at 8.30 +Meade's division moved towards the general direction of Jackson's +position. + +At ten o'clock the fog lifted and revealed Meade's lines, six batteries on +his left and four on his right, Gibbon's division supporting the right and +Doubleday's covering the left. The order for the commander of the Left +Grand Division was to make the advance by at least one division. The +divisions of the First Corps were thought to fully meet the terms of the +order. + +Meade's lines advanced in handsome, solid ranks, leaving heavy reserves of +the Sixth Corps and two divisions of the Third that had been called over +from the Centre Grand Division. The fire of Stuart's horse artillery +against their left caused delay until some of the batteries of the left +engaged and drove off the fire. After half an hour's delay the advance was +resumed, the batteries thrown to the front to shell the field in search of +the Confederate batteries. The latter had been ordered, for the most part, +to reserve their fire for infantry. After an hour's heavy artillery +practice Meade's march was resumed, and with great vigor, the batteries +ploughing the way for the infantry columns. At the same time the +fourteen-gun battery of A. P. Hill's right and his left batteries replied +with equal spirit and practice, though with unequal metal. + +The view of the battle of the enemy's left burst upon us at Lee's Hill, as +the mist rolled away under the bright noonday sun. We noted the thin, pale +smoke of infantry fire fading in the far away of their left, the heavy +clouds rising from the batteries on both sides of the river, the bright +armored ranks and banners, and our elevation seemed to draw them so close +to us, on their right, that we thought to turn our best guns upon that +part of the line, and General Lee authorized the test of their range. Only +a few shots were sent when the troops that had been lying concealed in the +streets of the city came flying out by both roads in swarms at double time +and rushed towards us. Every gun that we had in range opened upon the +advancing columns and ploughed their ranks by a fire that would test the +nerves of the bravest soldiers. But the battle of the Federal left had the +first opening, and calls for first notice. + + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, FROM THE BATTERY ON LEE'S +HILL.] + + +Under a strong artillery combat Meade marched forward, with Gibbon's +division in close support on his right, and Doubleday's farther off on his +left. The line encountered Lane's brigade front in a steady, hard fight, +and, developing against Archer's left, broke through, forcing the brigades +back, encountered Thomas's and Gregg's brigades, threw the latter into +confusion, and killed General Gregg. Brockenbrough's and Pender's brigades +turned against the penetrating columns and were forced back. Under skilful +handling the brigades finally brought the battle to steady work, but +Meade's impetuous onward march was bravely made and pressed until three +brigades of Early's division were advanced and thrown into action, +commanded by Colonels Atkinson, Walker, and Hoke. These, with the combined +fire of Hill's broken lines, forced Meade back. Two regiments of Berry's +brigade of the Third Corps came to the relief of Meade and were driven +back, when Gibbon's division which followed was met, and after severe +battle was repulsed. The Confederates made a partial following of the +success, beyond the railroad, and until they encountered the fire of the +relieving divisions under Birney and Sickles and the reserve batteries. +Doubleday's division protected Meade's left as Jackson's right under +Taliaferro partially engaged against them; both encountered loss. Hood got +one of his brigades in in time to follow the troops as they retired +towards their reserve line. At the first moment of the break on Jackson's +lines Pickett rode to Hood and urged that the opportunity anticipated was +at hand, but Hood failed to see it in time for effective work. About two +P.M. the battle quieted into defensive practice of artillery and +sharp-shooters. + +The opening against the Confederate left, before referred to, was led by +French's division of the Second Corps, about 10.30. The Eighteenth and +Twenty-fourth Georgia Regiments, Cobb's Georgia Legion, and the +Twenty-fourth North Carolina Regiment were in the sunken road, the salient +point. On Marye's Hill, back and above, was the Washington Artillery, with +nine guns, Ransom's and Cooke's North Carolina brigade in open field, the +guns under partial cover, pitted. Other batteries on Taylor's and Lee's +Hills posted to this defence as many as twenty guns, holding under range +by direct and cross fire the avenues of approach and the open field along +Cobb's front. + +French's division came in gallant style, but somewhat hurried. He gathered +his ranks behind the swell of ground near the canal and moved to the +assault. An intervening plank fence gave the troops some trouble in +crossing under fire, so that his ranks were not firm after passing it to +the attack. Hancock, coming speedily with his division, was better +organized and in time to take up the fight as French was obliged to +retire. This advance was handsomely maintained, but the galling fire they +encountered forced them to open fire. Under this delay their ranks were +cut up as rapidly as they had collected at the canal, and when within a +hundred yards of the stone wall they were so thinned that they could do +nothing but surrender, even if they could leap to the road-bed. But they +turned, and the fire naturally slackened, as their hurried steps took them +away to their partial cover. The troops behind the stone wall were +reinforced during this engagement by two of Cooke's regiments from the +hill-top, ordered by General Ransom, and General McLaws ordered part of +Kershaw's brigade in on their right. + +After Hancock's engagement some minutes passed before arrangements were +made for the next. Howard's division had been feeling for a way to get by +Cobb's left, when he was called to the front attack, and ordered over the +same ground. He arranged his forces with care, and advanced in desperate +fight. Under the severe fire of the Confederates his troops were provoked +to return fire, and during the delay thus caused his ranks were so +speedily decimated that they in turn were obliged to return to cover. The +Confederate commander, General Cobb, was killed. General Kershaw, with the +other regiments of his brigade, was ordered to the front. The Washington +Artillery, exhausted of ammunition, was relieved by guns of Alexander's +battalion. The change of batteries seemed to give new hope to the +assaulting forces. They cheered and put in their best practice of +sharp-shooters and artillery. The greater part of Alexander's loss +occurred while galloping up to his position. General Ransom advanced the +other regiments of his brigade to the crest of the hill. At the suggestion +of General Lee the brigades of Jenkins and Kemper of Pickett's division +were called up and assigned, the former to General McLaws and the latter +to General Ransom. A supply of ammunition was sent down to the troops in +the road in time to meet the next attack, by Sturgis's division of the +Ninth Corps, which made the usual brave fight, and encountered the same +damaging results. Getty's division of the Ninth Corps came to his support +on the left, but did not engage fiercely, losing less than eight hundred +men. Carroll's brigade of Whipple's division, Third Corps, came in on +Sturgis's left, but only to brace that part of the fight. + +As the troops hurried forward from the streets of the city for the +Telegraph road, they came at once under the fire of the long-range guns on +Lee's Hill. The thirty-pound Parrotts were particularly effective in +having the range and dropping their shells in the midst of the columns as +they dashed forward. Frequently commands were broken up by this fire and +that of other long-range guns, and sought shelter, as they thought, in the +railroad cut, but that point was well marked, and the shots were dropped +in, in enfilade fire, with precision, often making wide gaps in their +ranks. The siege guns of Stafford Heights gave their especial attention to +our heavy guns and put their shots over the parapets very often. + +One shell buried itself close under the parapet at General Lee's side, as +he sat among the officers of his staff, but it failed to explode. Soon +after this our big Parrott gun burst into many fragments. It was closely +surrounded by General Lee and staff, officers of the First Corps +head-quarters, and officers and gunners of the battery, but the explosion +caused no other damage than the loss of the gun. + +Griffin's division was next ordered to attack, and made the usual +desperate struggle. The Confederates meanwhile had accumulated such force +in the road that a single division, had it reached that point, would have +found its equal in numbers, and of greater vigor, with Ransom at the top +of the hill prepared to rush down and join in the melee. At that hour we +could have safely invited one division into our midst, if assured it was +to be the last. + +The next attack was made by Humphreys's division. Its commander was a man +of superior attainments and accomplishments in the walks of civil as well +as military life. He measured justly the situation, and arranged his +battle in the only order by which success could have been made possible, +but he had only two brigades with which to take a position not assailable +and held by more than three brigades of superior troops. His troops were +new, so that he felt called to personal example as well as skilful +handling. He ordered the attack with empty muskets, and led with his +brigade commanders, but half-way up towards the goal his men stopped to +load and open fire, which neither he nor his officers could prevent, so +they were driven back. Then he made a like effort with his other brigade, +under special orders from Generals Burnside and Hooker that the point must +be carried before night,--and the dew was then falling. (Just then our +second big Parrott gun went into fragments, but without damage to the +men.) The troops that had been driven back from previous attacks joined in +trying to persuade Humphreys's men not to go forward. Notwithstanding the +discouraging surroundings, he led his men on, encountered the same +terrific and death-dealing opposition, and his men retired in greater +confusion, going beyond his control to the vicinity of the city before he +could get them again in ranks. His account of the last effort is +interesting: + + "The stone wall was a sheet of flame that enveloped the head and + flanks of the column. Officers and men were falling rapidly, and the + head of the column was at length brought to a stand when close up to + the wall. Up to this time not a shot had been fired by the column, but + now some firing began. It lasted but a minute, when, in spite of all + our efforts, the column turned and began to retire slowly. I attempted + to rally the brigade behind the natural embankment so often mentioned, + but the united efforts of General Tyler, myself, our staff, and other + officers could not arrest the retiring mass."[112] + +At that time there were three brigades behind the stone wall and one +regiment of Ransom's brigade. The ranks were four or five deep,--the rear +files loading and passing their guns to the front ranks, so that the +volleys by brigade were almost incessant pourings of solid sheets of lead. + +Two brigades of Sykes's division, First and Second Regulars, were sent to +the front to guard the line. It was some time after nightfall, so that +their line could only be distinguished by the blaze of their fire. Some of +the batteries and infantry engaged against their fire till night was well +advanced. + +General Jackson thought to advance against the enemy's left late in the +afternoon, but found it so well posted and guarded that he concluded the +venture would be too hazardous. He lost his opportunity, failing to follow +close upon the repulse of Meade's and Gibbon's divisions. His command was +massed and well in hand, with an open field for infantry and artillery. He +had, including the divisions of Hood and Pickett,--ordered to work with +him,--about fifty thousand men. Franklin had, including troops of the +Centre Grand Division, about equal force. + +The charge of Meade's division has been compared with that of Pickett's, +Pettigrew's, and Trimble's at Gettysburg, giving credit of better conduct +to the former. The circumstances do not justify the comparison. + +When the fog lifted over Meade's advance he was within musket-range of A. +P. Hill's division, closely supported on his right by Gibbon's, and +guarded on his left by Doubleday's division. On Hill's right was a +fourteen-gun battery, on his left eight guns. Meade broke through Hill's +division, and with the support of Gibbon forced his way till he +encountered part of Ewell's division, when he was forced back in some +confusion. Two fresh divisions of the Third Corps came to their relief, +and there were as many as fifty thousand men at hand who could have been +thrown into the fight. Meade's march to meet his adversary was half a +mile,--the troops of both sides fresh and vigorous. + +Of the assaulting columns of Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble, only four +thousand seven hundred under Pickett were fresh; the entire force of these +divisions was only fifteen thousand strong. They had a mile to march over +open field before reaching the enemy's line, strengthened by field-works +and manned by thrice their numbers. The Confederates at Gettysburg had +been fought to exhaustion of men and munitions. They lost about sixty per +cent. of the assaulting forces,--Meade about forty. The latter had fresh +troops behind him, and more than two hundred guns to cover his rallying +lines. The Confederates had nothing behind them but field batteries almost +exhausted of ammunition. That Meade made a brave, good fight is beyond +question, but he had superior numbers and appointments. At Gettysburg the +Confederate assault was made against intrenched lines of artillery and +infantry, where stood fifty thousand men. + +A series of braver, more desperate charges than those hurled against the +troops in the sunken road was never known, and the piles and cross-piles +of dead marked a field such as I never saw before or since. + +Between 1.30 and 2.30 of the afternoon several orders and messages were +sent by General Burnside calling on General Franklin to renew the battle +of the left. Before 2.30 he received from General Burnside, through his +aide-de-camp, Captain Goddard, this despatch: + + "Tell General Franklin, with my compliments, that I wish him to make a + vigorous attack with his whole force. Our right is hard pressed." + +Under ordinary circumstances this would be regarded as a strong order, but +Franklin had gone far enough in his first battle to be convinced that an +attack by his "whole force," the other end of the army "hard pressed," +would be extremely hazardous. If undertaken and proved disastrous, he +could have been made to shoulder the whole responsibility, for a "wish" +implies discretion. It is not just to the subordinate to use such language +if orders are intended to be imperative. Men bred as soldiers have no +fancy for orders that carry want of faith on their face. + +The losses at Fredericksburg were as follows:[113] + + UNION ARMY. + + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + | | | Captured | + Organization. | Killed. | Wounded. | or | Total. + | | | Missing. | + ------------------------------|---------|----------|----------|-------- + Right Grand Division (Sumner) | 523 | 4281 | 640 | 5,444 + Centre Grand Division (Hooker)| 352 | 2501 | 502 | 3,355 + Left Grand Division (Franklin)| 401 | 2761 | 625 | 3,787 + Engineers | 8 | 49 | 2 | 59 + Artillery Reserve | .. | 8 | .. | 8 + ------------------------------|---------|----------|----------|-------- + Aggregate | 1284 | 9600 | 1769 | 12,653 + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + CONFEDERATE ARMY. + + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + | | | Captured | + Organization. | Killed. | Wounded. | or | Total. + | | | Missing. | + ------------------------------|---------|----------|----------|-------- + First Army Corps (Longstreet) | 251 | 1516 | 127 | 1894 + Second Army Corps (Jackson) | 344 | 2545 | 526 | 3415 + Stuart's Cavalry | .. | 13 | .. | 13 + ------------------------------|---------|----------|----------|-------- + Aggregate | 595 | 4074 | 653 | 5322 + ----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +During the night, before twelve o'clock, a despatch-bearer lost his way +and was captured. He had on his person a memorandum of the purpose of +General Burnside for renewing the battle against Marye's Hill in the +morning. The information was sent up to general head-quarters, and orders +were sent General Ransom to intrench his brigade along the crest of the +hill. Orders were sent other parts of the line to improve defences and +prepare for the next day in ammunition, water, and rations, under +conviction that the battle of next day, if made as ordered, would be the +last of the Army of the Potomac. + +Morning came and passed without serious demonstrations on the part of the +enemy. Orders were sent out, however, for renewed efforts to strengthen +the position. Colonel Alexander found a point at which he could pit a gun +in enfilade position to the swell of ground behind which the enemy +assembled his forces before advancing to the charge, and +Lieutenant-Colonel Latrobe sunk a gun in similar position for fire across +the field of their charges. We were so well prepared that we became +anxious before the night of the 14th lest General Burnside would not come +again. In the night he drew back to the river, and during the night of the +15th recrossed and sent his troops to their camps. + +The stone wall was not thought before the battle a very important element. +We assumed that the formidable advance would be made against the troops of +McLaws's division at Lee's Hill, to turn the position at the sunken +road, dislodge my force stationed there, then to occupy the sunken road, +and afterwards ascend to the plateau upon which the Marye mansion stands; +that this would bring their forces under cross and direct fire of all of +our batteries--short- and long-range guns--in such concentration as to +beat them back in bad disorder. + + +[Illustration: Osmun Latrobe. Chief of Staff of the First Corps, after the +Battle of the Wilderness.] + + +General Hood's failure to meet his orders to make counter to the +anticipated attack upon Jackson was reported in the official accounts. As +he was high in favor with the authorities, it did not seem prudent to +attempt to push the matter, as called for under the ordinary usages of +war. "_Bis peccare in bello non licet._" + +General Lee went down to Richmond soon after the battle to propose active +operations, and returned with information that gold had advanced to 200 in +New York; that the war was over and peace would be announced in sixty +days; that it was useless to harass the troops by winter service. As gold +had gone well up on the Southern side without bringing peace, it was +difficult for soldiers to see the bearing that it could have on the other +side; still, we had some trust and hope in the judgment of superiors. + +The forces available for battle at Fredericksburg were: Federal (according +to General Burnside's report), 116,683; Confederate, 78,000. About fifty +thousand of the Union troops were put into battle, and less than twenty +thousand of the Confederates were engaged. + +The organization of the Confederate army at this time was as follows: + + ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. + + FIRST CORPS, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET. + + MCLAWS'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Lafayette McLaws:--_Kershaw's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw; 2d S. C., Col. John D. Kennedy; 3d S. + C., Col. James D. Nance, Lieut.-Col. William D. Rutherford, Maj. + Robert C. Maffett, Capt. William W. Hance, Capt. John C. Summer, Capt. + John K. G. Nance; 7th S. C., Lieut.-Col. Elbert Bland; 8th S. C., + Capt. E. T. Stackhouse; 5th S. C., Col. W. D. DeSaussure; 3d S. C. + Battn., Lieut.-Col. W. G. Rice. _Barksdale's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + William Barksdale; 13th Miss., Col. J. W. Carter; 17th Miss., Col. + John C. Fiser; 18th Miss., Lieut.-Col. W. H. Luse; 21st Miss., Col. + Benjamin G. Humphreys. _Cobb's Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. T. R. R. Cobb, + (2) Col. Robert McMillan; 16th Ga., Col. Goode Bryan; 18th Ga., + Lieut.-Col. S. Z. Ruff; 24th Ga., Col. Robert McMillan; Cobb Legion; + Phillips's Legion, Col. B. F. Cook. _Semmes's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Paul J. Semmes; 10th, 50th, 51st, and 53d Ga. _Artillery_, Col. H. C. + Cabell; Manly's (N. C.) battery, Read's (Ga.) battery, Richmond + Howitzers (1st), McCarthy's battery; Troup (Ga.) Art. (Carlton's + battery). + + ANDERSON'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson:--_Wilcox's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox; 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th + Ala. _Mahone's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William Mahone; 6th, 12th, 16th, + 41st, and 61st Va. _Featherston's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. W. S. + Featherston; 12th, 16th, 19th, and 48th Miss. (5 cos.). _Wright's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Wright; 3d (Col. Edward J. Walker), 22d, + 48th (Capt. M. R. Hall), and 2d Ga. Battn. (Capt. C. J. Moffett). + _Perry's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. E. A. Perry; 2d, 5th, and 8th Fla., + Capt. David Lang, Capt. Thomas R. Love. _Artillery_, Donaldsonville + (La.) Art., Capt. V. Maurin; Huger's (Va.) battery, Capt. Frank Huger; + Lewis's (Va.) battery, Capt. John W. Lewis; Norfolk (Va.) Light Art. + Blues, Lieut. William T. Peet. + + PICKETT'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. George E. Pickett:--_Garnett's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Richard B. Garnett; 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th, and 56th Va. + _Armistead's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Lewis A. Armistead; 9th, 14th, 38th, + 53d, and 57th Va. _Kemper's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. James L. Kemper; 1st, + 3d, 7th, 11th, and 24th Va. _Jenkins's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. M. + Jenkins; 1st (Hagood's), 2d (Rifles), 5th, and 6th S. C.; Hampton + Legion; Palmetto Sharp-shooters. _Corse's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Montgomery D. Corse; 15th, 17th, 30th, and 32d Va. _Artillery_, + Dearing's (Va.) battery, Fauquier (Va.) Art. (Stribling's battery), + Richmond (Fayette) Art. (Macon's battery). + + HOOD'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. John B. Hood:--_Law's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + E. M. Law; 4th and 44th Ala.; 6th and 54th N. C. (Col. J. C. S. + McDowell); 57th N. C., Col. A. C. Goodwin. _Robertson's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. J. B. Robertson; 3d Ark.; 1st, 4th, and 5th Tex. + _Anderson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George T. Anderson; 1st (Regulars), + 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Ga. _Toombs's Brigade_, Col. H. L. Benning; + 2d, 15th, 17th, and 20th Ga. _Artillery_, German (S. C.) Art. + (Bachman's battery), Palmetto (S. C.) Light Art. (Garden's battery), + Rowan (N. C.) Art. (Reilly's battery). + + RANSOM'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr.:--_Ransom's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr.; 24th, 25th (Lieut.-Col. Samuel C. + Bryson), 35th, and 49th N. C.; Branch's (Va.) battery. _Cooke's + Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. J. R. Cooke, (2) Col. E. D. Hall; 15th N. C.; + 27th N. C., Col. John A. Gilmer, Jr.; 46th N. C., Col. E. D. Hall; + 48th N. C., Lieut.-Col. Samuel H. Walkup; Cooper's (Va.) battery. + + FIRST CORPS ARTILLERY:[114]--_Washington (La.) Artillery_, Col. J. B. + Walton; 1st Co., Capt. C. W. Squires; 2d Co., Capt. J. B. Richardson; + 3d Co., Capt. M. B. Miller; 4th Co., Capt. B. F. Eshleman. + _Alexander's Battalion_, Lieut.-Col. E. Porter Alexander; Bedford + (Va.) Art., Capt. Tyler C. Jordan; Eubank's (Va.) battery, Capt. J. L. + Eubank; Madison Light Art. (La.), Capt. Geo. V. Moody; Parker's (Va.) + battery, Capt. William W. Parker; Rhett's (S. C.) battery, Capt. A. B. + Rhett; Woolfolk's (Va.) battery, Capt. P. Woolfolk, Jr. + + + SECOND CORPS, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. + + D. H. HILL'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Daniel H. Hill:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. R. E. Rodes; 3d, 5th, 6th, 12th, and 26th Ala. _Second + (Ripley's) Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George Doles; 4th Ga.; 44th Ga., Col. + John B. Estes; 1st and 3d N. C. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. H. + Colquitt; 13th Ala.; 6th, 23d, 27th, and 28th Ga. _Fourth Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Alfred Iverson; 5th, 12th, 20th, and 23d N. C. _Fifth + (Ramseur's) Brigade_, Col. Bryan Grimes; 2d, 4th, 14th, and 30th N. C. + _Artillery_, Maj. H. P. Jones; Hardaway's (Ala.) battery, Jeff Davis + (Ala.) Art. (Bondurant's battery), King William (Va.) Art. (Carter's + battery), Morris (Va.) Art. (Page's battery), Orange (Va.) Art. (Fry's + battery). + + A. P. HILL'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Ambrose P. Hill:--_First (Field's) + Brigade_, Col. J. M. Brockenbrough; 40th, 47th (Col. Robert M. Mayo), + 55th, and 22d Va. Battn., Lieut.-Col. E. P. Tayloe. _Second Brigade_, + (1). Brig.-Gen. Maxcy Gregg, (2) Col. D. H. Hamilton; 1st S. C. (P. + A.), Col. D. H. Hamilton; 1st S. C. Rifles; 12th, 13th, and 14th S. C. + (Col. Samuel McGowan). _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas; 14th, + 35th, 45th, and 49th Ga. _Fourth Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Lane; 7th + N. C., Lieut.-Col. J. L. Hill; 18th N. C., Col. Thomas J. Purdie; 28th + N. C., Col. S. D. Lowe; 33d N. C., Col. Clark M. Avery; 37th N. C., + Col. W. M. Barbour. _Fifth Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Archer; 5th Ala. + Battn., Maj. A. S. Van de Graaff, Capt. S. D. Stewart; 19th Ga., + Lieut.-Col. A. J. Hutchins; 1st Tenn. (Pro. Army), Col. Peter Turney, + Lieut.-Col. N. J. George, Capt. M. Turney, Capt. H. J. Hawkins; 7th + Tenn., Col. John F. Goodner; 14th Tenn., Lieut.-Col. J. W. Lockert. + _Sixth Brigade_, (1) Brig.-Gen. William D. Pender, (2) Col. A. M. + Scales; 13th N. C., Col. A. M. Scales; 16th N. C., Col. John S. + McElroy; 22d N. C., Maj. Christopher C. Cole; 34th and 38th N. C. + _Artillery_, Lieut.-Col. R. L. Walker; Branch (N. C.) Art., Lieut. J. + R. Potts; Crenshaw (Va.) Batt., Lieut. J. Ellett; Fredericksburg (Va.) + Art., Lieut. E. A. Marye; Johnson's (Va.) battery, Lieut. V. J. + Clutter; Letcher (Va.) Art., Capt, G. Davidson; Pee Dee (S. C.) Art., + Capt. D. G. McIntosh; Purcell (Va.) Art., Capt. W. J. Pegram. + + EWELL'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Jubal A. Early:--_Lawton's Brigade_, (1) + Col. E. N. Atkinson, (2) Col. C. A. Evans; 13th Ga., Col. J. M. Smith; + 26th Ga., Capt. B. F. Grace; 31st Ga., Col. C. A. Evans; 38th Ga., + Capt. William L. McLeod; 60th Ga., Col. W. H. Stiles; 61st Ga., Col. + J. H. Lamar, Maj. C. W. McArthur. _Trimble's Brigade_, Col. R. F. + Hoke; 15th Ala.; 12th Ga.; 21st Ga., Lieut.-Col. Thomas W. Hooper; + 21st N. C. and 1st N. C. Battn. _Early's Brigade_, Col. J. A. Walker; + 13th Va., Lieut.-Col. J. B. Terrill; 25th, 31st, 44th, 49th, 52d, and + 58th Va. _Hays's (1st La.) Brigade_, Gen. Harry T. Hays; 5th, 6th, + 7th, 8th, and 9th La. _Artillery_ Capt. J. W. Latimer; Charlottesville + (Va.) Art., Capt. J. McD. Carrington; Chesapeake (Md.) Art., Lieut. + John E. Plater; Courtney (Va.) Art., Lieut. W. A. Tanner; 1st Md. + Batt., Capt. William F. Dement; La. Guard Art., Capt. Louis E. + D'Aquin; Staunton (Va.) Art., Lieut. Asher W. Garber. + + JACKSON'S DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. William B. Taliaferro:--_First + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. E. F. Paxton; 2d Va., Capt. J. Q. A. Nadenbousch; + 4th Va., Lieut.-Col. R. D. Gardner, Maj. William Terry; 5th Va., + Lieut.-Col. H. J. Williams; 27th Va., Lieut.-Col. J. K. Edmondson; 33d + Va., Col. Edwin G. Lee. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. R. Jones; + 21st, 42d, and 48th Va.; 1st Va. Battn. _Third (Taliaferro's) + Brigade_, Col. E. T. H. Warren; 47th Ala., Capt. James M. Campbell; + 48th Ala., Capt. C. B. St. John; 10th Va., Capt. W. B. Yancey; 23d + Va., Capt. A. J. Richardson; 37th Va., Col. T. V. Williams. _Fourth + (Starke's) Brigade_, Col. Edmund Pendleton; 1st La. (Vols.), + Lieut.-Col. M. Nolan; 2d La., Maj. M. A. Grogan; 10th La., Maj. John + M. Legett; 14th La., Capt. H. M. Verlander; 15th La., Lieut.-Col. McG. + Goodwyn; Coppens's (La.) Battn. _Artillery_, Capt. J. B. + Brockenbrough; Carpenter's (Va.) battery, Lieut. George McKendree; + Danville (Va.) Art., Capt. G. W. Wooding; Hampden (Va.) Art., Capt. W. + H. Caskie; Lee (Va.) Art., Lieut. C. W. Statham; Lusk's (Va.) battery. + + RESERVE ARTILLERY,[115] Brig.-Gen. W. N. Pendleton:--_Brown's + Battalion_, Col. J. Thompson Brown; Brooke's (Va.) battery, Dance's + battery, Powhatan Art., Hupp's battery, Salem Art., Poague's (Va.) + battery, Rockbridge Art., Smith's battery, 3d Howitzers; Watson's + battery, 2d Howitzers. _Cutts's (Ga.) Battalion_, Lane's battery, + Patterson's battery, Ross's battery, Capt. H. M. Ross. _Nelson's + Battalion_, Maj. William Nelson; Kirkpatrick's (Va.) battery, Amherst + Art.; Massie's (Va.) battery, Fluvanna Art.; Milledge's (Ga.) battery. + _Miscellaneous Batteries_, Ells's (Ga.) battery; Nelson's (Va.) + battery, Hanover Art., Capt. G. W. Nelson; Breathed (Va.) battery, J. + Breathed; Chew's (Va.) battery, R. P. Chew; Hart's (S. C.) battery, J. + F. Hart; Henry's (Va.) battery, M. W. Henry; Moorman's (Va.) battery, + M. N. Moorman. + + CAVALRY,[116] Maj.-Gen. James E. B. Stuart:--_First Brigade_,[117] + Brig.-Gen. Wade Hampton; 1st N. C., Col. L. S. Baker; 1st S. C., Col. + J. L. Black; 2d S. C., Col. M. C. Butler; Cobb (Ga.) Legion, + Lieut.-Col. P. M. B. Young; Phillips's (Ga.) Legion, Lieut.-Col. + William W. Rich. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Fitzhugh Lee; 1st Va., + Col. James H. Drake; 2d Va., Col. Thomas T. Munford; 3d Va., Col. T. + H. Owen; 4th Va., Col. William C. Wickham; 5th Va. _Third Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. W. H. F. Lee; 2d N. C., Col. S. Williams; 9th Va., Col. R. + L. T. Beale; 10th Va., Col. J. Lucius Davis; 13th Va., Col. J. R. + Chambliss, Jr.; 15th Va., Col. William B. Ball. _Fourth Brigade_,[118] + Brig.-Gen. W. E. Jones; 6th Va., Col. John S. Green; 7th Va., Col. R. + H. Dulany; 12th Va., Col. A. W. Harman; 17th (Va.) Battn., Lieut.-Col. + O. R. Funsten; White's (Va.) Battn., Maj. E. V. White. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +PREPARING FOR THE SPRING OF '63. + + Burnside's Abortive Moves--The "Mud March"--General Hooker supersedes + Burnside--The Confederates strengthen their Position for the + Winter--Longstreet ordered to Petersburg--Secretary of War Seddon and + the Author talk of General Grant and the Confederate Situation on the + Mississippi and in the West--Longstreet makes a Radical Proposition + for Confederate Concentration in Tennessee, thus to compel Grant to + abandon Vicksburg--The Skilful Use of Interior Lines the Only Way of + equalizing the Contest--Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee's Brilliant + Achievement--Criticism--Death of "Stonewall" Jackson--The Resolve to + march Northward--The Army reorganized in Three Corps--Ewell and A. P. + Hill appointed Lieutenant-Generals. + + +Before we were fully settled in our winter quarters, and when just +beginning to enjoy our camp theatricals, we heard that General Burnside +was looking for another crossing by the lower Rappahannock. We were not +greatly concerned about that, however, as we thought the quicksands along +the flats, made especially protective by the winter rains, would so delay +his march as to allow us ample time to prepare for him. But the Washington +authorities having received reports of it through some of the superior +officers of the Army of the Potomac, the march was arrested by orders of +the War Department. + +Another move was set on foot a few weeks later, at a time when General Lee +happened to be in Richmond. The information was forwarded to him and the +army ordered under arms, prepared to take the field. A few weeks before, +General Burnside had ordered material to be hauled to the point below, +which he had chosen when preparing for his crossing that had been arrested +by the War Department. When we found that his army was in motion, General +Jackson insisted that the crossing would be made below, and proposed to +march his corps down to meet it. He was told that the neck of land between +the Potomac and the Rappahannock was so interlaced with wet-weather +streams and ravines that the route leading below was not practicable at +that season; that the quicksands on the flats of the west side were +formidable obstacles to the march of an army; that the only possible route +for crossing the river was by the fords of the highlands, and that he must +hold his troops ready to move accordingly. He was not satisfied with the +refusal to accept his construction of the enemy's purpose, and demurred +against authority less than General Lee's, but found that the order must +be obeyed. + +Not many hours after the report came, the noise of the army working +through the mud was distinctly heard by my picket guards along the upper +river. Some of the guards called out derisively, offering help to get the +batteries through the mud if they could only be assured that the army +would cross. The bottomless roads and severe weather broke up the +campaign, and the move back to camp was reported to me before the +Confederates marched from their camps. This effort, called by Burnside's +soldiers "The Mud March," was followed by the assignment of General Hooker +to command of the Army of the Potomac. + +Long and close study of the field from the Potomac to the James River, and +the experiences of former campaigns, made it clear that the Army of the +Potomac had been drawn into a false position, and it became manifest that +there were but two moves left open for its spring campaign,--first, by +crossing the upper fords of the Rappahannock; secondly, by detaching +forces to the south side of the James, and by that route moving against +Richmond. + +To guard against the former I laid out lines for field-works and +rifle-pits covering all approaches by the upper fords as far as the road +leading from United States Ford. From that point the line broke to the +rear, crossing the Plank road and extending back half a mile to command +the road from Chancellorsville to Spottsylvania Court-House. When the +lines for these works were well marked, I was ordered, with the divisions +of Hood and Pickett and Dearing's and Henry's artillery battalions, to the +south side near Petersburg, to be in position to meet the latter move, +leaving the divisions of McLaws and R. H. Anderson to finish the work on +the lines of defence. + +After passing to the south side of James River, assigning the troops to +points of observation near Blackwater River, and establishing +head-quarters at Petersburg, I learned that there was a goodly supply of +produce along the east coast of Virginia and North Carolina, inside the +military lines of the Federal forces. To collect and transport this to +accessible points for the Confederates, it was necessary to advance our +divisions so as to cover the country, and to hold the Federal forces in +and about their fortified positions while our trains were at work. To that +end I moved with the troops in Virginia across the Blackwater to close +lines about the forts around Suffolk, and ordered the troops along our +line in North Carolina to a like advance. The movements were executed +without serious trouble, and the work was prosecuted up to the time of my +recall by General Lee. + +While lying near Suffolk a couple of young men dressed as citizens entered +my tent one night with letters from Secretary of War Seddon, recommending +them as trustworthy and efficient scouts. They were sent off through the +swamp to find their way to Norfolk and southward to report of roads or +routes for our troops in case we should wish to make a detour for the +capture of Suffolk. One of them, Harrison, proved to be an active, +intelligent, enterprising scout, and was retained in service. + +The accounts that we gained indicated that Suffolk could be turned and +captured with little loss, but as we had given it up the year before as +untenable, and were liable to be called upon at any moment to give it up +again, it appeared that the "cost of the whistle" would be too high. + +The only occurrence of serious moment while we had our forces about +Suffolk was the loss of Captain Stribling's battery, which had been +inadvertently posted by the officer in charge of the artillery on a neck +running out into a bend of the Nansemond River. The Federal gun-boats, +seeing the opportunity, came into the river and took positions commanding +the ground in rear of the battery so as to sweep the field against all +succoring parties, while a direct attack was made upon the battery, +resulting in its capture. + +About this time the soldiers on both sides had considerable amusement over +a Federal signal station that was inside our lines as we had laid them. +The Union troops had some time previously trimmed up a tall pine-tree and +built near the top a platform for use as a signal station, and, coming +upon this, to gratify his curiosity a Confederate soldier climbed to the +staging and seated himself for a leisurely view of the Federal forces +inside their works. An artillerist of the other side, after allowing +sufficient time to satisfy a reasonable curiosity, trained one of his +rifle guns upon the platform, and sent a shell screaming and bursting too +near for the comfort of the "man up a tree." As he did not care to be seen +in precipitate retreat, he thought to wait a little, but a second shot +admonished him that hurry, if less graceful, might be more wise than +deliberate retreat. Acting under pressure of the situation, his legs, to +the amusement of the men on both sides, soon brought him to safe cover. +When night closed in over the belligerents this soldier went to work on a +scheme by which he hoped to get even with the Yankees. He carefully +constructed and equipped a full-sized man, dressed in a new suit of +improved "butternut"[119] dry-goods, and, in due form christening him +"Julius Caesar," took him to the platform, adjusted him to graceful +position, and made him secure to the framework by strong cords. A little +after sunrise "Julius Caesar" was discovered by some of the Federal battery +officers, who prepared for the target,--so inviting to skilful practice. +The new soldier sat under the hot fire with irritating indifference until +the Confederates, not able to restrain their hilarity, exposed the joke by +calling for "three cheers for Julius Caesar." The other side quickly +recognized the situation, and good-naturedly added to ours their cheers +for the old hero. + +About the 28th day of April the Army of the Potomac, under General Hooker, +took up its march for the fords of the upper Rappahannock to cross against +General Lee at Fredericksburg. At the same time General Grant crossed the +Mississippi below Vicksburg, marched against General Pemberton's army in +Mississippi, and was driving it back upon its fortifications about +Vicksburg. + +When General Hooker's movements were so developed as to make sure of his +purpose, repeated calls came to me over the wires to pull away from +Suffolk and return to General Lee with all speed. These came from General +Lee, and also from the Richmond authorities. In reply I despatched that +our trains were at the front along the coast collecting supplies; that +they would be hurried to our rear, and as soon as safe we would march. The +calls became so frequent and urgent, however, that I inquired if we should +abandon our trains. To this no answer came; and I was left to the exercise +of my own judgment. + +As soon as the trains were safely back, we drew off, marched back to the +Blackwater, and thence _en route_ for Richmond and Fredericksburg. Before +we reached the former place a telegram came announcing the great battle +and victory of Chancellorsville. + +Passing through Richmond, I called to report to Secretary of War Seddon, +who referred to affairs in Mississippi, stating that the department was +trying to collect an army at Jackson, under General Joseph E. Johnston, +sufficient to push Grant away from his circling lines about Vicksburg. He +spoke of the difficulty of feeding as well as collecting an army of that +magnitude in Mississippi, and asked my views. + +The Union army under General Rosecrans was then facing the Confederate +army under General Bragg in Tennessee, at Murfreesboro' and Shelbyville. + +I thought that General Grant had better facilities for collecting supplies +and reinforcements on his new lines, and suggested that the only prospect +of relieving Vicksburg that occurred to me was to send General Johnston +and his troops about Jackson to reinforce General Bragg's army; at the +same time the two divisions of my command, then marching to join General +Lee, to the same point; that the commands moving on converging lines could +have rapid transit and be thrown in overwhelming numbers on Rosecrans +before he could have help, break up his army, and march for Cincinnati and +the Ohio River; that Grant's was the only army that could be drawn to meet +this move, and that the move must, therefore, relieve Vicksburg. + +It was manifest before the war was accepted that the only way to equalize +the contest was by skilful use of our interior lines, and this was so +impressed by two years' experience that it seemed time to force it upon +the Richmond authorities. But foreign intervention was the ruling idea +with the President, and he preferred that as the easiest solution of all +problems. + +The only objection offered by the Secretary was that Grant was such an +obstinate fellow that he could only be induced to quit Vicksburg by +terribly hard knocks. + +On the contrary, I claimed that _he was a soldier_, and would obey the +calls of his government, but was not lightly to be driven from his +purpose. + +My march was continued, and we joined General Lee at Fredericksburg, where +I found him in sadness, notwithstanding that he was contemplating his +great achievement and brilliant victory of Chancellorsville, for he had +met with great loss as well as great gains. The battle had cost heavily of +his army, but his grief was over the severe wounding of his great +lieutenant, General Thomas Jonathan Jackson, the head of the Second Corps +of the Army of Northern Virginia; cut off, too, at a moment so much needed +to finish his work in the battle so handsomely begun. With a brave heart, +however, General Lee was getting his ranks together, and putting them in +condition for other useful work. + +At the time of the battle of Chancellorsville the Army of the Potomac, +according to its return of a few days before, consisted of officers and +men actually available for line of battle, 113,838, with 404 pieces of +artillery.[120] The return of casualties showed the enormous loss of +17,287. Returns of the Army of Northern Virginia for March, 1863, showed +an effective aggregate of 59,681;[121] batteries in action, about 160 +guns. To this may possibly be added one thousand of troops returning +during April in time for the battle. The casualties reported by the +medical director numbered 10,281, but reports of the commanders showed +over 12,000, not including artillery or cavalry, or slightly wounded and +missing, which would probably add another thousand. + +Chancellorsville is usually accepted as General Lee's most brilliant +achievement, and, considered as an independent affair, it was certainly +grand. As I had no part in its active conduct, it is only apropos to this +writing to consider the plan of battle as projected some four months +previous,--_i.e._, to stand behind our intrenched lines and await the +return of my troops from Suffolk. + + +[Illustration: STRATEGIC AND SOUTHERN RAILROAD MAP, 1863. Showing +positions of forces in the field May 4th, 1863, when the concentration +against Rosecrans' Army was first proposed.] + + +Under that plan General Lee would have had time to strengthen and improve +his trenches, while Hooker was intrenching at Chancellorsville. He could +have held his army solid behind his lines, where his men would have done +more work on the unfinished lines in a day than in months of idle camp +life. + +General Hooker had split his army in two, and was virtually in the +condition which President Lincoln afterwards so graphically described in +his letter addressed to him June 5 following,--viz.: + + "I would not take any risk of being entangled upon the river, like an + ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs front and + rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or to kick the other." + +My impression was, and is, that General Lee, standing under his trenches, +would have been stronger against Hooker than he was in December against +Burnside, and that he would have grown stronger every hour of delay, while +Hooker would have grown weaker in morale and in confidence of his plan and +the confidence of his troops. He had interior lines for defence, while his +adversary was divided by two crossings of the river, which made Lee's +sixty thousand for defence about equal to the one hundred and thirteen +thousand under General Hooker. By the time that the divisions of Pickett +and Hood could have joined General Lee, General Hooker would have found +that he must march to attack or make a retreat without battle. It seems +probable that under the original plan the battle would have given fruits +worthy of a general engagement. The Confederates would then have had +opportunity, and have been in condition to so follow Hooker as to have +compelled his retirement to Washington, and that advantage might have +drawn Grant from Vicksburg; whereas General Lee was actually so crippled +by his victory that he was a full month restoring his army to condition to +take the field. In defensive warfare he was perfect. When the hunt was up, +his combativeness was overruling. + +It was probably a mistake to draw McLaws away from his position at Marye's +Hill, where he and Ransom had successfully held against six or seven +severe attacks of the Burnside battle, with three brigades, two of his own +and one of Ransom's. General Early was assigned to that position with five +brigades. He was attacked by about one-fourth the number of McLaws's +assailants, the position was carried, and Early was driven off in +confusion, losing, besides large numbers as prisoners, many pieces of +artillery. His especial assignment was to defend the Plank road against +the enemy's march to attack General Lee's rear. Instead, he retreated by +the Telegraph road, leaving the Plank road free for the enemy. After +driving Early off, the enemy marched by the Plank road, and Early marched +back to his late position at Marye's Hill. So General Lee was obliged to +take McLaws and Anderson from his battle at Chancellorsville to drive back +the force threatening his rear. + +The battle as pitched and as an independent affair was brilliant, and if +the war was for glory could be called successful, but, besides putting the +cause upon the hazard of a die, it was crippling in resources and of +future progress, while the wait of a few days would have given time for +concentration and opportunities against Hooker more effective than we +experienced with Burnside at Fredericksburg. This was one of the occasions +where success was not a just criterion. + +After reporting to General Lee, I offered the suggestions made to +Secretary Seddon, in regard to the means that should be adopted for the +relief of Vicksburg. I thought that honor, interest, duty, and humanity +called us to that service, and asked the aid of his counsels with the War +Department, and reinforcements from his army for the West, to that end. I +suggested that General Johnston, instead of trying to collect an army +against General Grant, should be sent to reinforce General Bragg, then +standing against the Union forces under General Rosecrans in Middle +Tennessee; that at the same time he should send my divisions, just up from +Suffolk, to join Johnston's reinforcements to Bragg's army; that the +combination once made should strike immediately in overwhelming force upon +Rosecrans, and march for the Ohio River and Cincinnati. + +He recognized the suggestion as of good combination, and giving strong +assurance of success, but he was averse to having a part of his army so +far beyond his reach. He reflected over the matter one or two days, and +then fell upon the plan of invading the Northern soil, and so threatening +Washington as to bring about the same hoped-for result. To that end he +bent his energies. + +His plan or wishes announced, it became useless and improper to offer +suggestions leading to a different course. All that I could ask was that +the policy of the campaign should be one of defensive tactics; that we +should work so as to force the enemy to attack us, in such good position +as we might find in his own country, so well adapted to that +purpose,--which might assure us of a grand triumph. To this he readily +assented as an important and material adjunct to his general plan. His +confidence in making moves threatening Washington and the invasion of +Maryland and Pennsylvania grew out of the known anxiety of the Washington +authorities as to the safety of their capital and of quiet within the +Union lines. + +In the midst of his work of preparation came the announcement that +General Jackson's trouble had taken an unfortunate turn, that he was +thought to be sinking, and not many hours after that the news came that he +had gone to rest. But the full realization of all that this meant was +delayed until, at the railroad station, the train that was to bear his +remains to their final resting-place started upon its sad journey. Then +officers and soldiers gathered to do last honors to their dead comrade and +chieftain seemed suddenly to realize that they were to see "Stonewall" +Jackson no more forever, and fully to measure the great misfortune that +had come upon them. And as we turned away, we seemed to face a future +bereft of much of its hopefulness. + +General Jackson's death suggested to General Lee a reorganization of his +army into three corps, and R. S. Ewell and A. P. Hill, appointed +lieutenant-generals, were assigned to the Second and Third respectively. + +As the senior major-general of the army, and by reason of distinguished +services and ability, General Ewell was entitled to the command of the +Second Corps, but there were other major-generals of rank next below Ewell +whose services were such as to give them claims next after Ewell's, so +that when they found themselves neglected there was no little discontent, +and the fact that both the new lieutenant-generals were Virginians made +the trouble more grievous.[122] Afterwards, when Early, noted as the +weakest general officer of the Army of Northern Virginia, was appointed +lieutenant-general over those who held higher rank than he, there was a +more serious feeling of "too much Virginia." Longstreet and Jackson had +been assigned by General Johnston. + +In our anxious hours and hopeful anticipations the little quarrel was +soon lost sight of,--displaced by affairs of greater moment. Reaction +began to show the effect of General Lee's strong hand and hard work. Hope +and confidence impaired by the failure of the Maryland campaign were +restored, and we prepared to abandon all uncomfortable thoughts with the +graves of our fallen comrades. + +As soon as affairs took such shape as to assure me that the advance +northward was inevitable, I sent a requisition down to Richmond for gold +coin for my scout Harrison, gave him what he thought he would need to get +along in Washington, and sent him off with secret orders, telling him that +I did not care to see him till he could bring information of +importance,--that he should be the judge of that. He wanted to know where +he would find us, and was told that the head-quarters of the First Corps +were large enough for any intelligent man to find. With these orders he +left us, and after about three weeks was arrested in Pennsylvania and +brought under guard to my head-quarters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA. + + Plan of the Confederate March North--General Lee hoped to draw Troops + from the South and develop Important Results North of the Potomac--He + wanted Beauregard sent to support the Movement--The Authorities in + Richmond failed to comprehend--The Value of the "Interior Lines" not + appreciated--Spirited Cavalry Fight at Brandy Station between Stuart's + and Pleasonton's Commands--Engagement of Ewell and Milroy at + Winchester--The Question of Authority for the Cavalry + Movements--Lieutenant-Colonel Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards, + British Army, as a Guest and Observer--The Confederate Advance reaches + Pennsylvania Soil--General Lee issues Orders for a March on + Harrisburg--Municipal Authorities of York and Gettysburg surrender to + General John B. Gordon. + + +The absorbing study now was the projected campaign into Maryland and +Pennsylvania,--the invasion of the enemy's country. The plan of defensive +tactics gave some hope of success, and, in fact, I assured General Lee +that the First Corps would receive and defend the battle if he would guard +its flanks, leaving his other corps to gather the fruits of success. The +First Corps was as solid as a rock--a great rock. It was not to be broken +of good position by direct assault, and was steady enough to work and wait +for its chosen battle. + +The Valley of the Shenandoah gave us firm, broad roads for the march +north, curtained by the solid range of the Blue Ridge and South Mountains. +There were some Federal troops occupying points in the Valley of Virginia, +but not more than enough to give healthful employment to our leading +columns as they advanced. The army as reorganized in three corps had three +divisions of each corps, with four brigades to the division, except R. H. +Anderson's, Pickett's, and Rodes's, each of which had five. J. E. B. +Stuart's cavalry consisted of the brigades of Wade Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee, +W. H. F. Lee, Beverly Robertson, and W. E. Jones. The cavalry of Jenkins +and Imboden, operating in the Valley and West Virginia near our route, was +to move, the former with Ewell, the latter on his left. Six batteries of +horse artillery under Major R. F. Beckham were of Stuart's command, and to +each army corps were attached five battalions of artillery of four guns to +a battery, and four batteries to a battalion, making of the whole +artillery organization, including batteries of reserve and the thirty guns +of horse artillery, two hundred and eighty-seven guns. In the three army +corps there were thirty-nine brigades, proper, of infantry. + +In the Army of the Potomac were fifty-one brigades of infantry, eight +brigades of cavalry, and three hundred and seventy guns of artillery. The +artillery appointments were so superior that our officers sometimes felt +humiliated when posted to unequal combat with their better metal and +munitions. In small-arms also the Union troops had the most improved +styles. + +Notwithstanding, we were prepared to march forward and cheerfully accept +the gage, hoping to overbalance these advantages through the morale +afforded by brave hearts and the strategic skill to throw the onus of +battle upon the enemy. + +The plan of campaign as projected was by the march of the Second Corps +through the Valley of the Shenandoah to drive off or capture the Federal +forces stationed along the Valley, and continue the march to Pennsylvania +until further orders, meanwhile collecting supplies for the advance and +for those who were to follow, Jenkins's brigade of cavalry working with +the advance, and Imboden's on its left; the First Corps and main force of +cavalry to march near the east base of the Blue Ridge, threatening towards +the rear line of the Army of the Potomac, and occupy the Blue Ridge, while +the trains and other troops passed behind the mountains to follow the +advance march. Stuart's cavalry brigades were to observe between the First +Corps and the Union army. When the Third Corps had passed behind the +First, the latter and the cavalry were to withdraw and follow the general +march. Stuart, whose movements were to correspond to those of the First +Corps, was to follow its withdrawal and cross the Potomac on our right +flank at Shepherdstown. The brigades of Generals M. Jenkins and M. D. +Corse of Pickett's division, left in Virginia near Petersburg and Hanover +Junction, were to follow and join their division, as will soon appear. + +General Beauregard was to be called from his post, in the South, with such +brigades as could be pulled away temporarily from their Southern service, +and thrown forward, with the two brigades of Pickett's division (Jenkins's +and Corse's) and such others as could be got together, along the Orange +and Alexandria Railroad in threatening attitude towards Washington City, +and he was to suddenly forward Pickett's brigades through the Valley to +the division, and at his pleasure march on, or back towards Richmond. + +As the season of fevers along the coast of the Carolinas was approaching, +General Lee thought that active operations in the far South, especially +along the seaboard, would be suspended, that his move northward might draw +most of them towards him, and possibly troops operating in the Southwest, +the latter being really a prominent part of the object of his northern +march. He thought that Beauregard's appearance in Northern Virginia would +increase the known anxiety of the Washington authorities and cause them to +draw troops from the South, when in the progress of events other similar +movements might follow on both sides until important results could be +developed north of the Potomac. + +His early experience with the Richmond authorities taught him to deal +cautiously with them in disclosing his views, and to leave for them the +privilege and credit of approving, step by step, his apparently hesitant +policy, so that his plans were disclosed little at a time; and, finding +them slow in approving them, still slower in advancing the brigades of +Pickett's division, and utterly oblivious of the effect of a grand swing +north on our interior lines, he did not mention the part left open for +Beauregard until he had their approval of the march of the part of his +command as he held it in hand. The part assigned for Beauregard became the +subject for correspondence between the authorities and the officers who +knew nothing of the general ideas and plans. The latter failed to see any +benefit to accrue by taking troops from their commands, and naturally +offered objections to their going. The authorities, not comprehending the +vast strength to be gathered by utilizing our interior lines, failed to +bring about their execution, and the great possibility was not fully +tested. + +In pursuance of the plan for the northern campaign our march was taken up +on Wednesday, the 3d of June, McLaws's division of the First Corps +marching on that date from Fredericksburg, and Hood's from near Orange +Court-House on the 4th; Rodes's division of the Second Corps followed, and +on the 5th Johnson's and Early's of the Second. Pickett of the First, with +three of his brigades, followed the course of Hood's division. All were to +assemble at Culpeper Court-House, near our cavalry head-quarters. The +Third Corps, General A. P. Hill, was left in observation of the enemy at +Fredericksburg. + +When General Hooker discovered the thinning of our camps in rear of +Fredericksburg, he put a bridge across the Rappahannock at Deep Run, +crossed a considerable force of artillery and infantry, and constructed a +line of rifle-pits along the river bank. At the report of these movements, +General Lee thought to delay the movements of the Second Corps, though he +hurried those of the First to draw off the Federals from action against +Hill, but holding the Second ready to go back to him should there be need. +Hill made a similar demonstration against Hooker, threatening on the river +below, though not so far as to cross it, which caused the Federals to draw +their troops from the south side. The Second Corps was then hurried on to +Culpeper Court-House. + +The First and Second Corps waited at the court-house to know if +indications about Fredericksburg were such as to warrant the onward march. +General Hooker, not convinced that General Lee had left him, ordered his +cavalry under General Pleasonton, supported by two brigades of infantry, +to cross the Rappahannock in search of Stuart's cavalry, and to secure +information of the Confederate plans. Pleasonton's force, including +infantry, was eleven thousand. He divided his command, sending one half by +Beverley's, the other by Kelly's Ford, to march on converging roads to +Brandy Station, near Fleetwood, the latter point the head-quarters of our +cavalry chief, five miles west of Rappahannock Bridge. + +Happily for the Confederates, the cavalry brigades had been drawn together +on the 8th for review by General Lee, and rested that night not remote +from cavalry head-quarters. On the 9th, Pleasonton's columns made an +unlooked-for advance and engaged the Confederates, before notice could be +sent to the columns at their camps. The march resulted in a very severe +and strongly disputed cavalry fight, ending in heavy losses on both sides. +General Stuart called for infantry supports before the close of the +conflict, but succeeded in recovering his position before the infantry +reached him,--not, however, until some important despatches were taken by +the enemy, which gave the information they were seeking. Stuart reported +485 officers and men lost; Pleasonton, 907, and three pieces of artillery. +On the 10th, Ewell took up his march for the Valley by Chester Gap. Now, +General Milroy had a division of nine thousand Federals at Winchester, and +sought to hold it contrary to his orders to retire to the command at +Harper's Ferry. He had a brigade on outpost at Berryville under +McReynolds. General Kelly had ten thousand men at Harper's Ferry, with a +strong detachment of infantry and a battery at Martinsburg, under Colonel +B. F. Smith. + +Upon entering the Valley, General Ewell detached Rodes's division and +Jenkins's cavalry to cut off and capture the force at Berryville, but +McReynolds withdrew in time to join the forces at Winchester. This +Confederate column then marched for Martinsburg, and got possession there +on the 14th, the garrison marching out and joining the troops on Maryland +Heights. The artillery trying to escape north towards Williamsport was +followed so closely that they lost some three or four guns. With his +divisions under Johnson and Early, General Ewell marched to Winchester and +attacked and carried the outworks of Milroy's fortified position, when the +latter, after calling a council, decided to retreat, leaving his artillery +and wagon-trains. Ewell had anticipated this, and sent a part of Johnson's +division, one brigade, to intercept him on the Martinsburg road. The +commands met about daylight, and there ensued a severe engagement, +successful to the Federals till reinforcements came to the Confederates, +when Milroy's command was broken up, part of his troops escaping to +Harper's Ferry and part getting over the Potomac at Hancock. The Federals +at Harper's Ferry abandoned their position in Virginia, seeking shelter on +the heights on the Maryland side. + +On his march through the Valley, General Ewell took 4000 prisoners and +small-arms, 25 cannon, 11 standards, 250 wagons, 400 horses, and large +quantities of subsistence and quartermaster's stores, with a loss of 269 +of all arms. He crossed the Potomac on the 15th, occupying Hagerstown and +Sharpsburg, on the Maryland side, and sent the cavalry brigade, under +Jenkins, north towards Chambersburg. + +By the plan of march from the Valley of Virginia the leading corps +(Second) was to divide and cross the Potomac River at Williamsport and +Shepherdstown, the column through Williamsport to march through Hagerstown +and Chambersburg towards Harrisburg, collecting produce and supplies for +the army, Imboden's cavalry on its left flank. The eastern column was to +march through Sharpsburg, Emmitsburg, and Gettysburg towards the bridge +over the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville, Jenkins's cavalry brigade +working with the two columns. The Third Corps, passing behind the Blue +Ridge, was to cross at Shepherdstown and follow the march of the eastern +column. The First Corps was to draw back from the Blue Ridge and cross the +Potomac at Williamsport, to be followed by the cavalry, which was to cross +at Shepherdstown and ride severely towards Baltimore, to force the enemy +to eastern concentration. + +The object of the march of the eastern columns, besides opening a wide +field for foraging, was to draw the enemy from the route of travel of the +supply trains, and to press him off east to give opportunity for the +western columns to file in between him and Washington. + +The reconnoissance and cavalry fight made against Stuart at Fleetwood gave +General Hooker conclusive evidence of the march of the Army of Northern +Virginia, and he drew off from Stafford Heights on the 13th, and marched +towards the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Potomac River. The +First Corps was ordered north along the east base of the Blue Ridge to +guard our line of march and cover, in a measure, the Confederate plans, +Stuart's cavalry to ride between the First Corps and the Union army. On +the 19th the divisions of the First Corps were posted along the Blue Ridge +from Ashby's Gap on the right to Snicker's Gap on the left, McLaws at the +former, Hood at the latter, Pickett's three brigades between the others. +Under the impression that the cavalry was to operate with the First Corps, +in the general plan, the commander was ordered to follow its withdrawal +west of the Blue Ridge and cross the Potomac on its right at +Shepherdstown, and make his ride towards Baltimore. He claimed that +General Lee had given him authority to cross east of the Blue Ridge. + +After the First Corps was in position on the Blue Ridge, and while the +Third was passing our rear down the Valley, it seems that General Lee so +far modified the plan of march north as to authorize his cavalry chief to +cross the Potomac with part of his command east of the Blue Ridge, and to +change the march of the Third Corps by Hagerstown and Chambersburg. The +point at which the cavalry force should cross the river was not determined +between the Confederate commander and his chief of cavalry, there being +doubt whether the crossing could better be made at Point of Rocks, between +the Union army and the Blue Ridge, or between that army and Washington +City. That question was left open, and I was ordered to choose between the +two points named at the moment that my command took up its line of march. + +The First Corps was withdrawn from the Blue Ridge on the 20th, forded the +Shenandoah, and camped on its left bank. On the 21st, Pleasonton came, in +full force, supported by infantry, against Stuart's cavalry brigades. The +severe part of the fight came from Upperville, and succeeded in driving +Stuart back into Ashby's Gap. Part of McLaws's division was sent back in +time to support Stuart, and in the morning McLaws ordered Wofford's +brigade down upon the plain, but Pleasonton had withdrawn. The infantry +was recalled after an exchange of a few shots at great range. + +Connected with the cavalry raid and orders authorizing it are matters of +more than usual interest. On the 22d the Confederate commander sent +unsealed instructions to his cavalry chief, through head-quarters of the +First Corps, to be forwarded, provided the cavalry could be spared from my +front and could make the ride without disclosing our plans, expressing his +preference for the ride through Hopewell Gap east of the Union army. As +previously stated, I was to decide at the last moment between the two +points that had been named. As my front was changed to the rear for the +march north, the cavalry could be of no service there. The extent of +authority with me, therefore, was to decide whether the crossing should be +made at the Point of Rocks or around through Hopewell Gap east of the +Union army. The crossing at Point of Rocks was not only hazardous, but +more likely to indicate our plans than any move that could be made, +leaving the ride through Hopewell Gap the only route for the raiding +party. In my note to General Stuart enclosing General Lee's instructions +was this item: + + "P.S.--I think your passage of the Potomac by our rear at the present + moment will, in a measure, disclose our plans. You had better not + leave us, therefore, unless you can take the route in rear of the + enemy." + +This has been put in italics and published as evidence that the raid was +made by my orders, as well as by General Lee's. In the postscript three +points are indicated: + +First, the move along my rear to the crossing at Point of Rocks. + +Second, my preferred march on my flank to the Shepherdstown crossing. + +Third, the route indicated by General Lee. + + +[Illustration: Arthur Lyon Fremantle. Lieutenant-Colonel Coldstream +Guards, Her Majesty's Service.] + + +All of which General Stuart understood as well as I did. Especially did he +know that _my orders were that he should ride on the right of my column, +as originally designed_, to the Shepherdstown crossing. In the body of +my note were orders that he should report to me of affairs along the +cavalry line before leaving; that he should assign General Hampton to +command of the cavalry to be left with us, with orders to report at my +head-quarters. These orders, emanating properly from the commander of the +rear column of the army, should not have been questioned, but they were +treated with contumely. He assigned General Robertson to command the +cavalry that was left on the mountain, without orders to report at my +head-quarters; and though left there to guard passes of the Blue Ridge, he +rode on a raid, so that when the cavalry was most needed it was far away +from the army. The raid and the absence of the cavalry at the critical +moment were severely criticised through the army and the country. If +General Stuart could have claimed authority of my orders for his action, +he could not have failed to do so in his official account. He offered no +such excuse, but claimed to act under the orders of his chief, and +reported that General Lee gave consent to his application for leave to +make the march. So our plans, adopted after deep study, were suddenly +given over to gratify the youthful cavalryman's wish for a nomadic ride. + +About this time we entertained a distinguished visitor. An officer of the +British service, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur J. L. Fremantle, of the +Coldstream Guards, brought letters from the Secretary of War to General +Lee and myself. He was seeking opportunity to observe the campaign as a +non-combatant; he travelled with us, divided his time between general +head-quarters and head-quarters of the First Corps, cheerfully adapted his +tastes to the rough ways of Confederate soldiers, and proved to be an +interesting companion. To avoid the blockade he came to the Confederacy +through Mexico. He gave a graphic account of his experience in Texas and +travel after crossing the Rio Grande to the interior in a two-horse hack. +The drivers of his conveyance were Mr. Sargeant and Judge Hyde, two +characters whom I had met years before while in army service on the Texas +frontier. They called their team Grant and Sherman, and enjoyed their +glorious rides down the smooth slopes of the prairie roads, as they +rattled their heels upon the box of the hack and plied their team, Grant +and Sherman, with whips and oaths. But the great novelty to him was the +position of the judge. In England there are few judges comparatively, and +those of high estate. To find an American judge playing assistant to a +hack-driver was refreshing, and Colonel Fremantle thoroughly enjoyed it. I +now have the pleasure to salute our genial war-time visitor as governor at +Malta and Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, K.C.M., +G.C.B., and to offer congratulations to Her Most Noble Majesty upon her +worthy subject. + +On the 23d of June the divisions of the Third Corps passed on towards the +Potomac, followed by those of the First, the former crossing at +Shepherdstown, the latter at Williamsport. The corps came together at +Hagerstown, in Maryland, continued their march till the 27th, and rested +two days at Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania. The cavalry under General +Imboden, ordered on General Ewell's left, was due as far north as +McConnellsburg, but had halted at Hancock. + +On the 28th, General Lee issued orders for the march upon Harrisburg. +General Ewell had marched his main column through Chambersburg to +Carlisle. His column, intending to move east of the mountains through +Emmitsburg and Gettysburg, had marched parallel to the main column as far +as Greenwood, when orders were renewed for it to march east through +Gettysburg. General Early, commanding, ordered Gordon's brigade and a +detachment of cavalry through Gettysburg; but his other troops marched +north through Mummasburg. The failure of the Imboden cavalry on his left +caused General Ewell to send General George H. Steuart through +McConnellsburg as guard of that flank. Steuart's command rejoined him at +Carlisle. As General Ewell marched he sent us three thousand head of beef +cattle and information of five thousand barrels of flour. He halted at +Carlisle on the 27th. The municipal authorities of Gettysburg and York +surrendered to General Gordon, who took some prisoners of the State +militia, and marched to the bridge over the Susquehanna at Wrightsville, +where he had other prisoners, but the bridge was burned before him. His +brigade returned to the vicinity of York, where the division had marched +and bivouacked on the night of the 28th. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +GETTYSBURG--FIRST DAY. + + Information of Federal Force and Positions brought by the Scout + Harrison--General Lee declines to credit it--General Longstreet + suggests a Change of Direction in Conformance with the + Revelation--General Meade had succeeded Hooker in Command Five Days + before Battle--Positions on the Eve of the First Day--Confederate + Cavalry "not in sight"--"The Eyes of the Army" sadly needed--A + Description of the Famous Battle-field--Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill + engage the Federals--Death of General John F. Reynolds--The Fight on + Seminary Ridge--General Hancock in Federal Command on the + Field--Concerning the Absent Cavalry and Information given by the + Scout--Conditions at the Close of the First Day's Fight. + + +The eve of the great battle was crowded with events. Movements for the +concentration of the two vast armies went on in mighty force, but with a +silence in strong contrast to the swift-coming commotion of their shock in +conflict. It was the pent quiet of the gathering storm whose bursting was +to shake the continent and suddenly command the startled attention of the +world. + +After due preparation for our march of the 29th, all hands turned in early +for a good night's rest. My mind had hardly turned away from the cares and +labors of the day, when I was aroused by some one beating on the pole of +my tent. It proved to be Assistant Inspector-General Fairfax. A young man +had been arrested by our outlying pickets under suspicious circumstances. +He was looking for General Longstreet's head-quarters, but his comfortable +apparel and well-to-do, though travel-stained, appearance caused doubt in +the minds of the guards of his being a genuine Confederate who could be +trusted about head-quarters. So he was sent up under a file of men to be +identified. He proved to be Harrison, the valued scout. He had walked +through the lines of the Union army during the night of the 27th and +the 28th, secured a mount at dark of the latter day to get in as soon as +possible, and brought information of the location of two corps of Federals +at night of the 27th, and approximate positions of others. General Hooker +had crossed the Potomac on the 25th and 26th of June. On the 27th he had +posted two army corps at Frederick, and the scout reported another near +them, and two others near South Mountain, as he escaped their lines a +little after dark of the 28th. He was sent under care of Colonel Fairfax +to make report of his information at general head-quarters. General Lee +declined, however, to see him, though he asked Colonel Fairfax as to the +information that he brought, and, on hearing it, expressed want of faith +in reports of scouts, in which Fairfax generally agreed, but suggested +that in this case the information was so near General Longstreet's ideas +of the probable movements of the enemy that he gave credit to it. I also +sent up a note suggesting a change of direction of the head of our column +east. This I thought to be the first and necessary step towards bringing +the two armies to such concentration east as would enable us to find a way +to draw the enemy into battle, in keeping with the general plan of +campaign, and at the same time draw him off from the travel of our trains. + + +[Illustration: HARRISON. The Confederate scout who brought to General Lee +the first news of Meade's assignment to command, and the positions of the +Corps of the Army of the Potomac.] + + +There were seven corps of the Army of the Potomac afield. We were informed +on the 28th of the approximate positions of five of them,--three near +Frederick and two near the base of South Mountain. The others, of which we +had no definite information, we now know were the Sixth (Sedgwick's), +south of Frederick and east of the Monocacy, and the Twelfth, towards +Harper's Ferry. + +On the 26th, General Hooker thought to use the Twelfth Corps and the +garrison of Harper's Ferry to strike the line of our communication, but +General Halleck forbade the use of the troops of that post, when General +Hooker asked to be relieved of the responsibility of command, and was +succeeded by General Meade on the night of the 27th. + +If General Hooker had been granted the authority for which he applied, he +would have struck our trains, exposed from Chambersburg to the Potomac +without a cavalryman to ride and report the trouble. General Stuart was +riding around Hooker's army, General Robertson was in Virginia, General +Imboden at Hancock, and Jenkins's cavalry was at our front with General +Ewell. + +By the report of the scout we found that the march of Ewell's east wing +had failed of execution and of the effect designed, and that heavy columns +of the enemy were hovering along the east base of the mountain. To remove +this pressure towards our rear, General Lee concluded to make a more +serious demonstration and force the enemy to look eastward. With this view +he changed direction of the proposed march north, by counter-orders on the +night of the 28th, calling concentration east of the mountains at +Cashtown, and his troops began their march under the last orders on the +29th. + +It seems that General Hill misconstrued the orders of the day, or was +confused by the change of orders, and was under the impression that he was +to march by York and cross the Susquehanna towards Philadelphia or +Harrisburg. He ordered his leading division under Heth to Cashtown, +however, and followed with Pender's division on the 30th, leaving orders +for the division of R. H. Anderson to follow on the 1st. The purpose of +General Lee's march east was only preliminary,--a concentration about +Cashtown. + +General Ewell was ready to march for Harrisburg on the 29th, when orders +reached him of the intended concentration at Cashtown. He was at Carlisle +with Rodes's and E. Johnson's divisions and the reserve artillery; his +other division under Early was at York. On the 30th, Rodes was at +Heidlersburg, Early near by, and Johnson, with the reserve artillery, near +Green Village. + +Pettigrew's brigade of Heth's division, advancing towards Gettysburg on +the 30th, encountered Buford's cavalry and returned to Cashtown. + +On the 29th, General Meade wired General Halleck,-- + + "If Lee is moving for Baltimore, I expect to get between his main army + and that place. If he is crossing the Susquehanna, I shall rely upon + General Couch, with his force, holding him, until I can fall upon his + rear and give him battle, which I shall endeavor to do.... My endeavor + will be, in my movements, to hold my force well together, with the + hope of falling upon some portion of Lee's army in detail."[123] + +As the change of orders made Gettysburg prominent as the point of impact, +the positions of the commands relative thereto and their distances +therefrom are items of importance in considering the culmination of +events. + + POSITIONS OF ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, NIGHT OF JUNE 30. + + General Lee's head-quarters, Greenwood. + + First Corps, Chambersburg, twenty-four miles to Gettysburg; part at + Greenwood, sixteen miles. + + Second Corps and Jenkins's cavalry, Heidlersburg, ten miles; part near + Green Village, twenty-three miles (Johnson's division and trains). + + Third Corps, near Greenwood, sixteen miles, and Cashtown, eight miles. + + Stuart's cavalry, circling between York and Carlisle, out of sight. + + Robertson's cavalry, in Virginia, beyond reach. + + Imboden's cavalry, at Hancock, out of sight. + + The Confederates not intending to precipitate battle. + + + POSITIONS OF ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + + General Meade's head-quarters, Taneytown, fourteen miles. + + General Hunt, artillery reserve, Taneytown. + + First Corps, Marsh Run, six miles. + + Second Corps, Uniontown, twenty-two miles. + + Third Corps, Bridgeport, twelve miles. + + Fifth Corps, Union Mills, fifteen miles. + + Sixth Corps, Manchester, twenty-two miles. + + Eleventh Corps, Emmitsburg, twelve miles. + + Twelfth Corps, Littletown, nine miles. + + Kilpatrick's cavalry, Hanover, thirteen miles. + + Gregg's cavalry, Manchester, twenty-two miles. + + Buford's cavalry, Gettysburg. + +It should be borne in mind that the field of contention was south and east +of Gettysburg, so that the Union troops were from two to four miles nearer +their formation for battle than were the Confederates, who had to march +from two to four miles _beyond the town_. + +Referring to the map, it may be seen that the Confederate corps had two +routes by which to march for concentration,--viz., from Heidlersburg to +Cashtown, part of the Second Corps; on the road from Chambersburg, the +First, Third, and part of the Second Corps (with all of the trains of the +latter), with but a single track, the Chambersburg-Gettysburg turnpike. +Some of their distances were greater than any of the columns of the enemy, +while the Army of the Potomac had almost as many routes of march as +commands, and was marching from day to day anticipating a general +engagement, which they were especially cautioned on the 30th was imminent. + +General Hill decided to go beyond Cashtown on the 1st to ascertain as to +the enemy reported at Gettysburg. He gave notice of his intentions to +General Ewell, and sent back to the commanding general to have Anderson's +division sent forward. He was at Cashtown with Heth's and Pender's +divisions and their batteries; his reserve artillery with Anderson's +division at Fayetteville. + +The armies on the night of June 30 stood thus: + +The Confederate: First Corps, two divisions at Greenwood (except one +brigade detached under orders from head-quarters at New Guilford); +Pickett's three brigades at Chambersburg, left under orders from +head-quarters to guard trains; the Second Corps, two divisions near +Heidlersburg, one near and north of Chambersburg; the Third Corps at +Cashtown and Fayetteville; cavalry not in sight or hearing, except +Jenkins's brigade and a small detachment. + +The Union army: the First Corps on Marsh Run, the Second at Uniontown, the +Third at Bridgeport, the Fifth at Union Mills, the Sixth at Manchester, +the Eleventh at Emmitsburg, the Twelfth at Littlestown, Fitzpatrick's +cavalry at Hanover, Buford's at Gettysburg (except one brigade, detached, +guarding his trains). General Meade's head-quarters and reserve artillery +were at Taneytown. His army, including cavalry, in hand. + +General Lee's orders called his troops on converging lines towards +Cashtown, but he found that part of his infantry must be left at +Chambersburg to await the Imboden cavalry, not up, and one of Hood's +brigades must be detached on his right at New Guilford to guard on that +side in place of Robertson's cavalry (in Virginia). So that as he advanced +towards his adversary, the eyes and ears of his army were turned afar off, +looking towards the homes of non-combatants. It is bootless to this +writing to restate whence came this mishap. There is no doubt it greatly +disturbed General Lee's mind, and he would have called a halt under +ordinary circumstances, but his orders did not contemplate immediate +movements beyond Cashtown. In that he felt safe, depending upon his +cavalry coming up in time to meet him there. + +He was in his usual cheerful spirits on the morning of the 1st, and called +me to ride with him. My column was not well stretched on the road before +it encountered the division of E. Johnson (Second Corps) cutting in on our +front, with all of Ewell's reserve and supply trains. He ordered the First +Corps halted, and directed that Johnson's division and train should pass +on to its corps, the First to wait. During the wait I dismounted to give +Hero a little respite. (The Irish groom had christened my favorite horse +"_Haro_.") + +After a little time General Lee proposed that we should ride on, and soon +we heard reports of cannon. The fire seemed to be beyond Cashtown, and as +it increased he left me and rode faster for the front. + +The brigades of Gamble and Devin of Buford's cavalry were the force that +met Pettigrew's brigade on the afternoon of the 30th, when the latter +retired to the post of the divisions at Cashtown. + +From Gettysburg roads diverge to the passes of the mountains, the borders +of the Potomac and Susquehanna, and the cities of Baltimore and +Washington; so that it was something of a strategic point. From the west +side two broad roads run, one northwest to Chambersburg _via_ Cashtown, +the other southwest through Fairfield to Hagerstown. They cross an +elevated ridge, a mile out north, and south of the Lutheran Seminary, +known to the Confederates as Seminary Ridge, covered by open forests. At +the northward, about two miles from the town, the ridge divides, a lesser +ridge putting out west, and presently taking a parallel course with the +greater. This was known as McPherson's Ridge, and was about five hundred +yards from the first, where the road crosses it. Nearly parallel with the +Chambersburg pike and about two hundred yards distant was the cut of an +unfinished railroad. Willoughby's Run flows south in a course nearly +parallel to and west of the ridge, and is bordered by timbered lands. +North of Gettysburg the grounds are open and in fair fields. Directly +south of it a bold ridge rises with rough and steep slopes. The prominent +point of the south ridge is Cemetery Hill, and east of this is Culp's +Hill, from which the ridge turns sharply south half a mile, and drops off +into low grounds. It was well wooded and its eastern ascent steep. East of +it and flowing south is Rock Creek. From Cemetery Hill the ground is +elevated, the ridge sloping south to the cropping out of Little Round Top, +Devil's Den, and the bolder Round Top, the latter about three miles south +of the town. Cemetery Hill is nearly parallel to Seminary Ridge, and is +more elevated. + +At five o'clock on the morning of July 1, General A. P. Hill marched +towards Gettysburg with the divisions of Heth and Pender, and the +battalions of artillery under Pegram and McIntosh, Heth's division and +Pegram's artillery in advance. R. H. Anderson's division, with the reserve +artillery left at Fayetteville, was ordered to march and halt at Cashtown. +About ten o'clock Heth encountered Buford's cavalry. Archer's brigade, +leading, engaged, and Davis's brigade came up on his left with part of +Pegram's artillery. The cavalry was forced back till it passed +Willoughby's Run. + +On the 30th of June, General John F. Reynolds had been directed to resume +command of the right wing of the Union army,--First, Third, and Eleventh +Corps. He was advised that day of the threatening movements of the +Confederates on the Cashtown and Mummasburg roads. At the same time the +indications from General Meade's head-quarters pointed to Pipe Creek as +the probable line in case of battle. Reynolds, however, prepared to +support Buford's line of cavalry, and marched at eight o'clock on the 1st +of July with Wadsworth's division and Hall's battery, leaving the other +divisions of Doubleday and Robinson with the artillery to follow under +General Doubleday, who became commander of the corps upon the assignment +of Reynolds to command of the wing. + +As Reynolds approached Gettysburg, in hearing of the cavalry fight, he +turned the head of his column to the left and marched through the fields +towards the engagement. As the cavalry skirmish line retired and passed +Willoughby's Run, he approached with his reinforcements, +Brigadier-General Cutter in advance, and was put in on the north of the +Cashtown road, followed by Hall's battery. Brigadier-General Meredith +following, his brigade was put into line on the left. As fast as the +troops got into line they became severely engaged. Doubleday, in advance +of the divisions under him, put Meredith's brigade in formidable position +on a strip of woodland on the left. + +As the Confederate left advanced through the railroad cut they came upon +Hall's battery, and were about to get it, when it was saved by speedy +withdrawal, which caused the Union right to retire, while Archer's brigade +of the Confederate right, in pushing to the front, came in open space +before Meredith's brigade, which in turn made a gallant advance, drove +Archer back, followed across the run, and captured General Archer and one +thousand of his men. The other two brigades of Pender's division, +Pettigrew's and Brockenbrough's, were put in on the right of Archer's men. +During the severe engagement on his right the advance of the Confederate +infantry got in so close along the railroad cut that General Reynolds, in +efforts to extricate his right, was shot, when the right, still under +severe pressure, was forced to retire towards Seminary Ridge. Hall's +battery, severely crippled, succeeded in getting away as the right +retired. + +Doubleday's other divisions came up about the moment General Reynolds was +killed. The Second (Robinson's) and Third (Rowley's) Divisions deployed on +the right and left. Cooper's battery of four three-inch guns followed the +left division. At the same time Hill reinforced by his division under +Pender, Thomas's brigade on his left, Lane, Scales, and Perrin to the +right. These restored the Confederate right, overlapping the Federal left; +at the same time Thomas's brigade made successful battle on the left, +pushing off Wadsworth's right and Hall's battery, when the two brigades of +the Second Division (Robinson's) were sent to their support, but were, in +turn, forced back towards Seminary Ridge. The Confederate sharp-shooters +cut down the horses of one of Hall's guns and forced him to drop it. Hill +advanced Pegram's and McIntosh's artillery to McPherson's Ridge, forcing +the entire Union line back to Seminary Ridge. General Doubleday, +anticipating such contingency, had ordered trenches made about Seminary +Ridge, and sent his three other batteries under Colonel Wainwright to that +point. He formed his line along the ridge and occupied the trenches by +part of his infantry. At this period Ewell's divisions under Rodes +approached against Doubleday's right. + +General Howard, upon his first approach to the battle, marched the +Eleventh Corps to Cemetery Hill, and there posted it until called upon by +General Doubleday for assistance. To meet the call he ordered his +divisions under Generals Barlow and Schurz to Doubleday's right, to occupy +a prominent point at the north end of Seminary Ridge, reserving his +division under Steinwehr and part of his artillery on Cemetery Hill. + +As the divisions of the Eleventh Corps approached the Confederate left, +Rodes's division of Ewell's corps advanced. The Federals then stood across +the Cashtown road, their left in advance of the Seminary, their right +thrown or standing more to the rear. Rodes was in season to sweep the +field of approach to the high point intended to be occupied by the +divisions sent by Howard, and came in good position to enfilade Robinson's +division of the First Corps. As Rodes approached he was threatened by +Buford's cavalry, but, finding cover under woodland, he made advance by +three brigades in line till he came to the point of view which gave him +command of that end of the field in elevated position, and in plunging +fire down Robinson's line and in advance of the divisions sent by General +Howard to occupy that point. While posting his infantry, Rodes ordered +Carter's battery of artillery into action against Robinson's lines +stretched out and engaged against Hill's corps. At that moment the +divisions of the Eleventh Corps were not in full front of Rodes, so that +his fire upon Robinson's line was something of a surprise, as well as most +discomfiting. The divisions and artillery of the Eleventh came to the +front, however, almost simultaneously with Robinson's necessitated change +of right front rearward towards Rodes. + +These changes and dispositions gave Hill opportunity to press on by his +front, when Doubleday was obliged to call for help, and Schurz called for +support on his right. Coster's brigade was sent from Steinwehr's reserve, +and Buford's cavalry was ordered to brace as far as practicable the centre +of the First Corps, and another battery was sent to Schurz's division. At +2.45 another call for help by the First Corps was received, and General +Schurz was asked to answer it if he could by a regiment or more. Calls +were sent to hurry Slocum's (Twelfth) corps, some miles away, but then +Ewell was swinging his division under Early into line nearer to +Gettysburg, Gordon's brigade and Jones's battery coming in in good time to +make strong Rodes's left, and Hill's corps had overlapped the left of the +First Corps, so that General Howard found himself forced to command a +steady, orderly retreat to Cemetery Hill. + +The Confederates pushed rapidly on, particularly the fresher troops of +Ewell, cleared the field, and followed on through the streets of +Gettysburg at four o'clock. The retreat began and continued in good order +till they passed Gettysburg, when the ranks became so scattered that the +final march was little better than "_Sauve qui peut_." + +As the troops retreated through Gettysburg, General Hancock rode upon the +field, and under special assignment assumed command at three o'clock. As +the retreating troops arrived, Wadsworth's division on the right, the +Eleventh Corps across the Baltimore pike, the balance of the First under +Doubleday on the left of the Eleventh, General Howard and others assisted +in forming the new line. + +The total effectives of the First and Eleventh Corps, according to the +consolidated moving report of June 30, was 19,982. From the latest returns +of General Lee's army, an average estimate of his four divisions gave his +total as 25,252. Part of the reserve division of the Eleventh Corps was +not engaged, but Buford had two brigades of cavalry, and so the foregoing +may be a fair estimate of the forces engaged, less the reserve on Cemetery +Hill. + +At Cashtown, General Lee found that General Hill had halted his division +under R. H. Anderson and his reserve artillery. He had General Anderson +called, who subsequently wrote me of the interview as follows: + + "About twelve o'clock I received a message notifying me that General + Lee desired to see me. I found General Lee intently listening to the + fire of the guns, and very much disturbed and depressed. At length he + said, more to himself than to me, 'I cannot think what has become of + Stuart. I ought to have heard from him long before now. He may have + met with disaster, but I hope not. In the absence of reports from him, + I am in ignorance as to what we have in front of us here. It may be + the whole Federal army, or it may be only a detachment. If it is the + whole Federal force, we must fight a battle here. If we do not gain a + victory, those defiles and gorges which we passed this morning will + shelter us from disaster.'" + +He ordered Anderson forward, and rode on to Seminary Ridge in time to view +the closing operations of the engagement. The Union troops were in +disorder, climbing Cemetery Heights, the Confederates following through +the streets of Gettysburg. Two other divisions of Confederates were up +soon after, E. Johnson's of the Second and R. H. Anderson's of the Third +Corps. + +After a long wait I left orders for the troops to follow the trains of +the Second Corps, and rode to find General Lee. His head-quarters were on +Seminary Ridge at the crossing of the Cashtown road. Anderson's division +was then filed off along the ridge, resting. Johnson's had marched to +report to the corps commander. Dismounting and passing the usual +salutation, I drew my glasses and made a studied view of the position upon +which the enemy was rallying his forces, and of the lay of the land +surrounding. General Lee was engaged at the moment. He had announced +beforehand that he would not make aggressive battle in the enemy's +country. After the survey and in consideration of his plans,--noting +movements of detachments of the enemy on the Emmitsburg road, the relative +positions for manoeuvre, the lofty perch of the enemy, the rocky slopes +from it, all marking the position clearly defensive,--I said, "We could +not call the enemy to position better suited to our plans. All that we +have to do is to file around his left and secure good ground between him +and his capital." This, when said, was thought to be the opinion of my +commander as much as my own. I was not a little surprised, therefore, at +his impatience, as, striking the air with his closed hand, he said, "If he +is there to-morrow I will attack him." + +In his official account, General Lee reported,-- + + "It had not been intended to deliver a general battle so far from our + base unless attacked. But coming unexpectedly upon the whole Federal + army, to withdraw through the mountains with our extensive trains + would have been difficult and dangerous." + +When he rode away from me in the forenoon he made no mention of his absent +cavalry, nor did he indicate that it was not within call. So I was at a +loss to understand his nervous condition, and supported the suggestion so +far as to say, "If he is there to-morrow it will be because he wants you +to attack," and queried, "If that height has become the objective, why not +take it at once? We have forty thousand men, less the casualties of the +day; he cannot have more than twenty thousand." Then it was that I heard +of the wanderings of the cavalry and the cause of his uneven temper. So +vexed was he at the halt of the Imboden cavalry at Hancock, _in the +opening of the campaign_, that he was losing sight of Pickett's brigades +as a known quantity for battle. His manner suggested to me that a little +reflection would be better than further discussion, and right soon he +suggested to the commander of the Second Corps to take Cemetery Hill if he +thought it practicable, but the subordinate did not care to take upon +himself a fight that his chief would not venture to order.[124] + +The following circular orders were sent the commanders of columns of the +First Corps: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + "NEAR GETTYSBURG, July 1, 5.30 P.M. + + "COLONEL,--The commanding general desires you to come on to-night as + fast as you can without distressing your men and animals. Hill and + Ewell have sharply engaged the enemy, and you will be needed for + to-morrow's battle. Let us know where you will stop to-night. + + "Respectfully, + "G. M. SORREL, + "_A. A. General_. + + "COLONEL WALTON, + "_Chief of Artillery_." + +At 12.15 of the afternoon of the 1st, General Halleck sent a cipher +despatch to General Meade approving his tactics, but asking, as to his +strategy, "Are you not too far east, and may not Lee attempt to turn your +left and cut you off from Frederick?" + +In this connection may be noted the plan that General Meade had mapped in +his own mind and given to some of his generals for battle to be formed +behind Pipe Creek, a position that would have met the views of General +Halleck, as well as his own, covering Washington and Baltimore under close +lines that could not be turned. At Gettysburg the Confederates had +comparatively an open field. + +Reports coming in to head-quarters about six o'clock that the enemy was in +some force off our right towards Fairfield, General Lee ordered General +Anderson to put one of his brigades out on the right as picket-guard. +Wilcox's brigade and Boss's battery were marched and posted near Black +Horse Tavern. + +Nothing coming from the _centre troops_ about Cemetery Hill, General Lee +ordered the Second Corps, _after night, from his left to his right_, for +work in that direction, but General Ewell rode over and reported that +another point--Culp's Hill--had been found on his left, which had +commanding elevation over Cemetery Hill, from which the troops on the +latter could be dislodged, by artillery, and was under the impression that +his troops were in possession there. That was accredited as reported and +approved, and the corps commander returned, and ordered the hill occupied +if it had not been done. But the officer in charge had waited for specific +orders, and when they were received he had made another reconnoissance. It +was then twelve o'clock. By the reconnoissance it was found that the enemy +was there, and it was thought that this should be reported, and further +orders waited. + +General Ewell's troops and trains passed the junction of the roads at +four o'clock. The train was fourteen miles long. It was followed by the +troops of the First Corps that had been waiting all day. After night the +Washington Artillery and McLaws's division camped at Marsh Run, four miles +from Gettysburg. Here is Hood's account of his march: + + "While lying in camp near Chambersburg information was received that + Hill and Ewell were about to come into contact with the enemy near + Gettysburg. My troops, together with McLaws's division, were at once + put in motion upon the most direct road to that point, which we + reached after a hard march at or before sunrise on July 2. So + imperative had been our orders to hasten forward with all possible + speed that on the march my troops were allowed to halt and rest only + about two hours during the night from the 1st to the 2d of July." + +When I left General Lee, about seven o'clock in the evening, he had formed +no plans beyond that of seizing Culp's Hill as his point from which to +engage, nor given any orders for the next day, though his desperate mood +was painfully evident, and gave rise to serious apprehensions. He had +heard nothing of the movements of the enemy since his crossing the +Potomac, except the report of the scout. His own force on the field was +the Second Corps, Rodes's, Early's, and E. Johnson's divisions from right +to left through the streets of Gettysburg around towards Culp's Hill; on +Rodes's right, Pender's division of the Third; on Seminary Ridge, R. H. +Anderson's division of the Third (except Wilcox's brigade at Black Horse +Tavern); behind Seminary Ridge, Heth's division of the Third; on the march +between Cashtown and Greenwood, the First Corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +GETTYSBURG--SECOND DAY. + + The Confederate Commander reviews the Field and decides on Plan of + Battle--Positions on the Morning of July 2--Night March of the Federal + Sixth Corps--It was excelled by Law's Brigade of Confederates--The + Battle was opened after Mid-day--General Hood appeals for Permission + to turn the Federal Left--Failure to make the Flanking Movement by the + Confederate Right was a Serious Mistake--Hood, in his usual Gallant + Style, led his Troops forward among the Rocks--Desperate Charges + against an Earnest Adversary--Hood wounded--General Law succeeds him + in command of the Division--"Little Round Top" an Important + Point--"The Citadel of the Field"--It was a Fight of Seventeen + Thousand Confederates against twice their Number--Quiet along the + Lines of other Confederate Commands--"A Man on the Left who didn't + care to make the Battle win"--Evidence against the Alleged Order for + "Battle at Sunrise"--The "Order" to Ewell was Discretionary--Lee had + lost his Balance. + + +The stars were shining brightly on the morning of the 2d when I reported +at General Lee's head-quarters and asked for orders. After a time Generals +McLaws and Hood, with their staffs, rode up, and at sunrise their commands +filed off the road to the right and rested. The Washington Artillery was +with them, and about nine o'clock, after an all-night march, Alexander's +batteries were up as far as Willoughby's Run, where he parked and fed, and +rode to head-quarters to report. + +As indicated by these movements, General Lee was not ready with his plans. +He had not heard from his cavalry, nor of the movements of the enemy +further than the information from a despatch captured during the night, +that the Fifth Corps was in camp about five miles from Gettysburg, and the +Twelfth Corps was reported near Culp's Hill. As soon as it was light +enough to see, however, the enemy was found in position on his formidable +heights awaiting us. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. July 2nd, 1863.] + + +The result of efforts during the night and early morning to secure Culp's +Hill had not been reported, and General Lee sent Colonel Venable of his +staff to confer with the commander of the Second Corps as to opportunity +to make the battle by his left. He was still in doubt whether it would be +better to move to his far-off right. About nine o'clock he rode to his +left to be assured of the position there, and of the general temper of +affairs in that quarter. After viewing the field, he held conference with +the corps and division commanders. They preferred to accept his judgment +and orders, except General Early, who claimed to have learned of the +topographical features of the country during his march towards York, and +recommended the right of the line as the point at which strong battle +should be made. About ten o'clock General Lee returned to his +head-quarters, but his engineer who had been sent to reconnoitre on his +right had not come back. To be at hand for orders, I remained with the +troops at his head-quarters. The infantry had arms stacked; the artillery +was at rest. + +The enemy occupied the commanding heights of the city cemetery, from which +point, in irregular grade, the ridge slopes southward two miles and a half +to a bold outcropping height of three hundred feet called Little Round +Top, and farther south half a mile ends in the greater elevation called +Round Top. The former is covered from base to top by formidable boulders. +From the cemetery to Little Round Top was the long main front of General +Meade's position. At the cemetery his line turned to the northeast and +east and southeast in an elliptical curve, with his right on Culp's Hill. + +At an early hour of the 2d the Union army was posted: the Twelfth Corps at +Culp's Hill, extending its left to Wadsworth's division of the First; on +Wadsworth's left the Eleventh Corps; on the left of the Eleventh the other +troops of the First; on their left the Second, and left of that to Little +Round Top the Third Corps; the Fifth Corps stood in reserve across the +bend from the right of the Twelfth to the left of the Second Corps. Thus +there was formed a field of tremendous power upon a convex curve, which +gave the benefit of rapid concentration at any point or points. The +natural defences had been improved during the night and early morning. The +Sixth Corps was marching from Manchester, twenty-two miles from +Gettysburg. Its first order, received near Manchester before night of the +1st, was to march for Taneytown, but after passing the Baltimore pike the +orders were changed, directing a prompt march to Gettysburg. The march has +been variously estimated from thirty to thirty-five miles, but the +distance from Manchester _via_ Taneytown to Gettysburg is only twenty-nine +miles, and as the ground for which the corps marched was three miles east +of Gettysburg, the march would have been only twenty-six miles _via_ +Taneytown; as the corps marched back and took the Baltimore pike, some +distance must have been saved. It was on the field at three o'clock of the +afternoon,--the Union cavalry under General Pleasonton in reach. + +The Confederate left was covering the north and east curve of the enemy's +line, Johnson's division near Culp's Hill, Early's and Rodes's extending +the line to the right through Gettysburg; Pender's division on the right +of Rodes's; the other divisions of the Third Corps resting on Seminary +Ridge, with McLaws's division and Hood's three brigades near general +head-quarters; Pickett's brigades and Law's of Hood's division at +Chambersburg and New Guilford, twenty-two and twenty-four miles away. Law +had received orders to join his division, and was on the march. The +cavalry was not yet heard from. The line so extended and twisted about the +rough ground that concentration at any point was not possible. + +It was some little time after General Lee's return from his ride to the +left before he received the reports of the reconnoissance ordered from +his centre to his right. His mind, previously settled to the purpose to +fight where the enemy stood, now accepted the explicit plan of making the +opening on his right, and to have the engagement general. He ordered the +commander of the Third Corps to extend the centre by Anderson's division, +McLaws's and Hood's divisions to extend the deployment to his right. +Heth's division of the Third was drawn nearer the front, and notice of his +plans was sent the commander of the Second Corps. + +At the intimation that the battle would be opened on the right by part of +the First Corps, Colonel Alexander was asked to act as director of +artillery, and sent to view the field in time to assign the batteries as +they were up. It was eleven o'clock when General Lee's order was issued, +but he had ordered Law's brigade to its division, and a wait of thirty +minutes was necessary for it to get up. Law had received his orders at +three in the morning, and had marched twenty-three miles. The +battle-ground was still five miles off by the route of march, but Law +completed his march of twenty-eight miles in eleven hours,--the best +marching done in either army to reach the field of Gettysburg. + +The battle was to be opened on the right by two divisions of the First +Corps, supported on their left by four of the brigades of Anderson's +division; the opening to be promptly followed on Lee's left by the Second +Corps, and continued to real attack if the opportunity occurred; the Third +(centre) Corps to move to severe threatening and take advantage of +opportunity to attack; the movements of the Second and Third Corps to be +prompt, and in close, severe co-operation, so as to prevent concentration +against the battle of the right. The little cavalry that was with the army +was kept on the extreme left. Not so much as one trooper was sent us. + +General Lee ordered his reconnoitring officer to lead the troops of the +First Corps and conduct them by a route concealed from view of the enemy. +As I was relieved for the time from the march, I rode near the middle of +the line. General Lee rode with me a mile or more. General Anderson +marched by a route nearer the enemy's line, and was discovered by General +Sickles, who commanded the Third Corps, the left of the Union line. A +little uncomfortable at his retired position, and seeing that the battle +was forming against him, General Sickles thought to put the Third Maine +Regiment and the Berdan Sharp-shooters on outpost in a bold woodland +cover, to develop somewhat of the approaching battle, and presently threw +his corps forward as far as the Peach Orchard, half a mile forward of the +position assigned to it in the general line. The Tenth Alabama Regiment +was sent against the outpost guard, and, reinforced by the Eleventh +Regiment, drove it back, and Anderson's division found its place in proper +line. + +General Birney's account of the affair at the outpost puts it at twelve +o'clock, and the signal accounts, the only papers dated on the field, +reported,-- + + "The enemy's skirmishers advancing from the west one mile from + here--11.45." + +And presently,-- + + "The rebels are in force; our skirmishers give way--12.55." + +There is no room for doubt of the accuracy of these reports, which go to +show that it was one o'clock in the afternoon when the Third Corps, upon +which the First Corps was to form, was in position. + +Under the conduct of the reconnoitring officer, our march seemed +slow,--there were some halts and countermarches. To save time, I ordered +the rear division to double on the front, and we were near the affair of +Anderson's regiments with the outpost guard of Sickles. Anderson's +division deployed,--Wilcox's, Perry's, Wright's, Posey's, and Mahone's +brigades from right to left. + +General Hood was ordered to send his select scouts in advance, to go +through the woodlands and act as vedettes, in the absence of cavalry, and +give information of the enemy, if there. The double line marched up the +slope and deployed,--McLaws on the right of Anderson, Hood's division on +his right, McLaws near the crest of the plateau in front of the Peach +Orchard, Hood spreading and enveloping Sickles's left. The former was +readily adjusted to ground from which to advance or defend. Hood's front +was very rugged, with no field for artillery, and very rough for advance +of infantry. As soon as he passed the Emmitsburg road, he sent to report +of the great advantage of moving on by his right around to the enemy's +rear. His scouting parties had reported that there was nothing between +them and the enemy's trains. He was told that the move to the right had +been proposed the day before and rejected; that General Lee's orders were +to guide my left by the Emmitsburg road. + +In our immediate front were the divisions of the Third Corps under +Generals Humphreys and Birney, from right to left, with orders for +supports of the flanks by divisions of the Second and Fifth Corps. The +ground on the left of Birney's division was so broken and obstructed by +boulders that his left was dropped off to the rear, forming a broken line. +In rear of the enemy, and between his lines and Little Round Top, was a +very rough elevation of eighty feet formed by upheavals that left open +passage deep down Devil's Den. Smith's battery was on Birney's left, +Winslow's between the right and next brigade. Other batteries in position +were Clark's, Ames's, Randolph's, Seeley's, and Turnbull's. + +As McLaws's division came up on line, Barksdale's brigade was in front of +a battery about six hundred yards off. He appealed for permission to +charge and capture it, but was told to wait. On his right was Kershaw's +brigade, the brigades of Semmes and Wofford on the second line. Hood's +division was in two lines,--Law's and Robertson's brigades in front, G. T. +Anderson's and Benning's in the second line. The batteries were with the +divisions,--four to the division. One of G. T. Anderson's regiments was +put on picket down the Emmitsburg road. + +General Hood appealed again and again for the move to the right, but, to +give more confidence to his attack, he was reminded that the move to the +right had been carefully considered by our chief and rejected in favor of +his present orders. + +The opportunity for our right was in the air. General Halleck saw it from +Washington. General Meade saw and was apprehensive of it. Even General +Pendleton refers to it in favorable mention in his official report. +Failing to adopt it, General Lee should have gone with us to his right. He +had seen and carefully examined the left of his line, and only gave us a +guide to show the way to the right, leaving the battle to be adjusted to +formidable and difficult grounds without his assistance. If he had been +with us, General Hood's messengers could have been referred to general +head-quarters, but to delay and send messengers five miles in favor of a +move that he had rejected would have been contumacious. The opportunity +was with the Confederates from the assembling on Cemetery Hill. It was +inviting of their preconceived plans. It was the object of and excuse for +the invasion as a substitute for more direct efforts for the relief of +Vicksburg. Confederate writers and talkers claim that General Meade could +have escaped without making aggressive battle, but that is equivalent to +confession of the inertia that failed to grasp the opportunity. + +Beaten in the battle of the 1st, dislodged of position, and outgeneralled, +the Union army would have felt the want of spirit and confidence important +to aggressive battle; but the call was in the hands of the Confederates, +and these circumstances would have made their work more facile, while the +Union commander would have felt the call to save his capital most +imperative. Even as events passed it was thought helpful to the Union side +to give out the report that General McClellan was at hand and would +command the army. + +Four of the brigades of Anderson's division were ordered to advance in +echelon in support of my left. + +At three o'clock the artillery was ordered to open practice. General Meade +was then with General Sickles discussing the feasibility of withdrawing +his corps to the position to which it was originally assigned, but the +opening admonished him that it was too late. He had just sent a cipher +telegram to inform General Halleck, commander-in-chief, that in the event +of his having no opportunity to attack, and should he find the +Confederates moving to interpose between him and Washington, he would fall +back on his supplies at Westminster.[125] But my right division was then +nearer to Westminster, and our scouting parties of infantry were within +rifle range of the road leading to that point and to Washington. So it +would have been convenient, after holding our threatening attitude till +night, to march across his line at dark, in time to draw other troops to +close connection before the next morning. + +Prompt to the order the combat opened, followed by artillery of the other +corps, and our artillerists measured up to the better metal of the enemy +by vigilant work. Hood's lines were not yet ready. After a little practice +by the artillery, he was properly adjusted and ordered to bear down upon +the enemy's left, but he was not prompt, and the order was repeated before +he would strike down.[126] + +In his usual gallant style he led his troops through the rocky fastnesses +against the strong lines of his earnest adversary, and encountered battle +that called for all of his power and skill. The enemy was tenacious of his +strong ground; his skilfully-handled batteries swept through the passes +between the rocks; the more deadly fire of infantry concentrated as our +men bore upon the angle of the enemy's line and stemmed the fiercest +onset, until it became necessary to shorten their work by a desperate +charge. This pressing struggle and the cross-fire of our batteries broke +in the salient angle, but the thickening fire, as the angle was pressed +back, hurt Hood's left and held him in steady fight. His right brigade was +drawn towards Round Top by the heavy fire pouring from that quarter, +Benning's brigade was pressed to the thickening line at the angle, and G. +T. Anderson's was put in support of the battle growing against Hood's +right. + +I rode to McLaws, found him ready for his opportunity, and Barksdale +chafing in his wait for the order to seize the battery in his front. +Kershaw's brigade of his right first advanced and struck near the angle of +the enemy's line where his forces were gathering strength. After +additional caution to hold his ranks closed, McLaws ordered Barksdale in. +With glorious bearing he sprang to his work, overriding obstacles and +dangers. Without a pause to deliver a shot, he had the battery. Kershaw, +joined by Semmes's brigade, responded, and Hood's men, feeling the +impulsion of relief, resumed their bold fight, and presently the enemy's +line was broken through its length. But his well-seasoned troops knew how +to utilize the advantage of their grounds and put back their dreadful +fires from rocks, depressions, and stone fences, as they went for shelter +about Little Round Top. + +That point had not been occupied by the enemy, nor marked as an important +feature of the field. The broken ranks sought shelter under its rocks and +defiles as birds fly to cover. General Hood fell seriously hurt, and +General Law succeeded to command of the division, but the well-seasoned +troops were not in need of a close guiding hand. The battle was on, and +they knew how to press its hottest contention. + +General Warren, chief engineer of the Federal army, was sent at the +critical moment to Little Round Top, and found that it was the citadel of +the field. He called for troops to occupy it. The Fifth Corps (Sykes's) +was hurried to him, and General Hancock sent him Caldwell's division of +the Second Corps. At the Brick House, away from his right, General Sickles +had a detachment that had been reinforced by General Hancock. This fire +drew Anderson's brigade of direction (Wilcox) a little off from support of +Barksdale's left. General Humphreys, seeing the opportunity, rallied such +of his troops as he could, and, reinforced by Hays's division (Willard's +brigade) of Hancock's corps, came against Barksdale's flank, but the +latter moved bravely on, the guiding spirit of the battle. Wright's +Georgia and Perry's Florida brigades were drawn in behind Wilcox and +thrown against Humphreys, pushing him off and breaking him up. + +The fighting had by this time become tremendous, and brave men and +officers were stricken by hundreds. Posey and Wilcox dislodged the forces +about the Brick House. + +General Sickles was desperately wounded! + +General Willard was dead! + +General Semmes, of McLaws's division, was mortally wounded! + +Our left relieved, the brigades of Anderson's division moved on with +Barksdale's, passed the swale, and moved up the slope. Caldwell's +division, and presently those of Ayres and Barnes of the Fifth Corps, met +and held our strongest battle. While thus engaged, General Sykes succeeded +in putting Vincent's and Weed's brigades and Hazlett's battery on the +summit of Little Round Top, but presently we overreached Caldwell's +division, broke it off, and pushed it from the field. Of his brigade +commanders, Zook was killed, and Brooke and Cross were wounded, the +latter mortally. General Hancock reported sixty per cent. of his men lost. +On our side, Barksdale was down dying, and G. T. Anderson wounded. + +We had carried Devil's Den, were at the Round Tops and the Wheat-Field, +but Ayres's division of regulars and Barnes's division were holding us in +equal battle. The struggle throughout the field seemed at its tension. The +brigades of R. H. Anderson's division could hold off other troops of +Hancock's, but were not strong enough to step to the enemy's lines. When +Caldwell's division was pushed away, Ayres's flank and the gorge at Little +Round Top were only covered by a sharp line of picket men behind the +boulders. If we could drive in the sharp-shooters and strike Ayres's flank +to advantage, we could dislodge his and Barnes's divisions, occupy the +gorge behind Sykes's brigades on Round Top, force them to retreat, and +lift our desperate fighters to the summit. I had one +brigade--Wofford's--that had not been engaged in the hottest battle. To +urge the troops to their reserve power in the precious moments, I rode +with Wofford. The rugged field, the rough plunge of artillery fire, and +the piercing musket-shots delayed somewhat the march, but Alexander dashed +up with his batteries and gave new spirit to the worn infantry ranks. By a +fortunate strike upon Ayres's flank we broke his line and pushed him and +Barnes so closely that they were obliged to use most strenuous efforts to +get away without losing in prisoners as well as their killed and wounded. +We gained the Wheat-Field, and were so close upon the gorge that our +artillery could no longer venture their fire into it. We were on Little +Round Top grappling for the crowning point. The brigade commanders there, +Vincent and Weed, were killed, also the battery commander, Hazlett, and +others, but their troops were holding to their work as firmly as the +mighty boulders that helped them. General Meade thought that the +Confederate army was working on my part of the field. He led some +regiments of the Twelfth Corps and posted them against us, called a +division of Newton's corps (First) from beyond Hancock's, and sent +Crawford's division, the last of the Fifth Corps, splitting through the +gorge, forming solid lines, in places behind stone fences, and making +steady battle, as veterans fresh in action know so well how to make. While +Meade's lines were growing my men were dropping; we had no others to call +to their aid, and the weight against us was too heavy to carry. The +extreme left of our lines was only about a mile from us across the enemy's +concentric position, which brought us within hearing of that battle, if +engaged, and near enough to feel its swell, but nothing was heard or felt +but the clear ring of the enemy's fresh metal as he came against us. No +other part of our army had engaged! My seventeen thousand against the Army +of the Potomac! The sun was down, and with it went down the severe battle. +I ordered recall of the troops to the line of Plum Run and Devil's Den, +leaving picket lines near the foot of the Round Tops. My loss was about +six thousand, Meade's between twelve and fourteen thousand; but his loss +in general and field officers was frightful. When General Humphreys, who +succeeded to Barksdale's brigade, was called back to the new line, he +thought there was some mistake in the orders, and only withdrew as far as +a captured battery, and when the order was repeated, retired under +protest. + +General Stuart came down from Carlisle with his column of cavalry late in +the afternoon of the 2d. As he approached he met a cavalry force of the +enemy moving towards the Confederate left rear, and was successful in +arresting it. He was posted with Jenkins's three thousand cavalry[127] on +the Confederate left. + +Notwithstanding the supreme order of the day for general battle, and the +reinforcement of the cavalry on our left, the Second and Third Corps +remained idle during all of the severe battle of the Confederate right, +except the artillery, and the part of that on the extreme left was only in +practice long enough to feel the superior metal of the enemy, when it +retired, leaving a battery of four guns in position. General Early failed +to even form his division in battle order, leaving a brigade in position +remote from the line, and sending, later, another to be near Stuart's +cavalry. The latter returned, however, before night. + +At eight o'clock in the evening the division on our extreme left, E. +Johnson's, advanced. The brigades were J. M. Jones's, Nicholls's, +Steuart's, and Walker's. Walker's was detached, as they moved, to look for +a detachment of the enemy reported threatening the far away left. When the +three brigades crossed Rock Creek it was night. The enemy's line to be +assaulted was occupied by Greene's brigade of the Twelfth Corps. It was +reinforced by three regiments of Wadsworth's division and three from the +Eleventh Corps. After brave attack and defence, part of the line was +carried, when the fight, after a severe fusillade between the infantry +lines, quieted, and Walker's brigade returned to the division. Part of the +enemy's trenches, east of the point attacked (across a swale), vacated +when the corps moved over to the left, General Johnson failed to occupy. + +Before this, General Rodes discovered that the enemy, in front of his +division, was drawing off his artillery and infantry to my battle of the +right, and suggested to General Early that the moment had come for the +divisions to attack, and drew his forces from entanglements about the +streets to be ready. After E. Johnson's fight on our extreme left, General +Early ordered two brigades under General Harry T. Hays to attack. Hays had +with his Louisiana brigade Hoke's North Carolina brigade under Colonel +Avery. He made as gallant a fight as was ever made. Mounting to the top of +the hill, he captured a battery, and pushed on in brave order, taking some +prisoners and colors, until he discovered that his two brigades were +advancing in a night affair against a grand army, when he found that he +was fortunate in having night to cover his weakness, and withdrew. The +gallant Colonel Avery, mortally wounded and dying, wrote on a slip of +paper, "_Tell father that I died with my face to the enemy_." When Rodes +was prepared, Hays had retired, and the former did not see that it was +part of the order for general engagement to put his division in night +attack that could not be supported. + + +[Illustration: SECOND DAY'S BATTLE, GETTYSBURG] + + +Thus the general engagement of the day was dwarfed into the battle of the +right at three o'clock, that on the left at eight by a single division, +and that nearer the centre at nine o'clock by two brigades. + +There was a man on the left of the line who did not care to make the +battle win. He knew where it was, had viewed it from its earliest +formation, had orders for his part in it, but so withheld part of his +command from it as to make co-operative concert of action impracticable. +He had a pruriency for the honors of the field of Mars, was eloquent, +before the fires of the bivouac and his chief, of the glory of war's gory +shield; but when its envied laurels were dipping to the grasp, when the +heavy field called for bloody work, he found the placid horizon, far and +away beyond the cavalry, more lovely and inviting. He wanted command of +the Second Corps, and, succeeding to it, held the honored position until +General Lee found, at last, that he must dismiss him from field service. + +General Lee ordered Johnson's division of his left, occupying part of the +enemy's trenches about Culp's Hill, to be reinforced during the night of +the 2d by two brigades of Rodes's division and one of Early's division. +Why the other brigades of those divisions were not sent does not appear, +but it does appear that there was a place for them on Johnson's left, in +the trenches that were vacated by the Federal Twelfth Corps when called +over to reinforce the battle of Meade's left. Culp's Hill bore the same +relations to the enemy's right as Little Round Top did to his left. +General Fitzhugh Lee quotes evidence from General Meade that had Culp's +Hill been occupied, in force, by Confederates, it would have compelled the +withdrawal of the Federal troops.[128] + +General Meade, after the battle of his left, ordered the divisions of his +Twelfth Corps back to their trenches, to recover the parts occupied by the +Confederate left. It was night when the First Division approached. General +Ruger, commanding, thought to feel his way through the dark by a line of +skirmishers. He found the east end of his trenches, across the swale, +unoccupied, and took possession. Pressing his adventure, he found the main +line of his works occupied by the Confederates in force, and disposed his +command to wait for daylight. The Second Division came during the night, +when General Williams, commanding the corps, posted it on the left of the +First, and the division commanders ordered batteries in proper positions. + +During the night, General Meade held a council, which decided to fight it +out. So it began to look as if the vicissitudes of the day had so worked +as to call General Meade from defensive to aggressive battle for Culp's +Hill. But the Confederates failed to see the opportunity and force the +issue as it was presented. + +In General Meade's evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the +War, he puts his losses of the first and second days at twenty thousand, +and assigns two-thirds of these to the battle of the 2d. As the fighting +against the three brigades of our left after night, and two brigades, +later in the night, from our centre, could not have been very severe, I +claim that his loss in the battle of his left was from twelve to fourteen +thousand. + +As events of the battle of the 2d passed, it seems fair to claim that with +Pickett's brigades present at the moment of Wofford's advance for the +gorge at Little Round Top, we could have had it before Crawford was there. + +Under ordinary circumstances this account of the second day, made from the +records, would be complete and conclusive; but the battle of Gettysburg, +which may be called the epitome of the war, has been the subject of many +contentions of words. Knights of the quill have consumed many of their +peaceful hours in publishing, through books, periodicals, and newspapers, +their plans for the battle, endeavoring to forestall the records and to +find a scapegoat, and their representations may be given, though they do +not deserve it, a word of reply. + +General W. N. Pendleton led off when making a lecturing tour through the +South for a memorial church for General Lee. He claims that he made a +reconnoissance on the afternoon of the 1st of July, and that upon his +reporting it, General Lee ordered General Longstreet to attack at sunrise +the next day. He did not venture to charge that the Second and Third +Corps, that were on the field and had had a good night's rest, were part +of the command ordered for the early battle, for the commanders, both +Virginians, and not under the political ban, could have brought confusing +evidence against him; nor did he intend to put General Lee in the +anomalous position, inferentially, of ordering part of the First +Corps--that should march through the night and all night--to make the +battle alone. The point of battle was east of the Emmitsburg road; to find +it, it was necessary to cross that road, but General Sickles was moving +part of his corps over the road during that afternoon, and rested there +the latter part of the day and during the night. So, to make the +reconnoissance, General Pendleton passed the Union troops in Confederate +uniform--he was military in his dress--and found the point of battle. +Giving him credit, for the moment, for this delicate work and the mythical +order, let us find the end to which it would lead. + +The only troops that could come under the order were McLaws's division, +part of Hood's, and the artillery,--about ten thousand men. These, after a +hurried all-night's march, reached General Lee's head-quarters about +sunrise of the 2d, and by continued forced march could have reached the +point of battle, about five miles away, by seven o'clock, where they would +have encountered a division of the Third Corps (Birney's); presently the +Second and Fifth Corps under Hancock and Sykes; then the First, Eleventh, +and Twelfth under Newton, Howard, and Slocum; then the balance of the +Third coming in on our rear along the Emmitsburg road,--making sixty +thousand men and more. There was reason to be proud of the prowess of the +troops of the First Corps, but to credit a part of it with success under +the circumstances was not reasonable. + +That the Confederate Second Corps did not have orders for the alleged +sunrise battle is evidenced by the report of its commander, who, +accounting for his work about Culp's Hill during the night of the 1st and +morning of the 2d, reported of the morning, "It was now daylight, and too +late," meaning that it was too late for him to attack and carry that hill, +as General Lee had authorized and expected him to do during the night +before. If he had been ordered to take part in the sunrise battle, he +would have been in the nick of time. That the Third Corps was not to be in +it is evidenced by the position of the greater part of it on Seminary +Ridge until near noon of the 2d. So General Lee must have ordered a +position carried, at sunrise, by ten thousand men, after it had gathered +strength all night,--a position that he would not assault on the afternoon +of the 1st with forty thousand men, lest they should encounter +"overwhelming numbers."[129] + +As the other corps, after receiving their orders for the afternoon battle +of the 2d, failed to engage until after nightfall, it is not probable that +they would have found the sunrise battle without orders. + +General Pendleton's official report is in conflict with his memorial +lecture. In the former he makes no reference to the sunrise-battle order, +but mentions a route by which the left of the enemy could be turned. + +Letters from the active members of General Lee's staff and from his +military secretary, General A. L. Long, show that the sunrise battle was +not ordered, and a letter from Colonel Fairfax shows that the claim that +it was so ordered was set up after General Lee's death.[130] + +In a published account, General Long mentions my suggestion on the +afternoon of the 1st for the turning march around the enemy's left, which +he says, after consideration, was rejected.[131] + +Colonel Taylor claims that the attack by the Confederate right should have +been sooner, and should have met the enemy back on his first or original +line, and before Little Round Top was occupied. But Little Round Top was +not occupied in force until after my battle opened, and General Sickles's +advance to his forward lines was made in consequence of the Confederate +threatening, and would have been sooner or later according as that +threatening was made. He calls the message of General Lee to General Ewell +on the afternoon of the 1st an order. General Lee says,-- + + "The strong position which the enemy had assumed could not be attacked + without danger of exposing the four divisions present, exhausted by a + long and bloody struggle, to overwhelming numbers of fresh troops. + General Ewell was thereupon instructed to carry the hill occupied by + the enemy if he found it practicable." + +It is the custom of military service to accept instructions of a commander +as orders, but when they are coupled with conditions that transfer the +responsibility of battle and defeat to the subordinate, they are not +orders, and General Ewell was justifiable in not making attack that his +commander would not order, and the censure of his failure is unjust and +_very ungenerous_. + +The Virginia writers have been so eager in their search for a flaw in the +conduct of the battle of the First Corps that they overlook the only point +into which they could have thrust their pens. + +At the opening of the fight, General Meade was with General Sickles +discussing the feasibility of moving the Third Corps back to the line +originally assigned for it, but the discussion was cut short by the +opening of the Confederate battle. If that opening had been delayed thirty +or forty minutes the corps would have been drawn back to the general line, +and my first deployment would have enveloped Little Round Top and carried +it before it could have been strongly manned, and General Meade would have +drawn off to his line selected behind Pipe Creek. The point should have +been that the battle was opened too soon. + +Another point from which they seek comfort is that Sedgwick's corps +(Sixth) was not up until a late hour of the 2d, and would not have been on +the field for an earlier battle. But Sedgwick was not engaged in the late +battle, and could have been back at Manchester, so far as the afternoon +battle was concerned. And they harp a little on the delay of thirty +minutes for Law's brigade to join its division. But General Lee called for +the two divisions, and had called for Law's brigade to join his division. +It was therefore his order for the division that delayed the march. To +have gone without it would have justified censure. As we were not strong +enough for the work with that brigade, it is not probable that we could +have accomplished more without it. + +Colonel Taylor says that General Lee urged that the march of my troops +should be hastened, and was chafed at their non-appearance. Not one word +did he utter to me of their march until he gave his orders at eleven +o'clock for the move to his right. Orders for the troops to hasten their +march of the 1st were sent without even a suggestion from him, but upon +his announcement that he intended to fight the next day, if the enemy was +there.[132] That he was excited and off his balance was evident on the +afternoon of the 1st, and he labored under that oppression until enough +blood was shed to appease him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +GETTYSBURG--THIRD DAY. + + The Stroke of Arms that shook the Continent--Longstreet opposed the + Attack as planned and made--The Confederate Column of Assault--It was + weak in Numbers but strong in Spirit--Tremendous Artillery Combat + begins the Day's Fighting--Charge of Generals Pickett, Trimble, and + Pettigrew--Armistead falls by the Side of the Federal Guns--The + Federal Cavalry Charge of General Farnsworth--The Commander falls with + Five Mortal Wounds--Could the Assaulting Column have been safely + augmented from Longstreet's Right?--Testimony as to that Point--Where + rested the Responsibility for Disaster?--Criticism of the Battle as a + whole--Cemetery Hill stronger than Marye's Hill at + Fredericksburg--Controverted Points--Casualties of the Three Days' + Fight--Organization of the Forces engaged. + + +General Lee has reported of arrangements for the day,-- + + "The general plan was unchanged. Longstreet, reinforced by Pickett's + three brigades, which arrived near the battle-field during the + afternoon of the 2d, was ordered to attack the next morning, and + General Ewell was ordered to attack the enemy's right at the same + time. The latter during the night reinforced General Johnson with two + brigades from Rodes's and one from Early's division."[133] + +This is disingenuous. He did not give or send me orders for the morning of +the third day, nor did he reinforce me by Pickett's brigades for morning +attack. As his head-quarters were about four miles from the command, I did +not ride over, but sent, to report the work of the second day. In the +absence of orders, I had scouting parties out during the night in search +of a way by which we might strike the enemy's left, and push it down +towards his centre. I found a way that gave some promise of results, and +was about to move the command, when he rode over after sunrise and gave +his orders. His plan was to assault the enemy's left centre by a column to +be composed of McLaws's and Hood's divisions reinforced by Pickett's +brigades.[134] I thought that it would not do; that the point had been +fully tested the day before, by more men, when all were fresh; that the +enemy was there looking for us, as we heard him during the night putting +up his defences; that the divisions of McLaws and Hood were holding a mile +along the right of my line against twenty thousand men, who would follow +their withdrawal, strike the flank of the assaulting column, crush it, and +get on our rear towards the Potomac River; that thirty thousand men was +the minimum of force necessary for the work; that even such force would +need close co-operation on other parts of the line; that the column as he +proposed to organize it would have only about thirteen thousand men (the +divisions having lost a third of their numbers the day before); that the +column would have to march a mile under concentrating battery fire, and a +thousand yards under long-range musketry; that the conditions were +different from those in the days of Napoleon, when field batteries had a +range of six hundred yards and musketry about sixty yards. + +He said the distance was not more than fourteen hundred yards. General +Meade's estimate was a mile or a mile and a half (Captain Long, the guide +of the field of Gettysburg in 1888, stated that it was a trifle over a +mile). He then concluded that the divisions of McLaws and Hood could +remain on the defensive line; that he would reinforce by divisions of the +Third Corps and Pickett's brigades, and stated the point to which the +march should be directed. I asked the strength of the column. He stated +fifteen thousand. Opinion was then expressed that the fifteen thousand men +who could make successful assault over that field had never been arrayed +for battle; but he was impatient of listening, and tired of talking, and +nothing was left but to proceed. General Alexander was ordered to arrange +the batteries of the front of the First and Third Corps, those of the +Second were supposed to be in position; Colonel Walton was ordered to see +that the batteries of the First were supplied with ammunition, and to +prepare to give the signal-guns for the opening combat. The infantry of +the Third Corps to be assigned were Heth's and Pettigrew's divisions and +Wilcox's brigade. + +At the time of the conversation and arrangement of the assault by the +Confederate right, artillery fire was heard on our extreme left. It seems +that General Lee had sent orders to General Ewell to renew his battle in +the morning, which was intended, and directed, as a co-operation of the +attack he intended to order on his right, but General Ruger, anticipating, +opened his batteries against Ewell at daylight. The Union +divisions--Ruger's and Gary's--were on broken lines, open towards the +trenches held by the Confederates, so that assault by our line would +expose the force to fire from the enemy's other line. Ruger had occupied +the trenches left vacant on his right, and Gary reached to his left under +Greene, who held his line against the attack of the day before. It seems +that the Confederates failed to bring artillery up to their trenches, and +must make their fight with infantry, while on the Union side there were +some fifteen or twenty guns playing, and many more at hand if needed. + +As the Union batteries opened, Johnson advanced and assaulted the enemy's +works on his right towards the centre and the adjacent front of the new +line, and held to that attack with resolution, putting in fresh troops to +help it from time to time. Ruger put two regiments forward to feel the way +towards Johnson's left. They got into hot engagement and were repulsed; +Johnson tried to follow, but was in turn forced back. He renewed his main +attack again, but unsuccessfully, and finally drew back to the trenches. +Ruger threw a regiment forward from his left which gained the stone wall; +his division was then advanced, and it recovered the entire line of +trenches. + +While this contention was in progress the troops ordered for the column of +assault were marching and finding positions under the crest of the ridge, +where they could be covered during the artillery combat. Alexander put a +battery of nine guns under the ridge and out of the enemy's fire to be +used with the assaulting column. + +General Lee said that the attack of his right was not made as early as +expected,--which he should not have said. He knew that I did not believe +that success was possible; that care and time should be taken to give the +troops the benefit of positions and the grounds; and he should have put an +officer in charge who had more confidence in his plan. Two-thirds of the +troops were of other commands, and there was no reason for putting the +assaulting forces under my charge. He had confidence in General Early, who +advised in favor of that end of the line for battle. Knowing my want of +confidence, he should have given the benefit of his presence and his +assistance in getting the troops up, posting them, and arranging the +batteries; but he gave no orders or suggestions after his early +designation of the point for which the column should march. Fitzhugh Lee +claims evidence that General Lee did not even appear on that part of the +field while the troops were being assigned to position. + +As the commands reported, Pickett was assigned on the right, Kemper's and +Garnett's brigades to be supported by Armistead's; Wilcox's brigade of the +Third Corps in echelon and guarding Pickett's right; Pettigrew's division +on Pickett's left, supported by the brigades of Scales and Lane, under +command of General Trimble. The brigades of Pettigrew's division were +Archer's, Pettigrew's, Brockenbrough's, and Davis's. (General Archer +having been taken prisoner on the 1st, his brigade was under command of +Colonel Fry; General Scales being wounded on the same day, his brigade was +commanded by Colonel Lowrance.) The ridge upon which the commands were +formed was not parallel to that upon which the enemy stood, but bending +west towards our left, while the enemy's line bore northwest towards his +right, so that the left of the assaulting column formed some little +distance farther from the enemy's line than the right. To put the troops +under the best cover during the artillery combat they were thus posted for +the march, but directed to spread their steps as soon as the march opened +the field, and to gain places of correct alignment. + + +[Illustration: E. P. Alexander. Brigadier-General and Chief of Artillery, +First Corps.] + + +Meanwhile, the enemy's artillery on his extreme right was in practice more +or less active, but its meaning was not known or reported, and the +sharp-shooters of the command on the right had a lively fusillade about +eleven o'clock, in which some of the artillery took part. The order was +that the right was to make the signal of battle. General Lee reported that +his left attacked before due notice to wait for the opening could be +given, which was a mistake, inasmuch as the attack on his left was begun +by the Federals, which called his left to their work. General Meade was +not apprehensive of that part of the field, and only used the two +divisions of the Twelfth Corps, Shaler's brigade of the Sixth, and six +regiments of the First and Eleventh Corps in recovering the trenches of +his right, holding the other six corps for the battle of his centre and +left. He knew by the Confederate troops on his right just where the strong +battle was to be. + +The director of artillery was asked to select a position on his line from +which he could note the effect of his practice, and to advise General +Pickett when the enemy's fire was so disturbed as to call for the assault. +General Pickett's was the division of direction, and he was ordered to +have a staff-officer or courier with the artillery director to bear notice +of the moment to advance. + +The little affair between the skirmish lines quieted in a short time, and +also the noise on our extreme left. The quiet filing of one or two of our +batteries into position emphasized the profound silence that prevailed +during our wait for final orders. Strong battle was in the air, and the +veterans of both sides swelled their breasts to gather nerve and strength +to meet it. Division commanders were asked to go to the crest of the ridge +and take a careful view of the field, and to have their officers there to +tell their men of it, and to prepare them for the sight that was to burst +upon them as they mounted the crest. + +Just then a squadron of Union cavalry rode through detachments of infantry +posted at intervals in rear of my right division. It was called a charge, +but was probably a reconnoissance. + +Colonel Black had reported with a hundred of the First South Carolina +Cavalry, not all mounted, and a battery of horse artillery, and was put +across the Emmitsburg road, supported by infantry, in front of Merritt's +brigade of cavalry. + +When satisfied that the work of preparation was all that it could be with +the means at hand, I wrote Colonel Walton, of the Washington Artillery,-- + + "HEAD-QUARTERS, July 3, 1863. + + "COLONEL,--Let the batteries open. Order great care and precision in + firing. When the batteries at the Peach Orchard cannot be used against + the point we intend to attack, let them open on the enemy's on the + rocky hill. + + "Most respectfully, + "JAMES LONGSTREET, + "_Lieutenant-General, Commanding_." + +At the same time a note to Alexander directed that Pickett should not be +called until the artillery practice indicated fair opportunity. Then I +rode to a woodland hard by, to lie down and study for some new thought +that might aid the assaulting column. In a few minutes report came from +Alexander that he would only be able to judge of the effect of his fire by +the return of that of the enemy, as his infantry was not exposed to view, +and the smoke of the batteries would soon cover the field. He asked, if +there was an alternative, that it be carefully considered before the +batteries opened, as there was not enough artillery ammunition for this +and another trial if this should not prove favorable. + +He was informed that there was no alternative; that I could find no way +out of it; that General Lee had considered and would listen to nothing +else; that orders had gone for the guns to give signal for the batteries; +that he should call the troops at the first opportunity or lull in the +enemy's fire. + +The signal-guns broke the silence, the blaze of the second gun mingling in +the smoke of the first, and salvoes rolled to the left and repeated +themselves, the enemy's fine metal spreading its fire to the converging +lines, ploughing the trembling ground, plunging through the line of +batteries, and clouding the heavy air. The two or three hundred guns +seemed proud of their undivided honors and organized confusion. The +Confederates had the benefit of converging fire into the enemy's massed +position, but the superior metal of the enemy neutralized the advantage of +position. The brave and steady work progressed. + +Before this the Confederates of the left were driven from their captured +trenches, and hope of their effective co-operation with the battle of the +right was lost, but no notice of it was sent to the right of the battle. +They made some further demonstrations, but they were of little effect. +Merritt's brigade of cavalry was in rear of my right, threatening on the +Emmitsburg road. Farnsworth's brigade took position between Merritt's and +close on my right rear. Infantry regiments and batteries were broken off +from my front line and posted to guard on that flank and rear. + +Not informed of the failure of the Confederates on the left and the loss +of their vantage-ground, we looked with confidence for them to follow the +orders of battle. + +General Pickett rode to confer with Alexander, then to the ground upon +which I was resting, where he was soon handed a slip of paper. After +reading it he handed it to me. It read: + + "If you are coming at all, come at once, or I cannot give you proper + support, but the enemy's fire has not slackened at all. At least + eighteen guns are still firing from the cemetery itself. + + "ALEXANDER." + +Pickett said, "General, shall I advance?" + +The effort to speak the order failed, and I could only indicate it by an +affirmative bow. He accepted the duty with seeming confidence of success, +leaped on his horse, and rode gayly to his command. I mounted and spurred +for Alexander's post. He reported that the batteries he had reserved for +the charge with the infantry had been spirited away by General Lee's chief +of artillery; that the ammunition of the batteries of position was so +reduced that he could not use them in proper support of the infantry. He +was ordered to stop the march at once and fill up his ammunition-chests. +But, alas! there was no more ammunition to be had. + +The order was imperative. The Confederate commander had fixed his heart +upon the work. Just then a number of the enemy's batteries hitched up and +hauled off, which gave a glimpse of unexpected hope. Encouraging messages +were sent for the columns to hurry on,--and they were then on elastic +springing step. The officers saluted as they passed, their stern smiles +expressing confidence. General Pickett, a graceful horseman, sat +lightly in the saddle, his brown locks flowing quite over his shoulders. +Pettigrew's division spread their steps and quickly rectified the +alignment, and the grand march moved bravely on. As soon as the leading +columns opened the way, the supports sprang to their alignments. General +Trimble mounted, adjusting his seat and reins with an air and grace as if +setting out on a pleasant afternoon ride. When aligned to their places +solid march was made down the slope and past our batteries of position. + + +[Illustration: George E. Pickett] + + +Confederate batteries put their fire over the heads of the men as they +moved down the slope, and continued to draw the fire of the enemy until +the smoke lifted and drifted to the rear, when every gun was turned upon +the infantry columns. The batteries that had been drawn off were replaced +by others that were fresh. Soldiers and officers began to fall, some to +rise no more, others to find their way to the hospital tents. Single files +were cut here and there, then the gaps increased, and an occasional shot +tore wider openings, but, closing the gaps as quickly as made, the march +moved on. The divisions of McLaws and Hood were ordered to move to closer +lines for the enemy on their front, to spring to the charge as soon as the +breach at the centre could be made. The enemy's right overreached my left +and gave serious trouble. Brockenbrough's brigade went down and Davis's in +impetuous charge. The general order required further assistance from the +Third Corps if needed, but no support appeared. General Lee and the corps +commander were there, but failed to order help. + +Colonel Latrobe was sent to General Trimble to have his men fill the line +of the broken brigades, and bravely they repaired the damage. The enemy +moved out against the supporting brigade in Pickett's rear. Colonel Sorrel +was sent to have that move guarded, and Pickett was drawn back to that +contention. McLaws was ordered to press his left forward, but the direct +fire of infantry and cross-fire of artillery was telling fearfully on the +front. Colonel Fremantle ran up to offer congratulations on the apparent +success, but the big gaps in the ranks grew until the lines were reduced +to half their length. I called his attention to the broken, struggling +ranks. Trimble mended the battle of the left in handsome style, but on the +right the massing of the enemy grew stronger and stronger. Brigadier +Garnett was killed, Kemper and Trimble were desperately wounded; Generals +Hancock and Gibbon were wounded. General Lane succeeded Trimble, and with +Pettigrew held the battle of the left in steady ranks. + +Pickett's lines being nearer, the impact was heaviest upon them. Most of +the field officers were killed or wounded. Colonel Whittle, of Armistead's +brigade, who had been shot through the right leg at Williamsburg and lost +his left arm at Malvern Hill, was shot through the right arm, then brought +down by a shot through his left leg. + +General Armistead, of the second line, spread his steps to supply the +places of fallen comrades. His colors cut down, with a volley against the +bristling line of bayonets, he put his cap on his sword to guide the +storm. The enemy's massing, enveloping numbers held the struggle until the +noble Armistead fell beside the wheels of the enemy's battery. Pettigrew +was wounded, but held his command. + +General Pickett, finding the battle broken, while the enemy was still +reinforcing, called the troops off. There was no indication of panic. The +broken files marched back in steady step. The effort was nobly made, and +failed from blows that could not be fended. Some of the files were cut off +from retreat by fire that swept the field in their rear. Officers of my +staff, sent forward with orders, came back with their saddles and bridles +in their arms. Latrobe's horse was twice shot. + +Looking confidently for advance of the enemy through our open field, I +rode to the line of batteries, resolved to hold it until the last gun was +lost. As I rode, the shells screaming over my head and ploughing the +ground under my horse, an involuntary appeal went up that one of them +might take me from scenes of such awful responsibility; but the storm to +be met left no time to think of one's self. The battery officers were +prepared to meet the crisis,--no move had been made for leaving the field. +My old acquaintance of Sharpsburg experience, Captain Miller, was walking +up and down behind his guns, smoking his pipe, directing his fire over the +heads of our men as fast as they were inside of the danger-line; the other +officers equally firm and ready to defend to the last. A body of +skirmishers put out from the enemy's lines and advanced some distance, but +the batteries opened severe fire and drove it back. Our men passed the +batteries in quiet walk, and would rally, I knew, when they reached the +ridge from which they started. + +General Lee was soon with us, and with staff-officers and others assisted +in encouraging the men and getting them together. + +As the attack failed, General Kilpatrick put his cavalry brigade under +General Farnsworth on the charge through the infantry detachment in rear +of my right division. The regiments of G. T. Anderson's brigade had been +posted at points in rear as guards against cavalry, and the First Texas, +Fourth and Fifteenth Alabama, and Bachman's and Reilly's batteries were +looking for that adventure. Farnsworth had a rough ride over rocks and +stone fences, but bore on in spite of all, cutting and slashing when he +could get at the skirmishers or detachments. He made a gallant ride along +the rear of our right, but was obliged to come under the infantry and +artillery fire at several points. He fell, pierced, it is said, by five +mortal wounds. Calls for him to surrender were made, but the cavalry were +not riding for that. The command lost heavily, but claimed captives equal +to their loss. + +Kilpatrick's mistake was in not putting Farnsworth in on Merritt's left, +where he would have had an open ride, and made more trouble than was ever +made by a cavalry brigade. Had the ride been followed by prompt advance of +the enemy's infantry in line beyond our right and pushed with vigor, they +could have reached our line of retreat. General Meade ordered his left, +but delay in getting the orders and preparing to get through the rough +grounds consumed time, and the move was abandoned. The Fifth and Sixth +Corps were in convenient position, and would have had good ground for +marching after getting out of the rocky fastnesses of Round Top. + +As we had no cavalry on our right, the Union cavalry was held on their +right to observe the Confederates under Stuart, except Kilpatrick's +division (and Custer's brigade of that division was retained on their +right). A little while after the repulse of our infantry column, Stuart's +cavalry advanced and was met by Gregg's, and made one of the severest and +most stubborn fights of cavalry on record. General Wade Hampton was +severely wounded. The Union forces held the field. + +When affairs had quieted a little, and apprehension of immediate +counter-attack had passed, orders were sent the divisions of McLaws and +Hood to draw back and occupy the lines from which they had advanced to +engage the battle of the second. Orders sent Benning's brigade by the +division staff were not understood, and Benning, under the impression that +he was to relieve part of McLaws's division, which he thought was to be +sent on other service, ordered the Fifteenth Georgia Regiment to occupy +that position. When he received the second order he sent for his detached +regiment. Meanwhile, the enemy was feeling the way to his front, and +before Colonel DuBose received his second order, the enemy was on his +front and had passed his right and left flanks. The moment he received +the final order, Colonel DuBose made a running fight and escaped with +something more than half his men. + +In regard to this, as to other battles in which the First Corps was +concerned, the knights of peaceful later days have been busy in search of +points on which to lay charges or make innuendoes of want of conduct of +that corps. General Early has been a picturesque figure in the +combination, ready to champion any reports that could throw a shadow over +its record, but the charge most pleasing to him was that of _treason_ on +the part of its commander. The subject was lasting, piquant, and so +consoling that one is almost inclined to envy the comfort it gave him in +his latter days. + +Colonel Taylor and members of the staff claim that General Lee ordered +that the divisions of McLaws and Hood should be a part of the assaulting +column. Of this General Lee says,-- + + "General Longstreet was delayed by a force occupying the high, rocky + hill on the enemy's extreme left, from which his troops could be + attacked from reverse as they advanced. His operations had been + embarrassed the day previously from the same cause, and he now deemed + it necessary to defend his flank and rear with the divisions of Hood + and McLaws. He was therefore reinforced by Heth's division and two + brigades of Pender's, to the command of which Major-General Trimble + was assigned. General Hill was directed to hold his line with the rest + of the command, to afford General Longstreet further assistance if + required, and to avail himself of any success that might be gained." + +Colonel Taylor says,-- + + "As our extreme right was comparatively safe, being well posted, and + not at all threatened, one of the divisions of Hood and McLaws, and a + greater part of the other, could be moved out of the lines and be made + to take part in the attack." + +On this point I offer the evidence of General Warren before the Committee +of Investigation: + + "General Meade had so arranged his troops on our left during the third + day that nearly one-half of our army was in reserve in that position. + It was a good, sheltered position, and a convenient one from which to + reinforce other points of the line, and when the repulse of the enemy + took place on that day, General Meade intended to move forward all the + forces he could get in hand and assault the enemy in line. He ordered + the advance of the Fifth Corps, but it was carried so slowly that it + did not amount to much, if anything." + +General Hancock's evidence on that point is: + + "General Meade told me before the fight that if the enemy attacked me, + he intended to put the Fifth and Sixth Corps on the enemy's flank." + +From which it is evident that the withdrawal of the divisions of my right, +to be put in the column of assault, would have been followed by those +corps swinging around and enveloping the assaulting columns and gaining +Lee's line of retreat. + +Colonel Venable thinks it a mistake to have put Heth's division in the +assaulting column. He says,-- + + "They were terribly mistaken about Heth's division in this planning. + It had not recuperated, having suffered more than was reported on the + first day." + +But to accept for the moment Colonel Taylor's premises, the two divisions +referred to would have swelled the columns of assault to twenty-three +thousand men. We were alone in the battle as on the day before. The enemy +had seventy-five thousand men on strong ground, with well-constructed +defences. The Confederates would have had to march a mile through the +blaze of direct and cross fire and break up an army of seventy-five +thousand well-seasoned troops, well defended by field-works! + +A rough sketch of the positions of the forces about my right and rear will +help to show if it "was comparatively safe, and not at all threatened." + + +[Illustration: GETTYSBURG, PA. July 3rd, 1863] + + +General Gibbon's testimony in regard to the assaulting columns of the 3d: + + "I was wounded about the time I suppose the enemy's second line got + into our batteries,--probably a little before that. As described to me + afterwards, the result, I think, will carry out my idea in regard to + it, because the enemy broke through, forced back my weakest brigade + under General Webb, got into our batteries, and the men were so close + that the officers on each side were using their pistols on each other, + and the men frequently clubbed their muskets, and the clothes of men + on both sides were burned by the powder of exploding cartridges. An + officer of my staff, Lieutenant Haskell, had been sent by me, just + previously to the attack, to General Meade with a message that the + enemy were coming. He got back on the top of the hill hunting for me, + and was there when this brigade was forced back, and, without waiting + orders from me, he rode off to the left and ordered all the troops of + the division there to the right. As they came up helter-skelter, + everybody for himself, with their officers among them, they commenced + firing upon these rebels as they were coming into our lines." + +Had the column been augmented by the divisions of my right, it is probable +that its brave men would have penetrated far enough to reach Johnson's +Island as prisoners; hardly possible that it could have returned to +General Lee by any other route. + +When engaged collecting the broken files after the repulse, General Lee +said to an officer who was assisting, "It is all my fault." + +A letter from Colonel W. M. Owen assures me that General Lee repeated this +remark at a roadside fire of the Washington Artillery on the 5th of July. +A letter from General Lee during the winter of 1863-64 repeated it in +substance. + +And here is what Colonel T. J. Goree, of Texas, has to say upon the +subject: + + "I was present, however, just after Pickett's repulse, when General + Lee so magnanimously took all the blame of the disaster upon himself. + Another important circumstance, which I distinctly remember, was in + the winter of 1863-64, when you sent me from East Tennessee to Orange + Court-House with some despatches to General Lee. Upon my arrival + there, General Lee asked me into his tent, where he was alone, with + two or three Northern papers on the table. He remarked that he had + just been reading the Northern reports of the battle of Gettysburg; + that he had become satisfied from reading those reports _that if he + had permitted you to carry out your plan, instead of making the attack + on Cemetery Hill, he would have been successful_." + +Further testimony to this effect comes from another source: + + "In East Tennessee, during the winter of 1863-64, you called me into + your quarters, and asked me to read a letter just received from + General Lee in which he used the following words: 'Oh, general, _had I + but followed your advice, instead of pursuing the course that I did, + how different all would have been_!' You wished me to bear this + language in mind as your correspondence might be lost. + + "ERASMUS TAYLOR. + + "ORANGE COUNTY, VA." + +A contributor to _Blackwood's Magazine_ reported,-- + + "But Lee's inaction after Fredericksburg was, as we have called it, an + unhappy or negative blunder. Undoubtedly the greatest positive blunder + of which he was ever guilty was the unnecessary onslaught which he + gratuitously made against the strong position into which, by accident, + General Meade fell back at Gettysburg. We have good reason for saying + that during the five years of calm reflection which General Lee passed + at Lexington, after the conclusion of the American war, his maladroit + manipulation of the Confederate army during the Gettysburg campaign + was to him a matter of ceaseless self reproach. + + "'If,' said he, on many occasions, 'I had taken General Longstreet's + advice on the eve of the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, and + filed off the left corps of my army behind the right corps, in the + direction of Washington and Baltimore, along the Emmitsburg road, the + Confederates would to-day be a free people.'"[135] + +It should be stated that kindest relations were maintained between General +Lee and myself until interrupted by politics in 1867. + +It is difficult to reconcile these facts with the reports put out after +his death by members of his family and of his staff, and _post-bellum_ +champions, that indicate his later efforts to find points by which to so +work up public opinion as to shift the disaster to my shoulders. + +Some of the statements of the members of the staff have been referred to. +General Fitzhugh Lee claims evidence that General Lee said that he would +have gained the battle if he had had General Jackson with him. But he had +Jackson in the Sharpsburg campaign, which was more blundering than that of +Gettysburg.[136] In another account Fitzhugh Lee wrote of General Lee,-- + + "He told the father of the writer, his brother, that he was controlled + too far by the great confidence he felt in the fighting qualities of + his people, and by assurances of most of his higher officers." + +No assurances were made from officers of the First Corps, but rather +objections. The only assurances that have come to light, to be identified, +are those of General Early, who advised the battle, but _from the other +end of the line from his command_, which should have given warning that it +did not come from the heart of a true soldier. + +And this is the epitome of the Confederate battle. The army when it set +out on the campaign was all that could be desired, (except that the arms +were not all of the most approved pattern), but it was despoiled of two of +its finest brigades, Jenkins's and Corse's of Pickett's division, and was +fought out by detail. The greatest number engaged at any one time was on +the first day, when twenty-six thousand engaged twenty thousand of the +First and part of the Eleventh Corps. On the afternoon of the second day +about seventeen thousand were engaged on the right, and at night about +seven thousand on the left; then later at night about three thousand near +the centre. On the third day about twelve thousand were engaged at +daylight and until near noon, and in the afternoon fifteen thousand,--all +of the work of the second and third days against an army of seventy +thousand and more of veteran troops in strong position defended by +field-works. + +General Lee was on the field from about three o'clock of the afternoon of +the first day. Every order given the troops of the First Corps on that +field up to its march on the forenoon of the 2d was issued in his +presence. If the movements were not satisfactory in time and speed of +moving, it was his power, duty, and privilege to apply the remedy, but it +was not a part of a commander's duty or privilege to witness things that +did not suit him, fail to apply the remedy, and go off and grumble with +his staff-officers about it. In their efforts to show culpable delay in +the movements of the First Corps on the 2d, some of the Virginia writers +endeavor to show that General Lee did not even give me a guide to lead +the way to the field from which his battle was to be opened. He certainly +failed to go and look at it, and assist in selecting the ground and +preparing for action. + +Fitzhugh Lee says of the second day, "Longstreet was attacking the Marye's +Hill of the position."[137] At Fredericksburg, General Burnside attacked +at Marye's Hill in six or more successive assaults with some twenty or +thirty thousand against three brigades under McLaws and Ransom and the +artillery; he had about four hundred yards to march from his covered ways +about Fredericksburg to Marye's Hill. When his last attack was repulsed in +the evening, he arranged and gave his orders for the attack to be renewed +in the morning, giving notice that he would lead it with the Ninth Corps, +but upon reports of his officers abandoned it. General Lee's assaulting +columns of fifteen or twenty thousand had a march of a mile to attack +double their numbers, better defended than were the three brigades of +Confederates at Marye's Hill that drove back Burnside. The enemy on +Cemetery Hill was in stronger position than the Confederates at Marye's +Hill. + +Fitzhugh Lee writes in the volume already quoted,-- + + "Over the splendid scene of human courage and human sacrifice at + Gettysburg there arises in the South an apparition, like Banquo's + ghost at Macbeth's banquet, which says the battle was lost to the + Confederates because some one blundered." + +Call them Banquo, but their name is Legion. Weird spirits keep midnight +watch about the great boulders, while unknown comrades stalk in ghostly +ranks through the black fastnesses of Devil's Den, wailing the lament, +"Some one blundered at Gettysburg! Woe is me, whose duty was to die!" + +Fitzhugh Lee makes his plans, orders, and movements to suit his purpose, +and claims that they would have given Gettysburg to the Confederates, but +he is not likely to convince any one outside of his coterie that over the +heights of Gettysburg was to be found honor for the South. + +General Meade said that the suggestion to work towards his line of +communication was sound "military sense." That utterance has been approved +by subsequent fair judgment, and it is that potent fact that draws the +spiteful fire of latter-day knights. + +Forty thousand men, unsupported as we were, could not have carried the +position at Gettysburg. The enemy was there. Officers and men knew their +advantage, and were resolved to stay until the hills came down over them. +It is simply out of the question for a lesser force to march over broad, +open fields and carry a fortified front occupied by a greater force of +seasoned troops. + +Referring to the proposed move around the Union left to cut the line of +communication, a parallel in the Franco-German war is appropriate. When +the manoeuvres of the campaign had pushed Marshal MacMahon's army back to +the road between Paris and Metz, the latter fortified and occupied by the +army under Marshal Bazaine, MacMahon hesitated between Paris and Metz, and +was manoeuvred out of position to a point north of the line. Von Moltke +seized the opportunity and took position on the line, which gave him +shorter routes east and west. So that MacMahon, to reach either point, +must pass the German forces under Von Moltke. He made a brave effort to +reach Metz, and Von Moltke, to maintain his advantage, was called to +skilful manoeuvre and several gallant affairs, but succeeded in holding +his advantage that must call MacMahon to general engagement or surrender. +Out-generalled, and with a demoralized army, he thought the latter his +proper alternative. + +The relative conditions of the armies were similar. The Union army, beaten +at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and drawn from its aggressive +campaign to defensive work in Pennsylvania, had met disaster in its battle +of the 1st. If it had been outgeneralled, and dislodged of position +without further attack, it would have been in poor condition to come in +aggressive battle against its adversary in well-chosen defensive grounds. + +Again, in our own war, when the Union army carried the Confederate works +west of Petersburg on the 2d of April, 1865, General Meade got his army +together and was about to march east to finish his work by the capture of +Petersburg. General Grant objected,--that the Confederates would retreat +during the night; at Petersburg he would be behind them; in his then +position he would be alongside of them, and have an even start, with +better prospect to strike across their march and force them to general +battle or surrender; and he ordered arrangements for the march west at +daylight. + +Even Napoleon Bonaparte, the first in the science and greatest in the +execution of the art of war, finally lost grasp of his grandest thought: + +"In war men are nothing; a man is everything."[138] + +The Confederate chief at Gettysburg looked something like Napoleon at +Waterloo. + +Fitzhugh Lee quotes evidence of Governor Carroll, of Maryland, that +General Lee said, "Longstreet is the hardest man to move in my army." + +It does not look like generalship to lose a battle and a cause and then +lay the responsibility upon others. He held command and was supported by +his government. If his army did not suit him, his word could have changed +it in a minute. If he failed to apply the remedy, it was his fault. Some +claim that his only fault as a general was his tender, generous heart. But +a heart in the right place looks more to the cause intrusted to its care +than for hidden ways by which to shift its responsibility to the shoulders +of those whose lives hang upon his word. + +When he set out on his first campaign (Chickahominy) with the army, the +key of the campaign was intrusted to General Jackson, who named the hour +for the opening and failed to meet his own appointment. At the time he +appointed, A. P. Hill's, D. H. Hill's, and Longstreet's commands were in +position waiting. About eight hours after his time he was up, but +deliberately marched past the engagement and went into camp, a mile or +more behind the hot battle. He remained in his camp next morning, and +permitted the enemy, dislodged of his position of the day before, to march +by him to a strong position at Gaines's Mill. When his column reached that +position, his leading division (D. H. Hill's) engaged the enemy's right +without orders. He called the division off and put his command in position +to intercept the enemy's retreat towards the Pamunkey, from which he was +afterwards called to his part in the general engagement. The next day he +had the cavalry and part of his infantry in search of the enemy's next +move. At my head-quarters were two clever young engineers who were sent to +find what the enemy was about. They were the first to report the enemy's +retreat towards James River. Orders were given for Jackson to follow on +the direct line of retreat, also Magruder and Huger. My command was +ordered around through the outskirts of Richmond by the Darbytown road to +interpose between McClellan's army and the James River, about twenty +miles; the other troops marching by routes of about nine miles. We were in +position on the evening of the 29th of June, and stood in front of the +enemy all of the 30th, fighting a severe battle in the afternoon. +Magruder and Huger got up after night, and Jackson on the morning of the +1st. After the battle of the 1st, Jackson, Magruder, and Huger were +ordered in direct pursuit along the route of retreat, my command by the +longer route of Nance's Store. Jackson's column and mine met on the +evening of the 3d near Westover, the enemy's new position. + +At the Second Manassas my command relieved the pressure against Jackson. +He called on me for relief by a route that would have taken an hour or an +hour and a half. A way was found by which he was relieved in about thirty +minutes. When relieved, he left the battle on my hands. I was at +Sharpsburg all day; Jackson only about two and a half hours. At +Fredericksburg, anticipating the move against him, half of my command was +ordered to swing off from my right and join in his battle. + +But General Lee's assertion seems to refer to the operations at +Gettysburg, after Jackson had found his Happy Home. Let us see how far +this assertion is supported by events. General Lee reported,-- + + "The advance of the enemy to the latter place (Gettysburg) was + unknown, and, the weather being inclement, the march was conducted + with a view to the comfort of the troops." + +When, on the forenoon of the 2d, he decided upon his plan, the Second +Corps was deployed in the immediate front of the enemy's line on our left, +except two brigades sent off by General Early. One division of the Third +was close on the right of the Second, all within thirty minutes' march of +the enemy's lines. Two divisions of the Third Corps and two of the First +were on Seminary Ridge. When the order was announced the divisions on +Seminary Ridge had to find their positions and deploy to the right. By the +route ordered for the march it was five or six miles to the point at which +the battle was to be opened. The troops of the Third had a shorter route. +The march of the First was made in time for prompt deployment on the right +of the Third. + +We were left to our own resources in finding ground upon which to organize +for battle. The enemy had changed position somewhat after the march was +ordered, but as we were not informed of his position before the march, we +could not know of the change. The Confederate commander did not care to +ride near us, to give information of a change, to assist in preparing for +attack, nor to inquire if new and better combinations might be made. + +Four brigades of the right of the Third Corps were assigned as part of my +command. The engagement was to be general. My artillery combat was opened +at three P.M., followed in half an hour by the infantry, and I made +progressive battle until sundown. A division of the Second Corps attacked +on our left at nightfall, and later two brigades. Other parts of the +Second and Third Corps did not move to the battle. + +On the 3d I was ordered to organize the column of assault, the other corps +to co-operate and assist the battle. There was an affair on the +Confederate left before the assaulting columns were organized, brought on +by attack of the enemy. The assaulting force marched at one P.M. Its work +has been described, but it is important to note that neither of the other +corps took part in the battle while the Southern chief stood in view of +the attack and near the rear of those corps. So it looks as if the +commander of the First Corps was easier to move than any one in his army, +rather than harder, and his chief left him to fight the battles alone. + +After the retreat, and when resting on the south banks of the Rapidan, +reading of the progress of the march of General Rosecrans's army towards +Georgia, it seemed sinful to lie there idle while our comrades in the +West were so in need of assistance, and I wrote the Secretary of War +suggesting that a detachment should be sent West from the idle army. +General Lee objected, but the suggestion was ordered to be executed. In +this instance the subordinate was easier to move than his chief, though +the interests of the cause depended largely on the movement of the latter. + + +[Illustration: WILLIAM BLAKE. Volunteered in the Eighteenth Mississippi at +the age of sixteen. Lost a leg at Gettysburg.] + + +The forces engaged at Gettysburg were: + +CONFEDERATE.--According to the latest official accounts, the Army of +Northern Virginia, on the 31st of May, numbered 74,468. The detachments +that joined numbered 6400, making 80,868. Deducting the detachments left +in Virginia,--Jenkins's brigade, Pickett's division, 2300; Corse's +brigade, Pickett's division, 1700; detachments from Second Corps and of +cavalry, 1300, in all 5300,--leaves the actual aggregate 75,568. + +UNION.--According to the reports of the 30th of June, and making allowance +for detachments that joined in the interim in time to take part in the +battle, the grand aggregate was 100,000[139] officers and men. + +The Confederates lost many men after the battle, and before they recrossed +the Potomac, from the toils of the march and the continuous and severe +harassment of the enemy's cavalry, which followed closely and in great +force. + +The casualties were: + + CONFEDERATE.[140] + + First Corps 7,539 + Second Corps 5,937 + Third Corps 6,735 + Cavalry 1,426 + ------ + Aggregate 21,637 + + + UNION.[141] + + First Corps 6,059 + Second Corps 4,369 + Third Corps 4,211 + Fifth Corps 2,187 + Sixth Corps 242 + Eleventh Corps 3,801 + Twelfth Corps 1,082 + Cavalry 1,094 + Staff 4 + ------ + Aggregate 23,049 + +The organization of the contending armies at Gettysburg was as follows: + + ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, COMMANDING. + + FIRST ARMY CORPS, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET. + + MCLAWS'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Lafayette McLaws:--_Kershaw's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. J. B. Kershaw; 2d S. C., Col. J. D. Kennedy, Lieut.-Col. F. + Gaillard; 3d S. C., Maj. R. C. Maffett, Col. J. D. Nance; 7th S. C., + Col. D. Wyatt Aiken; 8th S. C., Col. J. W. Henagan; 15th S. C., Col. + W. D. De Saussure, Maj. William M. Gist; 3d S. C. Battn., Lieut.-Col. + W. G. Rice. _Barksdale's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William Barksdale, Col. + B. G. Humphreys; 13th Miss., Col. J. W. Carter; 17th Miss., Col. W. D. + Holder, Lieut.-Col. John C. Fiser; 18th Miss., Col. T. M. Griffin, + Lieut.-Col. W. H. Luse; 21st Miss., Col. B. G. Humphreys. _Semmes's + Brigade_,[142] Brig.-Gen. P. J. Semmes, Col. Goode Bryan; 10th Ga., + Col. John B. Weems; 50th Ga., Col. W. R. Manning; 51st Ga., Col. E. + Ball; 53d Ga., Col. James P. Simms. _Wofford's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. W. + T. Wofford; 16th Ga., Col. Goode Bryan; 18th Ga., Lieut.-Col. S. Z. + Ruff; 24th Ga., Col. Robert McMillan; Cobb's (Ga.) Legion, Lieut.-Col. + Luther J. Glenn; Phillips (Ga.) Legion, Lieut.-Col. E. S. Barclay. + _Artillery_, Col. H. C. Cabell; 1st N. C. Art., Batt. A, Capt. B. C. + Manly; Pulaski (Ga.) Art., Capt. J. C. Fraser, Lieut. W. J. Furlong; + 1st Richmond Howitzers, Capt. E. S. McCarthy; Troup (Ga.) Art., Capt. + H. H. Carlton, Lieut. C. W. Motes. + + PICKETT'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. George E. Pickett:--_Garnett's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. R. B. Garnett, Maj. C. S. Peyton; 8th Va., Col. Eppa + Hunton; 18th Va., Lieut.-Col. H. A. Carrington; 19th Va., Col. Henry + Gantt, Lieut.-Col. John T. Ellis; 28th Va., Col. R. C. Allen, + Lieut.-Col. William Watts; 56th Va., Col. W. D. Stuart, Lieut.-Col. P. + P. Slaughter. _Kemper's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. L. Kemper, Col. Joseph + Mayo, Jr.; 1st Va., Col. Lewis B. Williams, Lieut.-Col. F. G. Skinner; + 3d Va., Col. Joseph Mayo, Jr., Lieut.-Col. A. D. Callcote; 7th Va., + Col. W. T. Patton, Lieut.-Col. C. C. Flowerree; 11th Va., Maj. + Kirkwood Otey; 24th Va., Col. William R. Terry. _Armistead's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. L. A. Armistead, Col. W. R. Aylett; 9th Va., Maj. John C. + Owens; 14th Va., Col. James G. Hodges, Lieut.-Col. William White; 38th + Va., Col. E. C. Edmonds, Lieut.-Col. P. B. Whittle; 53d Va., Col. W. + R. Aylett; 57th Va., Col. John Bowie Magruder. _Artillery_, Maj. James + Dearing; Fauquier (Va.) Art., Capt. R. M. Stribling; Hampden (Va.) + Art., Capt. W. H. Caskie; Richmond Fayette Art., Capt. M. C. Macon; + Virginia Batt., Capt. Joseph G. Blount. + + HOOD'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. John B. Hood, Brig.-Gen. E. M. Law:--_Law's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. E. M. Law, Col. James L. Sheffield; 4th Ala., + Lieut.-Col. L. H. Scruggs; 15th Ala., Col. William C. Oates, Capt. B. + A. Hill; 44th Ala., Col. William F. Perry; 47th Ala., Col. James W. + Jackson, Lieut.-Col. M. J. Bulger, Maj. J. M. Campbell; 48th Ala., + Col. James L. Sheffield, Capt. T. J. Eubanks. _Robertson's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. J. B. Robertson; 3d Ark., Col. Van H. Manning, Lieut.-Col. + R. S. Taylor; 1st Tex., Lieut.-Col. P. A. Work; 4th Tex., Col. J. C. + G. Key, Maj. J. P. Bane; 5th Tex., Col. R. M. Powell, Lieut.-Col. K. + Bryan, Maj. J. C. Rogers. _Anderson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George T. + Anderson, Lieut.-Col. William Luffman; 7th Ga., Col. W. W. White; 8th + Ga., Col. John R. Towers; 9th Ga., Lieut.-Col. John C. Mounger, Maj. + W. M. Jones, Capt. George Hillyer; 11th Ga., Col. F. H. Little, + Lieut.-Col. William Luffman, Maj. Henry D. McDaniel, Capt. William H. + Mitchell; 59th Ga., Col. Jack Brown, Capt. M. G. Bass. _Benning's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Benning; 2d Ga., Lieut.-Col. William T. + Harris, Maj. W. S. Shepherd; 15th Ga., Col. D. M. DuBose; 17th Ga., + Col. W. C. Hodges; 20th Ga., Col. John A. Jones, Lieut.-Col. J. D. + Waddell. _Artillery_, Maj. M. W. Henry; Branch (N. C.) Art., Capt. A. + C. Latham; German (S. C.) Art., Capt. William K. Bachman; Palmetto (S. + C.) Light Art., Capt. Hugh R. Garden; Rowan (N. C.) Art., Capt. James + Reilly. + + ARTILLERY RESERVE, Col. J. B. Walton:--_Alexander's Battalion_, Col. + E. P. Alexander; Ashland (Va.) Art., Capt. P. Woolfolk, Jr., Lieut. + James Woolfolk; Bedford (Va.) Art., Capt. T. C. Jordan; Brooks (S. C.) + Art., Lieut. S. C. Gilbert; Madison (La.) Light Art., Capt. George V. + Moody; Va. Batt., Capt. W. W. Parker; Va. Batt., Capt. O. B. Taylor. + _Washington (La.) Artillery_, Maj. B. F. Eshleman; First Co., Capt. C. + W. Squires; Second Co., Capt. J. B. Richardson; Third Co., Capt. M. B. + Miller; Fourth Co., Capt. Joe Norcom, Lieut. H. A. Battles. + + + SECOND ARMY CORPS, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL RICHARD S. EWELL. _Escort_, + Randolph's Company Virginia Cavalry, Capt. William F. Randolph. + + EARLY'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Jubal A. Early:--_Hays's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Harry T. Hays; 5th La., Maj. Alexander Hart, Capt. T. H. + Biscoe; 6th La., Lieut.-Col. Joseph Hanlon; 7th La., Col. D. B. Penn; + 8th La., Col. T. D. Lewis, Lieut.-Col. A. de Blanc, Maj. G. A. + Lester; 9th La., Col. Leroy A. Stafford. _Smith's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + William Smith; 31st Va., Col. John S. Hoffman; 49th Va., Lieut.-Col. + J. Catlett Gibson; 52d Va., Lieut.-Col. James H. Skinner. _Hoke's + Brigade_, Col. Isaac E. Avery, Col. A. C. Godwin; 6th N. C., Maj. S. + McD. Tate; 21st N. C., Col. W. W. Kirkland; 57th N. C., Col. A. C. + Godwin. _Gordon's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. B. Gordon; 13th Ga., Col. + James M. Smith; 26th Ga., Col. E. N. Atkinson; 31st Ga., Col. Clement + A. Evans; 38th Ga., Capt. William L. McLeod; 60th Ga., Capt. W. B. + Jones; 61st Ga., Col. John H. Lamar. _Artillery_, Lieut.-Col. H. P. + Jones; Charlottesville (Va.) Art., Capt. James McD. Carrington; + Courtney (Va.) Art., Capt. W. A. Tanner; Louisiana Guard Art., Capt. + C. A. Green; Staunton (Va.) Art., Capt. A. W. Garber. + + JOHNSON'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Edward Johnson:--_Steuart's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. George H. Steuart; 1st Md. Battn. Inf., Lieut.-Col. J. R. + Herbert, Maj. W. W. Goldsborough, Capt. J. P. Crane; 1st N. C., + Lieut.-Col. H. A. Brown; 3d N. C., Maj. W. M. Parsley; 10th Va., Col. + E. T. H. Warren; 23d Va., Lieut.-Col. S. T. Walton; 37th Va., Maj. H. + C. Wood. _Stonewall Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. James A. Walker; 2d Va., Col. + J. Q. A. Nadenbousch; 4th Va., Maj. William Terry; 5th Va., Col. J. H. + S. Funk; 27th Va., Lieut.-Col. D. M. Shriver; 33d Va., Capt. J. B. + Golladay. _Nicholls's Brigade_,[143] Col. J. M. Williams; 1st La., + Capt. E. D. Willett; 2d La., Lieut.-Col. R. E. Burke; 10th La., Maj. + T. N. Powell; 14th La., Lieut.-Col. David Zable; 15th La., Maj. Andrew + Brady. _Jones's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. John M. Jones, Lieut.-Col. R. H. + Dungan; 21st Va., Capt. W. P. Moseley; 25th Va., Col. J. C. + Higginbotham, Lieut.-Col. J. A. Robinson; 42d Va., Lieut.-Col. R. W. + Withers, Capt. S. H. Saunders; 44th Va., Maj. N. Cobb, Capt. T. R. + Buckner; 48th Va., Lieut.-Col. R. H. Dungan, Maj. Oscar White; 50th + Va., Lieut.-Col. L. H. N. Salyer. _Artillery_, Maj. J. W. Latimer, + Capt. C. I. Raine; 1st Md. Batt., Capt William F. Dement; Alleghany + (Va.) Art., Capt. J. C. Carpenter; Chesapeake (Md.) Art., Capt. + William D. Brown; Lee (Va.) Batt., Capt. C. I. Raine, Lieut. William + W. Hardwicke. + + RODES'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. R. E. Rodes:--_Daniel's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Junius Daniel; 32d N. C., Col. E. C. Brabble; 43d N. C., + Col. T. S. Kenan, Lieut.-Col. W. G. Lewis; 45th N. C., Lieut.-Col. S. + H. Boyd, Maj. John R. Winston, Capt. A. H. Gallaway, Capt. J. A. + Hopkins; 53d N. C., Col. W. A. Owens; 2d N. C. Battn., Lieut.-Col. H. + L. Andrews, Capt. Van Brown. _Doles's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George + Doles; 4th Ga., Lieut.-Col. D. R. E. Winn, Maj. W. H. Willis; 12th + Ga., Col. Edward Willis; 21st Ga., Col. John T. Mercer; 44th Ga., Col. + S. P. Lumpkin, Maj. W. H. Peebles. _Iverson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Alfred Iverson; 5th N. C.,[144] Capt. Speight B. West, Capt. Benjamin + Robinson; 12th N. C., Lieut.-Col. W. S. Davis; 20th N. C.,[145] + Lieut.-Col. Nelson Slough, Capt. Lewis T. Hicks; 23d N. C.,[146] Col. + D. H. Christie, Capt. William H. Johnston. _Ramseur's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. S. D. Ramseur; 2d N. C., Maj. D. W. Hurtt, Capt. James T. + Scales; 4th N. C., Col. Bryan Grimes; 14th N. C., Col. R. Tyler + Bennett, Maj. Joseph H. Lambeth; 30th N. C., Col. Francis M. Parker, + Maj. W. W. Sillers. _O'Neal's Brigade_, Col. E. A. O'Neal; 3d Ala., + Col. C. A. Battle; 5th Ala., Col. J. M. Hall; 6th Ala., Col. J. N. + Lightfoot, Capt. M. L. Bowie; 12th Ala., Col. S. B. Pickens; 26th + Ala., Lieut.-Col. John C. Goodgame. _Artillery_, Lieut.-Col. Thomas H. + Carter; Jeff Davis (Ala.) Art., Capt. W. J. Reese; King William (Va.) + Art., Capt. W. P. Carter; Morris (Va.) Art., Capt. R. C. M. Page; + Orange (Va.) Art., Capt. C. W. Fry. _Artillery Reserve_, Col. J. + Thompson Brown; 1st Va. Art., Capt. Willis J. Dance; 2d Richmond (Va.) + Howitzers, Capt. David Watson; 3d Richmond (Va.) Howitzers, Capt. B. + H. Smith, Jr.; Powhatan (Va.) Art., Lieut. John M. Cunningham; + Rockbridge (Va.) Art., Capt. A. Graham; Salem (Va.) Art., Lieut. C. B. + Griffin; Nelson's Battn., Lieut.-Col. William Nelson; Amherst (Va.) + Art., Capt. T. J. Kirkpatrick; Fluvanna (Va.) Art., Capt. J. L. + Massie; Ga. Batt., Capt. John Milledge, Jr. + + + THIRD ARMY CORPS, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AMBROSE P. HILL. + + ANDERSON'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. R. H. Anderson:--_Wilcox's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox; 8th Ala., Lieut.-Col. Hilary A. Herbert; + 9th Ala., Capt. J. H. King; 10th Ala., Col. William H. Forney, + Lieut.-Col. James E. Shelley; 11th Ala., Col. J. C. C. Sanders, + Lieut.-Col. George E. Tayloe; 14th Ala., Col. L. Pinckard, Lieut.-Col. + James A. Broome. _Mahone's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William Mahone; 6th + Va., Col. George T. Rogers; 12th Va., Col. D. A. Weisiger; 16th Va., + Col. Joseph H. Ham; 41st Va., Col. William A. Parham; 61st Va., Col. + V. D. Groner. _Wright's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Wright, Col. + William Gibson; 3d Ga., Col. E. J. Walker; 22d Ga., Col. Joseph + Wasden, Capt. B. C. McCurry; 48th Ga., Col. William Gibson, Capt. M. + R. Hall; 2d Ga. Battn., Maj. George W. Ross, Capt. Charles J. Moffett. + _Perry's Brigade_, Col. David Lang; 2d Fla., Maj. W. R. Moore; 5th + Fla., Capt. R. N. Gardner; 8th Fla., Col. David Lang. _Posey's + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Carnot Posey; 12th Miss., Col. W. H. Taylor; 16th + Miss., Col. Samuel E. Baker; 19th Miss., Col. N. H. Harris; 48th + Miss., Col. Joseph M. Jayne. _Artillery_ (_Sumter Battalion_), Maj. + John Lane; Co. A, Capt. Hugh M. Ross; Co. B, Capt. George M. + Patterson; Co. C, Capt. John T. Wingfield. + + HETH'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Henry Heth, Brig.-Gen. J. J. + Pettigrew:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Pettigrew, Col. J. K. + Marshall; 11th N. C., Col. Collett Leventhorpe; 26th N. C., Col. Henry + K. Burgwyn, Jr., Capt. H. C. Albright; 47th N. C., Col. G. H. + Faribault; 52d N. C., Col. J. K. Marshall, Lieut.-Col. Marcus A. + Parks. _Second Brigade_, Col. J. M. Brockenbrough; 40th Va., Capt. T. + E. Betts, Capt. R. B. Davis; 47th Va., Col. Robert M. Mayo; 55th Va., + Col. W. S. Christian; 22d Va. Battn., Maj. John S. Bowles. _Third + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. James J. Archer, Col. B. D. Fry, Lieut.-Col. S. + G. Shepard; 13th Ala., Col. B. D. Fry; 5th Ala. Battn., Maj. A. S. Van + de Graaff; 1st Tenn. (provisional army), Maj. Felix G. Buchanan; 7th + Tenn., Lieut.-Col. S. G. Shepard; 14th Tenn., Capt. B. L. Phillips. + _Fourth Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Joseph R. Davis; 2d Miss., Col. J. M. + Stone; 11th Miss., Col. F. M. Green; 42d Miss., Col. H. R. Miller; + 55th N. C., Col. J. K. Connally. _Artillery_, Lieut.-Col. John J. + Garnett; Donaldsonville (La.) Art., Capt. V. Maurin; Huger (Va.) Art., + Capt. Joseph D. Moore; Lewis (Va.) Art., Capt. John W. Lewis; Norfolk + Light Art. Blues, Capt. C. R. Grandy. + + PENDER'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. William D. Pender, Maj.-Gen. I. R. + Trimble, Brig.-Gen. James H. Lane:--_First Brigade_, Col. Abner + Perrin; 1st S. C. (provisional army), Maj. C. W. McCreary; 1st S. C. + Rifles, Capt. William M. Hadden; 12th S. C., Col. John L. Miller; 13th + S. C., Lieut.-Col. B. T. Brockman; 14th S. C., Lieut.-Col. Joseph N. + Brown. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. James H. Lane, Col. C. M. Avery; + 7th N. C., Capt. J. McLeod Turner, Capt. James G. Harris; 18th N. C., + Col. John D. Barry; 28th N. C., Col. S. D. Lowe, Lieut.-Col. W. H. A. + Speer; 33d N. C., Col. C. M. Avery; 37th N. C., Col. W. M. Barbour. + _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Edward L. Thomas; 14th, 35th, 45th, and + 49th Ga., Col. S. T. Player. _Fourth Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. M. + Scales, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Gordon, Col. W. Lee J. Lowrance; 13th N. C., + Col. J. H. Hyman, Lieut.-Col. H. A. Rogers; 16th N. C., Capt. L. W. + Stowe; 22d N. C., Col. James Conner; 34th N. C., Col. William Lee J. + Lowrance, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Gordon; 38th N. C., Col. W. J. Hoke, + Lieut.-Col. John Ashford. _Artillery_, Maj. William T. Poague; + Albemarle (Va.) Art., Capt. James W. Wyatt; Charlotte (N. C.) Art., + Capt. Joseph Graham; Madison (Miss.) Light Art., Capt. George Ward; + Virginia Batt., Capt. J. V. Brooke. + + ARTILLERY RESERVE, Col. R. Lindsay Walker:--_McIntosh's Battalion_, + Maj. D. G. McIntosh; Danville (Va.) Art., Capt. R. S. Rice; Hardaway + (Ala.) Art., Capt. W. B. Hurt; 2d Rockbridge (Va.) Art., Lieut. Samuel + Wallace; Virginia Batt., Capt. M. Johnson. _Pegram's Battalion_, Maj. + W. J. Pegram, Capt. E. B. Brunson; Crenshaw (Va.) Batt.; + Fredericksburg (Va.) Art., Capt. E. A. Marye; Letcher (Va.) Art., + Capt. T. A. Brander; Pee Dee (S. C.) Art., Lieut. William E. + Zimmerman; Purcell (Va.) Art., Capt. Joseph McGraw. + + + CAVALRY. + + STUART'S DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. J. E. B. Stuart:--_Hampton's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Wade Hampton, Col. L. S. Baker; 1st N. C., Col. L. S. + Baker; 1st and 2d S. C.; Cobb's (Ga.) Legion, Jeff. Davis Legion, + Phillips (Ga.) Legion. _Robertson's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Beverly H. + Robertson;[147] 4th N. C., Col. D. D. Ferebee; 5th N. C. _Fitzhugh + Lee's Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Fitzhugh Lee; 1st Md. Battn.,[148] Maj. + Harry Gilmor, Maj. Ridgely Brown; 1st Va., Col. James H. Drake; 2d + Va., Col. T. T. Munford; 3d Va., Col. Thomas H. Owen; 4th Va., Col. + William C. Wickham; 5th Va., Col. T. L. Rosser. _Jenkins's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. A. G. Jenkins, Col. M. J. Ferguson; 14th, 16th, and 17th + Va.; 34th Va. Battn., Lieut.-Col. V. A. Witcher; 36th Va. Battn.; + Jackson's (Va.) Batt., Capt. Thomas E. Jackson. _Jones's Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. William E. Jones; 6th Va., Maj. C. E. Flournoy; 7th Va., + Lieut.-Col. Thomas Marshall; 11th Va., Col. L. L. Lomax. _W. H. F. + Lee's Brigade_, Col. J. R. Chambliss, Jr.; 2d N. C.; 9th Va., Col. R. + L. T. Beale; 10th Va., Col. J. Lucius Davis; 13th Va. _Stuart's Horse + Artillery_, Maj. R. F. Beckham; Breathed's (Va.) Batt., Capt. James + Breathed; Chew's (Va.) Batt., Capt. R. P. Chew; Griffin's (Md.) Batt., + Capt. W. H. Griffin; Hart's (S. C.) Batt., Capt. J. F. Hart; + McGregor's (Va.) Batt., Capt. W. M. McGregor; Moorman's (Va.) Batt., + Capt. M. N. Moorman. + + IMBODEN'S COMMAND,[149] Brig.-Gen. J. D. Imboden; 18th Va. Cav., Col. + George W. Imboden; 62d Va. Inf. (mounted), Col. George H. Smith; + Virginia Partisan Rangers, Capt. John H. McNeill; Virginia Batt., + Capt. J. H. McClanahan. + + ARTILLERY,[150] Brig.-Gen. W. N. Pendleton. + + + ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, U. S. ARMY, + COMMANDING. + + GENERAL HEAD-QUARTERS:--_Command of the Provost-Marshal-General_, + Brig.-General Marsena R. Patrick; 93d N. Y.,[151] Col. John S. + Crocker; 8th U. S. (8 cos.),[151] Capt. Edwin W. H. Reed; 2d Pa. Cav., + Col. R. Butler Price; 6th Pa. Cav., Cos. E and I, Capt. James Starr; + Regular Cav. (detachments from 1st, 2d, 5th, and 6th Regiments). + + SIGNAL CORPS, Capt. Lemuel B. Norton. + + GUARDS AND ORDERLIES, Oneida (N. Y.) Cav., Capt. Daniel P. Mann. + + ARTILLERY,[152] Brig.-Gen. Henry J. Hunt. + + ENGINEER BRIGADE,[153] Brig.-Gen. Henry W. Benham:--15th N. Y. (3 + cos.), Maj. Walter L. Cassin; 50th N. Y., Col. William H. Pettes; U. + S. Battn., Capt. George H. Mendell. + + + FIRST ARMY CORPS,[154] MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, MAJOR-GENERAL + JOHN NEWTON. _General Head-quarters_, 1st Me. Cav., Co. L, Capt. + Constantine Taylor. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Solomon Meredith, Col. William W. Robinson; 19th Ind., + Col. Samuel J. Williams; 24th Mich., Col. Henry A. Morrow, Capt. + Albert M. Edwards; 2d Wis., Col. Lucius Fairchild, Maj. John + Mansfield, Capt. George H. Otis; 6th Wis., Lieut.-Col. Rufus R. Dawes; + 7th Wis., Col. William W. Robinson, Maj. Mark Finnicum. _Second + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler; 7th Ind., Col. Ira G. Grover; + 76th N. Y., Maj. Andrew J. Grover, Capt. John E. Cook; 84th N. Y. + (14th Militia), Col. Edward B. Fowler; 95th N. Y., Col. George H. + Biddle, Maj. Edward Pye; 147th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Francis C. Miller, + Maj. George Harney; 56th Pa. (9 cos.), Col. J. William Hofmann. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Gabriel R. Paul, Col. Samuel H. Leonard, Col. Adrian R. + Root, Col. Richard Coulter, Col. Peter Lyle; 16th Me., Col. Charles W. + Tilden, Maj. Archibald D. Leavitt; 13th Mass., Col. Samuel H. Leonard, + Lieut.-Col. N. Walter Batchelder; 94th N. Y., Col. Adrian R. Root, + Maj. Samuel A. Moffett; 104th N. Y., Col. Gilbert G. Prey; 107th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. James MacThomson, Capt. Emanuel D. Roath. _Second + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter; 12th Mass., Col. James L. Bates, + Lieut.-Col. David Allen, Jr.; 83d N. Y. (9th Militia), Lieut.-Col. + Joseph A. Moesch; 97th N. Y., Col. Charles Wheelock, Maj. Charles + Northrup; 11th Pa.,[155] Col. Richard Coulter, Capt. Benjamin F. + Haines, Capt. John V. Overmyer; 88th Pa., Maj. Benezet F. Foust, Capt. + Henry Whiteside; 90th Pa., Col. Peter Lyle, Maj. Alfred J. Sellers. + + THIRD DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Thomas A. Rowley, Maj.-Gen. Abner + Doubleday:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Thomas A. Rowley, Col. Chapman + Biddle; 80th N. Y. (20th Militia), Col. Theodore B. Gates; 121st Pa., + Maj. Alexander Biddle, Col. Chapman Biddle; 142d Pa., Col. Robert P. + Cummins, Lieut.-Col. A. B. McCalmont; 151st Pa., Lieut.-Col. George F. + McFarland, Capt. Walter L. Owens, Col. Harrison Allen. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Roy Stone, Col. Langhorne Wister, Col. Edmund L. Dana; + 143d Pa., Col. Edmund L. Dana, Lieut.-Col. John D. Musser; 149th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. Walton Dwight, Capt. James Glenn; 150th Pa., Col. + Langhorne Wister, Lieut.-Col. H. S. Huidekoper, Capt. Cornelius C. + Widdis. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George J. Stannard, Col. Francis + V. Randall; 12th Vt.,[156] Col. Asa P. Blunt; 13th Vt., Col. Francis + V. Randall, Maj. Joseph J. Boynton, Lieut.-Col. William D. Munson; + 14th Vt., Col. William T. Nichols; 15th Vt.,[156] Col. Redfield + Proctor; 16th Vt., Col. Wheelock G. Veazey. _Artillery Brigade_, Col. + Charles S. Wainwright; Me. Light, 2d Batt. B, Capt. James A. Hall; Me. + Light, 5th Batt. E, Capt. Greenleaf T. Stevens, Lieut. Edward N. + Whittier; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. L,[157] Capt. Gilbert H. Reynolds, + Lieut. George Breck; 1st Pa. Light, Batt. B, Capt. James H. Cooper; + 4th U. S., Batt. B, Lieut. James Stewart. + + + SECOND ARMY CORPS,[158] MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN GIBBON. _General Head-quarters_, 6th N. Y. + Cav., Cos. D and K, Capt. Riley Johnson. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John C. Caldwell:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Edward E. Cross, Col. H. Boyd McKeen; 5th N. H., Lieut.-Col. Charles + E. Hapgood; 61st N. Y., Lieut.-Col. K. Oscar Broady; 81st Pa., Col. H. + Boyd McKeen, Lieut.-Col. Amos Stroh; 148th Pa., Lieut.-Col. Robert + McFarlane. _Second Brigade_, Col. Patrick Kelly; 28th Mass., Col. R. + Byrnes; 63d N. Y. (2 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Richard C. Bentley, Capt. + Thomas Touhy; 69th N. Y. (2 cos.), Capt. Richard Moroney, Lieut. James + J. Smith; 88th N. Y. (2 cos.), Capt. Denis F. Burke; 116th Pa. (4 + cos.), Maj. St. Clair A. Mulholland. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Samuel K. Zook, Lieut.-Col. John Fraser; 52d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. C. G. + Freudenberg, Capt. William Scherrer; 57th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Alford B. + Chapman; 66th N. Y., Col. Orlando H. Morris, Lieut.-Col. John S. + Hammell, Maj. Peter Nelson; 140th Pa., Col. Richard P. Roberts, + Lieut.-Col. John Fraser. _Fourth Brigade_, Col. John R. Brooke; 27th + Conn. (2 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Henry C. Merwin, Maj. James H. Coburn; 2d + Del., Col. William P. Baily, Capt. Charles H. Christman; 64th N. Y., + Col. Daniel G. Bingham, Maj. Leman W. Bradley; 53d Pa., Lieut.-Col. + Richards McMichael; 145th Pa. (7 cos.), Col. Hiram L. Brown, Capt. + John W. Reynolds, Capt. Moses W. Oliver. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon, Brig.-Gen. William + Harrow:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. William Harrow, Col. Francis E. + Heath; 19th Me., Col. Francis E. Heath, Lieut.-Col. Henry W. + Cunningham; 15th Mass., Col. George H. Ward, Lieut.-Col. George C. + Joslin; 1st Minn.,[159] Col. William Colvill, Jr., Capt. Nathan S. + Messick, Capt. Henry C. Coates; 82d N. Y. (2d Militia), Lieut.-Col. + James Huston, Capt. John Darrow. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Alexander S. Webb; 69th Pa., Col. Dennis O'Kane, Capt. William Davis; + 71st Pa., Col. Richard Penn Smith; 72d Pa., Col. DeWitt C. Baxter, + Lieut.-Col. Theodore Hesser; 106th Pa., Lieut.-Col. William L. Curry. + _Third Brigade_, Col. Norman J. Hall; 19th Mass., Col. Arthur F. + Devereux; 20th Mass., Col. Paul J. Revere, Lieut.-Col. George N. Macy, + Capt. Henry L. Abbott; 7th Mich., Lieut.-Col. Amos E. Steele, Jr., + Maj. Sylvanus W. Curtis; 42d N. Y., Col. James E. Mallon; 59th N. Y. + (4 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Max A. Thoman, Capt. William McFadden. + _Unattached_, Mass. Sharp-shooters, 1st Co., Capt. William Plumer, + Lieut. Emerson L. Bicknall. + + THIRD DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Samuel S. Carroll; 14th Ind., Col. John Coons; 4th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. + Leonard W. Carpenter; 8th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Franklin Sawyer; 7th W. + Va., Lieut.-Col. Jonathan H. Lockwood. _Second Brigade_, Col. Thomas + A. Smyth, Lieut.-Col. Francis E. Pierce; 14th Conn., Maj. Theodore G. + Ellis; 1st Del., Lieut.-Col. Edward P. Harris, Capt. Thomas P. Hizar, + Lieut. William Smith, Lieut. John T. Dent; 12th N. J., Maj. John T. + Hill; 10th N. Y. (Battn.), Maj. George F. Hopper; 108th N. Y., + Lieut.-Col. Francis E. Pierce. _Third Brigade_, Col. George L. + Willard, Col. Eliakim Sherrill, Lieut.-Col. James M. Bull; 39th N. Y. + (4 cos.), Maj. Hugo Hildebrandt; 111th N. Y., Col. Clinton D. + McDougall, Lieut.-Col. Isaac M. Lusk, Capt. Aaron P. Seeley; 125th N. + Y., Lieut.-Col. Levin Crandell; 126th N. Y., Col. Eliakim Sherrill, + Lieut.-Col. James M. Bull. _Artillery Brigade_, Capt. John G. Hazard; + 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. B,[160] Lieut. Albert S. Sheldon, Capt. James + McKay Rorty, Lieut. Robert E. Rogers; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. A, Capt. + William A. Arnold; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. B, Lieut. T. Fred. Brown, + Lieut. Walter S. Perrin; 1st U. S., Batt. I, Lieut. George A. + Woodruff, Lieut. Tully McCrea; 4th U. S., Batt. A, Lieut. Alonzo H. + Cushing, Sergt. Frederick Fuger. + + + THIRD ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES, MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID + B. BIRNEY. + + FIRST DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Hobart + Ward:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Charles K. Graham, Col. Andrew H. + Tippin; 57th Pa. (8 cos.), Col. Peter Sides, Capt. Alanson H. Nelson; + 63d Pa., Maj. John A. Danks; 68th Pa., Col. Andrew H. Tippin, Capt. + Milton S. Davis(?), 105th Pa., Col. Calvin A. Craig; 114th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. Frederick F. Cavada, Capt. Edward R. Bowen; 141st Pa., + Col. Henry J. Madill. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Hobart Ward, + Col. Hiram Berdan; 20th Ind., Col. John Wheeler, Lieut.-Col. William + C. L. Taylor; 3d Me., Col. Moses B. Lakeman; 4th Me., Col. Elijah + Walker, Capt. Edwin Libby; 86th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Benjamin L. + Higgins; 124th N. Y., Col. A. Van Horne Ellis, Lieut.-Col. Francis M. + Cummins; 99th Pa., Maj. John W. Moore; 1st U. S. Sharp-shooters, Col. + Hiram Berdan, Lieut.-Col. Caspar Trepp; 2d U. S. Sharp-shooters (8 + cos.), Maj. Homer R. Stoughton. _Third Brigade_, Col. P. Regis de + Trobriand; 17th Me., Lieut.-Col. Charles B. Merrill; 3d Mich., Col. + Byron R. Pierce, Lieut.-Col. Edwin S. Pierce; 5th Mich., Lieut.-Col. + John Pulford; 40th N. Y., Col. Thomas W. Egan; 110th Pa. (6 cos.), + Lieut.-Col. David M. Jones, Maj. Isaac Rogers. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys:--_First Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Joseph B. Carr; 1st Mass., Lieut.-Col. Clark B. Baldwin; + 11th Mass., Lieut.-Col. Porter D. Tripp; 16th Mass., Lieut.-Col. Waldo + Merriam, Capt. Matthew Donovan; 12th Mass., Capt. John F. Langley; + 11th N. J., Col. Robert McAllister, Capt. Luther Martin, Lieut. John + Schoonover, Capt. William H. Lloyd, Capt. Samuel T. Sleeper; 26th Pa., + Maj. Robert L. Bodine; 84th Pa.,[161] Lieut.-Col. Milton Opp. _Second + Brigade_, Col. William R. Brewster; 70th N. Y., Col. J. Egbert Farnum; + 71st N. Y., Col. Henry L. Potter; 72d N. Y., Col. John S. Austin, + Lieut.-Col. John Leonard; 73d N. Y., Maj. Michael W. Burns; 74th N. + Y., Lieut.-Col. Thomas Holt; 120th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Cornelius D. + Westbrook, Maj. John R. Tappen. _Third Brigade_, Col. George C. + Burling; 2d N. H., Col. Edward L. Bailey; 5th N. J., Col. William J. + Sewell, Capt. Thomas C. Godfrey, Capt. Henry H. Woolsey; 6th N. J., + Lieut.-Col. Stephen R. Gilkyson; 7th N. J., Col. Louis R. Francine, + Maj. Frederick Cooper; 8th N. J., Col. John Ramsey, Capt, John G. + Langston; 115th Pa., Maj. John P. Dunne. _Artillery Brigade_, Capt. + George E. Randolph, Capt. A. Judson Clark; N. J. Light, 2d Batt., + Capt. A. Judson Clark, Lieut. Robert Sims; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. D, + Capt. George B. Winslow; N. Y. Light, 4th Batt., Capt. James E. Smith; + 1st R. I. Light, Batt. E, Lieut. John K. Bucklyn, Lieut. Benjamin + Freeborn; 4th U. S., Batt. K, Lieut. Francis W. Seeley, Lieut. Robert + James. + + + FIFTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE SYKES. _General Head-quarters_, + 12th N. Y. Inf., Cos. D and E, Capt, Henry W. Rider; 17th Pa. Cav., + Cos. D and H, Capt. William Thompson. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. James Barnes:--_First Brigade_, Col. + William S. Tilton; 18th Mass., Col. Joseph Hayes; 22d Mass., + Lieut.-Col. Thomas Sherwin, Jr.; 1st Mich., Col. Ira C. Abbott, + Lieut.-Col. William A. Throop; 118th Pa., Lieut.-Col. James Gwyn. + _Second Brigade_, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer; 9th Mass., Col. Patrick R. + Guiney; 32d Mass., Col. G. L. Prescott; 4th Mich., Col. Harrison H. + Jeffords, Lieut.-Col. George W. Lumbard; 62d Pa., Lieut.-Col. James C. + Hull. _Third Brigade_, Col. Strong Vincent, Col. James C. Rice; 20th + Me., Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain; 16th Mich., Col. Norval E. Welch; + 44th N. Y., Col. James C. Rice, Lieut.-Col. Freeman Conner; 83d Pa., + Capt. Orpheus S. Woodward. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Hannibal Day; 3d U. S. (6 cos.), Capt. Henry W. Freedley, Capt. + Richard G. Lay; 4th U. S. (4 cos.), Capt. Julius W. Adams, Jr.; 6th U. + S. (5 cos.), Capt. Levi C. Bootes; 12th U. S. (8 cos.), Capt. Thomas + S. Dunn; 14th U. S. (8 cos.), Maj. Grotius R. Giddings. _Second + Brigade_, Col. Sidney Burbank; 2d U. S. (6 cos.), Maj. Arthur T. Lee, + Capt. Samuel A. McKee; 7th U. S. (4 cos.), Capt. David P. Hancock; + 10th U. S. (3 cos.), Capt. William Clinton; 11th U. S. (6 cos.), Maj. + De Lancey Floyd-Jones; 17th U. S. (7 cos.), Lieut.-Col. J. Durell + Greene. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Stephen H. Weed, Col. Kenner + Garrard; 140th N. Y., Col. Patrick H. O'Rorke, Lieut.-Col. Louis + Ernst; 146th N. Y., Col. Kenner Garrard, Lieut.-Col. David T. Jenkins; + 91st Pa., Lieut.-Col. Joseph H. Sinex; 155th Pa., Lieut.-Col. John H. + Cain. + + THIRD DIVISION,[162] Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford:--_First Brigade_, + Col. William McCandless; 1st Pa. Reserves (9 cos.), Col. William C. + Talley; 2d Pa. Reserves, Lieut.-Col. George A. Woodward; 6th Pa. + Reserves, Lieut.-Col. Wellington H. Ent; 13th Pa. Reserves, Col. + Charles F. Taylor, Maj. William R. Hartshorne. _Third Brigade_, Col. + Joseph W. Fisher; 5th Pa. Reserves, Lieut.-Col. George Dare; 9th Pa. + Reserves, Lieut.-Col. James McK. Snodgrass; 10th Pa. Reserves, Col. + Adoniram J. Warner; 11th Pa. Reserves, Col. Samuel M. Jackson; 12th + Pa, Reserves (9 cos.), Col. Martin D. Hardin. _Artillery Brigade_, + Capt. Augustus P. Martin; Mass. Light, 3d Batt. C, Lieut. Aaron F. + Walcott; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. C, Capt. Almont Barnes; 1st Ohio + Light, Batt. L, Capt, Frank C. Gibbs; 5th U. S., Batt. D, Lieut. + Charles E. Hazlett, Lieut. Benjamin F. Rittenhouse; 5th U. S., Batt. + I, Lieut. Malbone F. Watson, Lieut. Charles C. MacConnell. + + + SIXTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK. _General + Head-quarters_, 1st N. J. Cav., Co. L, 1st Pa. Cav., Co. H, Capt. + William S. Craft. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Horatio G. Wright:--_Provost Guard_, 4th N. + J. (3 cos.), Capt. William R. Maxwell. _First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. A. + T. A. Torbert; 1st N. J., Lieut.-Col. William Henry, Jr.; 2d N. J., + Lieut.-Col. Charles Wiebecke; 3d N. J., Col. Edward L. Campbell; 15th + N. J., Col. William H. Penrose. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Joseph J. + Bartlett;[163] 5th Me., Col. Clark S. Edwards; 121st N. Y., Col. Emory + Upton; 95th Pa., Lieut.-Col. Edward Carroll; 96th Pa., Maj. William H. + Lessig. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. David A. Russell; 6th Me., Col. + Hiram Burnham; 49th Pa. (4 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Thomas M. Hulings; 119th + Pa., Col. Peter C. Ellmaker; 5th Wis., Col. Thomas S. Allen. + + SECOND DIVISION,[164] Brig.-Gen. Albion P. Howe:--_Second Brigade_, + Col. Lewis A. Grant; 2d Vt., Col. James H. Walbridge; 3d Vt., Col. + Thomas O. Seaver; 4th Vt., Col. Charles B. Stoughton; 5th Vt., + Lieut.-Col. John R. Lewis; 6th Vt., Col. Elisha L. Barney. _Third + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Thomas H. Neill; 7th Me. (6 cos.), Lieut.-Col. + Selden Connor; 33d N. Y. (detachment), Capt. Henry J. Gifford; 43d N. + Y., Lieut.-Col. John Wilson; 49th N. Y., Col. Daniel D. Bidwell; 77th + N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Winsor B. French; 61st Pa., Lieut.-Col. George F. + Smith. + + THIRD DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. John Newton,[165] Brig.-Gen. Frank + Wheaton:--First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler; 65th N. Y., Col. + Joseph E. Hamblin; 67th N. Y., Col. Nelson Cross; 122d N. Y., Col. + Silas Titus; 23d Pa., Lieut.-Col. John F. Glenn; 82d Pa., Col. Isaac + C. Bassett. _Second Brigade_, Col. Henry L. Eustis; 7th Mass., + Lieut.-Col. Franklin P. Harlow; Tenth Mass., Lieut.-Col. Joseph B. + Parsons; 37th Mass., Col. Oliver Edwards; 2d R. I., Col. Horatio + Rogers, Jr. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton, Col. David J. + Nevin; 62d N. Y., Col. David J. Nevin, Lieut.-Col. Theodore B. + Hamilton; 93d Pa., Maj. John I. Nevin; 98th Pa., Maj. John B. Kohler; + 102d Pa.,[166] Col. John W. Patterson; 139th Pa., Col. Frederick H. + Collier, Lieut.-Col. William H. Moody. _Artillery Brigade_, Col. + Charles H. Tompkins; Mass. Light, 1st Batt. (A), Capt. William H. + McCartney; N. Y. Light, 1st Batt., Capt. Andrew Cowan; N. Y. Light, 3d + Batt., Capt. William A. Harn; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. C, Capt. Richard + Waterman; 1st R. I. Light, Batt. G, Capt. George W. Adams; 2d U. S., + Batt. D, Lieut. Edward B. Williston; 2d U. S., Batt. G, Lieut. John H. + Butler; 5th U. S., Batt. F, Lieut. Leonard Martin. + + + ELEVENTH ARMY CORPS,[167] MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER O. HOWARD. _General + Head-quarters_, 1st Ind. Cav., Cos. I and K, Capt. Abram Sharra; 8th + N. Y. Inf. (1 co.), Lieut. Herman Foerster. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow, Brig.-Gen. Adelbert + Ames:--_First Brigade_, Col. Leopold von Gilsa; 41st N. Y. (9 cos.), + Lieut.-Col. Detleo von Einsiedel; 54th N. Y., Maj. Stephen Kovacs, + Lieut. Ernst Poth(?); 68th N. Y., Col. Gotthilf Bourry; 153d Pa., Maj. + John F. Frueauff. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Adelbert Ames, Col. + Andrew L. Harris; 17th Conn., Lieut.-Col. Douglas Fowler, Maj. Allen + G. Brady; 25th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Jeremiah Williams; Capt. Nathaniel J. + Manning, Lieut. William Maloney, Lieut. Israel White; 75th Ohio, Col. + Andrew L. Harris, Capt. George B. Fox; 107th Ohio, Col. Seraphim + Meyer, Capt. John M. Lutz. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr:--_First Brigade_, + Col. Charles R. Coster; 134th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Allan H. Jackson; + 154th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. D. B. Allen; 27th Pa., Lieut.-Col. Lorenz + Cantador; 73d Pa., Capt. D. F. Kelley. _Second Brigade_, Col. Orland + Smith; 33d Mass., Col. Adin B. Underwood; 136th N. Y., Col. James + Wood, Jr.; 55th Ohio, Col. Charles B. Gambee; 73d Ohio, Lieut.-Col. + Richard Long. + + THIRD DIVISION, Maj.-Gen. Carl Schurz:--_First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Alex. Schimmelfennig, Col. George von Amsberg; 82d Ill., Lieut.-Col. + Edward S. Salomon; 45th N. Y., Col. George von Amsberg; Lieut.-Col. + Adolphus Dobke; 157th N. Y., Col. Philip P. Brown, Jr.; 61st Ohio, + Col. Stephen J. McGroarty; 74th Pa., Col. Adolph von Hartung; + Lieut.-Col. Alexander von Mitzel, Capt. Gustav Schleiter, Capt. Henry + Krauseneck. _Second Brigade_, Col. W. Krzyzanowski; 58th N. Y., + Lieut.-Col. August Otto, Capt. Emil Koenig; 119th N. Y., Col. John T. + Lockman, Lieut.-Col. Edward F. Lloyd; 82d Ohio, Col. James S. + Robinson, Lieut.-Col. David Thomson; 75th Pa., Col. Francis Mahler, + Maj. August Ledig; 26th Wis., Lieut.-Col. Hans Boebel, Capt. John W. + Fuchs. _Artillery Brigade_, Maj. Thomas W. Osborn; 1st N. Y. Light, + Batt. I, Capt. Michael Wiedrich; N. Y. Light, 13th Batt., Lieut. + William Wheeler; 1st Ohio Light, Batt. I., Capt, Hubert Dilger; 1st + Ohio Light, Batt. K, Capt. Lewis Heckman; 4th U. S., Batt. G., Lieut. + Bayard Wilkeson, Lieut. Eugene A. Bancroft. + + + TWELFTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY W. SLOCUM,[168] + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALPHEUS S. WILLIAMS. _Provost Guard_, 10th Me. (4 + cos.), Capt. John D. Beardsley. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, Brig.-Gen. Thomas H. + Ruger:--_First Brigade_, Col. Archibald L. McDougall; 5th Conn., Col. + W. W. Packer; 20th Conn., Lieut.-Col. William B. Wooster; 3d Md., Col. + Jos. M. Sudsburg; 123d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. James C. Rogers, Capt. + Adolphus H. Tanner; 145th N. Y., Col. E. L. Price; 46th Pa., Col. + James L. Selfridge. _Second Brigade_,[169] Brig.-Gen. Henry H. + Lockwood; 1st Md., Potomac Home Brigade, Col. William P. Maulsby; 1st + Md., Eastern Shore, Col. James Wallace; 150th N. Y., Col. John H. + Ketcham. _Third Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, Col. Silas + Colgrove; 27th Ind., Col. Silas Colgrove, Lieut.-Col. John R. Fesler; + 2d Mass., Lieut. Col. Charles R. Mudge, Maj. Charles F. Morse; 13th N. + J., Col. Ezra A. Carman; 107th N. Y., Col. Nirom M. Crane; 3d Wis., + Col. William Hawley. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John W. Geary:--_First Brigade_, Col. + Charles Candy; 5th Ohio, Col. John H. Patrick; 7th Ohio, Col. William + R. Creighton; 29th Ohio, Capt. Wilbur F. Stevens, Capt. Edward Hayes; + 66th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Eugene Powell; 28th Pa., Capt. John Flynn; + 147th Pa. (8 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Ario Pardee, Jr. _Second Brigade_, + Brig.-Gen. Thomas L. Kane, Col. George A. Cobham, Jr.; 29th Pa., Col. + William Rickards, Jr.; 109th Pa., Capt. F. L. Gimber; 111th Pa., + Lieut.-Col. Thomas M. Walker, Col. George A. Cobham, Jr. _Third + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. George S. Greene; 60th N. Y., Col. Abel Godard; + 78th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Herbert von Hammerstein; 102d N. Y., Col. + James C. Lane, Capt. Lewis R. Stegman; 137th N. Y., Col. David + Ireland; 149th N. Y., Col. Henry A. Barnum, Lieut.-Col. Charles B. + Randall. _Artillery Brigade_, Lieut. Edward D. Muhlenberg; 1st N. Y. + Light, Batt. M, Lieut. Charles E. Winegar; Pa. Light, Batt. E, Lieut. + Charles A. Atwell; 4th U. S., Batt. F, Lieut. Sylvanus T. Rugg; 5th U. + S., Batt. K, Lieut. David H. Kinzie. + + + CAVALRY CORPS, MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON. + + FIRST DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. John Buford:--_First Brigade_, Col. William + Gamble; 8th Ill., Maj. John L. Beveridge; 12th Ill. (4 cos.), 3d Ind. + (6 cos.), Col. George H. Chapman; 8th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. William L. + Markell. _Second Brigade_, Col. Thomas C. Devin; 6th N. Y., Maj. + William E. Beardsley; 9th N. Y., Col. William Sackett; 17th Pa., Col. + J. H. Kellogg; 3d W. Va. (2 cos.), Capt. Seymour B. Conger. _Reserve + Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt; 6th Pa., Maj. James H. Haseltine; + 1st U. S., Capt. Richard S. C. Lord; 2d U. S., Capt. T. F. + Rodenbough; 5th U. S., Capt. Julius W. Mason; 6th U. S., Maj. Samuel + H. Starr, Lieut. Louis H. Carpenter, Lieut. Nicholas Nolan, Capt. Ira + W. Claflin. + + SECOND DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. David McM. Gregg:--_Head-quarters Guard_, + 1st Ohio, Co. A, Capt. Noah Jones. _First Brigade_, Col. John B. + McIntosh; 1st Md. (11 cos.), Lieut.-Col. James M. Deems; Purnell (Md.) + Legion, Co. A, Capt. Robert E. Duvall; 1st Mass.,[170] Lieut.-Col. + Greely S. Curtis; 1st N. J., Maj. M. H. Beaumont; 1st Pa., Col. John + P. Taylor, 3d Pa., Lieut.-Col. E. S. Jones; 3d Pa. Heavy Art., Section + Batt. H,[171] Capt. W. D. Rank. _Second Brigade_,[172] Col. Pennock + Huey; 2d N. Y., Lieut.-Col. Otto Harhaus; 4th N. Y., Lieut.-Col. + Augustus Pruyn; 6th Ohio (10 cos.), Maj. William Stedman; 8th Pa., + Capt. William A. Corrie. _Third Brigade_, Col. J. Irvin Gregg; 1st Me. + (10 cos.), Lieut.-Col. Charles H. Smith; 10th N. Y., Maj. M. Henry + Avery; 4th Pa., Lieut.-Col. William E. Doster; 16th Pa., Lieut.-Col. + John K. Robison. + + THIRD DIVISION, Brig.-Gen. Judson Kilpatrick:--_Head-quarters Guard_, + 1st Ohio, Co. C, Capt. Samuel N. Stanford. _First Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + Elon J. Farnsworth, Col. Nathaniel P. Richmond; 5th N. Y., Maj. John + Hammond; 18th Pa., Lieut.-Col. William P. Brinton; 1st Vt., + Lieut.-Col. Addison W. Preston; 1st W. Va. (10 cos.), Col. Nathaniel + P. Richmond, Maj. Charles E. Capehart. _Second Brigade_, Brig.-Gen. + George A. Custer; 1st Mich., Col. George H. Town; 5th Mich., Col. + Russell A. Alger; 6th Mich., Col. George Gray; 7th Mich. (10 cos.), + Col. William D. Mann. + + HORSE ARTILLERY:--_First Brigade_, Capt. James M. Robertson; 9th Mich. + Batt., Capt. Jabez J. Daniels; 6th N. Y. Batt., Capt. Joseph W. + Martin; 2d U. S., Batts. B and L, Lieut. Edward Heaton; 2d U. S., + Batt. M, Lieut. A. C. M. Pennington, Jr.; 4th U. S., Batt. E, Lieut. + Samuel S. Elder. _Second Brigade_, Capt. John C. Tidball; 1st U. S., + Batts. E and G, Capt. Alanson M. Randol; 1st U. S., Batt. K, Capt. + William M. Graham; 2d U. S., Batt. A, Lieut. John H. Calef; 3d U. S., + Batt. C., Lieut. William D. Fuller.[173] + + ARTILLERY RESERVE, Brig.-Gen. Robert O. Tyler, Capt. James M. + Robertson. _Head-quarters Guard_, 32d Mass. Inf., Co. C, Capt. Josiah + C. Fuller. _First Regular Brigade_, Capt. Dunbar R. Ransom; 1st U. S., + Batt. H, Lieut. Chandler P. Eakin, Lieut. Philip D. Mason; 3d U. S., + Batts. F and K, Lieut. John G. Turnbull; 4th U. S., Batt. C, Lieut. + Evan Thomas; 5th U. S., Batt. C, Lieut. Gulian V. Weir. _First + Volunteer Brigade_, Lieut.-Col. Freeman McGilvery; Mass. Light, 5th + Batt. (E),[174] Capt. Charles A. Phillips; Mass. Light, 9th Batt., + Capt. John Bigelow, Lieut. Richard S. Milton; N. Y. Light, 15th Batt., + Capt. Patrick Hart; Pa. Light, Batts. C and F, Capt. James Thompson. + _Second Volunteer Brigade_, Capt. Elijah D. Taft; 1st Conn. Heavy, + Batt. B,[175] Capt. Albert F. Brooker; 1st Conn. Heavy, Batt. M,[175] + Capt. Franklin A. Pratt; Conn. Light, 2d Batt., Capt. John W. + Sterling; N. Y. Light, 5th Batt., Capt. Elijah D. Taft. _Third + Volunteer Brigade_, Capt. James F. Huntington; N. H. Light, 1st Batt., + Capt. Frederick M. Edgell; 1st Ohio Light, Batt. H, Lieut. George W. + Norton; 1st Pa. Light, Batts. F and G, Capt. R. Bruce Ricketts; W. Va. + Light, Batt. C, Capt. Wallace Hill. _Fourth Volunteer Brigade_, Capt. + Robert H. Fitzhugh; Me. Light, 6th Batt. (F), Lieut. Edwin B. Dow; Md. + Light, Batt. A, Capt. James H. Rigby; N. J. Light, 1st Batt., Lieut. + Augustus N. Parsons; 1st N. Y. Light, Batt. G, Capt. Nelson Ames; 1st + N. Y. Light, Batt. K,[176] Capt. Robert H. Fitzhugh. _Train Guard_, + 4th N. J. Inf. (7 cos.), Maj. Charles Ewing. + + + PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS AND MILITIA. + + _Called into Service during the Gettysburg Campaign._[177] + + _Emergency Militia._--Ind. Co. Cav. (Murray Troop), Capt. Frank A. + Murray; Ind. Co. Cav. (First Philadelphia City Troop), Capt. Samuel J. + Randall; Ind. Co. Cav. (Luzerne Rangers), Capt. Henry H. Brown; Ind. + Co. Cav. (Wissahickon Cav.), Capt. Samuel W. Comly; Ind. Co. Cav. + (Continental Troop), Capt. Alban H. Myers; Ind. Co. Cav. (Curtin Horse + Guards), Capt. John W. Jones; Ind. Batt., Capt. E. Spencer Miller; + Ind. Batt., Capt. Henry D. Landis; 20th Inf., Col. William B. Thomas; + 26th Inf., Col. William W. Jennings; 27th Inf., Col. Jacob G. Frick; + 28th Inf., Col. James Chamberlin; 29th Inf., Col. Joseph W. Hawley; + 30th Inf., Col. William N. Monies; 31st Inf., Col. John Newkumet; 33d + Inf. (Blue Reserves), Col. William W. Taylor; Ind. Battn. Inf., + Lieut.-Col. Robert Litzinger; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. John Spear; Ind. + Co. Inf., Capt. William B. Mann; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. James B. German. + + _Ninety-Days' Militia._--1st Battn. Cav., Lieut.-Col. Richard F. + Mason; Ind. Co. Cav., Capt. James M. Bell; Ind. Co. Cav., Capt. + William B. Dick; Ind. Co. Cav. (Dana Troop), Capt. R. W. Hammell; Ind. + Batt., Capt. Joseph M. Knap; Ind. Batt., Capt. Benoni Frishmuth; Ind. + Batt., Capt. W. C. Ermentrout; Ind. Batt. (2d Keystone Batt.), Capt. + Edward Fitzki; Ind. Batt. (Chester Co. Art.), Capt. George R. Guss; + 32d Inf. (Gray Reserves), Col. Charles S. Smith; 34th Inf., Col. + Charles Albright; 35th Inf., Col. Henry B. McKean; 36th Inf., Col. + Henry C. Alleman; 37th Inf., Col. John Trout; 38th Inf., Col. Melchior + H. Horn; 39th Inf., Col. James Nagle; 40th Inf. (1st Coal Regt.), Col. + Alfred Day; 41st Inf., Col. Edward R. Mayer; 42d Inf., Col. Charles H. + Hunter; 43d Inf., Col. William W. Stott; 44th Inf. (Merchants' Regt.), + Col. Enos Woodward; 45th Inf., Col. James T. Clancy; 46th Inf., Col. + John J. Lawrence; 47th Inf., Col. James P. Wickersham; 48th Inf., Col. + John B. Embich; 49th Inf. (2d Corn Exchange), Col. Alexander Murphy; + 50th Inf., Col. Emlen Franklin; 51st Inf. (2d Coal Regt.), Col. + Oliver Hopkinson; 52d Inf. (2d Union League), Col. William A. Gray; + 53d Inf., Col. Henry Royer; 54th Inf., Col. Thomas F. Gallagher; 55th + Inf., Col. Robert B. McComb; 56th Inf., Col. Samuel B. Dick; 57th + Inf., Col. James R. Porter; 58th Inf., Col. George H. Bemus; 59th Inf. + (3d Union League), Col. George P. McLean; 60th Inf., Col. William F. + Small; Ind. Battn. Inf., Lieut.-Col. John McKeage; Ind. Co. Inf., + Capt. Joseph K. Helmbold; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. Horace A. Beale; Ind. + Co. Inf., Capt. Benjamin T. Green; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. David Mitchel; + Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. Osborn E. Stephens; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. William + F. Rich. + + _Six Months' Volunteers._--20th Cav., Col. John E. Wynkoop; 21st Cav., + Col. William H. Boyd; 22d Cav. (Battn.), Maj. B. Mortimer Morrow; 1st + Battn. Cav., Lieut.-Col. Richard C. Dale; Ind. Batt. (Park Batt.), + Capt. Horatio K. Tyler; Ind. Batt., Capt. W. H. Woodward; Ind. Batt., + Capt. Robert J. Nevin; 1st Battn. Inf., Lieut.-Col. Joseph F. Ramsey; + 2d Battn. Inf., Lieut.-Col. John C. Lininger; 3d Battn. Inf., + Lieut.-Col. T. Ellwood Zell; Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. Samuel T. Griffith; + Ind. Co. Inf., Capt. William M. Schrock. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE WAVE ROLLS BACK. + + Confederates retreat from Gettysburg--The Federals pursue--Crossing + the Potomac under Difficulties--Kilpatrick's Cavalry Dash on + Pettigrew's Command--General Lee thought to rest his Army in the + Valley of Virginia, but Meade followed too fast--Engagements that + harassed the Retreat--General Lee wished to be relieved of Command, + but President Davis would not consent to the Appointment of Joseph E. + Johnston or General Beauregard. + + +The armies rested on the "Fourth,"--one under the bright laurels secured +by the brave work of the day before, but in profound sorrow over the +silent forms of the host of comrades who had fallen during those three +fateful days, whose blood bathed the thirsty fields of Gettysburg, made +classic by the most stupendous clash of conflict of that long and +sanguinary war; while gentle rain came to mellow the sod that marked the +honored rest of friend and foe; the other, with broken spirits, turned +from fallen comrades to find safety away from the fields that had been so +promising of ennobling fruits. The enemy had cast his lines on grounds too +strong for lead and steel, and, exhausted alike of aggressive force and +means of protracted defence, there was nothing left for the vanquished but +to march for distant homeward lines. + +The cavalry left on the Blue Ridge joined the Confederate left late on the +afternoon of the 3d. Orders for retreat were issued before noon of the +4th, and trains of wounded and other impedimenta were put in motion by the +Chambersburg and Fairfield routes, the army to march after night by the +latter,--the Second Corps as rear-guard, the First to follow the Third and +push on to secure the crossings of the Potomac at Williamsport and Falling +Waters. It was daylight of the 5th when the road was open for the march +of the First, and a later hour of the morning before the Second could +follow. + +Pursuit was made by the enemy, led by cavalry and the Sixth Corps, and the +rear-guard had to deploy near Fairfield to check it. Rain was helping us. +Before the enemy could get through the mud and push his batteries over the +boggy fields, our trains had reached the mountain gorge, and the +rear-guard was on the march following. Direct pursuit of the solid ranks +was changed to march down the east of the mountains, but the firmer broad +road gave the Confederates easier march. Kilpatrick got his cavalry in on +the wagon-trains and destroyed a number, but did not delay the march of +the column. + +On this retreat the army, already crippled of its pride, was met by the +dispiriting news of another defeat at Vicksburg, which meant that the +Mississippi was free to the Federals from its source to the Gulf. +Diverting incidents occurred, but we were in poor mood for them. As we +approached Hagerstown, two grotesque figures stepped into the road about a +hundred yards in front of us,--one a negro of six feet and a hundred and +eighty pounds, the other a white man of about five feet seven. The negro +was dressed in full uniform of the Union infantry, the white man in +travel-stained butternut dry-goods. The negro had a musket on his +shoulder. Riding up to them, it was observed that the musket was at the +cock-notch. The negro was reminded that it was unsoldier-like to have the +gun at a cock, but said that he wanted to be ready to save and deliver his +prisoner to the guard; it was his proudest capture during the march, and +he wanted credit for it. The man was a recruit lately from abroad, and did +not seem to care whether or not he was with his comrades. However, there +were doubts if he understood a word that was said. The uniform was a tight +fit, and the shoes were evidently painful, but the black man said that he +could exchange them. He was probably the only man of the army who had a +proud story to take home. + +The Union cavalry came severely upon our left flank at Hagerstown, forcing +Stuart to call for infantry support. Parts of Semmes's and G. T. +Anderson's brigades were sent, crossed the Antietam, and had uncomfortable +experience with the horse artillery near Funkstown. They had dire +complaints to make of the way cavalrymen put them in columns of fours +against batteries, when they could have advanced more rapidly and +effectively in line of battle and saved half of their men lost. + +Halting for rest near Falling Waters, a sudden alarm was brought down the +road by a cavalryman riding at speed, who reported all of the enemy's +cavalry on a sweeping ride against us. The troops were thrown together to +wait, but the cavalry charge proved to be a carriage-load of lady +refugees. Some of the cavalry did get over upon the trains parked at +Williamsport, but there were many wounded near there who could handle +their muskets, many infantry up from Winchester, and some of Imboden's +cavalry, besides some batteries who held the ground, and Stuart eventually +got up, when the enemy drew off. + +On the 6th and 7th the commands were up, and deployed their lines from +Falling Waters to cover the bridge and ford at Williamsport. But the river +was full, past fording at Williamsport, and a raiding party from Harper's +Ferry had partially destroyed the bridge at Falling Waters. Infantry +trenches were made along the lines, batteries were put in position, and we +were ready in a day or two to receive our successful adversary. He found +some mud along his route, and was not up until the 12th, when he appeared +and spread his lines along the Confederate front, but positions were +changed,--he had the longer outer curve, while the Confederates were on +the concentrating inner lines. He made his field-works and other +arrangements, had some reinforcements since his battle, and was well +organized. + +On the forenoon of the 13th, General Lee sent for me, and announced that +the river was fordable and the bridge repaired, that the trains would be +started at once, and the troops would follow when night could conceal the +move. The First and Third Corps were to cross by the bridge, the Second by +the ford. As the lines were comfortable, the roads heavy, it occurred to +me that the hurried move during a single night would be troublesome; +suggestion was offered that the trains and wounded should move over during +the night, and give us easy march the next night, but the waters on the +other side were high, and only enough mills running to supply food from +day to day, and the weather treacherous, so the general thought it better +to hurry on. The march by the Williamsport crossing over the firm, broad +turnpike was made without trouble. The route to the bridge was over a new +road; at the ends of the bridge were green willow poles to prevent the +wheels cutting through the mud, but the soil underneath was wet and soggy +under the long season of rain, and before night rain again began to fall. + +General Lee, worn by the strain of the past two weeks, asked me to remain +at the bridge and look to the work of the night. And such a night is +seldom experienced even in the rough life of the soldier. The rain fell in +showers, sometimes in blinding sheets, during the entire night; the wagons +cut deep in the mud during the early hours, and began to "stall" going +down the hill, and one or two of the batteries were "stalled" before they +reached the bridge. The best standing points were ankle-deep in mud, and +the roads half-way to the knee, puddling and getting worse. We could only +keep three or four torches alight, and those were dimmed at times when +heavy rains came. Then, to crown our troubles, a load of the wounded came +down, missed the end of the bridge, and plunged the wagon into the raging +torrent. Right at the end of the bridge the water was three feet deep, and +the current swift and surging. It did not seem possible that a man could +be saved, but every one who could get through the mud and water rushed to +their relief, and Providence was there to bring tears of joy to the +sufferers. The wagon was righted and on the bridge and rolled off to +Virginia's banks. The ground under the poles became so puddled before +daylight that they would bend under the wheels and feet of the animals +until they could bend no farther, and then would occasionally slip to one +side far enough to spring up and catch a horse's foot and throw him +broadside in the puddled mud. Under the trials and vexations every one was +exhausted of patience, the general and staff were ready for a family +quarrel as the only relief for their pent-up trouble, when daylight came, +and with it General Lee to relieve and give us opportunity for a little +repose. + +The division of the Third Corps under General Pettigrew formed the rear of +the infantry line, which was to be covered by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry. But +the cavalry brigadier rode off and crossed the river, leaving, it is said, +a squadron for the duty, and the squadron followed the example of the +brigadier. The consequence was that when Kilpatrick's cavalry rode up it +was taken to be the Confederates ordered for their rear-guard. Instead of +friends, however, General Pettigrew found a foe. He was surprised by a +dashing cavalry charge, was wounded, and died after a few days. Some +artillery, three standards (of the Virginia infantry), and a large number +of prisoners were taken. General Meade claimed two thousand. + +General Lee thought to occupy the gaps of the Blue Ridge by his cavalry, +and rest his army in the Valley of Virginia, in threatening lines against +Washington City, but found the Shenandoah River full and past fording, and +before the tide began to recede General Meade crossed the Potomac east +of the Blue Ridge and began to occupy the gaps, which called for a +southern march of the Confederates. On the 19th my command was ordered to +Millwood to secure, if possible, Ashby's Gap, but as the enemy's cavalry +was on the opposite bank, and the waters were too high for us to get over, +we marched on to Manassas, then for Chester Gap. As high up as Front Royal +the river was found past fording, but part of a pontoon bridge was at +hand. General Corse, who had joined us, hurried and succeeded in getting +his brigade over in time to occupy Chester Gap, and putting his regiment +under Colonel Arthur Herbert in the west end of Manassas Gap. The balance +of Pickett's men crossed by putting the arms and ammunition in the boats, +the men swimming, and sent reinforcements to General Corse and Colonel +Herbert, when the enemy's cavalry withdrew. One bridge was laid and +spliced, and the march southward was resumed. + + +[Illustration: RETREAT FROM GETTYSBURG. ACCIDENT DURING THE NIGHT-CROSSING +OF THE POTOMAC ON A PONTOON BRIDGE.] + + +The next day another demonstration was made by the enemy's cavalry at +Manassas Gap, but Hood's division was there and McLaws's was at the +Chester Gap, where another heavy body of cavalry approached. An effort was +made to get behind the latter by hidden lines of march, but the plan of +catching cavalry with infantry was not successful, though General Wofford +thought for a time that his trap was well laid. The march was continued, +and the head of the column reached Culpeper Court-House on the 24th. +Benning's brigade, left on guard at Gaines's Cross-Roads till the Third +Corps could relieve him, was attacked by a strong cavalry force. On the +approach of the Third Corps he thought to organize, with General A. P. +Hill, another plan to entrap the cavalry in a thick wood, but the riders +found little difficulty in getting away. General Ewell was detained a +little, and found, upon approaching Front Royal, that General Wright's +brigade, left there to hold the gaps for him, was engaged in skirmishing +with the enemy's infantry. He reinforced the brigade, held the enemy +back, then changed his march west, crossed the Blue Ridge at Thornton's +Gap, and ordered Early's division, that was not yet up, through the Valley +by Strasburg. He reached Madison Court-House on the 29th. + +General Meade got his army together near Warrenton on the 31st of July, +and ordered a detachment of artillery, cavalry, and infantry across the +Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford and the railroad bridge. The command drove +our cavalry back till it was reinforced by infantry, when the enemy was +pushed back beyond Brandy Station. + +General Ewell was called down from Madison Court-House, behind the +Rapidan, and the First and Third Corps were marched into position behind +the river on the 3d of August, leaving the cavalry at Culpeper +Court-House. + +General Lee suffered during the campaign from his old trouble, sciatica, +and as soon as he found rest for his army applied to the authorities for a +change of commanders. The President refused, pleading that he had no one +to take his place. At the time he had two generals of his own choosing who +were not in authority adequate to their rank,--Joseph E. Johnston, the +foremost soldier of the South, who had commanded the army from its +organization until he was wounded at Seven Pines, and G. T. Beauregard, +the hero of Sumter and the first Bull Run, well equipped and qualified for +high command. But the President was jealous of Johnston, and nourished +prejudice against Beauregard. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +LONGSTREET MOVES TO GEORGIA. + + The Author reverts to the Perils and Opportunities in the + West--Proposes to the Secretary of War to reinforce against Rosecrans + from the Army of Northern Virginia--Makes Plan known to General + Lee--The Move finally effected--Difficulties of Transportation--A + Roundabout Route--General Longstreet narrowly escapes capture when + seeking Bragg's Head-quarters--General Bragg assigns Longstreet to + Command of the Left--Instructions for the Battle of Chickamauga--The + Armies in Position--Federals in Command of Generals Rosecrans, + Crittenden, McCook, and George H. Thomas. + + +While the army was lying idle on the south bank of the Rapidan my mind +reverted to affairs in the West, and especially to the progressive work of +the Union army in Tennessee towards the northern borders of Georgia. Other +armies of the South were, apparently, spectators, viewing those tremendous +threatenings without thought of turning minds or forces to arrest the +march of Rosecrans. + +To me the emergency seemed so grave that I decided to write the Honorable +Secretary of War (excusing the informality under the privilege given in +his request in May) expressing my opinion of affairs in that military +zone. I said that the successful march of General Rosecrans's army through +Georgia would virtually be the finishing stroke of the war; that in the +fall of Vicksburg and the free flow of the Mississippi River the lungs of +the Confederacy were lost; that the impending march would cut through the +heart of the South, and leave but little time for the dissolution; that to +my mind the remedy was to order the Army of Northern Virginia to defensive +work, and send detachments to reinforce the army in Tennessee; to call +detachments of other commands to the same service, and strike a crushing +blow against General Rosecrans before he could receive reinforcing help; +that our interior lines gave the opportunity, and it was only by the +skilful use of them that we could reasonably hope to equalize our power to +that of the better-equipped adversary; that the subject had not been +mentioned to my commander, because like all others he was opposed to +having important detachments of his army so far beyond his reach; that all +must realize that our affairs were languishing, and that the only hope of +reviving the waning cause was through the advantage of interior lines. + +A few days after the letter was despatched the subject happened up while +discussing affairs with General Lee, when I felt warranted in expressing +my views and relieving my mind of the serious apprehensions that haunted +me. He inquired if I was willing to go West and take charge there. To that +I consented, provided the change could be so arranged as to give me an +opportunity, by careful handling of the troops before accepting battle, to +gain their confidence; providing, at the same time, that means could be +arranged for further aggressive march in case of success. + +At that time the railway passing our camps on the Rapidan through Virginia +and East Tennessee to Chattanooga was open and in good working order. +General Bragg's army was near Chattanooga, General Buckner's in East +Tennessee, near Knoxville, General Samuel Jones's army, or parts of an +army, in Southwest Virginia. There was but one railway,--from Cincinnati +_via_ Louisville and Nashville to Chattanooga. On that road General +Rosecrans was marching against General Bragg. On the direct route to East +Tennessee over the Cumberland Mountains General Burnside was moving into +East Tennessee against General Buckner's forces. + +A few days after the conversation with General Lee, he was called down to +Richmond. In the course of a week he wrote, viz.: + + "[Confidential.] + + "RICHMOND, August 31, 1863. + + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL J. LONGSTREET, + "_Head-quarters Army of Northern Virginia_: + + "GENERAL,--I have wished for several days past to return to the army, + but have been detained by the President. He will not listen to my + proposition to leave to-morrow. I hope you will use every exertion to + prepare the army for offensive operations, and improve the condition + of our men and animals. I can see nothing better to be done than to + endeavor to bring General Meade out and use our efforts to crush his + army while in its present condition. + + * * * * * + + "Very respectfully and truly yours, + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_." + + + REPLY. + + "HEAD-QUARTERS, September 2, 1863. + + "GENERAL R. E. LEE, + "_Commanding_: + + "GENERAL,--Your letter of the 31st is received. I have expressed to + Generals Ewell and Hill your wishes, and am doing all that can be done + to be well prepared with my own command. Our greatest difficulty will + be in preparing our animals. I do not see that we can reasonably hope + to accomplish much by offensive operations, unless you are strong + enough to cross the Potomac. If we advance to meet the enemy on this + side he will in all probability go into one of his many fortified + positions. These we cannot afford to attack. + + "I know but little of the condition of our affairs in the West, but am + inclined to the opinion that our best opportunity for great results is + in Tennessee. If we could hold the defensive here with two corps and + send the other to operate in Tennessee with that army, I think that we + could accomplish more than by an advance from here. + + * * * * * + + "I remain, general, very respectfully, + "Your obedient servant, + "JAMES LONGSTREET, + "_Lieutenant-General_." + +General Lee next wrote to inquire as to the time necessary for the +movement of my corps into Tennessee. As there were but two divisions, +McLaws's and Hood's, and Alexander's batteries, two days was supposed to +be ample time. The transportation was ordered by the quartermaster's +department at Richmond, and the divisions were made ready to board the +trains as soon as they could reach us. + +The success of the plan was thought from the first to depend upon its +prompt and vigorous execution, and it was under those conditions that +General Lee agreed to reinforce the army in Tennessee, together with the +assurance that vigorous pursuit, even to the Ohio River, should follow +success. The onward march was repeatedly urged, not only in return for the +use of part of the army, but to relieve General Lee of apprehension from +the army in front of him; but it was not until the 9th of September that +the first train came to Orange Court-House to start with its load of +troops. Meanwhile, General Buckner had left his post in East Tennessee and +marched south to draw nearer the army under General Bragg about +Chattanooga, leaving nothing of his command in East Tennessee except two +thousand men at Cumberland Gap, under General Frazer, partially fortified. +General Burnside had crossed the mountains, and was not only in East +Tennessee, but on that very day General Frazer surrendered to him his +command at Cumberland Gap without a fight. + +These facts were known to the Richmond authorities at the time of our +movements, but not to General Lee or myself until the move was so far +advanced as to prevent recall. So that we were obliged to make the circuit +through the Carolinas to Augusta, Georgia, and up by the railroad, thence +through Atlanta to Dalton and Ringgold. It was the only route of transit +left us. There were two routes between Richmond and Augusta, one _via_ +Wilmington, the other through Charlotte, North Carolina, but only a single +track from Augusta to Chattanooga. The gauges of the roads were not +uniform, nor did the roads connect at the cities (except by drays and +other such conveyances). The roads had not been heavily worked before the +war, so that their rolling stock was light and limited. + +Instead of two days of moving, it was not until the 25th that our +artillery joined us near Chattanooga. Hood's division was first shipped, +and three brigades, or the greater part of three, were landed at the +railroad station, and joined General Bragg's army on the 18th and 19th of +September, but that army had been manoeuvred and flanked out of +Chattanooga, Buckner's out of East Tennessee, and both were together down +below the borders of Georgia. + +As I left General Lee's tent, after bidding him good-by, he walked out +with me to my horse. As my foot was in the stirrup he said again, "Now, +general, you must beat those people out in the West." Withdrawing my foot +to respectful position I promised, "If I live; but I would not give a +single man of my command for a fruitless victory." He promised again that +it should be so; said that arrangements had been made that any success +that we had would be followed; that orders to that effect had been given; +that transportation was also ordered to be prepared, and the orders would +be repeated. + +While the troops were in transit, Jenkins's South Carolina brigade was +transferred to Hood's division, so that we had two South Carolina and four +Georgia brigades of the two divisions, which gave us some little trouble +in keeping our men on the cars passing by their homes. The people crowded +every station to give us their all in most acceptable rations, and to +cheer us with wishes for a happy issue. + +The train upon which I rode reached Catoosa about two o'clock of the +afternoon of the 19th of September. That upon which our horses were came +up at four o'clock. Only part of the staff of the corps was with me, and +General Alexander was with his batteries far away in South Carolina. As +soon as our horses could be saddled we started, Lieutenant-Colonels Sorrel +and Manning and myself, to find the head-quarters of the commanding +general. We were told to follow the main road, and did so, though there +were many men coming into that road from our right bearing the wounded of +the day's battle; the firing was still heard off to the right, and wagons +were going and coming, indicating our nearness to the field. Nothing else +occurring to suggest a change of the directions given us, we followed the +main road. + +It was a bright moonlight night, and the woodlands on the sides of the +broad highway were quite open, so that we could see and be seen. After a +time we were challenged by an outlying guard, "Who comes there?" We +answered, "Friends." The answer was not altogether satisfying to the +guard, and after a very short parley we asked what troops they were, when +the answer gave the number of the brigade and of the division. As Southern +brigades were called for their commanders more than by their numbers, we +concluded that these friends were the enemy. There were, too, some +suspicious obstructions across the road in front of us, and altogether the +situation did not look inviting. The moon was so bright that it did not +seem prudent to turn and ride back under the fire that we knew would be +opened on us, so I said, loudly, so that the guard could hear, "Let us +ride down a little way to find a better crossing." Riding a few rods +brought us under cover and protection of large trees, sufficiently shading +our retreat to enable us to ride quietly to the rear and take the road +over which we had seen so many men and vehicles passing while on our first +ride. + +We reached General Bragg's head-quarters at eleven o'clock, reported, and +received orders, which he had previously given other commanders, for +attack early in the morning. Our bivouac was made near the general +head-quarters, and we rode at daylight to find the troops. Hood's +brigades that had arrived before us had been at work with the left of the +army, which was assigned as my command. Lieutenant-General Polk was +commanding the right wing. + +Two brigades of McLaws's division, Kershaw's and Humphreys's, came in the +afternoon, and marched during the night and across the Chickamauga River. + +The army had forced its way across the Chickamauga under severe +skirmishes, little less than a battle, during the greater part of the +19th, and some of the commands had been engaged on the 18th working on the +same plan. + +The written order giving the plan was issued on the 18th. In general +terms, it was to cross the Chickamauga, strike the enemy's left, and roll +it back on his right by a wheel to the left so as to come in between the +enemy and Chattanooga. The work had been so persistent and assiduous +during part of the 18th and all of the 19th, that General Rosecrans came +to understand the plan as well as his adversary, and to arrange +accordingly. + +With my instructions for the 20th the commanding general gave me a map +showing prominent topographical features of the grounds from the +Chickamauga River to Mission Ridge, and beyond to the Lookout Mountain +range. + +At early dawn I found the left wing. It was composed of Buckner's corps +(Stewart's and Preston's divisions), a new division under General Bushrod +R. Johnson, the division of General T. C. Hindman, and three of Hood's +brigades. Buckner's corps had been cut in two. His division on the right +of the left wing was under General Stewart, while Preston's division, on +the extreme left, on the bank of the Chickamauga, was assigned, by the +order for battle, as the pivot upon which the battle should wheel. The +commands stood: Stewart's, Johnson's, Hindman's, and Preston's divisions; +Hood's brigades in rear of Johnson's line. General Buckner reported his +artillery as amounting to about thirty guns. Three batteries were +reported, of four guns each, with Hindman's division, Johnson's and Hood's +commands being without artillery. The brigades of Kershaw and Humphreys +were ordered, with Hood's, to be used as a column of assault, by brigades, +at a hundred paces interval. + +As the battle was ordered for daylight, it seemed too late to draw +Buckner's divisions into reciprocal relations, and we had yet to find the +right wing. As it was not in touch or sight, General Stewart was ordered +to find it. He marched about half a mile to his right and found that he +was nearly half a mile in advance of the right wing. His move made place +for Hood's column, which was called to the line, and General Stewart broke +his right to rear to guard that flank until the right wing could get to +the front. The divisions were formed in two lines, two brigades on the +front line, others of the second line in support, except Hood's five +brigades in column. General McLaws and two of his brigades, two of Hood's, +and Alexander's artillery were on the rails, speeding for the battle as +fast as steam could carry them, but failed to reach it. When organized for +battle the left wing stood about three hundred yards east of the +Lafayette-Chattanooga dirt road. As the battle was ordered for wheel to +the left on Preston's division as pivot, his (Trigg's) brigade was +echeloned on the left of Hindman's division. The purpose of the commander +in ordering the wheel on the left as pivot was to push in, from the start, +between the enemy and his new base at Chattanooga. + +No chief of artillery for the command reported, and a brief search failed +to find one. The field, so far as it could be surveyed, however, was not a +field, proper, but a heavy woodland, not adapted to the practice of +artillery. The hour of battle was at hand, but the right wing was not yet +organized. Some of the troops were without rations, their wagons, having +lost the lines of march through the woodlands, failing to reach them until +after daylight, when they were further delayed cooking their food. + +The right wing was formed of D. H. Hill's corps, Breckenridge's and +Cleburne's divisions, W. H. T. Walker's corps of Walker's and Liddell's +divisions, Cheatham's division of Polk's corps, artillery battalions of +Majors Melancthon Smith, T. R. Hotchkiss, and R. E. Groves, and batteries +of Lieutenant R. T. Beauregard, Captain E. P. Howell, Captain W. H. +Fowler, and Lieutenant Shannon. + +As it formed it stood with D. H. Hill's corps on the right, Breckenridge's +and Cleburne's divisions from right to left, Cheatham's division on the +left of Cleburne's rear, and Walker's reserve corps behind Hill's corps; +but when arranged for battle it was about half a mile in rear of the line +upon which the left wing was established. The Confederate commander rode +early in the morning to hear the opening of the battle. As the sounds +failed to reach him, he became anxious, sent orders of inquiry for the +cause of delay, and repeated his orders for attack, and finally rode to +his right wing and gave peremptory orders. + +Marching through the woods to line up on the left wing, the left of the +right wing was found to overlap my division on the right, yet our extreme +right was found to overreach the left of the enemy's field-works by two +brigades, and reconnoissance found the road between the enemy and +Chattanooga open and free of obstructions or troops to defend it. On the +right of Breckenridge's division was Armstrong's division of cavalry +dismounted, and beyond his right was Forrest's other division of cavalry, +Pegram's. Some miles off from our left was Wheeler's division of cavalry, +under Wharton and Martin. + +The Union army from left to right was: first the Fourteenth Corps, General +George H. Thomas commanding, four divisions,--Baird's division on the +left, then Reynolds's and Brannan's, the latter retired to position of +reserve, and Negley's. (The last named had been left, on the night of the +19th, on guard near the Glen House, but was ordered early on the 20th to +join General Thomas, and one of the brigades did move promptly under the +order; the other brigades (two) failed to receive the order.) Then the +Twentieth Corps, three divisions,--Jefferson C. Davis's, R. W. Johnson's, +and P. H. Sheridan's,--on the right, General A. McD. McCook commanding the +corps. Next was the Twenty-first Corps, three divisions,--T. J. Wood's, J. +M. Palmer's, and H. P. Van Cleve's,--General T. L. Crittenden commanding +the corps. It was in position on the east slope of Mission Ridge, ordered +to be prepared to support the corps of the right or left, or both; one of +its brigades had been left to occupy Chattanooga. Wilder's mounted +infantry, on the right of the Twentieth Corps, was ordered to report to +the commander of that corps for the day's work. A reserve corps under +General Gordon Granger was off the left of the Union army to cover the gap +in Mission Ridge at Rossville and the road from the Union left to that +gap. Minty's cavalry was with this corps, and posted at Mission Mills. +General Granger had Steedman's division of two brigades and a brigade +under Colonel D. McCook. General R. B. Mitchell, commanding Union cavalry, +was on their right at Crawfish Springs, with orders to hold the crossings +of the Chickamauga against the Confederate cavalry. + +It seems that parts of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps, Johnson's and +Van Cleve's divisions, were under General Thomas in the fight of his left +on the 19th, and remained with him on the 20th. The purpose of the posting +of the Union army was to hold open its routes for Chattanooga by the +Rossville and Dry Valley roads. As before stated, the Confederate +commander's design was to push in between the Union army and Chattanooga, +recover his lost ground, and cut the enemy's line of supplies. + +The commanders of the armies were on the field early on the 20th. The +failure of the opening of the Confederates at daylight gave opportunity +for a reconnoissance by light of day, by which it was learned that the +road from the Union left was open, not guarded nor under close +observation; but the commander ordered direct assault under the original +plan,--his back to the river, the Union army backing on Mission Ridge. The +Chickamauga River, rising from the mountains south, flows in its general +course a little east of north to conflux with the Tennessee River. The +Ridge runs nearly parallel with the river, and opens up a valley a mile +wide. It is a bold outcropping of limestone about one hundred feet above +the valley, with occasional passes, or gaps, that are strong points of +guard for defence. Four miles northwest from the Union left was the gap at +Rossville, called for the old Cherokee chief. On its right was the pass of +the Dry Valley road, and immediately in its rear was the McFarland Gap. +The line of the Lafayette road lies about parallel with the Ridge to +within a mile of the Union left, when it bends westward and leads to the +Rossville Gap. The Dry Valley road crosses the Chickamauga at Glass's +Mills, courses along the east slope of the Ridge, crosses it, and joins on +the west the road that crosses at the McFarland Gap. + +The Union left was east of the Chattanooga-Rossville road, but crossed the +road to the west and formed in broken front. The left and right of +Thomas's line was retired or broken to the rear. The Union commander rode +over his lines on the afternoon of the 19th and ordered his front covered +by such field-works as could be constructed during the night. + +General Thomas covered his lines by log and rail obstructions. The corps +of Rosecrans's right formed two lines of rail defences for infantry. The +batteries had the ascending slopes of the Ridge for positions, and their +field was more favorable otherwise for artillery practice than was that +of the Confederates advancing from the valley and more densely timbered +forests. They had two hundred and forty-six guns. The records do not give +satisfactory accounts of the number of Confederate guns, but they probably +numbered not less than two hundred. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. + + Tactical Features--The Battle opened by Direct Attack on the Federals + in the Early Morning of September 20--Repeated and Determined Front + Assaults--Brigadiers Helm killed and Adams wounded--The Union Commands + lay behind Defences--Hood's Brigades surged through the Forest against + the Covered Infantry and Artillery--Hood wounded--Longstreet suggests + a Plan for Progressive Action--Halting Tactics at High Tide of + Success--The Confederate Left fought a Separate Battle--General Thomas + retreats--First Confederate Victory in the West, and one of the + Bloodiest Battles of the War--Forces engaged--Losses. + + +Satisfied that the opening of the battle was to be the attack against his +left, the Union commander ordered Negley's division out from its position +near the Glen House to report to General Thomas and assist in meeting the +attack, but only Beattie's brigade was in time for that service, the other +brigades waiting to be relieved from their positions in line. Meanwhile, +Baird's left had been extended by Dodge's brigade of Johnson's division of +the Twentieth Corps. + +Before the Confederate commander engaged his battle he found the road +between the enemy's left and Chattanooga open, which gave him opportunity +to interpose or force the enemy from his works to open battle to save his +line. But he preferred his plan of direct attack as the armies stood, and +opened his battle by attack of the right wing at 9.30 A.M. of the 20th. He +was there, and put the corps under Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill to the +work. Breckenridge's and Cleburne's divisions, Breckenridge on the right, +overreached the enemy's left by two brigades, Stovall's and Adams's, but +the other brigade, Helm's, was marched through the wood into front assault +of the enemy behind his field-works. This brigade made desperate repeated +and gallant battle until the commander, Benjamin H. Helm, one of the most +promising brigadiers, was killed, when its aggressive work was suspended. + +The other brigades crossed the Chattanooga road, changed front, and bore +down against the enemy's left. This gave them favorable ground and +position. They made resolute attack against Baird's left, threatening his +rear, but he had troops at hand to meet them. They had a four-gun battery +of Slocum's of the Washington Artillery,[178] and encountered Dodge's +brigade and parts of Willick's, Berry's, and Stanley's, and superior +artillery. In the severe contention General Adams fell seriously hurt, and +the brigades were eventually forced back to and across the road, leaving +General Adams on the field. + +A separate attack was then made by Cleburne's division, the brigades of +Polk and Wood assaulting the breastworks held by the divisions of Johnson +and Palmer. These brigades, after severe fight, were repulsed, and their +positions were covered by Deshler's brigade. General Deshler received a +mortal wound from a fragment of shell, leaving the brigade in the hands of +the gallant Colonel Roger Q. Mills (our afterwards distinguished +statesman). General Thomas called repeatedly for reinforcements, and +received assurances that they were coming, even to include the army if +necessary to hold the left. + +Johnson's brigade of Cheatham's division was ordered to support the +brigade under Colonel Mills, and the reserve corps under General W. H. T. +Walker (Gist's and Liddell's divisions) was ordered into the Breckenridge +battle, Gist's brigade against the left angle of the breastworks, and +Walthall's to the place of Cleburne's division. The other brigade of +Gist's division supported the battle of his own brigade, and General +Liddell was ordered with Govan's brigade to advance, passing beyond the +enemy's left to the Chattanooga road, and wheel to the left against his +left rear. The troops, without exception, made a brave, desperate fight, +but were unsuccessful, and forced to suspend aggressive work. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. Sept. 19th and 20th, 1863] + + +As the grand wheel to the left did not progress, I sent, at eleven +o'clock, to say to General Bragg that my column of attack could probably +break the enemy's line if he cared to have it go in. Before answer came, +General Stewart, commanding my right division, received a message from +General Bragg to go in and attack by his division, and reported that the +Confederate commander had sent similar orders to all division commanders. +He advanced, and by his severe battle caused the Union reserve division +under General Brannan to be drawn to the support of that front, and this +attack, with that of the divisions of our right against those of Baird, +Johnson, Palmer, and Reynolds, so disturbed General Thomas that other +reinforcements were called to support his defence. + +General Stewart was in hot engagement before word reached me that the +battle had been put in the hands of division commanders; but my orders +reached General Hood in time to hold him and commanders on his left before +he received notice from the commanding general, and the brigades of +Kershaw and Humphreys were ordered nearer the rear of his column. The +divisions of B. R. Johnson and Hindman were ordered to follow in close +echelon on Hood's left. Buckner's pivoting division under Preston was left +to the position to which the Confederate chief had assigned it. + +In our immediate front were the parts of the Twentieth and Twenty-first +Corps in two lines covered by rail defences and well-posted batteries. At +the early surging of his lines through the forest, General Hood came under +the fire of this formidable array of artillery and infantry, and found his +lines staggering under their galling missiles, and fast losing strength as +the fire thickened. His leading brigade was decimated, but his others +pushed to the front to take and pursue the assault. The divisions of B. R. +Johnson and Hindman were pressed hard on Hood's left, and the brigades of +Kershaw and Humphreys closed to his support, when a bold push gave us the +first line of the enemy and a large number of his guns; but General Hood +was fearfully wounded, supposed to be fatally; General Benning, of his +"Rock Brigade," lost his horse, and thought General Hood was killed. He +cut a horse loose from a captured gun, mounted, and using part of a rope +trace as his riding whip, rode to meet me and report disaster. He had lost +his hat in the melee, and the brigade disappeared under the steady +crushing fire so quickly that he was a little surprised. He reported, +"General Hood killed, my horse killed, my brigade torn to pieces, and I +haven't a man left." I asked if he didn't think he could find one man. The +question or the manner seemed to quiet somewhat his apprehensions and +brought affirmative answer, when he was told to collect his men and join +us at the front; that we had broken and carried the first line; that +Johnson's division, on his left, was then in the breach and pushing on, +with Hindman on his left, spreading battle to the enemy's limits; that +Stewart's division would hold it on our right, and the brigades of Kershaw +and Humphreys then on the quick step would be with us in a minute and help +restore the battle to good organization. Just then these two brigades +burst through the brush in cheerful, gallant march, and brought him back +to his usual courageous, hopeful confidence. + +As we approached a second line, Johnson's division happened to strike it +while in the act of changing position of some of the troops, charged upon +and carried it, capturing some artillery, Hood's and Hindman's troops +pressing in close connection. This attack forced the parts of the +Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps from that part of the field, back over +Missionary Ridge, in disordered retreat, and part of Negley's division of +the Fourteenth Corps by the same impulsion. As our right wing had failed +of the progress anticipated, and had become fixed by the firm holding of +the enemy's left, we could find no practicable field for our work except +by a change of the order of battle from wheel to the left, to a swing to +the right on my division under General Stewart. The fire of the enemy off +my right readily drew Hood's brigades to that bearing. Johnson's and +Hindman's divisions were called to a similar move, and Buckner's pivotal +division under General Preston, but General Buckner objected to having his +left "in the air." + +Presently a discouraging account came from General Hindman, that in the +progress of his battle his left and rear had been struck by a formidable +force of cavalry; that Manigault's brigade was forced back in disorder, +and his other brigades exposed on their open left could not be handled. I +wrote him a note commending the brave work of his division, and +encouraging renewed efforts; urged him to have his brigades in hand, and +bring them around to close connection on Johnson's left. + +On the most open parts of the Confederate side of the field one's vision +could not reach farther than the length of a brigade. Trigg's brigade was +ordered to the relief of Manigault's, which had been forced back to the +Lafayette road, and the balance of Preston's division was ordered to +follow, if necessary, to support that part of the field, and our cavalry +far away from my left was called to clean it up and pursue the retreating +columns. It seems that Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry had struck +Manigault's left and put it back in disorder, and a brigade, or part of a +brigade, of cavalry coming against the rear, increased the confusion and +drove it back to the Lafayette road, when Trigg's brigade advanced to its +relief. The two put the attacking forces back until they found it +necessary to retire beyond the ridge and cover the withdrawal of trains +left exposed by the retreat of troops of the Twentieth and Twenty-first +Corps. General Hindman gathered his forces and marched for the left of +Johnson's division, and Preston's brigade under General Trigg was returned +to the point of its first holding. + +Our front, cleared of opposing forces, was soon changed forward, and +formed at right angle to its first line to seek the enemy's line standing +against our right wing. Calls were repeated for the cavalry to ride in +pursuit of the retreating forces, and guard the gaps of the ridge behind +the enemy standing in front of our right wing. In the new position of the +left wing its extreme left encountered the enemy rallying in strong +position that was heavily manned by field batteries. At the same time my +left was approaching the line of fire of one of our batteries of the right +wing. + +General Johnson thought that he had the key of the battle near Snodgrass +Hill. It was a key, but a rough one. He was ordered to reorganize his own +brigades and those of Hindman's division for renewed work; to advance a +line of skirmishers, and give time to the troops for refreshment, while I +rode along the line to observe the enemy and find relations with our right +wing. + +It was after one o'clock, and the hot and dry and dusty day made work +fatiguing. My lunch was called up and ordered spread at some convenient +point while I rode with General Buckner and the staffs to view the changed +conditions of the battle. I could see but little of the enemy's line, and +only knew of it by the occasional exchange of fire between the lines of +skirmishers, until we approached the angle of the lines. I passed the +right of our skirmishers, and, thinking I had passed the enemy's, rode +forward to be accurately assured, when I suddenly found myself under near +fire of his sharp-shooters concealed behind the trees and under the brush. +I saw enough, however, to mark the ground line of his field-works as +they were spread along the front of the right wing, and found that I was +very fortunate in having the forest to cover the ride back until out of +reach of their fire. In the absence of a chief of artillery, General +Buckner was asked to establish a twelve-gun battery on my right to +enfilade the enemy's works and line standing before our right wing, and +then I rode away to enjoy my spread of Nassau bacon and Georgia sweet +potatoes. We were not accustomed to potatoes of any kind in Virginia, and +thought we had a luxury, but it was very dry, as the river was a mile and +more from us, and other liquids were over the border. Then, before we had +half finished, our pleasures were interrupted by a fragment of shell that +came tearing through the woods, passed through a book in the hands of a +courier who sat on his horse hard by reading, and struck down our chief of +ordnance, Colonel P. T. Manning, gasping, as was supposed, in the +struggles of death. Friends sprang forward to look for the wound and to +give some aid and relief. In his hurry to enjoy and finish his lunch he +had just taken a large bite of sweet potato, which seemed to be +suffocating him. I suggested that it would be well to first relieve him of +the potato and give him a chance to breathe. This done, he revived, his +breath came freer, and he was soon on his feet ready to be conveyed to the +hospital. In a few days he was again on duty. + + +[Illustration: R. J. Moses. Chief of Subsistence Department, First Corps, +Army of Northern Virginia.] + + +After caring for and sending him off, and before we were through with our +lunch, General Bragg sent for me. He was some little distance in rear of +our new position. The change of the order of battle was explained, and the +necessity under which it came to be made. We had taken some thirty or more +field-pieces and a large number of small-arms, and thought that we had cut +off and put to disorder the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps that had +retreated through the pass of the Ridge by the Dry Valley road. He was +informed of orders given General Johnson for my left, and General Buckner +for a battery on the right. I then offered as suggestion of the way to +finish our work that he abandon the plan for battle by our right wing, or +hold it to defence, draw off a force from that front that had rested since +the left wing took up the battle, join them with the left wing, move +swiftly down the Dry Valley road, pursue the retreating forces, occupy the +gaps of the Ridge behind the enemy standing before our right, and call +that force to its own relief. + +He was disturbed by the failure of his plan and the severe repulse of his +right wing, and was little prepared to hear suggestions from subordinates +for other moves or progressive work. His words, as I recall them, were: +"There is not a man in the right wing who has any fight in him." From +accounts of his former operations I was prepared for halting work, but +this, when the battle was at its tide and in partial success, was a little +surprising. His humor, however, was such that his subordinate was at a +loss for a reopening of the discussion. He did not wait, nor did he +express approval or disapproval of the operations of the left wing, but +rode for his head-quarters at Reed's Bridge. + +There was nothing for the left wing to do but work along as best it could. +The right wing ceased its active battle as the left forced the enemy's +right centre, and the account of the commanding general was such as to +give little hope of his active use of it in supporting us. After his +lunch, General Johnson was ordered to make ready his own and Hindman's +brigades, to see that those of Hood's were in just connection with his +right, and await the opening of our battery. Preston's division was pulled +away from its mooring on the river bank to reinforce our worn battle.[179] +The battery not opening as promptly as expected, General Johnson was +finally ordered into _strong_, _steady_ battle. He pushed through part of +the woodland, drove back an array of artillery and the supporting +infantry, and gained other elevated ground. The sound of battle in his +rear, its fire drawing nearer, had attracted the attention of General +Granger of the reserve corps, and warned him that it was the opportunity +for his command. He marched, without orders, towards the noise, and passed +by the front of Forrest's cavalry and the front of our right wing, but no +report of his march was sent us. Day was on the wane. Night was advancing. +The sun dipped to the palisades of Lookout Mountain, when +Lieutenant-Colonel Claiborne reported that the cavalry was not riding in +response to my calls. He was asked to repeat the order _in writing_, and +despatched as follows: + + "BATTLE-FIELD, September 20, 1863, 5.09 P.M. + + "GENERAL WHEELER: + + "Lieutenant-General Longstreet orders you to proceed down the road + towards the enemy's right, and with your artillery endeavor to + enfilade his line, with celerity. + + "By order of Lieutenant-General Longstreet. + + "THOMAS CLAIBORNE, + "_Lieutenant-Colonel Cavalry_." + +Then our foot-scouts reported that there was nothing on the road taken by +the enemy's retreating columns but squads of footmen. Another written +order for the cavalry was despatched at 5.30.[180] + +General Preston reinforced us by his brigade under Gracie, pushed beyond +our battle, and gained a height and intervening dell before Snodgrass +Hill, but the enemy's reserve was on the hill, and full of fight, even to +the aggressive. We were pushed back through the valley and up the slope, +until General Preston succeeded in getting his brigade under Trigg to the +support. Our battery got up at last under Major Williams and opened its +destructive fire from eleven guns, which presently convinced General +Thomas that his position was no longer tenable. He drew Reynolds's +division from its trenches near the angle, for assignment as rear-guard. +Lieutenant-Colonel Sorrel, of the staff, reported this move, and was sent +with orders to General Stewart to strike down against the enemy's moving +forces. It seems that at the same time Liddell's division of the extreme +right of our right wing was ordered against the march of the reserves. +Stewart got into part of Reynolds's line and took several hundred +prisoners. Meanwhile, Reynolds was used in meeting the attack and driving +back the division of General Liddell. That accomplished, he was ordered to +position to cover the retreat. As no reports came to the left from the +commanding general or from the right wing, the repulse of Liddell's +division was thought to indicate the strong holding of the enemy along his +intrenched front line, and I thought that we should wait to finish the +battle on the morrow. + +The direct road to Chattanooga was practically closed. McFarland Gap, the +only _debouche_, was supposed to be occupied by the cavalry. Another blind +road was at the base of the mountain on its east side. During the +artillery practice the fire of some of the guns of our battery was turned +to the contest at Snodgrass Hill, which disturbed part of our infantry +fiercely struggling for that ground, and they complained, but the fire was +effective. As the woods were full of the enemy, a shot would find a mark. + +The intrenched line was crumbling faster than we supposed, and their +reserve was engaged in hot defensive battle to hold secure the Gap while +yet there were two hours of daylight. Had the four brigades of Cheatham's +division that had not been in action gone in at the same time as Liddell's +division, it is hardly possible that the Confederate commander could +have failed to find the enemy's empty lines along the front of his right +wing, and called both wings into a grand final sweep of the field to the +capture of Thomas's command; but he was not present, and the condition of +affairs was embarrassing to the subordinate commanders. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. CONFEDERATES FLANKING THE UNION +FORCES.] + + +A reconnoissance made just before the first strokes of the morning +engagement discovered an open way around the enemy's left by turning his +intrenched line in reverse, which General Hill thought to utilize by +change of tactics, but General Bragg present, and advised of the +opportunity, preferred his tactics, and urged prompt execution. At the +later hour when Liddell's division was passed beyond the enemy's +intrenchments to strike at his reinforcing march under General Granger, +the subordinate of the right wing could not see how he was to be justified +in using a greater force in that direction, affairs of the wing being +similar to those of the opening, while the relations of the right and left +were in reverse of tactical orders; but a vigilant chief present and +caring for the weaker part of his battle, advised that the enemy was on +his last legs, with his reserves could well have sprung the right wing +into the opening beyond his right, securing crushing results. Earlier in +the afternoon he did send an order for renewed efforts of the right wing +under his plan of parallel assault, but the troops had tested the lines in +their first battle, and were not in condition for a third effort, at +parallel battle. + +The contention by our left wing was maintained as a separate and +independent battle. The last of my reserve, Trigg's brigade, gave us new +strength, and Preston gained Snodgrass Hill. The trampled ground and bushy +woods were left to those who were too much worn to escape the rapid +strides of the heroic Confederates. The left wing swept forward, and the +right sprang to the broad Chattanooga highway. Like magic the Union army +had melted away in our presence. A few hundred prisoners were picked up +by both wings as they met, to burst their throats in loud huzzas. The Army +of Tennessee knew how to enjoy its first grand victory. The dews of +twilight hung heavy about the trees as if to hold down the voice of +victory; but the two lines nearing as they advanced joined their +continuous shouts in increasing volume, not as the burstings from the +cannon's mouth, but in a tremendous swell of heroic harmony that seemed +almost to lift from their roots the great trees of the forest. + +Before greetings and congratulations upon the success had passed it was +night, and the mild beams of the quartering moon were more suggestive of +Venus than of Mars. The haversacks and ammunition supplies were ordered +replenished, and the Confederate army made its bivouac on the ground it +had gained in the first pronounced victory in the West, and one of the +most stubbornly contested battles of the war. + +Our cavalry had failed to close McFarland Gap, and through that General +Thomas made his march for the stand at Rossville Gap. + +It has been stated that this retreat was made under the orders of the +Union commander. General Thomas did, in fact, receive a message from his +chief a little after four o'clock, saying that he was riding to +Chattanooga to view the position there; that he, General Thomas, was left +in command of all of the organized forces, and should seek strong and +threatening position at Rossville, and send the other men back to +Chattanooga to be reorganized. This was a suggestion more than an order, +given under the conviction that the Confederates, having the Dry Valley +road, would pass the ridge to the west side, cut General Thomas off, and +strike his rear at pleasure. The order to command of the troops in action, +and the conditions referring to duties at Chattanooga, carried inferential +discretion. That General Thomas so construed it was evidenced by his +decision to hold "until nightfall if possible." But directly, under the +practice of our enfilading battery, he became convinced that it was not +possible, changed his purpose, and at 5.30 gave orders for his commanders +to prepare to retire, and called Reynolds's division from its trenches to +be posted as rear-guard to cover the retreat. + +General Granger was then engaged in severe contention against my left at +Snodgrass Hill. His march along the front of our cavalry and right wing +suggested the advance of Liddell's division to the Chattanooga road to try +to check it. The withdrawal of Reynolds's division was in season to aid in +driving Liddell's division back to its former ground. Reynolds was posted +on eminent ground as rear-guard, and organized retreat followed. It was +not until after sunset that Rosecrans's _order_ for retreat was issued, as +appears from the letter written from Rossville by General James A. +Garfield, chief of staff, dated 8.40, three hours and more after the move +was taken up, viz.: + + "Your order to retire to this place was received a little after sunset + and communicated to Generals Thomas and Granger. The troops are now + moving back, and will be here in good shape and strong position before + morning."[181] + +So events and the evidence seem conclusive that it was our artillery +practice that made the confusion of Chickamauga forests unbearable, and +enforced retreat before Rosecrans order was issued. + +The Union army and reserve had been fought, and by united efforts we held +the position at Snodgrass Hill, which covered McFarland Gap and the +retreat. There were yet five brigades of Confederates that had not been in +active battle. The Confederate commander was not present, and his next in +rank thought night pursuit without authority a heavy, unprofitable labor, +while a flank move, after a night's rest, seemed promising of more +important results. The Confederate chief did not even know of his victory +until the morning of the 21st, when, upon riding to his extreme right, he +found his commander at that point seeking the enemy in his immediate +front, and commended the officer upon his vigilance,--twelve hours after +the retreat of the enemy's forces. + +The forces engaged and their respective casualties follow: + + General Bragg's returns of the 20th of August--the + last of record--reported his aggregate of all arms 43,866 + + Reinforced from J. E. Johnston's army in August 9,000 + + Reinforced from J. E. Johnston's army in September + (Gregg and McNair) 2,500 + + Reinforced from General Lee's army, September 18 + and 19 (a large estimate) 5,000 + ------ + Total 60,366 + + Losses on the 18th and 19th 1,124 + ------ + Aggregate for battle on the 20th 59,242 + + General Rosecrans's return of September 20, 1863, + showed: Aggregate of infantry, equipped 46,561 + + Aggregate of cavalry, equipped 10,114 + + Aggregate of artillery, equipped 4,192 + ------ + Total 60,867 + ------ + Confederate losses (estimated; returns imperfect) 17,800 + + Union losses by returns (infantry, artillery, and cavalry) 16,550 + +The exceeding heaviness of these losses will be better understood, and the +desperate and bloody character of the Chickamauga battle more fully +appreciated, upon a little analysis. The battle, viewed from the +stand-point of the Union losses, was the fifth greatest of the war, +Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, and Chancellorsville alone +exceeding it, but each of these battles were of much longer time. Viewed +by comparison of Confederate losses, Chickamauga occupies similar +place--fifth--in the scale of magnitude among the battles of the war. + +But the sanguinary nature of the contention is best illustrated by a +simple suggestion of proportions. Official reports show that on both sides +the casualties--killed, wounded, and missing--embraced the enormous +proportion of thirty-three per cent. of the troops actually engaged. + +On the Union side there were over a score of regiments in which the losses +in this single fight exceeded 49.4 per cent., which was the heaviest loss +sustained by a German regiment at any time during the Franco-German war. +The "charge of the Light Brigade" at Balaklava has been made famous in +song and history, yet there were thirty Union regiments that each lost ten +per cent. more men at Chickamauga, and many Confederate regiments whose +mortality exceeded this. + +Longstreet's command in less than two hours lost nearly forty-four per +cent. of its strength, and of the troops opposed to a portion of their +splendid assaults, Steedman's and Brannan's commands lost respectively +forty-nine and thirty-eight in less than four hours, and single regiments +a far heavier percentage. + +Of the Confederate regiments sustaining the heaviest percentages of loss +(in killed, wounded, and missing,--the last a scarcely appreciable +fraction) the leading ones were: + + Regiment. Per cent. + Tenth Tennessee 68.0 + Fifth Georgia 61.1 + Second Tennessee 60.2 + Fifteenth and Thirty-seventh Tennessee 59.9 + Sixteenth Alabama 58.6 + Sixth and Ninth Tennessee 57.9 + Eighteenth Alabama 56.3 + Twenty-second Alabama 55.2 + Twenty-third Tennessee 54.1 + Twenty-ninth Mississippi 52.7 + Fifty-eighth Alabama 51.7 + Thirty-seventh Georgia 50.1 + Sixty-third Tennessee 49.7 + Forty-first Alabama 48.6 + Thirty-second Tennessee 48.3 + Twentieth Tennessee 48.0 + First Arkansas 45.1 + Ninth Kentucky 44.3 + +These are only a few of the cases in which it was possible to compute +percentages of casualties, the number of effectives taken into battle not +having been mentioned, but they serve to illustrate the sanguinary +severity of the fight and the heroism of the troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +FAILURE TO FOLLOW SUCCESS. + + Longstreet differs with General Bragg as to Movements of Pursuit--The + Confederates on Lookout Mountain--Federals gain Comfortable Positions + around it--Superior Officers of Bragg's Command call for his + Removal--Bragg seeks Scapegoats--President Davis visits the + Army--Tests the Temper of the Officers towards Bragg--He offers the + Command to Longstreet--He declines--His Reasons--General Bragg ignores + Signal-Service Reports and is surprised--General Joe Hooker's + Advance--Night Attack beyond Lookout Mountain--Colonel Bratton's + Clever Work--Review of the Western Movement and Combination--It should + have been effected in May instead of September--Inference as to + Results had the First Proposition been promptly acted upon. + + +About sunrise of the next morning, General Bragg rode to my bivouac, when +report was made to him of orders of the night before, to replenish +supplies and prepare to take up pursuit at daylight. He asked my views of +the next step to be taken, explaining that there were some defensive works +about Chattanooga to cover the enemy in that position. + +I knew nothing of the country except of its general geographical features, +but the hunt was up and on the go, when any move towards his rear was +safe, and a speedy one encouraging of great results. I suggested that we +cross the Tennessee River north of Chattanooga and march against the line +of the enemy's rear; that if, after so threatening as to throw General +Rosecrans to full retreat, we found it inconvenient to pursue him, we turn +back with part of the army and capture or disperse the Union army in East +Tennessee under General Burnside. He stated that he would follow that +course, ordered the right wing to march,[182] and the left wing to follow +as soon as the way was clear,--the left to care for the dead and wounded +during the wait. As it was night when the rear of the right wing stretched +out on the road, my march was not taken up until the morning of the 22d. +General McLaws joined me on the 21st with his other brigades, and General +Jenkins joined Hood's division. Afterwards G. T. Anderson's brigade joined +the latter. When our march reached General Bragg's head-quarters and +reported on the 22d, he gave me orders to direct a division from the line +of march to follow the enemy towards Chattanooga. + +When asked if he had abandoned the course upon which his march was +ordered, he said the people would be greatly gratified to know that his +army was marching through the streets of Chattanooga with bands of music +and salutations of the soldiers. I thought, and did not fail to say, that +it would give them greater pleasure to know that he had passed the +Tennessee River, turned the enemy out of Chattanooga in eager flight, to +save his rearward lines, whilst we marched hammering against the broken +flanks of his columns. But the cavalry had reported that the enemy was in +hurried and confused retreat, his trains crossing the river and passing +over the nose of Lookout Mountain in disorder. + +The praise of the inhabitants of a city so recently abandoned to the +enemy, and a parade through its streets with bands of music and flaunting +banners, were more alluring to a spirit eager for applause than was the +tedious march for fruition of our heavy labors. + +General Rosecrans prepared, no doubt, to continue his retreat, +anticipating our march towards his rear, but finding that we preferred +to lay our lines in front of him, concluded that it would be more +comfortable to rest at Chattanooga, reinforce, repair damages, and come to +meet us when ready for a new trial. + + +[Illustration: CONFEDERATES AROUND CHATTANOOGA 1863] + + +When General Bragg found that the enemy had changed his mind, and was not +inclined to continue his rearward march, he stretched his army in a +semicircle of six miles along the southeast front of Chattanooga, from the +base of Lookout Mountain on his left, to his right resting on the +Tennessee River, and ordered Alexander's batteries to the top of the +mountain, my command, McLaws's, Hood's, and Walker's divisions, occupying +the left of his line of investment. His plan was to shell the enemy from +his works by field batteries, but the works grew stronger from day to day +on all sides of the city. Our infantry was posted along the line, as +supports for the batteries, with orders not to assault unless especially +ordered. + +The northern point of Lookout Mountain, upon which Alexander's batteries +were posted, abuts upon the Tennessee River. The city lies east of the +abutment and nestles close under it. The base of the mountain has a steep, +rugged grade of five hundred feet above the plateau, and from its height +the mountain crops out into palisades of seven hundred feet. General +Alexander managed to drop an occasional shell or shot about the enemy's +lines by lifting the trails of his guns, but the fire of other batteries +was not effective. + +At the end of a week's practice the Confederate commander found the enemy +getting more comfortable in his works, and thought to break him up by a +grand cavalry raid. On the 30th he ordered General Wheeler to organize a +force of his effective mounts, cross the river, and ride against the +railway and such depots and supply-trains as he could reach. The cavalry +destroyed some wagon-trains and supplies, and gave the enemy more trouble +than the artillery practice, yet failed to convince him that it was time +to abandon his position, but, on the contrary, satisfied him that he was +safe from further serious trouble. + +At that time the shortest line of the enemy's haul of provisions from the +depot at Stevenson was along the road on the north bank of the river. The +Confederate chief conceived, as our cavalry ride had failed of effect, +that a line of sharp-shooters along the river on our side could break up +that line of travel, and ordered, on the 8th of October, a detail from my +command for that purpose. As the line was over the mountain about seven +miles beyond support, by a rugged road not practicable for artillery, I +ordered a brigade of infantry detailed to go over and protect the +sharp-shooters from surprise or capture. The detail fell upon Law's +brigade. The line for this practice extended from the east side of Lookout +Creek some ten miles down the river. The effect of the fire was about like +that of the cavalry raid. It simply put the enemy on shorter rations until +he could open another route for his trains. + +But more to be deplored than these novel modes of investment was the +condition of the Confederate army. After moving from Virginia to try to +relieve our comrades of the Army of Tennessee, we thought that we had +cause to complain that the fruits of our labor had been lost, but it soon +became manifest that the superior officers of that army themselves felt as +much aggrieved as we at the halting policy of their chief, and were +calling in letters and petitions for his removal. A number of them came to +have me write the President for them. As he had not called for my opinion +on military affairs since the Johnston conference of 1862, I could not +take that liberty, but promised to write to the Secretary of War and to +General Lee, who I thought could excuse me under the strained condition of +affairs. About the same time they framed and forwarded to the President a +petition praying for relief.[183] It was written by General D. H. Hill (as +he informed me since the war). + +While the superior officers were asking for relief, the Confederate +commander was busy looking along his lines for victims. Lieutenant-General +Polk was put under charges for failing to open the battle of the 20th at +daylight; Major-General Hindman was relieved under charges for conduct +before the battle, when his conduct of the battle with other commanders +would have relieved him of any previous misconduct, according to the +customs of war, and pursuit of others was getting warm. + +On the Union side the Washington authorities thought vindication +important, and Major-Generals McCook and Crittenden, of the Twentieth and +Twenty-first Corps, were relieved and went before a Court of Inquiry; also +one of the generals of division of the Fourteenth Corps. + +The President came to us on the 9th of October and called the commanders +of the army to meet him at General Bragg's office. After some talk, in the +presence of General Bragg, he made known the object of the call, and asked +the generals, in turn, their opinion of their commanding officer, +beginning with myself. It seemed rather a stretch of authority, even with +a President, and I gave an evasive answer and made an effort to turn the +channel of thought, but he would not be satisfied, and got back to his +question. The condition of the army was briefly referred to, and the +failure to make an effort to get the fruits of our success, when the +opinion was given, in substance, that our commander could be of greater +service elsewhere than at the head of the Army of Tennessee. Major-General +Buckner was called, and gave opinion somewhat similar. So did +Major-General Cheatham, who was then commanding the corps recently +commanded by Lieutenant-General Polk, and General D. H. Hill, who was +called last, agreed with emphasis to the views expressed by others. + +The next morning the President called me to private conference, and had an +all day talk. He thought to assign me to command, but the time had passed +for handling that army as an independent force. Regarding this question, +as considered in Virginia, it was understood that the assignment would be +made at once, and in time for opportunity to handle the army sufficiently +to gain the confidence of the officers and soldiers before offering or +accepting battle. The action was not taken, a battle had been made and +won, the army was then seriously entangled in a _quasi_ siege, the +officers and soldiers were disappointed, and disaffected in _morale_. +General Grant was moving his army to reinforce against us, and an +important part of the Union army of Virginia was moving to the same +purpose. + +In my judgment our last opportunity was lost when we failed to follow the +success at Chickamauga, and capture or disperse the Union army, and it +could not be just to the service or myself to call me to a position of +such responsibility. The army was part of General Joseph E. Johnston's +department, and could only be used in strong organization by him in +combining its operations with his other forces in Alabama and Mississippi. +I said that under him I could cheerfully work in any position.[184] The +suggestion of that name only served to increase his displeasure, and his +severe rebuke. + +I recognized the authority of his high position, but called to his mind +that neither his words nor his manner were so impressive as the dissolving +scenes that foreshadowed the dreadful end. He referred to his worry and +troubles with politicians and non-combatants. In that connection, I +suggested that all that the people asked for was success; with that the +talk of politicians would be as spiders' webs before him. And when +restored to his usual gracious calm I asked to have my resignation +accepted, to make place for some one who could better meet his ideas of +the important service. He objected that my troops would not be satisfied +with the change. I suggested a leave of absence, as winter was near, when +I would go to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and after the troops were +accustomed to their new commander, send in my written resignation, from +Texas, but he was not minded to accept that solution of the premises. + +Finally, I asked his aid in putting the divisions that were with me in +more efficient working order, by assigning a major-general to command +Hood's division. He had been so seriously crippled that he could not be in +condition to take the field again even if he recovered, and a commander +for the division was essential to its proper service. As he had no one, or +failed to name any one, for the place, I suggested the promotion of the +senior brigadier then in command of it, General M. Jenkins, who was a +bright, gallant, and efficient officer of more than two years' experience +in active warfare, loved by his troops, and all acquaintances as well. He +had been transferred, recently, by the War Department to the division, +upon application of General Hood, and in consequence there was some +feeling of rivalry between him and Brigadier-General Law, the next in +rank, who had served with the division since its organization, and had +commanded it at Gettysburg after General Hood was wounded, and after his +taking off in the battle of Chickamauga. The President referred to the +services of General Law with the division, but failed to indicate a +preference. I thought it unwise and not military to choose a junior for +assignment to command over his senior officers, and prejudicial to the +_esprit de corps_ and _morale_ of any army, except under most eminent +services, and in this instance where service, high military character, and +equipment were on the side of the senior it was more objectionable, but +consented that it would be better to have General Law promoted, and the +feeling of rivalry put at rest; General Jenkins's heart was in the +service, and could submit to anything that seemed best for its interests; +but the President was pleased to remain negative, and failed to assign a +commander. + +The interview was exciting, at times warm, but continued until Lookout +Mountain lifted above the sun to excuse my taking leave. The President +walked as far as the gate, gave his hand in his usual warm grasp, and +dismissed me with his gracious smile; but a bitter look lurking about its +margin, and the ground-swell, admonished me that clouds were gathering +about head-quarters of the First Corps even faster than those that told +the doom of the Southern cause. + +A day or two after this interview the President called the commanders to +meet him again at General Bragg's head-quarters. He expressed desire to +have the army pulled away from the lines around Chattanooga and put to +active work in the field, and called for suggestions and plans by which +that could be done, directing his appeal, apparently, to me as first to +reply. + +I suggested a change of base to Rome, Georgia, a march of the army to the +railway bridge of the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, and the crossing of +the river as an easy move,--one that would cut the enemy's rearward line, +interrupt his supply train, put us between his army at Chattanooga and the +reinforcements moving to join him, and force him to precipitate battle or +retreat. + +General Bragg proposed that we march up and cross the river and swing +around towards the enemy's rear and force him out by that means. No other +plans were offered, nor did other officers express preference for either +of the plans that were submitted. + +Maps were called for and demonstrations given of the two plans, when the +President ordered the move to be made by the change of base to Rome, and +in a day or two took leave of us. He had brought General Pemberton with +him to assign to the corps left by General Polk, but changed his mind. +General D. H. Hill was relieved of duty; after a time General Buckner took +a leave of absence, and General Hardee relieved General Cheatham of +command of the corps left to him by General Polk. + +About this time General Lee wrote me, alluding to the presence of the +President, the questions under consideration, my proposition for him to +leave the army in Virginia in other hands and come West to grander, more +important fields, to his purpose in sending me West to be assigned to +command them, and expressing anticipation of my return to Virginia.[185] + +The President left the army more despondent than he found it. General +Pemberton's misfortune at Vicksburg gave rise to severe prejudice of the +people and the army, and when the troops heard of the purpose of the +President to assign him to command of Polk's corps, parts of the army were +so near to mutiny that he concluded to call General Hardee to that +command. A few days after he left us a severe season of rain set in, and +our commander used the muddy roads to excuse his failure to execute the +campaign that the President had ordered. + +Late on the 20th of September and during the 21st, General Rosecrans +reported his condition deplorable, and expressed doubt of his holding at +Chattanooga, and called to General Burnside in East Tennessee, to whom he +looked for aid; but finding only feeble efforts to follow our success he +recovered hope, prepared defensive works, and was looking to renewal of +his aggressive work when he was relieved. + +From accounts made public since the war it appears that his animals were +so reduced from want of forage at the time of the October rains that +General Rosecrans could not move his artillery over the muddy roads, which +suggests mention that the campaign ordered by the President for the change +of base could have forced him from his works in his crippled condition, +and given us comfortable operations between him and his reinforcements +coming from Virginia and Mississippi. + +In his official account, General Bragg said that the road on the south +side was left under my command, which is misleading. My command--three +divisions--was on his line of investment, east of the city and of the +mountain; the road was west of the mountain from six to twenty miles from +the command. We were in support of his batteries, to be ready for action +at the moment his artillery practice called for it. We held nearly as much +of his line as the other eight divisions. None of the commanders had +authority to move a man from the lines until the 8th of October, when he +gave orders for posting the sharp-shooters west of the mountain. The +exposure of this detachment was so serious that I took the liberty to send +a brigade as a rallying force for it, and the exposure of these led me to +inquire as to the assistance they could have from our cavalry force +operating on the line from the mountain to Bridgeport, some eight or ten +miles behind them. The cavalry was not found as watchful as the eyes of an +army should be, and I reported them to the general, but he thought +otherwise, assured me that his reports were regular, daily and sometimes +oftener. + +Nevertheless, prudence suggested more careful guard, and I ordered Captain +Manning, who brought from Virginia part of my signal force, to establish a +station in observation of Bridgeport and open its communication with my +head-quarters. General Bragg denied all reports sent him of the enemy from +my signal party, treated them with contempt, then reported that the road +was under my command. + +His report is remarkable in that he failed to notice the conduct of his +officers, except of the killed and wounded and one division commander whom +he found at daylight of the 21st advancing his line of skirmishers in +careful search of the enemy who had retreated at early twilight the +evening before under shouts from the Confederate army that made the heavy +wood reverberate with resounding shouts of victory. That officer he +commended as the "ever vigilant." He gave due credit to his brave soldiers +for their gallant execution of his orders to charge and continue to charge +against the enemy's strongholds, as he knew that they would under his +orders until their efforts were successful, but the conduct of the battle +in all of its phases discredits this claim. When the right wing of his +army stepped into the Lafayette-Rossville road the enemy's forces were in +full retreat through McFarland Gap, and all fighting and charging had +ceased, except the parting blows of Preston's division with Granger's +reserve corps. A peculiar feature of the battle was the early ride of both +commanders from the field, leaving the battle to their troops. General +Rosecrans was generous enough to acknowledge that he left his battle in +other hands. General Bragg claimed everything for himself, failing to +mention that other hands were there. + +While General Rosecrans was opening a route beyond reach of our +sharp-shooters, his chief engineer, General W. F. Smith, was busy upon a +plan for opening the line of railway on the south side, and his first step +was to break up the line of sharp-shooters. On the 19th he made a survey +of the river below Chattanooga. On the same day General Rosecrans was +superseded in command by General George H. Thomas. A day or two after that +my signal party reported some stir about the enemy's camps near +Bridgeport, and the cavalry reported a working force at Nicojack Cave. + +The cavalry was put under my orders for a reconnoissance, and I was +ordered to send a brigade of infantry scouting for the working party. +Nothing was found at the Cave or by the reconnoissance, and the cavalry +objected to my authority. On the 25th orders came to me to hold the +mountain by a brigade of infantry. After ordering the brigade, I reported +a division necessary to make possession secure, suggesting that the +enemy's best move was from Bridgeport and along the mountain crest; that +we should assume that he would be wise enough to adopt it, unless we +prepared against it. But our commander was disturbed by suggestions from +subordinates, and thought them presumptuous when they ventured to report +of the probable movements of the enemy. + +On the night of the 27th of October, General Smith moved to the execution +of his plan against our line of sharp-shooters. He put fifty pontoon-boats +and two flat-boats in the river at Chattanooga, the former to take +twenty-five men each, the latter from forty to seventy-five,--the boats to +float quietly down the river eight miles to Brown's Ferry, cross and land +the troops. At the same time a sufficient force was to march by the +highway to the same point, to be in readiness for the boats to carry them +over to their comrades. The sharp-shooters had been posted for the sole +purpose of breaking up the haul along the other bank, and not with a view +of defending the line, nor was it defensible, while the enemy had every +convenience for making a forced crossing and lodgement. + +The vigilant foe knew his opportunity, and only waited for its timely +execution. It is needless to say that General Smith had little trouble in +establishing his point. He manned his boats, floated them down to the +crossing, landed his men, and soon had the boats cross back for his other +men, pushed them over, and put them at work intrenching the strong ground +selected for their holding. By daylight he was comfortably intrenched, and +had his artillery on the other side in position to sweep along the front. + +The Confederate commander did not think well enough of his line when he +had it to prepare to hold it, but when he found that the enemy proposed to +use it, he thought to order his infantry down to recover the ground just +demonstrated as indefensible, and ordered me to meet him on the mountain +next morning to learn his plans and receive his instructions for the work. + +That afternoon the signal party reported the enemy advancing from +Bridgeport in force,--artillery and infantry. This despatch was forwarded +to head-quarters, but was discredited. It was repeated about dark, and +again forwarded and denied. + +On the morning of the 28th I reported as ordered. The general complained +of my party sending up false alarms. The only answer that I could make was +that they had been about two years in that service, and had not made such +mistakes before. + +While laying his plans, sitting on the point of Lookout rock, the enemy +threw some shells at us, and succeeded in bursting one about two hundred +feet below us. That angered the general a little, and he ordered Alexander +to drop some of his shells about their heads. As this little practice went +on, a despatch messenger came bursting through the brushwood, asking for +General Longstreet, and reported the enemy marching from Bridgeport along +the base of the mountain,--artillery and infantry. General Bragg denied +the report, and rebuked the soldier for sensational alarms, but the +soldier said, "General, if you will ride to a point on the west side of +the mountain I will show them to you." We rode and saw the Eleventh and +Twelfth Corps under General Hooker, from the Army of the Potomac, marching +quietly along the valley towards Brown's Ferry. The general was surprised. +So was I. But my surprise was that he did not march along the mountain +top, instead of the valley. It could have been occupied with as little +loss as he afterwards had and less danger. He had marched by our line of +cavalry without their knowing, and General Bragg had but a brigade of +infantry to meet him if he had chosen to march down along the top of the +mountain, and that was posted twenty miles from support. + +My estimate of the force was five thousand. General Bragg thought it not +so strong, and appearance from the elevation seemed to justify his +estimate. Presently the rear-guard came in sight and made its bivouac +immediately in front of the point upon which we stood. The latter force +was estimated at fifteen hundred, and halted about three miles in rear of +the main body. + +A plan was laid to capture the rear-guard by night attack. He proposed to +send me McLaws's and Jenkins's divisions for the work, and ordered that it +should be done in time for the divisions to withdraw to the point of the +mountain before daylight, left me to arrange details for attack, and rode +to give orders for the divisions, but changed his mind without giving me +notice, and only ordered Jenkins's division. After marching his command, +General Jenkins rode to the top of the mountain and reported. + +The route over which the enemy had marched was along the western base of a +series of lesser heights, offering strong points for our troops to find +positions of defence between his main force and his rear-guard. After +giving instructions to General Jenkins, he was asked to explain the plan +of operations to General McLaws in case the latter was not in time to view +the position from the mountain before night. A point had been selected and +ordered to be held by one of Jenkins's brigades supported by McLaws's +division, while General Jenkins was to use his other brigades against the +rear-guard, which rested in the edge of a woodland of fair field of +approach. The point at which Law's brigade rested after being forced from +its guard of the line of sharp-shooters was near the northern base of the +mountain about a mile east of the route of the enemy's line of march. As +General Law's detached service had given him opportunity to learn +something of the country, his brigade was chosen as the brigade of +position between the parts of the enemy's forces. General Law was to move +first, get into position by crossing the bridge over Lookout Creek, to be +followed by Jenkins's other brigades, when McLaws's division was to +advance to position in support of Law's brigade. + +I waited on the mountain, the only point from which the operations could +be seen, until near midnight, when, seeing no indications of the +movements, I rode to the point that had been assigned for their assembly, +found the officers in wait discussing the movements, and, upon inquiry, +learned that McLaws's division had not been ordered. Under the impression +that the other division commander understood that the move had miscarried, +I rode back to my head-quarters, failing to give countermanding orders. + +The gallant Jenkins, however, decided that the plan should not be +abandoned, and went to work in its execution by his single division. To +quiet the apprehensions of General Law he gave him Robertson's brigade to +be posted with his own, and Benning's brigade as their support, and +ordered his own brigade under Colonel Bratton to move cautiously against +the rear-guard, and make the attack if the opportunity was encouraging. + +As soon as Colonel Bratton engaged, the alarm spread, the enemy hastened +to the relief of his rear, encountered the troops posted to receive them, +and made swift, severe battle. General Law claimed that he drove off their +fight, and, under the impression that Colonel Bratton had finished his +work and recrossed the bridge, withdrew his command, leaving Colonel +Bratton at the tide of his engagement. General Jenkins and Colonel Bratton +were left to their own cool and gallant skill to extricate the brigade +from the swoop of numbers accumulating against them, and, with the +assistance of brave Benning's Rock brigade, brought the command safely +over, Benning's brigade crossing as Bratton reached the bridge. + +The conduct of Bratton's forces was one of the cleverest pieces of work of +the war, and the skill of its handling softened the blow that took so many +of our gallant officers and soldiers. + +Colonel Bratton made clever disposition of his regiments, and handled them +well. He met gallant resistance, and in one instance had part of his +command forced back, but renewed the attack, making his line stronger, and +forced the enemy into crowded ranks and had him under converging circular +fire, with fair prospects, when recalled under orders to hasten to the +bridge. So urgent was the order that he left the dead and some of the +wounded on the field. + + General Law lost of his own brigade (aggregate) 43 + General Robertson (1 wounded and 8 missing) 9 + Colonel Bratton lost (aggregate) 356 + --- + Confederate loss 408 + Union loss (aggregate) 420 + +It was an oversight of mine not to give definite orders for the troops to +return to their camps before leaving them. + +General Jenkins was ordered to inquire into the conduct of the brigades of +position, and reported evidence that General Law had said that he did not +care to win General Jenkins's spurs as a major-general. He was ordered to +prepare charges, but presently when we were ordered into active campaign +in East Tennessee he asked to have the matter put off to more convenient +time. + +We may pause here to reflect upon the result of the combination against +Rosecrans's army in September, after our lines of transit were seriously +disturbed, and after the severe losses in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and +Tennessee; and to consider in contrast the probable result of the +combination if effected in the early days of May, when it was first +proposed (see strategic map). + +At that time General Grant was marching to lay siege upon Vicksburg. The +campaign in Virginia had been settled, for the time, by the battle of +Chancellorsville. Our railways were open and free from Virginia through +East Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, to Central Mississippi. The armies of +Rosecrans and Bragg were standing near Murfreesboro' and Shelbyville, +Tennessee. The Richmond authorities were trying to collect a force at +Jackson, Mississippi, to drive Grant's army from the siege. Two divisions +of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia were marching from +Suffolk to join General Lee at Fredericksburg. Under these circumstances, +positions, and conditions, I proposed to Secretary Seddon, and afterwards +to General Lee, as the only means of relief for Vicksburg, that Johnston +should be ordered with his troops to join Bragg's army; that the divisions +marching for Fredericksburg should be ordered to meet Johnston's, the +transit over converging lines would give speedy combination, and Johnston +should be ordered to strike Rosecrans in overwhelming numbers and march on +to the Ohio River. + +As the combination of September and battle of Chickamauga drew General +Grant's army from its work in Mississippi to protect the line through +Tennessee and Kentucky, and two Federal corps from the Army of the +Potomac, the inference is fair that the earlier, more powerful combination +would have opened ways for grand results for the South, saved the eight +thousand lost in defending the march for Vicksburg, the thirty-one +thousand surrendered there, Port Hudson and its garrison of six thousand, +and the splendid Army of Northern Virginia the twenty thousand lost at +Gettysburg. And who can say that with these sixty-five thousand soldiers +saved, and in the ranks, the Southern cause would not have been on a grand +ascending grade with its bayonets and batteries bristling on the banks of +the Ohio River on the 4th day of July, 1863! + +The elections of 1862 were not in support of the Emancipation +Proclamation. With the Mississippi River still closed, and the Southern +army along the banks of the Ohio, the elections of 1864 would have been +still more pronounced against the Federal policy, and a new administration +could have found a solution of the political imbroglio. "Blood is thicker +than water." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. + + General Bragg's Infatuation--General Grant in Command of the Federal + Forces--Longstreet ordered into East Tennessee--His Plans for the + Campaign--Poorly supported by his Superior--Foraging for Daily + Rations--General Burnside's Forces--Advance upon Knoxville--Affairs at + Lenoir's and Campbell's Stations--Engagement near Knoxville an + Artillery Combat--Reprehensible Conduct of Officers--Allegement that + One was actuated by Jealousy--Federals retire behind their + Works--Laying the Confederate Lines about Knoxville. + + +About the 1st of November it was rumored about camp that I was to be +ordered into East Tennessee against General Burnside's army. At the moment +it seemed impossible that our commander, after rejecting a proposition for +a similar move made just after his battle, when flushed with victory and +the enemy discomfited, could now think of sending an important detachment +so far, when he knew that, in addition to the reinforcements that had +joined the Union army, another strong column was marching from Memphis +under General Sherman, and must reach Chattanooga in fifteen or twenty +days. But on second thoughts it occurred to me that it might, after all, +be in keeping with his peculiarities, and then it occurred to me that +there are many ways to compass a measure when the spirit leads. So I set +to work to try to help his plans in case the report proved true. + +After a little reflection it seemed feasible that by withdrawing his army +from its lines about Chattanooga to strong concentration behind the +Chickamauga River, and recalling his detachment in East Tennessee (the +latter to give the impression of a westward move), and at the moment of +concentration sending a strong force for swift march against General +Burnside,--strong enough to crush him,--and returning to Chattanooga +before the army under General Sherman could reach there (or, if he thought +better, let the detachment strike into Kentucky against the enemy's +communications), something worth while could be effected. + +Presently I was called, with Lieutenant-General Hardee and Major-General +Breckenridge, the other corps commanders, to learn his plans and receive +his orders. He announced his purpose in general terms to send me into East +Tennessee, then paused as if inviting the opinions of others, when I +stated that the move could be made, but it would be hazardous to make a +detachment strong enough for rapid work while his army was spread along a +semicircle of six miles, with the enemy concentrated at the centre, whence +he could move in two or three threatening columns, to hold his line to its +extension, and give his real attack such power that it must break through +by its weight. Then I suggested the operations herein just mentioned. + +He ordered the move to be made by my two divisions, Alexander's and +Leydon's artillery, and Wheeler's cavalry and horse artillery. We had the +promise of a force, estimated from three to five thousand, that was to +come from Southwest Virginia and meet us, but that command was to start +from a point two hundred miles from our starting, march south as we +marched north, and meet us at Knoxville. General Bragg estimated General +Burnside's force south of Knoxville at fifteen thousand. I repeated the +warning that the move as ordered was not such as to give assurances of +rapid work, saying that my march and campaign against the enemy's +well-guarded positions must be made with care, and that would consume so +much time that General Grant's army would be up, when he would organize +attack that must break through the line before I could return to him. His +sardonic smile seemed to say that I knew little of his army or of himself +in assuming such a possibility. So confident was he of his position that I +ventured to ask that my column should be increased to twenty thousand +infantry and artillery, but he intimated that further talk was out of +order. + +General Grant had in the mean time joined the army and assumed command on +the 22d of October, and it was known that General Sherman was marching to +join him. + +On the 20th of October General Burnside reported by letter[186] to General +Grant an army of twenty-two thousand three hundred men, with ninety-odd +guns, but his returns for November show a force of twenty-five thousand +two hundred and ninety and over one hundred guns. Eight thousand of his +men were on service north of Knoxville and about Cumberland Gap. + +To march, and capture or disperse this formidable force, fortified at +points, I had McLaws's and Hood's divisions of infantry, Colonel +Alexander's and Major Leydon's artillery, and four brigades of General +Wheeler's cavalry. Kershaw's, Humphreys's, Wofford's, and Bryan's brigades +constituted McLaws's division. Hood's division, which was commanded during +the campaign by Brigadier-General M. Jenkins, was made up of Jenkins's, +Anderson's, Benning's, Law's, and Robertson's brigades. General Wheeler's +cavalry was organized into two divisions of two brigades each,--General +John T. Morgan's Alabama and Colonel Cruse's Georgia brigades, under +Major-General W. T. Martin; Colonels G. G. Dibbrell's Tennessee and Thomas +Harrison's Texas brigades, under Brigadier-General Frank Armstrong. This +made about fifteen thousand men, after deducting camp guards and foraging +parties. The remote contingent that was to come from Southwest Virginia +was an unknown quantity, not to be considered until it could report for +service. + +As soon as the conference at head-quarters adjourned orders were issued +for Alexander's artillery to be withdrawn from Lookout Mountain, and +General McLaws was ordered to withdraw his division from the general line +after night. Both commands were ordered to Tyner's Station to take the +cars for Sweetwater on the 4th. + +Control of the trains was under General Bragg's quartermaster, who had +orders for the cars to be ready to transport the troops on their arrival, +but the trains were not ready until the 5th. The brigades arrived at +Sweetwater on the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Alexander's batteries were shipped as +soon as cars were ready. To expedite matters, his horses and wagons were +ordered forward by the dirt road; the batteries found cars, the last +battery getting to Sweetwater on the 10th. Jenkins's division and Leydon's +batteries were drawn from the lines on the 5th and ordered to meet the +cars at the tunnel through Missionary Ridge. They reached the station in +due season, but the cars were not there. After waiting some days, the +battery horses and horses of mounted officers were ordered by the wagon +road. Tired of the wait, I advised the troops to march along the road and +find the cars where they might have the good fortune to meet them, the +officers, whose horses had been sent forward, marching with the soldiers. + +General Bragg heard of the delay and its cause, but began to urge the +importance of more rapid movements. His effort to make his paper record at +my expense was not pleasing, but I tried to endure it with patience. He +knew that trains and conductors were under his exclusive control, but _he +wanted papers that would throw the responsibility of delay upon other +shoulders_. + +On the 8th and 9th the infantry marched as far as Cleveland, about thirty +miles, where the train-masters gave notice that the trains could meet +them, but it was not until the 12th that the last of the brigades reached +Sweetwater. + +While waiting for transportation, I wrote some of my friends to excuse my +failure to stop and say good-by. The letter written to General Buckner was +returned to me some months after, endorsed by him as having important +bearing upon events as they transpired,--viz.: + + "WEDNESDAY, November 5, 1863. + + "MY DEAR GENERAL,--I start to-day for Tyner's Station, and expect to + get transportation to-morrow for Sweetwater. The weather is so bad, + and I find myself so much occupied, that I shall not be able to see + you to say good-by. + + "When I heard the report around camp that I was to go into East + Tennessee, I set to work at once to try and plan the means for making + the move with security and the hope of great results. As every other + move had been proposed to the general and rejected or put off until + time had made them inconvenient, I came to the conclusion, as soon as + the report reached me, that it was to be the fate of our army to wait + until all good opportunities had passed, and then, in desperation, + seize upon the least favorable movement. + + "As no one had proposed this East Tennessee campaign to the general, I + thought it possible that we might accomplish something by encouraging + his own move, and proposed the following plan,--viz.: to withdraw from + our present lines and our forces in East Tennessee (the latter to be + done in order to give the impression to the enemy that we were + retiring from East Tennessee and concentrating near him for battle or + for some other movement) and place our army in a strong concentrated + position behind Chickamauga River. The moment the army was together, + to make a detachment of twenty thousand to move rapidly against + Burnside and destroy him; and by continued rapid movements to threaten + the enemy's rear and his communications to the extent that might be + necessary to draw him out from his present position. This, at best, is + but a tedious process, but I thought it gave promise of some results, + and was, therefore, better than being here destroying ourselves. The + move, as I proposed it, would have left this army in a strong position + and safe, and would have made sure the capture of Burnside,--that is, + the army could spare twenty thousand, if it were in the position that + I proposed, better than it can spare twelve, occupying the lines that + it now does. Twenty thousand men, well handled, could surely have + captured Burnside and his forces. Under present arrangements, + however, the lines are to be held as they now are and the detachment + is to be of twelve thousand. We thus expose both to failure, and + really take no chance to ourselves of great results. The only notice + my plan received was a remark that General Hardee was pleased to make, + 'I don't think that that is a bad idea of Longstreet's.' I undertook + to explain the danger of having such a long line under fire of the + enemy's batteries, and he concentrated, as it were, right in our + midst, and within twenty minutes' march of any portion of our line. + But I was assured that he would not disturb us. I repeated my ideas, + but they did not even receive notice. It was not till I had repeated + them, however, that General Hardee noticed me. Have you any maps that + you can give or lend me? I shall need everything of the kind. Do you + know any reliable people, living near and east of Knoxville, from whom + I might get information of the condition, strength, etc., of the + enemy? I have written in such hurry and confusion of packing and + striking camp (in the rain and on the head of an empty flour barrel) + that I doubt if I have made myself understood. I remain + + "Sincerely your friend, + "J. LONGSTREET, + "_Lieutenant-General_. + + "TO MAJOR-GENERAL S. B. BUCKNER, + "_Commanding Division_." + +Three months thereafter General Buckner returned the letter with the +following: + + (Endorsement.) + + "MORRISTOWN, TENN., February 1, 1864. + + "GENERAL,--It seems to me, after reading this letter again, that its + predictions are so full a vindication of your judgment of the + movements then ordered, that it should remain in your possession, with + a view that at some future day it may serve to 'vindicate the truth of + history.' I place it at your disposal with that view. + + "Truly your friend, + "S. B. BUCKNER, + "_Major-General_. + + "TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL J. LONGSTREET." + +I asked at general head-quarters for maps and information of the country +through which I was to operate, for a quartermaster and commissary of +subsistence who knew of the resources of the country, and for an engineer +officer who had served with General Buckner when in command of that +department. Neither of the staff-officers was sent, nor a map, except one +of the topographical outlines of the country between the Hiawassee and +Tennessee Rivers, which was much in rear of the field of our proposed +operations. General Buckner was good enough to send me a plot of the roads +and streams between Loudon and Knoxville. + +We were again disappointed at Sweetwater. We were started from Chattanooga +on short rations, but comforted by the assurance that produce was abundant +at that point, and so it proved to be; but General Stevenson, commanding +the outpost, reported his orders from the commanding general were to ship +all of his supplies to his army, and to retire with his own command and +join him upon our arrival. In this connection it should be borne in mind +that we were recently from Virginia,--coming at the heated season,--where +we left most of our clothing and blankets and all of our wagon +transportation; and by this time, too, it was understood through the +command that the Richmond authorities were holding thunder-clouds over the +head of the commander, and that General Bragg was disposed to make them +more portentous by his pressing calls for urgency. + +Thus we found ourselves in a strange country, not as much as a day's +rations on hand, with hardly enough land transportation for ordinary camp +equipage, the enemy in front to be captured, and our friends in rear +putting in their paper bullets. This sounds more like romance than war, +but I appeal to the records for the facts, including reports of my chiefs +of quartermaster and subsistence departments and General Alexander's +account of the condition of some of the battery horses and ammunition. + +Our foraging parties were lively, and we lost but a day and part of +another in gathering in rations for a start. Anticipating proper land +transportation, plans were laid for march across the Little Tennessee +above its confluence with the greater river, through Marysville to the +heights above Knoxville on the east bank, by forced march. This would have +brought the city close under fire of our field batteries and forced the +enemy into open grounds. A guide had been secured who claimed to be +familiar with the country, and was useful in laying our plans. But when +our pontoon bridge came up it was without a train for hauling. So our plan +must be changed. + +Fortunately, we found a point in a bend of the river near the railroad at +which we could force a crossing. At dark the cars were rolled up to that +point by hand, and we learned that the Little Tennessee River above us was +fordable for cavalry. General Wheeler had been ordered to have vedettes +along the river from Loudon to some distance below Kingston, where a +considerable body of Union troops occupied the north bank. He was ordered +with his other troops to prepare for orders to cross the Little Tennessee +at its fords, ride to Marysville, capture the enemy's cavalry outpost at +that point, ride up the east side of the river to Knoxville, and seize the +heights overlooking the city; or, finding that not feasible, to endeavor +to so threaten as to hold the enemy's forces there to their works, while +we marched against the troops of the west side; but when he found his +service on that side ceased to be effective or co-operative with our +movements, to cross the river and join the main column. + +As just now explained, the failure of wagons for our pontoon bridge forced +us to cross at Loudon, and to make direct march upon Knoxville by that +route. + +Weary of the continual calls of General Bragg for hurried movements, it +seemed well to make cause for him to assign another commander or to move +him to discontinue his work at a paper record; so I wired to remind him +that he assured me before sending me away that he was safe in his +position, and that he was told before my leaving that the command was not +strong enough to excuse any but a careful, proper campaign; that he had +since been informed that all delays of our movements were due to his +inefficient staff corps, and that we were dependent upon foraging for our +daily rations for men and animals. It began to look more like a campaign +against Longstreet than against Burnside. + +As General Burnside's orders were to hold Knoxville, he decided to act on +the defensive. Leaving the troops in the northern district of his +department in observation of that field, he withdrew his division on the +south side of Tennessee River as we marched for Loudon, took up his +pontoon bridge, and broke up the railroad bridge. + +Orders were issued on the 12th for the general move of my cavalry by +Marysville, the infantry and artillery along the railroad route. Pains +were taken to have the bridge equipments carried by hand to the river, and +skirmishing parties put in the boats and drifted to the opposite bank. The +troops in rear were marched during the night to the vicinity of Loudon and +held in readiness in case the enemy came to oppose our crossing. The +bridge was laid under the supervision of General Alexander and Major +Clark, our chief engineer, at Huff's Ferry, without serious resistance. + +A few miles east of Loudon the Holston[187] and Little Tennessee Rivers +come together, making the Tennessee River, which flows from the confluence +west to Kingston, where it resumes its general flow southwest. The Holston +rises in the mountains north and flows south to the junction. The Little +Tennessee rises in the mountains east and flows west to the junction. The +railroad crosses the main river at Loudon, thirty miles from Knoxville, +and runs about parallel to the Holston River, and near its west bank. +West of the railroad and parallel is a broken spur of the Clinch Mountain +range, with occasional gaps or passes for vehicles, and some other blind +wagon-roads and cattle-trails. West of this spur, and near its base, is +the main wagon-road to Knoxville, as far as Campbell Station, about +seventeen miles, where it joins the Kingston road, passes a gap, and +unites with the wagon-road that runs with the railroad east of the +mountain spur at Campbell Station. South of this gap, about eleven miles, +is another pass at Lenoir's Mill, and three miles south of that another +pass, not used. + +A detail of sharp-shooters under Captain Foster, of Jenkins's brigade, +manned the first boats and made a successful lodging, after an exchange of +a few shots with the enemy's picket-guard on the north bank. They intended +to surprise and capture the picket and thus secure quick and quiet +passage, but in that they were not successful. The north bank was secured, +however, without loss, and troops were passed rapidly over to hold it, +putting out a good skirmish line in advance of the bridge-head. As we +advanced towards Loudon, the part of General White's Union division that +had been on the opposite bank of the river was withdrawn to Lenoir's +Station. + +During the 13th and 14th the command was engaged in making substantial +fastenings for the bridge and constructing its defences. General Vaughn's +regiments and a battery of Major Leydon's (with broken-down horses) were +assigned to guard the bridge. + +On the afternoon of the 14th the enemy appeared on our front in strong +force, drove our skirmish line back, and seemed prepared to give battle. +As we were then waiting the return of our foraging wagons, we could only +prepare to receive him. Some of the provisions looked for came in during +the night, and we advanced on the 15th, finding that the enemy had +retired. The force that came back to meet us on the 15th was part of +White's division (Chapin's brigade) sent by General Burnside, and General +Potter, commanding the Ninth Corps, sent General Ferrero with his +division. The move was intended probably to delay our march. It was +Chapin's brigade that made the advance against our skirmishers, and it +probably suffered some in the affair. We lost not a single man. + +General Wheeler crossed the Little Tennessee River at Motley's Ford at +nightfall on the 13th, and marched to cut off the force at Marysville. He +came upon the command, only one regiment, the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, +that was advised in time to prepare for him. He attacked as soon as they +came under fire, dispersed them into small parties that made good their +escape, except one hundred and fifty taken by Dibbrell's brigade. Colonel +Wolford brought up the balance of his brigade and made strong efforts to +support his broken regiment, but was eventually forced back, and was +followed by the Eighth, and Eleventh Texas and Third Arkansas Cavalry and +General John T. Morgan's brigade. The next day he encountered Sanders's +division of cavalry and a battery, and, after a clean cavalry engagement +of skilful manoeuvres on both sides, succeeded in reaching the vicinity of +the city of Knoxville, but found it too well guarded to admit of any very +advantageous work. + +On the 15th our advance was cautiously made by Hood's division and +Alexander's artillery leading; McLaws's division and Leydon's artillery +following. All along the route of the railroad the valley between the +mountain and the river is so narrow and rough that a few thousand men can +find many points at which they can make successful stands against great +odds. Our course was taken to turn all of those points by marching up the +road on the west side of the mountain. A few miles out from our bridge we +encountered a skirmishing party near the lower gap of the mountain, which, +when pressed back, passed through the gap. General Jenkins continued his +march--leaving a guard at the gap till it could be relieved by General +McLaws--to Lenoir's Station. + +The enemy was looking for us to follow through the lower gaps and attack +his strong front, and was a little surprised to find us close on his right +flank. He was well guarded there, however, against precipitate battle by +the mountain range and narrow pass and the heavy, muddy roads through +which our men and animals had to pull. Arrangements were made for a good +day's work from early morning. + +Our guide promised to lead part of our men through a blind route during +the night by which we could cut off the enemy's retreat, so that they +would be securely hemmed in. Generals Jenkins and McLaws came up during +the night. The former was ordered to advance part of his command to +eligible points at midnight and hold them ready for use at daylight. The +guide was sent with a brigade to the point which was to intercept the +enemy's retreat. McLaws was held on the road, ready for use east or west +of the ridge. Jenkins was ordered to have parties out during the night to +watch that the enemy did not move, and report. As no report came from +them, all things were thought to be properly adjusted, when we advanced +before daylight. In feeling our way through the weird gray of the morning, +stumps seen on the roadside were taken to be sharp-shooters, but we were +surprised that no one shot at us, when, behold! before it was yet quite +light, we came upon a park of eighty wagons, well loaded with food, camp +equipage, and ammunition, with the ground well strewn with spades, picks, +and axes.[188] The animals had been taken from the wagons to double their +teams through the mud. General Potter had sent the division under General +Hartranft back to the Campbell Station Pass to occupy the junction of his +line of retreat with the Kingston road and the road upon which we were +marching, and was well on the march with the balance of the Ninth Corps, +Ferrero's division and his cavalry, before we knew that there was an +opening by which he could escape. + +Our guide, who promised to post the brigade so as to command the road in +rear of the enemy, so far missed his route as to lead the brigade out of +hearing of the enemy's march during the night. + +Hart's cavalry brigade that was left in observation near Kingston had been +called up, and with McLaws's division advanced on the roads to Campbell +Station, while General Jenkins followed the direct line of retreat on +double time, and right royally did his skirmishers move. He brought the +rear to an occasional stand, but only leaving enough to require him to +form line for advance, when the enemy again sped away on their rearward +march at double time. General Jenkins made the march before noon, but the +enemy had passed the gap and the junction of the roads, and was well +posted in battle array in rear of them. General McLaws was not up. He was +not ordered on double time, as it was thought to first bring the enemy to +bay on the east road, when some of his infantry could be called over the +mountain on the enemy's flank. General Ferrero, who covered the retreat, +reported that it was necessary to attach from sixteen to twenty animals to +a piece to make the haul through the mud. + +The retreat was very cleverly conducted, and was in time to cover the +roads into Campbell's Station, forming into line of battle to meet us. +Jenkins's division, being in advance, was deployed on the right with +Alexander's battalion. As soon as the line was organized the batteries +opened practice in deliberate, well-timed combat, but General Alexander +had the sympathy of his audience. His shells often exploded before they +reached the game, and at times as they passed from the muzzles of his +guns, and no remedy could be applied that improved their fire. + +As General McLaws came up his division was put upon our left with the +other batteries, and Hart's brigade of cavalry was assigned in that part +to observe the enemy's, farther off. It was not yet past meridian. We had +ample time to make a battle with confident hope of success, by direct +advance and the pressing in on the enemy's right by McLaws's left, but our +severe travel and labor after leaving Virginia were not to find an +opportunity to make a simply successful battle. As the rear of the enemy +was open and could be covered, success would have been a simple victory, +and the enemy could have escaped to his trenches at Knoxville, leaving us +crippled and delayed: whereas as he stood he was ours. How we failed to +make good our claim we shall presently see. + +McLaws was ordered to use one of his brigades well out on his left as a +diversion threatening the enemy's right, and to use Hart's cavalry for the +same purpose, while General Jenkins was ordered to send two of his +brigades through a well-covered way off our right to march out well past +the enemy's left and strike down against that flank and rear. General Law, +being his officer next in rank, was ordered in charge of his own and +Anderson's brigades. General Jenkins rode with the command, and put it in +such position that the left of this line would strike the left of the +enemy's, thus throwing the weight of the two brigades past the enemy's +rear. I rode near the brigades, to see that there could be no mismove or +misconception of orders. After adjusting the line of the brigades, and +giving their march the points of direction, General Jenkins rode to his +brigades on the front to handle them in direct attack. I remained near +the front of the flanking brigades for complete assurance of the +adjustment of their march, and waited until they were so near that it was +necessary to ride at speed, close under the enemy's line, to reach our +main front, to time its advance with the flanking move. The ride was made +alone, as less likely to draw the enemy's fire, the staff riding around. + +As I approached the front, the men sprang forward without orders to open +the charge, but were called to await the appearance of the flanking move +of our right. But General Law had so changed direction as to bring his +entire force in front instead of in the rear of the enemy's left. This +gave him opportunity to change position to strong ground in rear, which +made other movements necessary in view of the objective of the battle. +There was yet time for successful battle, but it would have been a +fruitless victory. Before other combinations suited to our purpose could +be made it was night, and the enemy was away on his march to the fortified +grounds about Knoxville. + +The demonstration of our left under General McLaws was successful in +drawing the enemy's attention, and in causing him to change front of part +of his command to meet the threatening. + +In his official account General Jenkins reported,-- + + "In a few minutes, greatly to my surprise, I received a message from + General Law that in advancing his brigades he had obliqued so much to + the left as to have gotten out of its line of attack. This careless + and inexcusable movement lost us the few moments in which success from + this point could be attained."[189] + +Apropos of this the following memorandum of a staff-officer is interesting +and informative: + + "I know at the time it was currently reported that General Law said he + might have made the attack successfully, but that Jenkins would have + reaped the credit of it, and hence he delayed until the enemy got out + of the way." + +This has been called a battle, by the other side, but it was only an +artillery combat, little, very little, musket ammunition being burnt. The +next day the enemy was safely behind his works about Knoxville, except his +cavalry under General Sanders and his horse artillery left to delay our +march. McLaws's division reached the suburbs of the city a little after +noon, and was deployed from near the mouth of Third Creek as his right, +the enemy holding a line of dismounted cavalry skirmishers about a +thousand yards in advance of his line of works. Alexander's artillery was +disposed near McLaws's deployment. Jenkins got up before night and was +ordered to deploy on McLaws's left as far as the Tazewell road, preceded +by Hart's cavalry, which was to extend the line north to the Holston +River. General Wheeler came up later and was assigned to line with Colonel +Hart. + +The city stands on the right bank of the Holston River, on a plateau about +one and a half miles in width and extending some miles down south. At +Knoxville the plateau is one hundred and twenty feet above the river, and +there are little streams called First, Second, and Third Creeks, from the +upper to the lower suburbs of the city,--First Creek between the city and +East Knoxville, or Temperance Hill; Second Creek between the city and +College Hill; Third Creek below and outside the enemy's lines of defence. +The plateau slopes down to the valley through which the railway passes, +and west of the valley it rises to the usual elevation. The Confederates +were posted on the second plateau, with their batteries of position. The +line of the enemy's works, starting at its lower point on the west bank of +the river, was just above the mouth of Second Creek, lying at right +angles to the river. It ran to a fort constructed by the Confederates, +when occupied by them years before, called Fort Loudon, above the Kingston +road, and about a thousand yards in front of the college. East from that +point it was about parallel with the river, reaching to Temperance Hill, +to Mabry's Hill, and to the Holston, below the glass-works. An interior +line extended from Temperance Hill to Flint Hill on the east, and another +on the west, between the outer line and Second Creek. Dams were built +across First and Second Creeks, flooding and forming formidable wet +ditches over extensive parts of the line. Abatis, chevaux-de-frise, and +wire entanglements were placed where thought to be advantageous for the +defenders. + +The heights on the northeast across the river are much more elevated than +the plateaux of the city side, and command all points of the west bank. +These were defended at some points by earthworks well manned. From the +lower point of the enemy's line the Confederates extended to his right at +the river, conforming to his defensive lines. The part of our line +occupied by the cavalry was a mere watch-guard. + +Our move was hurried, and our transportation so limited that we had only a +few tools in the hands of small pioneer parties, and our wagons were so +engaged in collecting daily rations that we found it necessary to send our +cavalry down to Lenoir's for the tools captured there for use in making +rifle-pits for our sharp-shooters. + +When General Burnside rode to the front to meet us at Lenoir's he left +General Parke in command at Knoxville, and he and Captain Poe, of the +engineers, gave attention to his partially-constructed works. + +Upon laying our lines about Knoxville, the enemy's forces in the northeast +of his department were withdrawn towards Cumberland Gap, but we had no +information of the troops ordered to meet us from Southwest Virginia. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +BESIEGING KNOXVILLE. + + Closing on the Enemy's Lines--A Gallant Dash--The Federal + Positions--Fort Loudon, later called Fort Sanders--Assault of the Fort + carefully planned--General McLaws advises Delay--The Order reiterated + and emphasized--Gallant Effort by the Brigades of Generals Wofford, + Humphreys, and Bryan at the Appointed Time--A Recall ordered, because + carrying the Works was reported impossible--General Longstreet is + ordered by the President to General Bragg's Relief--Losses during the + Assault and the Campaign. + + +The enemy's line of sharp-shooters and Fort Sanders stood in our direct +line of advance,--the fort manned by the heaviest and best field guns. +Benjamin's battery, an old familiar acquaintance who had given us many +hard knocks in our Eastern service, opened upon us as soon as we were in +its reach. It was not until night of the 17th that our line was well +established, and then only so as to enclose the enemy's front, leaving the +country across the river to be covered when the troops from Virginia +should join us. + +When General McLaws advanced on the morning of the 18th he found the +enemy's line of skirmishers--cavalry dismounted--behind a line of heavy +rail defences. General Alexander was ordered to knock the rails about them +and drive them out, and was partially successful, but the enemy got back +before our infantry could reach them, so we had to carry the line by +assault. Part of our line drove up in fine style, and was measurably +successful, but other parts, smarting under the stiff musket fire, +hesitated and lay down under such slight shelter as they could find, but +close under fire,--so close that to remain inactive would endanger +repulse. Captain Winthrop, of Alexander's staff, appreciating the crisis, +dashed forward on his horse and led the halting lines successfully over +the works. In his gallant ride he received a very severe hurt. Neither +our numbers nor our condition were such as to warrant further aggressive +action at the moment, nor, in fact, until the column from Virginia joined +us. Our sharp-shooters were advanced from night to night and pitted before +daylight, each line being held by new forces as the advance was made. The +first line occupied was a little inside of the rail piles. + +It seemed probable, upon first examination of the line along the +northwest, that we might break through, and preparations were made for +that effort, but, upon closer investigation, it was found to be too +hazardous, and that the better plan was to await the approach of the other +forces. + +When within six hundred yards of the enemy's works, our lines well pitted, +it seemed safe to establish a battery on an elevated plateau on the east +(or south) side of the river. Some of our troops were sent over in +flat-boats, and the reconnoissance revealed an excellent point commanding +the city and the enemy's lines of works, though parts of his lines were +beyond our range. Some of our best guns were put in position, and our +captured pontoon bridges down at Lenoir's were sent for, to be hauled up +along the river, but impassable rapids were found, and we were obliged to +take part of our supply-train to haul them. They were brought up, and +communication between the detachment and main force was made easy. The +brigades of Law and Robertson were left on the east (or south) side as +guard for that battery. + +The Union forces were posted from left to right,--the Ninth Corps, General +R. D. Potter commanding. General Ferrero's division extended from the +river to Second Creek; General Hartranft's along part of the line between +Second and First Creeks; Chapin's and Reilly's brigades over Temperance +Hill to near Bell's house, and the brigades of Hoskins and Casement to the +river. The interior line was held by regiments of loyal Tennesseeans +recently recruited. The positions on the south (or east) side of the river +were occupied by Cameron's brigade of Hascall's division and Shackelford's +cavalry (dismounted), Reilly's brigade in reserve,--two sections of +Wilder's battery and Konkle's battery of four three-inch rifle guns. + + +[Illustration: APPROACHES AND DEFENSES OF KNOXVILLE, E. TENNESSEE. SHOWING +THE POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY THE UNITED STATES AND CONFEDERATE FORCES DURING +THE SIEGE] + + +The batteries of the enemy's front before the city were Romer's four +three-inch rifles at the university, Benjamin's four twenty-pound Parrotts +and Beecher's six twelve-pound Napoleons (at the fort), Gittings's four +ten-pound Parrotts, Fifteenth Indiana Battery of six rifle guns +(three-inch), James's (Indiana) Battery of six rifle guns, Henshaw's +battery of two (James's) rifle guns and four six-pounders, Shields's +battery of six twelve-pound Napoleons, and one section of Wilder's +three-inch rifle guns, extending the line from the fort to the river on +the north. + +In his official account, General Burnside reported "about twelve thousand +effective men, exclusive of the recruits and loyal Tennesseeans." He had +fifty-one guns of position, including eight on the southeast side. + +Fort Loudon, afterwards called for the gallant Sanders, who fell defending +it, was a bastion earthwork, built upon an irregular quadrilateral. The +sides were, south front, one hundred and fourteen yards; west front, +ninety-five yards; north front, one hundred and twenty-five yards; east +front, eighty-five yards. The eastern front was open, intended to be +closed by a stockade. The south front was about half finished; the western +front finished, except cutting the embrasures, and the north front nearly +finished. The bastion attacked was the only one that was finished. The +ditch was twelve feet wide, and generally seven to eight feet deep. From +the fort the ground sloped in a heavy grade, from which the trees had been +cut and used as abatis, and wire net-work was stretched between the +stumps. + +General Burnside reported,-- + + "Many citizens and persons who had been driven in by the enemy + volunteered to work on the trenches and did good service, while those + who were not inclined from disloyalty to volunteer were pressed into + service. The negroes were particularly efficient in their labors + during the siege. On the 20th of November our line was in such + condition as to inspire the entire command with confidence." + +General Poe reported,-- + + "The citizens of the town and all contrabands within reach were + pressed into service and relieved the almost exhausted soldiers, who + had no rest for more than a hundred hours. Many of the citizens were + Confederates and worked with a very poor grace, which blistered hands + did not tend to improve." + +On the 22d, General McLaws thought his advance near enough the works to +warrant assault. He was ordered to it with assaulting columns supported by +the division. General Jenkins was also ordered up, and General Wheeler was +ordered to push his troops and his horse artillery forward as McLaws's +attack opened, so that the entire line would engage and hold to steady +work till all the works were carried. After consulting his officers, +General McLaws reported that they preferred to have daylight for their +work. On the 23d reports came of a large force of the enemy at Kingston +advancing. General Wheeler was sent with his main force of cavalry to look +after them. He engaged the enemy on the 24th, and after a skirmish +withdrew. Soon afterwards, receiving orders from General Bragg to join +him, leaving his cavalry under command of Major-General Martin, he rode to +find his commander. General Martin brought the brigades back and resumed +position on our left. Colonel Hart, who was left at Kingston with his +brigade, reported that there were but three regiments of cavalry and a +field battery, that engaged General Wheeler on the 24th. + +On the night of the 24th the enemy made a sortie against a point of +General Wofford's line which broke through, but was speedily driven back +with a loss of some prisoners and a number of killed and wounded. General +Wofford's loss was five wounded, two mortally. + +Our cavalry, except a brigade left at Kingston, resumed its position on +the left of our line on the 26th. On the 23d a telegram came from General +Bragg to say that the enemy had moved out and attacked his troops at +Chattanooga. Later in the day he announced the enemy still in front of +him, but not engaging his forces. + +On the 25th I had a telegram from General Bushrod R. Johnson at Loudon, +who was marching with two brigades to reinforce us, saying that the enemy +was throwing his cavalry forward towards Charleston. This, in connection +with the advance of the enemy towards General Bragg, reported by his +despatch of the 23d, I took to be an effort to prevent reinforcements +coming to us, or to cut in and delay their march. + +That night General Leadbetter, chief engineer of General Bragg's army, +reported at head-quarters with orders from General Bragg that we should +attack at Knoxville, and very promptly. I asked him to make the +reconnoissance and designate the assailable points. At the same time he +was asked to consider that the troops from Virginia were on the march and +would join us in eight or ten days, when our investment could be made +complete; that the enemy was then on half rations, and would be obliged to +surrender in two weeks; also whether we should assault fortifications and +have the chance of repulse, rather than wait for a surrender. From his +first reconnoissance he pronounced Fort Sanders the assailable point, but, +after riding around the lines with General Jenkins and General Alexander, +he pronounced in favor of assault from our left at Mabry's Hill. On the +27th, after more thorough reconnoissance in company with my officers, he +came back to his conclusion in favor of assault at Fort Sanders. I agreed +with him that the field at Mabry's Hill was too wide, and the march under +fire too long, to warrant attack at that point. He admitted that the true +policy was to wait and reduce the place by complete investment, but +claimed that the crisis was on, the time imperative, and that the assault +must be tried. + +Meanwhile, rumors reached us, through the telegraph operator, of a battle +at Chattanooga, but nothing official, though outside indications were +corroborative. In the afternoon Colonel Giltner, of the command from +Virginia, reported with his cavalry, and next day (28th) General W. E. +Jones, of that command, reported with his cavalry. The brigades from +Chattanooga under General B. R. Johnson were at hand, but not yet up. The +artillery and infantry coming from Virginia were five or six days' march +from us; but General Leadbetter was impatient. + +General McLaws was ordered to double his force of sharp-shooters and their +reserve, advance during the night and occupy the line of the enemy's +pickets, and arrange for assault. The artillery was to open on the fort as +soon as the weather cleared the view. After ten minutes' practice the +assaulting column was to march, but the practice was to hold until the +near approach of the storming party to the Fort. The assault was to be +made by three of McLaws's brigades, his fourth, advancing on his right, to +carry the line of works in its front as soon as the fort was taken. Three +brigades of Jenkins's division were to follow in echelon on the left of +McLaws's column, G. T. Anderson's, of his right, leading at two hundred +yards' interval from McLaws's, Anderson to assault the line in his front, +and upon entering to wheel to his left and sweep up that line, followed by +Jenkins's and Benning's brigades; but, in case of delay in McLaws's +assault, Anderson was to wheel to his right and take the fort through its +rear opening, leaving the brigades of Jenkins and Benning to follow the +other move to their left. + +The ditch and parapets about the fort were objects of careful observation +from the moment of placing our lines, and opinions coincided with those of +reconnoitring officers that the former could be passed without ladders. +General Alexander and I made frequent examinations of them within four +hundred yards. + +After careful conference, General McLaws ordered,-- + + "_First._ Wofford's Georgia and Humphreys's Mississippi brigades to + make the assault, the first on the left, the second on the right, this + latter followed closely by three regiments of Bryan's brigade; the + Sixteenth Georgia Regiment to lead the first and the Thirteenth + Mississippi the second assaulting column. + + "_Second._ The brigades to be formed for the attack in columns of + regiments. + + "_Third._ The assault to be made with fixed bayonets, and without + firing a gun. + + "_Fourth._ Should be made against the northwest angle of Fort Loudon + or Sanders. + + "_Fifth._ The men should be urged to the work with a determination to + succeed, and should rush to it without hallooing. + + "_Sixth._ The sharp-shooters to keep up a continuous fire into the + embrasures of the enemy's works and along the fort, so as to prevent + the use of the cannon, and distract, if not prevent, the fire of all + arms." + +General B. R. Johnson was in time to follow the main attack by General +McLaws with his own and Gracie's brigades (two thousand six hundred and +twenty-five effectives). + +The order was given for the 28th, but the weather became so heavy and +murky as to hide the fort from view of our artillery, so operations were +put off until the 29th. + +On the 28th reports were brought of an advance of Union troops from the +direction of Cumberland Gap. The cavalry under General W. E. Jones was +sent to arrest their march pending operations ordered for the 29th, and +he was authorized to call the artillery and infantry marching from +Virginia to his assistance if the force proved formidable. + +After arranging his command, General McLaws wrote me as follows: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS DIVISION, + "November 28, 1863. + + "GENERAL,--It seems to be a conceded fact that there has been a + serious engagement between General Bragg's forces and those of the + enemy; with what result is not known so far as I have heard. General + Bragg may have maintained his position, may have repulsed the enemy, + or may have been driven back. If the enemy has been beaten at + Chattanooga, do we not gain by delay at this point? If we have been + defeated at Chattanooga, do we not risk our entire force by an assault + here? If we have been defeated at Chattanooga, our communications must + be made with Virginia. We cannot combine again with General Bragg, + even if we should be successful in our assault on Knoxville. If we + should be defeated or unsuccessful here, and at the same time General + Bragg should have been forced to retire, would we be in condition to + force our way to the army in Virginia? I present these considerations, + and with the force they have on my mind I beg leave to say that I + think we had better delay the assault until we hear the result of the + battle of Chattanooga. The enemy may have cut our communication to + prevent this army reinforcing General Bragg, as well as for the + opposite reason,--viz., to prevent General Bragg from reinforcing us, + and the attack at Chattanooga favors the first proposition.[190] + + "Very respectfully, + "L. MCLAWS, + "_Major-General_." + +In reply I wrote,-- + + "HEAD-QUARTERS, November 28, 1863. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL MCLAWS: + + "GENERAL,--Your letter is received. I am not at all confident that + General Bragg has had a serious battle at Chattanooga, but there is a + report that he has, and that he has fallen back to Tunnel Hill. Under + this report I am entirely convinced that our only safety is in making + the assault upon the enemy's position to-morrow at daylight, and it is + the more important that I should have the entire support and + co-operation of the officers in this connection; and I do hope and + trust that I may have your entire support and all the force you may be + possessed of in the execution of my views. It is a great mistake to + suppose that there is any safety for us in going to Virginia if + General Bragg has been defeated, for we leave him at the mercy of his + victors, and with his army destroyed our own had better be, for we + will be not only destroyed, but disgraced. There is neither safety nor + honor in any other course than the one I have chosen and ordered. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "JAMES LONGSTREET, + "_Lieutenant-General Commanding_. + + "P.S.--The assault must be made at the time appointed, and must be + made with a determination which will insure success." + +After writing the letter it occurred to me to show it to General +Leadbetter, who was stopping at our head-quarters, when he suggested the +postscript which was added. + +The assault was made by the brigades of Generals Wofford, Humphreys, and +Bryan at the appointed time and in admirable style. The orders were, that +not a musket should be discharged except by the sharp-shooters, who should +be vigilant and pick off every head that might appear above the parapets +until the fort was carried. The troops marched steadily and formed +regularly along the outside of the works around the ditch. I rode after +them with the brigades under General B. R. Johnson until within five +hundred yards of the fort, whence we could see our advance through the +gray of the morning. A few men were coming back wounded. Major Goggin, of +General McLaws's staff, who had been at the fort, rode back, met me, and +reported that it would be useless for us to go on; that the enemy had so +surrounded the fort with net-work of wire that it was impossible for the +men to get in without axes, and that there was not an axe in the command. +Without a second thought I ordered the recall, and ordered General Johnson +to march his brigades back to their camps. He begged to be allowed to go +on, but, giving full faith to the report, I forbade him. I had known +Major Goggin many years. He was a classmate at West Point, and had served +with us in the field in practical experience, so that I had confidence in +his judgment. + +Recall was promptly sent General Jenkins and his advance brigade under +General Anderson, but the latter, seeing the delay at the fort, changed +his direction outside the enemy's works and marched along their front to +the ditch, and was there some little time before he received the order. In +his march and countermarch in front of the enemy's line he lost four +killed and thirty-three wounded. + +As a diversion in favor of the assaulting columns, our troops on the south +side were ordered to a simultaneous attack, and to get in on that side if +the opportunity occurred. They were reinforced by Russell's brigade of +Morgan's division of cavalry, and Harrison's brigade of Armstrong's +division, dismounted, General Morgan commanding. This demonstration had +the effect anticipated in detaining troops to hold on that side that were +intended as reserve for the fort. + +Just after the troops were ordered back it occurred to me that there must +be some mistake about the wire net-work, for some of our men had been seen +mounting and passing over the parapets, but it was too late to reorganize +and renew the attack, and I conceived that some of the regimental pioneers +should have been at hand prepared to cut the wires, but all had been armed +to help swell our ranks. + +Since reading the accounts of General Poe, the engineer in charge of the +works, I am convinced that the wires were far from being the serious +obstacle reported, and that we could have gone in without the use of axes; +and from other accounts it appears that most of the troops had retired +from the fort, leaving about a hundred and fifty infantry with +Benjamin's battery. Our muskets from the outside of the parapet could have +kept the infantry down, and the artillery practice, except the few +hand-grenades, prepared at the time by the artillerists. Johnson's +brigades would have been at the ditch with me in ten minutes, when we +would have passed over the works. Hence it seems conclusive that the +failure was due to the order of recall. It is not a part of my nature to +listen to reports that always come when stunning blows are felt, but +confidence in the conduct of the war was broken, and with it the tone and +spirit for battle further impaired by the efforts of those in authority to +damage, if not prevent, the success of work ordered in their own vital +interest: a poor excuse for want of golden equipoise in one who presumes +to hold the lives of his soldiers, but better than to look for ways to +shift the responsibility of a wavering spirit that sometimes comes +unawares. + + +[Illustration: THE ASSAULT ON FORT SANDERS, KNOXVILLE.] + + +After the repulse, General Burnside was so considerate as to offer a "flag +of truce" for time to remove our killed and wounded about his lines. + +About half an hour after the repulse, and while yet on the slope leading +up to the fort, Major Branch, of Major-General Ransom's staff, came with a +telegram from the President informing me that General Bragg had been +forced back by superior numbers, and ordering me to proceed to co-operate +with his army. + +Orders were issued at once for our trains to move south, and preparations +were begun for a move of the troops after nightfall. In the afternoon word +came from General Wheeler, authorized by General Bragg, that I should join +him, if practicable, at Ringgold. But our first step was to be relieved of +the threatening from the direction of Cumberland Gap. General Martin was +sent to reinforce General Jones, with orders to hurry his operations, and +return in time to cover anticipated movements. His brigades which had done +their clever work on the south side were withdrawn to go with him. When +he came up with Jones, the latter was severely engaged, but it was then +night, too late for other operations. + +Their arrangements were made during the night and battle renewed at early +dawn and severely contested, the Union troops giving from point to point +until they crossed the ford at Walker's and were beyond further +threatening. They lost some fifty killed and wounded and one company +captured at Colonel Graham's camp. + +Generals Martin and Jones joined us in good season after their affair of +the morning. Their loss was slight, but not detailed in separate reports. + + Confederate loss in the assault 822 + Union loss in the assault 673 + Confederate losses during the campaign 1296 + Union losses during the campaign 1481 + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +CUT OFF FROM EAST AND WEST. + + Impracticability of joining General Bragg--Wintering in East + Tennessee--General Longstreet given Discretionary Authority over the + Department by President Davis--Short Rations--Minor Movements of + Hide-and-Seek in the Mountains--Longstreet's Position was of Strategic + Importance--That Fact fully appreciated by President Lincoln, + Secretary Stanton, and Generals Halleck and Grant--"Drive Longstreet + out of East Tennessee and keep him out"--Generals Robertson and + McLaws--The Charges against them and Action taken--Honorable Mention + for Courage and Endurance--The Army finally fares sumptuously on the + Fat Lands of the French Broad. + + +As General Wheeler's note indicated doubt of the feasibility of the move +towards General Bragg, it occurred to me that our better course was to +hold our lines about Knoxville, and in that way cause General Grant to +send to its relief, and thus so reduce his force as to stop, for a time, +pursuit of General Bragg. + +Under this impression, I ordered our trains back, and continued to hold +our lines. The superior officers were called together and advised of +affairs, and asked for suggestions. The impression seemed to be that it +would not be prudent to undertake to join General Bragg. At the same time +reports came from him to inform me that he had retired as far as Dalton, +and that I must depend upon my own resources. + +We were cut off from communication with the army at Dalton, except by an +impracticable mountain route, and the railway to the north was broken up +by the removal of bridges and rails for a distance of a hundred miles and +more. + +Deciding to remain at Knoxville, I called on General Ransom to join us +with his main force, to aid in reinvesting it, or to hold it while we +could march against a succoring force if the numbers should warrant. On +the 1st of December, Colonel Giltner, commanding one of General Ransom's +cavalry brigades, reported that he had orders to join General Ransom with +his brigade. On the same day a courier going from General Grant to General +Burnside was captured, bearing an autograph letter for the latter, stating +that three columns were advancing for his relief,--one by the south side +under General Sherman, one by Decherd under General Elliott, the third by +Cumberland Gap under General Foster. + +When General Leadbetter left us on the 29th of November, he was asked to +look after affairs at Loudon, and to order General Vaughn to destroy such +property as he could not haul off, and retire through the mountains to +General Bragg's army. Finding that General Vaughn had not been moved, he +was ordered on the 1st of December to cross the river to our side with +everything that he could move, and to be ready to destroy property that he +must leave, and march to join us as soon as the pressure from General +Sherman's force became serious. At the same time an order came from +General Bragg that his cavalry be ordered back to his army. As I had +relieved the pressure against him in his critical emergency, and affairs +were getting a little complicated about my position, I felt warranted in +retaining the cavalry for the time. + +Reports coming at the same time of reinforcements for the enemy at +Kingston, pressing towards General Vaughn at Loudon, he was ordered to +join us. As he had no horses for the battery, he tumbled it from the +bridge into the middle of the Tennessee River, burned the bridge, and +marched. + +Under the circumstances there seemed but one move left for us,--to march +around Knoxville to the north side, up the Holston, and try to find the +column reported to be marching down from Cumberland Gap, the mountain +ranges and valleys of that part of the State offering beautiful fields +for the manoeuvre of small armies. The order was issued December 2. Trains +were put in motion on the 3d, and ordered up the railroad route under +escort of Law's and Robertson's brigades and one of Alexander's batteries. +On the night of the 4th the troops were marched from the southwest to the +north side of the city, and took up the march along the west bank of the +Holston. General Martin, with his own and General W. E. Jones's cavalry, +was left to guard the rear of our march and pick up weak men or +stragglers. He was ordered to cross part of his cavalry to the east bank +at Strawberry Plains and march up on that side, and General W. E. Jones to +follow on our rear with his and the balance of Martin's corps. As we were +not disturbed, we reached Blain's Cross-roads on the afternoon of the 5th, +where we met General Ransom with his infantry and the balance of his +artillery. On the 6th we marched to Rutledge, halting two days to get food +and look for the succoring column by Cumberland Gap, which failed to +appear. However, it was time for us to be looking for better fields of +food for men and animals, who had not had comfortable rations for weeks. +It seemed, too, that General Bragg's call for his cavalry could not be +longer left in abeyance. To get away from convenient march of the enemy we +went up the river as far as Rogersville, where we might hope to forage +under reduced cavalry force. We marched on the 8th, ordering our cavalry, +except Giltner's brigade, across the Holston near Bean's Station, General +Ransom's command to cover our march, General Bragg's cavalry to go by an +eastern route through the mountains to Georgia. We halted at Rogersville +on the 9th, where we were encouraged to hope for full rations for a few +days, at least; but to be sure of accumulating a few days' extra supply +(the mills being only able to grind a full day's rations for us), every +man and animal was put on short rations until we could get as much as +three days' supply on hand. + +On the 7th of December the Union army, under Major-General John G. Parke, +took the field along the rear of our march, and reached Rutledge on the +9th, the enemy's cavalry advancing as far as Bean's Station. The object +was supposed to be the securing of the forage and subsistence stores of +the country; but of these movements we were not fully advised until the +11th. On the 10th of December, General Morgan's brigade of cavalry was +attacked at Russellville while engaged in foraging, but got force enough, +and in time, to drive the enemy away. + +On the 10th a telegram from the President gave me discretionary authority +over the movements of the troops of the department, and I ordered the +recall of General Martin, and put his command between us and the enemy. On +the 12th we had information that General Sherman had taken up his march +for return to General Grant's army with the greater part of his troops. At +the same time we had information of the force that had followed our march +as far as Rutledge and Blain's Cross-roads, under General Parke, who had +posted a large part of the force of artillery, cavalry, and infantry at +Bean's Station, a point between the Clinch Mountain and the Holston River. +The mountain there is very rugged, and was reported to be inaccessible, +except at very rough passes. The valley between it and the river is about +two miles wide, at some places less. + +I thought to cut off the advance force at Bean's Station by putting our +main cavalry force east of the river, the other part west of the mountain +(except Giltner's), so as to close the mountain pass on the west, and bar +the enemy's retreat by my cavalry in his rear,--which was to cross the +Holston behind him,--then by marching the main column down the valley to +capture this advance part of the command. My column, though complaining a +little of short rations and very muddy roads, made its march in good +season. So also did Jones on the west of the mountain, and Martin on the +other side of the Holston; but the latter encountered a brigade at May's +Ford, which delayed him and gave time for the enemy to change to a +position some four miles to his rear. + +As we approached the position in front of the Gap, Giltner's cavalry in +advance, General B. R. Johnson met and engaged the enemy in a severe +fight, but forced him back steadily. As we were looking for large capture +more than fight, delay was unfortunate. I called Kershaw's brigade up to +force contention till we could close the west end of the Gap. The +movements were nicely executed by Johnson and Kershaw, but General Martin +had not succeeded in gaining his position, so the rear was not closed, and +the enemy retired. At night I thought the army was in position to get the +benefit of the small force cut off at the Gap, as some reward for our very +hard work. We received reports from General Jones, west of the mountain, +that he was in position at his end of the Gap, and had captured several +wagon-loads of good things. As his orders included the capture of the +train, he had failed of full comprehension of them, and after nightfall +had withdrawn to comfortable watering-places to enjoy his large catch of +sugar and coffee, and other things seldom seen in Confederate camps in +those days. Thus the troops at the Gap got out during the night, some +running over the huge rocks and heavy wood tangles along the crest, by +torch-light, to their comrades, some going west by easier ways. So when I +sent up in the morning, looking for their doleful surrender, my men found +only empty camp-kettles, mess-pans, tents, and a few abandoned guns, and +twelve prisoners, while the Yankees were, no doubt, sitting around their +camp-fires enjoying the joke with the comrades they had rejoined. + +During our march and wait at Rogersville, General Foster passed down to +Knoxville by a more southern route and relieved General Burnside of +command of the department on the 12th. + +General Jenkins was ordered to follow down the valley to the new position +of the enemy. His brigades under Generals Law and Robertson had been +detached guarding trains. General Law, commanding them, had been ordered +to report to the division commander on the 13th, but at night of the 14th +he was eight miles behind. Orders were sent him to join the division at +the earliest practicable moment on the 15th. He reported to the division +commander between two and three o'clock in the afternoon. If he started at +the hour he should have marched, six A.M. at the latest, he was about +eight hours making as many miles. + +Meanwhile, the enemy had been reinforced by a considerable body of +infantry, and later it appeared that he was advancing to offer battle. +General McLaws was ordered to reinforce our front by a brigade. He sent +word that his men had not yet received their bread rations. He sent +Kershaw's brigade, however, that had captured rations the day before, but +then it was night, and the appearance of General Martin's cavalry on or +near the enemy's flank caused a change of his plans. During the night he +retreated, and we occupied his trenches. I could have precipitated an +affair of some moment, both at this point and at Bean's Station Gap, but +my purpose was, when I fought, to fight for all that was on the field. The +time was then for full and glorious victory; a fruitless one we did not +want. + +The enemy retired to Blain's Cross-roads, where General Foster, after +reinforcing by the Fourth Corps, decided to accept battle. He reported his +force as twenty-six thousand, and credited the Confederates with equal +numbers, but twenty thousand would have been an overestimate for us. He +assigned the true cause of our failure to follow up and find him: + + "General Longstreet, however, did not attack, in consequence, + probably, of the very inclement weather, which then set in with such + severity as to paralyze for a time the efforts of both armies." + +And now the weather grew very heavy, and the roads, already bad, became +soft and impracticable for trains and artillery. The men were brave, +steady, patient. Occasionally they called pretty loudly for _parched +corn_, but always in a bright, merry mood. There was never a time when we +did not have enough of corn, and plenty of wood with which to keep us warm +and parch our corn. At this distance it seems almost incredible that we +got along as we did, but all were then so healthy and strong that we did +not feel severely our really great hardships. Our serious trouble was in +the matter of clothing and shoes. As winter had broken upon us in good +earnest, it seemed necessary for us to give up the game of war for the +time, seek some good place for shelter, and repair railroads and bridges, +to open our way back towards Richmond. + +General Bragg had been relieved from command of the army at Dalton by +Lieutenant-General W. J. Hardee, who declined, however, the part of +permanent commander, to which, after a time, General Joseph E. Johnston +was assigned. + +On his return from Knoxville, General Sherman proposed to General Grant to +strike at General Hardee and gain Rome and the line of the Oostenaula. He +wrote,-- + + "Of course we must fight if Hardee gives us battle, but he will not. + Longstreet is off and cannot do harm for a month. Lee, in Virginia, is + occupied, and Hardee is alone." + +But General Halleck was much concerned about the Confederate army in East +Tennessee, the only strategic field then held by Southern troops. It was +inconveniently near Kentucky and the Ohio River, and President Lincoln and +his War Secretary were as anxious as Halleck on account of its +politico-strategic bearing. General Halleck impressed his views upon +General Grant, and despatched General Foster that it was of first +importance to "drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee and keep him out." +General Grant ordered, "Drive Longstreet to the farthest point east that +you can." And he reported to the authorities,-- + + "If Longstreet is not driven out of the valley entirely and the road + destroyed east of Abingdon, I do not think it unlikely that the last + great battle of the war will be fought in East Tennessee. Reports of + deserters and citizens show the army of Bragg to be too much + demoralized and reduced by desertions to do anything this winter. I + will get everything in order here in a few days and go to Nashville + and Louisville, and, if there is still a chance of doing anything + against Longstreet, to the scene of operations there. I am deeply + interested in moving the enemy beyond Saltville this winter, so as to + be able to select my own campaign in the spring, instead of having the + enemy dictate it to me." + +Referring to his orders, General Foster reported his plan to intrench a +line of infantry along Bull's Gap and Mulberry Gap, and have his cavalry +ready for the ride against Saltville, but the Confederates turned upon +him, and he despatched General Grant on the 11th,-- + + "Longstreet has taken the offensive against General Parke, who has + fallen back to Blain's Cross-roads, where Granger is now concentrating + his corps. I intend to fight them if Longstreet comes." + +The failure to follow has been explained. + +The summing up of the plans laid for General Hardee and Saltville is +brief. Hardee was not disturbed. The ride towards Saltville, made about +the last of the month, was followed by General W. E. Jones and came to +grief, as will be elsewhere explained. + +Upon relinquishing command of his army, General Bragg was called to +Richmond as commander-in-chief near the President. + +Before General Hood was so seriously hurt at the battle of Chickamauga, he +made repeated complaints of want of conduct on the part of +Brigadier-General J. B. Robertson. After the _fiasco_ in Lookout Valley on +the night of the 28th of October, I reported to General Bragg of the +representations made by General Hood, and of want of conduct on the part +of General Robertson in that night attack, when General Bragg ordered me +to ask for a board of officers to examine into the merits of the case. The +board was ordered, and General Robertson was relieved from duty by orders +from General Bragg's head-quarters, "while the proceedings and actions of +the examining board in his case were pending." + +On the 8th, without notice to my head-quarters, General Bragg ordered, +"Brigadier-General Robertson will rejoin his command until the board can +renew its session."[191] + +On the 18th of December the division commander preferred "charges and +specifications" against Brigadier-General Robertson, in which he accused +him of calling the commanders of his Texas regiments to him and saying +there were but + + "Three days' rations on hand, and God knows where more are to come + from; that he had no confidence in the campaign; that whether we + whipped the enemy in the immediate battle or not, we would be + compelled to retreat, the enemy being believed by citizens and others + to be moving around us, and that we were in danger of losing a + considerable part of our army; that our men were in no condition for + campaigning; that General Longstreet had promised shoes, but how could + they be furnished? that we only had communication with Richmond, and + could only get a mail from there in three weeks; that he was opposed + to the movement; would require written orders, and would obey under + protest." + +General Robertson was ordered to Bristol to await the action of the +Richmond authorities, who were asked for a court-martial to try the case. + +On the 17th the following orders concerning General McLaws were issued: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS NEAR BEAN'S STATION, + "December 17, 1863. + + "SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 27. + + "Major-General L. McLaws is relieved from further duty with this army, + and will proceed to Augusta, Georgia, from which place he will report + by letter to the adjutant- and inspector-general. He will turn over + the command of the division to the senior brigadier present. + + "By command of Lieutenant-General Longstreet. + + MOXLEY SORREL, + "_Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General_. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL MCLAWS, + "_Confederate States Army_." + +On the same day he wrote,-- + + "_Camp on Bean's Station Gap Road_, + "December 17, 1863. + + "LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SORREL, + "_Assistant Adjutant-General_: + + "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Special Orders No. 27, + from your head-quarters, of this date, relieving me from further duty + with this army. If there is no impropriety in making inquiry, and I + cannot imagine there is, I respectfully request to be informed of the + particular reason for the order. + + "Very respectfully, + "L. MCLAWS, + "_Major-General_." + +In reply the following was sent: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS NEAR BEAN'S STATION, + "December 17, 1863. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL MCLAWS, + "_Confederate States Army_: + + "GENERAL,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of + to-day, asking for the particular reason for the issue of the order + relieving you from duty with this army. In reply I am directed to say + that throughout the campaign on which we are engaged you have + exhibited a want of confidence in the efforts and plans which the + commanding general has thought proper to adopt, and he is + apprehensive that this feeling will extend more or less to the troops + under your command. Under these circumstances the commanding general + has felt that the interest of the public service would be advanced by + your separation from him, and as he could not himself leave, he + decided upon the issue of the order which you have received. + + "I have the honor to be, general, with great respect, + + "G. MOXLEY SORREL, + "_Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General_." + + +[Illustration: G. M. Sorrel. Chief of Staff, First Corps; promoted to +Brigadier-General, 1864.] + + +On the 19th, General Law handed in his resignation at head-quarters, and +asked leave of absence on it. This was cheerfully granted. Then he asked +the privilege of taking the resignation with him to the adjutant-general +at Richmond. This was a very unusual request, but the favor he was doing +the service gave him some claim to unusual consideration, and his request +was granted. + +The Law disaffection was having effect, or seemed to be, among some of the +officers, but most of them and all of the soldiers were true and brave, +even through all of the hardships of the severest winter of the four years +of war. Marching and fighting had been almost daily occupation from the +middle of January, 1863, when we left Fredericksburg to move down to +Suffolk, Virginia, until the 16th of December, when we found bleak winter +again breaking upon us, away from our friends, and dependent upon our own +efforts for food and clothing. It is difficult for a soldier to find words +that can express his high appreciation of conduct in officers and men who +endured so bravely the severe trials they were called to encounter. + +Orders were given to cross the Holston River and march for the railroad, +only a few miles away. Before quitting the fields of our arduous labors +mention should be made of General Bushrod R. Johnson's clever march of +sixteen miles, through deep mud, to Bean's Station on the 13th, when he +and General Kershaw attacked and pushed the enemy back from his front at +the Gap before he could get out of it. Honorable mention is also due +General Jenkins for his equally clever pursuit of the enemy at Lenoir's +Station; Brigadier-General Humphreys and Bryan for their conduct at the +storming assault; Colonel Ruff, who led Wofford's brigade, and died in the +ditch; Colonel McElroy, of the Thirteenth Mississippi Regiment, and +Colonel Thomas, of the Sixteenth Georgia, who also died in the ditch; +Lieutenant Cumming, adjutant of the Sixteenth Georgia Regiment, who +overcame all obstacles, crowned the parapet with ten or a dozen men, and, +entering the fort through one of the embrasures, was taken prisoner; and +Colonel Fiser, of the Eighteenth Mississippi, who lost an arm while on the +parapet. Not the least of the gallant acts of the campaign was the dash of +Captain Winthrop, who led our once halting lines over the rail defences at +Knoxville. + +The transfer of the army to the east bank of the river was executed by +diligent work and the use of such flat-boats and other means of crossing +as we could collect and construct. We were over by the 20th, and before +Christmas were in our camps along the railroad, near Morristown. Blankets +and clothes were very scarce, shoes more so, but all knew how to enjoy the +beautiful country in which we found ourselves. The French Broad River and +the Holston are confluent at Knoxville. The country between and beyond +them contains as fine farming lands and has as delightful a climate as can +be found. Stock and grain were on all farms. Wheat and oats had been +hidden away by our Union friends, but the fields were full of maize, still +standing. The country about the French Broad had hardly been touched by +the hands of foragers. Our wagons immediately on entering the fields were +loaded to overflowing. Pumpkins were on the ground in places like apples +under a tree. Cattle, sheep, and swine, poultry, vegetables, maple-sugar, +honey, were all abundant for immediate wants of the troops. + +When the enemy found we had moved to the east bank, his cavalry followed +to that side. They were almost as much in want of the beautiful foraging +lands as we, but we were in advance of them, and left little for them. +With all the plenitude of provisions and many things which seemed at the +time luxuries, we were not quite happy. Tattered blankets, garments, and +shoes (the latter going--many gone) opened ways, on all sides, for +piercing winter blasts. There were some hand-looms in the country from +which we occasionally picked up a piece of cloth, and here and there we +received other comforts, some from kind and some from unwilling hands, +which nevertheless could spare them. For shoes we were obliged to resort +to the raw hides of beef cattle as temporary protection from the frozen +ground. Then we began to find soldiers who could tan the hides of our +beeves, some who could make shoes, some who could make shoe-pegs, some who +could make shoe-lasts, so that it came about that the hides passed rapidly +from the beeves to the feet of the soldiers in the form of comfortable +shoes. Then came the opening of the railroad, and lo and behold! a +shipment of three thousand shoes from General Lawton, +quartermaster-general! Thus the most urgent needs were supplied, and the +soldier's life seemed passably pleasant,--that is, in the infantry and +artillery. Our cavalry were looking at the enemy all of this while, and +the enemy was looking at them, both frequently burning powder between +their lines. + +General Sturgis had been assigned to the cavalry of the other side to +relieve General Shackelford, and he seemed to think that the dead of +winter was the time for cavalry work; and our General Martin's orders were +to have the enemy under his eye at all hours. Both were vigilant, active, +and persevering. + +About the 20th of December a raid was made by General Averill from West +Virginia upon a supply depot of General Sam Jones's department, at Salem, +which was partially successful, when General Grant, under the impression +that the stores were for troops of East Tennessee, wired General Foster, +December 25, "This will give you great advantage," and General Foster +despatched General Parke, commanding his troops in the field, December 26, +"Longstreet will feel a little timid now, and will bear a little pushing." + +Under the fierce operations of General Sturgis's cavalry against General +Martin's during the latter days of December, General W. E. Jones's cavalry +was on guard for my right and rear towards Cumberland Gap. While Sturgis +busied himself against our front and left, a raiding party rode from +Cumberland Gap against the outposts of our far-off right, under Colonel +Pridemore. As W. E. Jones was too far to support Martin's cavalry, he was +called to closer threatenings against Cumberland Gap, that he might thus +draw some of Sturgis's cavalry from our front to strengthen the forces at +the Gap. Upon receipt of orders, General Jones crossed Clinch River in +time to find the warm trail of the raiders who were following Pridemore. +He sent around to advise him of his ride in pursuit of his pursuers, and +ordered Pridemore, upon hearing his guns, to turn and join in the attack +upon them. + +The very cold season and severe march through the mountain fastnesses +stretched Jones's line so that he was in poor condition for immediate +attack when he found the enemy's camp at daylight on the 3d of January; +but he found a surprise: not even a picket guard out in their rear. He +dashed in with his leading forces and got the enemy's battery, but the +enemy quickly rallied and made battle, which recovered the artillery, and +got into strong position about some farm-houses and defended with +desperate resolution. Finding the position too strong, Jones thought to so +engage as to make the enemy use his battery until his ammunition was +exhausted, and then put in all of his forces in assault. Towards night +the enemy found himself reduced to desperate straits and tried to secure +cover of the mountains, but as quick as he got away from the farm-houses +Jones put all of his forces in, capturing three pieces of artillery, three +hundred and eighty prisoners, and twenty-seven wagons and teams of the +Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry and Twenty-second Ohio Light Artillery. A +number of the men got away through the mountains. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD. + + Longstreet again considers Relief from Service--General Grant at + Knoxville--Shoeless Soldiers leave Bloody Trails on Frozen Roads--A + Confederate Advance--Affair at Dandridge--Federals retreat--Succession + of Small Engagements--General Grant urges General Foster's Army to the + Offensive--General Foster relieved--General Schofield in Command of + Federals--General Grant's Orders--General Halleck's Estimate of East + Tennessee as a Strategic Field--Affair of Cavalry--Advance towards + Knoxville--Longstreet's Command called back to Defensive for Want of + Cavalry. + + +During the last few days of the year 1863 the cold of the severest winter +of the war came on, and constantly increased until the thermometer +approached zero, and on New Year's dropped below, hanging near that figure +for about two weeks. The severe season gave rest to every one. Even the +cavalry had a little quiet, but it was cold comfort, for their orders were +to keep the enemy in sight. + +The season seemed an appropriate one for making another effort to be +relieved from service,--that service in which the authorities would not +support my plans or labors,--for now during the lull in war they would +have ample time to assign some one to whom they could give their +confidence and aid. But this did not suit them, and the course of affairs +prejudicial to order and discipline was continued. It was difficult under +the circumstances to find apology for remaining in service. + +The President asked Congress to provide for another general officer when +he had five on his rolls,--one of whom was not in command appropriate to +his rank,--and appointed Lieutenant-General Smith, of the +Trans-Mississippi Department, of lower rank than mine, to hold rank above +me. A soldier's honor is his all, and of that they would rob him and +degrade him in the eyes of his troops. The occasion seemed to demand +resignation, but that would have been unsoldierly conduct. Dispassionate +judgment suggested, as the proper rounding of the soldier's life, to stay +and go down with faithful comrades of long and arduous service. + +On the other side of the picture affairs were bright and encouraging. The +disaffected were away, and with them disappeared their influence. The +little army was bright and cheerful and ready for any work to which it +could be called. + +General Grant made his visit to Knoxville about New Year's, and remained +until the 7th. He found General Foster in the condition of the +Confederates,--not properly supplied with clothing, especially in want of +shoes. So he authorized a wait for the clothing, then in transit and +looked for in a week; and that little delay was a great lift for the +Confederates. We were not timid, but were beginning to think ourselves +comfortable and happy, and were expectant of even better condition. We +were receiving a hundred pairs of shoes a day of our own make, the +hand-looms of the farmers were giving help towards clothing our men, +promises from Richmond were encouraging, and we were prepared to enjoy +rest that we had not known for a twelvemonth. The medical inspector of the +Cis-Mississippi District came to see us, and after careful inspection told +us that the army was in better health and better heart than the other +armies of the district. + +Before leaving General Foster, General Grant ordered him on the receipt of +the clothing to advance and drive us "at least beyond Bull's Gap and Red +Bridge." And to prepare for that advance he ordered the Ninth and +Twenty-third Corps to Mossy Creek, the Fourth Corps to Strawberry Plains, +and the cavalry to Dandridge. + +The Union army--equipped--marched on the 14th and 15th of January. + +The Confederate departments were not so prompt in filling our +requisitions, but we had hopes. The bitter freeze of two weeks had made +the rough angles of mud as firm and sharp as so many freshly-quarried +rocks, and the poorly protected feet of our soldiers sometimes left bloody +marks along the roads. + +General Sturgis rode in advance of the army, and occupied Dandridge by +Elliott's, Wolford's, and Garrard's divisions of cavalry and Mott's +brigade of infantry. The Fourth and Twenty-third Corps followed the +cavalry, leaving the Ninth Corps to guard at Strawberry Plains. + +General Martin gave us prompt notice that the march was at Dandridge, and +in force. The move was construed as a flanking proceeding, but it was more +convenient to adopt the short march and meet it at Dandridge than to leave +our shoe factory and winter huts and take up the tedious rearward move. +The army was ordered under arms, the cavalry was ordered concentrated in +front of General Sturgis, and the divisions of Jenkins and B. R. Johnson +and Alexander's batteries were marched to join General Martin. McLaws's +division under General Wofford, and Ransom's under General Carr, with such +batteries as they could haul, were assigned to positions on the Morristown +(Strawberry Plains) road, to strike forward or reinforce at Dandridge as +plans developed. The men without shoes were ordered to remain as camp +guards, but many preferred to march with their comrades. + +I rode in advance to be assured that our cavalry had not mistaken a strong +cavalry move for one by the enemy. We found General Martin on the Bull's +Gap road sharply engaged with the enemy, both sides on strong defensive +grounds and using their horse batteries, but no infantry was in sight. +General Martin was ordered to push on, gain the opposing plateau, and +force the enemy to show his infantry. + +He found the enemy in strong fight, but got the plateau, when the enemy +deployed in stronger force; but his infantry did not appear. When asked +to take the next hill, he thought it could not be done without infantry, +but my idea was to save the infantry the trying march, if possible, and to +that end it was necessary to push with the cavalry. He was called to send +me a detachment of his troopers, and about six hundred came,--Harrison's +brigade, as I remember. + +We rode away from the enemy's left, concealing our march under traverse of +an elevated woodland, while General Martin engaged their front attention. +At a secluded spot, a little beyond the enemy's left, the men dismounted, +leaving their animals under guards, moved under cover to good position, +deployed into single line, and marched for the second plateau. Part of the +march was over a small opening, near a farm-house. The exposure brought us +under fire of some sharp-shooters, but we hadn't time to stop and shoot. +As our line marched, a chicken, dazed by the formidable appearance, +crouched in the grass until it was kicked up, when it flew and tried to +clear the line, but one of the troopers jumped up, knocked it down with +the end of his gun, stooped, picked it up, put it in his haversack, and +marched on without losing his place or step and without looking to his +right or left, as though it was as proper and as much an every-day part of +the exercise of war as shooting at the enemy. Presently we got up the +hill, and General Martin advanced his mounts to meet us. We lost but two +men,--wounded,--an officer and a soldier. The officer was at my side, and, +hearing the thud of the blow, I turned and asked if he was much hurt. He +said it was only a flesh-wound, and remained with his command until night. +From that point we saw enough to tell that a formidable part of the army +was before us, and orders were sent for the command to speed their march +as much as they could without severe trial. + +When General Martin made his bold advance General Sturgis thought to ride +around by a considerable detour and strike at his rear, but in his ride +was surprised to encounter our marching columns of infantry, and still +more surprised when he saw a thousand muskets levelled and sending +whistling bullets about his men, and our batteries preparing something +worse for him. His troopers got back faster than they came. In trying by a +rapid ride to find position for handling his men he lost a number of his +staff, captured, and narrowly escaped himself. + +It was near night when the command got up skirmishers from the advance +division, reinforced the cavalry, and pushed the enemy back nearer the +town. + +Dandridge is on the right bank of the French Broad River, about thirty +miles from Knoxville. Its topographical features are bold and inviting of +military work. Its other striking characteristic is the interesting +character of its citizens. The Confederates--a unit in heart and +spirit--were prepared to do their share towards making an effective +battle, and our plans were so laid. + +At the time ordered for his advance, General Foster was suffering from an +old wound, and General Parke became commander of the troops in the field. +The latter delayed at Strawberry Plains in arranging that part of his +command, and General Sheridan, marching with the advance, became +commander, until superseded by the corps commander, General Gordon +Granger. + +Our plans were laid before the army was all up. Our skirmish line was made +stronger and relieved the cavalry of their dismounted service. A narrow +unused road, practicable for artillery, was found, that opened a way for +us to reach the enemy's rearward line of march. Sharp-shooters were +organized and ordered forward by it, to be followed by our infantry +columns. It was thought better to move the infantry alone, as the ringing +of the iron axles of the guns might give notice of our purpose; the +artillery to be called as our sharp-shooters approached the junction of +the roads. The head of the turning force encountered a picket-guard, some +of whom escaped without firing, but speedily gave notice of our feeling +towards their rear. General Granger decided to retire, and was in time to +leave our cross-road behind him, his rear-guard passing the point of +intersection before my advance party reached it about midnight. + +The weather moderated before night, and after dark a mild, gentle rain +began to fall. + +When I rode into Dandridge in the gray of the morning the ground was +thawing and hardly firm enough to bear the weight of a horse. When the +cavalry came at sunrise the last crust of ice had melted, letting the +animals down to their fetlocks in heavy limestone soil. The mud and want +of a bridge to cross the Holston made pursuit by our heavy columns +useless. The cavalry was ordered on, and the troops at Morristown, on the +Strawberry Plains road, were ordered to try that route, but the latter +proved to be too heavy for progress with artillery. + +While yet on the streets of Dandridge, giving directions for such pursuit +as we could make, a lady came out upon the sidewalk and invited us into +her parlors. When the orders for pursuit were given, I dismounted, and +with some members of my staff walked in. After the compliments of the +season were passed, we were asked to be seated, and she told us something +of General Granger during the night before. She had never heard a person +swear about another as General Granger did about me. Some of the officers +proposed to stop and make a battle, but General Granger swore and said it +"was no use to stop and fight Longstreet. You can't whip him. It don't +make any difference whether he has one man or a hundred thousand." +Presently she brought out a flask that General Granger had forgotten, and +thought that I should have it. It had about two refreshing inches left in +it. Though not left with compliments, it was accepted. Although the +weather had moderated, it was very wet and nasty, and as we had taken our +coffee at three o'clock, it was resolved to call it noon and divide the +spoils. Colonel Fairfax, who knew how to enjoy good things, thought the +occasion called for a sentiment, and offered, "General Granger--may his +shadow never grow less." + +The cavalry found the road and its side-ways so cut up that their pursuit +was reduced to labored walk. The previous hard service and exposure had so +reduced the animals that they were not in trim for real effective cavalry +service. They found some crippled battery forges and a little of other +plunder, but the enemy passed the Holston and broke his bridges behind +him. Our army returned to their huts and winter homes. + +Part of our cavalry was ordered to the south side of the French Broad, and +General Martin was ordered to press close on the enemy's rear with the +balance of his force. General Armstrong followed the line of retreat, and +by the use of flat-boats passed his cavalry over the Holston and rode to +the vicinity of Knoxville. He caught up with some stragglers, equipments, +ammunition, and remains of some caissons, and at last made a grand haul of +a herd of eight hundred beef cattle and thirty-one wagons. + +Upon getting his cavalry back to Knoxville, General Foster crossed them +over the bridge at the city below the French Broad to foraging grounds +about Louisville, and called his Dandridge march a foraging excursion, +saying that he was building a bridge to cross to the south side when we +bore down against him. But the strategy of his tedious march by our front +to find a crossing point at Dandridge and build a bridge in our presence, +when he could have crossed to the south side of the French Broad by his +bridge at Knoxville and reached those foraging grounds unmolested, was not +like Napoleon. He claimed that he recovered two hundred of the lost herd +of beef cattle. In that our reports do not agree. It is possible that his +officers may have confounded that adventure with another. My explanation +of the discrepancy--from memory--is that another of our parties undertook +to get in a herd of swine, with which there was a smaller herd of beef +cattle; that all of the latter herd were recovered, and the reports of the +two adventures were confounded. + +On the 14th, General Vance came down from the mountains of North Carolina +on a raid towards Sevierville. He captured a number of wagons, but was +promptly pursued by the enemy, his prize recovered, and he and a number of +his staff were taken prisoners, with the loss of a hundred or more horses +and equipments. They were not a part of my command, and failed to give us +notice of their ride. The first intimation we had of them was of their +unfortunate adventure. + +On the 21st orders came from Richmond to send Corse's brigade back to +Petersburg, in Virginia. It was so ordered, and Hodges's brigade was +ordered to us from the department of West Virginia, in place of Corse's. + +To seek some of the fruits of our advantage at Dandridge, the roads being +a little firmer, our leading division, under General Jenkins, was ordered +on the 21st to prepare to march towards Strawberry Plains, and the +Richmond authorities were asked to send us a pontoon bridge, tools of +construction, and to hurry forward such shoes as they could send. + +On the 24th, as the Official Records show, General Grant sent word to +General Halleck of our return towards Knoxville, that he had ordered +General Foster to give battle, if necessary, and that he would send +General Thomas with additional troops to insure that we would be driven +from the State. He also directed General Thomas to go in person and take +command, and said, "I want Longstreet routed and pursued beyond the limits +of the State of Tennessee." And he ordered General Foster to put his +cavalry on a raid from Cumberland Gap to cut in upon our rear. + +On the 26th we were advised of the advance of the enemy's cavalry up the +south side of the French Broad to some of the fords above Dandridge. +General Martin was ordered to cross in force below it, get in rear of the +enemy, and endeavor to put him to confusion. He crossed with Morgan's +division, and called Armstrong's to follow, but the enemy, finding +opportunity to put his force against the division, advanced and made a +severe battle on the 27th, which became desperate as developed until, in +their successive gallant charges, our ranks were broken to confusion, when +the enemy made a dash and got two of our guns and two hundred prisoners, +driving us towards the river. + +General Armstrong crossed pending these operations and received the +enemy's attack on the 28th. General B. R. Johnson's infantry division had +been ordered near Dandridge, and crossed while Armstrong's command held +the enemy. The latter was caught in battle from which there was no escape +but to fight it out. Johnson's infantry crossed in time to march towards +the enemy's rear before he could dislodge Armstrong. I rode a little in +advance of Johnson's command. The enemy, advised of the approach of +infantry, made his final charge and retired south towards Marysville. In +his last effort one of his most reckless troopers rode in upon +head-quarters, but Colonel Fairfax put spurs into his horse, dashed up +against him, had his pistol at his head, and called "surrender" before the +man could level his gun. The trooper was agreeably surprised to find it no +worse. The enemy's move to Marysville left us in possession of the +foraging grounds. + +On the 30th, General Grant urged General Foster's army to the offensive, +and called for the cavalry raid through the Powell River Valley and +Cumberland Gap towards our rear, and General Foster called on General +Thomas for a force of ten thousand infantry and working details to repair +the railroad and bridges between Knoxville and Chattanooga. General Thomas +was willing to respond to the call for troops, but asked timely notice so +that he could call Sherman's forces from Mississippi to replace those to +be sent and make a co-operative move against General Johnston at Dalton. +At the same time General Foster called for a pontoon bridge to make his +crossing of the Holston at Strawberry Plains, which was ordered. + +General Sturgis could not approve the ride through Powell River Valley, +and expressed preference for a route through the mountains of North +Carolina towards Asheville, to find our rear. General Grant had suggested +raids from both these points on the 24th of January, but General Foster +decided against the raid from Cumberland Gap, explaining that General +Jones was at Little War Gap to intercept a column that might ride from +that point. He found, too, upon counting his effectives for the raid, that +he could only mount fifteen hundred men, and that our guards at weak +points had been doubled. + +Our railroad was in working order on the 26th of January, and the part of +the pontoon bridge ordered for us was on the road. General Jenkins was +ordered with the leading division down towards Strawberry Plains to +collect such material as he could, and be prepared to throw the bridge +across the Holston as soon as it was up and ready for us. Notice was given +General A. E. Jackson of indications of raids; to Captain Osborn, +commanding scouts; to General Wharton; to Rucker's Cavalry Legion and +Jones's cavalry; and General Vaughn was ordered to collect his command at +Rogersville, to be prepared to threaten Cumberland Gap if the forces there +should be reduced. + +Due notice was sent our outlying parties and scouts to be on the watch for +the reported raiding parties, and the guards of bridges in our rear were +reinforced. + +On the 6th of February, General Grant reported from Nashville,-- + + "MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief_: + + "I am making every effort to get supplies to Knoxville for the support + of a large force--large enough to drive Longstreet out. The enemy have + evidently fallen back with most of their force from General Thomas's + front, some going to Mobile. Has there been any movement in that + direction by our troops? + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General, Commanding_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: + + "Reports of scouts make it evident that Joe Johnston has removed most + of his force from your front, two divisions going to Longstreet. + Longstreet has been reinforced by troops from the East. This makes it + evident the enemy intends to secure East Tennessee if they can, and I + intend to drive them out or get whipped this month. For this purpose + you will have to detach at least ten thousand men besides Stanley's + division (more will be better). I can partly relieve the vacuum at + Chattanooga by troops from Logan's command. It will not be necessary + to take artillery or wagons to Knoxville, but all the serviceable + artillery horses should be taken to use on artillery there. Six mules + to each two hundred men should also be taken, if you have them to + spare. Let me know how soon you can start. + + "GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + +On the 9th, Major-General J. M. Schofield arrived at Knoxville, and +assumed command of the Army of the Ohio. + +General Grant reported on the 11th,-- + + "MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief_: + + "I expect to get off from Chattanooga by Monday next a force to drive + Longstreet out of East Tennessee. It has been impossible heretofore to + subsist the troops necessary for this work. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD, + "_Knoxville, Tenn._: + + "I deem it of the utmost importance to drive Longstreet out + immediately, so as to furlough the balance of our veterans, and to + prepare for a spring campaign of our own choosing, instead of + permitting the enemy to dictate it for us. Thomas is ordered to start + ten thousand men, besides the remainder of Granger's corps, at once. + He will take no artillery, but will take his artillery horses, and + three mules to one hundred men. He will probably start next Monday. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + +General Schofield ordered preparations for the eastern raid continued, but +to await further orders of execution, and reported that its execution +would require all of his effective mounts, break his animals down, and +leave him without cavalry. + +General Grant wired these several despatches from Nashville on February +12: + + "MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: + + "Conversation with Major-General Foster has undecided me as to the + propriety of the contemplated move against Longstreet. Schofield + telegraphs the same views. I will take the matter into consideration + during the day, after further talk with Foster, and give you the + conclusion arrived at. If decided that you do not go I will instruct + Schofield to let Granger send off his veterans at once. + + "Should you not be required to go into East Tennessee, could you not + make a formidable reconnoissance towards Dalton, and, if successful in + driving the enemy out, occupy that place and complete the railroad up + to it this winter? + + "GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: + + "Logan's troops started yesterday morning. If I decide not to make the + move at present into East Tennessee, I will send them back, unless you + require them to aid in advance on Dalton. (See my telegram of this + morning.) + + "GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD: + + "No movement will be made against Longstreet at present. Give your men + and animals all the rest you can preparatory to early operations in + the spring. Furlough all the veterans you deem it prudent to let go. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD, + "_Knoxville, Tenn._: + + "You need not attempt the raid with the cavalry you now have. If that + in Kentucky can recruit up it may do hereafter to send it on such an + expedition. I have asked so often for a co-operative movement from the + troops in West Virginia that I hardly expect to see anything to help + us from there. General Halleck says they have not got men enough. + Crook, however, has gone there, and may undertake to strike the road + about New River. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief, Washington_: + + "GENERAL,--I have got General Thomas ready to move a force of about + fourteen thousand infantry into East Tennessee to aid the force there + in expelling Longstreet from the State. He would have started on + Monday night if I had not revoked the order. My reasons for doing this + are these: General Foster, who is now here (or left this morning), + says that our possession of the portion of East Tennessee is perfectly + secure against all danger. The condition of the people within the + rebel lines cannot be improved now after losing all they had. + Longstreet, where he is, makes more secure other parts of our + possessions. Our men, from scanty clothing and short rations, are not + in good condition for an advance. There are but very few animals in + East Tennessee in condition to move artillery or other stores. If we + move against Longstreet with an overwhelming force he will simply fall + back towards Virginia until he can be reinforced or take up an + impregnable position. The country being exhausted, all our supplies + will have to be carried from Knoxville the whole distance advanced. We + would be obliged to advance rapidly and return soon whether the object + of the expedition was accomplished or not. Longstreet could return + with impunity on the heels of our returning column, at least as far + down the valley as he can supply himself from the road in his rear. + Schofield telegraphs to the same effect. All these seem to be good + reasons for abandoning the movement, and I have therefore suspended + it. Now that our men are ready for an advance, however, I have + directed it to be made on Dalton, and hope to get possession of that + place and hold it as a step towards a spring campaign. Our troops in + East Tennessee are now clothed; rations are also accumulating. When + Foster left most of the troops had ten days' supplies, with five + hundred barrels of flour and forty days' meat in store, and the + quantity increasing daily. + + "I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + +Later despatches from General Grant and Commander-in-Chief Halleck were as +follows: + + "NASHVILLE, TENN., February 13, 1864. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief_: + + "Despatches just received from General Schofield and conversation with + General Foster, who is now here, have determined me against moving + immediately against Longstreet. I will write more fully. No danger + whatever to be apprehended in East Tennessee. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Major-General_." + + + "KNOXVILLE, February 15, 1864, 6.30 P.M. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS: + + "In consequence of Longstreet's movement in this direction I have + ordered one division of Granger's corps to this place. I think Stanley + should move up as far as Athens and Sweet Water so as to protect the + railroad. Longstreet has not advanced farther than Strawberry Plains. + No further news from him to-day. + + "J. M. SCHOFIELD, + "_Major-General_." + + + "[Confidential.] + + "WASHINGTON, D. C., February 17, 1864. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT, + "_Nashville, Tenn._: + + "GENERAL,--Your letter of the 12th instant is just received. I fully + concur with you in regard to the present condition of affairs in East + Tennessee. It certainly is very much to be regretted that the fatal + mistake of General Burnside has permitted Longstreet's army to winter + in Tennessee. It is due to yourself that a full report of this matter + should be placed on file, so that the responsibility may rest where it + properly belongs. + + "H. W. HALLECK, + "_General-in-Chief_." + +The raids ordered north and south of us were now given over. General +Thomas made his advance towards Dalton, and retired, unsuccessful. + +General Halleck was right in his estimate of East Tennessee as a strategic +field essential to the Union service, the gate-way to Kentucky, to the +Union line of communication, and the Ohio River; but General Grant found +it so far from his lines of active operations that it could not be worked +without interrupting plans of campaigns for the summer, and giving his +adversary opportunity to dictate the work of the year. He thought it +better to depend upon the conservative spirit that controlled at the +South, to draw the army in East Tennessee off to meet threatenings in +Virginia and Georgia, when he was prepared for them. + +On the 10th of February, General Jenkins was ordered with his division at +Strawberry Plains to use the pontoon and flat-boats in bridging the +Holston River. Other columns were ordered to approximate concentration, +including Wharton's brigade from Bull's Gap, and Hodges's brigade coming +from the Department of West Virginia. Rucker's cavalry was ordered to +Blain's Cross-roads on the west bank, and outlying forces were advised of +the advance. General Jenkins was ordered to put some of the cavalry over +to be in observation towards Knoxville, and a brigade of infantry as +supporting force; batteries on the hither bank to cover the troops and the +bridge in case the enemy was disposed to dispute our crossing, and await +my arrival and further orders. The army being ready for the crossing and +move for Knoxville, inquiry was made of General Johnston as to the +condition of affairs with the enemy at Chattanooga. In answer he said,-- + + "Our scouts report that troops have been sent from Chattanooga to + Loudon. They could not learn the number." + +On the 17th I asked the Richmond authorities for ten thousand additional +men, and General Lee, approving our work, asked to have Pickett's division +sent, and other detachments to make up the number. + +On the 19th I was informed from General Johnston's head-quarters that +"eight trains loaded with troops went up from Chattanooga on the night of +the 17th." A telegram came on the 19th from Richmond to say that the +additional troops called for could not be sent, and on the same day a +telegram from the President ordered me to send General Martin with his +cavalry to General Johnston. In reply I reported that the order depriving +me of the cavalry would force me to abandon the move, then in progress, +against Knoxville, and draw the troops back towards Bristol. Then came +other despatches from General Johnston that the enemy was still drawing +forces from Chattanooga, but no authority came from Richmond authorizing +me to retain the cavalry, so we were obliged to draw back to fields that +could be guarded by smaller commands. + +Referring to the proposed advance, General Grant said, "Longstreet cannot +afford to place his force between Knoxville and the Tennessee." It was not +so intended, but to put the army alongside of Knoxville to hold the enemy +to his intrenched lines, while the troops asked for would be employed in +breaking the railroad and bridges between that point and Chattanooga. It +was thought that the army at Chattanooga could not afford sufficient +detachments to drive me from that work without exposing that position to +danger from General Johnston at Dalton, but upon inquiry of General +Johnston if he could avail himself of such opportunity, he replied that he +was ordered to reinforce General Polk, who was operating in Mississippi in +front of General Sherman. Instead of reinforcing General Polk, the latter +should have been ordered to General Johnston. That would have drawn +General Sherman to General Thomas, but Polk, having interior lines of +transit, could have been in time for Johnston to strike and break up the +road and bridge behind Thomas before Sherman could reach him. The break +could have forced Thomas to care for his own position, and the want of the +bridge behind him might have forced him to abandon it, in search of safe +communication with his supplies. But the authorities could not be induced +to abandon the policy of placing detachments to defend points to which the +enemy chose to call us. We had troops enough in Tennessee, Georgia, +Alabama, and Mississippi, if allowed to use them in co-operative +combination, to break the entire front of the Federal forces and force +them back into Kentucky before the opening of the spring campaign, when we +might have found opportunity to "dictate" their campaign. The enemy was in +no condition for backward move at the time of my advance upon Knoxville, +so simultaneous advance of our many columns could have given him serious +trouble, if not confusion. + +The order for the return of Martin's cavalry to Georgia, and the notice +that other troops could not be sent me, called for the withdrawal of the +command east, where we could find safer lines of defence and good +foraging. The order to retire was issued, and the march was taken up on +the 22d of February, Jenkins's division and the cavalry to cover the +march. He was ordered to reship the pontoon-boats, destroy trestlings, +flat-boats, the railroad bridge, and march in advance of the cavalry. He +inquired if he should cut the wires and crossings of small streams, but +was ordered to leave them undisturbed, as the enemy would not be so +likely to trouble us when he found we were disposed to be accommodating. + +The march was not seriously disturbed. The enemy's cavalry, reduced by +severe winter service, was in poor condition to follow, and the roads we +left behind us were too heavy for artillery. A good position was found +behind Bull's Gap, and the army was deployed to comfortable camps from the +Holston River on the right to the Nolachucky on the left. + +The prime object of the second advance upon Knoxville was to show the +strategic strength of the field, and persuade the authorities that an army +of twenty thousand in that zone could be of greater service than double +that force on the enemy's front or elsewhere, but they could not or would +not hear of plans that proposed to take them from the settled policy of +meeting the enemy where he was prepared for us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +LAST DAYS IN TENNESSEE. + + Longstreet's Army at Bull's Gap--U. S. Grant made + Lieutenant-General--Richmond Authorities awake to the Gravity of the + Situation--Longstreet's Proposition for Campaign--Approved by General + Lee--Richmond Authorities fail to adopt it--General Bragg's Plan--A + Memorable and Unpleasant Council at the Capital--Orders from President + Davis--The Case of General Law--Longstreet ordered to the Army of + Northern Virginia--Resolutions of Thanks from Confederate Congress. + + +It would be difficult to find a country more inviting in agriculture and +horticulture than East Tennessee, and its mineral resources are as +interesting, but for those whose mission was strategic, its geographical +and topographical features were more striking. Our position at Bull's Gap +was covered by a spur of the mountains which shoots out from the south +side of the Holston River towards the north bend of the Nolachucky, +opening gaps that could be improved by the pick and shovel until the line +became unassailable. In a few days our line was strong enough, and we +looked for the enemy to come and try our metal, until we learned that he +was as badly crippled of the cavalry arm as we. General Martin was ordered +with his division to General Johnston in Georgia, and Colonel Gary with +his legion was ordered to South Carolina to be mounted for cavalry +service. + +The armies under General Lee in Virginia and General Johnston in Georgia +were in defensive positions, with little prospect of striking by their +right or left flanks in search of a way to break their bounds, and the +army in East Tennessee had been called back to the defensive for want of +cavalry, but the latter still covered gate-ways through the mountains that +offered routes to Kentucky for strategic manoeuvres. The +Trans-Mississippi Department was an open field of vast opportunities, but +was lying fallow. + +An officer of the Union service had worked his way during three years of +severe field service from obscure position with a regiment, to command of +armies, and had borne his banners in triumph through battle and siege, +over the prejudice of higher officers, until President Lincoln's good +judgment told him that Grant was the man for the times. Congress provided +the place, and the President sent his commission as lieutenant-general to +the United States Senate, where it was promptly confirmed, and the +lieutenant-general was presently assigned as commander over half a million +of men, to the surprise of many, more than all to the bureau +general-in-chief. He was soon at work arranging his combination for the +campaign of the coming year. He was a West Point boy, and we had been +together during three years of academic service, then two years in the +United States Fourth Regiment of Infantry, and later in Worth's division +in Mexico. + +Forced to extremities, the Richmond authorities began to realize the +importance of finding a way out of our pent-up borders before the Union +commander could complete his extensive arrangements to press on with his +columns. They called upon General Lee, General Johnston, and myself for +plans or suggestions that could anticipate the movements of the enemy, +disconcert his plans, and move him to new combinations. In front of +General Lee and on his right and left the country had been so often +foraged by both Union and Confederate armies that it was denuded of +supplies. Besides, a forced advance of Lee's army could only put the enemy +back a few miles to his works about Washington. General Johnston's +opportunities were no better, and in addition to other difficulties, he +was working under the avowed displeasure of the authorities, more trying +than his trouble with the enemy. + +I was under the impression that we could collect an army of twenty +thousand men in South Carolina by stripping our forts and positions of all +men not essential for defence; that that army could be quietly moved north +by rail through Greenville to the borders of North Carolina, and promptly +marched by Abingdon, Virginia, through the mountain passes, while my +command covered the move by its position in East Tennessee. That army +passing the mountains, my command could drop off by the left to its rear +and follow into Kentucky,--the whole to march against the enemy's only +line of railway from Louisville, and force him to loose his hold against +General Johnston's front, and give the latter opportunity to advance his +army and call all of his troops in Alabama and Mississippi to like +advance, the grand junction of all of the columns to be made on or near +the Ohio River,--General Beauregard to command the leading column, with +orders not to make or accept battle until the grand junction was made. +That General Johnston should have like orders against battle until he +became satisfied of fruitful issues. The supplies and transportation for +Beauregard to be collected at the head of the railroad, in advance of the +movement of troops, under the ostensible purpose of hauling for my +command. The arrangements perfected, the commander of the leading column +to put his troops on the rail at or near Charleston and march with them as +they arrived at the head of the road. + +With this proposition I went to Virginia and submitted it to General Lee. +He approved, and asked me to take it to the Richmond authorities. I +objected that the mere fact of its coming from me would be enough to cause +its rejection, and asked, if he approved, that he would take it and submit +it as his own. He took me with him to Richmond, but went alone next +morning to see the President. He met, besides the President, the Secretary +of War and General Bragg. Conference was held during the forenoon, but +was not conclusive. In the afternoon he called me with him for further +deliberation. + +At the opening of the afternoon council it appeared that General Bragg had +offered a plan for early spring campaign, and that it had received the +approval of the President,--viz.: + + "General Johnston to march his army through the mountains of Georgia + and East Tennessee to the head-waters of Little Tennessee River; my + command to march through the mountains east of Knoxville to join + General Johnston. The commands united, to march west, cross the river + into Middle Tennessee, and march for the enemy's line of supplies + about Nashville." + +When asked an opinion of this, I inquired as to General Johnston's +attitude towards it, and was told that he objected; that he thought the +sparsely-settled country of the mountains through which he would move +could not supply his army; that he would consume all that he could haul +before turning westward for the middle country, and would be forced to +active foraging from his first step between the two armies of the enemy. + +General Lee inquired if General Johnston had maturely considered the +matter. I thought that he had, and that the objections of the officer who +was to conduct the campaign were, of themselves, reasons for overruling +it; but its advocates were not ready to accept a summary disposal of their +plans, and it began to transpire that the President had serious objections +to General Beauregard as a commander for the field. + +But General Lee called us back to business by asking if there was anything +more to be added than General Johnston's objections. I called attention to +General Bragg's official account of the battle of Chickamauga, in which he +reported that a similar move had been proposed for him through Middle +Tennessee towards the enemy's line of communication at Nashville early on +the morning after the battle; that he rejected it, reported it +"visionary"; said that it would leave his rear open to the enemy, and +alluded to the country through which the march was proposed as "affording +no subsistence to men or animals." This at harvest season, too! the enemy +demoralized by the late battle, and the Confederates in the vigor of +success! Now, after a winter of foraging by the Union armies, the country +could not be so plethoric of supplies as to support us, while an active +army was on each flank, better prepared to dispute our march. + +General Lee wore his beard full, but neatly trimmed. He pulled at it +nervously, and more vigorously as time and silence grew, until at last his +suppressed emotion was conquered. The profound quiet of a minute or more +seemed an hour. When he spoke, it was of other matters, but the air was +troubled by his efforts to surrender hopeful anticipations to the caprice +of empirics. He rose to take leave of the august presence, gave his hand +to the President, and bowed himself out of the council chamber. His +assistant went through the same forms, and no one approached the door to +offer parting courtesy. + +I had seen the general under severe trial before, especially on his +Pennsylvania campaign when he found the cavalry under General Imboden had +halted for rest at Hancock, at the opening of an aggressive movement. My +similar experience with the President in the all-day talk, on Missionary +Ridge, six months before, had better prepared me for the ordeal, and I +drew some comfort from the reflection that others had their trials. +General Lee took the next train for his army on the Rapidan, and I that by +the direct route to my command by the Southside Railway. + +When ordered from Virginia in September my wife remained in Petersburg +with her good friend Mrs. Dunn. On the 20th of October following a son was +born, and christened Robert Lee. After continuous field service since the +1st of July, 1861, I thought to avail myself of the privilege as +department commander to take a two days' leave of absence to see the +precious woman and her infant boy. While there it occurred to me to write +to the President, and try to soften the asperities of the Richmond +council; also to find a way to overcome the objections to General +Beauregard. I suggested, too, that General Lee be sent to join us, and +have command in Kentucky. In reply the President sent a rebuke of my +delay. + +On my return to head-quarters at Greenville the other division of General +Johnston's cavalry was ordered to him through the mountains. Just then a +severe snow-storm came upon us and blocked all roads. Meanwhile, the enemy +had mended his ways, secured munitions, and thought to march out from +Mossy Creek as far as Morristown. Orders were given for a march to meet +him, but we found ourselves in need of forage, so we rested in position, +and presently learned that the enemy had retired towards his works. + +Our reduced cavalry force made necessary a change of position behind the +Holston River, where a small force could at least observe our flanks, and +give notice of threatenings on either side. + +A letter from the President under date of the 25th ordered that we be +prepared to march to meet General Johnston for the campaign through Middle +Tennessee. He was informed that we were ready, only needing supplies for +the march and his orders; that I had cared for the bridges in that +direction, so that there was no reason with us for delay. + +On the 7th of April I was ordered, with the part of my command that had +originally served with the Army of Northern Virginia, back to service with +General Lee on the Rapidan. The move was made as soon as cars could be had +to haul the troops, halting under orders at Charlottesville to meet a +grand flanking move then anticipated. On the 22d we were ordered down as +far as Mechanicsville, five miles west of Gordonsville, watching there for +a lesser flank move. On the 29th, General Lee came out and reviewed the +command. + +Referring to the general officers who had been put under charges while in +East Tennessee, General Robertson had been sentenced to suspension, and an +excellent officer, General Gregg, had been sent to report, and was +assigned to the Texas brigade. In the case of General McLaws, the +court-martial ordered official reprimand, but the President disapproved +the proceedings, passing reprimand upon the court and the commanding +general, and ordered the officer to be restored to duty, which was very +gratifying to me, who could have taken several reprimands to relieve a +personal friend of embarrassing position. General McLaws was a classmate, +and had been a warm personal friend from childhood. I had no desire to put +charges against him, and should have failed to do so even under the +directions of the authorities. I am happy to say that our personal +relations are as close and interesting as they have ever been, and that +his heart was big enough to separate official duties and personal +relations. + +Charges had been preferred against Brigadier-General E. M. Law for +surreptitiously disposing of an official communication to the War +Department that had been intrusted to his care, in which was enclosed his +pretended resignation from the Confederate army. The President refused to +entertain the charges, and ordered the officer released from arrest and +restored to his command. + +Of the paper that was improperly disposed of, General Cooper, adjutant and +inspector-general of the army, reported,-- + + "The resignation within referred to never came to the office. It + appears from inquiry at the War Department that it was presented by a + friend of General Law, unofficially, to the Secretary of War, and + never came through the regular channels as an official paper."[192] + +General Lee wrote to the Department of the charges,-- + + "I examined the charges against General Law and find them of a very + grave character. I think it due to General Law, as well as to the + interest of the service, that they should be investigated and his + innocence or guilt should be declared by a court-martial. There have + been instances of officers obtaining indulgences on not true grounds, + which I think discreditable and prejudicial to military discipline, + and should be stopped."[193] + +The indorsement of General Cooper shows that the paper was fraudulently +handled. The letter of General Lee shows the offence a high crime and +misdemeanor. + +General Lee wrote to inform me that the authorities at Richmond had +ordered General Law to be restored to duty with his command. The limit of +endurance had thus been reached and passed. I ordered the rearrest of +General Law upon his appearance within the limits of the command. To hold +me at the head of the command while encouraging mutinous conduct in its +ranks was beyond all laws and customs of war, and I wrote General Lee that +my orders were out to have General Law again put under arrest, and that +the case should be brought before a military tribunal, or I must be +relieved of duty in the Confederate States service. The authorities then +thought to find their way by transferring me to another command, but on +that point General Lee became impatient, and inclined to serious thought +and action. The commander of the army was involved as well as the +commander of the First Corps, and both or neither must be relieved. The +authorities halted, and that was the last that I heard of General Law +until his newspaper articles began to appear, years after the surrender. + +The following vote of thanks given by the Congress at this juncture +affords a remarkable commentary upon the conduct of the authorities, as +well as constituting a compliment most heartily appreciated by the +recipients: + + "THANKS OF THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES + LONGSTREET AND HIS COMMAND.[194] + + "No. 42.--JOINT RESOLUTIONS of thanks to Lieutenant-General Longstreet + and the officers and men of his command. + + "_Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America_, That + the thanks of Congress are due, and hereby cordially tendered, to + Lieutenant-General James Longstreet and the officers and men of his + command, for their patriotic services and brilliant achievements in + the present war, sharing as they have the arduous fatigues and + privations of many campaigns in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, + Georgia, and Tennessee, and participating in nearly every great battle + fought in those States, the commanding general ever displaying great + ability, skill, and prudence in command, and the officers and men the + most heroic bravery, fortitude, and energy, in every duty they have + been called upon to perform. + + "_Resolved_, That the President be requested to transmit a copy of the + foregoing resolution to Lieutenant-General Longstreet for publication + to his command. + + "Approved February 17, 1864." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. + + Campaign of 1864--General Grant in the Field--Strength of the + Armies--Their Positions--Description of the Wilderness--The Battle + opened--A Brisk Day's Fighting--Longstreet's Command faces Hancock's + on the Morning of the Second Day--An Effective Flank Movement--General + Wadsworth mortally wounded--General Jenkins falls under Fire of + Friends, and Longstreet is seriously wounded--Carried from the Field + on a Litter--Tribute to General Jenkins--Criticism and Controversy. + + +After reporting the return of my command to service with the Army of +Northern Virginia, I took the earliest opportunity to suggest that the +preliminaries of the campaign should be carefully confined to strategic +manoeuvre until we could show better generalship. That accomplished, I +argued, the enemy's forces would lose confidence in the superiority of +their leader's skill and prowess; that both armies were composed of +intelligent, experienced veterans, who were as quick to discover the +better handling of their ranks as trained generals; that by such +successful manoeuvres the Confederates would gain confidence and power as +the enemy began to lose prestige; that then we could begin to look for a +favorable opportunity to call the enemy to aggressive work, while +immediate aggression from us against his greater numbers must make our +labors heavy and more or less doubtful; that we should first show that the +power of battle is in generalship more than in the number of soldiers, +which, properly illustrated, would make the weaker numbers of the +contention the stronger force. + +In this connection I refer to the policy of _attrition_ which became a +prominent feature during part of the campaign, and showed that the enemy +put his faith in numbers more than in superior skill and generalship. + +General Grant made his head-quarters near the Army of the Potomac, in +Culpeper County, Virginia, commanded by Major-General George G. Meade. It +had been organized into three corps, Second, Fifth, and Sixth, commanded +respectively by Major-General W. S. Hancock, Major-General G. K. Warren, +and Major-General John Sedgwick, all in cantonment near Culpeper +Court-House. The Ninth Corps was a distinct body reorganized under +Major-General A. E. Burnside, and posted in co-operative position near the +railroad bridge over the Rappahannock River. The aggregate of the two +commands was about one hundred and thirty thousand men, classified as +follows: + + Army of the Potomac: + + Infantry present for duty, equipped (aggregate) 73,390 + + Cavalry (aggregate) 12,424 + + Artillery and engineers 2,764 + + Quartermaster's, subsistence, and medical departments, + extra-duty men, and engineer brigade 19,183 + + Ninth Corps, present for duty, equipped 19,486 + ------- + Total 127,247 + But deducting extra-duty men, claimed as non-combatants 19,183 + ------- + Leaves 108,064 + +These figures are from Major-General A. A. Humphreys, chief of staff of +the Army of the Potomac. But General Badeau, in his "Military History of +U. S. Grant," p. 94, gives as the exact numbers put into battle (after +deducting a division of colored troops, not then used for battle service) +the following: + + Army of the Potomac 97,273 + + Ninth Corps 22,708 + ------- + Total 119,981 + + From which he deducts the division of colored troops 3,095 + ------- + Leaving 116,886 + +The Army of Northern Virginia stood on the west side of Rapidan River, +Mine Run on its right, extending north, the left division, R. H. +Anderson's, looking towards Madison Court-House; the Second and Third +Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-Generals R. S. Ewell and A. P. Hill; two +divisions and Alexander's artillery of Longstreet's (First) corps being +held at Mechanicsville. + +Colonel Taylor, chief of staff with the Army of Northern Virginia, gives +the strength of the army at the opening of the campaign, from the returns +of April 20, the latest up to date, as follows:[195] + + + Second Corps 17,093 + + Third Corps 22,199 + + Unattached commands, Maryland Line, etc. 1,125 + + "A liberal estimate," as he calls it, of my command 10,000 + ------ + Total 50,417 + + Cavalry 8,727 + + Artillery corps 4,854 + ------ + Making a total of 63,998 + +But General Badeau objects, on authority of a letter from General Bragg to +General Joseph E. Johnston, stating that I had fourteen thousand men in my +command. If General Bragg's letter referred to my command in East +Tennessee it was accurate enough. But Buckner's division of that command, +the cavalry, and other detachments were left in East Tennessee. General +Badeau claims, besides, six thousand furloughed men and conscripts as +joining the army between the 20th of April and the 4th of May. Of this +there is no official record, and it is more than probable that new cases +of sick and furloughed men of that interval were as many at least as the +fragmentary parties that joined us. General Humphreys reported me as +having fifteen thousand men. If he intended those figures as the strength +of the First Corps, he is accurate enough, but Pickett's division of that +corps was not with it, nor did it return to the Army of Northern Virginia +until late in the campaign. So I find no good reason for changing the +figures of Colonel Taylor, except so far as to add Johnson's brigade of +Rodes's division, which is reported to have joined the Second Corps on the +6th of May,--estimated at 1500, which, added to 63,998, would make the +total 65,498. But General Ewell's official account of numbers on the +morning of the 6th of May puts his force at 15,500, which is better +authority than Colonel Taylor's from the return of April 20, or General +Badeau's computation. To these figures should be added Johnson's brigade, +that reported later of the day, estimated by General Badeau at 1500, which +makes the aggregate of the Second Corps 17,000, and brings that of the +Army of Northern Virginia back to 65,405. + +However, the numerical strength of armies should not be considered as of +exclusive bearing upon the merits of the campaign. The commanders had +chosen their battle after mature deliberation. They knew of each other's +numbers and resources before they laid their plans, and they had even +known each other personally for more than twenty years. Each had the +undivided support and confidence of his government and his army, and it +was time now to leave the past and give attention to the future. + +General Lee had acquired fame as a strategist in his two years' service in +the Army of Northern Virginia, and General Grant, by his three years' +service in the West, had come to be known as an all-round soldier, seldom +if ever surpassed; but the biggest part of him was his heart. They were +equally pugnacious and plucky,--Grant the more deliberate. + +Six months before the opening of the impending campaign, in November, +1863, General Meade, essaying a blow at the Army of Northern Virginia, +crossed the Rapidan below General Lee's right, and deployed along the +south side of Mine Run, but found Lee's line so strong and so improved by +field-works that he felt constrained to withdraw without making battle. + +As the purpose of this writing is to convey ideas of personal observations +and experience, it will be confined, as far as practicable, to campaigns +or parts of them with which I was directly or indirectly connected. So, +when participants and partisans have passed away, I shall have contributed +my share towards putting the historian in possession of evidence which he +can weigh with that of other actors in the great drama. + +At midnight of the 3d of May, 1864, the Army of the Potomac took its line +of march for the lower crossings of the Rapidan River at Germania and +Ely's Fords, the Fifth and Sixth Corps for the former, the Second for the +latter, Wilson's division of cavalry leading the first, Gregg's the second +column. The cavalry was to secure the crossings and lay bridges for the +columns as they came up. Wilson's cavalry crossed at Germania ford, drove +off the Confederate outpost, and began the construction of a bridge at +daylight. Gregg also was successful, and the bridges were ready when the +solid columns came. Warren's (Fifth Corps) crossed after Wilson's cavalry, +marching westward as far as Wilderness Tavern. Sedgwick's corps followed +and pitched camp near the crossing. Hancock's corps followed Gregg's +cavalry, and made camp at Chancellorsville. Generals Grant and Meade went +over after Warren's column and established head-quarters near the +crossing. General Grant despatched for Burnside's corps to come and join +him by night march. Sheridan was expected to engage Stuart's cavalry at +Hamilton's Crossing near Fredericksburg. + +General Grant had no fixed plan of campaign beyond the general idea to +avoid the strong defensive line occupied by General Lee behind Mine Run, +and find a way to draw him out to open battle. + +The Wilderness is a forest land of about fifteen miles square, lying +between and equidistant from Orange Court-House and Fredericksburg. It is +broken occasionally by small farms and abandoned clearings, and two +roads,--the Orange Plank road and the turnpike, which are cut at right +angles by the Germania road,--in general course nearly parallel, open ways +through it between Fredericksburg and the Court-House. The Germania Ford +road joins the Brock road, the strategic line of the military zone, and +crosses the turnpike at Wilderness Tavern and the Plank road about two +miles south of that point. + +Though the march was set on foot at midnight it was soon made known to +General Lee, and its full purport was revealed by noon of the 4th, and +orders were sent the different commanders for their march to meet the +enemy,--the Second Corps (Ewell's), consisting of Rodes's, Johnson's, and +Early's divisions, by the Orange Turnpike; the Third (A. P. Hill's)--R. H. +Anderson's, Heth's, and Wilcox's divisions--by the Orange Plank road. + +General Lee's signals were interpreted and sent to General Grant, who so +far modified his plans as to prepare for immediate battle. The commands of +the First Corps, Field's and Kershaw's divisions and Alexander's +batteries, were stationed, Field's north of Gordonsville, where he had +been posted on the 1st of May in anticipation of a move around our left, +the other commands near Mechanicsville. We were ordered forward by the +Plank road to Parker's Store; the order was received after one o'clock, +and sent out for information of the commanders, who were ordered to +prepare and march. But I asked for and received authority to march by a +shorter route that would at the same time relieve the Plank road of +pressure of troops and trains (for we had been crowded off the road once +before by putting too many troops upon a single track). By the same +despatch I asked and subsequently obtained leave to go on to the Brock +road, where we could look for and hope to intercept the enemy's march, and +cause him to develop plans before he could get out of the Wilderness. +We marched at four o'clock by the Lawyer's road. Our chief quartermaster, +Colonel Taylor, whose home was between Orange Court-House and the +Wilderness, had been ordered to secure the services of the most competent +guide to be found. We halted at Brock's Bridge for rest, and there Colonel +Taylor brought up our guide, James Robinson, who had been for several +years the sheriff of the county, and whose whole life had been spent in +the Wilderness. The march was resumed, and continued with swinging step, +with occasional rests, until we reached Richard's Shops, at five P.M. of +the 5th. There we overtook Rosser's cavalry, engaged in severe encounter +with part of Sheridan's. The enemy abandoned the contest and rode away, +leaving his dead with some of ours on the field. + + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS, VA. May 5th, 6th and 7th, 1864.] + + +The distance of march was twenty-eight miles. Soon after my arrival at the +shops, Colonel Venable, of general head-quarters staff, came with orders +for a change of direction of the column through the wood to unite with the +troops of the Third Corps on the Plank road. The rear of my column closed +up at dark, and orders were sent to prepare to resume march at twelve +o'clock. The accounts we had of the day's work were favorable to the +Confederates; but the change of direction of our march was not reassuring. + +In accordance with the general plan of turning the Confederate right +without touching our intrenched line along Mine Run, the Army of the +Potomac had been put in motion early on the 5th, the Second Corps towards +Shady Grove Church by the Todd's Tavern road, the Fifth by the dirt road +towards Parker's Store on the Plank road, the Sixth on the right, to +follow the Fifth as movements developed. General Warren moved with three +divisions, leaving Griffin's on the turnpike. Presently, after taking up +his march towards Parker's Store, the Confederates were discovered on the +Plank road, and General Meade ordered the corps made ready for battle. +The Sixth, except Getty's division, was ordered to make connection on the +right of the Fifth by wood roads, and prepare for the battle. Getty's +division was ordered to the Plank road at the Brock road crossing, to hold +that point at all hazards until the Second Corps could join it, the latter +being recalled from Todd's Tavern for that holding and developments there +indicated. + +At noon General Warren was prepared on the turnpike and attacked with +Griffin's and Wadsworth's divisions. + +General Lee's orders were against a general engagement until his forces +were in hand, but the troops had met and action could not wait. Warren's +attack had some success, as by his orders General Ewell felt called upon +to delay battle, but a sudden dash of the enemy broke into disorder his +brigade under J. M. Jones, also Battle's brigade; but other of his troops +joined them, recovered his ground, drove off the attacking forces, taking +two guns, and called Warren's corps to better concentration. The Sixth was +to be with Warren, but was delayed by the narrow, tangled roads till +night. General Ewell prepared for the next day by intrenching his front. + +Meanwhile, General Hill had pushed the divisions under Heth and Wilcox +along the Plank road until they were near the Brock road crossing, +occupied by Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. + +General Getty was in time to drive back a few of our men who had reached +the Brock road in observation, and Hancock's corps joined him at two P.M., +fronting his divisions--Birney's, Mott's, Gibbon's, and Barlow's--along +the Brock road, on the left of Getty's. His artillery was massed on his +left, near Barlow, except a battery nearer the Plank road, and one section +at the crossing. He ordered his line intrenched. + +As soon as he found his troops in hand at the cross-roads, General Meade +ordered them into action. Getty's division, supported by the Second Corps, +was to drive Hill back, occupy Parker's Store, and connect with Warren's +line. He afterwards learned of the repulse of Warren on the turnpike, but +repeated his orders for the advance on the Plank road. At 4.15 Getty's +division advanced, and met the divisions of Heth and Wilcox a few hundred +yards in advance of their trenches. + +In the fierce engagement that followed, Birney's and Mott's divisions were +engaged on Getty's left, and later the brigades of Carroll and Owen, of +Gibbon's division. Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the Fifth +Corps were put in to aid Getty's right. The combination forced Heth and +Wilcox back about half a mile, when the battle rested for the night. +Hancock reinforced his front by Webb's brigade of Gibbon's division, and +was diligently employed at his lines during the night putting up +field-works. + +About eleven o'clock in the night the guide reported from General Lee to +conduct my command through the wood across to the Plank road, and at one +o'clock the march was resumed. The road was overgrown by the bushes, +except the side-tracks made by the draft animals and the ruts of wheels +which marked occasional lines in its course. After a time the wood became +less dense, and the unused road was more difficult to follow, and +presently the guide found that there was no road under him; but no time +was lost, as, by ordering the lines of the divisions doubled, they were +ready when the trail was found, and the march continued in double line. At +daylight we entered the Plank road, and filed down towards the field of +strife of the afternoon of the 5th and daylight of the 6th. + +R. H. Anderson's division of the Third Corps, marching on the Plank road, +had rested at Verdierville during the night, and was called to the front +in the morning. The divisions of Heth and Wilcox rested during the night +of the 5th where the battle of that day ceased, but did not prepare +ammunition nor strengthen their lines for defence, because informed that +they were to be relieved from the front. Both the division commanders +claim that they were to be relieved, and that they were ordered not to +intrench or replenish supplies. So it seems that they were all night +within hearing of the voices of Hancock's men, not even reorganizing their +lines so as to offer a front of battle! General Heth has stated that he +proposed to arrange for battle, but was ordered to give his men rest. +While Hancock was sending men to his advanced line during the night and +intrenching there and on his second line, the Confederates were all night +idle. + +Hancock advanced and struck the divisions before sunrise, just as my +command reported to General Lee. My line was formed on the right and left +of the Plank road, Kershaw on the right, Field on the left. As the line +deployed, the divisions of Heth and Wilcox came back upon us in disorder, +more and more confused as their steps hurried under Hancock's musketry. As +my ranks formed the men broke files to give free passage for their +comrades to the rear. The advancing fire was getting brisk, but not a shot +was fired in return by my troops until the divisions were ready. Three of +Field's brigades, the Texas, Alabama, and Benning's Georgia, were formed +in line on the left of the road, and three of Kershaw's on the right. +General Lee, appalled at the condition of affairs, thought to lead the +Texas brigade alone into desperate charge, before my lines were well +formed. The ordeal was trying, but the steady troops, seeing him off his +balance, refused to follow, begged him to retire, and presently Colonel +Venable, of his staff, reported to me General Lee's efforts to lead the +brigade, and suggested that I should try to call him from it. I asked that +he would say, with my compliments, that his line would be recovered in an +hour if he would permit me to handle the troops, but if my services were +not needed, I would like to ride to some place of safety, as it was not +quite comfortable where we were. + +As full lines of battle could not be handled through the thick wood, I +ordered the advance of the six brigades by heavy skirmish lines, to be +followed by stronger supporting lines. Hancock's lines, thinned by their +push through the wood, and somewhat by the fire of the disordered +divisions, weaker than my line of fresh and more lively skirmishers, were +checked by our first steady, rolling fire, and after a brisk fusillade +were pushed back to their intrenched line, when the fight became steady +and very firm, occasionally swinging parts of my line back and compelling +the reserves to move forward and recover it. + +General Lee sent General M. L. Smith, of the engineers, to report to me. +He was ordered through the wood on my right to the unfinished railroad to +find a way around the left of the enemy's line, while we engaged his +front. R. H. Anderson's division of the Third Corps came up about eight +o'clock and was ordered to report to me. + +Hancock's early advance was under a general order including the Army of +the Potomac. The Ninth Corps that had been called up reported to General +Grant, and was ordered in between the Plank and Turnpike roads. At eight +o'clock Hancock was reinforced by Stevenson's division of the Ninth, and +Wadsworth of the Fifth was put under his orders. At nine o'clock he +attacked with Wadsworth's, Birney's, Stevenson's, and Mott's divisions, +and the brigades of Webb, Carroll, and Owen, of Gibbon's division, making +as formidable battle as could be organized in the wood, but the tangle +thinned his lines and our fire held him in desperate engagement. + +Two divisions of the Ninth Corps, at the same time marching for Parker's +Store, were encountered between the Plank and Turnpike roads by our +Second Corps (Ewell's). Under this combination the forces struggled an +hour at the extreme tension of skill and valor. + +About ten o'clock General Smith returned and reported favorably of his +reconnoissance: that the heavy woodland concealed the route of the +proposed flank march, and that there was no force of the enemy in +observation. Hancock's left on the Brock road was in strong, well-guarded +position, but there was room along its front for our troops to march near +the unfinished railroad beyond view of that left on the Brock road. + +General Smith was then asked to take a small party and pass beyond the +Brock road and find a way for turning the extreme Union left on that road. +There were two brigades of Field's division and one of Kershaw's not on +the line of battle, but on flank march as supports, and R. H. Anderson's +division of the Third Corps. Colonel Sorrel, chief of staff, was ordered +to conduct three brigades, G. T. Anderson's of Field's, Mahone's of R. H. +Anderson's, and Wofford's of Kershaw's division, by the route recommended +by General Smith, have them faced to the left, and marched down against +Hancock's left. Davis's brigade of the Third Corps also got into this +command. + +As soon as the troops struck Hancock his line began to break, first +slowly, then rapidly. Somehow, as they retreated, a fire was accidentally +started in the dry leaves, and began to spread as the Confederates +advanced. Mahone's brigade approached the burning leaves and part of it +broke off a little to get around, but the Twelfth Virginia was not +obstructed by the blaze and moved directly on. At the Plank road Colonel +Sorrel rode back to join us. All of the enemy's battle on the right of the +Plank road was broken up, and General Field was fighting severely with his +three brigades on the left against Wadsworth and Stevenson, pushing them a +little. + +The Twelfth Virginia Regiment got to the Plank road some little time +before the other regiments of the brigade, and, viewing the contention on +the farther side between Field's and Wadsworth's divisions, dashed across +and struck the left of Wadsworth's line. This relieved Field a little, +and, under this concentrating push and fire, Wadsworth fell mortally +wounded. In a little while followed the general break of the Union battle. +The break of his left had relieved Kershaw's troops, and he was waiting +for the time to advance, and Jenkins's brigade that had been held in +reserve and that part of R. H. Anderson's division not in use were ready +and anxious for opportunity to engage, and followed as our battle line +pushed forward. + +General Smith then came and reported a way across the Brock road that +would turn Hancock's extreme left. He was asked to conduct the flanking +brigades and handle them as the ranking officer. He was a splendid +tactician as well as skilful engineer, and gallant withal. He started, +and, not to lose time or distance, moved by inversion, Wofford's left +leading, Wofford's favorite manoeuvre. As Wofford's left stepped out, the +other troops moved down the Plank road, Jenkins's brigade by the road, +Kershaw's division alongside. I rode at the head of the column, Jenkins, +Kershaw, and the staff with me. After discussing the dispositions of their +troops for reopening battle, Jenkins rode closer to offer congratulations, +saying, "I am happy; I have felt despair of the cause for some months, but +am relieved, and feel assured that we will put the enemy back across the +Rapidan before night." Little did he or I think these sanguine words were +the last he would utter. + +When Wadsworth fell the Union battle broke up in hasty retreat. Field's +brigades closed to fresh ranks, the flanking brigades drew into line near +the Plank road, and with them the other regiments of Mahone's brigade; +but the Twelfth Regiment, some distance in advance of the others, had +crossed the road to strike at Wadsworth's left before the other regiments +were in sight, and was returning to find its place in line. The order for +the flanking brigades to resume march by their left had not moved those +brigades of the right. As the Twelfth Regiment marched back to find its +place on the other side of the Plank road, it was mistaken, in the wood, +for an advance of the enemy, and fire was opened on it from the other +regiments of the brigade. The men threw themselves to the ground to let +the fire pass. Just then our party of officers was up and rode under the +fire. General Jenkins had not finished the expressions of joyful +congratulations which I have quoted when he fell mortally wounded. + +Captain Doby and the orderly, Bowen, of Kershaw's staff, were killed. +General Kershaw turned to quiet the troops, when Jenkins's brigade with +levelled guns were in the act of returning the fire of the supposed enemy +concealed in the wood, but as Kershaw's clear voice called out +"_F-r-i-e-n-d-s!_" the arms were recovered, without a shot in return, and +the men threw themselves down upon their faces. + +At the moment that Jenkins fell I received a severe shock from a minie +ball passing through my throat and right shoulder. The blow lifted me from +the saddle, and my right arm dropped to my side, but I settled back to my +seat, and started to ride on, when in a minute the flow of blood +admonished me that my work for the day was done. As I turned to ride back, +members of the staff, seeing me about to fall, dismounted and lifted me to +the ground. + +Orders were given General Field, the senior officer present, to push on +before the enemy could have time to rally. The two lines marching along +the Plank road, southward, in pursuit, and the flanking brigades to move +in the other direction, were, for the moment, a little perplexing, as he +was not accurately advised of the combinations, but he grasped the +situation. Before he was prepared, however, General R. H. Anderson came +into command as senior, and then General Lee came up. The plans, orders, +and opportunity were explained to him, but the woods concealed everything +except the lines of troops alongside the road. General Lee did not care to +handle the troops in broken lines, and ordered formation in a general line +for parallel battle. The change in the forest tangle consumed several +hours of precious time, and gave General Hancock time to collect his men +into battle order, post his heavy reinforcements, and improve his +intrenchments. + + +[Illustration: THE WOUNDING OF GENERAL LONGSTREET AT THE WILDERNESS, MAY +6, 1864.] + + +After several hours of work our new line was finally adjusted and ordered +forward. It approached the enemy's stronghold (in ranks a little thinned +by the march through the wood and the enemy's fire), made desperate and +repeated charges, and Jenkins's gallant brigade mounted their breastworks, +but the solid ranks behind them threw it off, with the lines that essayed +to give it support, and the whole were forced back from their fight. Thus +the battle, lost and won three times during the day, wore itself out. + +General Ewell found opportunity before night to push some of his brigades +around the enemy's right, and did clever work in taking a number of +prisoners,--Generals Seymour and Shaler among them,--but it was too late +in the day to follow his work with a strong fight. He handled his troops +with skill and care, putting defensive works before them whenever they +halted. + +Like attention by General Hancock may be noted; while in marked contrast +was the conduct of the Third Corps after their affair on the afternoon of +the 5th. The commanders of the leading divisions of the Third had proposed +to prepare their troops for the next day, but were ordered to give their +men rest,[196] and told that they were to be relieved and withdrawn from +the battle. Not even a line of battle was formed, so that they were in +disorder when they were struck in the morning, and speedily fell into +confusion. + +My command, less than ten thousand, had found the battle on the Plank road +in retreat, little less than a panic. In a few hours we changed defeat to +victory, the broken divisions of the Third Corps rallying in their rear. + +As my litter was borne to the rear my hat was placed over my face, and +soldiers by the road-side said, "He is dead, and they are telling us he is +only wounded." Hearing this repeated from time to time, I raised my hat +with my left hand, when the burst of voices and the flying of hats in the +air eased my pains somewhat. + +But Micah Jenkins, who fell by the same fire, was no more. He was one of +the most estimable characters of the army. His taste and talent were for +military service. He was intelligent, quick, untiring, attentive, zealous +in discharge of duty, truly faithful to official obligations, abreast with +the foremost in battle, and withal a humble, noble Christian. In a moment +of highest earthly hope he was transported to serenest heavenly joy; to +that life beyond that knows no bugle call, beat of drum, or clash of +steel. May his beautiful spirit, through the mercy of God, rest in peace! +Amen! + +"_L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace._" An Americanism which seems an +appropriate substitute is, _A level head, a level head, always a level +head_. With patience to wait ten minutes to see my flanking brigades +stretched out on their march to retrieve my _aplomb_, we could have found +a good battle against Hancock's strong left, while we broke over his +confused front. Fearing another change of plan, I hurried on to execute +before it could be ordered. + +There were twenty-two thousand men in the Third Corps. It is not claiming +too much, therefore, to say that that corps, carefully prepared during +the night of the 5th, could have held Hancock's battle on the morning of +the 6th until my attack of his left could have relieved them. + +Under that plan events support the claim that the Third Corps, intrenched +in their advanced position, with fresh supplies and orders to hold their +ground, could have received and held against Hancock's early battle until +my command could have come in on his left rear and completed our strongly +organized battle by which we could have carried the Wilderness, even down +and into the classic Rapidan. + +General Field says in his account of the day,-- + + "I was at Longstreet's side in a moment, and in answer to my anxious + inquiry as to his condition, he replied that he would be looked after + by others, and directed me to take command of the corps and push + ahead. Though at this moment he could not have known the extent or + character of his wounds (that they were severe was apparent), he + seemed to forget himself in the absorbing interest of the movement he + was making. + + "Had our advance not been suspended by this disaster, I have always + believed that Grant would have been driven across the Rapidan before + night; but General Lee was present, and ordered that our line, which + was nearly a right angle (my division being the base, and Kershaw's + and the other flanking force the perpendicular), should first be + straightened out. The difficulty of manoeuvring through the brush made + this a tedious operation, so that when we did advance with large + reinforcements from Ewell's corps placed under my orders, the enemy + was found awaiting us behind new breastworks, thoroughly prepared." + +Colonel Fairfax says,-- + + "On reaching the line of troops you were taken off the horse and + propped against a tree. You blew the bloody foam from your mouth and + said, 'Tell General Field to take command, and move forward with the + whole force and gain the Brock road,' but hours were lost."[197] + +A Northern historian says,-- + + "It seemed, indeed, that irretrievable disaster was upon us; but in + the very torrent and tempest of the attack it suddenly ceased and all + was still. What could cause this surcease of effort at the very height + of success was then wholly unknown to us."[198] + +Some years after the affair on the Plank road, General Hancock said to +me,-- + + "You rolled me up like a wet blanket, and it was some hours before I + could reorganize for battle." + +He explained that reinforcements crowding up through the wood, the +retreating troops, and confusion caused by mixing in with wagon-trains and +horses, made a troublesome tangle, but it was unravelled and his troops at +rest when the final attack was made. He had sixty thousand men in hand. + +Bad as was being shot by some of our own troops in the battle of the +Wilderness,--that was an honest mistake, one of the accidents of +war,--being shot at, since the war, by many officers, was worse. Fitzhugh +Lee wrote of me in the Southern Historical Society papers, vol. v., No. 4, +April, 1878, saying, among other things, "He lost his way and reached the +Wilderness twenty-four hours behind time." + +Now, from Mechanicsville to Parker's Store by our line of march was +thirty-four miles,--by the Plank road, thirty-five; from Parker's Store to +the battle, three miles. From the time of our march to going into battle +was thirty-six hours, including all of two nights. Deducting twenty-four +hours alleged as lost leaves twelve hours, including all night of the 4th, +for the march of thirty-seven miles! + +His logic and method of injury remind one of the French teacher who, when +out of patience with the boys, used to say, "I will give you zero and mark +you absent." + +Another report started by Fitzhugh Lee as coming from his cousin, G. W. C. +Lee, was that General Lee said that he "sent an officer to Longstreet to +stay with and show him the roads." + +This, like all other reported sayings of General Lee in regard to me, was +not published until after General Lee's death. When it was first published +I wrote General G. W. C. Lee for the name of the officer sent. He referred +me to the members of General Lee's staff. Not one of them knew of the +circumstance or the officer, but referred me to General Lee's engineers. +After long search I found the engineers and applied for information, but +not one of them knew anything of the alleged fact. I had the letters +published as an advertisement for the officer who was claimed as my guide. +No response came. I inquired of the members of the staff, First Corps; not +one had seen or heard of such a person. The quartermaster, Colonel Taylor, +who was ordered to secure a competent guide at the first moment of receipt +of orders to march, reported of the matter thus: + + "MEADOW FARM, ORANGE COURT-HOUSE, + "July 1, 1879. + + "GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET: + + "DEAR GENERAL,--Your favor of the 30th ultimo is this moment to hand, + and I reply at once. I think General Fitzhugh Lee entirely in error as + to any engineer or other officer being sent to guide you in the spring + of 1864 from your camp near Gordonsville to the Wilderness. I well + remember your sending for me, and directing me to procure a guide for + you, which I did after some difficulty in the person of Mr. James + Robinson, the then sheriff of the county. I saw no such person, nor + can I think that any such was at any time at our quarters before we + broke camp. + + "Sincerely yours, + "ERASMUS TAYLOR." + +These efforts to secure one witness in support of the allegation, or +rather to prove a negation, were all that occurred to me at the time, and +now I can think of but one more chance, which is for Fitzhugh Lee to offer +a liberal reward. It is not probable that he would fail to find a false +witness who could answer for a time to support the false charges. + +It may be added that the accounts of the march by other officers agree +with mine, as already given. I present here a letter from General +Alexander and an extract from one written me by Colonel Venable. The +former says,-- + + "AUGUSTA, GA., June 12, 1879. + + "MY DEAR GENERAL,--Absence prevented an earlier response to your favor + of the 5th. My recollection of the events is as follows: My command, + the artillery, got orders to move about noon on May 4, 1864, being in + camp near Mechanicsville, some four or five miles west of + Gordonsville. We marched about four P.M., and with only short rests + all night and all next day till about five P.M., when we halted to + rest and bivouac at a point which I cannot remember; but our cavalry + had had a skirmish there with the enemy's cavalry just before our + arrival, and I remember seeing some killed and wounded of each side. + Your whole corps, Hood's and McLaws's, and the artillery, I think, was + concentrated at that point, and my recollection is that we had orders + to move on during the night, or before daylight the next morning, to + get on the enemy's left flank on the Brock road. + + "But whatever the orders were, I remember distinctly that during the + night news of the fight on the Plank road came, and with it a change + of orders, and that we marched at one A.M., or earlier, and turned to + the left and struck the Plank road at Parker's Store, and pushed + rapidly down it to where the battle had already begun. I remember, + too, that the march was so hurried that at one point, the head of the + leading division (I forget which it was, however) having lost a little + distance by taking the wrong road, the rear division was not allowed + to halt, but pushed right on, so that it got abreast of the leading + division, and the two came down the road side by side, filling the + whole road and crowding the retreating men of the divisions which were + being driven back into the woods on each side. + + "These are facts as I recollect them, and while I don't know what your + orders were, I remember that there was a change in them during the + night, according to my understanding, and that the change was as + promptly and vigorously and successfully carried out as time and + distance could possibly permit. There was certainly _no loss of time_ + from the moment we received orders to the moment we went under fire in + the Wilderness, as the distance covered will show. + + "Very truly yours, + "E. P. ALEXANDER. + + "GENERAL LONGSTREET." + +Colonel Venable writes,-- + + "July 25, 1879. + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... Well, the morning came. The enemy attacked Wilcox + and Heth before your arrival. Disaster seemed imminent. I was sent to + meet you and hasten your march. I met your two divisions within less + than half a mile of the battle-field coming up in parallel columns + very rapidly (I was going to say in double-quick) on the Plank road, + side by side, and that they came in grandly, forming line of battle, + Kershaw on the right and Field on the left, restoring the battle. It + was superb, and my heart beats quicker to think about it even at this + distance of time.... + + "Yours, very truly, + "CHARLES S. VENABLE. + + "GENERAL LONGSTREET." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +AGAIN IN FRONT OF RICHMOND. + + Longstreet absent on Leave, nursing his Wounds--Hears of the Death of + Cavalry Leader J. E. B. Stuart--Returns to Virginia--Assigned to + Command on the North Side of James River--Affair on the Williamsburg + Road--Lee's Apprehension of Grant's March into Richmond--Closing + Scenes of the Campaign of 1864 about the Confederate Capital--General + Benjamin F. Butler's Move against Fort Fisher--Remote Effects on the + Situation in Virginia. + + +From the Wilderness I was taken to the Meadow Farm home of my friend +Erasmus Taylor, and carefully nursed by his charming wife until put on +board of a train for Lynchburg and taken to my good kinswoman, Mrs. +Caroline Garland, who had lost her only son and child, General Samuel +Garland, killed two years before at South Mountain. From her hospitable +home, when strong enough for a ride in the fresh air, I was taken to the +home of a cherished friend, Colonel John D. Alexander, at Campbell +Court-House. But a raiding party rode through the village early one +morning, which suggested a change, and I was taken to my kinsfolk, the +Sibleys, at Augusta, Georgia, and after a time to other good friends, the +Harts and Daniels, at and near Union Point, on the Georgia Railroad. + +Before I was strong enough to sit more than a few minutes news came of the +change of commanders in the Army of Georgia,--the superseding of General +Joseph E. Johnston by assignment of General J. B. Hood, and I was asked to +take command of the corps left vacant by assignment of General Hood. +Answer was made that when able for duty I would be prepared to obey +orders. + +Later came sadder news from Virginia announcing the fall of our Cavalier +J. E. B. Stuart. The most famous American rider fell mortally wounded +on the 18th of May, 1864, near Yellow Tavern, in a cavalry engagement with +General Sheridan, just then budding into fame. Stuart, endowed by nature +with the gifts that go to make a perfect cavalryman, improved and +cultivated through years of active warfare, experience, and discipline, +was the embodiment of all that goes to make up the ideal soldierly +character,--the bold, dashing dragoon. His death was possibly a greater +loss to the Confederate army even than that of the swift-moving General +"Stonewall" Jackson. Through all the vicissitudes of war he held his +troopers beside him peerless in prowess and discipline. After his fall +their decline came swifter than their up-building had been accomplished by +his magic hand. + + +[Illustration: Erasmus Taylor. Chief-Quartermaster First Corps, Army of +Northern Virginia.] + + +In society he was gay, bright, and genial, abstemious to a degree. In idle +hours of week-days he was fond of his banjo-player, Sweeny, but he was +devout withal, and to him the grandest, sweetest music was "Rock of Ages." +To this day that sublime air never fails to bring before my mind's vision +his noble figure. May his great spirit rest near "The Rock of Ages" +always! Amen! + +About the 1st of October I was strong enough to ride horseback, and after +a little practice, and having become weary of idle hours, took leave of +wife and children, and travelled back to Richmond to find our great +commander and his noble followers. + +The general seemed worn by past labor, besides suffering at seasons from +severe sciatica, while his work was accumulating and his troubles +multiplying to proportions that should have employed half a dozen able +men. The military staff of his head-quarters was made up of excellent, +intelligent, active, zealous young men, more than anxious to anticipate +his wants and to meet their official obligations, and it is a source of +gratification to write that they were efficient, affectionate, admirable, +and polite. But facts will not justify like commendation of the purveying +department. Complaints had been made early in the war and continued of our +inefficient subsistence department at Richmond. The diminishing resources +of the country called for exceptionally earnest, methodical, business +faculties in these departments, especially that of subsistence, but, +unfortunately, as our resources became more circumscribed, the officers, +instead of putting forth stronger efforts in their business, seemed to +lose the energy of their former service, and General Lee found himself +called upon to feed as well as fight his army. Although anxious to assist +in his severe trials, and relieve him of part of his work, I feared that +he might think a cripple an additional incumbrance, and wrote the chief of +staff,-- + + "RANDOLPH'S HOUSE, + "NEAR RICHMOND, VA., October 18, 1864. + + "COLONEL W. H. TAYLOR, + "_Assistant Adjutant-General_: + + "SIR,--I have not reported formally for duty, because I doubted the + propriety of being assigned, in my crippled condition, to position now + filled by officers of vigorous health. If I can be of service in any + position, I prefer to go to duty. If there is nothing to which I can + be assigned on this side of the Mississippi River, without displacing + an efficient officer, I will cheerfully accept service in the Trans + Mississippi Department. + + "The doctors give me little reason to hope to recover the use of my + arm even within a year; hence my desire to be assigned for duty, or to + have an extended leave of absence. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "J. LONGSTREET, + "_Lieutenant-General_." + +An order came assigning me to command on the north side of James River and +Drury's Bluff, and Pickett's division on the south side, along Bermuda +Hundred front as far as Swift Creek. On the north side were the local +defence troops under Lieutenant-General Ewell, and Hoke's and Field's +divisions and Gary's brigade of one thousand cavalry. + +There had been severe fighting on that side a few days previous, in an +attack of the Federals upon Fort Harrison of our line, which resulted in +the capture of the fort; then a more desperate fight of the Confederates +to recover it, which was not successful. The loss of Fort Harrison broke +our line off a little near the river, and caused a new line to be taken +from that point to our left, where it joined the line occupied in 1862, +when General McClellan was against us. The line of the north side extended +from Chapin's Bluff on the James River, by Fort Gilmer, across north of +White Oak Swamp to the vicinity of the Chickahominy at New Bridge. Hoke's +and Field's divisions occupied the line from Fort Gilmer, covering Charles +City road on the left, and Gary's cavalry had a strong picket force on the +Nine Miles road, with vedettes, to guard and patrol the west side of the +swamp and the south side of the Chickahominy. The crossings of the swamp +were heavily obstructed by fallen timber. The batteries at Chapin's and +Drury's Bluffs were manned by officers of the navy and sailors, and other +organized artillery and infantry, and the local defence contingent lined +out towards Fort Gilmer. My men had become experts in fortifying, so that +parapets and dams along the front grew apace. Our officers during their +experience in East Tennessee had become skilled as foragers, and soon +began to find in nooks and corners of Northern Virginia food and forage +which relieved General Lee of the trouble of supplying the men on the +north side, and my troops were beginning to feel comfortable. But there +were more serious embarrassments on the south side, and desertions were +becoming more numerous from day to day. + +Towards the latter part of October, General Grant conceived a plan by +which he proposed to extend and advance his left, so as to get the +Southside Railroad and connect this new point with his line of +intrenchments. At the same time he thought to have General Butler on his +extreme right break through the lines on the north side into Richmond. +For his left attack he ordered the Second Corps, under Hancock, to be +supported by parts of the Fifth and Ninth Corps. General Lee had his Third +Corps (A. P. Hill's), Heth's and Wilcox's divisions and Mahone's in +reserve. Hancock's advance was met by Mahone's division, and the entire +march of the different commands was arrested after a severe rencounter, in +which Mahone got a number of prisoners and some pieces of artillery,--the +latter not brought off, as the enemy held the bridge. + +According to the reports of the Adjutant-General's Office the Federal +losses were 1284. The Confederate losses were not accurately accounted +for, but the Federal accounts claimed two hundred prisoners taken at one +time, and other losses equal to their own. + +I was informed of troops crossing the bridge to the north side on the +25th, and that the crossings continued at intervals till after the night +of the 26th. The plan of operations contemplated that General Butler +should have "twenty thousand men north of the James where Longstreet was +now in command."[199] These were parts of the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps, +commanded by Generals Terry and Weitzel. General Terry was to make a +fierce demonstration against our front along the Darby and Charles City +roads with the Tenth, while General Weitzel was to march the Eighteenth +across White Oak Swamp and get in the unoccupied lines on the Williamsburg +road, or between that and Gary's cavalry on the Nine Miles road. + +Early on the 27th, General Terry moved out with the Tenth Corps and made +demonstration for formidable attack, putting his infantry in sharp +practice along the outer edge of our abatis, and his artillery in practice +near the roads. Our sharp-shooters opened in reply from behind their +breastworks and held a lively rattle of musketry for quite a time. The +delay in making more serious work told me that some other was the point of +danger, which must mean the unoccupied lines beyond White Oak Swamp. Field +was ordered to pull his division out of the works and march for the +Williamsburg road, Hoke to cover the line of Field by extending and +doubling his sharp-shooters. + + +[Illustration: Charles W. Field. Major-General Commanding Division of +First Corps.] + + +When the head of General Field's column got to the Williamsburg road the +enemy's skirmishers were deployed and half-way across the field +approaching our line. Just behind the trenches was a growth of pines which +concealed our troops until a line of sharp-shooters stepped into the +works. Their fire surprised the enemy somewhat, as they had seen nothing +but part of Gary's cavalry, and their skirmish line gave up the field for +their heavy infantry. + +The open in front of the breastworks was about six hundred yards wide and +twelve hundred in length, extending from the York River Railroad on the +north to a ditch draining towards the head of White Oak Swamp on the +south. About midway of the field is a slight depression or swale of five +or six feet depth. + +Quickly following the repulse of the skirmish line, and just as Field had +adjusted the infantry and artillery to their trenches, came the Eighteenth +Corps bursting into the open and deploying on both sides of the road in +solid ranks. They were at once in fair canister range, and soon under the +terrific fire of a solid line of infantry,--infantry so experienced that +they were not likely to throw as much as one bullet without well-directed +aim. At the first fire they began to drop, and they fell more rapidly +until they reached the swale, when the entire line dropped to the ground. +They had just enough cover there for their bodies as they spread +themselves closely to the ground, but not enough to permit them to load +or rise to deliver fire without exposing their persons to our fire. To +attempt to retreat would have been as disastrous as to advance; so they +were entrapped. + +General Gary reported that the field of the Nine Miles road was clear, and +was ordered to come in on the flank of the entrapped infantry and order +surrender; but before he was there another report reached him of a +formidable force advancing against his squadron on the Nine Miles road. He +was sent on a gallop to meet this. Meanwhile, the troops hiding under the +swell of ground found ways to drop off on their right under the railroad +cut, and many others got away down the dry ditch on their left, until +Captain Lyle, of the Fifth South Carolina Regiment, got a force out on the +flank and secured the surrender of the remainder. He picked up about six +hundred prisoners. + +General Gary's guard on the Nine Miles road held an open work by a section +of artillery and a squadron of cavalry. The advance against it was so well +executed, and our cavalry so interested in the operations on the +Williamsburg road, that the guard was taken by surprise and pushed away +from its post by the first attack, losing its field-works and a piece of +artillery. Gary soon made amends for the careless watch by dismounting his +brigade and marching in line of battle at right angles to the line of the +enemy, striking him in flank, recovering the lost cannon, and driving him +back the way he came. Under cover of the night the Federals returned to +their fortified lines, where they were as strong as were the lines held by +the Confederates in their front. + +The Confederates lost: Field's division, 45; Gary's cavalry, 8; artillery, +11; total, 64. Federal "losses, killed, wounded, and missing, 1103."[200] + +General Grant sent orders to have the positions gained by his left held +and intrenched, but they were abandoned because they were weak in the too +extended line. + +After the loss of Fort Harrison, General Lee became more anxious for his +line on the north side, and rode out to witness the operations on that +front, under the threatening of Butler's forces; and as our cavalry had +made no report of the enemy crossing the swamp, he was not quite satisfied +to have the troops moved over to the Williamsburg road, but did not order +them retained. His idea was that the north side was the easier route of +Grant's triumphal march into Richmond, and that sooner or later he would +make his effort there in great force. + +These were the closing scenes between the armies about Richmond and +Petersburg for the year 1864. The defeat of General Early in the Valley of +Virginia on the 19th of October concluded active work in that quarter. +Most of Sheridan's infantry was sent back to the Army of the Potomac, and +the greater part of Early's to the Army of Northern Virginia. + +Kershaw's division of the First Corps had been left with General Early for +his battle of the 19th of October. In his account of the battle, General +Early alludes to its outcome and finality as a causeless panic started by +the break of his left division under General Gordon, followed by Kershaw's +and other troops. It is sufficient for this writing to say that the +general called the rout "thorough and disgraceful, mortifying beyond +measure: we had within our grasp a great and glorious victory, and lost it +by the uncontrollable propensity of our men for plunder."[201] + +Kershaw's division was restored to duty with the First Corps in November. + +Late in December I was informed of a move of the enemy's land and naval +forces against Fort Fisher in Wilmington harbor. The information was +despatched to General Lee at Petersburg, and brought a midnight order for +me to send Hoke's division to Wilmington. Hoke was relieved and on the +move before daylight. General Bragg was relieved of duty at Richmond and +ordered to Wilmington. + +General Butler was in command of the land forces and Admiral Porter of the +navy. Between them, or under the direction of one or the other, was the +steamer "Louisiana," freighted with about two hundred and fifty tons of +gunpowder intended to blow up Fort Fisher. But its only tangible effect +was to relieve the commander of the land forces from further service in +the field. + +In Georgia, General Hood led his army off from the front of General +Sherman at Atlanta, and marched west and north, and the latter took up his +line of march south for Savannah on the 16th of November. + +These moves brought Sherman's army into remote bearing upon our army at +Richmond, and as a matter of course it began to receive more careful +attention from General Lee. In order to better guard our position on the +north side, I ordered, in addition to the timber obstructions over White +Oak Swamp, the roads leading around towards our left to be broken up by +subsoil ploughs, so as to make greater delay of any movements in that +direction during the winter rains, and wrote to ask General Lee if he +could not order the roads upon which General Grant would probably march +against the Southside Railroad broken in the same way; also suggesting +that the roads in Georgia upon which General Sherman was marching could be +obstructed in this and other ways so as to delay and annoy his march, with +the possibility that it might eventually be broken up. + +The pickets along our lines were in more or less practice shooting at each +other from their rifle-pits until I ordered it stopped on the north end +of the line, as an annoyance, and not a legitimate part of war to carry on +the shooting of sentinels on guard duty. The example was soon followed by +the army on our front, so that the men on the picket lines became +friendly, and afterwards came to mutual agreements to give the other side +notice, in case of battle, in time for the pickets to get to their pits +before the batteries could open on them. Before the winter was half gone +the pickets established quite a bartering trade, giving tobacco for sugar +and coffee. + +Our foraging parties of the north side were fortunate in collecting +supplies, and at times were in condition to aid our comrades of the south +side. But the officers found that they could only get a small portion of +the produce by impressment or tax in kind. They were ordered to locate all +supplies that they could not collect. + +The chief of staff of the First Corps, Colonel Sorrel, was appointed +brigadier-general, and relieved of his duties by Colonel Osman Latrobe. + +The Army of Tennessee, under General Hood, pursuing its march northward +late in November and early in December, came upon the Federal forces under +General Schofield at Franklin, and General Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee, +where desperate battles were fought, until Hood's army was reduced to +skeleton commands and forced to retreat. And thus with Sherman's +progressive movements in the extreme South, our own ill success in +Virginia, and an apparent general strengthening of the Federal cause, the +year 1864 drew to a close with little of happy omen for the Confederacy. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +TALK OF PEACE. + + Second Federal Move against Fort Fisher and Wilmington + Harbor--Confederate Disaffection--Act of Congress appointing a Supreme + Commander of the Armies--Montgomery Blair's Peace + Conference--Longstreet has a Meeting with General Ord, Commander of + the Army of the James--Military Convention proposed--Correspondence + between General Grant and General Lee--Longstreet's Suggestions for + Measures in the Critical Juncture near the Close of the War. + + +The second expedition against Wilmington was sent in January, 1865, +General Terry commanding the land and Rear-Admiral Porter the naval +forces. After very desperate work the fort and outworks were carried, the +commander, General Whiting, being mortally and Colonel Lamb severely +wounded. All points of the harbor were captured by the enemy, the +Confederates losing, besides most of the armaments of the forts, about two +thousand five hundred officers and men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. +General Terry's loss was about five hundred. A remarkable success,--the +storming of a position fortified during months and years of labor and by +most approved engineering.[202] + +As the first months of 1865 passed, the Confederate Congress realized the +extreme tension of affairs, and provided, among other expedients, for the +enrollment of negroes as Confederate soldiers. Other measures for giving +confidence and strength to the cause were adopted. + +On the 21st of January the Confederate President was informed of +disaffection in the Virginia Legislature, and, what was more significant, +in the Confederate Congress, where a resolution expressive of want of +confidence in the Chief Executive was under informal consideration, and +would undoubtedly pass by a large vote if introduced. At this critical +juncture it seems that a compromise was effected. It was agreed that +Congress should enact a law providing a supreme commander of the +Confederate armies, this law to be approved by the President, who should +then call General Lee to the exercise of the functions of that office. The +intention was to invest him with dictatorial power. + +During the early days of February, Hon. Montgomery Blair visited Richmond +upon a mission of peace, and brought about a meeting at Hampton Roads +between President Lincoln and Secretary Seward and the Confederate +Vice-President, Alexander H. Stephens, and the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter and +Judge J. A. Campbell. President Lincoln was firm for the surrender of the +Confederate armies and the abolition of slavery, which the Confederate +President did not care to consider. + +About the 15th of February, Major-General J. C. Breckenridge was appointed +Secretary of War, and Brigadier-General F. M. St. John was appointed +commissary-general of subsistence. + +General Ord, commanding the Army of the James, sent me a note on the 20th +of February to say that the bartering between our troops on the picket +lines was irregular; that he would be pleased to meet me and arrange to +put a stop to such intimate intercourse. As a soldier he knew his orders +would stop the business; it was evident, therefore, that there was other +matter he would introduce when the meeting could be had. I wrote in reply, +appointing a time and place between our lines. + +We met the next day, and presently he asked for a side interview. When he +spoke of the purpose of the meeting, I mentioned a simple manner of +correcting the matter, which he accepted without objection or amendment. +Then he spoke of affairs military and political. + +Referring to the recent conference of the Confederates with President +Lincoln at Hampton Roads, he said that the politicians of the North were +afraid to touch the question of peace, and there was no way to open the +subject except through officers of the armies. On his side they thought +the war had gone on long enough; that we should come together as former +comrades and friends and talk a little. He suggested that the work as +belligerents should be suspended; that General Grant and General Lee +should meet and have a talk; that my wife, who was an old acquaintance and +friend of Mrs. Grant in their girlhood days, should go into the Union +lines and visit Mrs. Grant with as many Confederate officers as might +choose to be with her. Then Mrs. Grant would return the call under escort +of Union officers and visit Richmond; that while General Lee and General +Grant were arranging for better feeling between the armies, they could be +aided by intercourse between the ladies and officers until terms honorable +to both sides could be found. + +I told General Ord that I was not authorized to speak on the subject, but +could report upon it to General Lee and the Confederate authorities, and +would give notice in case a reply could be made. + +General Lee was called over to Richmond, and we met at night at the +President's mansion. Secretary-of-War Breckenridge was there. The report +was made, several hours were passed in discussing the matter, and finally +it was agreed that favorable report should be made as soon as another +meeting could be arranged with General Ord. Secretary Breckenridge +expressed especial approval of the part assigned for the ladies. + +As we separated, I suggested to General Lee that he should name some +irrelevant matter as the occasion of his call for the interview with +General Grant, and that once they were together they could talk as they +pleased. A telegram was sent my wife that night at Lynchburg calling her +to Richmond, and the next day a note was sent General Ord asking him to +appoint a time for another meeting. + +The meeting was appointed for the day following, and the result of the +conference was reported. General Ord asked to have General Lee write +General Grant for an interview, stating that General Grant was prepared to +receive the letter, and thought that a way could be found for a military +convention, while old friends of the military service could get together +and seek out ways to stop the flow of blood. He indicated a desire on the +part of President Lincoln to devise some means or excuse for paying for +the liberated slaves, which might be arranged as a condition and part of +the terms of the convention, and relieve the matter of political bearing; +but those details were in the form of remote probabilities to be discussed +when the parties became advanced in their search for ways of settlement. + +On the 1st of March I wrote General Lee giving a report of the second +interview, and on the 2d he wrote General Grant as follows: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES, + "March 2, 1865. + + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, + "_Commanding United States Armies_: + + "GENERAL,--Lieutenant-General Longstreet has informed me that, in a + recent conversation between himself and Major-General Ord as to the + possibility of arriving at a satisfactory adjustment of the present + unhappy difficulties by means of a military convention, General Ord + states that if I desired to have an interview with you on the subject + you would not decline, provided I had authority to act. Sincerely + desiring to leave nothing untried which may put an end to the + calamities of war, I propose to meet you at such convenient time and + place as you may designate, with the hope that upon an interchange of + views it may be found practicable to submit the subjects of + controversy between the belligerents to a convention of the kind + mentioned. In such event I am authorized to do whatever the result of + the proposed interview may render necessary or advisable. Should you + accede to this proposition, I would suggest that, if agreeable to you, + we meet at the place selected by Generals Ord and Longstreet for their + interview, at eleven A.M. on Monday next. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_." + +The letter was sent to me open, with instructions to read, seal, and +forward. I rode into Richmond to ask that some other business should be +named as the cause of the call for the interview, but he was not disposed +to approach his purpose by diplomacy, and ordered the letter to be +delivered. + +He sent another letter, however: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES, + "March 2, 1865. + + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, + "_Commanding United States Armies_: + + "GENERAL,--Lieutenant-General Longstreet has informed me that in an + interview with Major-General Ord, that officer expressed some + apprehension lest the general terms used by you with reference to the + exchange of political prisoners should be construed to include those + charged with capital offences. + + "General Ord further stated that you did not intend to embrace that + class of cases in the agreement to exchange. I regret to learn that + such is your interpretation, as I had hoped that by exchanging those + held under charges by each party it would be possible to diminish, to + some extent, the sufferings of both without detriment to their + interests. Should you see proper to assent to the interview proposed + in my letter of this date, I hope it may be found practicable to + arrive at a more satisfactory understanding on this subject. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_." + +To which General Grant replied,-- + + "CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, + "March 4, 1865. + + "GENERAL R. E. LEE, + "_Commanding Confederate States Armies_: + + "Your two letters of the 2d instant were received yesterday. In regard + to any apprehended misunderstanding in reference to the exchange of + political prisoners, I think there need be none. General Ord and + General Longstreet have probably misunderstood what I said to the + former on the subject, or I may have failed to make myself understood + possibly. A few days before the interview between Generals Longstreet + and Ord I had received a despatch from General Hoffman, + Commissary-General of Prisoners, stating in substance that all + prisoners of war who were or had been in close confinement or irons, + whether under charges or sentence, had been ordered to City Point for + exchange. I forwarded the substance of that despatch to + Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford, Assistant Agent of Exchange, and presumed + it probable that he had communicated it to Colonel Robert Ould. A day + or two after, an officer who was neither a prisoner of war nor a + political prisoner, was executed, after a fair and impartial trial, + and in accordance with the laws of war and the usage of civilized + nations. It was in explanation of this class of cases I told General + Ord to speak to General Longstreet. Reference to my letter of February + 16 will show my understanding on the subject of releasing political or + citizen prisoners. + + "In regard to meeting you on the 6th instant, I would state that I + have no authority to accede to your proposition for a conference on + the subject proposed. Such authority is vested in the President of the + United States alone. General Ord could only have meant that I would + not refuse an interview on any subject on which I have a right to act, + which, of course, would be such as are purely of a military character, + and on the subject of exchanges which has been intrusted to me. + + (Signed) "U. S. GRANT, + "_Lieutenant-General_." + +Under the impression that General Lee would construe the act of Congress +in its broad sense and proceed to handle the Confederate armies and +affairs under his own good judgment, I wrote, begging that he would call +General Joseph E. Johnston back to service and command, and presently +suggested and then wrote that I was credibly informed that there was +plenty of produce in the country which the farmers would cheerfully +deliver at Richmond or Petersburg if liberal prices _in gold_ could be +paid them; that the authority given to impress bread and meat stuffs +should be applied as including gold; that right or wrong the emergency +called for it, and that I would undertake to secure the gold upon his +authority. I suggested that as Grant's combinations were looking to +concentration against the Army of Northern Virginia and Richmond, we +should use the railways for collecting and drawing detachments from +southern points, calling cavalry by the dirt roads, while the farmers were +bringing their produce by private conveyance. Furthermore, I cited the +fact that there were eight or ten thousand non-combatants in Richmond who +could be put in my trenches as conscripts, and officered by the officers +of the department on duty there, and twelve hundred in Lynchburg that +could be made similarly available; and argued that using them in the +trenches would enable him to draw the First Corps out for a movable force +to meet flanking efforts of his adversary, and keep open his lines of +communication. In that way, I continued, he could collect a hundred +thousand men at Richmond, with a good supply of rations, while General +Grant was drawing his two hundred thousand together to attack us; that +when concentrated Grant would find himself obliged to give speedy battle, +as he could not long supply his large force; that our interior lines would +enable us to repel and break up the attack and relieve Richmond. + +The times were heavy of events, Executive authority intended to be +suspended, and it seemed possible that the use of a little gold would so +manifest its power as to induce our people to let cotton and tobacco go +for foreign exchange which might put us on a gold basis for a +twelvemonth. This was the expedient that offered light and hope for the +future, and the times called either for heroic methods or the giving over +of the forms of war. + +General Lee agreed that the provisions were in the country and would be +delivered for gold, but did not think the gold could be found. He made his +orders assuming command of the armies, but instead of exercising authority +on a scale commensurate with the views of Congress and the call of the +crisis, applied to the Richmond authorities for instructions under the new +assignment, and wrote that he would call General Johnston to command if he +could be ordered to report to him for duty. + +General Johnston was so ordered, and was assigned to command of such +fragments of troops as he could collect in the Carolinas. General Wade +Hampton was relieved of duty as chief of cavalry in the Army of Northern +Virginia and ordered to join General Johnston. After collecting such +detachments as he could gather, General Johnston threw them from time to +time along the flank of Sherman's march from Georgia for Virginia, and had +some spirited affairs with that army, which was gathering strength along +the seaboard as it marched. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS. + + Various Affairs of the Closing Campaign--The Massing of Grant's + Forces--Sortie against Fort Steadman--Captured but quickly + retaken--General Grant's Move around the Confederate Right--General + Lee anticipates with Aggressive Work--Sheridan makes Battle with his + Whole Force at Five Forks--Desperate Situation of the + Confederates--Disparity of Numbers--Splendid Stand and Battle of + Generals Pickett and Ransom--Colonel Pegram mortally wounded--W. H. F. + Lee, the "Noble Son of a Noble Sire"--Corse's Division--Pickett's + Generalship--Casualties. + + +Meanwhile General Grant was drawing forces from the North and West to +further strengthen his already overwhelming combinations against Richmond. +General Schofield was called from Tennessee to North Carolina to guard and +join on, if necessary, the flank of Sherman's column. The cavalry and +infantry of the Valley of Virginia were brought down to the Union army +about Richmond and Petersburg,--the latter by transports. + +General Sheridan marched his cavalry, ten thousand strong, from the Valley +to ride across James River, through Lynchburg, to join the northward march +of Sherman's column. His divisions were under Generals Custer and Devens; +General Wesley Merritt was his chief of cavalry. He was to destroy +railroads, canals, bridges, and other works of value as he marched. At +Staunton he decided to take in the balance of General Early's command near +his route at Waynesboro'. He found that command posted behind field-works, +but the line did not cover the left of the position near the river. After +some preliminary dashes, General Custer found his way around General +Early's left, and, with part of the cavalry dismounted, made a bold, +simultaneous charge on the front and flank, breaking up the line and +capturing most of the troops. + +Some of the Union commanders claimed that the Confederates cheered them as +they surrendered. This, however, the Confederates deny. The affair is +mentioned in the diary of Major J. Hoskiss, the engineer of the +Confederate army of the Valley, in not more creditable terms than General +Early gave of his battle of Cedar Run. + +Pickett's division, Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, and other detachments were +sent to Lynchburg to defend against Sheridan's ride; but the high waters +of James River and other obstacles turned Sheridan from his southern +course to a sweep down the north side. + +Generals Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee were recalled and ordered to the north +side to join me at Richmond for a march to intercept Sheridan's forces. +General Pickett reported on the 13th, and we marched for Hanover on the +14th. I made requisition for a pontoon bridge, and was delayed a day +waiting for it and for the cavalry. The bridge was not sent. As we marched +towards the Pamunkey River, General Sheridan heard of the move and crossed +to the north bank with his main force, leaving a brigade to watch our +march, but presently drew the brigade after him. + +General Rosser reported to me with five hundred cavalry, one of the +remnants of General Early's army not captured, and was ordered across the +Pamunkey River to follow Sheridan's ride. Our artillery and infantry were +delayed part of a day and night building a bridge from the timbers of an +old barn that stood near the bank of the river, and part of the command +crossed early in the morning to find a cold cavalry trail, growing colder. +As the prospect of overhauling the march was not encouraging, we retraced +our steps, returning to Richmond on the 18th, where Pickett's men rested +until the 24th. + +As Sherman's army drew towards Richmond, General Grant gave up the thought +of taking the city by attack of his strong columns on the north side, lest +he should leave open the way of escape of the Confederate army, and give +time for it to combine with Johnston's forces before he could overhaul it. +He found, too, that the "attrition" policy could not be made effective, +even with his superior numbers, unless he could so manoeuvre as to call +his adversary from his fortified grounds to make the work of attrition +mutual. + +On the 14th of March he gave instructions of preparation for a general +move by his left, and on the 24th gave definite orders for the move to be +made on the 29th. + +On the 24th, General Lee gave consent to the making of a sortie from his +line at Hare's Hill, in front of Petersburg, against Fort Steadman of the +enemy's works. The distance between the lines at that point was one +hundred and fifty yards, the distance between the picket lines fifty +yards. Union officers had given out that deserters from the Confederate +army were permitted to march into the Union lines with their arms. + +Under the circumstances it was conceived to be practicable to gain Fort +Steadman by surprise, and the Confederate chief was led to believe that +there were other forts to the rear of Steadman that could be carried and +held until General Grant could be forced to make a longer line to reach +our southern communications, and give us time to find dry roads for our +march away, or for reinforcements to join us. It was a hazardous adventure +at best, but his brave heart usually went with a proposition for a bold +fight. + +The Second Corps, under Major-General Gordon, was assigned for the sortie, +to be reinforced by other troops to be called. Pickett's division of the +First Corps, that had been resting on the north side since the 18th, was +called to report to General Lee at Petersburg, without intimation of the +service proposed, but all calls and orders of the times were looked upon +as urgent. The quartermaster was despatched to Richmond to have the +transportation at the station as soon as the troops could reach the +depot, and the division was ordered to march in anticipation of due +preparation for their transit. But the quartermaster found that the +railroad company could furnish transportation for three brigades only. +General Lee was informed of the fact, and I suggested that his only way to +be assured of the service of a division was to draw Mahone's from Bermuda +Hundred and have Pickett's march to replace it. He preferred part of +Pickett's division,--finding it could not be used as a division, as +Pickett, the ranking officer, would be called to command the work during +the early morning, for which he had no opportunity to prepare. + +General Lee collected about eighteen thousand men near the sallying field, +ordered men selected to cut away the fraise and abatis for the storming +column that should advance with empty guns (to avoid premature alarms), +and ordered a squadron of cavalry ready to dash across the lines to cut +the wires about General Grant's lines. + +The Army of the Potomac, General Meade commanding, was posted,--the Ninth +Corps on the right from James River to Fort Howard, including Fort +Steadman, General Parke commanding; next, on Parke's left, was the Sixth +Corps, under General Wright; then General Humphreys with the Second Corps, +General Warren with the Fifth; General Sheridan's cavalry, armed with +repeating rifles, on the extreme left; General Ord, commanding the Army of +the James, on the north side, Generals Gibbon and Weitzel commanding +corps,--all officers of the highest attainments and veterans in service. +The armies of the Potomac and the James and Sheridan's cavalry, +constituting General Grant's immediate command, numbered one hundred and +eleven thousand soldiers.[203] Colonel W. H. Taylor, chief of staff with +General Lee, reports, "Lee had at that time only thirty-nine thousand +eight hundred and ninety-seven available muskets for the defence of +Richmond and Petersburg."[204] + +The stormers advanced before daylight, gained quiet possession of the +enemy's picket line, carried his works between Batteries 9 and 10, moved +to the right and left, captured Fort Steadman and its garrison, and turned +the guns there and at Battery 10 against the enemy. But the alarm spread +and the enemy was afield, feeling his way towards the assailants, for it +was not yet light enough to see and direct his artillery fire over his own +men. Batteries 11 and 12 were taken, and guides sent to conduct the +Confederate columns to forts reported to be in rear of Steadman were in +search, but there were no forts there. Redoubts constructed on the main +line had commanding positions over Fort Steadman, and a sweeping fire +along its lines, in anticipation of a surprise attack, but their fire was +withheld for daylight to direct it. + +Light broke and the fire opened. General Parke called his field artillery +under Tidball into practice from high ground over the Confederates, put +the divisions of Hartranft and Wilcox against the Confederate flanks, and +held them back near the troops crowding in along the breach, and called +for a division from the Second Corps. + +The Confederate columns were strong enough to repel the attack of two +divisions,--were put there for that purpose,--but so far from breaking up +and pushing back the ninety thousand men in front of them, they were not +so handled as to check two divisions long enough for the forces to get +back to their lines. + +The artillery fire not only tore the Confederate ranks, but crossed fire +in their rear, cutting off reinforcements and retreat. Our side was +without artillery, except captured guns, which were handled by infantry. +As the sortie was noised along the line, General Humphreys and General +Wright advanced the Second and Sixth Corps against the Confederate lines +along their fields to learn if troops had been drawn from their fronts to +join the attack. Batteries 11 and 12 were recovered before eight o'clock, +and General Parke ordered Hartranft's division to regain Fort Steadman and +Battery 10, which was done with slight loss before nine o'clock. + +Many Confederates got back to their lines in disordered flight, but 1949 +prisoners and nine stands of colors were taken by the Ninth Corps. + +The aggregate of Union losses was reported as 2107. Confederate losses are +not reported in detail or in numbers. General Meade's estimate of our loss +was 5000. + +General Humphreys captured the intrenched picket line in front of him, but +found the Confederate works in front well manned. General Wright got well +in on the front of his line to favorable position, from which he assaulted +and carried the Confederate works on the 2d of April. + +Corse's and Terry's brigades of Pickett's division remained in wait under +arms until a late hour of the 25th, but were not called to take part in +the sortie.[205] + +The result calls for little comment upon the adventure. For an army of +forty thousand veterans, without field batteries, to dislodge from their +well-chosen and strongly-fortified lines an army of ninety thousand +well-armed and thoroughly-appointed veterans was impossible. + +Pursuant to previous orders, General Grant started on his move around the +Confederate right on the 27th. General Ord was called to the south side +with fourteen thousand men of the Army of the James, leaving General +Weitzel with twenty thousand on the north side.[206] In front of that +force we had ten thousand men of Field's and Kershaw's divisions and G. +W. C. Lee's division of local defence troops (not including Gary's +cavalry, the sailors and marines) holding the forts at Drury's and +Chapin's farms. General Grant's orders were that his troops at all points +should be ready to receive orders for assault. + +Duly informed of the enemy's movements, and understanding his purpose, +General Lee marched to his right on the 29th. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry was +called in advance to march for Five Forks. General Lee marched with +fifteen thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry (including Fitzhugh +Lee's division), and a quota of artillery, along the White Oak road to his +right. + +The purpose of the enemy was to overreach the fortified grounds and call +the Confederates to field work, and General Lee thought to anticipate him +by aggressive work as soon as he was in the open field, and ordered battle +for the 31st. + +General Pickett, with three brigades of his division, two of B. R. +Johnson's division (Ransom's and Wallace's), with the cavalry, was ordered +to engage Sheridan's cavalry at Five Forks, while General Lee attacked, +with McGowan's, Gracie's, Hunton's, and Wise's brigades, the Fifth Army +Corps, that was between Pickett and our line of fortifications. The +opening of this part of the battle was in favor of the Confederates. +General Lee drove back the advance division of the Fifth Corps to the +next, and pushed the two back to concentration upon the third, where that +part of the battle rested. + +General Pickett made his part of the battle by putting W. H. F. Lee's and +Rosser's divisions of cavalry on his right, and following that leading by +his infantry and artillery, leaving Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division, under +General T. T. Mumford, along the right front of Sheridan's cavalry. He +pressed his separate battle by his right advance until night, forcing +Sheridan back to Dinwiddie Court-House, where the latter reported to +General Grant that the force in front of him was too strong, and asked for +reinforcements. Pickett prepared to follow his success by early morning +battle and rested for the night, but Miles's division of the Second Corps +was put against the other end of the battle, and the Fifth Corps rallied +and advanced against the brigades that were with General Lee. They were +forced back to the White Oak road, then into their fortified lines, +leaving an interval of five miles behind Pickett's left. + +Responding to General Sheridan's call, General Grant ordered the Fifth +Corps, under General Warren, fifteen thousand[207] strong, and Mackenzie's +cavalry division (sixteen hundred). The design was that the Fifth Corps +should come in on Pickett's left rear and cut off his retreat, but heavy +rains of the 30th and morning of the 31st had so flooded the streams and +roads that the night march was slow and fatiguing, and Pickett receiving +notice during the night of the projected move against his rear, changed +his orders for battle, and directed the troops withdrawn for Five Forks +before daylight. His retrograde was made in time to escape the Fifth +Corps, and was followed by Sheridan's cavalry, but no serious effort was +made to delay his movements. He made his march of five miles to Five +Forks, put his troops in order of battle by nine o'clock of the morning of +the 1st of April, and ordered his well-chosen line examined and put under +construction of field-works. Corse's, Terry's, and Steuart's brigades of +Pickett's division, and Ransom's and Wallace's brigades of B. R. Johnson's +division, were posted from right to left. Of Pegram's artillery, three +guns were planted at the Forks, and three more near his right; W. H. F. +Lee's division of cavalry on his right; Fitzhugh Lee's division on his +left,--General T. T. Mumford commanding the latter; Rosser's division in +rear guarding trains. General Fitzhugh Lee was chief of cavalry. + +As soon as the infantry line was formed, the troops set to work +intrenching the position. The line of battle was parallel to and lay along +the White Oak road, the left broken smartly to the rear, the retired end +in traverse and flanking defence. The extreme right of the infantry line +was also refused, but not so much. Four miles east from Pickett's left was +the right of the fortified lines of General Lee's army. On the right and +outside of those lines was a detachment of cavalry under General Roberts. +The division of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry was ordered to cover the ground +between Roberts's cavalry and Pickett's left by a line of vedettes, and +his division was posted on that part of the field. + +W. H. F. Lee's cavalry held strong guard on the right, and had the benefit +of some swamp lands. His lines formed and field-works under construction, +General Pickett rode to the rear for his noon lunch, and was soon followed +by the cavalry chief. + +Sheridan's cavalry followed close on Pickett's march, but did not attempt +to seriously delay it. He made a dash about ten o'clock to measure the +strength of the works under construction, and found them too strong to +warrant fierce adventure. Delayed by the heavy roads and flooding streams, +the Fifth Corps was not in position until four o'clock in the afternoon. + +General Sheridan planned for battle to have General Merritt display the +cavalry divisions of Custer and Devens against the Confederate front and +right, to convey the impression that that was the field from which his +battle would be made, while he drew up and massed the Fifth Corps at the +other end of the field for the real fight. The corps was arranged, +Crawford's division in column on the right, Ayres's on Crawford's left, +Griffin's division in support, Mackenzie's cavalry division on the right +of the infantry column, at the White Oak road. The Fifth Corps was to +wheel in close connection and assault against the face of the return of +Confederate works, while the cavalry divisions in front were to assail on +that line and the right of the works. + +The march and wheel of the Fifth Corps were made in tactical order, and +the lines advanced in courageous charge, but staggered and halted under +the destructive infantry fire. The charge was repeated, but held in check +until Crawford's division found a way under cover of a woodland beyond the +Confederate works, and marched to that advantage. + +Ransom drew his brigade from the intrenched line to meet that march, but +it was one brigade against three--and those supported by part of Griffin's +division. + +Ransom's horse was killed, falling on him; his adjutant-general, Captain +Gee, was killed, and the brigade was forced back. + +This formidable move by open field to Pickett's rear made his position +untenable. Feeling this, the veteran soldiers of the left brigades +realized that their battle was irretrievable. Those who could find escape +from that end of the works fell back in broken ranks, while many others, +finding the enemy closing in on their rear, thought it more soldierly to +surrender to Ayres's brave assaulting columns, and not a few were the +captives of Crawford's division. + +It was not until that period that General Pickett knew, by the noise of +battle, that it was on. He rode through the fire to his command, but his +cavalry chief, riding later, was cut off from the field and failed to take +part in the action. When Pickett got to the Forks, Colonel Pegram, of the +artillery, had been mortally wounded, the battery commander was killed, +and many of the cannoneers killed or wounded. He found an artillery +sergeant and enough men to man one gun, and used it with effect until the +axle broke. + +The brigades of Steuart and Terry changed front and received the rolling +battle. The cavalry assailants of the front and right had no decided +success, but the infantry columns pressing their march, the Confederate +brigades were pushed back to their extreme right, where in turn Corse's +brigade changed front to receive the march, leaving W. H. F. Lee's cavalry +to look to his right. + +The Union cavalry essayed to charge the Confederate remnants to dismay, +but the noble son of the noble sire seized opportunity to charge against +the head of this threatening column before it could pass the swamp lands, +drove back its head until Corse's brigade got back to cover of woodland, +and night came to cover the disastrous field.[208] + +The remnants of the command were collected as soon and as well as they +could be in the dead of night and marched towards Exeter Mills, where +Pickett proposed to cross the Appomattox and return to the army, but early +movements of the next morning changed the face of the military zodiac. + +The position was not of General Pickett's choosing, but of his orders, and +from his orders he assumed that he would be reinforced. His execution was +all that a skilful commander could apply. He reported as to his position +and the movements of the enemy threatening to cut his command from the +army, but no force came to guard his right. The reinforcements joined him +after night, when his battle had been lost and his command disorganized. +The cavalry of his left was in neglect in failing to report the advance of +the enemy, but that was not for want of proper orders from his +head-quarters. Though taken by surprise, there was no panic in any part of +the command; brigade after brigade changed front to the left and +received the overwhelming battle as it rolled on, until crushed back to +the next, before it could deploy out to aid the front,--or flank +attack,--until the last right brigade of the brave Corse changed and stood +alone on the left of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, fronting at right angle +against the enemy's cavalry columns. + +It is not claiming too much for that grand division to say that, aided by +the brigades of Ransom and Wallace, they could not have been dislodged +from their intrenched position by parallel battle even by the great odds +against them. As it was, Ayres's division staggered under the pelting +blows that it met, and Crawford's drifted off from the blows against it, +until it thus found the key of the battle away beyond the Confederate +limits. + +In generalship Pickett was not a bit below the "gay rider." His defensive +battle was better organized, and it is possible that he would have gained +the day if his cavalry had been diligent in giving information of the +movements of the enemy.[209] + + +[Illustration: FIVE FORKS] + + +The losses are not found in separate reports. Both sides suffered +severely, Pickett losing two thousand. He had nine thousand men of all +arms. His adversary had twenty-six thousand. + +Reinforcements of Hunton's brigade, and Lieutenant-General R. H. Anderson +with the other brigades of B. R. Johnson, were sent him too late, and a +telegram came for me at Richmond to march a division to Petersburg to +report to General Lee. The hour at which the telegram was received was not +noted. As the operations at Five Forks were not decisive until after five +o'clock, the telegram may have been received about seven P.M. Field's +division was ordered to the railway station, and the quartermaster was +sent in advance to have the cars ready to move it. + +To give the troops the benefit of our limited transportation I rode with +the staff by the dirt road. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +PETERSBURG. + + The Fierce Concerted Assault by the Federals--Death of A. P. + Hill--General Lee announces to Richmond Authorities that he must + retreat--Reception of the News by President Davis at Church + Service--Federals take Forts Gregg and Whitworth--The Retreat harassed + by Continuous Fighting--Longstreet saves High Bridge, a Vital + Point--Ewell and Others compelled to surrender--General Mahone's + Account of Interesting Scenes--Magnitude of the Disaster--"Is the Army + dissolving?"--General Reed mortally wounded--Panic occurs, but Order + is restored--General Gregg and Part of his Cavalry Command captured by + Rosser and Mumford. + + +The darkness of night still covered us when we crossed over James River by +the pontoon bridge, but before long land and water batteries lifted their +bombs over their lazy curves, screaming shells came through the freighted +night to light our ride, and signal sky-rockets gave momentary +illumination. Our noble beasts peered through the loaded air and sniffed +the coming battle; night-birds fluttered from their startled cover, and +the solid pounding upon Mahone's defensive walls drove the foxes from +their lairs. If tears and prayers could have put out the light it would +not have passed Petersburg,--but it passed by twenty miles. A hundred guns +and more added their lightning and thunder to the storm of war that +carried consternation to thousands of long-apprehensive people. + +The cause was lost, but the end was not yet. The noble Army of Northern +Virginia, once, twice conqueror of empire, must bite the dust before its +formidable adversary. + +The impulse was to stop and guard Mahone, but some of his men had been +called to assist in guarding elsewhere, which, with our imperative orders, +admonished us that he must be left to his fate, and Weitzel's fire upon +the lines we had just left told of his orders to be prepared for the +grand enveloping charge. But the order for Weitzel's part in the general +charge was afterwards suspended until enough troops could be sent to +assure success. Had General Grant known that Field's division was +withdrawn during the night, Weitzel's assault would have gone in the +general move of the morning of the 2d, and Richmond, with the Confederate +authorities, would have been taken before noon. + +As morning approached the combat was heavier. The rolling thunder of the +heavy metal reverberated along the line, and its bursting blaze spread +afar to light the doom of the army once so proud to meet the +foe,--matchless Army of Northern Virginia! + +General Grant had ordered assault for four o'clock, but it was near five +before there was light enough for the men to see their way across the line +and over the works. Our night-ride was beyond range of the enemy's +batteries. Crossing the Appomattox, we rode through the streets of +Petersburg for General Lee's head-quarters, some miles farther west. As no +part of the command had reached the station when we passed, orders were +left for the detachments to march as soon as they landed. + +Before the first rays of morning we found general head-quarters. Some +members of the staff were up and dressed, but the general was yet on his +couch. When told of my presence, he called me to a seat at his bedside, +and gave orders for our march to support the broken forces about Five +Forks. He had no censure for any one, but mentioned the great numbers of +the enemy and the superior repeating rifles of his cavalry. He was ill, +suffering from the rheumatic ailment that he had been afflicted with for +years, but keener trouble of mind made him in a measure superior to the +shooting pains of his disease. + +From the line gained by the Sixth Corps on the 25th it was a run of but +two or three minutes across to the Confederate works. + +At 4.45, General Wright advanced as the signal for general assault. +General Lee was not through with his instructions for our march when a +staff-officer came in and reported that the lines in front of his +head-quarters were broken. Drawing his wrapper about him, he walked with +me to the front door and saw, as far as the eye could cover the field, a +line of skirmishers in quiet march towards us. It was hardly light enough +to distinguish the blue from the gray. + +General Wright drove in our picket line, and in desperate charges crowned +the Confederate works. General Gibbon followed the move with his divisions +of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Corps, one of his brigades +(Harris's) carrying part of the Confederate works. The troops, weary of +their all-night watch and early battle, halted to close their ranks and +wait for the skirmish line to open up the field. General Lee appealed to +have me interpose and stop the march, but not a man of my command was +there, nor had we notice that any of them had reached the station at +Petersburg. + +All staff-officers mounted and rode to find the parts of Heth's and +Wilcox's divisions that had been forced from their lines. The display of +officers riding in many directions seemed to admonish the skirmishers to +delay under cover of an intervening swale. The alarm reached General A. P. +Hill, of the Third Corps, who rode off to find his troops, but instead +came suddenly upon the enemy's skirmishers in their concealment. He +wheeled and made a dash to escape, but the Federal fire had deadly effect, +the gallant general fell, and the Southern service lost a sword made +bright by brave work upon many heavy fields. + +General Humphreys, of the Second, followed the move of the Sixth Corps, +and General Parke assaulted on the Bermuda Hundred front and at +Petersburg. He had partial success at the former, but was repulsed when +he met Mahone's strong line. At Petersburg he had more success, capturing +twelve guns. + +General Sheridan, reinforced by Miles's division, was ordered to follow up +his work on the right bank. The reinforcements sent under +Lieutenant-General Anderson joined General Pickett at night of the 1st, +and the combined forces succeeded in getting out of the way of the Union +infantry, and they gave the cavalry a severe trial a little before night +at Amazon Creek, where the pursuit rested; but the Union forces made some +important captures of artillery and prisoners. The divisions of Heth and +Wilcox moved to the right and left to collect their broken files. General +Wright wheeled to the right and massed the Sixth Corps for its march to +Petersburg, and was joined by General Gibbon. + +Not venturing to hope, I looked towards Petersburg and saw General +Benning, with his Rock brigade, winding in rapid march around the near +hill. He had but six hundred of his men. I asked for two hundred, and led +them off to the canal on our right, which was a weak point, threatened by +a small body of skirmishers, and ordered the balance of his troops +deployed as skirmishers in front of the enemy's main force. + +I rode then to Benning's line of skirmishers, and at the middle point +turned and rode at a walk to the top of the hill, took out my glasses, and +had a careful view of the enemy's formidable masses. I thought I +recognized General Gibbon, and raised my hat, but he was busy and did not +see me. There were two forts at our line of works,--Gregg and Whitworth. +General Grant rode over the captured works and ordered the forts taken. +Upon withdrawing my glasses I looked to the right and left, and saw +Benning's four hundred standing in even line with me, viewing the masses +preparing for their march to meet us. + +During a few moments of quiet, General Lee despatched to Richmond of +affairs at Petersburg, and to advise that our troops must abandon their +lines and march in retreat as soon as night could cover the move. + +It was eleven o'clock of the morning when the despatch reached Richmond. +It was the Sabbath-day. The city was at profound worship. The President +was at St. Paul's Church. My wife was there (rest her spirit!) and heard +the pastor, Mr. Minnegerode, read, "_The Lord is in his holy temple: let +all the earth keep silence before him_." The full congregation rose, and +the air whispered silence. The solemnity was broken as a swift +despatch-bearer entered the portals and walked with quiet but rapid steps +up the aisle to the chancel. He handed the President a sealed envelope. +After reading, the President took his hat and walked with dignity down the +aisle. Service was resumed, but presently came another messenger for some +of the ladies, then another, and still another, and in a few moments the +congregation, followed by the minister, giving up the sacred service, +passed out and to their homes to prepare, in silent resignation, for +whatever was to come. + +The tragic scenes of the south side, in a different way, were as +impressive as these. General Gibbon prepared his divisions under Foster +and Turner for assault upon Forts Gregg and Whitworth, and when the Sixth +Corps lined up with him, he ordered the divisions to their work. As they +advanced the other brigades of Field's division came up, were aligned +before the enemy's heavy massing forces, and ordered to intrench. General +Foster found his work at Fort Gregg called for all the force and skill +that he could apply. He made desperate assault, but was checked, and +charged again and again, even to the bayonet, before he could mount the +parapets and claim the fort. It had been manned by part of Harris's +brigade (Twelfth Mississippi Regiment, under Captain J. H. Duncan, three +hundred men of Mahone's division). Fifty-five dead were found in the +fort; two hundred and fifty, including wounded, were prisoners. + +General Turner attacked at Fort Whitworth, and had easier work. General +Wilcox, thinking it a useless sacrifice to try to hold it, ordered his +troops withdrawn, and many got out in time to escape the heavy assault, +but many were taken prisoners. General Gibbon lost ten officers and one +hundred and twelve men killed, twenty-seven officers and five hundred and +sixty-five men wounded; two pieces of artillery and several colors were +captured. + +It was my time next. General Meade called Miles's division back to the +Second Corps, and prepared to march down upon Petersburg, but General +Grant thought that the work might prove hazardous of delay to his plans +for the next day; that General Lee was obliged to pull away from his lines +during the night to find escape, and standing as he was he would have the +start, while at Petersburg he would be behind him. He therefore ordered +all things in readiness for his march westward at early light of the next +morning. + +After A. P. Hill fell his staff and corps were assigned as part of my +command. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions were much broken by the losses of +the day. Mahone had repulsed the attack made upon his position, and had +his division in good order and spirits, except the regiment of Harris's +brigade that was at Fort Gregg. + +General Lee's order for retreat was out in time to have the troops take up +the march as soon as night came. The troops at Petersburg were to cross +the Appomattox at the bridge there, Mahone's division to march to +Chesterfield Court-House and cover the march of the troops from the north +side. General Ewell, commanding on the north side, was to cross his +divisions, one at the lower bridge, the other at Richmond. +Lieutenant-General Anderson and Major-General Pickett, with the cavalry, +were to march up the south bank of the Appomattox. + +Field's division and parts of Heth's and Wilcox's crossed the river soon +after dark, and were followed by the Second Corps, which wrecked the +bridge behind it. G. W. C. Lee's division, including the garrison at +Chapin's Bluff, crossed the James at the lower bridge, breaking it when +they had passed. The sailors and marines at Drury's Bluff, on the south +side, failed to receive orders, but, under advice from General Mahone, got +off in good season and marched through Chesterfield Court-House to join G. +W. C. Lee's division in its after-march. General Kershaw crossed at +Richmond. As the division came over the bridge the structure was fired +(supposedly by an incendiary), and Kershaw had to go through the flames at +double-quick time. Ewell's command was united near Manchester and pursued +its march. General Mahone marched on his line just mentioned. + +After a tramp of sixteen miles through mud, my column halted for a short +rest, and marched to Goode's Bridge on the 3d. Field's and Wilcox's +divisions were put across the Appomattox to guard against threatening +moves of cavalry. In the forenoon of the 4th, Mahone's division +crossed,--also a part of Heth's that had been cut off, and had marched up +on the south side,--and our march was continued to Amelia Court-House, the +enemy's cavalry constantly threatening our left flank. At the Court-House +the cavalry was more demonstrative and seemed ready to offer battle. +Field, Heth, Wilcox, and the artillery were put in position and looked for +opportunity to strike the head of the enemy's column and delay his march. +But it proved to be only the purpose of the cavalry to delay our march +while the enemy was passing his heavier column by us to Jetersville. + +Orders had been sent for provisions to meet us at the Court-House, but +they were not there, so we lost the greater part of a day gathering +supplies from the farmers. + +Our purpose had been to march through Burkeville to join our forces to +those of General J. E. Johnston in North Carolina, but at Jetersville, on +the 5th, we found the enemy square across the route in force and +intrenching, where our cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee engaged him. +General Field put out a strong line of skirmishers to support the cavalry. +Field's, Heth's, and Wilcox's divisions and artillery were prepared for +action and awaited orders. General Meade was in front of us with the +Second and Fifth Corps and Sheridan's cavalry, but his Sixth Corps was not +up. General Fitzhugh Lee had been sent by the Painesville road with the +balance of his cavalry to guard the trains raided by detachments of the +enemy, which latter made some important captures. + +General Lee was with us at Jetersville, and, after careful reconnoissance, +thought the enemy's position too strong to warrant aggressive battle. He +sent for some of the farmers to get more definite information of the +country and the strength of the position in front of us, but they knew +nothing beyond the roads and by-roads from place to place. General Meade, +finding that his Sixth Corps could not join him till a late hour, decided +to wait till next morning for his attack. General Ord rested his column +for the night at Burkeville. The enemy was quiet at Jetersville, except +for a light exchange of cavalry fire. No orders came, the afternoon was +passing, further delay seemed perilous. I drew the command off and filed +to the right to cross Flat Creek to march for Farmville. The other +infantry and trains and artillery followed and kept the march until a late +hour, halting for a short rest before daylight. + +Early on the 6th, General Meade advanced for battle, and, not finding us +at Jetersville, started towards Amelia Court-House to look for us, but +General Humphreys, of his Second Corps, learned that our rear-guard was on +the north side of Flat Creek on the westward march. General Griffin, of +the Fifth Corps, also had information of troops in march west, and General +Meade, therefore, changed direction to pursue with his Second and Sixth +Corps, putting the Fifth on the Painesville road. General Sheridan +despatched General Ord that we had broken away from him and were marching +direct for Burkeville. The latter prepared to receive us, but soon learned +that we had taken another route. He had previously detached two regiments +of infantry (five hundred men), under Colonel Washburn, with orders to +make rapid march and burn High Bridge. To this force he afterwards sent +eighty cavalrymen, under Brigadier-General Theodore Reed, of his staff, +who conducted the column, and put his command in march to follow by the +road through Rice's Station. + +After repairing the bridge at Flat Creek, General Humphreys marched in hot +pursuit of our rear-guard, followed by the Sixth Corps, Merritt's and +Crook's cavalry moving on the left of our column as we marched. General +Humphreys, in his account of the pursuit, says,-- + + "A sharp and running fight commenced at once with Gordon's corps which + was continued over a distance of fourteen miles, during which several + partially-intrenched positions were carried."[210] + +My column marched before daylight on the 6th. The design from the night we +left Petersburg was that its service should be to head off and prevent the +enemy's infantry columns passing us and standing across our march. + +At Sailor's Creek the road "forks,"--one road to the High Bridge crossing +of Appomattox River, the other by Rice's Station to Farmville. We had +information of Ord's column moving towards Rice's Station, and I was +ordered to that point to meet it, the other columns to follow the trains +over the bridge. At Rice's Station the command was prepared for +action,--Field's division across the road of Ord's march, Wilcox on +Field's right; both ordered to intrench, artillery in battery. Heth's +division was put in support of Wilcox, Mahone to support Field. Just then +I learned that Ord's detachment of bridge-burners had passed out of sight +when the head of my command arrived. I had no cavalry, and the head of +Ord's command was approaching in sight; but directly General Rosser +reported with his division of cavalry. He was ordered to follow after the +bridge-burners and capture or destroy the detachment, _if it took the last +man of his command to do it_. General Ord came on and drove in my line of +skirmishers, but I rode to meet them, marched them back to the line, with +orders to hold it till _called in_. Ord's force proved to be the head of +his column, and he was not prepared to press for general engagement. + +General T. T. Mumford reported with his cavalry and was ordered to follow +Rosser, with similar directions. Gary's cavalry came and reported to me. +High Bridge was a vital point, for over it the trains were to pass, and I +was under the impression that General Lee was there, passing with the rest +of his army, but hearing our troops engaged at Rice's Station, he had +ridden to us and was waiting near Mahone's division. Ord's command was not +up till near night, and he only engaged with desultory fire of skirmishers +and occasional exchange of battery practice, arranging to make his attack +the next morning. + +General Ewell's column was up when we left Amelia Court-House, and +followed Anderson's by Amelia Springs, where he was detained some little +time defending trains threatened by cavalry; at the same time our +rear-guard was near him, followed by the enemy. Near Deatonville Crook's +cavalry got in on our trains and caused delay of several hours to +Anderson's march. Crook was joined by part of Merritt's cavalry and +repeated the attack on the trains, but Ewell was up in time to aid in +repelling the attack, and the march was resumed, the enemy's cavalry +moving on their left flank. + +Anderson crossed Sailor's Creek, closely followed by Ewell. The route by +which they were to march was by High Bridge, but they were on strange +ground, without maps, or instructions, or commander. In the absence of +orders Anderson thought to march for the noise of battle, at Rice's +Station. They had no artillery or cavalry. The chief of cavalry was there, +but his troopers were elsewhere, and he rode away, advising the force to +follow him. The rear-guard came up rapidly and essayed to deploy for +defence, but the close pursuit of Humphreys's corps forced its continued +march for High Bridge, letting the pursuit in upon Ewell's rear. As +Anderson marched he found Merritt's cavalry square across his route. +Humphreys was close upon Ewell, but the former awaited battle for the +arrival of the Sixth Corps. + +There was yet a way of escape from the closing clutches of the enemy by +filing to their right and marching to the rear of the command at Rice's +Station; but they were true soldiers, and decided to fight, even to +sacrifice their commands if necessary, to break or delay the pursuit until +the trains and rear-guard could find safety beyond High Bridge. + +Ewell deployed his divisions, Kershaw's on the right, G. W. C. Lee's on +the left. Their plan was, that Anderson should attack and open the way +while Ewell defended the rear. As Anderson attacked, Wright's corps was +up, Humphreys had matured his plans, and the attack of Anderson hastened +that of the enemy upon the Confederate rear. Anderson had some success, +and Ewell received the assaults with resolute coolness, and at one moment +pushed his fight to aggressive return, but the enemy, finding that there +was no artillery with the Confederates, dashed their batteries into closer +range, putting in artillery and infantry fire, front and flanks, until +the Confederate rear was crushed to fragments. General Ewell surrendered; +so also did General G. W. C. Lee with his division. General Kershaw +advised such of his men as could to make their escape, and surrendered +with his division. General Anderson got away with the greater part of B. +R. Johnson's division, and Pickett with six hundred men. Generals Corse +and Hunton and others of Pickett's men were captured. About two hundred of +Kershaw's division got away. + +General R. S. Ewell and General R. H. Anderson are barely known in the +retreat, but their stand and fight on that trying march were among the +most soldier-like of the many noble deeds of the war. + +While waiting near my rear, General Lee received information, through +Colonel Venable, of his staff, as to the disaster at Sailor's Creek. He +drew Mahone's division away, and took it back to find the field. General +Mahone writes of the scenes that he witnessed as follows: + + "As we were moving up in line of battle, General Lee riding with me + and remonstrating about the severity of my note in respect to Colonel + Marshall's interference with my division the night before, up rode + Colonel Venable, of General Lee's staff, and wanted to know if he, + General Lee, had received his message. General Lee replied 'No,' when + Colonel Venable informed him that the enemy had captured the + wagon-trains at Sailor's Creek. General Lee exclaimed, 'Where is + Anderson? Where is Ewell? It is strange I can't hear from them.' Then + turning to me, he said, 'General Mahone, I have no other troops, will + you take your division to Sailor's Creek?' and I promptly gave the + order by the left flank, and off we were for Sailor's Creek, where the + disaster had occurred. General Lee rode with me, Colonel Venable a + little in the rear. On reaching the south crest of the high ground at + the crossing of the river road overlooking Sailor's Creek, the + disaster which had overtaken our army was in full view, and the scene + beggars description,--hurrying teamsters with their teams and dangling + traces (no wagons), retreating infantry without guns, many without + hats, a harmless mob, with the massive columns of the enemy moving + orderly on. At this spectacle General Lee straightened himself in his + saddle, and, looking more the soldier than ever, exclaimed, as if + talking to himself, 'My God! has the army dissolved?' As quickly as I + could control my own voice I replied, 'No, general, here are troops + ready to do their duty;' when, in a mellowed voice, he replied, 'Yes, + general, there are some true men left. Will you please keep those + people back?' As I was placing my division in position to 'keep those + people back,' the retiring herd just referred to had crowded around + General Lee while he sat on his horse with a Confederate battle-flag + in his hand. I rode up and requested him to give me the flag, which he + did. + + "It was near dusk, and he wanted to know of me how to get away. I + replied, 'Let General Longstreet move by the river road to Farmville, + and cross the river there, and I will go through the woods to the High + Bridge (railroad bridge) and cross there.' To this he assented. I + asked him then, after crossing at the High Bridge, what I should do, + and his reply was, to exercise my judgment. I wanted to know what + should be done with the bridge after crossing it. He said, 'Set fire + to it,' and I replied that the destruction of a span would as well + retard the enemy as the destruction of the whole half mile of bridge, + and asked him to call up Colonel Talcott, of the Engineers' Regiment, + and personally direct him in the matter, which he did." + +General Mahone withdrew at eleven o'clock at night through the wood, found +the bridge, had the fragments of commands over before daylight, and +crossed High Bridge. The parties called to fire the bridge failed to +appear. He sent a brigade back to do the work, and had a sharp skirmish in +checking the enemy long enough to start the fire, after which he withdrew +as far as Cumberland Church and deployed for battle, Poague's artillery on +his right. General Rosser got up with the detachment sent to burn the +bridge, and attacked. General Reed, seeing his approach, found a defensive +position, and arranged the command to receive battle. General Mumford got +up and deployed his troopers, dismounted, on Rosser's left. Nothing +daunted, General Reed received the attack, and in gallant fight made one +or two counter-charges with his small cavalry force, but ere long he was +mortally wounded, as was Colonel Washburn. Most of his cavalry officers +and many of his infantry were killed or wounded, and the rest surrendered. +Reed's fight was as gallant and skilful as a soldier could make, and its +noise in rear of Sailor's Creek may have served to increase the confusion +there. The result shows the work of these remnants of Confederate veterans +as skilful and worthy of their old chief who fell at Yellow Tavern. + +I heard nothing of the affair at Sailor's Creek, nor from General Lee, +until next morning. Our work at Rice's Station was not very serious, but +was continued until night, when we marched and crossed the Appomattox at +Farmville without loss, some of Rosser's and Mumford's cavalry following. +We crossed early in the morning and received two days' rations,--the first +regular issue since we left Richmond,--halted our wagons, made fires, got +out cooking utensils, and were just ready to prepare a good breakfast. We +had not heard of the disasters on the other route and the hasty retreat, +and were looking for a little quiet to prepare breakfast, when General Lee +rode up and said that the bridges had been fired before his cavalry +crossed, that part of that command was cut off and lost, and that the +troops should hurry on to position at Cumberland Church. + +I reminded him that there were fords over which his cavalry could cross, +and that they knew of or would surely find them. Everything except the +food was ordered back to the wagons and dumped in. + +Meanwhile, the alarm had spread, and our teamsters, frightened by reports +of cavalry trouble and approaching fire of artillery, joined in the panic, +put whips to their teams as quick as the camp-kettles were tumbled over +the tail-boards of the wagons, and rushed through the woods to find a road +somewhere in front of them. The command was ordered under arms and put in +quick march, but General Lee urged double-quick. Our cavalry was then +engaged near Farmville, and presently came a reckless charge of Gregg's +troopers towards parts of Rosser's and Mumford's commands. Heth's division +of infantry was sent to support them. As the balance of the command +marched, General Lee took the head of the column and led it on the +double-quick. + +I thought it better to let them pass me, and, to quiet their apprehensions +a little, rode at a walk. General Mahone received the attack of part of +the enemy's Second Corps, like Gregg's cavalry making reckless attack. The +enemy seemed to think they had another Sailor's Creek affair, and part of +their attack got in as far as Poague's battery, but Mahone recovered it, +and then drove off an attack against his front. General Gregg and a +considerable part of his command were captured by Rosser and Mumford. At +Cumberland Church the command deployed on the right of Poague's battery, +but Mahone reported a move by part of Miles's division to turn his left +which might dislodge him. G. T. Anderson's brigade of Field's division was +sent with orders to get around the threatening force and break it up. +Mahone so directed them through a woodland that they succeeded in +over-reaching the threatened march, and took in some three hundred +prisoners,[211] the last of our trouble for the day. General Lee stopped +at a cottage near my line, where I joined him after night; the trains and +other parts of his army had moved on towards Appomattox Court-House. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +APPOMATTOX. + + Some of General Lee's Officers say to him that "Further Resistance is + Hopeless"--Longstreet does not approve--General Grant calls for + Surrender--"Not yet"--The Confederate Chieftain asks Terms--His + Response to his Officers as represented by General + Pendleton--Correspondence of Generals Lee and Grant--Morning of April + 9--General Lee rides to meet the Federal Commander, while Longstreet + forms the Last Line of Battle--Longstreet endeavors to recall his + Chief, hearing of a Break where the Confederate Troops could + pass--Custer demands Surrender of Longstreet--Reminded of + Irregularity, and that he was "in the Enemy's Lines"--Meeting with + General Grant--Capitulation--Last Scenes. + + +The beginning of the end was now at hand,--not perhaps necessarily, but, +at least, as the sequence of cause and effect actually followed. + +"An event occurred on the 7th," says General Long, "which must not be +omitted from the narrative. Perceiving the difficulties that surrounded +the army, and believing its extrication hopeless, a number of the +principal officers, from a feeling of affection and sympathy for the +commander-in-chief, and with a wish to lighten his responsibility and +soften the pain of defeat, volunteered to inform him that, in their +opinion, the struggle had reached a point where further resistance was +hopeless, and that the contest should be terminated and negotiations +opened for a surrender of the army. The delivery of this opinion was +confided to General Pendleton, who, both by his character and devotion to +General Lee, was well qualified for such an office. The names of +Longstreet and some others, who did not coincide in the opinion of their +associates, did not appear in the list presented by Pendleton."[212] + +A little after nightfall a flag of truce appeared under torchlight in +front of Mahone's line bearing a note to General Lee: + + "Head-quarters Armies of the United States, + "5 P.M., April 7, 1865. + + "General R. E. Lee, + "_Commanding Confederate States Army_: + + "GENERAL,--The results of the last week must convince you of the + hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern + Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my + duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion + of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the + Confederate army known as the Army of Northern Virginia. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies of the United + States_." + +I was sitting at his side when the note was delivered. He read it and +handed it to me without referring to its contents. After reading it I gave +it back, saying, "_Not yet_." + +General Lee wrote in reply,-- + + "April 7, 1865. + + "GENERAL,--I have received your note of this day. Though not + entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further + resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate + your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before + considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on + condition of its surrender. + + "R. E. Lee, + "_General_. + + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, + "_Commanding Armies of the United States_." + +I was not informed of the contents of the return note, but thought, from +the orders of the night, it did not mean surrender. General Lee ordered my +command from forward- to rear-guard, and his cavalry in rear of the march. +The road was clear at eleven o'clock, and we marched at twelve. The enemy +left us to a quiet day's march on the 8th, nothing disturbing the +rear-guard, and our left flank being but little annoyed, but our animals +were worn and reduced in strength by the heavy haul through rain and mud +during the march from Petersburg, and the troops of our broken columns +were troubled and faint of heart. + +We passed abandoned wagons in flames, and limbers and caissons of +artillery burning sometimes in the middle of the road. One of my battery +commanders reported his horses too weak to haul his guns. He was ordered +to bury the guns and cover their burial-places with old leaves and +brushwood. Many weary soldiers were picked up, and many came to the column +from the woodlands, some with, many without, arms,--all asking for food. + +General Grant renewed efforts on the 8th to find a way to strike across +the head of our march by his cavalry and the Army of the James, pursuing +our rear-guard with the Second and Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. + +In the forenoon, General Pendleton came to me and reported the proceedings +of the self-constituted council of war of the night before, and stated +that he had been requested to make the report and ask to have me bear it +to General Lee, in the name of the members of the council. Much surprised, +I turned and asked if he did not know that the Articles of War provided +that officers or soldiers who asked commanding officers to surrender +should be shot, and said,-- + + "If General Lee doesn't know when to surrender until I tell him, he + will never know." + +It seems that General Pendleton then went to General Lee and made the +report. General Long's account of the interview, as reported by Pendleton, +is as follows: + + "General Lee was lying on the ground. No others heard the conversation + between him and myself. He received my communication with the reply, + 'Oh, no, I trust that it has not come to that,' and added, 'General, + we have yet too many bold men to think of laying down our arms. The + enemy do not fight with spirit, while our boys still do. Besides, if + I were to say a word to the Federal commander, he would regard it as + such a confession of weakness as to make it the condition of demanding + an unconditional surrender, a proposal to which I will never + listen.... I have never believed we could, against the gigantic + combination for our subjugation, make good, in the long run, our + independence, unless foreign powers should, directly or indirectly, + assist us.... But such considerations really make with me no + difference. We had, I was satisfied, sacred principles to maintain, + and rights to defend, for which we were in duty bound to do our best, + even if we perished in the endeavor.' + + "Such were, as nearly as I can recall them, the exact words of General + Lee on that most critical occasion. You see in them the soul of the + man. Where his conscience dictated and his judgment decided, there his + heart was."[213] + +The delicate affection that prompted the knights of later days to offer to +relieve our grand commander of his official obligations and take upon +themselves responsibility to disarm us and turn us over to the enemy is +somewhat pathetic, but when to it are applied the stern rules of a +soldier's duty upon a field of emergency, when the commander most needs +steady hands and brave hearts, their proceeding would not stand the test +of a military tribunal. The interesting part of the interview is that in +it our great leader left a sufficient testimonial of his regard as a +legacy to the soldiers of his column of the right. Though commanders of +other columns were in mutinous conduct towards him, he had confidence that +we were firm and steady in waiting to execute his last command. + +During the day General Grant wrote General Lee in reply to his note of the +7th inquiring as to terms of surrender,-- + + "April 8, 1865. + + "GENERAL R. E. LEE, + "_Commanding Confederate States Army_: + + "GENERAL,--Your note of last evening in reply to mine of the same + date, asking the conditions on which I will accept surrender of the + Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply I would say + that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would + insist upon,--namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be + disqualified for taking up arms again against the government of the + United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will + designate officers to meet any officers you might name for the same + purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging + definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern + Virginia will be received. + + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Lieutenant-General_." + +In reply, General Lee wrote,-- + + "April 8, 1865. + + "GENERAL,--I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of + yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of + Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be + frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the + surrender of this army, but as the restoration of peace should be the + sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would + lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to the + surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your + proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under my command and + tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at + ten A.M. to-morrow on the old stage road to Richmond, between the + picket lines of the two armies. + + "R. E. LEE, + "_General_." + +The enemy's movements of the day were impressive of his desire to get by +our left flank and make a strong stand across the route of our head of +column. At Prospect Station, General Sheridan was informed of four trains +of cars at Appomattox Station loaded with provisions for General Lee's +army. He gave notice to Merritt's and Crook's cavalry, and rode +twenty-eight miles in time for Custer's division to pass the station, cut +off the trains, and drive back the guard advancing to protect them. He +helped himself to the provisions, and captured besides twenty-five pieces +of artillery and a wagon and hospital train. + +At night General Lee made his head-quarters near the rear-guard, and +spread his couch about a hundred feet from the saddle and blanket that +were my pillow and spread for the night. If he had a more comfortable bed +than mine I do not know, but I think not. + +He sent for his cavalry commander, and gave orders for him to transfer his +troopers from the rear to the advanced guard, and called General Gordon, +commanding in front, for report and orders. The advance was then at +Appomattox Court-House, Wallace's brigade resting in the village. His +orders were to march at one o'clock in the morning, the trains and +advanced forces to push through the village in time for my column to stand +and prepare to defend at that point in case of close pursuit. General +Gordon reported, as I remember, less than two thousand men. (General +Fitzhugh Lee puts it at sixteen hundred, but he may have overlooked +Wallace's brigade, which joined the advance on that day.) My column was +about as it was when it marched from Petersburg. Parts of Ewell's, +Anderson's, and Pickett's commands not captured on the march were near us, +and reported to me, except Wallace's brigade. + +On the 9th the rear-guard marched as ordered, but soon came upon standing +trains of wagons in the road and still in park alongside. The command was +halted, deployed into position, and ordered to intrench against the +pursuing army. + +It was five o'clock when the advance commands moved,--four hours after the +time ordered. To these General Long's batteries of thirty guns were +attached. They met Sheridan's cavalry advancing across their route. The +column was deployed, the cavalry on the right of the artillery and +infantry, as they advanced to clear the way. They reported some success, +capturing two pieces of artillery, when General Ord's column came up. He +had, besides his Army of the James, the Fifth Army Corps. These commands, +with the cavalry, pushed the Confederates back a little, while the two +corps of the Army of the Potomac were advancing against my rear-guard. + +Of the early hours of this, the last day of active existence of the Army +of Northern Virginia, Colonel Venable, of General Lee's staff, wrote thus: + + "At three o'clock on the morning of that fatal day, General Lee rode + forward, still hoping that he might break through the countless hordes + of the enemy, who hemmed us in. Halting a short distance in rear of + our vanguard, he sent me on to General Gordon to ask him if he could + break through the enemy. I found General Gordon and General Fitz Lee + on their front line in the dim light of the morning, arranging our + attack. Gordon's reply to the message (I give the expressive phrase of + the gallant Georgian) was this: 'Tell General Lee I have fought my + corps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavily + supported by Longstreet's corps.' + + "When I bore the message back to General Lee, he said, 'Then there is + nothing left me but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather + die a thousand deaths.' + + "Convulsed with passionate grief, many were the wild words which we + spoke as we stood around him. Said one, 'Oh, general, what will + history say of the surrender of the army in the field?' + + "He replied, 'Yes, I know they will say hard things of us; they will + not understand how we are overwhelmed by numbers. But that is not the + question, colonel; the question is, "Is it right to surrender this + army?" If it is right, then I will take all the responsibility!'"[214] + +Presently General Lee called to have me ride forward to him. He was +dressed in a suit of new uniform, sword and sash, a handsomely embroidered +belt, boots, and a pair of gold spurs. At first approach his compact +figure appeared as a man in the flush vigor of forty summers, but as I +drew near, the handsome apparel and brave bearing failed to conceal his +profound depression. He stood near the embers of some burned rails, +received me with graceful salutation, and spoke at once of affairs in +front and the loss of his subsistence stores. He remarked that the +advanced columns stood against a very formidable force, which he could not +break through, while General Meade was at my rear ready to call for all +the work that the rear-guard could do, and, closing with the expression +that it was not possible for him to get along, requested my view. I asked +if the bloody sacrifice of his army could in any way help the cause in +other quarters. He thought not. Then, I said, your situation speaks for +itself. + + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER ARRANGES THE LAST LINE OF BATTLE DEPLOYED IN THE +ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AT APPOMATTOX.] + + +He called up General Mahone, and made to him a similar statement of +affairs. The early morning was raw and damp. General Mahone was chilled +standing in wait without fire. He pushed up the embers and said to the +general he did not want him to think he was scared, he was only chilled. +General Mahone sometimes liked to talk a little on questions of moment, +and asked several questions. My attention was called to messages from the +troops for a time, so that I failed to hear all of the conversation, but I +heard enough of it to know that General Mahone thought it time to see +General Grant. Appeal was made to me to affirm that judgment, and it was +promptly approved. + +General Grant had been riding with his column in our rear during the +correspondence of the 7th and 8th. So General Lee, upon mounting +Traveller, his favorite horse, rode to our rear to meet him, leaving his +advanced forces engaged in a lively skirmish. He did not think to send +them notice of his intended ride, nor did he authorize me to call a truce. +He passed my rear under flag, but General Grant's orders were that his +correspondence with General Lee should not interrupt or delay the +operations of any of his forces. Our advance troops were in action, and +General Humphreys was up with the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac, +preparing for action against our rear-guard. The situation was +embarrassing. It was plain enough that I should attack the Second Corps +before others could be up and prepare for action, though our truce +forbade. It could not prevail, however, to call me to quiet while the +enemy in plain view was preparing for attack, so we continued at our work +constructing our best line of defence, and when strong enough I ordered +parts of the rear-guard forward to support the advanced forces, and +directed General Alexander to establish them with part of his batteries in +the best position for support or rallying line in case the front lines +were forced back. That was the last line of battle formed in the Army of +Northern Virginia. + +While this formation was proceeding, report came from our front that a +break had been found through which we could force passage. I called for a +swift courier, but not one could be found. Colonel J. C. Haskell had a +blooded mare that had been carefully led from Petersburg. Appreciating the +signs of the times, he had ordered her saddled, intending a desperate ride +to escape impending humiliation, but, learning my need of a swift courier +he came and offered his services and his mare. He was asked to take the +information just brought in to General Lee, and as he mounted was told to +kill his mare but bring General Lee back. He rode like the wind. + +General Lee had passed out and dismounted beyond a turn of the road, and +was not seen until the gallant rider had dashed by him. The steed swept +onward some distance before the rider could pull up. As Colonel Haskell +rode back, General Lee walked to meet him, exclaiming, "You have ruined +your beautiful mare! why did you do so?" The swift despatch was too late. +General Lee's note to General Grant asking an interview had gone beyond +recall. + +As my troops marched to form the last line a message came from General Lee +saying he had not thought to give notice of the intended ride to meet +General Grant, and asked to have me send his message to that effect to +General Gordon, and it was duly sent by Captain Sims, of the Third Corps +staff, serving at my head-quarters since the fall of A. P. Hill. + +After delivering the message, Captain Sims, through some informality, was +sent to call the truce. The firing ceased. General Custer rode to Captain +Sims to know his authority, and, upon finding that he was of my staff, +asked to be conducted to my head-quarters, and down they came in fast +gallop, General Custer's flaxen locks flowing over his shoulders, and in +brusk, excited manner, he said,-- + +"In the name of General Sheridan I demand the unconditional surrender of +this army." + +He was reminded that I was not the commander of the army, that he was +within the lines of the enemy without authority, addressing a superior +officer, and in disrespect to General Grant as well as myself; that if I +was the commander of the army I would not receive the message of General +Sheridan. + +He then became more moderate, saying it would be a pity to have more blood +upon that field. Then I suggested that the truce be respected, and said,-- + +"As you are now more reasonable, I will say that General Lee has gone to +meet General Grant, and it is for them to determine the future of the +armies." + +He was satisfied, and rode back to his command. + +General Grant rode away from the Army of the Potomac on the morning of the +9th to join his troops near Appomattox Court-House, so General Lee's note +was sent around to him. When advised of the change, General Lee rode back +to his front to await there the answer to his note. While waiting, General +Lee expressed apprehension that his refusal to meet General Grant's first +proposition might cause him to demand harsh terms. + +I assured him that I knew General Grant well enough to say that the terms +would be such as he would demand under similar circumstances, but he yet +had doubts. The conversation continued in broken sentences until the +bearer of the return despatch approached. As he still seemed apprehensive +of humiliating demands, I suggested that in that event he should break off +the interview and tell General Grant to do his worst. The thought of +another round seemed to brace him, and he rode with Colonel Marshall, of +his staff, to meet the Union commander. + +The status of affairs spread through the advance troops of the army, but +the work of preparation on my rear line was continued. General Field +inquired of a passing officer, "What's up?" but, seeing arrangements going +on for attack in our rear, he continued his work of preparation to receive +it. + +General Grant was found prepared to offer as liberal terms as General Lee +could expect, and, to obviate a collision between his army of the rear +with ours, ordered an officer sent to give notice of the truce. A ride +around the lines would consume time, and he asked to have the officer +conducted through our lines. Colonel Fairfax was sent with him. When they +reached our rear line it was still at work on the trenches. The officer +expressed surprise at the work of preparation, as not proper under truce. +Colonel Fairfax ordered the work discontinued, and claimed that a truce +between belligerents can only be recognized by mutual consent. As the +object of the ride was to make the first announcement of properly +authorized truce, the work of preparation between the lines was no +violation of the usages of war, particularly when it was borne in mind +that the orders of General Grant were that the correspondence should not +delay or interrupt military operations. + +As General Lee rode back to his army the officers and soldiers of his +troops about the front lines assembled in promiscuous crowds of all arms +and grades in anxious wait for their loved commander. From force of habit +a burst of salutations greeted him, but quieted as suddenly as they arose. +The road was packed by standing troops as he approached, the men with hats +off, heads and hearts bowed down. As he passed they raised their heads and +looked upon him with swimming eyes. Those who could find voice said +good-by, those who could not speak, and were near, passed their hands +gently over the sides of Traveller. He rode with his hat off, and had +sufficient control to fix his eyes on a line between the ears of Traveller +and look neither to right nor left until he reached a large white-oak +tree, where he dismounted to make his last head-quarters, and finally +talked a little. + +The shock was most severe upon Field's division. Seasoned by four years of +battle triumphant, the veterans in that body stood at Appomattox when the +sun rose on the 9th day of April, 1865, as invincible of valor as on the +morning of the 31st of August, 1862, after breaking up the Union lines of +the second field of Manassas. They had learned little of the disasters +about Petersburg, less of that at Sailor's Creek, and surrender had not +had time to enter their minds until it was announced accomplished! + +The reported opportunity to break through the enemy's lines proved a +mistake. General Mumford, suspecting surrender from the sudden quiet of +the front, made a dashing ride, and passed the enemy's lines with his +division of cavalry, and that caused the impression that we would be able +to march on. + +Soon after General Lee's return ride his chief of ordnance reported a +large amount of United States currency in his possession. In doubt as to +the proper disposition of the funds, General Lee sent the officer to ask +my opinion. As it was not known or included in the conditions of +capitulation, and was due (and ten times more) to the faithful troops, I +suggested a _pro rata_ distribution of it. The officer afterwards brought +three hundred dollars as my part. I took one hundred, and asked to have +the balance distributed among Field's division,--the troops most distant +from their homes. + +The commissioners appointed to formulate details of the capitulation were +assigned a room in the McLean residence. The way to it led through the +room occupied as General Grant's head-quarters. + +As I was passing through the room, as one of the commissioners, General +Grant looked up, recognized me, rose, and with his old-time cheerful +greeting gave me his hand, and after passing a few remarks offered a +cigar, which was gratefully received. + +The first step under capitulation was to deliver to the Union army some +fifteen hundred prisoners, taken since we left Petersburg, not all of them +by my infantry, Rosser's and Mumford's cavalry having taken more than half +of them. Besides these I delivered to General Grant all of the Confederate +soldiers left under my care by General Lee, except about two hundred lost +in the affairs about Petersburg, Amelia Court-House, Jetersville, Rice's +Station, and Cumberland Church. None were reported killed except the +gallant officers Brigadier-General Dearing, of Rosser's cavalry, Colonel +Bostan, of Mumford's cavalry, and Major Thompson, of Stuart's horse +artillery, in the desperate and gallant fight to which they were ordered +against the bridge-burning party. + +General Grant's artillery prepared to fire a salute in honor of the +surrender, but he ordered it stopped. + +As the world continues to look at and study the grand combinations and +strategy of General Grant, the higher will be his award as a great +soldier. Confederates should be foremost in crediting him with all that +his admirers so justly claim, and ask at the same time that his great +adversary be measured by the same high standards. + +On the 12th of April the Army of Northern Virginia marched to the field +in front of Appomattox Court-House, and by divisions and parts of +divisions deployed into line, stacked their arms, folded their colors, and +walked empty-handed to find their distant, blighted homes. + +There were "surrendered and paroled" on the last day of our military +history over twenty-eight thousand officers and men,--viz.: + + General Lee and staff 15 + Longstreet's corps[215] 14,833 + Gordon's corps[216] 7,200 + Ewell's corps 287 + Cavalry corps 1,786 + Artillery 2,586 + Detachments 1,649 + ------ + Total 28,356 + +In glancing backward over the period of the war, and the tremendous and +terrible events with which it was fraught, the reflection irresistibly +arises, that it might perhaps have been avoided and without dishonor. The +flag and the fame of the nation could have suffered no reproach had +General Scott's advice, before the outbreak, been followed,--"Wayward +sisters, depart in peace." The Southern States would have found their way +back to the Union without war far earlier than they did by war. The +reclaiming bonds would then have been those only of love, and the theory +of government formulated by George Washington would have experienced no +fracture. But the inflexible fiat of fate seemingly went forth for war; +and so for four long years the history of this great nation was written in +the blood of its strong men. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +POST-BELLUM PENDANT. + + Old Friends and their Kindness--General Grant--His Characteristic + Letter of Introduction to President Johnson--In Business in New + Orleans--Political Unfriendliness--Cause of Criticism of Military + Career--Appointed Surveyor of Customs--The Old Nurse. + + +Some weeks after the surrender the newspapers announced that I was to +visit Washington City. My old company commander, Bradford P. Alden, who +had resigned from the army some years before the war, came down from New +York to meet me. Not finding me, he wrote to tell me of his trip, that he +was anxious about me, lest I might be in need of assistance; that in that +event I should draw on him for such amount of money as I wanted. When +ready to return his favor he was not in the country, and it was only +through a mutual friend, General Alvord, that his address in Europe was +found and the amount returned. A more noble, lovable character never +descended from the people of Plymouth Rock. + +About the 1st of November, 1865, business of personal nature called me to +Washington. I stopped at the Metropolitan Hotel. Upon seeing the arrival +in the morning papers, General W. A. Nichols, of the United States army, +called and insisted that my visit should be with him and his family. The +request was declined with the suggestion that the war-feeling was too warm +for an officer of the army to entertain a prominent Confederate, but he +insisted and urged that his good wife would not be satisfied unless the +visit was made. So it was settled, and I became his guest. He was on duty +at the time as assistant adjutant-general at the War Department. As I was +stopping with an officer of the army, the usages of military life +required that I should call upon the commanding general. + +The next morning I walked with General Nichols to make an official call on +General Grant. He recognized us as we entered his office, rose and walked +to meet us. After the usual brief call, we rose to take leave, when he +asked to have us call on his family during the evening. Most of those whom +we met during the evening were old-time personal friends, especially the +father-in-law, Mr. Dent. When leaving, after a pleasant evening, General +Grant walked with us to the gate and asked if I cared to have my pardon. I +pleaded not guilty of an offence that required pardon. He said that he +meant amnesty,--that he wished to know if I cared to have it. I told him +that I intended to live in the country, and would prefer to have the +privileges of citizenship. He told me to call at his office at noon next +day; that in the mean time he would see the Secretary of War and the +President in regard to the matter. + +The next day he gave me a letter to the President, and said that he had +seen him and thought the matter was arranged; that I should first see the +Secretary of War, then the President. His strong and characteristic letter +to the President was as follows: + + "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, + "WASHINGTON, D. C., November 7, 1865. + + "HIS EXCELLENCY A. JOHNSON, + "_President_: + + "Knowing that General Longstreet, late of the army which was in + rebellion against the authority of the United States, is in the city, + and presuming that he intends asking executive clemency before + leaving, I beg to say a word in his favor. + + "General Longstreet comes under the third, fifth, and eighth + exceptions made in your proclamation of the 29th of May, 1865. I + believe I can safely say that there is nowhere among the exceptions a + more honorable class of men than those embraced in the fifth and + eighth of these, nor a class that will more faithfully observe any + obligation which they may take upon themselves. General Longstreet, + in my opinion, stands high among this class. I have known him well for + more than twenty-six years, first as a cadet at West Point and + afterwards as an officer of the army. For five years from my + graduation we served together, a portion of the time in the same + regiment. I speak of him, therefore, from actual personal + acquaintance. + + "In the late rebellion, I think, not one single charge was ever + brought against General Longstreet for persecution of prisoners of war + or of persons for their political opinions. If such charges were ever + made, I never heard them. I have no hesitation, therefore, in + recommending General Longstreet to your Excellency for pardon. I will + further state that my opinion of him is such that I shall feel it as a + personal favor to myself if this pardon is granted. + + "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + "U. S. GRANT, + "_Lieutenant-General_." + +Supported by this generous endorsement, I called on the Secretary of War, +who referred me to the President. After a lengthy interview the President +asked to have the matter put off until next day, when I should call at +noon. The next day he was still unprepared to make decision, but, after a +long, pleasant talk, he said,-- + +"There are three persons of the South who can never receive amnesty: Mr. +Davis, General Lee, and yourself. You have given the Union cause too much +trouble." + +I replied, "You know, Mr. President, that those who are forgiven most love +the most." + +"Yes," he said, "you have very high authority for that, but you can't have +amnesty." + +During a subsequent session of Congress, General Pope sent in a list of +names from Georgia for whom he asked relief from their political +disabilities. General Grant, after approving it, made request to one of +his friends in Congress to have my name put on the list, and I was +extended relief soon after it was given to General R. E. Lee. + +In January, 1866, I engaged in business in New Orleans with the Owen +brothers,--William, Miller, and Edward, old soldiers of the Washington +Artillery,--as cotton factors, and speedily found fair prosperity. Before +the year was out I was asked to take position in an insurance company, but +declined, and repeated applications were refused under plea of limited +business experience, but, under promise of ample and competent assistance, +I accepted the place with a salary of five thousand dollars, and my +affairs were more than prosperous until I was asked an opinion upon the +political crisis of 1867. + +As the whole animus of the latter-day adverse criticisms upon, and +uncritical assertions in regard to, the commander of the First Corps of +the Army of Northern Virginia had its origin in this matter of politics, a +brief review of the circumstances is in order. + +As will be readily recalled by my older readers (while for the younger it +is a matter of history), President Johnson, after the war, adopted a +reconstruction policy of his own, and some of the States were reorganized +under it with Democratic governors and legislatures, and all would have +followed. But Congress, being largely Republican, was not satisfied, and +enacted that the States could not be accepted unless they provided in +their new constitutions for _negro suffrage_. In case they would not, the +State governments should be removed and the States placed in the hands of +general officers of the army as military governors, who should see that +the States were reorganized and restored to the Union under the laws. + +Under the severe ordeal one of the city papers of New Orleans called upon +the generals of Confederate service to advise the people of the course +that they should pursue,--naming the officers. I thought it better policy +to hold the States, as they were organized, under the President's policy, +shape their constitutions as directed by Congress, and have the States not +yet reorganized follow the same course. My letter upon the subject was as +follows: + + "NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 3, 1867. + + "J. M. G. PARKER, ESQ.: + + "DEAR SIR,--Your esteemed favor of the 15th ultimo was duly received. + + "I was much pleased to have the opportunity to hear Senator Wilson, + and was agreeably surprised to meet such fairness and frankness from a + politician whom I had been taught to believe harsh in his feelings + towards the people of the South. + + "I have considered your suggestion to wisely unite in efforts to + restore Louisiana to her former position in the Union 'through the + party now in power.' My letter of the 6th of April, to which you + refer, clearly indicates a desire for practical reconstruction and + reconciliation. There is only one route left open, which practical men + cannot fail to see. + + "The serious difficulty arises from want of that wisdom so important + for the great work in hand. Still, I will be happy to work in any + harness that promises relief to our discomfited people and harmony to + the nation, whether bearing the mantle of Mr. Davis or Mr. Sumner. + + "It is fair to assume that the strongest laws are those established by + the sword. The ideas that divided political parties before the + war--upon the rights of the States--were thoroughly discussed by our + wisest statesmen, and eventually appealed to the arbitrament of the + sword. The decision was in favor of the North, so that her + construction becomes the law, and should be so accepted. + + "The military bill and amendments are the only peace-offerings they + have for us, and should be accepted as the starting-point for future + issues. + + "Like others of the South not previously connected with politics, I + naturally acquiesced in the ways of Democracy, but, so far as I can + judge, there is nothing tangible in them, beyond the issues that were + put to test in the war and there lost. As there is nothing left to + take hold of except prejudice, which cannot be worked for good for any + one, it seems proper and right that we should seek some standing which + may encourage hope for the future. + + "If I appreciate the issues of Democracy at this moment, they are the + enfranchisement of the negro and the rights of Congress in the + premises, but the acts have been passed, are parts of the laws of the + land, and no power but Congress can remove them. + + "Besides, if we now accept the doctrine that the States only can + legislate on suffrage, we will fix the negro vote upon us, for he is + now a suffragan, and his vote, with the vote that will go with him, + will hold to his rights, while, by recognizing the acts of Congress, + we may, after a fair trial, if negro suffrage proves a mistake, appeal + and have Congress correct the error. It will accord better with wise + policy to insist that the negro shall vote in the Northern as well as + the Southern States. + + "If every one will meet the crisis with proper appreciation of our + condition and obligations, the sun will rise to-morrow on a happy + people. Our fields will again begin to yield their increase, our + railways and waters will teem with abundant commerce, our towns and + cities will resound with the tumult of trade, and we will be + reinvigorated by the blessings of Almighty God. + + "Very respectfully yours, + "JAMES LONGSTREET." + +I might have added that not less forceful than the grounds I gave were the +obligations under which we were placed by the terms of our paroles,--"To +respect the laws of Congress,"--but the letter was enough. + +The afternoon of the day upon which my letter was published the paper that +had called for advice published a column of editorial calling me traitor! +deserter of my friends! and accusing me of joining the enemy! but did not +publish a line of the letter upon which it based the charges! Other papers +of the Democracy took up the garbled representation of this journal and +spread it broadcast, not even giving the letter upon which they based +their evil attacks upon me. + +Up to that time the First Corps, in all of its parts, in all of its +history, was above reproach. I was in successful business in New Orleans +as cotton factor, with a salary from an insurance company of five thousand +dollars per year. + +The day after the announcement old comrades passed me on the streets +without speaking. Business began to grow dull. General Hood (the only one +of my old comrades who occasionally visited me) thought that he could save +the insurance business, and in a few weeks I found myself at leisure. + +Two years after that period, on March 4, 1869, General Grant was +inaugurated President of the United States, and in the bigness of his +generous heart called me to Washington. Before I found opportunity to see +him he sent my name to the Senate for confirmation as surveyor of customs +at New Orleans. I was duly confirmed, and held the office until 1873, when +I resigned. Since that time I have lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in +Gainesville, Georgia, surrounded by a few of my old friends, and in +occasional appreciative touch with others, South and North. + +Of all the people alive I still know and meet, probably no one carries me +farther back in recollections of my long life than does my "old nurse." +Most of the family servants were discharged after the war at Macon, +Mississippi, where some of them still reside, among them this old man, +Daniel, who still claims the family name, but at times uses another. He +calls promptly when I visit Macon and looks for "something to remember you +by." During my last visit he seemed more concerned for me than usual, and +on one of his calls asked,-- + +"Marse Jim, do you belong to any church?" + +"Oh, yes," I said, "I try to be a good Christian." + +He laughed loud and long, and said,-- + +"Something must have scared you mighty bad, to change you so from what you +was when I had to care for you." + +In a recent letter he sent a message to say that he is getting to be a +little feeble. + +Blessings on his brave heart! + + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +APPENDIX. + +LETTERS OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE AND GENERAL LONGSTREET. + + +I. + +_Lee to Anderson on Conduct of the First Corps._ + + August 26, 1864. + + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL R. H. ANDERSON, + _Commanding Longstreet's Corps_: + +GENERAL,--I take great pleasure in presenting to you my congratulations +upon the conduct of the men of your corps. I believe that they will carry +anything they are put against. We tried very hard to stop Pickett's men +from capturing the breastworks of the enemy, but could not do it. I hope +his loss has been small. + + I am, with respect, your obedient servant, + R. E. LEE, + _General_. + + +II. + +_Lee to Longstreet congratulating him on his Convalescence and +anticipating Return._ + + CAMP PETERSBURG, August 29, 1864. + +GENERAL J. LONGSTREET: + +MY DEAR GENERAL,--I received yesterday your letter of the 23d, and am much +gratified at your improvement. You will soon be as well as ever, and we +shall all be rejoiced at your return. You must not, however, become +impatient at the gradual progress you must necessarily make, but be +content with the steady advance you are making to health and strength. +Your progress will be the more certain and your recovery more confirmed. +Do not let Sherman capture you, and I will endeavor to hold Grant till you +come. I am glad to hear such good accounts of my little namesake. Good +lungs are a great blessing, and nothing expands them better than a full, +hearty yell. I hope Mrs. Longstreet is well, and that she is enjoying the +good peaches and melons of Georgia. We have but little enjoyment here. Our +enemy is very cautious, and he has become so proficient in intrenching +that he seems to march with a system already prepared. He threatens +dreadful things every day, but, thank God, he has not expunged us yet. + +All your army friends inquire for you anxiously, and will be delighted to +hear of your improvement. We shall not object to your chirography, so you +must practise it often, and let me hear of your progress and well-doing. +Please present my kindest regards to Mrs. Longstreet, and love to my +namesake. The gentlemen of my staff are very grateful for your +remembrance, and unite with me in sincere wishes for your welfare and +happiness. I am sure the rest of this army would join did they know of the +opportunity. + + With great regard, very truly yours, + R. E. LEE. + + +III. + +_Longstreet to Lee._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY CORPS, + November 24, 1864. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--From the report of scouts received yesterday, it seems that the +Tenth Corps is still on this side, or if it went over to the south side, +has returned. The information, too, seems to indicate the arrival of the +Sixth Corps from the Valley. + +Under these circumstances it will be necessary for me to force the enemy +to develop the extent of his move on this side before taking any more of +my troops to the south side. This I shall do, of course, as rapidly as +possible. I am going to have the roads leading from White Oak Swamp to the +Williamsburg road well broken up with subsoil ploughs. I think that the +enemy will then have to build a corduroy there as he moves. He surely +will, if I can have a good gentle rain after the roads are thoroughly +ploughed. Can't you apply this idea to advantage on your side on the roads +that General Grant will be obliged to travel if he goes to Burkeville? I +don't know, however, but that it would be better for us to go to +Burkeville and block the roads behind him. If the roads that General +Sherman must travel to get to Charleston or Savannah can be thoroughly +ploughed and the trees felled over them, I think that General Sherman will +not be able to get to his destination in fifty days, as the Northern +papers expect; and it is not thought to be possible that he can collect +more than fifty days' rations before reaching the coast. If the parties +are properly organized, I think that they might destroy or injure all of +the roads so as to break down General Sherman's animals, and result in the +capture of most of his forces. + + I remain, very respectfully, yours most obediently, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +IV. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Impressment of Gold and Measures for Final +Campaign._ + +[Confidential.] + + HEAD-QUARTERS, February 14, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--Recent developments of the enemy's designs seem to indicate an +early concentration of his armies against Richmond. This, of course, would +involve a like concentration on our part, or the abandonment of our +capital. The latter emergency would, I think, be almost fatal,--probably +quite so, after our recent reverses. To concentrate here in time to meet +the movements of the enemy we will be obliged to use the little of our +Southern railroad that is left us in transporting our troops, so that we +cannot haul provisions over that route. I fear, therefore, that we will +not be able to feed our troops unless we adopt extraordinary efforts and +measures. I think that there is enough of the necessaries of life left in +Virginia and North Carolina to help us through our troubles if we can only +reach them. Impressing officers, however, nor collectors of taxes in kind, +nor any other plan heretofore employed, is likely to get those supplies in +time or in quantities to meet our necessities. The citizens will not give +their supplies up and permit their families and servants to suffer for the +necessaries of life without some strong inducement. For each one may +naturally think that the little that he would supply by denying himself +and family would go but little way where so much is needed. He does not +want Confederate money, for his meat and bread will buy him clothes, etc., +for his family more readily and in larger quantities than the money that +the government would pay. The only thing that will insure our rations and +national existence is _gold_. Send out the gold through Virginia and North +Carolina and pay liberal prices, and my conviction is that we shall have +no more distress for want of food. The winter is about over, and the +families can and will subsist on molasses, bread, and vegetables for the +balance of the year if they can get gold for their supplies. There is a +great deal of meat and bread inside the enemy's lines that our people +would bring us for gold; but they won't go to that trouble for Confederate +money. They can keep gold so much safer than they can meat and bread, and +it is always food and clothing. + +If the government has not the gold, it must impress it, or if there is no +law for the impressment, the gold must be taken without the law. Necessity +does not know or wait for law. If we stop to make laws in order that we +may reach the gold it will disappear the day that the law is mentioned in +Congress. To secure it no one should suspect that we are after it until we +knock at the doors of the vaults that contain it, and we must then have +guards to be sure that it is not made away with. + +It seems to my mind that our prospects will be brighter than they have +been if we can only get food for our men; and I think that the plan that I +have proposed will secure the food. + +There seem to be many reasons for the opinion that the enemy deems our +capital essential to him. To get the capital he will concentrate here +everything that he has, and we will be better able to fight him when we +shall have concentrated than when we are in detachments. The Army of the +Mississippi will get new life and spirits as soon as it finds itself +alongside of this, and we will feel more comfortable ourselves to know +that all are under one eye and one head that is able to handle them. + +I remain, most respectfully and truly, your obedient servant, + + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +V. + +_Lee to Longstreet on Plans for Campaign._ + +[Confidential.] + + HEAD-QUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES, + February 22, 1865. + + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL J. LONGSTREET, + _Commanding, etc._: + +GENERAL,--Your letter of the 14th instant is received. It arrived during +my absence in Richmond, and has not been overlooked. I agree with you +entirely in believing that if we had gold we could get sufficient +supplies for our army, but the great difficulty is to obtain the gold. It +is not in the coffers of the government or the banks, but is principally +hoarded by individuals throughout the country, and is inaccessible to us. +I hope, under the reorganization of the commissary department, if we can +maintain possession of our communications, that the army will be better +supplied than heretofore, and that we can accumulate some provisions +ahead. As regards the concentration of our troops near the capital, the +effect would be to produce a like concentration of the enemy, and an +increase of our difficulties in obtaining food and forage. But this, +whether for good or evil, is now being accomplished by the enemy, who +seems to be forcing Generals Beauregard and Bragg in this direction. If +Sherman marches his army to Richmond, as General Beauregard reports it is +his intention to do, and General Schofield is able to unite with him, we +shall have to abandon our position on the James River, as lamentable as it +is on every account. The want of supplies alone would force us to withdraw +when the enemy reaches the Roanoke. Our line is so long, extending nearly +from the Chickahominy to the Nottoway, and the enemy is so close upon us, +that if we are obliged to withdraw we cannot concentrate all our troops +nearer than some point on the line of railroad between Richmond and +Danville. Should a necessity, therefore, arise, I propose to concentrate +at or near Burkeville. The route for the troops north of James River would +have to be through Richmond, on the road to Amelia Court-House, the +cavalry passing up the north branch of the river, and crossing at some +point above Richmond. Pickett's division would take the route through +Chesterfield Court-House, crossing the Appomattox at Goode's Bridge. With +the army concentrated at or near Burkeville, our communications north and +south would be by that railroad, and west by the Southside Railroad. We +might also seize the opportunity of striking at Grant, should he pursue us +rapidly, or at Sherman, before they could unite. I wish you to consider +this subject, and give me your views. I desire you also to make every +preparation to take the field at a moment's notice, and to accumulate all +the supplies you can. General Grant seems to be preparing to move out by +his left flank. He is accumulating near Hatcher's Run depots of supplies, +and apparently concentrating a strong force in that quarter. Yesterday and +to-day trains have passed from his right to his left loaded with troops, +which may be the body of eight thousand which you report having left +Signal Hill yesterday. I cannot tell whether it is his intention to +maintain his position until his other columns approach nearer, or to +anticipate any movement by us which he might suppose would then become +necessary. I wish you would watch closely his movements on the north side +of the river, and try and ascertain whether he is diminishing his force. +If he makes the move which appearances now indicate, he may draw out his +whole force, abandoning his lines of defence, or hold them partially and +move with the remainder of his troops. + +I should like very much to confer with you on these subjects, but I fear +it will be impossible for me to go north of James River, and I do not know +that it will be convenient for you to come here. + + Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + R. E. LEE, + _General_. + +P.S.--Can you not return Pickett's brigade to him in order that I may +withdraw Grimes's brigade from his line, its division having been ordered +to our right? + + R. E. L. + + +VI. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Impressment of Men._ + +[Confidential.] + + HEAD-QUARTERS, February 23, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding, etc._: + +GENERAL,--Your letter of yesterday is received. I think you did not +understand my letter of the 14th instant. My effort was to express +conviction that Sherman's move was aimed at Richmond, and that Grant's +concentration here would force us to do the same thing; and, that we might +be able to do so, it was necessary that we should have gold, by +impressment, to purchase our produce supplies. I think that it is not too +late yet. We can surely get the gold by sending impressing officers with +guards to the vaults in which it is stored. + +I understand that there are twelve hundred men in Lynchburg already +organized, and that we may get eight or ten thousand men in Richmond by +taking everybody who is able to bear arms. The staff-officers about +Richmond would be nearly enough to officer this force. If such a force can +be raised and put in my lines, it can hold them, I think, and my corps can +move down to the relief of Beauregard, or it may be moved over to our +right, and hold Grant in check, so that Sherman will be obliged to unite +with him or seek a base at New-Berne or at Wilmington. This would give +Beauregard and Bragg time to unite their forces to meet Sherman and +Schofield here or wherever they may appear. We shall lose more men by a +move than by a battle. It is true that we may be compelled to move after +the battle, but I think not. If we fight Sherman as I suggest, we shall +surely drive him to the water for fresh supplies, even if we are not +otherwise successful. Then we may have time to concentrate as soon as +Grant, and reopen the line of communication with the South. + +The local and other troops that we may get from Richmond and Lynchburg +will have tolerably comfortable huts, and there will be enough old +soldiers amongst them to teach them picket duty. There are also some +cavalrymen who can aid them. + +I should think that Grant, if he moves, can only make a partial move, +similar to his last, and that would not injure us very materially. + +In preparing to take the field, in view of the abandonment of Richmond, is +it your desire to keep our wagons about our camps that we may move at +once? Our wagons are out all the time gathering supplies, and at times +some distance; so that a very sudden move would leave them behind. Shall +we continue to send them or keep them with us?... + + Your obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +VII. + +_Lee to Longstreet._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS, February 25, 1865. + +GENERAL,--I have received your letters of the 23d and 24th insts. I fear I +did not entirely comprehend your views expressed in your letter of the +14th. I think, however, my reply meets your supposition, in the event of +concentration by the enemy. I shall in that case unite all the forces +possible. I think you are misinformed as to the number of men in +Lynchburg. At my last call upon General Colston, commissary there, he said +he had not one hundred men, and they were unarmed. I am very glad to hear +that General Ewell can get force enough from Richmond to man the lines +north of James River. I know him to be a brave old soldier, ready to +attempt anything, but I do not know where he will find the men. Please see +him and get a definite statement, for if that can be done it will lighten +our labor considerably. You cannot afford to keep your wagons by you. +They will have to be kept collecting provisions, forage, etc., or you will +starve. I am making great efforts to gather supplies, and send you some +documents which will show what the commissary-general is doing in addition +to the operations of the officers of his department. It will be a grievous +thing to be obliged to abandon our position, and I hope the necessity will +never arise, but it would be more grievous to lose our army. I am fully +alive to the benefits of procuring gold, but fear it cannot be obtained in +the way you suggest; still, I will try. I am much gratified by the +earnestness and zeal you display in our operations; and were our whole +population animated by the same spirit, we should be invincible. The last +reports from S. C. indicated that Sherman was turning eastward. It may be +to reach the Pedee in search of supplies. + + Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + R. E. LEE, + _General_. + + GENERAL LONGSTREET, + _Commanding, etc._ + + +VIII. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Impressment of Gold._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST CORPS, + February 26, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--I have just heard from General Ewell indirectly that he can +raise force enough at Richmond to hold the lines on this side, so that my +corps may be withdrawn temporarily to your right, that is, if you can put +a part of the Second Corps in place of Pickett's division. This +arrangement will give you force enough to meet any move that the enemy may +make upon your right. If he makes no move, then you can, when the proper +moment arrives, detach a force to the aid of General Beauregard, and if +the enemy should then press you, you can abandon Petersburg and hold your +line here, and take up the line of the Appomattox. But I think that the +enemy will be forced to move a force south the moment that he finds that +you are reinforcing against Sherman, else he will encounter the risk of +losing Sherman as well as Richmond. There is some hazard in the plan, but +nothing can be accomplished in war without risk. + +The other important question is provisions. We are doing tolerably well +by hauling from the country and paying market prices in Confederate money. +If you would give us gold I have reason to believe that we could get an +abundant supply for four months, and by that time we ought to be able to +reopen our communication with the South. The gold is here, and we should +take it. We have been impressing food and all of the necessaries of life +from women and children, and have been the means of driving thousands from +their homes in destitute conditions. Should we hesitate, then, about +putting a few who have made immense fortunes at our expense to a little +inconvenience by impressing their gold? It is necessary for us, and I do +not think that we should let our capital fall into the enemy's hands for +fear of injuring the feelings or interests of a few individuals. We have +expended too much of blood and treasure in holding it for the last four +years to allow it to go now by default. I think that it may be saved. If +it can, we should not leave any possible contingency untried. + +I think, however, that the enemy's positions are so well selected and +fortified that we must either wait for an opportunity to draw him off from +here or await his attack. For even a successful assault would cripple us +so much that we could get no advantage commensurate with our loss. + + I remain with great respect, and truly, your obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +IX. + +_Longstreet to Lee on his "Peace" Interview with General Ord._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 1, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--I had another interview with Major-General Ord yesterday, and +expressed the opinions that were spoken of in our interview at the +President's mansion on Sabbath last. He acceded promptly to my proposition +that the war must cease if we are to go to work to try to make peace, and +to the proposal for a military convention. I further claimed that we could +not go into convention upon any more favorable basis than an earnest +desire to arrange plans for peace that should be equally honorable for +both parties. To this also I understood him to give his unqualified +consent. He says that General Grant has the authority to meet you if you +have authority to appoint a military convention, and proposed that you +should indicate your desire to meet General Grant, if you felt authorized +to do so. As he made this proposition before mine, to the effect that +General Grant should express his desire to meet you, and as the interview +between General Ord and myself had been brought on at the request of +General Ord, I did not feel that I could well do otherwise than promise to +write to you of the disposition on their part to have the interview. If +you think it worth your time to invite General Grant to an interview, it +might be upon some other as the ostensible grounds, and this matter might +be brought up incidentally. I presume that General Grant's first +proposition will be to go into convention upon the basis of +reconstruction; but if I have not misunderstood General Ord's +conversation, General Grant will agree to take the matter up without +requiring any principle as a basis further than the general principle of +desiring to make peace upon terms that are equally honorable for both +sides. I would suggest that the interview take place on this side, and at +the place of meeting between General Ord and myself; because there are +several little points upon which you should be posted before the +interview, and I do not see that I can well do that by writing. Besides, +as "the ice has already been broken" on this side, your interview would be +relieved in a measure of the formality incident to such occasions. If it +should be on this side, I hope that you will give me two or three days' +notice. General Stevens is of the opinion that one thousand negro laborers +on this line during this month will so strengthen our position that we +will be able to spare a division, and I am satisfied that we can do so if +we can have the work completed, and can get the aid that General Ewell +promises us. + + I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +X. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Exchange of Political Prisoners._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 1, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--I neglected to mention in my letter just finished that General +Ord expressed some apprehension for General Grant lest there might be some +misunderstanding in regard to the exchange of political prisoners. The +terms were general for the exchange of this class of prisoners, but were +not intended by him, he says, to include such as were under charges for +capital offences. General Grant desired that you should be advised of this +construction of the terms. + + I remain, respectfully, your most obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XI. + +_Lee to Longstreet on Interview with General Grant._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS, + March 2, 1865. + +GENERAL,--I have received to-day your letter of the 1st instant, and +concluded to propose an interview to General Grant. As you desired to have +two or three days' notice, I have appointed Monday next, 6th instant, at +eleven A.M., at the point suggested by you. Will you send my letter to +General Grant, and arrange with General Ord for the interview? If you will +ride in to my quarters on Saturday next, 4th instant, by ten A.M., in +Richmond, I shall be happy to see you, when you can enlighten me on the +points you referred to in your letter. + +I hope some good may result from the interview. + + Very truly yours, + R. E. LEE, + _General_. + + GENERAL J. LONGSTREET, + _Commanding, etc._: + +P.S.--Seal the letter to General Grant before transmitting. + + R. E. L. + + +XII. + +_Longstreet to Lee urging Use of Gold._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 7, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--I received a letter yesterday from a friend in the interior of +North Carolina assuring me that there are large quantities of provisions +in the State; that many have two and three years' supply on hand, and that +gold will bring anything that we need to our armies. The gold is in the +country, and most of it is lying idle. Let us take it at once and save +Richmond, and end the war. If we hold Richmond and keep our cotton, the +war cannot last more than a year longer. If we give up Richmond we shall +never be recognized by foreign powers until the government of the United +States sees fit to recognize us. If we hold Richmond and let the enemy +have our cotton, it seems to me that we shall furnish him the means to +carry on the war against us. It looks to me as though the enemy had found +that our policy of destroying the cotton rather than let it fall into +their hands would break them down, and that it has forced them to the +policy of sending on here to make a contract to feed and clothe our armies +in order that they may get the means of carrying on the war of +subjugation. If we will keep our cotton and use our gold our work will be +comparatively easy. + + I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XIII. + +_Longstreet to Lee on guarding the Danville Railroad._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 20, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding_: + +GENERAL,--I presume that the enemy's next move will be to raid against the +Danville Railroad, and think that it would be well if we begin at once to +make our arrangements to meet it. In order that we may get the troops that +may be necessary to meet such a move, would suggest that we collect all +the dismounted men of Generals Fitz Lee, Rosser, and Lomax, and put them +behind our strongest lines, and draw out a corps of infantry and hold it +in readiness for the raid. General W. H. F. Lee's dismounts might also be +used behind our works to great advantage. With a cavalry force of two or +three thousand men to hold the enemy in check, I think that our infantry +may be able to overtake the raiding column. If we can get a large cavalry +force I think that we would surely be able to destroy the raiding force. + + I remain your obedient servant, + J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XIV. + +_Longstreet to Assistant Adjutant-General Taylor on Suppression of +Desertion._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 25, 1865. + + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. H. TAYLOR, + _Assistant Adjutant-General_: + +The impression prevails amongst the Georgia troops of this command that +persons at home having authority to raise local organizations are writing +and sending messages to the men in the ranks here, offering inducements to +them to quit our ranks and go home and join the home organizations. The +large and increasing number of desertions, particularly amongst the +Georgia troops, induces me to believe that some such outside influence +must be operating upon our men. Nearly all of the parties of deserters +seem to go home, and it must be under the influence of some promise, such +as being received in the local forces. I would suggest, therefore, the +publication of a general order warning all officers or persons authorized +to raise local organizations against receiving such deserters or in any +way harboring them, and cautioning all such parties that they shall be +punished for such crimes under the twenty-second and twenty-third Articles +of War. It may be well to publish the articles in the order, and to send +the order South to be published in all the Southern papers. If the order +is published, I would suggest that copies be sent to the Southern papers +by special messenger or by parties going South who will take pains to have +it published, otherwise I fear it may miscarry or be delayed by our +irregular mails. Another growing evil seems to trouble us now in the shape +of applications to raise negro companies, regiments, brigades, etc. The +desire for promotion seems to have taken possession of our army, and it +seems that nearly all the officers and men think that they could gain a +grade or more if allowed to go home. I presume that many may try to go +merely because they get furloughs. I would suggest, therefore, that some +regulation be published upon this subject, and it seems to me that it +should require the companies to be mustered in as non-commissioned +officers and privates by the enrolling officers, and that all of the +officers (general, field, and company) shall be selected from the +officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates on duty with the armies +of the Confederacy. If these matters are not speedily taken hold of by a +firm hand, I fear that we shall be seriously damaged by them. + + I remain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + (Signed) J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XV. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Sheridan's Operations._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 28, 1865. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Commanding, etc._: + +Your telegram asking if we can spare General Pickett's division as a +supporting force to our cavalry is received. I suggested that it should be +sent on that service because I was apprehensive that our railroad would be +in danger of being broken up behind us, leaving us without supplies +sufficient to hold Richmond until our communications south could be +re-established, or in case Sheridan went to N. C., his mounted force would +be too formidable for that of General Johnston's, and that General +Johnston would be in great danger if we shall not reinforce him. I do not +think that we can well spare the division. But I think that we would +choose a lesser risk by sparing it in case Sheridan's cavalry makes either +of these moves contemplated than we would by holding him here to await the +result of these operations. The enemy seems now to count upon taking +Richmond by raiding upon our lines of communication, and not by attacking +our lines of work. I think, therefore, we should endeavor to put a force +in the field that can contend against that of the enemy. If Grant sends +off his cavalry, he can hardly intend to make any general move of his main +army until its return. In every aspect of affairs, so far as I am advised, +I think that the greater danger is from keeping too close within our +trenches. If we can remain where we are independently of the railroad, and +if General Johnston would be safe with such a force as Sheridan's +operating against him, in addition to Sherman's, we had better keep the +division here. You know much more about all those points than I do, and +are much better able to decide upon them. My supply train is in from +Northern Neck, and starts back to-morrow for other provisions. If there is +any impropriety in sending it back, please telegraph me as soon as you +receive this, that I may recall it. We have about one hundred thousand +pounds of meat near Dublin and eighteen thousand at New Boston. The C. S. +complains that the railroad agents will not ship the meat unless it is +boxed. This cannot always be done. If you can in any way aid us in this +matter, we shall do very well for some time to come. + + I remain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + (Signed) J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XVI. + +_Longstreet to Adjutant-General Taylor on Policy towards New +Organizations._ + + HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS, + March 30, 1865. + + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. H. TAYLOR, + _Assistant Adjutant-General_: + +Your letter expressing the views of the commander-in-chief in reference to +the policy to be pursued in raising negro troops is received. I am +apprehensive that we shall have applications and evidence enough to take +from us more men than we can well spare at this critical moment in our +affairs. It seems to me that any person who has the influence to raise a +company or a regiment by going home could do so as well by letters to his +friends at home. If I am right in this opinion, an order announcing that +the officers of the companies and regiments of colored troops would be +appointed from the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates _on +duty_ with our armies would have the effect of bringing back more +absentees than we should lose by making the appointments. If we may judge +of our future success in getting up new organizations by the past, we may +rely upon it that many will furnish the necessary evidence, and go home +and there remain for eight and ten and twelve months. I think it would be +well to publish a general order, explaining more clearly the policy +indicated in your letter, in order that a better general understanding may +exist amongst the parties who may desire to furnish evidence of their +ability to get up new organizations. Otherwise I may adopt rules which +would not be as favorable to the officers and men of this command as those +of other commands. + + I remain very respectfully, your obedient servant, + (Signed) J. LONGSTREET, + _Lieutenant-General_. + + +XVII. + +_Lee to Longstreet on Proposed Publication of a History of Virginia +Campaigns._ + + LEXINGTON, VA., January 19, 1866. + +GENERAL J. LONGSTREET: + +MY DEAR GENERAL,--Upon my return from Richmond, where I have been for a +week on business connected with Washington College, I found your letter of +the 26th ultimo. I regret very much that you never received my first +letter, as you might then, perhaps, have given me the information I +desired, with more ease to yourself and with more expedition than now. I +did not know how to address it, but sent it to a friend in Richmond, who +gave it to one of our officers going south, who transferred it to another, +etc., and after travelling many weary miles, has been recently returned to +me. I start it again in pursuit of you, though you did not tell me how to +address you. I have almost forgotten what it contained, but I hope it will +inform you of my purpose in writing a history of the campaigns in +Virginia, and of the object that I have in view, so that you may give me +all the information in your power. I shall be in no hurry in publishing, +and will not do so until I feel satisfied that I have got the true story, +as my only object is to disseminate the truth. I am very sorry to hear +that your records were destroyed too; but I hope Sorrel and Latrobe will +be able to supply you with all you require. I wish to relate the acts of +all the corps of the Army of Northern Virginia wherever they did duty, and +do not wish to omit so important a one as yours. I will therefore wait as +long as I can. + +I shall be very glad to receive anything you may give to Mr. Washington +McLean, as I know you recommend no one but those who deserve your good +opinion. + +I am delighted to hear that your arm is still improving, and hope it will +soon be restored. You are, however, becoming so accomplished with your +left hand as not to need it. You must remember me very kindly to Mrs. +Longstreet and all your children. I have not had an opportunity yet to +return the compliment she paid me. I had, while in Richmond, a great many +inquiries after you, and learned that you intended commencing business in +New Orleans. If you become as good a merchant as you were a soldier, I +shall be content. No one will then excel you, and no one can wish you more +success and more happiness than I. My interest and affection for you will +never cease, and my prayers are always offered for your prosperity. + + I am most truly yours, + R. E. LEE. + + +XVIII. + +_Lee to Longstreet--Congratulations._ + + LEXINGTON, VA., January 26, 1866. + + LONGSTREET, OWEN & CO., + _New Orleans_: + +GENTLEMEN,--I am much obliged to you for your business card, and the +pleasure it has afforded me to know that you have entered into +partnership. I know you will do your work well, and please myself, +therefore, with the prospect of your great success. + +I wrote to your senior a few days since, at Macon, Mississippi, and hope +he will receive my letter. I do not consider my partnership with him yet +dissolved, and shall not let go him during life. + +Wishing you all happiness and prosperity, I am, with great affection, your +obedient servant, + + R. E. LEE. + + +XIX. + +_Lee to Longstreet, suggesting the Preparation of his Memoirs._ + + LEXINGTON, VA., March 9, 1866. + +GENERAL J. LONGSTREET: + +MY DEAR GENERAL,--Your son Garland handed me a few days since your letter +of the 15th of January, with the copies of your reports of operations in +East Tennessee, Wilderness, Virginia, and of some of my official letters +to you. I hope you will be able to send me a report of your operations +around Suffolk and Richmond previous to the evacuation of that city, and +of any of my general orders which you may be able to collect. + +Can you not occupy your leisure time in preparing your memoirs of the war? +Every officer whose position and character would give weight to his +statements ought to do so. It is the only way in which we may hope that +fragments of truth will reach posterity. Mrs. Longstreet will act as your +amanuensis. I am very sorry that your arm improves so slowly. I trust it +will be eventually restored to you. You must present my kindest regards to +Mrs. Longstreet. I hope your home in New Orleans will be happy; that your +life, which is dear to me, may be long and prosperous. + + Most truly yours, + R. E. LEE. + + +XX. + +_Longstreet to Lee on Battle of Gaines's Mill._ + + NEW ORLEANS, LA., March 20, 1866. + + GENERAL R. E. LEE, + _Lexington, Va._: + +MY DEAR GENERAL,--Your favor of the 9th instant is received. The papers or +copies sent by Garland contain everything that I have or can get in the +shape of your letters and orders. I shall be able to give you an account +of movements, etc., connected with the Suffolk campaign and the siege of +Richmond when I can get our diaries,--that is, Sorrel's, Latrobe's, and my +own. But I fear that I shall not be able to do so in time to meet your +desires. I shall send all that I can gather together to your house as soon +as I can. I have sometimes thought that I would make the effort to write +at some future time, but begin to despair of my arm. It is too much labor +to write with my left hand, and it gives me inconvenience, indeed pain, to +keep my right hand in the constrained position necessary in writing. Our +business affairs occupy my days from nine till four P.M., so I am glad to +give my arm rest after that time. Mrs. Longstreet would be rather a poor +amanuensis in the evening, my only spare time, as her two little boys, Lee +and Jim, occupy most of her time. She is trying to get a picture of Lee to +send you. I delivered your message that you "regretted that you had not +been able to return the compliment." To go back to history and the war. +There is one portion of our records as written that I should like +corrected,--the battle of Gaines's Mill. Your report of that battle does +not recognize the fact that the line in my front, that is, the enemy's +line, was broken by the troops that were under my orders and handling. A +part of Jackson's command, being astray, reported to me just as I was +moving my column of attack forward,--Whiting's division,--and I put it in +my column of attack, as stated in my report. I think that you must have +overlooked my report on this point, and have been guided by Jackson's. +Jackson knew nothing of the matter of my having his troops, I suppose, and +merely made his report from riding over the ground after the battle. I +presume that he was not within one mile of the division when I put it in, +and had no idea of its whereabouts. General Whiting reported to me that he +had lost his way, and did not know where to find General Jackson, and +offered his troops if I had use for them. I was then moving to assault, +and put Whiting in a little behind Pickett's brigade. The commands made +the assault together, and broke the enemy's line. Anderson's brigade +followed and secured it, the assaulting columns being somewhat broken in +making the charge. Just after breaking his lines the enemy made a severe +attack, and would have recovered his position, I think, but for the timely +support of Anderson's and Kemper's brigades at this point. Another fact +should not be lost sight of in this connection. A. P. Hill had made +several formidable attacks at the same point, and had fought manfully +against it for several hours, and though not entirely successful, he must +have made a decided impression, and have injured the enemy as much as he +was himself injured, and thus weakened the enemy's lines so as to enable +us to break them. It is quite common to give those credit only who show +results, but it frequently happens, as in this case, that there are others +who merit as much who are not known by results,--that is, who are not seen +by others than those on the ground. + +If you can come across my son when you have an idle moment, I hope that +you will give him a few words of kindly advice and encouragement. He is +taught to look up to you as superior to others. Mrs. Longstreet joins me +in affectionate salutations. + + I remain very truly yours, + J. LONGSTREET. + + +XXI. + +_Lee to Longstreet--Situation and Prospects._ + + LEXINGTON, VA., May 25, 1866. + +GENERAL J. LONGSTREET: + +MY DEAR GENERAL,--I was very glad to receive your letter of the 18th, but +you told me so little of yourself that I presume you intend writing to me +again shortly. But what you did say was very satisfactory, and I am much +pleased to know that your prospects in a commercial point of view are good +and progressive. I hope they may regularly and surely advance. I feel much +obliged by your kind proposition as regards myself. For the present I must +remain where I am. When I see that I have done all the good that I can +accomplish for Washington College I may find it necessary to do something +that will enable me to procure a competence for my family. I will then +turn my hand to whatever may offer. For myself I want nothing but my food +and clothes. I send in compliance with your request a number of +autographs, enough, I should think, to last for all time; but if they will +be of any service to you I will send more. Mr. Lowe has not yet reached +Lexington. It will give me pleasure to see him when he does, as he comes +from you. As you did not mention your arm, I hope that is improving too. +You must never omit to mention it, Mrs. Longstreet, and your children when +you write. I see Garland very often in my walks, but very rarely at my +house.... All unite in kindest regards to yourself and family. + + Most truly yours, + R. E. LEE. + + + + +INDEX. + + + A. + + Adams, General, wounded at Chickamauga, 446. + + Alden, Bradford R., at Jefferson Barracks, 17; + friendliness of, to Longstreet, 632. + + Alexander, General E. P., at Fredericksburg, 311, 316; + at Gettysburg, 389, 390, 391; + notifies Pickett to advance, 392; + goes to Tennessee with Longstreet, 437; + on Lookout Mountain, 463; + at Campbell's Station, 493; + at Knoxville, 497; + at Mechanicsville (1864), 553; + letter of, to Longstreet, on affairs at Wilderness, 570, 571. + + Amazon Creek, engagement at, 606. + + Amusement of soldiers, 325, 326. + + Anderson, General G. B., at Seven Pines, 94; + at South Mountain, 222; + mortally wounded at Sharpsburg, 249. + + Anderson, General G. T., at Sharpsburg, 242, 247; + wounded at Gettysburg, 372; + brigade of, receives Farnsworth's cavalry charge, 395; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 428; + joins Hood's division in Tennessee, 462; + in assault of Fort Sanders, 502, 503, 505, 506; + at Wilderness, 562; + captures prisoners at Farmville, 617. + + Anderson, Lieutenant-General R. H., at Williamsburg, 72, 75, 76; + at Seven Pines, 94; + at Sharpsburg, 247, 249; + report of interview with General Lee at Gettysburg, 357; + in fight at Little Round Top, 372; + in command of left division on Rapidan (1864), 553; + division of, in the Wilderness, 559, 562; + succeeds Longstreet, wounded, 565; + at Five Forks, 602; + in engagement at Amazon Creek, 606; + makes attack at Rice's Station, 613; + letter to, from General Lee, 639. + + Antietam, battle of. _See_ Sharpsburg. + + Appendix, 639. + + Appomattox, surrender at, officers urge negotiations for surrender, 618; + General Grant asks surrender, 619; + General Lee replies, asking terms, 619; + interview of General Pendleton with General Lee, 620, 621; + General Grant states terms for surrender, 622; + General Lee proposes meeting with General Grant, 622; + Sheridan's decisive action, 622; + General Lee gives orders for march to Appomattox Court-House, 623; + an account of last scenes of activity, 624; + General Lee confers with Longstreet and Mahone, 624, 625; + General Lee rides to meet General Grant, 625; + Longstreet endeavors to recall Lee, 626; + General Custer's demand of surrender from Longstreet, 627; + truce ordered, 628; + sympathy of soldiers for General Lee, 629; + Generals Grant and Longstreet meet, 630; + details of capitulation arranged, 630; + number of troops surrendered and paroled, 631. + + Archer, General, at Shepherdstown, 264; + at Fredericksburg, 309; + captured at Gettysburg, 354, 389. + + Arista, General, in command of Mexican forces, 22. + + Armies. _See_ Confederate, Federal, Army of the Potomac, Army of + Northern Virginia. + + Armistead, General, at Malvern Hill, 143; + killed beside Federal battery in Pickett's charge (Gettysburg), 394. + + Armstrong, General, at Chickamauga, 441; + makes great capture of cattle, 530; + in sharp engagement on the French Broad, 532. + + Army corps. _See_ Corps. + + Army of Northern Virginia, losses of, in Maryland campaign, 266, 267; + condition of, on entering Maryland, 284; + reorganized in October, 1862, 290; + strength of, at Fredericksburg, 305; + strength and organization of, at Fredericksburg, 317 _et seq._; + divided into three corps, 332; + in readiness for Gettysburg campaign, 334; + organization of, in Gettysburg, 410; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 426 _et seq._; + strength of, in 1864, 552-554; + capitulation of, at Appomattox, 631. + + Army of Observation, 18. + + Army of Occupation, 19. + + Army of the Potomac, organization of, in Maryland campaign, 209, 271; + strength of, at Antietam, 265; + losses of, at Antietam, 266; + reorganized by General Burnside, 292; + strength of, at Fredericksburg, 305; + in false position at Fredericksburg, 323; + before Gettysburg, 335; + Meade succeeds Hooker in command of, 348; + organization of, at Gettysburg, 415; + strength of, in 1864, 552; + crosses the Rapidan, 555; + posting of, at Five Forks, 593. + + Army of the Tennessee, first victory of the, 456; + Longstreet offered command of, 466; + Hardee offered command of, 466 (note). + + Army of Virginia organized, 153; + strength of, 153, 157. + + "Attrition," policy of, 551. + + Averill, General, makes raid from West Virginia into East Tennessee, + 521, 522. + + Avery, Colonel, death of, at Gettysburg, 375. + + Ayres, General, at Five Forks, 598, 599, 601. + + + B. + + Badeau, General, quoted on strength of Army of Potomac in 1864, 552, 553. + + Baird, General, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Baker, E. D., 61. + + Ball's Bluff, engagement at, 61. + + Banks, General N. P., in command of Second Corps, Army of Virginia, 153; + his battle against Jackson at Slaughter Mountain, 157. + + Barksdale, General, at Fredericksburg, 301, 303; + takes battery at Gettysburg, 370; + guiding spirit of the battle, 371; + mortally wounded, 372. + + Barlow, General, at Antietam, 250; + fall of, 252, 266; + at Gettysburg, 355. + + Baxter, Colonel, crosses the river at Fredericksburg under fire, 303. + + Beauregard, General G. T., at West Point, 16; + at Manassas, 33, 35; + instructions to commanders, 36; + order for battle, 44; + order miscarries, 46; + in charge of left, 49; + brave charge by, 50; + ordered West, 64; + proposal to bring, into Gettysburg campaign, 336; + prejudice against, of Davis, 432, 545; + Longstreet writes President Davis in favor of, 547. + + Beauregard, Lieutenant R. T., at Chickamauga, 441. + + Beaver Dam Creek. _See_ Mechanicsville. + + Bee, General Bernard E., at Manassas, 46, 48; + gives name of "Stonewall" to Jackson, 49. + + Benning, General, at Gettysburg, 370, 396; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431; + at Chickamauga, 448; + at Petersburg, 606. + + Bermuda Hundred, Pickett's division assigned to, 574; + assault on, by Parke (Petersburg), 605. + + Berry, General, at Fredericksburg, 309. + + Birney, General, at Fredericksburg, 309; + at Gettysburg, account of affair at Peach Orchard, 366; + at Wilderness, 559. + + Blackburn's Ford, engagement at, 38. + _See_ Manassas, First. + + Blair, Hon. Montgomery, peace mission of, 583. + + Bonham, General M. S., at Manassas, 52. + + Bostan, Colonel, killed, 630. + + Boteler's Ford, 264. + _See_ Shepherdstown. + + Bowen, Orderly, killed at Wilderness, 564. + + Bragg, General Braxton, at West Point, 17; + threatening near Chattanooga, 434, 436; + Longstreet at head-quarters of, 438; + plan of, for Chickamauga, 439; + gives orders to Longstreet's division commanders, 447; + disturbed by plan of battle, 452; + absence of, from field, 455, 457; + order for retreat, 456, 457; + did not know result of Chickamauga until next day, 458; + receives report of battle from Longstreet, 461; + refuses to pursue the enemy, 462, 463; + officers call for removal of, 464; + puts Generals Polk and Hindman under charges, 465; + inquiry in regard to, by President Davis, 465; + on affairs subsequent to Chickamauga, 471; + criticism upon, 472; + ignores signal service reports and is surprised, 474, 475; + plans to capture Hooker's rear-guard by night attack, 475; + orders Longstreet into East Tennessee, 481; + urges Longstreet to make rapid movement, 483; + orders speedy attack of Knoxville by Longstreet, 501; + orders Longstreet to co-operation with his army after defeat at + Chattanooga, 507; + relieved of command by General Hardee, 515; + called to Richmond as commander-in-chief, 516; + suggestions of, before authorities at Richmond, 545; + action of, after Chickamauga criticised by Longstreet before + authorities at Richmond, 546; + ordered to Wilmington, 580; + comment on, by Confederate newspaper, 582 (note). + + Branch, General L. O'B., report of, on march to Mechanicsville, 123. + + Brandy Station, cavalry engagement at, between Stuart and Pleasonton, + 338. + + Brannan, General, at Chickamauga, 442. + + Bratton, Colonel, in attack on Hooker's rear-guard near Lookout + Mountain, 476, 477. + + Breckenridge, Major-General J. C., at Chickamauga, 441; + in assault, 445, 446; + appointed Secretary of War, 583, 584. + + Bristoe Station, engagement at between Ewell and Hooker, 170. + + Brockenbrough, General, at Fredericksburg, 307; + at Gettysburg, 354. + + Bryan, General, in assault on Fort Sanders, 505, 520. + + Buckner, General Simon, at Chickamauga, 439; + gives opinion adverse to Bragg, 465; + letter to, from Longstreet, 484, 485. + + Buford, General, at Gettysburg, 351, 352, 353. + + Bull Run. _See_ Manassas. + + Bull's Gap, Longstreet's army at, 542. + + Burnside, General A. E., ordered to Fredericksburg to aid Pope, 159; + begins work at "Burnside's bridge," 244; + continuance of, 254, 256, 257, 258; + McClellan's orders to, for taking bridge, 258; + effects crossing, 260; + battle concentrates against, 261; + his advance arrested, 262; + assigned to command Army of the Potomac, 291; + reorganizes army in three "Grand Divisions," 292; + submits plan to President Lincoln, 292; + plan of, for crossing Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, 301; + plan of, for battle, 304; + orders that Marye's Hill must be carried before night, 312; + orders of, to Franklin criticised, 315; + memorandum of, for renewal of attack on Marye's Hill, captured, 316; + abortive moves by, 322 _et seq._; + in East Tennessee, 434, 436, 480, 481; + has army of twenty-five thousand men north of Knoxville, 482; + acts on defensive at Knoxville, 488; + sends troops to Little Tennessee River, 490; + report of, on condition at Knoxville, 499, 500; + relieved of command at Knoxville by General Foster, 514; + in command of Ninth Corps in Virginia, 552. + + Burnside's bridge. _See_ Burnside, General A. E., and Sharpsburg. + + Butler, General Benjamin F., in front of Richmond, 575, 576; + move on Fort Fisher, 580. + + + C. + + Campaign in far South, consideration of, 540. + + Campaign of 1864, 551 _et seq._ + + Campbell, Judge J. A., 583. + + Campbell's Station, engagement at, 492, 494. + + Cannon-shots, remarkable, 254, 255. + + Capitulation. _See_ Appomattox, surrender at. + + Carr, General, at Dandridge, 526. + + Cashtown, Lee calls for concentration at, 348. + + Chambersburg, Confederates at, 351. + + Chancellorsville, losses at, 327; + criticism upon, 329, 330. + + Chantilly, battle of, 193; + killing of Kearny and Stevens at, 194. + + Charles City Cross-Roads. _See_ Frayser's Farm. + + Chattanooga, Federal army at, 462 _et seq._ + + Cheatham, General, at Chickamauga, 441; + gives opinion adverse to General Bragg, 465. + + Chester Gap, Longstreet's command at, in retreat from Gettysburg, 431. + + Chickahominy River, McClellan advances to, 82 (_see_ Seven Pines); + fighting along the, in summer of 1862, 120 _et seq._; + McClellan changes base from, to James River, 132. + + Chickamauga, battle of (_see_ Westward movement), Longstreet arrives at + Bragg's head-quarters, 438; + plan for, 439; + Confederate purpose to push between enemy and his base at Chattanooga, + 440; + Confederate positions, 440, 441; + Union positions, 441, 442; + General Bragg orders direct assault, 443, 445; + battle opened by advance of General D. H. Hill's corps, 445; + General Helm killed, 446; + attack by Cleburne, 446; + Longstreet's troops assault, 447; + wounding of General Hood, 448; + Federals driven back, 448, 449; + change in plan by Longstreet, 450; + right wing ceases active battle, 452; + contention by left wing as independent battle, 455; + the Union army melts away, 455, 456; + rejoicings of Confederates, 456; + General Thomas marches for Rossville Gap, 456; + retreat was made before issue of Rosecrans's order, 457; + Confederates hold Snodgrass Hill, 457; + losses, 458; + heavy losses by regiments, 459; + Longstreet urges pursuit of the Federals, 461 _et seq._; + absence of both commanders from the field, 472; + action of Bragg after close of, referred to at Richmond by Longstreet, + 546. + + Cleburne, General, at Chickamauga, 441, 446. + + Cobb, General, attacked by Franklin at Crampton's Pass, 229, 230; + at Fredericksburg, 303; + killing of, 311. + + Colgrove, Colonel Silas, finds Lee's "lost order," 213. + + Confederate army, organization and strength of, at Manassas (First), 57; + strength of, at Sharpsburg, 265, 266; + losses of, at Sharpsburg, 266; + condition of, on entering Maryland, 284; + reorganized, 290; + strength of, at Fredericksburg, 305; + numbers and organization of, at Fredericksburg, 317 _et seq._; + divided into three corps, 332; + ready for Gettysburg campaign, 334; + organization of, at Gettysburg, 410; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 426 _et seq._; + strength and losses of, at Chickamauga, 458; + losses of, at Knoxville, 508; + strength of, 1864, 552; + capitulation of, 630. + + Confederate flag. _See_ Flag. + + Confederate soldier, tributes to, 200, 288; + amusement of, 325. + + Congress, Confederate, tenders vote of thanks to General Longstreet, 550; + expresses want of confidence in President Davis, 583; + passes law for appointment of commander-in-chief, 583. + + Cooke, Colonel, at Sharpsburg, 250, 267. + + Corps, army, two provisional, organized by McClellan on Chickahominy, 82; + First (Confederate), losses of, at Sharpsburg, 266; + First (Confederate), firmness of, 334; + Second (Confederate), leading on march into Pennsylvania, 340; + First (Confederate), on march into Pennsylvania, 341; + Third (Confederate), march of, to Gettysburg, 344; + First (Confederate), at Gettysburg, 397 _et seq._; + vote of thanks to First (Confederate), in Congress, 550; + Ninth (Federal), under Burnside, 552; + General Lee on services of First (Confederate), 639. + + Corpus Christi, army concentrates at, 19. + + Corse, General, at Five Forks, 595, 600, 601; + captured, 614. + + Couch, General D. N., at Seven Pines, 95, 98; + at Harper's Ferry, 229, 232. + + Councils of war, at Richmond, April, 1862, 66; + Johnston's, before Seven Pines, 85, 86; + by General G. W. Smith, at Seven Pines, 107; + of Lee and his officers, June, 1862, 121; + in spring of 1864, at Richmond, 543-595. + + Cox, General J. D., with Pleasonton, opens battle of South Mountain, + 221, 223; + at Burnside's bridge in command of Ninth Corps, 258. + + Crampton's Pass, description of, 206; + General Franklin ordered to, by McClellan, 217; + Hampton's cavalry at, 229; + Franklin and Cobb have engagement at, 229, 230. + + Crittenden, General T. L., at Chickamauga, 442; + goes before court of inquiry, 465. + + Crook, General, at Burnside's bridge (Antietam), 259; + attacks Confederate trains, 612. + + Cross, Colonel, at Antietam, 266. + + Cullen, J. S. D., letter of, to General Longstreet on second day at + Gettysburg, 383 (note). + + Cumberland Church, engagement at, 615. + + Cumberland Gap, engagement at, 513. + + Cumming, Lieutenant, bravery of, at Fort Sanders, 520. + + Curtin, Andrew G., Governor of Pennsylvania, letter of, to General + McClellan, 282. + + Custer, General, at Gettysburg, 396; + defeats and captures most of Early's command at Waynesboro', 590; + at Five Forks, 598; + division of, at Appomattox, 622; + demands and is refused surrender of Longstreet, 627. + + + D. + + Dandridge, affair at, 528 _et seq._ + + Danville Railroad, Longstreet on guarding of, 650. + + Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel H., escapes with command from Harper's Ferry, + 231. + + Davis, Jefferson, President, in council, April, 1862, 66; + high opinion of McClellan, 66; + on battle-field (Frayser's Farm), 134; + letter to, from General Lee, relative to peace proposition, 204; + prejudice of, against Johnston and Beauregard, 432; + visits Army of Tennessee and makes inquiry as to General Bragg, 465; + proffers command to Longstreet, 466; + urges promotion of General Law, 467; + holds second conference with commanders at Bragg's head-quarters, 468; + favors Longstreet's suggestion for change of base to Rome, Georgia, + 469; + leaves army more despondent than he found it, 470; + orders Longstreet to march to Bragg's relief, 507; + gives Longstreet discretionary authority over troops in the + department, 511; + orders Longstreet to send Martin's cavalry to Johnston, 539; + in council with Generals Lee, Longstreet, and Bragg, 545, 546; + want of confidence in, expressed by Congress, 583; + receives news of defeat at Petersburg in church at Richmond, 607. + + Davis, General Jefferson C., at Chickamauga, 442. + + Dearing, General, killed, 630. + + Dent, Frederick, home of, 18. + + Dent, Miss Julia, meets Lieutenant Grant, 18. + + Dent, Marshall, maternal grandfather of author, 13. + + Dent, Mary Ann, mother of author, 14. + + Desertion, Longstreet on suppression of, 651. + + Deshler, General, mortally wounded at Chickamauga, 446. + + Devens, General, 590, 598. + + Doby, Captain, killed at Wilderness, 564. + + Doubleday, General Abner, in engagement against Jackson at Groveton, + 176, 177; + at Antietam, 241; + at Fredericksburg, 309; + in command of a corps at Gettysburg, 353, 355. + + Douglas, Colonel, killed at Sharpsburg, 243. + + Dranesville, engagement at, 62. + + Duncan, Captain J. H., defends Fort Gregg (Petersburg), 607. + + Duryea, Colonel, charge of, at Burnside's bridge (Antietam), 259. + + + E. + + Early, General Jubal A., at Manassas, 39; + at Williamsburg, 78; + at Sharpsburg, 242, 245; + appointment of, as lieutenant-general, 332; + on march to Gettysburg, 344; + in battle, 374, 375; + charges of, against Longstreet and First Corps, 397; + comment on, 402; + defeat in the Valley, 579; + command of, captured by Custer at Waynesboro', 590. + + East Tennessee campaign, Longstreet ordered to, 480, 481; + organization of Confederate command for, 482; + move to Sweetwater, 483; + transportation under Bragg's quartermaster, 483; + letter of General Longstreet to General Buckner on delays, etc., 484, + 485; + Buckner's endorsement, 485; + on short rations, 486; + orders to General Wheeler, 487; + "looked like campaign against Longstreet instead of Burnside," 488; + description of country, 488, 489; + engagement on the Little Tennessee River, 490; + engagement at Campbell's Station, 492-495; + Federals behind their works at Knoxville, 495; + gallant assault on Fort Loudon repulsed, 497; + Longstreet reinforced by General Bushrod R. Johnson, 501; + McLaws's orders to his command for assault of Fort Sanders, 503; + McLaws urges delay because of report of Bragg's defeat, 504; + reply to, by Longstreet, 504; + the assault made, 505, 506; + troops recalled on a misconception, 506, 507; + Bragg orders Longstreet to co-operate with his army after defeat at + Chattanooga, 507; + losses at Knoxville, 508; + Longstreet finds it impracticable to join Bragg, 509; + columns advancing for relief of Burnside, 510; + Longstreet marches up the Holston Valley, 511; + he is followed by General Parke, 512; + engagement at Cumberland Gap, 513; + want of clothing and shoes, 515, 521; + presence of Longstreet causes concern to Federal authorities and + General Grant, 515, 516; + charges against General Robertson, 517; + General McLaws ordered relieved from duty, 518; + General Law resigns under privilege, 519; + honorable mention of officers, 520; + the army revels in plenty on the French Broad, 520, 521; + brilliant achievement of General W. E. Jones at Cumberland Gap, 522, + 523; + strategic importance of the field, 524, 538; + Foster advances against Longstreet, 525; + Union army makes stand at Dandridge, 526; + affair at, 528 _et seq._; + Longstreet drinks to health of Granger, 529; + General Foster calls Dandridge's expedition "a foraging excursion," + 530; + General Grant orders Foster to offensive against Longstreet, 532; + despatches on Longstreet from General Grant to Generals Halleck, + Thomas, and Schofield, 535-538; + Longstreet asks for ten thousand additional troops, 539; + Longstreet's purpose towards close of campaign, 539; + withdrawal eastward of Longstreet's command, 540; + authorities would not support campaign, 541; + Longstreet and his original command from Virginia rejoins General Lee + on the Rapidan, 547; + vote of thanks to General Longstreet and First Corps by Confederate + Congress, 550. + + Edwards's Ferry. _See_ Ball's Bluff. + + Elections of 1862, 1864, 479. + + Elzey, General, arrives at Manassas, 49; + succeeds Kirby Smith, 50. + + Emancipation Proclamation, issue of, made practicable by victory at + Antietam, 288, 289; + elections of 1862 not in support of, 479. + + Ewell, General R. S., at West Point, 17; + engagement of, with Hooker, at Bristoe Station, 170; + loses a leg at Groveton, 177; + appointed to command of Second Corps on death of Jackson, 332; + engages Milroy at Winchester, 339; + march of, to Gettysburg, 344; + captures beeves and flour, 345; + in fight on Cemetery Hill, 355, 356; + attacked by Ruger, 387; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431, 432; + in command of Second Corps on Rapidan (1864), 553; + becomes engaged in Wilderness, 558, 562; + takes several officers prisoners, 565; + in retreat from Petersburg, 612, 613; + brave stand and final surrender of, 614. + + + F. + + Fairfax, Colonel, at Sharpsburg, 250; + takes scout to Longstreet, 345; + letter from, to General Longstreet on interview with General Lee, + "sunrise order," etc., 380, 381 (note); + drinks with Longstreet to health of Gordon Granger, 530; + captures a trooper on the French Broad, 532; + on delay at Wilderness after wounding of Longstreet, 567. + + Fair Oaks. _See_ Seven Pines. + + Falling Waters, Confederates at, in retreat from Gettysburg, 428, 429. + + Farmville, panic of Confederate teamsters at, 616; + engagement at, 616, 617. + + Farnsworth, General, charge of, at Gettysburg, 395; + killed, 395. + + Federal army, organization and strength of, at Manassas (First) 57, 58; + strength and losses of, at Antietam, 265, 266; + reorganized by Burnside, 292; + strength of, at Fredericksburg, 305; + in false position, 323; + before Gettysburg, 335; + Meade succeeds Hooker in command of, 348; + organization of, at Gettysburg, 415; + strength and losses of, at Chickamauga, 458; + losses of, at Knoxville, 508; + strength of, in 1864, 552; + how posted at Five Forks, 593. + + Ferrero, General, at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259; + in East Tennessee campaign, 490; + covers retreat, 492. + + Field, General, at Wilderness, 562-564; + gives account of battle, 567; + before Richmond, 577; + division of, withdrawn, 604; + division of, at Appomattox, 629. + + Fiser, Colonel, wounded in assault on Fort Sanders, 520. + + Fisher, Fort, move against, 580. + + Fitzhugh, Captain, captured and loses despatch, 160. + + Five Forks, battle of, General Grant's move around the Confederate + right, 595; + General Lee endeavors to anticipate, 596; + opening of, favorable to Confederates, 596; + General Grant orders Fifth Corps into battle, 597; + Sheridan's strategic plan, 598; + the battle irretrievable for Confederates, 599; + Pickett's battle, 599-602; + losses, 601, 602; + General Lee on, 604. + + Flag, Confederate, origin of, 56. + + "Foot Cavalry" of Virginia, 146. + + Forrest, General, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Foster, General John G., reaches Knoxville and relieves Burnside of + command at, 513, 514; + at Blain's Cross-Roads, 514; + assigns true cause for Longstreet's failure to follow, 515; + plans to intrench at Bull's Gap, 516; + army of, advances against Longstreet, occupying Dandridge, 526; + suffering from an old wound, gives command to General Parke, 528; + calls Dandridge expedition a "foraging excursion," 530; + urged to offensive by General Grant, 531, 532; + assaults Fort Gregg (Petersburg), 607. + + Fowler, Captain W. H., at Chickamauga, 441. + + Franklin, William B., given command of Sixth Corps, 82; + encounters Jackson at White Oak Swamp, 133; + arrives at Centreville to reinforce Pope, 190; + ordered by McClellan to Crampton's Pass, 217; + engages General Cobb of McLaws's command, 229, 230, 232; + report by, 257; + placed in command of Left Grand Division Army of the Potomac, 292; + arrives before Fredericksburg, 297; + troops of, enter Fredericksburg, 304; + orders to, by Burnside, criticised, 315. + + Frayser's Farm, battle at, Longstreet encounters main force of + McClellan's army at, 133; + President Davis has narrow escape on the field, 134; + Jenkins captures Randol's battery, precipitating battle, 135; + Heintzelman's report of fight, 135; + McCall's report, 136; + General Holmes's account, 137; + General Kearny's account, 137; + capture of General McCall, 138, 139. + + Frederick, Md., Confederates in, 201, 202, 205; + McClellan's army at, 213. + _See_ Maryland campaign. + + Fredericksburg, battle and campaign of, Burnside's plans for, submitted + to President Lincoln, 292; + Union army on march to, 293; + General Sumner calls on civil authorities for surrender of town, 293; + reply of the mayor, 294-296; + citizens of, move beyond danger, 296; + description of field of, 297-299; + signal for battle, 301; + plans of Federals for crossing the river, 301, 302; + work of General Hunt and Colonel Hall, 302; + Federals occupy eastern part of town, 303; + Sumner's and Franklin's troops occupy city, 304; + plan of Federal commander, 304; + strength of the armies, 305; + mist veils the confronting armies, 306; + Confederate positions, 307; + General Meade's advance, 308; + the opening against the Confederate left, 309; + killing of General Cobb, 311; + destructive work of artillery, 311; + desperate charges by Griffin and Humphreys, 312; + before the stone wall on Marye's Hill, 313; + comparison of charges by Federals with those of Pickett, Pettigrew, + and Trimble at Gettysburg, 314; + criticism of orders to Franklin, 315; + losses in battle, 315, 316; + Burnside plans to renew attack, 316; + strength of armies in battle, 317; + organization of Confederate army, 317 _et seq._ + + Fremantle, Lieutenant-Colonel, of the Coldstream Guards, as guest of Lee + and Longstreet, 343; + congratulations of, to Longstreet on Pickett's charge, 394. + + French, General William H., at Fredericksburg, 309, 310. + + + G. + + Gaines's Mill, battle at, the Hills attack Fitz-John Porter, 126; + Longstreet's reserve engages, 127; + Anderson, Pickett, and Hood's charges, 129; + letter of Longstreet upon, to General Lee, 656. + + Garfield, General James A., communication of, on Rosecrans's order to + retreat from Chickamauga, 457. + + Garland, General Samuel, at Seven Pines, 94; + killed at South Mountain, 221; + allusion to, 223. + + Garnett, R. B., at West Point, 16, 17; + killed in Pickett's charge (Gettysburg), 394. + + Gary, General, in affair on Williamsburg road, 578. + + Gee, Captain, killed at Five Forks, 599. + + Generalship, power of battle in, rather than in numbers, 551. + + Getty, General, in opening of battle of Wilderness, 558; + advance of, 559. + + Gettysburg, battle and campaign of, first mentioned, 331, 334; + Confederate plan of campaign, 335, 336; + Hooker discovers Federal withdrawal from Fredericksburg, 337; + cavalry engagement in rear of the march, 338; + confusion in regard to cavalry orders, 342; + municipal authorities of Gettysburg and York surrender to General John + B. Gordon, 345; + Longstreet suggests change in direction of march, 347; + Federal corps' locations, 347, 348; + General George G. Meade succeeds Hooker in command of Federals, 348; + positions of armies June 30, 349, 350; + Confederate cavalry not at hand, 351; + description of field, 352 _et seq._; + preliminary fighting, 353, 354; + the battle opens, 354; + General John F. Reynolds killed, 354; + fight on Cemetery Hill, 355, 356; + Federals retreat through town, 356; + Howard forms new lines, 357; + forces engaged (on first day), 357; + Lee had not intended to deliver general battle, 358; + Lee seriously affected by absence of cavalry, 359; + commands of Longstreet's corps hurried forward, 359; + second day's battle, 362; + front of Meade's position, 363; + march of Sixth Corps (Federal), 364; + position of Confederates, 364; + Lee settles on attack by his right, 365; + advance of First Corps (Confederate), 366; + time of reaching position, 366; + Hood reports advantage of move to the right, 367; + renews appeal, 368; + opportunity for Confederate right seen by Halleck in Washington, 368; + Barksdale of McLaws's opens the fight and takes battery, 370; + Little Round Top the citadel of the field, 371; + fight at the hill and Brick Church, 371; + many officers killed or wounded, 371, 372; + Longstreet with Wofford's brigade on Little Round Top, 372; + Meade reinforces against Longstreet, 373; + losses of Longstreet and Meade on second day, 373; + late arrival of cavalry, 373; + Federals draw artillery from their right against Longstreet's battle, + 374; + "man on the left who did not care to make battle win," 375; + General Pendleton on the order for "battle at sunrise," 377 _et seq._; + refutation of, 378-384; + losses on second day, 376, 377; + third day's battle, 385 _et seq._; + Lee's plans, 386; + Ruger opens against Ewell, 387; + Longstreet did not approve attack as made, 388, + but he prepared carefully for the assault, 389, 390; + Confederates on the left driven from their trenches, 391; + Longstreet assents to Pickett's advance, 392; + Pickett's, Trimble's, and Pettigrew's charge, 394; + Farnsworth's cavalry charge, 395; + the Confederate First Corps, 397; + Lee's acknowledgment of fault, 400; + epitome of battle, 402; + Cemetery Hill and Marye's Hill compared, 403; + impossibility of taking Cemetery Hill, 404; + forces engaged and losses in battle, 409; + organization of Confederate army, 410 _et seq._; + organization of Federal army, 415 _et seq._; + Confederate retreat, 426. + + Gibbon, General, in engagement with Jackson at Groveton, 176; + at South Mountain, 224; + at Antietam, 241, 266; + at Fredericksburg, 309; + wounded in front of Pickett's charge (Gettysburg), 394; + on assaulting columns, on the 3d, at Gettysburg, 399; + at the Wilderness, 558, 559; + at Petersburg, 606-608. + + Gist, General, at Chickamauga, 446. + + Glendale. _See_ Frayser's Farm. + + Goggin, Major, reports taking of Fort Sanders impossible, 505, 506. + + Gold, price of, reaches 200, 317; + Longstreet advocates impressment of, 588, 641, 646, 649. + + Gordon, General John B., authorities of Gettysburg and York surrender + to, 345; + corps of, assigned for sortie against Fort Steadman, 592; + at Appomattox, 623, 624. + + Goree, Colonel T. J., 47; + on repulse of Pickett at Gettysburg, 400. + + "Grand Divisions," Army of the Potomac organized in, 292. + + Granger, General Gordon, covers gap in Mission Ridge at Chickamauga, 442; + in severe contention against Longstreet's left, 457; + in command of Federals at Dandridge, 528; + on Longstreet, 529. + + Grant, General Ulysses S., at West Point, 17; + joins Fourth Regiment in Missouri as lieutenant, 18; + takes part in theatricals, 20; + operations of, at Vicksburg, 478; + assumes command of armies in Tennessee, 482; + orders Longstreet driven out of East Tennessee, 516; + visits Knoxville, 525; + wants Longstreet driven from Tennessee, 531; + urges General Foster to the offensive, 532; + despatches of, to Generals Halleck, Thomas, and Schofield, on plans + to drive Longstreet from Tennessee, 534-536; + finds Longstreet too far from his line of operations to properly + engage against, 538; + assigned as commander-in-chief, 543; + with Army of the Potomac, 552; + had no general plan for campaign (May, 1864), 555; + prepares for immediate battle (Wilderness), 556; + orders Ninth Corps into battle, 561; + plan of, for left attack in front of Richmond, 575, 576; + letters to, from General Lee, on military peace convention, 585, 586; + draws from East and West to strengthen combination against, 590 _et + seq._ (_see_ Five Forks, battle of); + gives up attack of Richmond by north side of James, 591; + gives orders for grand move by his left, 592; + number of troops in command of, 593; + movement by left begun, 595; + purpose of the latter, 596; + orders concerted assault at Petersburg, 604; + rides over captured works, 606; + asks surrender of General Lee, 619; + letter to, from General Lee, asking terms for surrender, 619; + renews efforts to strike across head of Confederate march, 620; + writes General Lee as to terms of surrender, 621, 622; + letter to, from General Lee, proposing meeting, 622; + arranges details of capitulation, 630; + tribute to, 630; + gives General Longstreet letter to President Johnson, 633; + inaugurated President, 638; + appoints Longstreet surveyor of customs at New Orleans, 638; + General Lee on interview with, 649. + + Grant, Mrs. Ulysses S., proposed meeting of, with Mrs. Longstreet to + bring about peace, 584. + + Grapevine Bridge. _See_ Mechanicsville. + + Greene, General George S., at Gettysburg, 374. + + Gregg, Fort (Petersburg), 606, 607. + + Gregg, General D. McM., at Gettysburg, stubborn fight of, 396. + + Gregg, General Maxcy, killed at Fredericksburg, 309; + captured with part of command by Rosser and Mumford, 617. + + Griffin, General, attack of, at Fredericksburg, 312. + + Groves, Major R. E., at Chickamauga, 441. + + Groveton, engagement at, between Jackson and Pope's troops, 175. + _See_ Manassas, Second. + + Gunboats, McClellan's facetious remark concerning, 151. + + + H. + + Hagerstown, Confederates at, on retreat from Gettysburg, 427, 428. + + Hall, Colonel Norman J., in command of troops attempting to cross river + at Fredericksburg, 302; + report of, 303. + + Halleck, General Henry Wager, at West Point, 17; + assumes command as general-in-chief of Federal armies, 153; + thinks the capital in peril, 214; + letter to, on affairs in Maryland, 214-216; + Meade communicates purpose to, 349; + suggests to Meade that Lee may turn his left, 360; + sees opportunity for Confederate right at Gettysburg, 368; + concern of, over Longstreet's presence in East Tennessee, 515, 516; + despatch to, from General Grant, on Longstreet, 534-536; + despatch of, to General Grant, 537; + right in estimate of strategic importance of Longstreet's presence in + Tennessee, 538. + + Hampton Roads conference, 583. + + Hampton, Wade, at Manassas, 48; + wounded at Seven Pines, 98; + at Crampton's Gap, 229; + wounded at Gettysburg, 396; + ordered to join Johnston in the Carolinas, 589. + + Hancock, Winfield Scott, takes two redoubts at Williamsburg, 77; + christened "The Superb," 80; + takes command of Richardson's brigade at Antietam, 251; + makes well-organized advance at Fredericksburg, 310; + assumes Federal command under special assignment on field of + Gettysburg (first day), 356; + wounded in Pickett's charge, 394; + on Meade's intentions on third day at Gettysburg, 398; + in command of Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, 552; + intrenches at night along front in Wilderness, 558; + advance of, in morning, 560; + movement against left of, by Longstreet, 562; + on Longstreet's advance, 568. + + Hardee, General, commissioned lieutenant-general, 290; + offered and declines command of Army of Tennessee, 466; + succeeds Cheatham in command of corps, 469. + + Hardie, General, at Fredericksburg, 307. + + Harper's Ferry, capture of, proposed by Lee, 201; + plan for movement against, 202; + description of, 207; + situation at, 228; + McLaws at, 231; + Colonel Davis escapes from, 231; + Colonel Miles' commandant of, mortally wounded, 232; + surrendered by General White, 232; + holding of, not of strategic value, 286; + let alone in Gettysburg campaign, 287; + abandoned by Federals, 339. + + Harrison, Fort, captured by Federals, 575. + + Harrison, scout, employed by Longstreet, 324; + sent out with secret orders, 333; + makes report, 346. + + Harrison's Landing, McClellan's army at, 145. + + Hartranft, General, at Campbell Station, 492, 520; + at Fort Steadman, 594, 595. + + Haskell, Colonel J. C., rides to recall General Lee from meeting General + Grant at Appomattox, 626. + + Hatton, General, killed at Seven Pines, 98. + + Hayes, Rutherford B., wounded at South Mountain, 223. + + Hays, General H. T., at Gettysburg, 374. + + Hazlett, Captain, battery of, on Little Round Top, 371; + killed, 372. + + Heintzelman, General, in command of left wing on Chickahominy, 84; + report of, on Frayser's Farm fight, 135. + + Helm, General Benjamin H., killed at Chickamauga, 446. + + Heth, General, at Wilderness, 556, 558, 560; + on failure to intrench, 565; + at Petersburg, 605, 609; + at Farmville, 617. + + Hill, Lieutenant-General A. P., promoted major-general, 85; + at Mechanicsville, 123 _et seq._; + at Gaines's Mill, 126; + intercepts orders of General Pope, 172; + at Harper's Ferry, 231; + arrives from Harper's Ferry in time to assist at Sharpsburg, 261; + makes strong battle against Burnside, 262; + at Shepherdstown, 264; + tactical moves by, at Antietam, 266; + appointed to command of Third Corps, 332; + marches towards Gettysburg, 350, 353; + in fight, 355, 356; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431; + in command of Third Corps on Rapidan (1864), 553; + death of, at Petersburg, 605. + + Hill, General D. H., at Williamsburg, 74; + asks permission to attack Hancock's redoubts, 77; + the movement made with heavy loss, 78; + humor of, 113; + letter to Longstreet denying proposed abandonment of Richmond when Lee + took command, 115, 116; + in conference with Lee on attacking McClellan, 121; + at Mechanicsville, 124; + at Gaines's Mill, 126; + at South Mountain, 221, 222, 224; + explains to General Lee the situation at South Mountain, 227; + at Sharpsburg, 241, 242, 251, 253; + horse shot under, by a cannon-ball, 254; + "like a game-cock" at Sharpsburg, 266; + record of, 332 (note); + at Chickamauga, in right wing, 441; + opens battle by front assault, 445; + urges change of tactics, 455; + writes petition for relief from Bragg, 465; + gives President Davis opinion adverse to Bragg, 466; + relieved of duty, 469. + + Hindman, General T. C., in left wing at Chickamauga, 439; + advance of, 448; + relieved under charges by Bragg, 465. + + Hoke, General, in front of Richmond, 574, 575; + in affair on Williamsburg road, 577; + sent to Wilmington, 580. + + Holmes, General, on fight at Frayser's Farm, 137; + commissioned lieutenant-general, 290. + + Hood, General J. B., at Gaines's Mill, 128, 129; + report on fight at Frayser's Farm, 137; + advance of, at Turkey Bridge, 139; + at Second Manassas, 188, 189; + at South Mountain, 222; + at Sharpsburg, 242, 266; + at Fredericksburg, 306, 317; + march of, from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, 361; + reports on advantage of move to the right (Gettysburg, second day), + 367; + renews appeal, 368; + seriously wounded, 370; + division of, in third day's fight (Gettysburg), 393, 396; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431; + division of, starts for Tennessee, 437; + arrival at Chickamauga, 439; + brigades of, in left wing, 439, 440; + leads advance, 447; + wounding of, 448; + successor for, considered, 467; + division of, in engagement on Little Tennessee, 490; + supersedes Johnston in command of Army of Georgia, 572; + army of, reduced to a skeleton, 581. + + Hooker, General Joseph, at Williamsburg, 73, 75; + at Frayser's Farm, 138; + engagement of, with Ewell at Bristoe Station, 170; + at South Mountain, 223; + at Antietam, 241; + heavy loss in troops of, 243; + wounding of, 245; + given command of Centre Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, under + Burnside, 292; + arrives at Hartwood, near Fredericksburg, 297; + marches for fords of the upper Rappahannock, 326; + at Chancellorsville, 328, 329; + discovers abandonment of Fredericksburg by Confederates, 337; + succeeded by Meade, 348; + in Tennessee, 474. + + Hoskiss, Major J., on capture of Early's command, 591. + + Hotchkiss, Major T. R., at Chickamauga, 441. + + Howard, General O. O., at Fredericksburg, 310; + approach to Gettysburg, 355; + retreats to Cemetery Hill, 356; + forms new lines after retreat, 357. + + Howell, Captain E. P., at Chickamauga, 441. + + Huger, General, Johnston's orders to, for Seven Pines, 89. + + Humphreys, Major-General A. A., desperate attack by, at Fredericksburg, + 312; + account by, of fight before the stone wall, 313; + at Gettysburg, 367, 373; + at Chickamauga, 440; + spirited advance of, 448; + in assault of Fort Sanders, 505; + honorably mentioned, 520; + as chief of staff gives strength of Army of the Potomac, 1864, 552; + quoted on affair on Williamsburg road, 578; + at Fort Steadman, 595; + at Petersburg, 606; + in pursuit of Confederates, 611; + in engagement at Rice's Station, 614. + + Hunt, General, at Fredericksburg, 302. + + Hunter, Colonel David, wounded at Manassas, 46. + + Hunter, Hon. R. M. T., 583. + + Hunton, General, capture of, 614. + + + I. + + Imboden's cavalry, halt of, at Hancock vexes General Lee, 359. + + Impressment of gold, urged by Longstreet, 588, 641, 646; + of men, urged by Longstreet, 644. + + + J. + + Jackson, Lieutenant-General Thomas Jonathan, at Manassas, 46; + christened "Stonewall," 49; + order to, from General Lee, June 11, 1862, for movement against + McClellan, 114; + reinforced by Lawton and Whiting for that purpose, 115; + in conference with Lee and Longstreet, June, 1862, 121; + lateness of, at Mechanicsville, 123; + at Gaines's Mill, 126; + encounters Franklin at White Oak Swamp, 133; + ordered to follow McClellan's retreat from Malvern Hill, 146; + fails to support Magruder, 149, 150; + engages with Pope's forces at Slaughter Mountain, 156, 157; + move of, on Manassas Junction, 167, 168; + engages King's division at Groveton, 175, 177; + sustains attack at Manassas, 180, 182; + in heavy battle with Fitz-John Porter, 187; + some characteristics of, 191, 192; + hard pressed by Stevens at Chantilly, 193; + comment on move of, to Manassas Junction, 197, 198; + ordered by Lee to move against Harper's Ferry, 202, 231, 232; + leaves Harper's Ferry to rejoin Lee, 233; + arrives on field of Sharpsburg, 236; + division of, receives attack of Hooker at Sharpsburg, 241; + withdraws, 242; + ordered by General Lee to turn Federal right, 257; + commissioned lieutenant-general, 290; + called by Lee towards Fredericksburg, 299, 309; + loses opportunity for advance, 313; + severely wounded at Chancellorsville, 328; + death of, 332; + comment on, at Sharpsburg, 401 (note); + comment on, in Chickahominy campaign, 406; + at Second Manassas, 407. + + James River, Confederate troops on, in April, 1862, 67; + McClellan changes base to, from the Chickahominy, 132; + Longstreet assigned to command north of, 574. + + Jenkins, General Micah, at Seven Pines, 95, 100; + at Frayser's Farm, 135; + at Fredericksburg, 311; + ordered to Chambersburg with cavalry brigade, 340; + brigade of, transferred to Hood's division and goes to Tennessee, 437; + joins Hood's division after battle of Chickamauga, 462; + Longstreet urges appointment of, to command of Hood's division, 467; + engages in attack on Hooker's rear-guard, 475-477; + at Lenoir's Station, 491; + at Campbell's Station, 494; + before Knoxville, 495; + at Dandridge, 526; + ordered to Strawberry Plains, 531; + ordered to bridge the Holston River, 538; + takes part in flank move, 563, + and riding with Longstreet expresses high hopes, 563; + mortally wounded, 564; + tribute to, 566. + + Jetersville, Confederates halted at, 610. + + Johnson, General Bushrod R., at Chickamauga, 439; + before Snodgrass Hill, 450; + in assault on Fort Sanders, 505; + severely engages Federals at Cumberland Gap, 513; + honorable mention of, for march to Bean Station, 519; + in affair near Dandridge, 532; + at Five Forks, 596, 597; + division of, mostly escapes in retreat from Petersburg, 614. + + Johnson, Major-General Edward, advance at Gettysburg (evening of second + day), 374, 387. + + Johnson, President, letter to, from General Grant on Longstreet, 633, + 634; + reconstruction policy of, 635. + + Johnson, General R. W., at Chickamauga, 442. + + Johnston, General Joseph Eggleston, position of, before Manassas, 35, + 41, 43; + forces arrive at Manassas, 44; + on field, 49; + called to Richmond for council with War Department, 65; + at Williamsburg, 79; + compliment of, to Longstreet, 80; + prepares to attack McClellan before McDowell can reach him, 85; + calls council before Seven Pines, 85, 86; + orders to Generals Smith and Huger, 89; + orders troops to sleep on their lines, 100; + wounded at close of Seven Pines, 100; + high regard for, in army, 112; + President Davis jealous of, 432; + plan for campaign of, suggested by General Bragg, 545; + superseded by Hood, 572; + Longstreet asks for recall of, to service, 588; + assigned to command in the Carolinas, 589. + + Jones, General D. R., at Savage Station, 132; + at Antietam, 260; + overcome by the killing of his brother-in-law, Colonel Kingsbury, 262. + + Jones, General J. M., at Gettysburg, 374; + in opening of Wilderness, 558. + + Jones, General J. R., wounded at Sharpsburg, 243. + + Jones, General Samuel, raid against, at Salem, by General Averill, 521, + 522. + + Jones, General W. E., sent to arrest Union advance at Cumberland Gap, + 503; + fights engagement at Walker's Ford, 508; + brilliant achievement of, at Cumberland Gap, 522, 523. + + + K. + + Kearny, General Philip, at Williamsburg, 75; + at Seven Pines, 96; + report of, on battle, 99; + report of, on fight at Frayser's Farm, 137; + orders to, from Pope, on eve of Manassas (Second), 178; + opens against Jackson's left at Manassas, 182; + at Chantilly, 193; + killed, 194. + + Kemper, General, wounded in Pickett's charge, 394. + + Kershaw, General, at Elk Ridge, 208; + at Sharpsburg, 245; + at Gettysburg (opening of second day), 370; + at Chickamauga, 440; + charge of, 448; + at Cumberland Gap, 513; + honorably mentioned, 519; + in Wilderness, 563, 564; + with Early in the Valley, 579; + crosses a fired bridge at Richmond, 609; + surrenders at Rice's Station, 614. + + Keyes, General E. D., on battle of Seven Pines, 110. + + Kilpatrick, General J., at Gettysburg, 395, 396; + follows Confederate retreat, 427, 428, 430. + + Kingsbury, Colonel, killed at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259; + killing of, overcomes General D. R. Jones, his brother-in-law, 262. + + Knoxville, siege of, description of town and Federal works, 495; + a gallant dash repulsed, 497; + Federal positions, 498, 499; + Fort Loudon (or Sanders) described, 499; + McLaws ordered to assault fort, 500; + General Bushrod R. Johnson marches to reinforce Longstreet, 501; + McLaws's orders to his command for assault of Fort Sanders, 503; + McLaws urges delay because of Bragg's reported defeat, 504; + Longstreet's answer thereto, 504, 505; + the assault made, 505, 506; + troops recalled under a misconception, 506, 507; + Bragg orders Longstreet to co-operate with his army, 507; + losses in, 508. + + + L. + + Lamb, Colonel, wounded at Fort Fisher, 582. + + Lane, General, at Fredericksburg, 309; + succeeds Pickett in command of charge at Gettysburg, 394. + + Latane, Captain, killed on Stuart's raid, 118. + + Latrobe, Colonel, at Fredericksburg, 316. + + Law, General E. M., march of, to Gettysburg, 365; + succeeds to command of Hood's division at Gettysburg, 370; + in Chattanooga campaign, 464; + claims of, for promotion, urged by President Davis, 467; + takes part in night attack on Hooker's rear-guard, 476, 477; + order for preferring charges against, 477; + late report on Federal retreat from Lenoir's Station, 491 (note); + at Campbell's Station, 494; + charge against, that he withheld attack improperly, 495; + slow march of, 514; + resigns under privilege, 519; + action of President Davis towards, 548; + rearrest ordered by General Longstreet, 549. + + Lawton, General, ordered by Lee to reinforce Jackson, 115; + wounded at Sharpsburg, 243. + + Leadbetter, General, makes reconnoissance at Knoxville, 501; + favors attack of Fort Sanders, 502; + adds postscript to General Longstreet's letter urging determined + assault of Fort Sanders, 505. + + Lee, General Fitzhugh, left in command of cavalry by Stuart, 160; + failure to comply with instructions, 160; + consequences of that failure, 196; + attacked by Pleasonton at South Mountain, 229; + on General R. E. Lee at Gettysburg, 401; + on Longstreet, 405; + charges that Longstreet lost his way in Wilderness, 568, 569; + recalled to join Longstreet at Richmond, 591; + at Five Forks, 597, 598; + in retreat from Petersburg, 610. + + Lee, General G. W. C., on Longstreet at Wilderness, 569; + at Five Forks, 596; + at Rice's Station, 613, 614. + + Lee, General Robert E., assigned to command at Seven Pines, 109; + impression of, in the army, 112, 113; + established in confidence, 114; + plans simultaneous attack on front and rear of McClellan, 115; + adopts suggestion of Longstreet making change in plans against + McClellan, 120; + orders Longstreet's reserve into action at Gaines's Mill, 127; + at Frayser's Farm with President Davis, 134; + abandons his original plan at Malvern Hill, 144; + campaign of, against McClellan reviewed, 147 _et seq._; + momentary facetiousness, 149; + letter of, to General Magruder, 150; + original plan for pursuit of McClellan, 152; + enjoys increased esteem of his army, 158; + plans of, for striking Pope, 159; + witnesses retreat of Pope, 162; + on field of Manassas, 181, 182; + decides to cross Bull Run and reach Pope's rear, 186; + joins Longstreet on field and rides under fire, 189; + injury to, in stampede, 192; + letters of, to General Pope on killing of Kearny, 194; + decides to enter Maryland, 200; + orders of, for Maryland campaign, 203; + address of, to people of Maryland, 280; + letter of, to Jefferson Davis, suggesting peace proposition, 204; + celebrated "lost order" of, 203, 212, 213; + receives information of Federal advance at South Mountain, 219; + prefers stand at Turner's Pass, 220; + orders withdrawal of troops from South Mountain, 228; + with Longstreet and Hill on field at Sharpsburg, 254; + orders flank move by Jackson, 257; + sends for brigades left at Harper's Ferry, 261; + calls Longstreet his old war-horse, 262; + in contempt of Federal army disperses forces, 284; + description of, 285; + reorganizes army of Northern Virginia, 290; + on retirement of McClellan, 291; + advice of, to citizens of Fredericksburg, 299; + orders of, at opening of battle, 308; + narrowly escapes death or injury from a shell, 312; + goes to Richmond, 317; + orders Longstreet to return from Suffolk, 326; + grief of, over loss of Stonewall Jackson, 328; + his conduct of battle of Chancellorsville, 329; + falls on plan of Northern invasion, 331; + plans of, for Gettysburg, 335, 336; + caution of, in revealing plans to Richmond authorities, 336, 337; + orders of, to cavalry chief, 341; + issues orders for march of army to Harrisburg, 344; + refuses to credit information of Scout Harrison, 347; + changes direction of march, 348; + order for concentration at Cashtown, 348, 351; + mind disturbed by absence of cavalry, 351; + calls Longstreet to ride with him towards Gettysburg, 351; + expresses regret at absence of cavalry, 357; + on field of Gettysburg at close of first day, 357; + had not intended delivering general battle, 358; + gives discretionary order for Second Corps to attack Cemetery Hill, + 359; + official report of, on first day's battle, 359 (note); + settles on making the opening (second day) by his right, 365; + alleged order of, to Longstreet for battle at sunrise, 377 _et seq._; + excitement of, 384; + on battle of Gettysburg, third day, 385; + plans of, 386; + claimed attack was not made early enough, 388; + on the field with the right, 395; + official report of, on Longstreet's battle on the right, 397; + acknowledges fault at Gettysburg, 399, 400; + comments upon, 400, 401; + on field and responsible for Gettysburg, 402, 405; + review of campaigns of, 406; + review of orders of, for Gettysburg, 407 _et seq._; + "harder to move than his lieutenant," 409; + in the retreat from Gettysburg, 429, 430; + desires retirement, 432; + Longstreet mentions westward movement to, 434; + goes to Richmond, 434; + letter from, to Longstreet, 435; + letter to, from Longstreet, 435; + parting with Longstreet, 437; + letter from, to Longstreet, 469, 470 (note); + favors sending Pickett's division to Longstreet, 539; + Longstreet's suggestion to, of plans for continuance of war, 544; + goes to Richmond to confer with authorities, 544; + suppressed excitement of, in council with Richmond authorities, 546; + becomes impatient in Longstreet-Law affair, 549; + compared with General Grant, 554; + gives orders against general engagement, 558; + endeavors to lead a brigade in charge, 560; + assumes command on field after Longstreet is wounded, 565; + delays advance, 565, 567; + alleged saying of, concerning Longstreet, 569; + hard labors of, 573; + becomes anxious about line on north side of the James, 579; + hears from Longstreet proposition of General Ord for peace meeting, + 584; + letters of, to General Grant on military peace convention, 585, 586; + reply to, from General Grant, 587; + consents to sortie against Fort Steadman, 592; + strength of, for defence of Richmond, 593, 594; + endeavors to anticipate Grant's move around his right, 596; + at Petersburg, 604, 605; + gives orders for retreat, 608; + at Jetersville, 610; + realizes fulness of disaster at Rice's Station and Sailor's Creek, + 614, 615; + at Farmville, 616; + urged by officers to negotiate for surrender, 618; + letter to, from General Grant, asking surrender, 619; + replies to, asking terms, 619; + letter to, from General Grant, stating terms of surrender, 621; + writes General Grant, proposing meeting, 622; + gives orders for advance to Appomattox Court-House, 623; + still hopes to break through the Federal cordon, 624; + confers with Longstreet and Mahone, 624, 625; + rides to meet General Grant, 625, 626, 628; + sympathy for, of troops, 629; + letter of, to General R. H. Anderson, 639; + letter of, to General Longstreet, congratulating him on convalescence, + 639; + letter to, from Longstreet, 640; + letter to, from Longstreet, on impressment of gold, 641; + letter from, to Longstreet, 642; + letter to, from Longstreet, on impressment of men, 644; + letter from, to Longstreet, 645; + letter to, from Longstreet, on impressment of gold, 646; + letter to, from Longstreet, on interview with General Ord, 647; + letter to, from Longstreet, on exchange of prisoners, 648; + letter of, to Longstreet, on interview with General Grant, 649; + letter to, from Longstreet, on use of gold, 649; + letter to, from Longstreet, on guarding Danville Railroad, 650; + letter to, from Longstreet, on Sheridan's operations, 652; + letter of, to Longstreet, on proposed history, 654; + letter of, to Longstreet, suggesting preparation of memoirs, 656; + letter to, from Longstreet, on battle of Gaines's Mill, 656; + letter of, to Longstreet, on prospects, etc., 657. + + Lee, Lieutenant-Colonel S. D., at Sharpsburg, 243. + + Lee, General W. H. F., at Five Forks, 596, 597, 598; + in engagement at Jetersville, 610. + + Leesburg, Confederate army at, on the way to Maryland, 201. + + Lenoir's Station, Federal retreat at, 491. + + Letters. _See_ Lee, Longstreet, Grant, etc. + + Lewinsville, J. E. B. Stuart disperses Federals at, 60. + + Liddell, General, at Chickamauga, 441, 446. + + Lincoln, President, telegrams from, on Lee in Maryland, 209; + letter to, from McClellan, on prospect in Maryland, 214; + issues emancipation proclamation, 288, 289; + General Burnside submits plans to, 292; + humorous advice of, to Hooker, 329; + position in Hampton Roads conference, 583; + desire attributed to, for devising means for payment of slaves, 585. + + Long, General A. L., letter of, to General Longstreet, on order for + "battle at sunrise" (Gettysburg), 380 (note); + gives account of appeal of Lee's officers for surrender, 618; + on interview of Generals Lee and Pendleton about surrender, 620. + + Longstreet, Lieutenant-General James, birth of, 13; + appointed to West Point, 15; + assigned to duty as brevet lieutenant at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, + 16; + goes to Louisiana, 18; + to Florida, 18; + assigned lieutenant, 18; + goes to Corpus Christi, 19; + at Palo Alto, 25; + at Resaca de la Palma, 27, 28; + at outbreak of civil war, 29; + leaves Albuquerque, 30; + arrives at Richmond, 32; + appointed brigadier-general, 33; + reports to Beauregard at Manassas Junction, 33; + stays retreat at Blackburn's Ford, 39; + advance of, at Manassas, 44; + orders batteries to fire on Federal retreat, 52; + criticism of, on McDowell, 54; + on Tyler's reconnoissance, 55; + on Beauregard, 56; + invited to dine with the enemy, 60; + promoted major-general, 61; + marches to Culpeper Court-House, 65; + meets President Davis and General Lee in war council at Richmond, 66; + on McClellan, 66; + at Williamsburg, 72, 74; + opposes attack on Hancock's redoubts, 77; + estimates forces engaged at Williamsburg, 79; + Johnston's testimonial to, 80; + in command of right wing from James River to White Oak Swamp, 81; + to strike against Federal right at Seven Pines, 85; + in council with Johnston, 86; + ordered to Williamsburg road, 86; + tactical handling there left to him, 88; + complaint against, by General Smith, 90; + endeavors to harmonize with Huger, 92; + his battle on the Williamsburg road, 96; + plans for resuming battle of Seven Pines at daylight, 103; + asks for reinforcements and a diversion, 108; + makes appeal for ten thousand men to renew fight at Seven Pines, 109; + meets General Lee, 112; + suggests to Lee movement against McClellan's right flank, 114; + letter to, from D. H. Hill, 115, 116; + suggestion of, for method of attack on McClellan adopted by Lee, 120; + in conference with Lee and others, 121; + at Mechanicsville, 124; + puts his reserve into action at Gaines's Mill, 127 _et seq._; + encounters main force of McClellan at Frayser's Farm, 133; + on the field with President Davis and General Lee, 134; + at Malvern Hill, 142, 145; + review by, of campaign, 147; + ordered to Gordonsville with ten brigades, 158; + proposes move against Pope's right, 159; + rides with Lee to Clarke's Mountain, 161; + orders arrest of Toombs, 161, + and release of, 166; + reaches Thoroughfare Gap, _en route_ for Manassas, 173; + arrival on field of Manassas, 180; + makes reconnoissance and reports against attack, 182; + right flank of, ordered attacked by Porter, 184; + orders batteries to attack Porter, for Jackson's relief, 187; + arrives on field of Chantilly, 194; + objects to movement against Harper's Ferry, 201, 202; + orders to, for Maryland campaign, 203; + march of, 206; + expresses to General Lee preference for concentration at Antietam + rather than at Turner's Pass, 219; + at South Mountain, 222; + estimate of troops of, at South Mountain, 226; + position of, in the line, preparatory to battle of Sharpsburg, 234; + advance against his left by Hooker, 236; + troops of, enter fight, 242; + sustains strong attack of General Richardson, 249; + ride of, with General Lee and D. H. Hill on field of Sharpsburg, 254; + orders McLaws and Walker to prepare to assault, 256; + called by General Lee his "old war-horse," 262; + criticism of, on Maryland campaign, 279 _et seq._; + commissioned lieutenant-general, 290; + marches to Culpeper Court-House, 291; + marches for Fredericksburg, 293; + on the heights, 293; + position of troops of, at Fredericksburg, 305; + views his lines preparatory to battle, 306; + differs with General Jackson as to the enemy's purpose, 323; + covers route to Richmond, 323; + ordered to south side of James River, 324; + employs one Harrison as scout, 324; + ordered to rejoin Lee, 326; + criticism of, on battle of Chancellorsville, 329, 330; + proposes measures to General Lee for relief of Vicksburg, 331; + urges that campaign in Pennsylvania should be one of defensive + tactics, 331; + sends Scout Harrison out with secret orders, 333; + takes up march for Gettysburg, 337; + directions to Stuart for movement of cavalry, 342; + orders treated with contumely, 343; + entertains Colonel Fremantle, 343; + Harrison, the scout, reports to, 346; + suggests, on information received, change of march eastward, 347; + rides with General Lee towards Gettysburg, 351; + proposes to General Lee move around the Federal left, 358; + orders columns of First Corps hurried forward for battle, 359; + advances with command, 366; + rides with Wofford's brigade into fight at Little Round Top, 372; + losses of (on second day), 373, 376, 377; + alleged order to, for "battle at sunrise," 377 _et seq._; + letter to, from Colonel Taylor, 379; + letter to, from Colonel Venable, 379; + letter to, from General Long, 380; + letter to, from Charles Marshall, 380; + letter to, from Colonel Fairfax, 380, 381; + letter to, from J. S. D. Cullen, 383, 384; + losses of, on third day, 385 _et seq._; + sends scouts to find way for striking the enemy's left, 385; + interview with General Lee, 386; + did not believe in attack as made, 388; + carefully prepares for making assault, 389, 390; + not advised of failure of Confederate left, 392; + rides to batteries, 395; + testimony to claims of, at Gettysburg, 400; + Fitzhugh Lee upon, 403; + Franco-German war affords parallel for suggestion of, for move around + Federal left, 404; + refutation of the statement that he was "hard to move," 405 _et seq._; + _resume_ of action of, at Gettysburg, 407 _et seq._; + in the retreat from Gettysburg, 429, 430; + urges on Secretary of War Seddon a westward movement, 433, 434; + mentions the matter to General Lee, 434; + letter to, from General Lee, 435; + letter from, to General Lee, 435; + transportation ordered for movement of, to Tennessee, 436; + route of, on westward movement, 436, 437; + parting with Lee, 437; + reaches General Bragg's head-quarters, 438; + placed in command of General Bragg's left wing, 439; + orders to division commanders of, from General Bragg, 447; + orders Hood's division to assault, 447; + rides with General Buckner and comes under fire of the enemy, 450; + lunches on the field, 451; + reports to General Bragg on battle of Chickamauga, and urges pursuit + of enemy, 461; + gives opinion to President Davis against Bragg, 465; + declines assignment to command of Army of Tennessee, 466; + offers resignation to President, who declines it, 467; + urges appointment of General Micah Jenkins to command of Hood's + division, 467; + suggests change of base to Rome, Georgia, 468; + letter to, from General Lee, 469, 470 (note); + calls a signal force from Virginia to Tennessee, 471; + defends position, 472, 473; + arranges night attack on Hooker's rear-guard, 475, 476; + reviews effects and possibilities of Western move, 478, 479; + ordered on campaign in East Tennessee, 480, 481; + organization of command of, 482; + letter of, to General Buckner on East Tennessee campaign, 484, 485; + troops of, on short rations, 486; + orders of, to General Wheeler, 487; + command of, in engagement on Little Tennessee, 490; + orders McLaws to assault fort at Knoxville, 500; + reinforced by General Bushrod R. Johnson, 501; + ordered by Bragg to attack Knoxville, 501; + orders of, to McLaws for assault of Fort Sanders, 502; + letter to, from McLaws, urging delay in attack on Fort Sanders, 504; + answer of, thereto, 504; + recalls troops and gives reasons for, 505-507; + ordered by Bragg to co-operate with his army after defeat at + Chattanooga, 507; + finds conformance to order impracticable, 509; + marches up the Holston Valley, 511; + presence of, in East Tennessee causes concern to Lincoln, 515, + and to Grant, 516; + orders relief of General McLaws, 518; + makes honorable mention of officers, 520; + renews effort to be relieved from service, 524; + marches to Dandridge, 526; + enters Dandridge and drinks to General Gordon Granger, 529; + General Grant gives orders that he be driven from Tennessee, 531; + Foster ordered to offensive against, 532; + despatches concerning, from General Grant to Generals Halleck, Thomas, + and Schofield, 535-537; + orders concentration of forces, 538; + asks for ten thousand additional troops, 539; + purpose of, in latter part of campaign, 539; + on campaign in the far South, 540; + withdrawal of command eastward made necessary, 540; + asked by Richmond authorities for suggestions, 543; + ideas of, on prosecution of the war, 544; + goes to Virginia and submits plans to General Lee, 544; + criticism of, on Bragg before Richmond authorities, 546; + visits wife at Petersburg, 546; + returns to Tennessee, 547; + rejoins General Lee on the Rapidan, 547; + receives vote of thanks in Congress, 550; + in command of First Corps on the Rapidan (1864), 553; + takes short route of march to field of battle (Wilderness), 556, 557, + 559; + troops of, form under fire, 560; + repulses Hancock, 561; + makes flanking movement on Hancock's left, 562; + rides with flanking party, 563; + severely wounded, 564; + borne to the rear, 566; + Northern historian and General Hancock on advance of, 568; + Fitzhugh Lee upon, 568; + letter to, from Colonel Taylor on controversy as to guide at + Wilderness, 569; + letter to, from General Alexander on same subject, 570, 571; + letter to, from Colonel Venable on same, 571; + absent on leave, 572; + again at front, and meets General Lee, 573; + letter of, to Colonel Taylor, 574; + assigned to command on north side of James River, 574; + orders roads broken with ploughs, 580; + puts stop to picket-firing, 581; + meets General E. O. C. Ord and hears proposition for peace convention, + 583, 584; + disclaims authority to speak on, 584; + communicates proposition for meeting, to General Lee, 584; + advocates impressment of gold and men, 588; + starts in pursuit of Sheridan, 592; + visits General Lee at Petersburg, 604; + receives A. P. Hill's corps as part of his command, 608; + on retreat from Richmond, 609; + marches for Farmville, pressed by the enemy, 610; + saves High Bridge, 612; + crosses Appomattox at Farmville, 615; + not among those of Lee's officers who urged surrender, 618; + says "not yet" in regard to surrender, 619; + refuses to bear to General Lee report of officers favoring surrender, + 620; + calls for interview with General Lee, 624; + endeavors to recall General Lee from ride to General Grant, 626; + forms last line of battle, 626; + refuses to surrender to General Custer, 627; + meets General Grant, 630; + formally surrenders command, 630, 631; + visits Washington, 632; + calls on General Grant, 633; + receives letter to President Johnson, 633; + interview of, with the President, 634; + is relieved from political disabilities, 634; + engages in business in New Orleans, 634, 635; + favors holding States under the President's reconstruction policy, 635; + letter of, on the subject to J. M. G. Parker, Esq., 636, 637; + attacked by New Orleans press, 637; + appointed surveyor of customs, 638; + tribute of, to his old nurse, 638; + letter to, from General Lee, congratulating on convalescence, 639; + letter from, to General Lee, 640; + letter of, to General Lee, on impressment of gold, 641; + letter to, from General Lee, on policy of campaign, 642; + letter of, to General Lee, on impressment of men, 644; + letter to, from General Lee, 645; + letter of, to General Lee, on impressment of gold, 646; + letter of, to General Lee, on "peace" interview with General Ord, 647; + letter of, to General Lee, on exchange of political prisoners, 648; + letter to, from General Lee, on interview with General Grant, 649; + letter of, to General Lee, urging use of gold, 649; + letter of, to General Lee, on guarding Danville Railroad, 650; + letter of, to A. A. General Taylor, on suppression of desertion, 651; + letter of, to General Lee, on Sheridan's operations, 652; + letter of, to General Taylor, on policy towards new organizations, 653; + letter to, from General Lee, on proposed history, 654; + letter of congratulation from General Lee, 655; + letter to, from General Lee, suggesting preparation of memoirs, 655; + letter of, to General Lee, on battle of Gaines's Mill, 656; + letter to, from General Lee, on prospects, etc., 657. + + Longstreet, Mrs. James, proposed meeting with Mrs. Grant to bring about + peace, 584; + in church at Richmond, hears news of defeat at Petersburg, 607. + + Longstreet, Owen & Co., letter to, from General Lee, 655. + + Longstreet, Richard, settles in America, 13. + + Longstreet, Robert Lee (son of General Longstreet), birth of, 546. + + Longstreet, William, applies steam to navigation, 1787, 14; + letter to Governor Telfair, 14. + + Lookout Mountain, Confederates upon, 463; + attack near, on Hooker's rear-guard, 476, 477. + + Lost orders, Lee's to Stuart, captured by Pope, 160, 196; + Lee's "General Order No. 191," in Maryland campaign, 203, 212, 282, + 283. + + Loudon, Fort. _See_ Sanders, Fort. + + Lubbock, Colonel, 48. + + Lyle, Captain, in affair on Williamsburg road, 578. + + + M. + + McCall, General John A., joins Army of Potomac, 122; + at Mechanicsville, 124; + at Gaines's Mill, 126; + report of, on Frayser's Farm, 136; + captured at close of battle (Frayser's Farm), 138; + his tenacity of battle, 139. + + McClellan, General George B., 61; + called "the young Napoleon," 63; + delay in marching against Johnston at Centreville, 64; + concentrates army on the James River, 65; + President Davis's high opinion of, 66; + not on field of Williamsburg until late in the day, 80; + at White House, 82; + organizes two provisional army corps, 82; + orders troops withdrawn from Mechanicsville, 125; + orders change of base to James River, 132; + main force of, encounters Longstreet at Frayser's Farm, 133; + masterly retreat of, 132-140, 151; + strength of his position at Malvern Hill, 141; + shows himself well equipped in science of war, 151; + on a gunboat on the James, 151; + reaches Alexandria, 171; + marches in slow pursuit of Lee in Maryland, 208; + report of, on march, 209; + receives Lee's "lost order," 213; + writes President Lincoln of prospects in Maryland, 214; + writes General Halleck on same, 214-216; + "makes haste slowly" after receiving the "lost order," 216; + orders for advance of commands, 217; + prisoners claimed by, at South Mountain, 225; + army of, in position at Antietam, 234; + on field with Hooker, 237; + disapproves of attack by Franklin, 257; + orders Burnside to take bridge over Antietam, 258; + neither plan nor execution of, strong at Antietam, 267; + letter to, from Governor Curtin, 282; + slow march of, after Lee in Maryland, 282; + his position at opening of Maryland campaign, 284, 285; + opinion of, against holding Harper's Ferry, 286; + description of, 285; + compared and contrasted with Lee, 285; + crosses the Potomac, south of the Blue Ridge, 290; + relieved from command, 291. + + McCook, General A. McD., at Chickamauga, 442; + goes before court of inquiry, 465. + + McCook, Colonel D., at Chickamauga, 442. + + McDowell, General Irvin, at West Point, 16; + in the field, 35; + at Centreville, 37; + plan for battle at Manassas, 43; + pushes battle by artillery arm, 49; + gallant effort of, to recover lost power, 50; + criticism of, 54, 56; + in command of Third Corps, Army of Virginia, 153; + march of, to Manassas intercepted by Jackson, 176, 177; + at Manassas, 190. + + McElroy, Colonel, death of, 520. + + McLaws, Major-General L., at Williamsburg, 70; + at Seven Pines, 107, 108; + march of, in Maryland campaign, 207, 208; + orders from, at Crampton's Pass, 230; + at Maryland Heights, 231; + arrives at Sharpsburg, 244; + brigades of, enter battle, 245, 247; + losses of Lee's army in, 266; + at Fredericksburg, 307 _et seq._; + at Gettysburg, 370, 393, 396, 397; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431; + brigades of, start with Longstreet's command for Tennessee, 437; + two brigades of, arrive at Chickamauga, 439; + but commander and other brigades too late, 440; + finally joins Longstreet, 462; + posts army in semicircle near Chattanooga, 463; + engages in attack on Hooker's rear-guard, 476, 477; + in engagement on Little Tennessee, 490; + reaches Knoxville, 495; + advance of, 497; + ordered to assault of fort, 500; + again ordered to assault, 502; + orders of, to command for assault, 503; + letter of, to General Longstreet, urging delay of assault, 504; + letter to, from General Longstreet, 504; + makes assault, 505, 506; + relief of, ordered by General Longstreet, 518; + inquires cause therefor, 518; + is restored to duty, 548. + + Magruder, Fort, at Williamsburg, 68; + attack on, 73. + + Magruder, General J. B., 66; + reinforced by Huger and Early, 67; + builds fortifications at Williamsburg, 68; + engages with Sumner at Allen's Farm and Savage Station, 132. + + Mahone, General William, in battle of Wilderness, 562; + arrests advance of Hancock before Richmond, 576; + at Petersburg, 606; + describes General Lee's reception of disaster in retreat to + Appomattox, 614, 615; + fires High Bridge, 615; + at Cumberland Church, 615; + at Farmville, 617; + in conference with General Lee at Appomattox, 625. + + Malvern Hill, battle of, 141; + positions of troops on field of, 141, 142; + Confederates make poor use of artillery, 143; + General Lee abandons his original plan, 144; + battle begun by advance of the Confederate right, 144; + Confederates repulsed, 144; + Federals march to Harrison's Landing, 145; + Jackson ordered to follow retreat, 146; + casualties, 151. + + Manassas (or Bull Run), first battle of, field chosen by Beauregard, 33; + description of, 34; + Beauregard's plan of battle, 36; + McDowell's arrival, 35, 37; + opening of battle, 38, 46; + forces available, 41; + McDowell's advance driven back, 46; + Terry's and Lubbock's reconnoissance, 45, 48; + fight assumes large proportions, 48; + Jackson christened "Stonewall," 49; + Beauregard in command on left, 49; + Kirby Smith's forces arrive, 50; + McDowell makes effort to recover lost power, 50; + flight of Federals, 51; + Longstreet's order to fire on retreat countermanded by General + Bonham, 52; + pursuit revoked, 53; + losses, 53; + criticism of McDowell, 54, 56; + Tyler's reconnoissance, 55; + Confederate battle-flag, 56; + organization of forces, 57, 58. + + Manassas (or Bull Run), second battle of, making ready for, 163 _et + seq._; + strength of confronting armies, 169; + advance of Pope to, 170; + Jackson first on the field, 171; + Pope reaches the Junction, 172; + first passage of arms on field, 172; + Longstreet at Thoroughfare Gap, 173, 174; + engagement at, 175, 176; + Jackson attacks King's division at Groveton, 175, 176; + Pope's orders to Porter, 178, 179; + battle opened by Federals against Jackson's right, 180; + positions of troops, 181; + Kearny opens against Jackson's left, 182; + Longstreet reports against attack, 182; + Lee returns to first plan of battle, 183; + Confederate advance anticipated by Federals, 184; + Pope on his orders to Porter, 185; + Pope mistakenly thinks Confederates retreating, 185, 186; + Porter ordered against Jackson's front, 186; + Longstreet orders batteries against Porter, 187; + charge of Longstreet's troops, 187; + Lee rides under fire, 189; + action of United States regulars, 190; + Federals retreat, 190; + Jackson and Stuart ordered in pursuit, 191; + forces engaged, and losses, 195; + retreat covered by Sumner, 196; + review of campaign, 196, 197. + + Manassas Junction, Longstreet reports at, to Beauregard, 33; + raid on, by Stuart and Trimble, 167; + engagement at, 169. + + Manning, Colonel P. T., wounded while lunching with Longstreet on field + of Chickamauga, 451. + + Mansfield, Major-General Joseph K. F., crosses the Antietam preparatory + to battle, 237; + mortally wounded at Antietam, 242. + + Marshall, Colonel, letter of, to General Longstreet, on alleged order by + General Lee for battle "at sunrise," 380 (note). + + Martin, Major-General, 441; + supersedes Wheeler in command of Confederate cavalry at Knoxville, 500; + operations against Sturgis's cavalry, 522; + in affair at Dandridge, 526, 527; + in affair near Dandridge, 532; + President Davis orders cavalry of, sent to Johnston, 539; + leaves Longstreet for Georgia, 542. + + Marye, Captain, at Manassas, 40. + + Maryland campaign, the, 199 _et seq._ + (_see_ Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, etc.); + review of, 279 _et seq._ + + Mason, George T., killed on the Rio Grande, 23. + + Matamoras, Taylor's army at, 22. + + May, Charles, heroism of, at Resaca de la Palma, 28. + + Meade, General George G., at South Mountain, 223-225; + at Antietam, 241; + handsome advance of, at Fredericksburg, 308, 309; + succeeds Hooker in command of the Army of the Potomac, 348; + wires General Halleck of plans, 349; + suggestion to, by General Halleck that Lee may turn his left, 360; + position of, on second day at Gettysburg, 363; + recognizes and fears move by Confederate right, 368; + holds council on night of second day, 376; + not apprehensive of Lee's left, 389; + attempts to bring his left against Longstreet's battle, 396; + on suggestion of Longstreet to work towards his line of + communications, 404; + concentrates army at Warrenton, 432; + before the battle of the Wilderness, 552; + orders his troops into action, 559; + at Petersburg, 608; + follows retreat, 610, 611. + + Mechanicsville, battle of, attack by A. P. Hill, 123, 124; + losses of first day, 124; + McClellan orders withdrawal, 125. + + Memoirs of General Longstreet, suggested by General Lee, 655. + + Merritt, General Wesley, Sheridan's chief of cavalry, 590, 598. + + Mexican war, beginning of, 18; + precipitated by movement to the Rio Grande, 21, 22; + first hostilities, 23; + Palo Alto, 25; + Resaca de la Palma, 26. + + Miles, Colonel Dixon H., mentioned by McClellan, 215; + mortally wounded at Harper's Ferry, 232; + orders to, from General Wool, 286. + + Miles, General, at Petersburg, 608. + + Miller, Captain, at Gettysburg, 395. + + Mills, Colonel Roger Q., commands brigade at Chickamauga, 446. + + Milroy, General, fights severe engagement with Ewell at Winchester, 339. + + Minnegerode, Rev., pastor of church in Richmond, 607. + + Mitchell, General R. B., at Chickamauga, 442. + + Moore, Colonel, killed at Seven Pines, 99. + + Morgan, General John T., in engagement on Little Tennessee River, 490; + in affair near Dandridge, 532. + + "Mud March," the, 323. + + Mumford, General T. T., at Five Forks, 596, 597; + ordered by Longstreet against Ord's bridge-burners, 612; + at Cumberland Church, 615; + captures part of Gregg's cavalry, 617; + at Appomattox, 629. + + + N. + + Naglee, General, at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259. + + Napoleon, quotation from, 405. + + Negley, General, at Chickamauga, 442. + + Negroes, Confederate Congress provides for enrolment of, as soldiers, + 582; + suffrage of, 636. + + Nichols, General W. A., at Gettysburg, 374; + extends hospitality to Longstreet, 632, 633. + + North Carolina, Fifth Regiment, slaughter in ranks of, at Williamsburg, + 78. + + Nurse, the old, 638. + + + O. + + Ord, General E. O. C., 62; + meets General Longstreet, 583; + proposes meeting of commanders in interest of peace, 584; + called by General Grant to south side of the James, 595; + following Confederate retreat from Petersburg, 610; + orders burning of High Bridge, 611; + at Appomattox, 623, 624; + interview with, described by Longstreet, 647. + + Orders, lost. _See_ Lost orders. + + Owen, Edward, 635. + + Owen, Miller, 635. + + Owen, William, 635. + + + P. + + Palmer, General J. M., at Chickamauga, 442. + + Palo Alto, 24. + + Parke, General John G., in command at Knoxville, 496; + takes the field along the rear of Longstreet's march, 512; + assumes command of Federals in field on march to Dandridge, 528; + at Fort Steadman, 594, 595; + at Petersburg, 605, 606. + + Parker, J. M. G., letter to, from General Longstreet, 636, 637. + + Patrick, General, at Antietam, 266; + carries Sumner's demand for surrender of Fredericksburg to civil + authorities and General Longstreet, 294; + in attack, 309. + + Patterson, Robert, opposing Johnston in the Valley, 42, 53. + + Peace, propositions for, by General Lee, 204; + to be secured because gold had gone up to 200, 317; + talk of, 582; + mission of Hon. Montgomery Blair, 583; + proposition of General Ord to Longstreet for meeting of commanders in + interest of, 583, 584; + proposed meeting of wives of Generals Grant and Longstreet in interest + of, 584; + correspondence of Generals Lee and Grant, 585, 586; + General Grant disclaims authority to act upon, 587; + Longstreet on interview with General Ord, 547. + + Pegram, Colonel, at Five Forks, 597; + mortally wounded, 599. + + Pegram, General, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Pemberton, General, commissioned lieutenant-general, 290; + with President Davis before Army of the Tennessee, 469; + troops threaten mutiny when they hear Davis's purpose to assign him to + command of Polk's corps, 470. + + Pender, General, at Shepherdstown, 264; + at Fredericksburg, 307; + at Gettysburg, 354. + + Pendleton, General, at Shepherdstown, 264; + saw opportunity for the right at Gettysburg, 368; + charges of, against First Corps, 377; + delivers to General Lee opinion of officers favorable to surrender, + 618; + interview with General Lee on proposition for surrender, 620, 621. + + Peninsula, the, 68. + + Peninsular campaign (_see_ Chickahominy, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, + Gaines's Mill, Malvern Hill, etc.), losses in, 151. + + Pennsylvania, invasion of, 331, 334. + _See_ Gettysburg. + + Perry, General, at Gettysburg, 371. + + Petersburg, battle of, Confederates cross the James, 603; + General Grant's concerted assault, 604; + General Wright makes opening assault, 605; + death of General A. P. Hill, 605; + General Grant rides over captured works, 606; + news of, received by President Davis in church at Richmond, 607; + fierce assaults on Fort Gregg, 607; + heavy losses at Fort Whitworth, 608; + Lee gives orders for retreat, 608; + Lee purposed to join Johnston in North Carolina, 610. + + Pettigrew, General, wounded and captured at Seven Pines, 98; + charge of, at Gettysburg, compared with those of Meade's divisions at + Fredericksburg, 314; + at Gettysburg, 352; + position of, on third day (Gettysburg), 388; + famous charge, 393; + wounding of, 394; + attacked by Kilpatrick in retreat from Gettysburg, 430. + + Pickett, General George E., at Seven Pines, 108; + at Gaines's Mill, 127, 128; + at opening of Fredericksburg, 309; + his charge at Gettysburg compared with that of Meade's division at + Fredericksburg, 314; + position of, on third day, 388; + Alexander gives notice to, and Longstreet affirms order for advance + of, 392; + General Lee favors sending division of, to Longstreet, in Tennessee, + 539; + recalled, to join Longstreet, 591; + ordered to join Lee at Petersburg, 592; + opens battle of Five Forks, 596, 597; + rides under fire to his command, 599; + position at Five Forks not of his choosing, 600; + generalship of, 601; + reinforced too late, 599, 602; + in engagement at Amazon Creek, 606; + escapes capture at Rice's Station, 614. + + Pleasonton, General Alfred, in Maryland campaign, 209, 210; + pushes Confederate cavalry back from the Maryland mountains, 216; + opens battle of South Mountain, 221; + crosses bridge No. 2 (Antietam), 252; + in command of cavalry division under Burnside's reorganization, 292; + engages Stuart's cavalry at Brandy Station, 338; + drives Stuart back to Ashby's Gap, 341. + + Poe, Captain, constructs Federal earthworks at Knoxville, 496; + report on work by citizens and contrabands, 500. + + Political prisoners, General Lee upon exchange of, 586; + General Grant upon, 587; + Longstreet on exchange of, 648. + + Polk, General Leonidas (Bishop), commissioned lieutenant-general, 290; + in command of right wing at Chickamauga, 439; + put under charges by General Bragg, 465. + + Pope, Major-General John, in command of Army of Virginia, 153; + displays bold front as a diversion, 154; + injudicious orders of, 154; + "General Orders No. 11," 155; + his attitude towards non-combatants contrasted with Scott's in Mexico, + 155, 156; + engages with Jackson at Slaughter Mountain, 157; + increases strength of his army, 159; + captures one of Lee's orders and officers, 160; + puts army in retreat across the Rappahannock, 160; + head-quarters of, raided by Stuart, 165; + forms plan to attack Lee, 166; + concentrates Army of Virginia at Warrenton, 168; + orders for advance and concentration at Manassas, 171; + reaches Manassas Junction, 172; + orders to Porter, 178, 179; + orders for attack at Manassas, 180; + orders Porter to attack Longstreet's right, 184; + his report upon, 185; + mistakenly supposes Confederates retreating, 185, 186; + letter to, from General Lee, on death of Kearny, 194; + criticism of, in Manassas campaign, 197. + + Porter, Major-General Fitz-John, in command of Fifth Corps, 82; + at Mechanicsville, 122; + at Gaines's Mill, 126; + at Malvern Hill, 141; + ordered by Pope to Manassas, 171; + march of, delayed, 171; + Pope's orders to, for Manassas, 178; + ordered to attack Longstreet's right flank, 184; + receives order too late, 185; + ordered to attack Jackson's front, 186; + hard battle against, by Jackson and Longstreet, 187, 188; + at Antietam, 234; + ordered ready to enter battle, 252. + + Porter, Theoderic, in theatricals on Mexican frontier, 20; + killed on the Rio Grande, 23. + + Potomac, Army of. _See_ Army of the Potomac. + + Potter, General R. D., in East Tennessee campaign, 490, 492. + + Powell, William H., report of, on Second Manassas, 190. + + Preston, General William, at Chickamauga, 439, 450 (note); + gains Snodgrass Hill, 455. + + Provisional Army Corps, two organized by McClellan, 82. + + + R. + + Rains, General, leaves percussion shells at Williamsburg, 79. + + Ransom, General, at Fredericksburg, 309, 310, 313; + at Five Forks, 596, 598; + horse killed, 599. + + Reed, General Theodore, mortally wounded in engagement at Cumberland + Church, 615. + + Regulars, United States, at First Manassas, 37, 51; + at Second Manassas, 189, 190. + + Reno, General Jesse, division of, joins Pope at Culpeper, 159; + captures signal station, 161; + killed at South Mountain, 223. + + Resaca de la Palma, 26-28. + + Retreats, the great (McClellan's), 132-152; + from Gettysburg, 426 _et seq._ + + Reynolds, General John F., at Mechanicsville, 126; + ordered to attack at Manassas (Second), 180; + in command of right wing of Union army at Gettysburg, 353; + death of, 354. + + Reynolds, General, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Rice's Station, 611; + engagement at, 613, 614. + + Richardson, General I. B., at Sharpsburg, 244, 247; + brave advance of, against Confederate centre, 248, 250; + occupies Piper House at Antietam, 251; + mortally wounded, 251. + + Richardson, Colonel John B., at Second Manassas, 188; + at Sharpsburg, 258, 269; + at Fredericksburg, 319; + at Gettysburg, 411. + + Richmond, apprehended advance on, 64; + practicable routes to, 64; + D. H. Hill's denial of reported proposed abandonment of, when Lee + assumed command, 115, 116; + Burnside's march for, 293; + route to, covered by Longstreet after Fredericksburg battle, 323, 324; + armies again in front of, 572 _et seq._ + (_see_ Richmond, campaign of, in 1864); + news of Petersburg received at, 607. + + "Richmond authorities," forced to extremity, call for suggestions as to + conduct of the war, 543; + Lee and Longstreet confer with, 544. + _See_ Richmond, campaign against. + + Richmond, campaign against, in 1864, fall of General J. E. B. Stuart, + 573; + Longstreet assigned to command north of the James, 574; + Confederate positions, 575; + General Grant conceives plan for left attack, 575, 576; + Mahone arrests advance of Hancock, 576; + affair on the Williamsburg road, 576-578; + closing scenes of (1864), 579; + Sherman's movements come into remote bearing upon affairs around the + capital, 580; + Longstreet orders roads broken up with ploughs, 580; + General Grant strengthens combination against Richmond, 590; + General Grant orders a grand move by his left, 592; + General Lee gives consent to sortie against Fort Steadman, 592; + positions and strength of Federal army, 593; + General Lee's strength, 593, 594; + storming of Fort Steadman, 594; + losses at Fort Steadman, 595; + General Grant begins movement around the Confederate right, 595; + General Lee endeavors to anticipate the movement, 596 + (_see_ Five Forks, battle of, Petersburg, battle of, etc.); + Longstreet in retreat marches for Farmville, 610; + General Meade's pursuit, 610, 611; + movements of Generals Ord and Longstreet, 611, 612; + High Bridge saved by Longstreet, 612; + engagement at Rice's Station, 613, 614; + Confederate disaster, 614; + General Lee's reception of the news described by General Mahone, 614, + 615; + engagement at Cumberland Church, 615; + panic among Confederate teamsters at Farmville, 615; + engagement at Farmville, 616, 617. + _See_ Appomattox, surrender at. + + Ridgely, Randolph, heroism of, at Resaca de la Palma, 27. + + Ripley, General, wounded at Sharpsburg, 243. + + Robertson, General J. B., in engagement at Lookout Valley, 476, 477; + charges and specifications against, 517; + sentenced to suspension, 548. + + Robinson, James, Longstreet's guide in Wilderness, 548. + + "Rock Brigade," at Chickamauga, 448; + at Petersburg, 606. + + Rodes, General R. E., takes Federal redoubt and battery at Seven Pines, + 94; + at South Mountain, 224; + at Sharpsburg, 247; + at Gettysburg, 355, 374. + + Rosecrans, General W. S., threatening of, in Georgia, 433; + understood Bragg's plan for Chickamauga, 439; + rides along Union lines on eve of battle, 443; + at Chattanooga, 463; + reports condition of army deplorable, 470; + superseded in command by General George H. Thomas, 472. + + Rosser, Colonel, on the Rappahannock, 164, 218, 221; + General, saves portion of Early's command and reports to Longstreet, + 591; + at Five Forks, 596; + ordered by Longstreet against Ord's bridge-burners, 612; + at Cumberland Church, 615; + captures part of Gregg's cavalry, 617. + + Ruff, Colonel, honorably mentioned, and death of, 520. + + Ruger, General, opens against Ewell (Gettysburg, third day), 387, 388. + + + S. + + Sailor's Creek, Confederate disaster at, 613-615. + + St. John, Brigadier-General F. M., appointed commissary-general of + subsistence, 583. + + Sanders, Fort, assault on, by General McLaws, 505, 506. + + Scales, General, wounded at Gettysburg, 389. + + Scammon, Colonel, at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259. + + Schofield, General J. M., despatch to, from General Grant, on driving + Longstreet out of Tennessee, 535, 536; + despatch of, to General Thomas, 537. + + Schurz, General Carl, at Gettysburg, 355. + + Scott, General Winfield, 37; + treatment of non-combatants in Mexican war, 156; + advice of, as to "wayward sisters," 631. + + Scout Harrison employed by Longstreet, 324; + reports to Longstreet before Gettysburg, 346. + + Seddon, Secretary of War, sends scouts to Longstreet, 324; + Longstreet calls on, and makes proposition to, for Western movement, + 327, 409; + Western movement again urged on, by Longstreet, 433, 434. + + Sedgwick, General, division of, leads Sumner's advance at Sharpsburg, + 244, 245; + encounters heavy fire, 246; + in command of Sixth Corps, 552. + + Semmes, General, at Gettysburg, 370; + mortally wounded, 371. + + Seven Days' Retreat, McClellan's, 132, 152. + + Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks), battle of, 81; + new line of defence, 81; + McClellan advances to the Chickahominy, 82; + preliminary affairs, 82; + positions of the armies, 83, 84; + Johnston seeks to strike McClellan before McDowell can reach him, 85; + Johnston holds council, 85, 86; + Longstreet ordered to Williamsburg road, 86; + tactical handling there left to him, 88; + terrific storm on eve of battle, 88; + Johnston's orders for Generals Smith and Huger, 89; + lack of harmony between Longstreet, Smith, and Huger, 90, 92; + hour of opening battle, 93; + Garland and the two Andersons strongly engage, 94; + Rodes takes Federal redoubt and battery, 94; + Longstreet's battle on the Williamsburg road, 96; + McClellan orders Sumner's corps to the fight, 97; + Sumner's reports quoted, 98; + General Smith beaten, 98; + General Johnston orders troops to sleep on their lines, 100; + Johnston wounded, 100; + summary of forces and losses, 101, 102; + Longstreet plans for resuming battle at daylight, 103; + the second day's battle, 105; + General Smith holds a council, 107; + Longstreet asks for reinforcements and a diversion, 108; + Pickett's brave stand, 108; + losses, 110; + criticism on General Smith, 110, 111; + the battle should not have been lost by the Confederates, 110; + Keyes's corroboration, 110. + + Seward, Secretary, 583. + + Seymour, General, taken prisoner at Wilderness, 565. + + Shaler, General, captured at Wilderness, 565. + + Shannon, Lieutenant, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Sharpsburg (or Antietam), battle of, preliminaries, 227 _et seq._; + head of Lee's army reaches the Antietam, 233; + Union army on the field, 234; + McClellan makes reconnoissance, 234; + description of the field, 235; + Hooker advances against Longstreet, 236; + Jackson arrives from Harper's Ferry, 236; + General Mansfield crosses the Antietam, 237; + the bloodiest single day of the war, 239; + comparison with other battles, 240; + battle opens, 241; + fall of General Mansfield, 242; + heavy losses in General Walker's, Hood's, and Hill's commands, 243; + Federals in heavy columns cross the Antietam, 244; + Sumner's advance, 245, 247; + Richardson's march against the Confederate centre, 248; + Longstreet's battle on the Hagerstown pike, 249; + fall of G. B. Anderson, 249; + Richardson mortally wounded, 251; + attack against Confederate centre reduced to defensive, 252; + Pleasonton crosses bridge No. 2, 252; + his threatening demonstration checked, 253; + D. H. Hill's horse shot under him, 254; + Jackson ordered to turn Federal right, 257; + McClellan's orders to Burnside to take bridge, 258; + charge of Colonel Duryea, 259; + advance against Longstreet's right, 260; + arrival of General A. P. Hill, 261; + Burnside's progress arrested, 262; + meeting of Lee and Longstreet after close of battle, 262; + Lee withdraws across the Potomac, 263 + (_see_ Shepherdstown); + strength of armies, 265; + losses, 266; + McClellan's plan and execution not strong, 267; + Confederate troops engaged in, 267; + Federal troops engaged in, 271; + full significance of battle, 288; + comments on Stonewall Jackson at, 401 (note). + + Shepherdstown, Lee's army crosses Potomac at, 263; + engagement at, 264, 265. + + Sheridan, General P. H., at Chickamauga, 442; + in command of Federals of Foster's army on march to Dandridge, 528; + in fight at Yellow Tavern, 573; + marches cavalry from the valley to join Sherman, 590; + in battle of Five Forks, 596, 597, 598; + at Petersburg, 606; + at Appomattox, 622; + Longstreet on operations of, 652. + + Sherman, General William T., at West Point, 17; + advance of, at Manassas, 48; + marching on Chattanooga, 480; + proposes to strike Hardee, 515; + movements of, come into remote bearing + upon matters around Richmond, 580; + progressive movements of, 581. + + Sickles, General Daniel, at Fredericksburg, 309; + in affair at the Peach Orchard (Gettysburg), 366, 371; + wounded, 371. + + Sigel, General, in command of First Corps, Army of Virginia, 153; + ordered by Pope to attack at Manassas (Second), 180. + + Sims, Captain, at Appomattox, 627. + + Slaughter Mountain, battle at, 157. + + Slaughter, M., mayor of Fredericksburg, reply of, to General Sumner's + demand for surrender, 294-296. + + Slocum, General Henry W., at Crampton's Pass, 229; + at Gettysburg, 356. + + Smith, General E. K., commissioned lieutenant-general, 290. + + Smith, Major-General G. W., reports for duty with Army of Northern + Virginia, 60; + called to Richmond for council with War Department, 65; + Johnston's orders to, for Seven Pines, 89; + complaint of, against Longstreet, 90; + beaten at Seven Pines, 98; + command devolved upon, temporarily, after Johnston was wounded, 100; + standing of, 103; + holds council, 107; + criticism upon, 110, 111; + resignation of, 111. + + Smith, General Kirby, arrives on field of Manassas, 49; + is wounded, 50. + + Smith, General M. L., in Wilderness, 561; + makes reconnoissance and leads flanking force, 562, 563. + + Smith, Major Melancthon, at Chickamauga, 441. + + Smith, General W. F., at Crampton's Pass, 229; + opens line of railway on the Tennessee, 472; + move of, against Confederate sharp-shooters, 473. + + Soldiers, the Confederate, tributes to, 200, 288; + amusement of, 325. + + Sorrel, Lieutenant-Colonel G. M., 47; + goes with Longstreet to Chickamauga, 438; + communicates to General McLaws order of relief from General + Longstreet, 518; + leads divisions in flanking party in Wilderness, 562; + appointed brigadier, 581. + + South Mountain, description of, 218; + advance of Union forces to, 219; + battle of, opened by Generals Pleasonton and Cox, 221; + General Garland killed, 221; + Federals in superior strength numerically, 222; + General Reno killed, 223; + the strong battle against General Rodes, 224; + exhaustion of the troops, 225; + losses, 225; + Lee orders withdrawal of troops from, 228. + + Staff of General Lee, 573. + + Steadman, Fort, sortie against, 592 _et seq._ + + Steamboat invented by William Longstreet, 14. + + Steedman, General, at Chickamauga, 442. + + Stephens, Hon. Alex. H., 583. + + Steuart, General George H., marches through McConnellsburg and Carlisle, + 345; + at Gettysburg, 374; + at Five Forks, 600. + + Stevens, General I. I., at West Point, 17; + division of, joins Pope on Rappahannock, 161; + at Manassas (Second), 182; + killed at Chantilly, 194; + tribute to, 195. + + Stewart, General, at Chickamauga, 439; + makes strong advance and assault, 447. + + Strawberry Plains. _See_ Dandridge. + + Stribling's battery, captured at Suffolk, 325. + + Stuart, General J. E. B., disperses Federals at Lewinsville, 60; + at Dranesville, 62; + opposes Hooker on the Hampton and Yorktown roads, 68, 69; + at Williamsburg, 75; + reconnoissance by, around McClellan's army, 116-119; + cuts off Stoneman's cavalry at Savage Station, 130; + at Erlington Heights, 146; + raids General Pope's head-quarters, 165, 166; + captures supplies, etc., at Manassas Junction, 167; + cavalry of, in first passage of arms on field of Manassas, 172; + takes a map on the field, 183; + in pursuit of Pope's retreat, 193; + at Maryland Heights, 229; + rides around Union army at Sharpsburg and Harper's Ferry, 290; + engages Pleasonton's cavalry at Brandy Station, 338; + orders to, from General Lee, for march to Pennsylvania, 340; + driven by Pleasonton back to Ashby's Gap, 341; + directions to, from Longstreet, for movements by cavalry, 342; + late arrival of, at Gettysburg, 373; + stubborn fight of, on third day, 396; + covering Confederate retreat from Gettysburg, 428; + death of, at Yellow Tavern, 572, 573; + character of, 573. + + Sturgis, General, at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259; + operations against Martin's cavalry, 521, 522; + occupies Dandridge, 526; + in affair at Dandridge, 526; + attempts to strike Martin's rear, 527. + + Suffolk, General Longstreet's operations about, 324. + + Sumner, General E. V., in command of right on Chickahominy, 84; + ordered by McClellan into battle at Seven Pines, 97; + reports of, 98; + defeats Magruder at Savage Station, 132; + gallant covering of retreat from Second Manassas, 196; + Lee's "lost order" found in camp of, 213; + advance of, at Sharpsburg, 245; + eagerness and bravery of, 247; + in command of Right Grand Division Army of the Potomac, 292; + calls for surrender of Fredericksburg, 293; + troops of, enter Fredericksburg, 304. + + "Sunrise order" for battle at Gettysburg, 377 _et seq._ + + Surrender. _See_ Appomattox, surrender at. + + Sykes, General, in command of United States regulars at Manassas, 51; + at Second Manassas, 189; + at Fredericksburg, 313; + corps of, at Little Round Top, 371. + + + T. + + Taliaferro, General, wounded at Groveton, 177; + at Fredericksburg, 309. + + Taylor, Colonel Erasmus, on Lee's acknowledgment of fault at Gettysburg, + 400; + takes guide to Longstreet in Wilderness, 557; + letter of, to Longstreet, on controversy as to guide at Wilderness, + 569. + + Taylor, General, mortally wounded at Manassas Junction, 170. + + Taylor, Assistant Adjutant-General W. H., letter of, to General + Longstreet, on order for "battle at sunrise" (Gettysburg), 379 + (note); + on supporting Longstreet at Gettysburg, 397; + states strength of Army of Northern Virginia (May, 1864), 553; + letter to, from Longstreet, 574; + reports Lee's strength for defence of Richmond, 593, 594; + letter to, from Longstreet, 651; + letter to, from Longstreet, on policy towards new organizations, 653. + + Taylor, General Zachary, in command of "army of observation" in + Louisiana, 18; + moves to the Rio Grande, 21; + calls for volunteers, 23; + at Resaca de la Palma, 27. + + Tennessee, Army of the. _See_ Army of Tennessee. + + Tennessee campaign, 438 _et seq._ + _See_ Chickamauga, battle of, etc. + + Tennessee, East, campaign of. _See_ East Tennessee campaign. + + Terry, Colonel, 48, 596. + + Terry, General, before Richmond, 576; + in second expedition against Wilmington, 582; + at Five Forks, 595, 597, 600. + + Texas seeks annexation, 18. + + Thomas, Colonel, death of, 520. + + Thomas, General George H., at West Point, 17; + commands four divisions of Rosecrans's army at Chickamauga, 441-443; + calls for reinforcements, 446; + supersedes General Rosecrans in command, 472; + called on by General Foster for troops to aid in campaign against + Longstreet, 533; + despatch from General Grant to, on Longstreet, 534-537; + despatch to, from General Schofield, 537. + + Thompson, Major, killed, 630. + + Thoroughfare Gap, Longstreet's advance column at, 173; + description of, 174. + _See_ Manassas, Second. + + Tidball's artillery at Fort Steadman, 594. + + Toombs, General Robert, on the Chickahominy, 113; + ordered under arrest by Longstreet, 161; + released, 166; + at Second Manassas, 189; + gallantly defends bridge against Burnside, 257; + forced to retire, 260. + + Triggs, General, at Chickamauga, 449. + + Trimble, General, in engagement on Rappahannock, 164; + at Manassas Junction, 167; + charge of, at Gettysburg compared with that of Meade's men at + Fredericksburg, 314; + position of, at Gettysburg, third day, 388; + in the famous charge, 393; + wounding of, 394. + + Turner, General, at Petersburg, 607; + assaults Fort Whitworth, 608. + + Tyler, General, reconnoissance of, at Manassas, 38, 55. + + + V. + + Vance, General, captured by Federals, 531. + + Van Cleve, General H. P., at Chickamauga, 442. + + Venable, Colonel Charles S., mentioned, 363, 379; + letter of, to General Longstreet on "battle at sunrise" order at + Gettysburg, 379 (note); + on putting Heth's division in assaulting columns, 398; + takes order for change of direction to Longstreet in Wilderness, 557; + letter of, to Longstreet, on movement of latter to the Wilderness, 571; + gives account of last scenes and of General Lee, 624. + + Vincent, General, killed at Little Round Top (Gettysburg), 372. + + Virginia "Foot Cavalry," 146. + + Virginia, "too much," 332. + + + W. + + Wadsworth, General James S., at Gettysburg, 374; + mortally wounded at Wilderness, 563. + + Wagner, Lieutenant, mortally wounded by remarkable cannon-shot, 255. + + Walker, General J. G., at Harper's Ferry, 231; + at Sharpsburg, 242, 247. + + Walker, General W. H. T., at Chickamauga, 441, 446. + + Walton, Colonel, Longstreet's order to, 390. + + War feeling in the South, 31. + + War, Mexican. _See_ Mexican war. + + War, the general status of, on Confederate side, 543; + suggestions for conduct of, by Longstreet, 544. + + Warren, Major-General G. K., finds Little Round Top the citadel of the + field at Gettysburg, 371; + testimony as to third day at Gettysburg, 398; + in command of Fifth Corps (1864), 552; + makes opening attack in Wilderness, 558; + at Five Forks, 597. + + Washburn, Colonel, mortally wounded, 615. + + Washington Artillery, the, at Manassas, 37, 40, 41, 49; + at Second Manassas, 181, 186; + at Sharpsburg, 233, 236, 243, 249, 250, 261, 267; + at Fredericksburg, 311; + at Gettysburg, 390 _et seq._ + + Weed, General, killed on Little Round Top (Gettysburg), 372. + + Weitzel, General, before Richmond, 576, 595, 603, 604. + + West Point, distinguished men at, 16, 17. + + Westward movement, first proposed to Secretary of War Seddon by + Longstreet, 327, 409; + reverted to by Longstreet, 433, 434; + transportation ordered for, 436; + Longstreet reaches General Bragg's head-quarters, 438 + (_see_ Chickamauga, battle of, etc.); + difference between time proposed for and actual making of, 478, 479. + + Weymouth, Captain, at Fredericksburg, 303. + + Wharton, General, 441. + + Wheeler, General, makes cavalry raid on Tennessee River, 463; + Longstreet's orders to, in East Tennessee, 487, 488; + in engagement on Little Tennessee River, 490; + returns to General Bragg, 500. + + White House, McClellan establishes his permanent depot at, 82. + _See_ Seven Pines. + + Whiting, Major, at Manassas, 52; + General, at Seven Pines, 105-107; + desires to leave Fair Oaks, 113; + reinforces Jackson, 115; + at Gaines's Mill, 127, 128; + mortally wounded at Fort Fisher, 582. + + Whittle, Colonel, wounded at Gettysburg, 394. + + Whitworth, Fort (Petersburg), 606-608. + + Wilcox, General, at Burnside's Bridge (Antietam), 259; + at Gettysburg, 374; + at Wilderness, 556, 558, 560; + at Fort Steadman, 594; + at Petersburg, 605, 606, 608. + + Wilderness, the, battle of, General Grant with Army of the Potomac, 552; + strength of confronting armies, 552-554; + Army of the Potomac crosses the Rapidan, 555; + General Grant had no fixed plan beyond avoiding Lee's defensive line, + 555; + Wilderness described, 555, 556; + march of Longstreet's command, 556; + receives a guide, 557; + troops meet and action cannot wait, 558; + attack by General Warren, 558; + Confederates fail to intrench at night, 560; + Hancock's advance in the morning, 560; + Longstreet's troops form line under fire, 560, + and repulse Hancock's advance, 561; + the Ninth Corps ordered in by General Grant, 561; + Longstreet organizes flanking movement against Hancock's left, 562, + 563; + General Jenkins mortally and Longstreet severely wounded, 564; + General Lee on the field in command, 565; + value of a "level head," 566; + the failure to intrench by Third Corps, 565-567; + delay in advance after Longstreet was disabled, 567; + controversy as to Longstreet's march and guide, 568, 571. + + Willard, General, killed at Gettysburg, 371. + + Williamsburg, battle of, 72; + advance of Hooker, 73; + Longstreet orders Early to support the left, 74; + Stuart's charge, 75; + Anderson's concentrated movement on, and capture of guns, 75; + Anderson driven back by Hooker's reinforcements, 76; + Hancock takes two redoubts, 77; + attack by D. H. Hill and Early, with great slaughter of the latter's + troops because of blunder, 78; + forces engaged, 79; + casualties, 79; + object of the battle, 79; + Hancock called "the Superb," 80. + + Williamsburg, engagement near, 68-70. + + Williamsburg road, affair on (1864), 576-578. + + Williamsport, Confederates at, on retreat from Gettysburg, 428, 429. + + Wilmington, first move against, 580; + second expedition against, 582. + + Winchester, engagement at, between Ewell and Milroy, 339. + + Winder, General, mortally wounded at Slaughter Mountain, 157. + + Winthrop, Captain, wounded at Knoxville in leading assault, 497. + + Wofford, General, Longstreet rides with, to Little Round Top, 372; + in retreat from Gettysburg, 431; + in engagement on Little Tennessee River, 490; + in assault on Fort Sanders, 502, 503, 505; + at Dandridge, 526; + at Wilderness, 562, 563. + + Wood, General T. J., at Chickamauga, 442, 446. + + Woodhull, Major Alfred A., gives account of remarkable cannon-shot, 255. + + Wool, General John E., orders to Colonel Miles, in command of Harper's + Ferry, 286. + + Worth, General, at Corpus Christi, 20. + + Wright, General, at Gettysburg, 371; + makes assault at Petersburg, 605. + + Wrightsville, bridge at, burned, 345. + + + Y. + + Yellow Tavern, engagement at, between Sheridan and Stuart, 573. + + York, authorities of, surrender to General John B. Gordon, 345. + + Yorktown, Confederates occupy, 67; + intrenchments abandoned, 68. + + +THE END. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Brother of the rear-admiral. + +[2] He had a similar wound in the war of 1812. + +[3] Rebellion Record, vol. ii. p. 309. Less two regiments and one cavalry +troop. + +[4] General Beauregard claims that he was not so strong, but estimates +seem to warrant the number given. + +[5] In that attack the division commander, Colonel David Hunter, was +wounded. + +[6] Rebellion Record, vol. ii. pp. 351, 387, 405, 426. + +[7] Ibid., 328. + +[8] Not engaged. + +[9] In reserve at Centreville and not in battle proper. + +[10] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part i. p. 521. + +[11] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part i. p. 568. + +[12] Ibid., p. 450. + +[13] Smith's War Papers. + +[14] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part iii. p. 563. + +[15] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part i. p. 938. + +[16] General Berry thought that he got up as far as the Casey camp, but +mistook Couch's opening for that of Casey. + +[17] Confederate War Papers, G. W. Smith. + +[18] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part i. p. 763. + +[19] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 813. + +[20] Previous returns give him 11,000, but one of his brigades was absent. + +[21] Smith's War Papers. + +[22] Ibid. + +[23] Ibid. + +[24] Smith's War Papers. + +[25] Ibid. + +[26] Letter from General McLaws. + +[27] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part iii. p. 910. + +[28] Of interest in this connection is a letter to the author from General +D. H. Hill: + + "FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., February 4, 1879. + + "GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET: + + "MY DEAR GENERAL,--I never heard of the proposed abandonment of + Richmond at the time General Lee took command. I had charge of one of + the four divisions with which the retreat from Yorktown was effected, + and was called several times into General Lee's most important + councils. I never heard any officer suggest such a course in these + councils or in private conversations. + + "I feel sure that General Johnston always intended to fight the + invading force, and so far as I know no officer of rank entertained + any other view. + + "I remember very well that some days before the council on the Nine + Miles road (when yourself, A. P. Hill, and myself were present) that + you suggested the plan of attacking McClellan's right flank, and that + I expressed my preference for an attack on the other flank. This shows + that there was no thought of retreat. + + "Very truly yours, + "D. H. HILL." + +[29] Official account, Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part i. p. 1036. + +[30] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 882. + +[31] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 38. + +[32] From memory I will say that this message from General Lee was +delivered by Captain A. P. Mason. + +[33] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 517. Stuart. + +[34] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 627. D. H. Hill. + +[35] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 100. Heintzelman. + +[36] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 107. + +[37] Ibid., pp. 162-164. + +[38] A name taken by the infantry from the Valley district on account of +their swift secret marches. + +[39] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 664. + +[40] Rebellion Record, vol. xi. part ii. p. 687. + +[41] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 52. + +[42] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 53. + +[43] His letter of August 14, 1862. + +[44] Rebellion Record, vol xii. part ii. p. 29. + +[45] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 378. + +[46] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 381. + +[47] Ibid., pp. 74, 75. + +[48] Ibid., p. 371. + +[49] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 518. + +[50] Ibid., p. 520. + +[51] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 40. General Pope. + +[52] Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. + +[53] Rebellion Record. + +[54] Rebellion Record, vol. xii. part ii. p. 558. General Lee's report. + +[55] + + "HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, + "September 9, 1862. + +"SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. 191. + +"The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hagerstown road. +General Jackson's command will form the advance, and, after passing +Middletown, with such portion as he may select, take the route towards +Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and, by Friday +night, take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of +the enemy as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to +escape from Harper's Ferry. + +"General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as +Boonsborough, where it will halt with the reserve, supply, and baggage +trains of the army. + +"General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. H. Anderson, +will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middletown he will take the +route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the +Maryland Heights, and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and +vicinity. + +"General Walker, with his division, after accomplishing the object in +which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford, ascend +its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudoun Heights, if +practicable, by Friday morning, Key's Ford on his left, and the road +between the end of the mountain and the Potomac on his right. He will, as +far as practicable, co-operate with General McLaws and General Jackson in +intercepting the retreat of the enemy. + +"General D. H. Hill's division will form the rear-guard of the army, +pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, +supply-trains, etc., will precede General Hill. + +"General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the +commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and with the main +body of the cavalry will cover the route of the army and bring up all +stragglers that may have been left behind. + +"The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accomplishing +the objects for which they have been detached, will join the main body of +the army at Boonsborough or Hagerstown. + +"Each regiment on the march will habitually carry its axes in the +regimental ordnance wagons, for use of the men at their encampments to +procure wood, etc. + + "By command of General R. E. Lee. + + "R. H. CHILTON, + "_Assistant Adjutant-General_. + + "MAJOR-GENERAL D. H. HILL, + "_Commanding Division_." + +[56] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part ii. p. 600. + +[57] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 41. McClellan's official +account. + +[58] Record, vol. xix. part i. + +[59] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part ii. p. 281. + +[60] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 48. + +[61] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 183. + +[62] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 961. + +[63] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 47. + +[64] Some authorities say (including a small number of "captured or +missing") 12,601. + +[65] Report of Committee, part i. p. 368. + +[66] Of this shot, Captain A. B. More, of Richmond, Virginia, wrote, under +date of June 16, 1886,-- + +"The Howitzers have always been proud of that shot, and, thinking it would +interest you, I write to say that it was fired by Corporal Holzburton, of +the Second Company, Richmond Howitzers, from a ten-pound Parrott." + +[67] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 377. + +[68] Rebellion Record, vol. i. part i. p. 63. + +[69] This includes eighty-five lost by S. D. Lee's artillery, not +regularly assigned as part of the corps. + +[70] Surgeon Lafayette Guild, medical director of the Army of Northern +Virginia, in his official tabulated report, accounts for 10,291 only. + +[71] Compiled from the official reports. + +[72] Left at Leesburg. + +[73] Commanding brigade while General Evans commanded provisional +division. + +[74] Attached to Twenty-first North Carolina Regiment. + +[75] John R. Johnson's and D'Aquin's batteries were the only ones present +with this division at Sharpsburg. + +[76] Braxton's, Crenshaw's, McIntosh's, and Pegram's batteries engaged at +Sharpsburg. + +[77] Cutts's and Jones's battalions also under D. H. Hill's command at +Sharpsburg. + +[78] First Virginia Artillery. + +[79] With D. H. Hill's division at Sharpsburg. + +[80] Left at Leesburg. + +[81] Compiled from the records of the Adjutant-General's Office. On +September 14 the right wing of the army, consisting of the First and Ninth +Corps, was commanded by Major-General Burnside; the centre, composed of +the Second and Twelfth Corps, by Major-General Sumner, and the left wing, +comprising the Sixth Corps and Couch's division (Fourth Corps), by +Major-General Franklin. + +[82] Designation changed from Third Corps, Army of Virginia, to First Army +Corps, by General Orders, No. 129, Adjutant-General's Office, September +12, 1862. + +[83] Wounded September 17. + +[84] Relieved September 14. + +[85] Wounded September 14. + +[86] Joined September 9, and detached September 13 as railroad guard. + +[87] Wounded September 14. + +[88] Detached at Washington, D. C., since September 6. + +[89] Wounded September 17. + +[90] Wounded September 17. + +[91] Assigned to the Sixth Corps as the Third Division, September 26, +1862. + +[92] Joined September 17. + +[93] Joined September 15. + +[94] This division was organized September 12, and reached the +battle-field of Antietam September 18. + +[95] Assigned to First Division, Second Army Corps, September 17. + +[96] On the 16th and 17th, Major General Burnside exercised general +command on the left, and Brigadier-General Cox was in immediate command of +the corps. + +[97] Killed September 14. + +[98] Wounded September 17. + +[99] Designation changed from Second Corps, Army of Virginia, to Twelfth +Army Corps, by General Orders, No. 129, Adjutant-General's Office, +September 12, 1862. + +[100] Mortally wounded September 17. + +[101] Wounded September 17. + +[102] No officers present; enlisted men of company attached to Second +Massachusetts. + +[103] Detached September 9. + +[104] Detached September 13. + +[105] Killed September 17. + +[106] Detached at Frederick, Md. + +[107] Rebellion Record, vol. xix. part i. p. 520. + +[108] See organization of the army appended to account of the battle of +Fredericksburg. + +[109] Rebellion Record, vol. xxi. part i. p. 783. + +[110] Rebellion Record, vol. xxi. part i. p. 1121. + +[111] Ibid., p. 1057. + +[112] Rebellion Record, vol. xxi. part i. p. 432. + +[113] Vol. xxi. of the Official Records. + +[114] Not assigned to divisions. + +[115] Majors Garnett, Hamilton, and T. J. Page, Jr., are mentioned in the +reports as commanding artillery battalions, but their composition is not +stated. + +[116] Organization of brigades as established November 10, 1862. On roster +for December 16, 1862, Hart's, Breathed's, Moorman's, and Chew's batteries +appear as attached, respectively, to the First, Second, Third, and Fourth +Brigades. Commanders are given as reported December 16, 1862. + +[117] Detachment on raid to Dumfries. + +[118] In the Shenandoah Valley. + +[119] The Confederate dry-goods factories, for want of other dye-stuffs, +had long before this resorted to the use of the butternut coloring. + +[120] Rebellion Record, vol. xxv. part ii. p. 320. + +[121] Ibid., p. 696. + +[122] General D. H. Hill was next in rank to General Ewell. He was the +hero of Bethel, Seven Pines, South Mountain, and the hardest fighter at +Sharpsburg. His record was as good as that of "Stonewall" Jackson, but, +not being a Virginian, he was not so well advertised. + +[123] Report Committee, vol. i p. 480. + +[124] From General Lee's official report: "... It was ascertained from the +prisoners that we had been engaged with two corps of the army formerly +commanded by General Hooker, and that the remainder of that army, under +General Meade, was approaching Gettysburg. Without information as to its +proximity, the strong position which the enemy had assumed could not be +attacked without danger of exposing the four divisions present, already +weakened and exhausted by a long and bloody struggle, to overwhelming +numbers of fresh troops. General Ewell was, therefore, instructed to carry +the hill occupied by the enemy, if he found it practicable, but to avoid a +general engagement until the arrival of the other divisions of the army, +which were ordered to hasten forward. He decided to await Johnson's +division, which had marched from Carlisle by the road west of the +mountains to guard the trains of his corps, and consequently did not reach +Gettysburg until a late hour...." + +[125] Report of Committee, vol. i. p. 488. + +[126] His account. + +[127] In his official report he puts Jenkins's force at the opening +campaign at three thousand eight hundred. + +[128] General Lee, by Fitzhugh Lee (note), p. 299. + +[129] His official report. + +[130] Following are the essential portions of the letters referred to, +affording unquestionable and overwhelming testimony against the claim that +General Longstreet was ordered to give battle "at sunrise": + + "NORFOLK, VA., April 28, 1875. + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... I can only say that I never before heard of the + 'sunrise attack' you were to have made, as charged by General + Pendleton. If such an order was given you I never knew of it, or it + has strangely escaped my memory. I think it more than probable that if + General Lee had had your troops available the evening previous to the + day of which you speak, he would have ordered an early attack, but + this does not touch the point at issue. I regard it as a great mistake + on the part of those who, perhaps because of political differences, + now undertake to criticise and attack your war record. Such conduct is + most ungenerous, and I am sure meets the disapprobation of all good + Confederates with whom I have had the pleasure of associating in the + daily walks of life. + + "Yours, very respectfully, + "W. H. TAYLOR." + + + "UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, May 11, 1875. + + "GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET: + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... I did not know of any order for an attack on the + enemy at sunrise on the 2d, nor can I believe any such order was + issued by General Lee. About sunrise on the 2d of July I was sent by + General Lee to General Ewell to ask him what he thought of the + advantages of an attack on the enemy from his position. (Colonel + Marshall had been sent with a similar order on the night of the 1st.) + General Ewell made me ride with him from point to point of his lines, + so as to see with him the exact position of things. Before he got + through the examination of the enemy's position, General Lee came + himself to General Ewell's lines. In sending the message to General + Ewell, General Lee was explicit in saying that the question was + whether he should move all the troops around on the right and attack + on that side. I do not think that the errand on which I was sent by + the commanding general is consistent with the idea of an attack at + sunrise by any portion of the army. + + "Yours, very truly, + "CHARLES S. VENABLE." + + + "BALTIMORE, MD., May 7, 1875. + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... I have no personal recollection of the order to + which you refer. It certainly was not conveyed by me, nor is there + anything in General Lee's official report to show the attack on the 2d + was expected by him to begin earlier, except that he notices that + there was not proper concert of action on that day.... + + "Respectfully, + "CHARLES MARSHALL." + + + "BIG ISLAND, BEDFORD, VA., May 31, 1875. + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... I do not recollect of hearing of an order to + attack at sunrise, or at any other designated hour, pending the + operations at Gettysburg during the first three days of July, 1863.... + + "Yours truly, + "A. L. LONG." + + + "FREESTONE P. O., PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA., + "November 12, 1877. + + "MY DEAR GENERAL LONGSTREET,--... The winter after the death of + General Lee I was in Lexington, visiting my sons at the V. M. I. + General Pendleton called to see me at the hotel. General Custis Lee + was in my room when he came in. After General Lee left, General + Pendleton asked me if General Longstreet was not ordered to attack on + the 2d of July at Gettysburg at six o'clock in the morning, and did + not attack until four o'clock in the evening. I told him it was not + possible. When he left me I was under the impression I had convinced + him of his mistaken idea. I told General Pendleton that you and + General Lee were together the greater part of the day up to about + three o'clock or later; that you separated at the mouth of a lane not + long thereafter. You said to me, 'Those troops will be in position by + the time you get there; tell General Hood to attack.' When I gave the + order to General Hood he was standing within a step or two of his line + of battle. I asked him to please delay his attack until I could + communicate to General Longstreet that he can turn the + enemy,--pointing to a gorge in the mountain, where we would be + sheltered from his view and attack by his cavalry. General Hood + slapped me on the knee and said, 'I agree with you,--bring General + Longstreet to see for himself.' When I reported to you, your answer + was, 'It is General Lee's order; the time is up,--attack at once.' I + lost no time in repeating the same to General Hood, and remained with + him to see the attack, which was made instantly. We had a beautiful + view of the enemy's left from Hood's position, which was close up to + him. He gave way quickly. General Hood charged, and I spurred to + report to you; found you with hat in hand cheering on General McLaws's + division.... + + "Truly your friend, + "JOHN W. FAIRFAX." + +[131] "Four Years with General Lee." + +[132] Upon the various matters of this momentous day, which have been +subject of controversy, the following testimony from J. S. D. Cullen is +interesting and important: + + "RICHMOND, VA., May 18, 1875. + + "GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET: + + "DEAR GENERAL,--... It was an astounding announcement to the survivors + of the First Army Corps that the disaster and failure at Gettysburg + was alone and solely due to its commander, and that had he obeyed the + orders of the commander-in-chief Meade's army would have been beaten + before its entire force had assembled, and its final discomfiture + thereby made certain. It is a little strange that these charges were + not made while General Lee was alive to substantiate or disprove them, + and that seven years or more were permitted to pass by in silence + regarding them. You are fortunate in being able to call upon the + adjutant-general and the two confidential officers of General Lee's + staff for their testimony in the case, and I do not think that you + will have any reason to fear their evidence. They knew every order + that was issued for that battle, when and where attacks were to be + made, who were slow in attacking, and who did not make attacks that + were expected to be made. I hope, for the sake of history and for your + brave military record, that a quietus will at once be put on this + subject. I distinctly remember the appearance in our head-quarters + camp of the scout who brought from Frederick the first account that + General Lee had of the definite whereabouts of the enemy; of the + excitement at General Lee's head-quarters among couriers, + quartermasters, commissaries, etc., all betokening some early movement + of the commands dependent upon the news brought by the scout. That + afternoon General Lee was walking with some of us in the road in front + of his head-quarters, and said, 'To-morrow, gentlemen, we will not + move to Harrisburg as we expected, but will go over to Gettysburg and + see what General Meade is after.' Orders had then been issued to the + corps to move at sunrise on the morning of the next day, and promptly + at that time the corps was put on the road. The troops moved slowly a + short distance when they were stopped by Ewell's wagon-trains and + Johnson's division turning into the road in front of them, making + their way from some point north to Cashtown or Gettysburg. How many + hours we were detained I am unable to say, but it must have been many, + for I remember eating a lunch or dinner before moving again. Being + anxious to see you, I rode rapidly by the troops (who, as soon as they + could get into the road, pushed hurriedly by us also), and overtook + you about dark at the hill this side of Gettysburg, about half a mile + from the town. You had been at the front with General Lee, and were + returning to your camp, a mile or two back. I spoke very exultingly of + the victory we were thought to have obtained that day, but was + surprised to find that you did not take the same cheerful view of it + that I did, and presently you remarked that it would have been better + had we not fought than to have left undone what we did. You said that + the enemy were left occupying a position that it would take the whole + army to drive them from and then at a great sacrifice. We soon reached + the camp, three miles, perhaps, from Gettysburg, and found the column + near by. Orders were issued to be ready to march at 'daybreak,' or + some earlier hour, next morning. About three o'clock in the morning, + while the stars were shining, you left your head-quarters and rode to + General Lee's, where I found you sitting with him _after sunrise_ + looking at the enemy on Cemetery Hill...." + + "I am yours, very truly, + "J. S. D. CULLEN." + +[133] Rebellion Record. + +[134] "Four Years with General Lee," W. H. Taylor, page 103. + +[135] _Eclectic Magazine_, May, 1872. + +[136] At Sharpsburg, General Jackson left the field at seven o'clock in +the morning and did not return until four o'clock in the afternoon, when +he was ordered with his command and the cavalry to turn and strike down +against the Union right. He started to execute the order, then gave it up +without even asking permission. He made a brave and gallant fight in the +morning, losing 1601 officers and men. But D. H. Hill was there from the +first to the last gun, losing from his division 1872 officers and men. +Jackson had the greater part of two divisions. But Hill was not a +Virginian, and it would not do to leave the field for refreshments. The +figures include Jackson's losses at Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg; Hill's +at South Mountain and Sharpsburg. + +[137] "General Lee," by Fitzhugh Lee. Marye's Hill was the stronghold at +Fredericksburg. + +[138] _Vide_ "The French under the First and Last Bonaparte;" the Second +Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia under Stonewall Jackson in 1862, in +the Valley of Virginia, and J. A. Early in 1864. + +[139] General Meade's monthly return for June 30 shows 99,131 "present for +duty, equipped." The Comte de Paris estimates the force actually on the +field, including the Sixth Corps, which was in reserve, at 82,000. + +[140] Rebellion Record, vol. xxvii. + +[141] Rebellion Record, vol. xxxvii. part i. p. 187. + +[142] No reports on file for this brigade. Bryan was in command July 7, +and was probably Semmes's immediate successor. The commanders of the +Tenth, Fifty-first, and Fifty-third Georgia are given as reported for June +22 and July 31. Manning reported in command of Fiftieth Georgia, June 22. +No commander reported on return for July 31. + +[143] The regimental commanders are given as reported for June 14. + +[144] The four captains present (West, Robinson, James M. Taylor, Thomas +N. Jordan) were reported as wounded July 1; Robinson and Taylor as having +rejoined July 2, but it does not appear who commanded during Robinson's +absence. + +[145] Lieutenant-Colonel Slough and Major John S. Brooks reported as +wounded at four P.M., July 1. + +[146] Colonel Christie, Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Johnston, Major C. C. +Blacknall, and the senior captain (Abner D. Pearce) reported as wounded +early in the fight, July 1. + +[147] Commanded his own and W. E. Jones's brigade. + +[148] Serving with Ewell's corps. + +[149] Mounted. + +[150] See battalions attached to corps and cavalry. + +[151] Not engaged. + +[152] See artillery brigades attached to army corps and the reserves. + +[153] Not engaged. With exception of the regular battalion, it was, July +1, and while at Beaver Dam Creek, Md., ordered to Washington, D. C., where +it arrived July 3. + +[154] Major-General John F. Reynolds, of this corps, was killed July 1, +while in command of the left wing of the army; General Doubleday commanded +the corps July 1, and General Newton, who was assigned to that command on +the 1st, superseded him July 2. + +[155] Transferred, in the afternoon of July 1, to the First Brigade. + +[156] Guarding trains, and not engaged in the battle. + +[157] Battery E, First New York Light Artillery, attached. + +[158] After the death of General Reynolds, General Hancock was assigned to +the command of all the troops on the field of battle, relieving General +Howard, who had succeeded General Reynolds. General Gibbon, of the Second +Division, assumed command of the corps. These assignments terminated on +the evening of July 1. Similar changes in commanders occurred during the +battle of the 2d, when General Hancock was put in command of the Third +Corps, in addition to that of his own. He was wounded on the 3d, and +Brigadier-General William Hays was assigned to the command of the corps. + +[159] 2d Company Minnesota Sharp-shooters attached. + +[160] Transferred from Artillery Reserve, July 1; Fourteenth New York +Battery attached. + +[161] Guarding corps trains, and not engaged in the battle. + +[162] Joined corps June 28. The Second Brigade left in the Department of +Washington. + +[163] Also in command of the Third Brigade, Third Division, on July 3. + +[164] No First Brigade in division. + +[165] See foot-note 149, p. 415. + +[166] Guarding wagon-train at Westminster, and not engaged in the battle. + +[167] During the interval between the death of General Reynolds and the +arrival of General Hancock, on the afternoon of July 1, all the troops on +the field of battle were commanded by General Howard, General Schurz +taking command of the Eleventh Corps, and General Schimmelfennig of the +Third Division. + +[168] Exercised command of the right wing of the army during a part of the +battle. + +[169] Unassigned during progress of battle; afterwards attached to First +Division, as Second Brigade. + +[170] Served with the Sixth Army Corps, and on the right flank. + +[171] Serving as light artillery. + +[172] At Westminster, etc., and not engaged in the battle. + +[173] With Huey's Cavalry Brigade, and not engaged in the battle. + +[174] Tenth New York Battery attached. + +[175] Not engaged. + +[176] Eleventh New York Battery attached. + +[177] The emergency militia and the six months' volunteers were mustered +into the United States service, and the ninety-days' militia into the +State service. Under act of Congress approved April 12, 1866, the State +was reimbursed by the United States for money expended in payment of the +latter troops. + +[178] That company did not go with the battalion to Virginia. + +[179] This was my first meeting with the genial, gallant, lovable William +Preston. + +[180] Rebellion Record. + +[181] Rebellion Record, vol. xxx. part i. p. 144. + +[182] In his official report of the battle, General Bragg denies that his +march of the 21st was for the crossing of the Tennessee River; refers to +the proposition as visionary, and says of the country, "Affording no +subsistence for men or animals."--Rebellion Record. + +[183] Rebellion Record. + +[184] Later on he offered the command to Lieutenant-General Hardee, who +declined it. + +[185] + + "CAMP RAPPAHANNOCK, October 26, 1863. + +"MY DEAR GENERAL,--I have received your three letters, September 26, +October 6, and October 11. The first was received just as I was about to +make a move upon General Meade, to prevent his detaching reinforcements to +Rosecrans. The second when I had gone as far as I thought I could +advantageously go; and the third since my return to this place. I have +read them all with interest and pleasure, but have not had time to reply +till now. + +"I rejoice at your great victory deeply. It seemed to me to have been +complete. I wish it could have been followed up by the destruction of the +Federal army. As regards your proposition as to myself, I wish that I +could feel that it was prompted by other reasons than kind feelings to +myself. I think that you could do better than I could. It was with that +view I urged your going. The President, being on the ground, I hope will +do all that can be done. He has to take a broad view of the whole ground, +and must order as he deems best. I will cheerfully do anything in my +power. + +"In addition to other infirmities, I have been suffering so much from +rheumatism in my back that I could scarcely get about. The first two days +of our march I had to be hauled in a wagon, and subsequently every motion +of my horse, and indeed of my body, gave much pain. I am rather better +now, though I still suffer. We could not come up with Meade. We had to +take circuitous and by-roads, while he had broad and passable routes on +either side of the railroad. We struck his rear-guards three times,--the +last at Bristoe, where Hill with his advance of two brigades fell too +precipitately on one of his corps,--suffered a repulse and loss. He was +finally driven beyond Bull Run. I saw he could easily get behind his +intrenchments in front of Alexandria. Our men were dreadfully off for +shoes, blankets, and clothes. One division alone had over a thousand +barefooted men. We had failed to take any, and I fear had failed to manage +as well as we might. The country was a perfect waste. A northeast storm +broke upon us. There was neither shelter nor food for man or beast. I saw +no real good I could accomplish by manoeuvring. The enemy had destroyed +the bridge over the Rappahannock and blown up one of the piers. The +freshet after we left the Rapidan carried away the railroad bridge over +that river. I therefore withdrew to the Rappahannock, destroying the +railroad from Cub Run (this side Manassas Junction) to the Rappahannock +River. + +"We inflicted some punishment upon the enemy,--captured upward of two +thousand four hundred prisoners. + +"But I missed you dreadfully, and your brave corps. Your cheerful face and +strong arms would have been invaluable. I hope you will soon return to me. +I trust we may soon be together again. May God preserve you and all with +you. + + "Very truly yours, + "R. E. LEE. + +"GENERAL LONGSTREET." + +[186] Rebellion Record, vol. xxxi. part i. p. 680. + +[187] Since those days the name of Holston has been changed to the +Tennessee. + +[188] Writing of these operations since the war, General E. M. Law, in an +article in the Philadelphia _Weekly Press_ of July 18, 1888, said,-- + +"During the night the sounds of retreat continued, and when daylight came +the valley about Lenoir presented the scene of an encampment deserted with +ignominious haste." + +But he did not take the trouble to report the retreat until nearly +twenty-five years after the war. Had he done so at the proper time the +work at Campbell's Station would have been in better season. + +[189] Rebellion Record, vol. xxxi. part i. p. 526. + +[190] Rebellion Record, vol. xxxi. part i. p. 491. + +[191] Rebellion Record. + +[192] Rebellion Record. + +[193] Ibid. + +[194] Rebellion Record, vol. xxxi. part i. p. 549. + +[195] "Four Years with General Lee." + +[196] General Heth's personal account. + +[197] Letter to the writer. + +[198] Decisive Battles of the War, Swinton, p. 378. + +[199] Military History of U. S. Grant. Badeau. + +[200] Virginia Campaigns, 1864-65, by General A. A. Humphreys, Army of the +Potomac. + +[201] General Early's official account. + +[202] One of our weeklies announced, upon learning that General Bragg was +ordered there, "We understand that General Bragg is ordered to Wilmington. +Good-by, Wilmington!" + +[203] General Badeau's "Military History of U. S. Grant." + +[204] Four Years with General Lee. + +[205] Diary of a member of Corse's brigade. + +[206] Estimated from returns. + +[207] Estimated from general return for March. + +[208] This account is gathered from the evidence of officers of both +sides, given before the Warren Court of Inquiry, which vindicated Warren +and Pickett, though the court was inclined to coquette with the +lieutenant-general, who, at that late day, was in high authority. + +[209] He reported that he could have gained the day if the cavalry of his +left had been as efficient as that of his right. + +[210] Virginia Campaigns. + +[211] General Mahone claimed seven hundred in all. + +[212] Memoirs of General Lee, A. L. Long. + +[213] Memoirs of Robert E. Lee, A. L. Long. + +[214] Memoirs of Robert E. Lee, A. L. Long. + +[215] Including the parts of the Third Corps attached after the fall of A. +P. Hill, and about five thousand that reported on the 7th, 8th, and 9th in +bands and squads from the columns broken up at Sailor's Creek. + +[216] Including five thousand two hundred of fragments dispersed at +Petersburg and during the rearward march, that joined us in retreat. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's From Manassas to Appomattox, by James Longstreet + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX *** + +***** This file should be named 38418.txt or 38418.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/1/38418/ + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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